Christmas memories

We had such a great time seeing our families last week. Megan came for a visit from China and we loved hearing her stories. Matthew was a little fussier the past 2 days and I think it is because he was used to being held all the time in SC....all his aunts and grandmas (and uncles and grandpas). It is amazing to see him learn new things daily. In the past week he has found his hands and feet and is now reaching for things.
One memory from the trip was the three of us playing roles at David's Mom's church (her husband is the pastor there). Matthew was Jesus, I was Mary and David was Joseph. Of course my sisters were in the front row and were like paparazzi (somehow they didn't see the line in the bulletin that said not to take pictures during the service). I asked David if he was having the same thoughts as me...."why did I say I'd do this?", "I cannot look over at my sisters or I'm going to crack up", "I hate being the center of attention", etc. David instead was super-spiritual....he said he was thinking, "wow! This is what it would have been like to be the father of the Savior of the world..to have all these people come visit your son, etc." I felt bad I didn't use the situation more to praise God for the gift of His Son.
Below is the picture of Matthew as Jesus in the manger. He did so well!

Let it Snow!!!

Well it has been over a year since I've posted a blog, and my friend Julie encouraged me to use blogging as almost a scrapbook as Matthew grows up. I thought that was a good idea, since who knows when I'd ever get to making one for him! So, here begins my blogging life (well, I'll try to keep up with it!) What better opportunity to begin than a documentary about our road trip to SC in the 2009 blizzard!

First, let me go back to say that we have been so blessed to have such a healthy, beautiful son who has already brought us so much joy! Matthew Kemp Campbell was born on September 30, 2009 and he was 9 lbs. 13 oz.....2 more pounds than the doctors thought....and 22 inches. He's now between 14-15 lbs and he's not quite 3 months old. He LOVES movement, as evidenced by his enjoyment of the swing, being rocked, swung in his car seat, and car rides (praise Jesus for that one on our 16 1/2 hr trip!).

So, David and I don't like missing out on something fun, so when we heard that it was going to snow we decided that we would still try to make the Kemp's party on Friday night and then we'd leave to drive through the night to South Carolina to visit our folks, instead of leaving Saturday morning like we intended. We frantically packed in record time, then left to pick up Katie on the way to the Kemp's. We left for SC right after I fed Matthew at the Kemp's, at about 9:45 pm. We knew it might be a treacherous journey when we saw cars sliding and spinning on the on-ramp from the Dulles toll road to 495. We came out okay and then traffic was moving pretty well until we got on 95 South.

We had no idea at the time the gravity of our decision to enter the most traveled road on the east coast, (right?). First of all, I must have heard 100 times or so (from David) how all of VDOT must have had the night off because nobody was plowing 95. Oh, I take that back. We passed one snowplow and, though it had its plow down, it was missing most of the snow for some reason (I mean, how do you tell the snow plow guy that all his efforts are in vain....he can't see he is of no use because he can't see the trail of snow behind him). Back to my point about the decision to get on 95 being so huge.....you see, we had no idea that once we got on the freeway, we would not be able to EVER get off until we got out of the snowstorm.....which was at about the NC border. ALL the exit ramps were nightmarish in that the cars that attempted to exit 95 ended up fishtailing and turning sideways and blocking the exit, or in a ditch. We began to see that we wouldn't be able to stop at a hotel for some sleep even if we wanted to (unless we bailed on the side of the road and walked to the hotels like some others did). Not only that, but we wouldn't be able to stop for food for us or to feed Matthew, nor the typical bathroom or rest breaks (more to come on those stories). We didn't want to pull over because the snow was piling up and it would be difficult not to get stuck. We saw probably 100 cars who had slid off and were stuck in the deeper snow on the shoulder. Scary, to be stranded all night in your car in a blizzard, so David was driving so carefully and slowly. We were going between 0 and 35 miles per hour the whole way to Richmond. All told, it took NINE hours to get through Richmond (normally less than 2!) and therefore, we knew we were in for an all-nighter to get to the promised land of non-icy roads. Who knew that there would be parking lot traffic at 4 a.m.! All of northern VA was trying to leave before the storm too!

I know that God was giving us a little grace by having Matthew be AMAZINGLY good all night. It was good that we left right in time for him to go to bed, because he slept while our stress levels were the highest. He woke up to eat and the first round I felt so prepared because I had put some bottles with water and formula in the diaper bag, so we could feed him in his car seat. By the second round, I decided I NEEDED to feed him because my shirt was so soaked from leaking breastmilk since I was not able to pump (note to self for next blizzard.....make sure breast pads are accessible on a road trip and make sure I have BOTH parts of the manual pump). Since we happened to be at a standstill in traffic at the time, I decided to take him out of his carseat to feed him. The NEXT round (I was beginning to feel more and more like Brittany Spears) I pulled him out to feed him while we were driving (do I get worst mother of the year?) and then proceeded to change a very dirty diaper (with Katie's help) while sitting next to him on the back seat (victory! Nothing on the seat.....just on his clothes).

