Artrageous!

Artrageous is the name of the salon I go to every 5 weeks to get my tresses trimmed and my gray covered! I've been going to LaShasta for over 13 years now! She knows how to cut my crazy, curly hair, and boy can she make it straight as a board too! I've even gotten better at straightening it myself because of her instruction! While I was there this morning, I thought this would be an interesting thing to blog. I know everyone out in blog land is dying to see where I get my hair done! (There is sarcasm in that last sentence in case you didn't catch it!) It is just a lot of fun in the salon. Friday mornings are busy and the weekly regulars accept me as if I were there every week too! Of course today I had grandbaby pictures to share with everyone. Everyone oohed and aahed over Avery because, of course she is the prettiest baby ever!

Well, enjoy some pics from this morning! I'm going to take Rob some lunch since he hasn't been able to get away from his office today!
LaShasta is styling Jamie's hair. Jamie only agreed to be photographed from behind until her hair was all styled! I was on my way out, so couldn't stay 'til she was done!

LaShasta and me

Tammy's hair from the back. She had on no make-up and wouldn't let me take a picture of her face, yet she is beautiful even without make-up!

No Name, KayK and Uncle Will

We are officially grandparents! Will is officially an uncle! We have been since last Monday, October 13 at 10:01 a.m. Rob, Will and I headed to Fairhope on Friday, Oct. 10. We were able to be down there for the big event. Actually, we got to get in lots of visiting before the blessed event. Friday night our family and Chelsea's family ate out together at Gambino's in Fairhope, then Nathan and Chelsea joined us and my parents and Rob's parents at Rousso's in Daphne for dinner Saturday night. Sunday, Oct. 12, Will, Rob and I headed toward Fairhope since Chelsea was having contractions 6-7 minutes apart. Since we were staying with Rob's parents in Lillian, we wanted to be closer then 35 minutes away if things started speeding up. The nurses at the hospital told Chelsea that she had begun true labor, but delivery was not imminent, so she should go walk and eat and see how things progressed. Since we were in Malbis at the Eastern Shore Center (great shopping there!), Nathan and Chelsea joined us. It is a very good place to walk. We tried to speed things up by eating Mexican food at Don Carlos' Mexican Restaurant, but Chelsea refused to eat the jalepenos! After eating we went to the new Bass Pro Shop at Spanish Fort. We were all worn out after touring around that place! During all this time, Nathan and Chelsea were timing the contractions and the time between them. (I have to say they were so cute doing this together--it was very sweet!)

They finally returned to the hospital at 11 p.m. Sunday night and got to stay. She labored all through the night, and we were able to be there the next morning before Avery put in her appearance.Look, she already knows War Eagle, Hey!

Needless to say, Avery McKenzie Payne is probably the most beautiful baby ever! My two were beautiful too, but they were boys! She let everyone know that she wasn't too happy with leaving the warm, comfortable womb. That girl can cry with the best of them, but she looks gorgeous doing so! I think she is adjusting to life on the outside though, and her parents are the sweetest and most attentive to her. Nathan is even changing diapers! (He is already wound tightly around those little pink fingers!)

The happy family

Well, I could go on and on. Everyone is doing great and I was blessed to stay down there an entire week to visit, to help, to just be around. Rob and Will had to come back to Hartselle on Tuesday, Oct 14 because of school and work obligations. They came back down on Friday, and Will had a soccer game in Fairhope on Saturday. More time to visit with Nathan, Chelsea and Avery.

Home from the hospital.

I have decided to go by KayK as my "grandmother" name. Rob hasn't totally come up with what he'd prefer to be called, so I am calling him No Name. Hopefully that name won't stick! If you have any "grandpa" suggestions feel free to leave them in the comments! Did you know you can actually find lists of "grandpa/grandma" names on the internet? Seems like there is just about anything you can imagine on this thing!!!

