All in the Family

we knew it wouldn't take long. middle sister meredith (thanks to her tech lovin' hubby jason) has jumped on the blogging bandwagon. check out the chamberlin chronicles and prepare to be impressed. leave it to jason to outdo me + hil and our lowly blogs. of course he had to go and do a whole stinkin' website... what an overachiever! : )

great job, chamberlins! and welcome to blogging. beware, it's addictive!

and of course there is no blogging about the chamberlins without including a pic of abby. this is a recent one of her looking quite cute in a dress that auntie a + uncle nate bought her...

*Update - Oops - Jason set the Chamberlin blog to private...let me know if you want to see more of my cute niece!*

Give up the Bumbo!

This is Will, watching Baby Mozart. I wanted a quick pic of him sitting still but he was too fast! I guess we need to give up the Bumbo seat, my baby is growing up....

Angiogram or Arteriogram Anyone?

What a subject...the heart. I decided to blog on the subject because, in one week, my mother & MIL have decided to have said procedure. Mom was told she may have a blockage & less than a week later had an angiogram, which is an x-ray to study the body's blood vessels. This test can study many different vessels in the body but both of their tests are heart related. Jeannie (my MIL) was told she may also have a slight blockage but she is having an arteriogram, which studies the arteries of the body.

After it was over, my mom was glad she had the procedure, she was very pleased to find she had no blockage. I hope my MIL gets the same news. She was in the hospital 2 days last week sitting around waiting for the dr.'s to figure out if anything was wrong with her. (She was not happy about it, she claims the money spent there ruined her plan to buy a golf cart for the beach house - we all agreed but want her to be around to ride in it!)

In my research, I found that heart attacks in women are as common in men but the symptoms are much more subtle with women. Women may have chest pain, light headedness (is that a real word?), high blood pressure & dizziness but may have very light indications or no symptoms at all.

A cure? You guessed it...healthy diet & exercise....I do think we definitely need to trust God but our bodies are His temple & He wants us to be around to glorify Him.

Just in case you are dying to know why I am awake, earlier, I had a revelation. I miraculously remembered where I left my bracelets I "lost" last w/end on our trip. After much thought & scouring all week, all of sudden I knew right where to look - Will's diaper bag! One sign of my mama craziness (or just pure hilary nut) is my lack of brain cells.

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head...

And just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed
Nothin' seems to fit
Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin'
So I just did me some talkin' to the sun
And I said I didn't like the way he got things done
Sleepin' on the job
Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin'
But there's one thing I know
The blues they send to meet me won't defeat me
It won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me
Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red
Cryin's not for me 'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'
Because I'm free Nothin's worryin' me [trumpet]
It won't be long till happiness steps up to greetme
Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red
Cryin's not for me' Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'
Because I'm free.... Nothin's worryin' me!














Yes, it is raining in SE Texas...I know you are shocked. It is a flashback from the late 70's -early 80's,(do not comment if you were not born at this time!) it is raining all the time! Notice my pretty flowers, normally they would be dried up by now, I do love that they are still so pretty . Check out the KFDM Doppler, it does look like it is leaving....nothin's worrying me....or B.J. Thomas...I do need an "itune"...btw, NO, I was not born when this song was first composed!

The 3 - Which one is awake?

Quick pics of my 3 - can you guess which one was faking the sleep state? :>)

Our Thursdays

Normally, Thursdays are great. All the kids go to MDO from 9:30 - 1:00 & I run errands or work on the computer (really - I do work on the books!). However, this has been a day. Poor Will woke up sick at 4:00 a.m. & Claire got up at 6:00 b/c she could not go back to sleep b/c she saw a skunk in her room (?). Faith got up at her normal time, 6:45 a.m. & made herself a waffle & watched Curious George while I held a crying, feverish baby. Craig? He was at the store b/c we ran out of wet wipes, which is a necessity. I held Will all morning & he finally took a nap about 11:30. Needless to say, it was a wacky day. The girls played Polly Pockets, Barbies, baby dolls & we played 2 games. At lunchtime, Craig brought us hamburgers & the girls were estatic. Faith wondered if it was ok b/c she did not have 20 stickers on her chart yet. I assured her that Daddy had prior approval. After lunch, Will woke up & he was sooo happy to eat but his fever set in again & he was fussy all afternoon. The girls had gymnastics so I took them & Craig stayed w/Will, normally I bring him b/c Craig has to work but he cancelled outreach due to major rain. I was so glad for his help! Gymnastics was from 5:30 -6:30 & then we went to Taco Bell (Yes my kids ate out 2x in a day, quite a record - Faith found this very exciting, she said it was her fave day of the summer??? what?!?!?!?) I told her I was so pleased that I had made her happy. She said the next best day would be our visit to the dentist next week & then our trip to Hot Springs. (think the 2 will compare?) The pics are of the girls are after Gymnastics & Will in his high chair (this pic is from last week but I thought I would post it b/c this is how he feels when I come home)...aren't I loved? All in all, it was still a great day :>)

