Posts
Well, I noticed it's been a little over a month since we've posted anything to the blog site, but it's been a hectic month! With the collapse of free-market economics and the accompanying threat of lost jobs and economic doom and gloom; political corruption and scandal unrivaled in the history of our great nation; the constant threat of global war and terrorism only heightened by Iran ignoring sanctions in continuing to enrich Uranium, India and Pakistan edging closer to potential nuclear war while Russia engages in military maneuvers in Latin America...oh yeah, I was also in the process of finishing my first semester here at RTS and now have a whole new appreciation for how much studying has to go into 12 hours of seminary work to prepare yourself for finals! That being said, next semester you can probably expect a TWO month gap in posting at the end of the semester!
The past few months have been a great time of study and preparation, but also of tremendous blessing in seeing God provide in so many different ways. We're slowly learning, as a family, that one of the greatest lessons of time spent in seminary is that of waiting on the Lord. We've been forced by many different situations to accept the fact that God simply doesn't work on our time-line and that a major part of faith is accepting that His promises will come to pass in His time. The most ironic part of this lesson has been that those promises that have been fulfilled the most out of line with what would have been our own timing have often proved to be the greatest blessings as we have learned first-hand the incredible grace, mercy, and love of the Father.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
More Fun From Shamrock Park!
Well, here's a quick little video that I PROMISE was not staged...you couldn't get Zayne to do something like this if you wanted him to or if someone was going to pay you $1,000,000.00 for him to star in a commercial, but sit him out in a park, turn the camera on, and HOPE he DOESN'T do something and you're SURE to get just what you DON'T want to happen!
Living For the Moment
Living on a seminary budget can be tough, especially after years of living on two incomes and now going back to just one (i.e. me mooching off of Valerie while going to school!) and doing it all while raising a child! Parenthood is expensive! Diapers, gallons and GALLONS of milk, and a 15-month old who already eats almost as much as I do every day! I don't know how people raise multiple kids!
Of course, I sometimes start wondering if I'm ready for Little Hilliard #2 to come along...then I see times like this and think that maybe it's better to just live for the moment and take things as they come. After all, my little man certainly seems to have made at least one friend for life!
I've seen God provide for our needs, and not only financially, in some mighty and supernatural ways in the past months and I know He will continue to do so, whatever happens. I'm beginning to realize that a big part of preparation for ministry is the unpleasant task of humbling our sinful pride and learning the not-so-easy-to-face fact that we are not the one in control...of anything.
So, am I ready for that second kid? I think I am, but you'll have to ask Valerie! Am I enjoying the first? More and more every day!
“Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they shall not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.” (Psalm 127:4-5)
Of course, I sometimes start wondering if I'm ready for Little Hilliard #2 to come along...then I see times like this and think that maybe it's better to just live for the moment and take things as they come. After all, my little man certainly seems to have made at least one friend for life!
I've seen God provide for our needs, and not only financially, in some mighty and supernatural ways in the past months and I know He will continue to do so, whatever happens. I'm beginning to realize that a big part of preparation for ministry is the unpleasant task of humbling our sinful pride and learning the not-so-easy-to-face fact that we are not the one in control...of anything.
So, am I ready for that second kid? I think I am, but you'll have to ask Valerie! Am I enjoying the first? More and more every day!
“Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they shall not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.” (Psalm 127:4-5)
Friday, October 31, 2008
Where Do They Learn These Things?
Well, I know they say that little kids are just like little sponges, soaking up everything from the world around them. That's what has me so confused about this video! I'm always so careful to make sure that Zayne is carefully sheltered from the world around him: I play him classical music all day long, speak nothing but the kindest words to him all day every day and never expose him to anything but a world of simplicity and love...you know, the way things must have been in Biblical times (Come on! I'm a seminary student!)
So can someone please explain to me how he's already picked up such bad habits as these? I had hopes for him of maybe joining a small reclusive band of Amish settlers as he got a little older so he wouldn't be polluted by the evils of modern society, but, as you can see, with the bad habits and attitutde he's already picked up they'll never take him now!