Rob (No Name) and Avery

Uncle Will and Avery

KayK and Avery

Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer

I love praise music. I really think I could listen, sing and praise all day. Actually, I suppose that is what we all need to be doing anyway. To me, music speaks to my soul, and I can sometimes process deep truths through incorporating music. I have lots of favorites, but must say Keith and Kristyn Getty have some amazing music, and I can't seem to stop listening to their "In Christ Alone" album. I do have to be careful when I'm on the treadmill or elliptical at the gym, or I might break out signing, and we've all heard people singing along with music no one else hears-it usually isn't very pretty! Here are the lyrics of my favorite song (of the day anyway): Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer (May This Journey) First Line: Jesus draw me ever nearer

"Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer" Music by Keith Getty; Words by Margaret Becker Copyright © 2002 Thankyou Music Jesus draw me ever nearer As I labour through the storm. You have called me to this passage, and I'll follow, though I'm worn. May this journey bring a blessing, May I rise on wings of faith; And at the end of my heart's testing, With Your likeness let me wake. Jesus guide me through the tempest; Keep my spirit staid and sure. When the midnight meets the morning, Let me love You even more. Let the treasures of the trial Form within me as I go - And at the end of this long passage, Let me leave them at Your throne. You can see videos of them performing some of their music as well as an interview of them on Godtube. Check it out!

Two Centimeters!

Well, Chelsea is 2 centimeters dilated, so the process has started for Avery's arrival. Please keep Chelsea and Nathan and Avery in your prayers. Click on their blog (The Time of Our Lives) at the bottom of my page to see the amazing job she has done putting the nursery together.

Still learning things about computers!!! Aargh!

Lord I lift Your name on high

Lord I love to sing Your praises

I'm so glad You're in my life

I'm so glad You came to save us

I 'm sure you're wondering why I started this post with a few lines of "Lord I Lift Your Name on High." Well, you might just be thinking it's a good thing to start a post with, and I agree. Those four lines are very true and good. But, there is more to why the post starts this way....

Last night I was on Flickr.com looking at some pictures my sister had posted on her account. I actually found a spot to click on that allowed you to post to your blog from Flickr. Great! I clicked on the spot, got my blog set up to link to the Flickr thing, and wrote a very entertaining post about what Teri and I did together when I visited her last week-end. I went to post it on this blog, but kept getting a message that it wouldn't work at this time. Okay, I know what to do! I copied my post and decided to paste if over here and try to copy our picture to over here too. As it was getting late, I was doing laundry, and Rob and Will were due home from soccer practice, I decided to work on it tomorrow (this morning). Well, here I am. I signed in, clicked on new post then hit paste and wa-la! A snippet of a praise song pops up. Hmm...Rob had used this computer last night before bedtime to work on some of his praise and worship files. Guess he copied some things after me.

I will hopefully get back here later today, and tell my story of Teri's birthday complete with pictures! Meanwhile, let's lift God's name on high and sing His praises! Even when our plans (even plans about what we want to post) don't work out, God has got it under control. I need to release my need for control to my Heavenly Father who knows what I need oh so much better than I do!!!

Just Checking In

I just wanted to put something up here since it has been awhile since I posted. I suppose I'm still getting used to the idea of putting my thoughts out into cyber-land. Well, I've had lots of ideas, but by the time I get to a computer to put them down 'on screen' (since I can't say 'on paper'), I either don't feel like typing so much, or I'm too tired!

Lots of life is going on in the Payne family: Soccer--Will plays for (and practices with) two teams, so we are always going somewhere with soccer stuff in tow.

Church--Rob teaches our Sunday School class and leads the praise and worship portion of our music during morning worship, so he is preparing lessons, music and running praise team rehersals. I facilitate a Wednesday Bible study, and we both are in the adult choir. Will is active in the youth group and plays keyboard for the youth worship band.

Work and school--Well, we all have to go to one or the other several days of the week!

Waiting--We are waiting for the arrival of Avery McKenzie Payne! Mom Chelsea has a due date of 10/11/08, but you know babies; they will come when they want to. Every time my phone rings and it is Chelsea, I have to wonder if this is "the" call. We are hoping Avery will wait until Dad Nathan has taken the LSAT on 10/4. (Please keep him in prayer about that!) Well, keep all of them in prayer about Avery's upcoming arrival. We can't wait to get to know that little girl and hold her in our arms!

Happy Anniversary! 25 Years and counting

Rob suprised me with 25 roses for our anniversary. He had them sent to work, so I caused a stir carrying these beautiful flowers around.

It is hard to believe that on September 3 we've been married 25 years, but I guess the years don't lie. From our meeting at the Baptist Student Union at Auburn University in 1979, to our wedding in 1983 up to now, we've had quite an adventure. Looks like there is a lot more to come too! The arrangement has 25 roses: 24 red to represent our love and one yellow because yellow roses are for friendship, and we are both married to our best friend!