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Jolly

Many miles away...soon to be MANY more miles away...this picture makes me happy. Er, jolly.

Lydia with such good friends: Dresden, Simon and Violet Jolly.

Disney Trip: Meet the Princess ... (Part II)

Ten. That is the number of officially "Disney" princesses to this date and Lydia "the Princess Hunter" looked under every seashell, in every sand dune, and of course, all enchanted castles. Over the four days, she found all but one princess but she made up for it by finding most of them several times.

ARIEL

We traveled deep under the sea to find Ariel, the princess of the sea. Actually, all the water made Lydia have to go potty after we have been waiting in line for about 25 minutes. But, we only had a few minutes to wait. The Disney staff and the people in line were very nice and let us swim up those few spots. The first thing Lydia did for Ariel was dance like a mermaid. Very cute. Then, she asked questions about Ariel's friends and Ariel assured Lydia that Flounder was having fun with Sebastian.  

   

Lydia also met Ariel after her father turned her into a human and she married prince Eric. Lydia was super happy to see Ariel and wanted her to eat with us. 

RAPUNZEL

With her golden locks, Lydia loved Rapunzel. And Lydia did the sweetest thing... By herself, she decided she wanted to give Rapunzel her lay of flowers. Rapunzel was so surprised and flattered by Lydia's gesture. It was the sweetest thing! 

SLEEPING BEAUTY "AURORA"
Lydia met Aurora two times both times she wasn't sleeping which was good for Lydia because she had many questions to ask her. She asked her, "Where are her friends?" To which Aurora told Lydia about her "aunts". To which Lydia repeated the questions, "No, where are your other friends in the woods?" Lydia wanted to know her woodland friends such as the squirrels and birds she sings with.

JASMINE

It was a beauty day at Epcot to meet a few princess and Lydia found the beautiful princess of Agrabah, Jasmine and her prince, Aladdin. Lydia first gave them each a sticker and then asked about their monkey, Abu. Though there was no appearance of Abu, Lydia had lots of fun with them.

TIANA
The newest Disney princess from the movie, The Princess and the Frog, Lydia found Tiana in the American Southland. We will have to attempt that Lydia can capture a princess and a crowd. After giving the normal formal greetings which all princesses know, Lydia processes to hop around Tiana like a frog. Everybody was in smiles and it was quite a show!

More to come...

Disney Trip: Meet the Characters (part 1)

Our Disney World Trip
Date Arrived: January 21st, 2013 (Monday)
Date Departure: January 24th, 2013 (Thursday)

Starring
(List in no particular order except for Lydia and Molly, being the kids and all)

The Princess Hunter played by Lydia Stock
She has one objective: To meet as many princesses as possible within the four days. She will go across all four parks, brave the long lines, and stand in the pouring rain (thankfully, there was none!) to see all 10 Disney princesses. Load with questions, hugs and kisses, and a few gifts for any princess she sees. Repeats are full acceptable and welcomed. If it is "princess-y", it is for her!






Wonder Baby played by Molly Stock
Fully content and in total awe on all the rides, she loved every minute of it. She gained her title by being wonderful throughout the whole trip. Even with the ill-regular schedule, the colorful animatronics lit up her eyes wide and the nighttime show of fireworks kept her for wanting more. Often she appears sleeping in the stroller or riding in the carrier on daddy!






Trip-planner Extraordinaire played by Nana 
Do we have the schedule? Down-to-the "nana"-second. Do we have the tickets? Check. Where are we going to eat? Reservations made. Where are the princesses? She has the app! To get the most out of Disney, since there is SO much to do, Nana researched, planned, and prepared all things Disney so that we DID get the most out of our four day stay.

"The Beast" played by Pop-pop
Sort of a man for all roles, Pop-pop stage wasn't just for us six, but all of Fantasyland. I don't know what it was about him? In a large crowd, the people up front always chose Pop-pop to play the role of this or that. Neat as it was, he didn't let the crowds down as he had them laughing and crying all at the same time. He deserves an Oscar for it!




Cast and Costumes played by Mommy
All actors and actresses need a "super-awesome" makeup/wardrobe assistant and this special task was Mommy. She gladly took on this role and did a fantastic job. There were no wardrobe malfunctions, no crazy lipstick, and certainly, no empty tummies. Best of all, she was always right there when you needed her whether it was on a ride to cover your eyes for a scary part or having a snack while waiting in line.





