July 10, 2009

I was waiting to post too much about this before Christmas so that our families would be pleasantly (hopefully) surprised. However, I've decided that based on my lack of comments in the past, no one really reads my blog and we are in turn safe. But this is my official announcement: I am pregnant and the due date is currently July 10, 2009. We have known for a few weeks but are trying to surprise the family at Christmas, since this is our first child and the first grandchild/great-grandchild. Obviously, this is a big deal and we are very excited and feel so blessed.

In the event that I do have a reader or two, please do not be offended that I haven't called to dish on this new development and please don't welcome my mother or Gary's with the greeting, "Hey Grandma!" Very soon the cat will be out of the bag and we will gladly discuss everything with you all. If you know me at all, you can only imagine how excited I am! And to be frank, this is also a little overwhelming and scary. I have thought about this many times before and I am so thankful that things are happening in this way. We did not plan a child yet but I definitely wouldn't call this a mistake either, lol. God is good and we are always experiencing this first hand. WOW!

Much love and many blessings,
Cass

And we're back!

Ten years later, I've finally gotten back to this place. (audience applauds) :D

First, let me say that I have already begun the transformation into my mother... I've made fun of her to years and years because she crashes early and wakes up EVERYDAY by 3:30 or 4. The very concept was ludicrous to me since I've spent most of my life as a proud "night-owl." But for the second time this week alone I've gone to bed by 9pm and gotten up at 4am myself. I'm not sure why I've been so exhausted the past few weeks, but I have been, I'm just completely drained.

Anyway, what really prompted me to write was the overall "holidays are coming" feeling in the air. If you've ever met me you certainly know that I love to eat, so of course having a long weekend devoted to food, family, and shopping is one of my favorite things. But in addition to that, I find myself looking forward to seeing friends that have made their life in another city but make time at the holidays to visit. My Amy and my Timmy are just a couple that I am so excited to see. There is something about the fall/winter transition that always makes me nostalgic. I believe it's because I became a Christian in November 2004 and that has forever changed my life. So I begin to think of Tim especially, and what an amazing and integral part of my very existence that he became. At our last small group meeting Michael said something about being a Christian and having an impact on just one person could change the life of millions... instantly I thought of Timmy and his family and hoped that because of the life the changed (mine :D), that the world could one day be changed. I know that's a high hope, but I'll hold onto it! It brings me to tears, literally, out of happiness and thankfulness everytime. I love the Carters!

So even though I'm a week early, Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that each of you can be inspired and want to reach millions with your kindness and love. And thanks again to the Carters, even though I doubt they will ever see this.

Much love and many blessings,
Cassie

sorry if you're sick of these

I promise that I will have something of interest to post again soon. But for now, I will continue to be unoriginal and share other thoughts that I feel say it all.

http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=37280946874&h=W8yOL

good grief

http://confederateyankee.mu.nu/archives/276075.php

Something beautiful

I may sound pessimistic to some and to others I could be construed as honest, regardless of what anyone thinks, I believe that there are too few instances of something beautiful in our day-to-day lives. Now for something encouraging and optimistic: friendship. I believe that sharing with others and being in community is one of the most wonderful gifts God not only gave us but INSTRUCTED us to utilize. Having friends, people to help you thru the thick of life and to enjoy the highs with, are one of the many ways God expresses His love to each of us. There was a time in which I felt that I had no family, but I had the BEST friends money couldn't buy. :) When I married Gary, everything seemed to shift to having this new wonderful blessing of a close family, and somehow in the mix I lost quite a few friends. For an individual such as myself that lived my life for my friends, and spent myself as "everything to everyone," this was a bit disheartening. I say all of that to now say that I'm finding a comfortable medium and loving it. I am still very grateful for my new, very loving, very accepting, family but I am also infinitely grateful for new (and old) friends that I feel have lasting power. I'm meeting people that will not only touch my life for a few years but that I feel will be active participants in the thick of life and the joys. Maybe I wrote all of this to say, I'm very excited about the beautiful that is now.

<>< Cassie