So can someone please explain to me how he's already picked up such bad habits as these? I had hopes for him of maybe joining a small reclusive band of Amish settlers as he got a little older so he wouldn't be polluted by the evils of modern society, but, as you can see, with the bad habits and attitutde he's already picked up they'll never take him now!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Commando or Maestro?
I've said from day one that Zayne was my "Little Soldier" and I think I may have just found the proof, but I'm not entirely sure. You see, last weekend Valerie went with the RTS women's group on a retreat and left the men at home alone. Of course such a bachelor weekend necessitated us watching SEVERAL war movies, including The Guns of Navarone, The Great Escape, and one that obviously struck a chord with Zayne: A Bridge Too Far.
Now, since Zayne hasn't quite mastered the English language I'm still not entirely sure what he was doing here, but as the title of this post indicates, I've narrowed it down to two possibilities: either he was already motivated to action by our previous movies and had taken up arms as a special forces commando with Sean Connery to wipe out the Nazi scum in "Operation Market Garden" OR he had slipped into the role of John Phillip Sousa, picked up the baton (or remote in this case) and was on the podium conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra in one of his many famous military marches.
I guess I'll leave it up to the imagination (or wishes) of the grandparents as to which of the two it might have been!
Now, since Zayne hasn't quite mastered the English language I'm still not entirely sure what he was doing here, but as the title of this post indicates, I've narrowed it down to two possibilities: either he was already motivated to action by our previous movies and had taken up arms as a special forces commando with Sean Connery to wipe out the Nazi scum in "Operation Market Garden" OR he had slipped into the role of John Phillip Sousa, picked up the baton (or remote in this case) and was on the podium conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra in one of his many famous military marches.
I guess I'll leave it up to the imagination (or wishes) of the grandparents as to which of the two it might have been!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Jeremiah Johnson...A Bear-Skinner in the making?
Well, we're not wrestling Griz' just yet (for those of you who have seen the Robert Redford film), but in a recent outing to our little neighborhood park we did get these pictures of our little outdoorsman. Now that we live somewhere that the climate makes it bearable to BE outside, he is definitely happiest when he's outdoors, exploring nature, and sometimes it seems like THE ONLY WAY to make him happy is to let him wander around in the great outdoors! I just keep reminding his mom that if he's this happy here, just imagine how happy he would be in some "unspoiled" nature like the Rockies of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho or (dare I hope) even Alaska?
Hey, a guy's gotta have dreams...
Hey, a guy's gotta have dreams...
Friday, September 12, 2008
Jesus Is A Friend of Mine!
I saw this video on a website and it pretty well summed up the educational process here at seminary so I thought I'd share it with everyone else.
Well, there may be a little more to it than this, but I think the clothes make up for their Theological deficiencies!
Enjoy!
Well, there may be a little more to it than this, but I think the clothes make up for their Theological deficiencies!
Enjoy!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Moving The Clevinger Clan
These pictures are from a few weeks ago when we drove High Point, NC to help Heather and Shaun move out of their apartment and into a rent house. I think we did a lot more playing than we did moving....
Monday, August 25, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Earning His Keep
Valerie and I decided that since Seminary isn't cheap we were all going to have to tighten our belts a little bit and that from now on there would be no such thing as a "free lunch" in the Hilliard household here in Charlotte, NC. Since Zayne has now turned 1 we decided it was time for him to quit mooching off of Mom and Dad and do his fair share of the work around the house as well. It seems like Grammy and PaPa Hilliard must have been right on the same page with us (even from half a country away!) as the latest toy to arrive in the mail should come in handy for his newly assigned duties!
I just hope he keeps straight lines and doesn't eat too much of his work...
I just hope he keeps straight lines and doesn't eat too much of his work...
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
A World ABOVE Ankle Height!