As for ourselves, well that's a funny story. Katie had to go to the bathroom first and I thought, how perfect, she can use a diaper! I mean WHAT WOULD YOU DO, if you were stranded on an interstate and REALLY had to go? She tried but just couldn't get past the thought that she might pee all over her clothes in the process and she would be stuck like that for many, many hours. She somehow managed to hold it for another 2 hours. I, on the other hand, soon had to relieve myself too, and I opted to prove to her the diaper method works. And let me tell you, it's perfect! I can't believe I'm admitting that on here, but again, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Later we happened to be stopped behind another accident under an overpass and Katie managed to walk up the concrete angled slab (in my shoes....did I tell you she had her high-heeled boots on for the blizzard trip? Man were we prepared!) to get up to the top and go behind a bush to be out of view. David, with the iron bladder he has, easily waited until we stopped in the promised land.

David was a saint because, not only did he drive 13 of the 16 1/2 hrs, but he endured all the back seat driving from Katie and I. David saw the drive as a challenge, trying to find the best lane with the most traction and least amount of risk. We were all fairly nervous/fearful as we drove on the ice and snow, and we'd be telling David, "Get behind that truck!", "Move into those tracks!", "Get in that lane!" to "help" him navigate the treacherous roads. An additional challenge was the ice and snow that caked on the windshield wipers, limiting visibility. We had to try to knock off the ice and snow off the windshield wipers while driving occasionally. We actually DID have an ice scraper and brush....we weren't totally unprepared, but we only managed to stop under an overpass once to use it. Had not our friends (Allie and Amy K) helped us get ready for our blizzard drive before our departure, we would not have had any snacks or drinks the whole way (since we couldn't stop). Thanks girls for planning ahead for us! We kept track of the temperature as it kept inching up to above freezing and finally at about 5:30 a.m. the snow turned to freezing rain and the roads weren't as icy, praise God! By the time we got into South Carolina, the snow/sleet had stopped and the roads were just slushy....and further on we had dry roads!!! Yay! After we stopped for breakfast it became a mission for David to make it with only that one stop, since we were not far off. We finally made it to my parents' house at 2:20 p.m., over 16 1/2 hours later.

We end the year with an eventful drive to visit family and are thankful to God we made it safely. We are excited for the week we will spend here......Merry Christmas to all!

Guys night In

So webbie and I were having a bit of brew-ha-ha upstairs here. He was a man eager for the feast - went through a few iterations of the bottle and now chilling with his legs out. Wow it is a miracle all that guy needs to survive is supplied by the air and his Mom. His feet are so tiny - so amazing. I look at him and immediately know there is a God who loves him so much.


     We learned he definitely responds to high voices - someone said that the other day but it was proven today statistically when Becky was experimenting at a time when he needed feeding. He was bawling, but when she would talk in a high-pitch voice to him calmer times were had.

      Did I say what a great time our family had yesterday? It was perfect, Matthew ate just before and after the hike. It was nice to give Amy some time away from taking care of him, and we were able to refresh our thoughts and outlook for the next 2 weeks. Amy's just a really awesome Mom, she loves the little guy so much and takes care of him so amazingly!

     As for me, did I say I needed to drop a few pounds? Amy definitely is beating me on the weight loss bet. This is what I've come to below:

Looking Glass

The imagination is quite amazing, don't you think? The great thing about books is that 1000 people could read them and each would imagine different physical features of the objects in the book.

      Well my (David) perception of what a delivery room would look like was probably based on TV shows. Where you have the see thru glass as everyone is watching the baby be delivered, and the Papa is inside holding his (hopefully) wife's hand while she's having contractions and pushing, and is in lots of pain and sweating, all in all like a controlled laboratory environment.

      When we walked into the delivery room on Wednesday, it was exactly not what I had thought. A bed with a drip machine on one side and monitors on another. A TV in the back middle and 2 lights on top. A curtain in front of door as it opens. A sink a bit from the bed (where the laptop would rest) and a chair on the other side of the room (a place to sit for the queasy no doubt). Where was the looking glass so we could examine the subject?

      It was a lot cozier than I thought! We had Dr. Gopal, 2 nurses, Amy,myself,Katie, and 2 other nurses at times. Amy was in a bit of pain (before the Epideral) but afterwords she wasn't cringing at all, until she was pushing. Considering how big Matthew was she didn't show the pain as much I had imagined she would. And, contrary to many stories I've heard from folks, she wasn't yelling at me defiantly "This is your fault" and the like.

      It was exactly not how I thought it would be. But looking back now it's exactly as I wish it were.

Photos from Oct 01 and 02, 2009

Hey all!
We've just uploaded 30-some picts from the last 2 days. Use the directory link below and you can select pictures to view. They should be full screen but not too long to load.