Update on HEB - Here Everything's Better

All of us went grocery shopping again today but guess what? It was a great trip, not only did I get everything I needed (besides the headbands the girls wanted & the Hershey bar w/almonds I *wanted*), my 3 lovely children were very well behaved. However, the best thing was that HEB played great music. I heard "Dancing in the Moonlight" & that song w/the chorus "in the long run" (which could be a terrible song, i just like the chorus) & a christian song but now I cannot remember the words. Anyway, it was a joyful trip & my milk was dated Jul 31st, I felt productive as I unloaded my $124 grocery bill. Today, everything was better! :-)

9 Years of Wedded Bliss

Happy Anniversary to us....Craig & I have been married 9 years! We spent the night in Galveston (alone...w/out 3 small, darling children). We slept until 9:30 a.m. & heard no monitor or wee ones asking us if it was the morning (at 5:11a.m.).

It has been very exciting....where do I begin? Young minister with a vision to reach inner-city youth (who have no parenting, ambition or strength to fight the war they stare at each day) meets young girl who is trying to *act* like she does not want to be married in order for young youth minister (with bleached hair using hydrogen peroxide!!!!!!!!!!!) to chase her. Young girl found the hair annoying but still found young man very cute as he stared at her waaaayy across the church each Sunday a.m *and* p.m. The convos went something like this...

C: Uuhh hi...so...how are you?

H: fine & you (looking away as to NOT act interested)?

C: so, do you still teach kindergarten?

H: (Thinking...you just asked me that 2 weeks ago...like i got a job selling cars yesterday?) yes, i am still teaching...or trying to...

C: Your parents...do they still live in Arkansas?

H: (Thinking...no they moved when i got a job selling cars!!!!) Yes, they are still there.

C: ok...well, have a good week...

H: Hmm..you to...(thinking: God? What are you doing?!?!?!? Do you hear these convos ? We lack serious communication & his face is red the entire time? Please God, I have prayed for Your will...is HE IT?)

You get the picture, convos went like this for...months, same ?s, same answers. I finally decided I was not talking to him anymore....little stale for a few months. August rolls around, I am visiting with a friend before church. I look up, here comes the Reverend, walking up to me, I almost fell out of the chair. He asked me to lunch to discuss outreach at my school (it was in the inner-city). I said yes & he was so delightful at lunch. We talked & talked, no lack of convo. I remember thinking, if he does not pay for my lunch, I will never go out w/him again, he bought it. So, we began to date.

I loved his ambition to build the ministry God had given him & I loved that he was humble enough to ask my opinion & share his heart with me. We began to pray about being married & he asked me in 6 short mos. (felt like forever to me but it was not), we were married in 5 mos. He learned real quick he had to help me with my temper & he has learned now, that I have just learned to tame it (3 young children can do that to you or you might want to punch walls).

I had a list of things I desired in a husband, I think this was it...

1. Heart like David (humble, seeks God first, wants God's will no matter what)

2. Affectionate - even in public (I know ...kinda dorky).

3. Likes outdoor activities ( I must have overprayed this).

4. Family like my family - all get along well.

5. Loves God first.

6. Let's me stay home with my children.

7. No red hair - taller than me (even w/heels on....notice pic above :)

I think that was all of them, forgive me if I left one out but the important thing was ...it was a match. One thing on the list made him hesitant....he had reservations about me staying home b/c it made him nervous b/c we never knew if he would get a salary each month. God provided & still does & he is very glad I am at home. As it worked out, it is great b/c I manage the paperwork/books for the ministry. So, I am a true helper to him as he is to me.

