Claudia is 12 (almost 13) years old now....and I am so thankful that God is allowing me to be her mom! In July of this year, Claudia called me and her Daddy while she was on a youth retreat with our church and she told us she had given her life to the Lord....and was saved. I can not describe the feeling a mom has when her little girl accepts Jesus into her life. Nothing can be better! Following Christ is the most important decision she will ever make and I am so thankful for her decision. My prayer for her is that she will pick up her cross and follow Him each and every day of her life. When she is in situations, I pray she will feel His conviction on her life....and hear His voice....and make decisions that will glorify Him!
Claudia and Gabbie at Berry College
Berry College Weekend
Brooke did't want me to get her picture!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Berry College Basketball! First Game!
Claudia had her first basketball game in Rome, Georgia at Berry College! We went to Rome on Friday night and stayed near the college. We were able to spend the day at the college. It's beautiful! We enjoyed the time as a family. Brooke and Gabbie went with us! Claudia did really good and was so excited about her first game. It is our prayer that she will allow God to use the talents He's given her to serve Him.
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Start
I am the mother of two wonderful girls and the wife to an amazing husband! Anyone that knew us growing up would have NEVER put the two of us together. We are both very different, we grew up in different homes, we grew up with different lives, taught different values, and were on different paths.....Andy's cousin, Joey, worked for my dad and Joey told me that I should go out with his cousin. After I asked if I knew his cousin, Joey said, "Yea, you know him.....Andy Hester." My first response was "NO! We would never have anything in common....I'm layed back and pretty calm....He's not.....I did my homework in high school....and he DID NOT! He copied my homework! Ummm, NO! I'm not going out with him!" Joey did try to tell me that Andy had changed...but I didn't believe any one could change that much! (Shows how much I knew about what God could do in someones life!)
Long story...short.....I did end up going out with Andy (I happened to see him one night while I was out on another date...and when I saw him....I forgot about the differences and my demands that I wouldn't go out with him....and I guess you could say....I melted!) On our first date, Andy came to pick me up....and my mother opened the door and said, "Chris, it is nice to see you!" Andy replied, "Ummm, I'm not Chris...am I here on the wrong night...I'm Andy." My mom will never forget her greeting....and his reply! No, he wasn't there on the wrong night....he was there just on time....and I was still getting ready. After I came down, he told me that if I wanted to stay at the house a little longer he could come pick me back up. He really needed to go to the funeral home....a friend of the family had passed away..he said I could go if I wanted.....but he didn't know if that would be much fun. Well, I went, because I wanted to sit beside him in his truck! And I was a little afraid that if I let him go....he might not come back to get me....so our first date....was at the funeral home. But I KNEW after that first date....he was the one I would marry.........We went on our first date on April 13, 1994....Engaged in August of 1994..and were married the following April 1, 1995!
I wouldn't change it for anything! The dating......and the wedding were perfect! But best of all...... the life after the wedding....well, it has been way better than I deserve!
Our first child, Claudia was born on April 13, 1997 (funny that our first date was April 13 1994!) Claudia was a beautiful baby...and an easy baby! She had her crying spells at the same time every night....but she was healthy......and perfect! Her delievery was another story....you know what the dr's say..."it's your first baby...it will take a while....stay at home!" YEA RIGHT...I got to the hospital too late for any "labor drugs!" and so here we go....natural child birth.....and it was not a fun experience.....but holding her....was worth all the pain!
I was planning on Claudia being the only child. I didn't want to miss having "labor drugs" again, so my solution, was just to plan on not having any more babies!
Well, surprise.....5 years later....I'm sitting at the gymnastics studio while Claudia is flipping over bars and rolling on the floor.......looking through my calendar and I realize.......I might need to check on something......so....after gymnastics, we had to take a trip to the drug store!
I got home.....and in about two minutes, we discovered that another baby would soon be on the way. Andy was thrilled.....my first thought was...."I can't miss the labor drugs this time!"