Click on the following link:

Pictures Oct 01 and 02 2009

I'm looking at a better interface, but here you at least get the nicely detailed photos.

The Earth

just screams of our Creator. The sun rising and setting - letting us sleep and giving us photosynthesis and vitamin D. The water - allows us to survive, Animals,plants to eat. Mountains proclaiming His majesty. Raw materials everywhere to build tools and shelter. A hospitable planet year-round with seasons and asteroid-sweepers to protect us from disaster. Friends and families to share our lives with and the institution of Marriage to model His nature.

Everything that has breath praise the Lord (Psalm 150:6) He's created a universe and designed it - all billion years long and as many light years wide, just for you and me! He would have done it just for you!!!! The love that our Lord has for us cannot be put to words. His sacrifice on the Cross - can't be fully understood the price that was paid and the love that Jesus has for each of us!!

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14)

I am continually amazed at the love our God has for each of us!!!

Great story from Winchester

So on Wednesday I decided to head to Winchester to get some tax advice from an accountant recommended on a facebook post to my friend Amy F's page. It's a 1-hour drive from my house, and in the "toxic" minivan, quite a long stretch. So I go over there expecting to pay $60 for the consultation (as I had asked when I spoke to her on the phone).

I get there a few minutes late (I was frantically printing out at the time 80 pages of IRS forms before - I only printed out 20 and luckily that was enough) She works out of her home, so I knock on the door, go in, and immediately notice "The Smell". This is, of course, the smell of a house of someone who smokes incessantly. I think it rather funny (if it wasn't for the health damage) that I'm driving in a car spewing exhaust through the vents and then going into a smoke-filled house (so much that I had to replace clothes when I arrived back at home). Well anyway, I won't dwell on this because this is a great story as I said in the title.

So the accountant (Pat) is helping me look over my forms and making sure I'm doing everything right with all of my forms - and I'm asking her questions and everything. So a little into it, when we're talking about expenses related to rental property, she says "Now here you would put tax accountant fees, so for example $25, but you wont need any here since I'm not going to charge you". Now I heard that and thought "Well, that just means I'm not getting charged the full tax accountant fees since she's not doing my taxes". Didn't think anything of it for a while.

So the only thing Pat didn't know was how to deal with my ISO's wrt AMT (but being a tax accountant in Winchester, how many times do you have to deal with ISO's). So she said she'll look at that Saturday and get back to me.

I got some good advice and now have almost finished adjusting my taxes. I feel much better now. Anyways after the hour or so session, I ask "So how much do I owe you?", seeing as she hasn't mentioned anything about it. She says "Nothing" ?! And then says "Look at this stack here", as she's pointing to a stack of account sheets and books, "I spend most my days doing bookkeeping for companies, which is boring to me. This was a break for me - I really enjoy looking at taxes!". As I was walking out, I felt like maybe I should drop a 20 somewhere, but I thought maybe we'll just send her a gift card or something.

So what could have been just a normal going-to-the-tax-lady experience became an anything-but-normal experience. Small-town America gave me a surprise, and hopefully I can spread the word of this nice tax lady (check out www.patsfasttax.com) and the business she runs out of her home. Definitely worth the drive!

Good 'ol Chuck

Remeber the old Chuck Norris movies? Well, you probably don't remember any specific titles, or any of the "Plots", but I was a young kid enthralled by his characters. Part of it was the cheesy one-liners. Most of it was the underestimation people had of him and then quickly how he just dominated thereafter. Now TBS had lots of his films on TV so I was able to watch most of them with appropriate editing for TV (not the case anymore surely).

And then later, I encountered Chuck on "Walker Texas Ranger". Again, I was drawn to the show, but here he had more of a law-abiding family-type character.

And then fast forward to a few years ago when I find out he is a born-again Christian. I saw some of the more recent "Walker Texas Ranger" episodes, and there he is quoting the Bible. Wow! Who would have thought, the guy I idolized growing up is someone I could still look up to now.

Even crazier, he has a weekly column on humanevents.com and wnd.com. I've been reading those for about a year now, and I have to say, I have agreed with him moreso than any of the other writers on those sites.

And the recent letter (Chuck's Column) talks about what Obama promised a while back, which is that the 1st thing he'd do as president is sign the "Freedom of Choice" Act. This would eliminate all state laws wrt abortion (i.e. partial birth abortion restrictions), would help lead to taxpayer funding, and would force religious hospitals to perform abortions,etc. There is a link at the bottom to an online petition at fightfoca.com (great place to read up about this)-> I just signed this because it is just too important to me. With this Pro-Abortion president and his probably 2 pro-abortion nominations to the supreme court the Pro-Life movement has hit a huge setback probably for the next 30 years.

Once again, how my boyhood idol and I think the same on so many things I'll never know. Amy and I instituted part of what he does every night with his wife - that is, reading a Psalm together. I know what you all are saying - "When are we getting the Total Gym?" Well, it's not on the table yet, but who knows what the year will bring :)