Mom of Zero

since i am listed as a contributor i guess i better contribute. it totally cracks me up that i am an author on hil's blog. most of the readers probably know me, but if not, i am adrienne. i am the youngest of the pearson girls and the one who looks like mom and acts like dad (which means i got the hips but not the gift of mercy and the stubborn streak but not the great metabolism). i did get lots of love though, along with fierce independence and a strong sense of self. plus, i think i'm kinda funny. i am also really clumsy (not sure where that came from but i am afraid faith rebekah has it too) and tend to talk really loud even if you're standing right next to me. i can't imagine having grown up any different than i did. i love being a sister. and i love having sisters, as mine are full of faith, wisdom, grace and humor. the friendships we have now made all the chaos growing up totally worth it. i also really appreciate that both sisters reproduced so i don't have to. at 30, i have learned how much love i have for kids... as long as they belong to someone else!! of course i want kids of my own someday, but for now i am just trying to be the best wife i can to my sweet husband nathan. so for now, i'll just continue to be the most fabulous aunt ever to the most precious kids ever!!

Picture Cooperation

Taking pics as a family..what fun! They are impressive aren't they? Someone's eyes are closed or one is crying. Christmas pics this year will begin in October in order to get a good one...watch for them!

Grocery Shopping & Saturday

Why did i attempt it? I usually don't but Craig was at a PromiseKeepers Conference so I tried to be a good wife & have everything in order! ha!!!! We went after Will's afternoon nap to HEB (Here everythings better...ha ha too). It was so crowded but I knew I was a big girl & we always go to the store, mom with 3, no big deal. It was a big deal, people were driving grocery carts so fast I worried about the kids' toes. The were out of Will's formula, the biggest store from here to Houston & they had no Nestle Good Start, must have been a run on it. I kept shopping as the girls ran up & down the baby aisle while I chose apples & squash or hawaiian delight? No #4 pampers diapers, found 1 pack but they were the big pack. As I went on, we got to the milk aisle & they only date on the HEB milk was July 14th, is that today? Yes! i thought I do not want to get angry (I am working on this) so we left, left the basket, groceries & left, with 3 kids in tow, no basket, just walking. We put the frozen stuff back but left the baby food & toilet paper in the basket. Faith was mortified. She said, "you mean we are going to buckle up again & go to another store?" I said, "Yes, Kroger." She said "Ok, can we buy a cake?" I thought , a cake? What? Whatever, ok..."Yes, you can choose a cake." Claire was excited b/c they have little kid grocery carts. I figured why go to 2 stores, I had to go to Kroger, they had formula. Lesson learned, Go to HEB early in the morning on a weekday...or at midnight when all our asleep.....kudos to myself for not going "south...."

My First Post

Welcome to my blog..I am a blogger? I guess, my sister designed one yesterday & I got the blog fever! One good thing I can see about blogging is that it causes me to think & it inspires me to write, which I used to like to do. I come from a family of creative people but in the last 6 years, my creativity has lazed. I just finished reading a book called If Mama Goes South, We are all Going with Her, it truly it home for me. I am or was South...like way south! I don't mean south as in Aruba, I mean depleted emotionally, physically & spiritually. Several points in it really showed me where I am mistaking my role as a child of God, wife & mother. Through God's Word, she explains how we can as women, grow, instead of going south. The chapters discuss, The Spirit, Body & Soul. Like exercising, I felt like it was necessary to get back in my skinny jeans...no...it is a stress reliever, healthy & alone time w/God, even if it is really early! Several other things ministered to me but one easy one I have been trying to apply is exercising the mind. Thus, writing my blog! The muscle is a mind & it needs to be worked. I have always hated word searches but...I have been doing them every once in a while, makes you think! Faith & I did a 4th of July one, who thought it could take an hour to find Philadelphia? Anyway, I think blogging is healthy, as well as fun.

http://www.amazon.com/Mama-Goes-South-Were-Going/dp/0800757971/ref=sr_1_1/105-1945560-6169268?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184459966&sr=8-1