Well, after weeks of coaching and getting his courage up in going back and forth from the coffee table to the ottoman, from Mom to Dad in the kitchen and, occasionally, from the bookshelf to the dog (that one didn't always work so well!) Zayne has finally figured out that he can master this walking thing on his own!
He has already determined that the loop from the living room to his bedroom to the kitchen and back to the living room is a great way to get Mom and Dad to chase him through the house and, as you see from this video, the hallway makes a GREAT runway!
He has already determined that the loop from the living room to his bedroom to the kitchen and back to the living room is a great way to get Mom and Dad to chase him through the house and, as you see from this video, the hallway makes a GREAT runway!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Such a Grumpy Baby!
Zayne has ALWAYS been a difficult baby. From the moment he was born he has always been so whiny, almost inconsolable, and nearly impossible to entertain! I've tried everything to get him to crack a smile and still nothing....I just give up....as you can see from this video, I just don't think the little boy know how to smile.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Observations On Laundry
Valerie has recently discovered that the Charlotte Library has quite a selection of DVD's available to rent at no or a very minimal charge ($2 for new releases) which includes a wide array of titles and genres covering everything from some of the very newest releases (we just saw Transformers last week), to Foreign films, to Classics, to Documentaries.
Having no cable in our house and only being able to enjoy the DVDs we own for so long, I've truly enjoyed many of the movies she has brought home and was enjoying a documentary she checked out for me on the battle between Stalin and Hitler on the Eastern front in WWII just this morning when the following footage unfolded before my eyes.
My initial reaction that caused me to grab the camera was "Oh, a cute shot of a baby playing in a basket with the laundry...won't the grandma's be thrilled!" However, as this went on, I noticed a few other things with a little deeper meaning and significance:
First and most apparent - Why do we ever bother paying a dime for toys for children under the age of at least 3? I know I've mentioned this before in a posting, but as you see from this clip, with the wall of toys and the floor covered behind him, what makes him happiest? Where does he find the greatest satisfaction? From the $50 Playskool set? The Little Einstein DVD's? Any of the HUNDREDS of dollars of toys?
No. He finds his greatest joy in the moment, sitting in a basket, playing with a sock. Maybe we should take a lesson?
Second - I've noticed on several occasions (and especially when he's fired up and giving me a good baby cussing) that some of the "babbling" as most would call it that comes out of Zayne's mouth has a distinctively German flair to it. I've noted this to Valerie several times and mentioned how I wish I could speak German, for one because there was a tremendous amount of substantial and influential theological work done in German, and for another so I could speak to him and see if he could talk back! I'm not so certain that my suspicions weren't aroused today as you'll see in this clip. If you notice, there's a point when its almost as though he's really getting into the movie when before he hadn't really been paying any attention at all. I thought perhaps he just didn't share my passion for all things WWII, but then when they began interviewing one of the Germans, suddenly Zayne tuned in and even seemed to nod a time or two, as if in either agreement or disapproval, I don't know which since I don't speak German! Coincidence? Maybe....
Having no cable in our house and only being able to enjoy the DVDs we own for so long, I've truly enjoyed many of the movies she has brought home and was enjoying a documentary she checked out for me on the battle between Stalin and Hitler on the Eastern front in WWII just this morning when the following footage unfolded before my eyes.
My initial reaction that caused me to grab the camera was "Oh, a cute shot of a baby playing in a basket with the laundry...won't the grandma's be thrilled!" However, as this went on, I noticed a few other things with a little deeper meaning and significance:
First and most apparent - Why do we ever bother paying a dime for toys for children under the age of at least 3? I know I've mentioned this before in a posting, but as you see from this clip, with the wall of toys and the floor covered behind him, what makes him happiest? Where does he find the greatest satisfaction? From the $50 Playskool set? The Little Einstein DVD's? Any of the HUNDREDS of dollars of toys?
No. He finds his greatest joy in the moment, sitting in a basket, playing with a sock. Maybe we should take a lesson?