"The supporting actor role" played by Daddy
There can only be one star of the show and that was certainly The Princess Hunter. But, any good actor or actress needs a supporting actor to make them shine brighter. Daddy filled that role. With her hand in daddy's hand, and a little courage from daddy's heart, Lydia scouted, marched, and danced around DisneyWorld enjoying rides, meeting character especially the princesses and watching the fireworks. When the Princess Hunter was off and running, Wonder Baby need to be carried around, face forward to see all the sights, sounds, and people.



(Other cast)
"The Minivan" played by the stroller

Quesadillas and Coke

Lydia turned 3!

We had a party featuring James (born one day before Lydia), Violet (due before Lydia...but born a week after) and well, of course, Lydia.

We had over a dozen princes and princesses (our theme) over for dress-up time, stories and a toddler snack buffet...ending with cupcakes.

Then, we met Grandma and Grandpa for picnic.

We had hotdogs on princess plates...and more cake.

On her ACTUAL birthday, we sang several times and had all sorts of family calling and face-timing in to share a birthday message for the birthday girl.

Daddy and Lydia went on special date to get a dress (a birthday tradition). Lydia chose the one with the "most twirl".

Then, we had quesadillas and coke: the birthday dinner menu Lydia chose about a month ago. She had her first coke all to herself.

Molly had a banana. (Did I mention she is waking up twice a night...we are starting solid foods!)

  For dessert: ice cream sundaes. And we watched Cinderella (and danced for most of it).

The Night Before Christmas & Rabbits

What does Santa Claus and rabbits have to do with each other? You will have to watch the video to find out! It was one of the most precious moments of this Christmas. Unscripted, unrehearsed, and pure laughter for our family and I hope yours too.

A Good Day

Today:

"Mommy, put down your coffee...and dance!"
Cranberry muffins, one with pseudo-crumb topping for Brian
Molly laughed...for the first time...at her sister
Bacon for lunch
Sold our computer
We found out why Molly's tummy was upset last night (3 times)
Applied for Visas! (They are in the mail!!)
Made Chocolate Crinkles
Ate Snickerdoodles
Nana and PopPop came just before nighttime

It was a good day. 

"Leave" It To Daddy and Lydia

I was upstairs vacuuming with Molly in the bouncy seat, and what to my wondering eyes did appear, but Daddy and Lydia...with a rake and wheelbarrow.

 I sneaked outside to take a few pictures of the leaf clean up. 

Here are your camera-women

Cute one of Lydia, right? I did not intentionally cut off my husband's head. It's just plain hard to take pictures and hold a baby at the same time. Of course, he was wearing my hat....

It's Been One Swell Ride

On a late summer day in 1999, I pulled up to Reinhardt in my dirt ugly, yellow Mercury Topaz. I was the young age of 19, immature (though not in my eyes) and anxiously ready to take on college. Little did I know that that day was a start of a roughly fourteen year stay at Reinhardt. Four years of college earned me a degree in business but something even better: a job. From almost day one of my Reinhardt career, I started working in the Information Technology department. Of course, I started as a student worker. But after I finished school, Reinhardt allowed me to come back as an employee. First as a contractor (about a year), then they hired me full-time with benefits. July 1, 2004 was my first official date. For the next four plus years, I plugged away as a PC Support Specialist. I loved every minute of my job. But during that time, I felt the Lord leading me to seminary and someday in the ministry. So, in October 2008, now married, I left to finish up seminary and complete a pastoral internship in hopes to be a missionary to a foreign land. My time at Reinhardt was done, so I though. Yet, the Lord had other plans. I mentioned at I was immature when I came to Reinhardt... Well, by the age of 27, I still hadn't learned how to grow up, that is, stop being into myself (pride) and so, the missions agency graciously said to my wife and I, "We feel that you are called to missions, but about this sin and pride issue..." A life as a missionary was now on hold and by this time, Lydia was in my wife's belly, so I needed a job. Thankfully, Reinhardt had put a hired freeze right after I left and so a position in IT department was opened. I called and within a day, I had a job! God is faithful. August 17, 2009 was my start date and my "sabbatical" was over. And now, today, November 30, 2012, three plus years later, I move on to embark on a great adventure!  There is much I could say and many stories to recall, but I felt in would be good just to share a few reflections over the past 14 years.

