Christmas with the Sampleys

Nick and Kristen playing Super Mario Brothers

Nathan got some old video games from Nick and Kristen. Here he is playing Contra in his PJs early in the morning, looking like he's about 7 years old. :)

Nathan and I got Mumers some scarves in Israel.

We got Daddy an oil lamp from Jesus' time. He bought one there when he came to visit me, but it broke a few years ago.

Christmas with the Parkers

Mom and Dad Parker


Nathan and Nicole

I don't know why, but I thought it would be fun for me to stick my arm out and take a picture of myself with everyone in the family. I thought I had adequately explained this to everyone, but I think my sweet FIL was still confused when I took this shot. :)

Me and my MIL

DH and me

SIL Joy

SIL Hannah

BIL Andrew

BIL Philip

Our Little Christmas

Look at my pretty new necklace!

Nathan shows off his new socks.

Here are the new Uggs compared to the old ones. I bought the one on the right when I was 14, and after countless wear, it finally sprouted a hole last season. Let's just say I was way ahead of fashion times!

My husband bought me new Uggs! This is my face of disbelief.


Nathan got a suit jacket to match the pants and vest he wore for Jim and Courtney's wedding. Now he has a complete suit! However, he still can't shake the scary face when he wears it.

Nathan bought me a necklace that is an envelope with a little love letter inside. The letter says "I love you."

Here are all of our presents to each other. I'm sorry I couldn't flip them properly. I'm using my mom's computer. :) Merry Christmas everyone!

I Love Christmas Cards!

Here is a picture of our laundry room door. On the left are Polaroids of people who have spent the night at our house. On the right is this year's Christmas card collection (so far). My mother always tapes her vast collection to her cabinets each year, and I just couldn't help but do the same in my own home. She calls it her "prayer wall" as soon as the holidays have passed. I think I'll do the same, at least until the tape becomes un-sticky and the pictures fall off. :)

I Won!

I won second place at our church's chili cook-off out of eleven entries. Booyah! I got some of my Grandma Lavelle's culinary blood. My friend Kristin captured my best impersonation of my mother winning all of her game shows. I seriously love second place. You get all the prizes without the pressure to perform the next year. :)

Look Who Came to Surprise Me?

This is my dear friend, mentor, college mom, and spiritual godmother, Kathy Blume. She also introduced me to Nathan. She is AWESOME! I'm so glad she came to the Christmas program last night. It didn't hurt that her son, daughter-in-law, and one of ther grandchildren were a part of the program as well. I chased after her in the parking lot and got a quick picture before she left to go home to Indiana this morning.

Christ Church Christmas Program

If you're in the Atlanta area, come check out our church's Christmas program this Sunday night, the 14th, at 5 and/or 7:30. It's going to be a very worshipful service.

http://christchurchatlanta.org/www/index.php

Hair Pictures

Can you tell that these pictures were taken early this morning? The bags under my eyes clearly communicate this fact. Anyway, I took some hair pictures for my mom to see. I definitely have a "hair pictures face." Kristi does the pouty lips for her hair pictures. I do the Michael Jordan tongue.

Report Card Pictures

You can click on any of these papers to see a bigger picture... if you're into medical charts. :)

This one is my favorite. The gray area is normal. The dark black line is my median blood glucose reading since October 16th. You can see how I was feeling those first few weeks. ROLLER COASTER! Then, I mellowed out. Aaaah...

Again, the gray area is normal and the dark black line is my median blood sugar reading. However, this one charts my median score over an average 24 hour period. It's been highest at night. The individual little plus signs are each of my tests.

That circle Pat drew around the number 7.0 is CLUTCH! Normal! Happy dance!

My A+ Report Card

I went to the doctor on Tuesday for my 6-week post-diagnosis checkup. They checked my meter for all of the tests I’ve done over the last six weeks (239 of them), and I got back a fabulous report. As of about two weeks ago, my levels are completely normal! Pat, my nurse practitioner, showed me printouts from my meter that showed all kinds of charts and graphs showing my progress. My A1C level went from 11 (an average 310 blood sugar reading) to 7 (an average 150 blood sugar reading). I asked her to make copies of the printouts for me to show off to whoever was interested in looking at them.