Second - I've noticed on several occasions (and especially when he's fired up and giving me a good baby cussing) that some of the "babbling" as most would call it that comes out of Zayne's mouth has a distinctively German flair to it. I've noted this to Valerie several times and mentioned how I wish I could speak German, for one because there was a tremendous amount of substantial and influential theological work done in German, and for another so I could speak to him and see if he could talk back! I'm not so certain that my suspicions weren't aroused today as you'll see in this clip. If you notice, there's a point when its almost as though he's really getting into the movie when before he hadn't really been paying any attention at all. I thought perhaps he just didn't share my passion for all things WWII, but then when they began interviewing one of the Germans, suddenly Zayne tuned in and even seemed to nod a time or two, as if in either agreement or disapproval, I don't know which since I don't speak German! Coincidence? Maybe....
The Life of the House Dad
I just knew that once I talked Val into giving me my dream job of being a house Dad here in Charlotte that it would be all wine and roses from that point on...sleeping in until 10 or 11 followed by a couple of hours of cartoons or movies with Zayne; Lunch around 12:30 or 1 and then a light nap on the couch until about 3:30 or 4 which would give me time to get dinner prepared (with a quick trip to the local market if I needed any supplies).
Well, that fairy tale lasted about until about 5am or so on our first day here as Zayne decided that he would choose that time, from that day forward, as his chosen first bottle of the day as well as the time to move from HIS bed to mom and dad's, which, of course, is MUCH more suitable for drinking bottles!
The fun wouldn't stop there, though, and I soon learned that having two "kids" at home all day who both seem to require about the same amount of attention can be a quite demanding task! As Zayne has been working on his walking skills it has only increased his desire to be under foot all day long which, in turn, has seemed to make my other "kid" (Ben) all the needier and more attention hungry! As this video shows, trying to get anything done in the kitchen (or anywhere else for that matter!) can get to be a bit challenging with a true "toddler" and a 135lb "baby" underfoot all the while!
Well, that fairy tale lasted about until about 5am or so on our first day here as Zayne decided that he would choose that time, from that day forward, as his chosen first bottle of the day as well as the time to move from HIS bed to mom and dad's, which, of course, is MUCH more suitable for drinking bottles!
The fun wouldn't stop there, though, and I soon learned that having two "kids" at home all day who both seem to require about the same amount of attention can be a quite demanding task! As Zayne has been working on his walking skills it has only increased his desire to be under foot all day long which, in turn, has seemed to make my other "kid" (Ben) all the needier and more attention hungry! As this video shows, trying to get anything done in the kitchen (or anywhere else for that matter!) can get to be a bit challenging with a true "toddler" and a 135lb "baby" underfoot all the while!
Monday, July 21, 2008
The REAL Purpose of Birthdays!
Well you've seen the mandatory video of the child stuffing himself with birthday cake...so now here we come to what every other parent on the face of the planet has also come to realize...no matter how much money you spend on birthday presents and lavish parties, until a kid hits at least 3 the most exciting part of every birthday and christmas (at least for the child) will always be the wrapping paper! I'm sure I've already gotten more entertainment out of his toys than Zayne has, but he does find a few minutes every now and then to leave the packaging alone long enough to enjoy whats inside!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Thank God I'm a Country Boy!
Having spent the better part of his first year of life in the sophistication and urban elegance of Dallas, I wasn't quite sure how Zayne would take to a little slower pace of life and if he would be able to adapt to the less demanding standards of the social circles he would enter into here in Charlotte. To try to ease him into things I've been making sure he reads the sports section daily to check the Nascar standings, has been memorizing all the hundreds of different brands of chewing tobacco we encounter up and down EVERY aisle of EVERY grocery store we enter and, of course, ensuring that he has been listening to PLENTY of country music.