Reinhardt
Leaving Reinhardt at this time of its existence is actually kind of sad. Why? Because it expanding by leaps and bounds in every area: new buildings, more students and faculty, new programs, and of course, a new sport, that being football. We change our name and status from College to University. Even the small town of Waleska has grown now with a Dollar General, Subway and a delicious restaurant and store called Front Porch.  There is so much going on and it is exciting to watch. I've watched a lot of change in my 14 years. I've had the privilege of seeing life from both spectrums: a student and a staff member. As a student, I couldn't had a better group of classmates and friends. Back then, life at Reinhardt was a little different. We had this special, intimate, family community of students (I don't know if this is the case, but I do know that things changed with the apartments and stuff). As a staff member, it has been great to know so many people for so many years and watch them though life and talk to them in the halls. I will truly miss my Reinhardt family.

Work
Reinhardt is a special place to work. It runs not like corporate America, but a small, "family" town. Everybody knows everybody, everybody knows their job and does it well, and everybody wants the best for all. Oh sure, there are times when it is a little stressful, say the begin on the school year, but the pace of life is slower and so much more enjoyable. It shows that Reinhardt values something different than corporate American. They say, "You might leave Reinhardt, but Reinhardt doesn't leave you." For me, that is true, but I will also say, it was hard for me to actually leave Reinhardt. It just kept calling me back!

Personally, what I have learned working at Reinhardt besides all the computer stuff is the importance of the job you have been given. Since 2005, I've desired to be ministry full-time, yet the Lord didn't pull me out of my job to set me apart for ministry. This has taught me to wait patiently and actively. I am thankful to say, that wherever I was and whatever I was doing, the Lord gave me a peace that said, "This is where I want you now." I had to learn to not so much look to future, but to this moment which was given to me and to glorify God in that moment. To work for the Lord (Eph. 6:4) and to know that working on computers is a good endeavor. I am very thankful to learn this lesson and so many more before I step into ministry. I'm thankful I worked out in the world, before I worked in the church.

To all those who have been there (my family and co-workers)
This reflection will read more like the inside of a CD booklet: I first want to thank my Lord, who is the great provider and is the one I ultimately work for. Whatever I do, may it be for your glory, my joy, and others good. To my wife, Mandy, for all the lunches and notes, for spend the money I make wisely, and for doing the best and most important job caring and nurturing our kids. Love you! To Lydia and Molly... guess what? Daddy is going to home all the time which means, "Let's play!" To my parents for always supporting me in whatever I do. And now to my co-workers: David, thank you for teaching me about computers; Ginny, thank you for teaching me how to be a good boss since you are one, by the way, did you ever find a blueberry crumb donuts?; John, even though your downstairs you are still apart of "us", and thanks for some laughs; Manya, thank you for giving me a hard time; Matt, let's just say, "Rise UP! Go Falcons!"; and to Larry, who made the normal day truly enjoyable, for all our conversations and teaching me about every kind of hunting especially turkey. And I can't forget my dear friend and co-worker Marc who died last year (2011). For all the uncontrollable laughter, "loud eater", IT Olympics, Unreal Tournament Game of Year Edition, all our debates about nothing but even more so our conversations about the Lord and so much more. To all my other Reinhardt family... it has been one swell ride!

No Captions Necessary

Molly: 3 Months, 10 Days, Lots of Cuteness

Molly is growing longer, stronger, fatter and cuter everyday.

We just went to the doctors to find out she is 11 pounds 13 ounces. Let's just call that 12 pounds...once we put a onesie on...

She is towering over 65% of other girls in this nation at 24 inches!

She loves Mommy Milk (and prays for it every night under Lydia's direction), having her diaper changed and Clemson football (notice the Heisman pose).

She is kinda sleeping through the night. She usually goes from 8ish until 3ish. I consider that "through the night". Then she's back asleep until 8am or so. Overall, she is a very sleepy baby.

Molly is a champion burper. She loves to kick her legs. She has rolled over once...but I think it was an "accident" because it has not been repeated. She loves being in the car and usually falls asleep in her carseat.

 Her favorite activity is watching Big Sister Lydia. Lydia usually works her into the game of the hour; "Molly can be a mouse" (for Cinderella) or "Molly is a little fish" (if we are playing "Jonah") or, Molly's favorite, "Molly can be the crab guy" (if we are playing "Little Mermaid").

She is a blessing. Cute, easy going and God's perfect-timing addition to the Stock Household.