Pat said that she’s never seen anyone get diabetes under control so quickly. Praise God! At my last visit she told me it would take six months to get regulated, and during those first four miserable weeks, I thought I wouldn't live to see six more months. BUT! God is good, and now I am feeling great! I just need to keep doing what I’m doing with my disciplined eating and testing, and you need to keep doing what you’re doing with your prayers.

I walked out of the hospital more proud of my A+ diabetes report card than I ever had been of any academic report card. On my way to the car, I was tearing up, overwhelmed with the thought of all of your love and prayers and time and help. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support for Nathan and me during this rough period.

I love you.

Australia

Nathan and I went to see the movie Australia for date night last night. Wow! I was so excited to be going to the movies in the first place, because the last movie we saw together in the theater was Babel, which was a miserable experience. Nathan had a hard time following multiple interwoven plots and was constantly asking me questions.

"Who's that?" he'd ask.

"That's Brad Pitt, honey."

"Is he famous?"

"Yes, honey."

"Has he been in any other movies?"

"Yes, quite a few, honey."

"Oh! I know him. He's married to that girl from 'Friends.'"

"Sigh..."

On the other hand, Australia was so, so amazing. I just loved it! It had beautiful cinematography, a great plot, multi-dimensional characters, complex social issues, etc. I enjoyed every minute of it. For more information, go to http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455824/

You won't regret it!

The Hunter Strikes Again

So, in stark contrast to the date night post a few weeks ago, I took Nathan's picture before church yesterday. Because it was below freezing, he allowed me to pick out a sweater. The man is always hot!

Our washing machine randomly leaked every once in a while, so for the last three years, I've just stuffed paper towels underneath it to keep the water from flooding out into the kitchen. However, when my folks were here the washing machine went kaputz. It didn't spin anymore, so Nathan and my dad wringed out all of the clothes outside in the harsh winter wind. I was thinking that I would have to do the same thing for a while, as I happened to marry an extremely cheap guy. Fortunately, I told Nathan about a website called freecycle.org (people want to get rid of stuff, but they don't want to throw it away), and he found a washing maching within days. It works great, and we didn't have to pay for it! Yay! Now Nathan is addicted to the site, and he's since gotten a pool table for the youth room and put in a request for size 7 designer shoes for me. How sweet! :)

Essay Overload

I have two sets of essays to grade for each of my three Language Arts classes and another set coming in on Friday. That's nine classes of essays! I'm overwhelmed, but it's partly my fault, because I've had too many commitments, and I've been procrastinating and wringing my hands about how much work I have to do. Is it no wonder, then, that I read this in Jesus Calling just now?

"Come to Me, and rest in My Peace. My Face is shining upon you, in rays of Peace transcending understanding. Instead of trying to figure things out yourself, you can relax in the Presence of the One who knows everything. As you lean on Me in trusting dependence, you feel peaceful and complete. This is how I designed you to live: in close communion with Me.

When you are around other people, you tend to cater to their expectations - real or imagined. You feel enslaved to pleasing them, and your awareness of My Presence grows dim. Your efforts to win their approval eventually exhaust you. you offer these people dry crumbs rather than the living water of My Spirit flowing through you. This is not My way for you! Stay in touch with Me, even during your busiest moments. Let My Spirit give you words of grace as you live in the Light of My Peace."

Look at What My Husband Just Did!

He called me at school from his cell phone this morning. "I did it! We're going to have food for the winter!" Kristi, this reminds me of your obsession with Oregon Trail, except it's for real! Since his first hunting trip is under his belt, he's now a true Southerner. If I could only go surfing, I'd be a true Californian.

