Hardest Part About Leaving

This past weekend reminded us of how much we really love the grandparents. As they pulled out of the driveway Lincoln yelled out at the car and blew kisses. He kept repeating himself and chanting "nanna come back, nanna come back". He couldn't understand why they were leaving and why they were not coming back right away. We told him they'd be back later (end of May) but he thought that meant immediately. The kids love their grandparents and are always sad to see them leave. I was sad too, knowing that we would soon be in Arizona and the visits would be less frequent. I'm so grateful that both Paul and I have parents that love our kids. Watching your own parents grandparent your kids is so amazing cause you realize how truly incredible and influential grandparents are! I know how much my grandma meant to me when I was a child and how I still admire her. I'm hoping my kids feel the same way about their grandparents!

6 is soooo Sweet!

Mia turned 6 this week. Where did our little baby go? She's so much fun when it comes to birthdays. She has changed her mind about 10 times about the cake she wants. She's been giving me cake decorating ideas since December. First she wanted a Santa Clause cake, then a Star Wars cake, then a Christmas Tree, then a pony cake, and finally she landed on an Owl cake. So I made the goofy owl! LOL. As far as her birthday experience she insisted that we buy a pinata. She's been asking for a pinata for almost a year. So we took the plunge and purchased the tacky cardboard decoration. We bought a bag of plastic toys and petrified candy and poured it in the pinata. The final problem was to figure out what we were gonna use to hit the pinata. The girls suggested daddy's golf clubs. For some reason, he passed on this idea. Then Kennedy grabbed the Star Wars life savers. So we used the life saver swords. Everyone took numerous swings at the giant pinata, including Pappa and Nanna. This was most certainly a memorable moment.

Mia also chose breakfast for her birthday dinner. She was very clear about it too. She wanted pancakes with chocolate chips, chocolate syrup, and whipped toppings. We also added bananas and strawberries to keep it 'healthy'. She also wanted celery with peanut butter. yuck! Throughout the evening she insisted that we refer to her as 'the majesty'. Honestly, I kept forgetting and Mia would stop and ask me why I wasn't remembering her name. Yes, Yes, I needed to take care of 'the majesty'. All in all.................great time!

Easter 2011

Easter was great! We went to the Saturday evening service. We all sat together and it felt great to be together as a family on such a celebratory day! It's kind of funny having the girls in church with us. They are getting so big and becoming little women. Kennedy filled out the visitor registration card. She marked the box that requested more information about 'kids' and said that 'her mom and dad' brought her. Then she wrote in her little journal. Mia pretty much laid across my lap and wiggled and snuggled. Before we left, we went backstage to say goodbye to Brian, the lead pastor. While in his study, Lincoln managed to find a pencil and write on Brian's MAC computer, almost tip over a cup of water, and the girls bounced from couch to couch. Yep, Alexander kids!!

Sunday was spent at the theater with grandparents, having egg hunts in the house, unraveling Easter baskets, reading the Easter Story from the bible, and cooking a large dinner. Great day!

The Next Step For Alexander Family

I've been sitting up night after night trying to figure out how on earth to write this blog. How do I fully express what my heart is feeling and yet steadily bring praise to His name? Yes, there has been hurt, pain, and betrayal. And yet, God is good and He is true to His word.

Paul and I have had the honor of worshiping on Sundays at Westridge and I heard this song last Sunday. It was like God provided an answer to my nagging question. "How do I write my blog?" If you can, look this up on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QwVekS886w. Below are the words......

You are good, You are good
When there's nothing good in me
You are love, You are love
On display for all to see
You are light, You are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope, You are hope
You have covered all my sin

You are peace, You are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true, You are true
Even in my wandering
You are joy, You are joy
You're the reason that I sing
You are life, You are life,
In You death has lost it's sting

Oh, I'm running to your arms,
I'm running to arms
The riches of your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

You are more, You are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord, You are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here, You are here
In your presence I'm made whole
You are God, You are God
Of all else I'm letting go

Oh, I'm running to your arms
I'm running to arms
The riches of your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
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My heart will sing
no other name
Jesus, Jesus

Oh, I'm running to your arms
I'm running to arms
The riches of your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

So, here we are running...........not running from our rough circumstances or to "the greener side". But we are running straight into His arms. In doing so, God is redirecting our steps and is sending us on. I hope we spend the rest of our lives running into His arms. We are choosing to accept these circumstance, process the pain, and allow them to build and grow us in ways we could have never imagined. It is the riches of His love that move us into tomorrow. We are looking forward to our journey back into the desert, Arizona! I guess we are headed back "home". We are honored to serve at Sun Valley in Gilbert, AZ. It will be an amazing opportunity for Paul!

It will be a new church for us but a very familiar community! We are sad to say goodbye to Atlanta; but in the same breath we welcome this new change. Life doesn't always turn out as we would want but His provision is always what we need......at least this is my thought in my young, inexperienced,and much-to-learn life!

Spring Break at Alexander Home

So, we convinced the McGinnis family to venture our way for Spring Break this year. As you can see, we didn't have any fun at all! Hahahha....actually we stuffed as much as possible. We had a total of 12 people in our home and went bowling, fishing, hiking, picnicing, water balloon fights, and we even hit the nail spa with the girls. That was a treat! The girls had never been in a nail salon before! And of course we watched movies, played Catan, poker, and made lots of desserts. Normally, people get tired of one another after about 3 or 4 days. Not us! We shove 12 people under one roof and can't get enough of the fun! This might go down as one of the best Spring Breaks ever! The best part was seeing Jada, watching KK fall into pond while 'fishing', and seeing Elana bowl! Everyone needs to have friends like these! :-)

An Amazing Connection

It is so difficult to write this blog cause I feel like a big baby. I'm full of tears; tears of sadness and joy. Sad cause I already miss our best friends and happy cause we have great memories together. As we leave the East coast and head out West, we know that we will see the McGinnis family even less. They are our family. Their kids are like cousins to our kids and Aime and Joe are some of the dearest friends we have. We have journeyed together for 10 years now. Part of those ten years consists of them adopting Jada. Of course, we cannot deny that Jada's middle name is the same as mine, joy. I feel like a proud Aunt! So we saw her for the first time and we were in love!! I hate to move away! :-(

Top 10 ATL Countdown....................

Here is a list of top 10 things that the Alexanders really LOVE about Atlanta. We have only been here a short time but have made some really great memories.

10.Eating down on the Square, Sugar Cakes etc.........
9. Hanging with our neighbors, Abattes and the Wytes
8. Vaughan Elementary School
7. Chattanooga trip with the Maggards
6. Eating at the Canoe Restaurant
5. Southern hospitality and yummy cooking
4. visits from our distant friends, McGinnis and Barrineau clans
3. living in the SEC!!!!!!!!!!
2. friends from NMC
1. Dates to the Daily Grind Coffee Shop


And let's be fair, every place has things you don't prefer. Here are 10 things we will NOT miss about ATL

10.mosquitoes
9. cold winters
8. HOA in Brown's Farm.......ahhaha
7. the airport
6. Auburn and Georgia fans (ahhaha)
5. East coast time
4. thunderstorms (Mia goes nuts)
3. Tornadoes
2. traffic
1. humidity