Well, I got there in plenty time.....Got the drugs....felt great.....about to fall asleep and the dr. comes in.....she says...oh my, we have a baby coming! She tells me to push....and I did...ONE TIME...and then I hear a cry! Our new baby came...with no pain.....wow! That birth was easy! McKenzie was born a little early...and soon after coming home, she started getting sick. We were in the dr's office every other week with something. Ear infections, sinus infections, throat, a virus, breathing problems....something always! At 9 months old, I rushed her to our dr. with a fever of 105.....they immediately told me that she needed to be taken to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta....we could take her...or they could get us air lifted. We took her and drove there (and didn't get a speeding ticket)! It wasn't long after getting there, she was being taken for emergency surgery...she had an infection in her mastoid bone behind her ear...and they were going to go in and do a mastoidectomy (very rare infection)........they soon discovered that the bacteria was in her blood...and it was a strep bacteria. After months of going to contagious disease drs, blood drs, asthma and allergy drs. and immunologist..... her blood finally cleared up...and no traces of the bacteria were in her body. When she was one, we finally had a "clean bill of health".....When McKenzie was 2, she had her adenoids and tonsils taken out. When she was 3 she had singles. She started seeing another immunologiest and it was discovered that her body didn't accept certain antibodies from common childhood immunizations. She had some booster shots...and...lots of blood tests....and as of today....she had the total number on antibodies in her blood that any normal child her age would have.......This was totally done by the Grace Of God!
Claudia is in 7th grade now. She got saved on the summer retreat through our church....Heather Miller was able to be there with Claudia on the night Claudia accepted Jesus into her life! It was an amazing night....one I will NEVER forget.
She plays basketball for her school and she loves it! She has set goals for herself and I see her everyday working hard towards those goals! I'm proud of her for the christian stand she takes, how she has set goals and her determination to work towards those goals.
McKenzie is in 2nd grade now. She has been asking questions about salvation......so we know God is working on her. McKenzie likes to wear high heel shoes with frilly
dresses. She likes to dance around the house. She likes pocketbooks and makeup! She has a great teacher who has put a fire under her for reading....and she wants to read more and more books every night! She wants to be in 1st place for reading in her classroom. It's nice to see her working towards her goals too!
Andy has his own business. He works hard. He spends lots of nights away......He has crohn's disease....and we've been through a long road with his health....God has provided great dr's in our path and right now, it appears as he is having some short times of remission. This is such a blessing, because in the past he has been hurting every night....so praise GOD for the work he has done in Andy's health.
I am an instructional coach for the county. Teaching and working in the field of education is not a job to me. I feel it is what God has called me to do as a service to Him.......So I know, I have to give God my best in everything I do! I do miss having my own class...in my own classroom.....but it was time to jump out of my comfortable nest.....and spread my wings......sometimes I feel like I might crash into a tree...because this is all new. But, I have a super support staff, that will pick me back up and send me flying again!
Long story...short.....I did end up going out with Andy (I happened to see him one night while I was out on another date...and when I saw him....I forgot about the differences and my demands that I wouldn't go out with him....and I guess you could say....I melted!) On our first date, Andy came to pick me up....and my mother opened the door and said, "Chris, it is nice to see you!" Andy replied, "Ummm, I'm not Chris...am I here on the wrong night...I'm Andy." My mom will never forget her greeting....and his reply! No, he wasn't there on the wrong night....he was there just on time....and I was still getting ready. After I came down, he told me that if I wanted to stay at the house a little longer he could come pick me back up. He really needed to go to the funeral home....a friend of the family had passed away..he said I could go if I wanted.....but he didn't know if that would be much fun. Well, I went, because I wanted to sit beside him in his truck! And I was a little afraid that if I let him go....he might not come back to get me....so our first date....was at the funeral home. But I KNEW after that first date....he was the one I would marry.........We went on our first date on April 13, 1994....Engaged in August of 1994..and were married the following April 1, 1995!
I wouldn't change it for anything! The dating......and the wedding were perfect! But best of all...... the life after the wedding....well, it has been way better than I deserve!