Mom and Dad's Visit

Mom and Dad came for a visit this last weekend. I was so looking forward to having them here. We had an absolute blast! We saw the Bodies Exhibit and experienced Dialogue in the Dark at Atlantic Station, went out to eat, shopped, etc. I got more "treats" when they were here than I have in a year! I really don't mind being spoiled by them every once in a while. :)

We went to breakfast before they left at West Egg.

What a handsome guy!

Of course, Nathan wanted to treat all of us to a shopping spree at the thrift store we went to last week. Tuesday was Veteran's Day, and everything in the store was 50% off. This is a picture of Nathan paying roughly $16 for four big bags of clothes and books.

Here's Dad and me at my school, Whitefield Academy.

Mom and I came out of the dressing room at T.J. Maxx to find my dad chatting on the phone with my sister while lounging on the display furniture.

All of the Parkers came over for tortilla soup on Saturday night. We had a great time!

Thrift Store Fashion Show

So, I was in charge of date night last night, and I blindfolded Nathan and took him to the Smyrna Thrift Store. We got there 30 minutes before closing, and I gave him a $2 budget, but Nathan came away with several treats using most of his discretionary fund for the month. He got three plaid collared shirts, a dark blue corduroy sport coat, and the beauties you see displayed here (a plaid sport coat and some shoes that "really support [his] arches").

He was actually planning on wearing this outfit to work, but after a lot of pleading, I convinced him to at least put on a white collared shirt under the blazer. No amount of begging would get him to put on black shoes, a black belt, or nicer pants. He just wanted me to take pictures of him modeling his new digs. I personally think the look is borderline used car salesman/sex offender. He may be a horrible dresser, but at least he makes me laugh!

Why are Sundays Hard?

Saturday was a fabulous day. I slept in until 9, did some laundry and cleaned the kitchen, brought Nathan some lunch at seminary, I went to Target, did some grocery shopping, hung out with friends in the evening, etc. It was a very close to normal day, and to boot, the weather was lovely.

Sunday started out the same way, but, unfortunately, it didn't end up that way. Before church, I checked my sugar (82) and Nathan asked if I wanted some cereal. I said, "Yes, please." I neglected to tell him that half a cup of granola is close to my maximum carb count for the meal. I ate a big bowl of the stuff - probably about a cup and a half - and then when we got to church, I had a few (okay, maybe more than a few) bits of bagel pieces. Carbs, carbs, carbs.

During Sunday school, I just could not keep my eyes open. I totally fell asleep when Nathan was teaching! Afterwards, I went into the bathroom with a pounding headache to check my sugar, and it was at 326! No wonder! I was kicking myself for not being careful with my food intake. I was also really discouraged, because after my good day yesterday, I was thinking that I was closer to having this thing under control. I haven't had a reading that high since before I started taking the shots.

Anyway, today my sugars are a little high, but they dipped kind of low in the last hour. I hate feeling so unpredictably inbalanced. Please pray that this six-month-long balancing period will be shorter. I don't like feeling this way, and it really affects everything: my work, my home life, my spirit, my marriage, etc. However, while it lasts, I would like to learn how to turn these setbacks into opportunities to grow closer to the Lord and to depend on Him with every step.

Once again, Jesus Calling had encouragement for me yesterday:

Grow strong in the Light of My Presence. Your weakness does not repel Me. On the contrary, it attracts My Power, which is always available to flow into a yielded heart. Do not condemn yourself for your constant need of help. Instead, come to Me with your gaping neediness; let the Light of My Love fill you.

A yielded heart does not whine or rebel when the going gets rough. It musters the courage to thank Me even during hard times. Yielding yourself to My will is ultimately an act of trust. In quietness and trust is your strength.

Youth Retreat Pictures

The gang

We have a movie director-to-be in our youth group. He baited this 7th grader into playing a dead body, complete with ketchup and hotdog leftovers as intestines.

Special effects this amazing were due to a huge group effort, as you can see.

Do you recognize our flower girl, all grown up?

Some girls chilling out.

I'm Good Today

To quote a dear friend and elder from Christ Church, Ken Culpepper, "I'm good today."