While I knew we were on the right track after he took so well to "Urban Cowboy", I hid my worry when he seemed slipping on some of his more refined social skills. After all, he had been enjoying broccoli, seeming to always laugh at the sophisticated jokes on the Frasier episodes I was watching (I'm too old to try to fix my hang ups!), and never really even making much of a mess as he ate, sometimes even cutting his spaghetti with a knife before twirling it with a fork and spoon and then asking for a wet napkin to clean up his tray after he was done! These weren't the marks of a good old country boy! Where did this stuff come from?
Well, you can all breathe a sigh of relief with me now! Saturday night for his 1st birthday we introduced Zayne to the wonders of cake and chocolate icing and, as you can see, his dinner manners at least are best summed up by the song playing in the background of the clip! Enjoy!
While I knew we were on the right track after he took so well to "Urban Cowboy", I hid my worry when he seemed slipping on some of his more refined social skills. After all, he had been enjoying broccoli, seeming to always laugh at the sophisticated jokes on the Frasier episodes I was watching (I'm too old to try to fix my hang ups!), and never really even making much of a mess as he ate, sometimes even cutting his spaghetti with a knife before twirling it with a fork and spoon and then asking for a wet napkin to clean up his tray after he was done! These weren't the marks of a good old country boy! Where did this stuff come from?
Well, you can all breathe a sigh of relief with me now! Saturday night for his 1st birthday we introduced Zayne to the wonders of cake and chocolate icing and, as you can see, his dinner manners at least are best summed up by the song playing in the background of the clip! Enjoy!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Birthday Greetings!
Well, our little politician/preacher was not his usual boistrous self tonight (of course) as we tried to get him to wish his Grammy a happy birthday! I think you still get the general idea though!
Happy birthday Mom/Grammy! We love you and hope to see you soon!
Love Justin, Valerie, Zayne and Ben
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Sibling Rivalry?
I was a bit reluctant to post this video as I wasn't sure exactly what kind of response it would get. You see, Valerie, Zayne, Ben and I all went to spend the July 4th weekend with my Aunt and Uncle outside of Atlanta and while we were there Mr. Zayne decided that he wanted to start expanding his bag of tricks and add walking to his repertoire! Uncle Kevin warned me that my mom might never speak to her sister again if she found out that Zayne had taken some of his very first steps at her house, but I'll assume that everyone can work out their differences and take my chances by posting it anyway! He's still not quite ready for the Olympics, but he gets a little more brave and daring every day. We'll just take it one step at a time!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Looking For Love
Here's another short video that I think any of you Okie's can appreciate!
Since we don't have any cable in our new house here in Charlotte, we're down to watching (and re-watching) the videos that we have accrued over the years. To add to the fun, since I decided (for reasons still unknown) to leave our VCR in Dallas, we're limited to those we have on DVD and can't watch the 100 or so others we have on VHS!
Anyways, during one of our first nights in our new house, I thought it only appropriate to bring a little sense of nostalgia and a true feeling of "home" to the place by plugging in something to remind me of my roots in Southern Oklahoma, as well as our recently departed Texas, and what better movie than "Urban Cowboy"? I mean, it's got it all! Cheap beer, bar fights, tobacco, trailer houses, 4x4's, robbery, fake-bull riding....the kind of stuff you want your kids to learn about early so they grow up well adjusted.
As I knew he would, Zayne jumped into that movie with both feet and never let up! As you can see from this clip, he was born for this kind of thing........lets just hope they come up with a shot that can get rid of it.
Since we don't have any cable in our new house here in Charlotte, we're down to watching (and re-watching) the videos that we have accrued over the years. To add to the fun, since I decided (for reasons still unknown) to leave our VCR in Dallas, we're limited to those we have on DVD and can't watch the 100 or so others we have on VHS!
Anyways, during one of our first nights in our new house, I thought it only appropriate to bring a little sense of nostalgia and a true feeling of "home" to the place by plugging in something to remind me of my roots in Southern Oklahoma, as well as our recently departed Texas, and what better movie than "Urban Cowboy"? I mean, it's got it all! Cheap beer, bar fights, tobacco, trailer houses, 4x4's, robbery, fake-bull riding....the kind of stuff you want your kids to learn about early so they grow up well adjusted.