Our first child, Claudia was born on April 13, 1997 (funny that our first date was April 13 1994!) Claudia was a beautiful baby...and an easy baby! She had her crying spells at the same time every night....but she was healthy......and perfect! Her delievery was another story....you know what the dr's say..."it's your first baby...it will take a while....stay at home!" YEA RIGHT...I got to the hospital too late for any "labor drugs!" and so here we go....natural child birth.....and it was not a fun experience.....but holding her....was worth all the pain!
I was planning on Claudia being the only child. I didn't want to miss having "labor drugs" again, so my solution, was just to plan on not having any more babies!
Well, surprise.....5 years later....I'm sitting at the gymnastics studio while Claudia is flipping over bars and rolling on the floor.......looking through my calendar and I realize.......I might need to check on something......so....after gymnastics, we had to take a trip to the drug store!
I got home.....and in about two minutes, we discovered that another baby would soon be on the way. Andy was thrilled.....my first thought was...."I can't miss the labor drugs this time!"
Well, I got there in plenty time.....Got the drugs....felt great.....about to fall asleep and the dr. comes in.....she says...oh my, we have a baby coming! She tells me to push....and I did...ONE TIME...and then I hear a cry! Our new baby came...with no pain.....wow! That birth was easy! McKenzie was born a little early...and soon after coming home, she started getting sick. We were in the dr's office every other week with something. Ear infections, sinus infections, throat, a virus, breathing problems....something always! At 9 months old, I rushed her to our dr. with a fever of 105.....they immediately told me that she needed to be taken to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta....we could take her...or they could get us air lifted. We took her and drove there (and didn't get a speeding ticket)! It wasn't long after getting there, she was being taken for emergency surgery...she had an infection in her mastoid bone behind her ear...and they were going to go in and do a mastoidectomy (very rare infection)........they soon discovered that the bacteria was in her blood...and it was a strep bacteria. After months of going to contagious disease drs, blood drs, asthma and allergy drs. and immunologist..... her blood finally cleared up...and no traces of the bacteria were in her body. When she was one, we finally had a "clean bill of health".....When McKenzie was 2, she had her adenoids and tonsils taken out. When she was 3 she had singles. She started seeing another immunologiest and it was discovered that her body didn't accept certain antibodies from common childhood immunizations. She had some booster shots...and...lots of blood tests....and as of today....she had the total number on antibodies in her blood that any normal child her age would have.......This was totally done by the Grace Of God!
Claudia is in 7th grade now. She got saved on the summer retreat through our church....Heather Miller was able to be there with Claudia on the night Claudia accepted Jesus into her life! It was an amazing night....one I will NEVER forget.
She plays basketball for her school and she loves it! She has set goals for herself and I see her everyday working hard towards those goals! I'm proud of her for the christian stand she takes, how she has set goals and her determination to work towards those goals.
McKenzie is in 2nd grade now. She has been asking questions about salvation......so we know God is working on her. McKenzie likes to wear high heel shoes with frilly
dresses. She likes to dance around the house. She likes pocketbooks and makeup! She has a great teacher who has put a fire under her for reading....and she wants to read more and more books every night! She wants to be in 1st place for reading in her classroom. It's nice to see her working towards her goals too!
Andy has his own business. He works hard. He spends lots of nights away......He has crohn's disease....and we've been through a long road with his health....God has provided great dr's in our path and right now, it appears as he is having some short times of remission. This is such a blessing, because in the past he has been hurting every night....so praise GOD for the work he has done in Andy's health.
I am an instructional coach for the county. Teaching and working in the field of education is not a job to me. I feel it is what God has called me to do as a service to Him.......So I know, I have to give God my best in everything I do! I do miss having my own class...in my own classroom.....but it was time to jump out of my comfortable nest.....and spread my wings......sometimes I feel like I might crash into a tree...because this is all new. But, I have a super support staff, that will pick me back up and send me flying again!
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