Today has been the best start to my day in two weeks! Thank you for your prayers. Thursday-Sunday was ROUGH, ROUGH, ROUGH. My blood sugar levels were unpredictably swinging this way and that, and I felt exhausted, hungry, grouchy, and emotional. I was pretty worthless as a leader on the youth trip this weekend, but the kids had fun, and Nathan's talks were encouraging. There are some great pictures of the retreat, and I brought the camera to school today, but I forgot the cords that plug into the computer. Geez.

Sunday afternoon, on a walk around our neighborhood, I had a complete meltdown on my poor husband. It was one of those rare out of body experiences. It felt like I was watching myself being hysterical and making absolutely no sense, but there was nothing I could do to stop it! Nathan was trying to reason with me at first (I usually respond very well to reason), but he finally just gave up, wrapped me in his arms, sat me down on the side of the road, and cried with me.

Today is actually the first day I've worn mascara since this whole diabetes diagnosis (I figure, why wear it when it'll be cried off later?), but I just ruined it again remembering that little story and writing it out. Thank you Jesus for my husband!

Please continue to pray for us as we, along with my doctors, seek the best path to balancing my body. I've been getting lots of advice from friends, and we're just trying to sort it all out and seek God's will as to which direction to go. How should I eat? What should I eat? When should I eat? How much should I eat? How much insulin? When? The questions go on and on. Yesterday's excerpt from Jesus Calling says this:

"As you become increasingly aware of My Presence, you find it easier to discern the way you should go. This is one of the practical benefits of living close to Me. Instead of wondering about what is on the road ahead or worrying about what you should do if... or when..., you can concentrate on staying in communication with Me. When you actually arrive at a choice-point, I will show you which direction to go."

After reading passages like that one, my faith is increased that God sees me and cares about what is happening in my life.

Youth Retreat This Weekend

Pray for Nathan and me as we go on a youth retreat this weekend up at Lake Lanier. I am still struggling with my health (my blood sugar swings up and down hundreds of points during the day leaving me feeling really loopy) and I feel behind with... life. Here's a bit more from Jesus Calling.

"I have called you to walk with Me down paths of Peace. I want you to blaze a trail for others who desire to live in My peaceful Presence. I have chosen you less for your strengths than for your weaknesses, which amplify your need for Me. Depend on Me more and more, and I will shower Peace on all your paths."

It's October 22nd, and Sommer is Still Hot!

Three years ago today, Nathan and I fell in love! We spent a bulk of October 22nd, 2005 in Irvine, supporting my sister at her Concordia University volleyball match. The announcer was a kick, and he would make clever remarks between plays. After one kill by Lindsay Sommer, he said, "It's October 22nd, and Sommer is still hot!" We laughed a lot about that one, and it became a joke and a reminder of that special day.

After the match, we went out for dinner with my parents and some of my sister's friends. My friend, Amy, drove my sister, Nathan, and I to P.F. Chang's at the Spectrum. He and I were secretly holding hands in the back seat, but we got caught by the girls! So embarrassing... After we returned to Bakersfield, Nathan and I had the most amazing talk of our lives. We went from, "I like you and I think you're cool" to "Let's get married and have babies together" in the course of just a few hours.

Thanks to Amy, who reminded us of today's anniversary.

"It's October 22nd, and Sommer is still hot!"

The Rest of Al Pal's Visit

So, you readers should be more than satisfied with the number of posts I've put up today. I think I added four or five. I guess it's feast or famine with this blog.

Happy birthday Phillip (in the very back)! These are the in-laws, minus Hannah, who is taking the picture.



Here's Allison and I at the Coke museum. We had just gotten out of a really intense 4-D movie, hence the glasses.

Hey! Cherry Coke Zero has no carbs! Sweet!

Here's Allison swiping her free Coke, which she left behind in our refrigerator. :)

I miss you already Allison. Thanks for coming to visit me. It couldn't have been more perfectly timed. See you in Tempe, baby!