As I knew he would, Zayne jumped into that movie with both feet and never let up! As you can see from this clip, he was born for this kind of thing........lets just hope they come up with a shot that can get rid of it.
Monday, June 30, 2008
A Refined Palate...
Some children choose chocolate, others opt for salty snacks like pretzels or goldfish, but it takes a truly refined individual and is a mark of unusually good upbringing when a child turns down hotdogs for broccoli.
Such was my amazement and my humble moment of satisfaction at a job well-done thus far as a house husband and father as I took this picture a few days ago. I mean, I expect quite a bit from his unusually pure bloodlines coming from unquestionably some of the finest and truest Sooner stock to ever have graced the Lone Star State, but this level of excellence and sanctification at such an early age was difficult for even me to grasp.
I'm a little verklempt. Sniff, Sniff. Talk amongst yourselves.
Such was my amazement and my humble moment of satisfaction at a job well-done thus far as a house husband and father as I took this picture a few days ago. I mean, I expect quite a bit from his unusually pure bloodlines coming from unquestionably some of the finest and truest Sooner stock to ever have graced the Lone Star State, but this level of excellence and sanctification at such an early age was difficult for even me to grasp.
I'm a little verklempt. Sniff, Sniff. Talk amongst yourselves.
Kitchen
Here's the kitchen with new counter tops, cabinets, range built-in microwave and, my favorite feature (being 6'5" and bald) the new halogen stem pendant light hung over the sink at 6'3".
As the primary cook and dishwasher in the household, I can tell you....there's nothing like the feeling of a nice, 3000 degree halogen light bulb on you scalp to help motivate you to get those dishes done!
As the primary cook and dishwasher in the household, I can tell you....there's nothing like the feeling of a nice, 3000 degree halogen light bulb on you scalp to help motivate you to get those dishes done!
Living Room
Here are a couple more shots of the inside of our house, as of yet uncluttered by all of our junk!
Here is a side shot of the living room. What you can't see from this shot is the nice 8 foot picture window in the front wall of the living room and the built-in book shelves for Zayne to climb ALL THE WAY TO THE CEILING on both sides of that 8 foot window.
Oh well, what good is renter's and health insurance if you're not going to use it?
Here is a side shot of the living room. What you can't see from this shot is the nice 8 foot picture window in the front wall of the living room and the built-in book shelves for Zayne to climb ALL THE WAY TO THE CEILING on both sides of that 8 foot window.
Oh well, what good is renter's and health insurance if you're not going to use it?
Our Humble Abode
Well, here it is...our humble little dwelling nestled in the heart of Charlotte, North Carolina, USA! You have to choose carefully which streets you decide to use to get into our neighborhood since there are a few that I'm not sure I'd want to be alone on, armed with my 40 caliber AND Ben at night. On the other hand, the Charlotte Country Club is probably a little less than a mile South of us and on a nice sunny afternoon you can take a leisurely drive down some historic streets just to our South that showcase some very old homes that rival anything you could ever hope to see in Dallas.
You can definitely tell that this is an old town. Charlotte has a different feel to it than any place I've ever lived. Dallas was big, crowded, loud, ever-expanding and incredibly wealthy, but it was also very segregated. You knew where the rich spots were. You knew the old money lived in Highland Park, the "nouveau riche" lived in Plano or Frisco and some of the poorest people lived in Oak Cliff. Of course this wasn't universal and there are a wide range of people living throughout, but not like here.
So what's so different about this place? Perhaps its because its not as big or as seemingly money-obsessed as Dallas, or maybe its because they were fighting wars for Independence here when Dallas was still just an open plain. Who knows? Perhaps cities, much like people, profit much from the wisdom that comes with age?
You can definitely tell that this is an old town. Charlotte has a different feel to it than any place I've ever lived. Dallas was big, crowded, loud, ever-expanding and incredibly wealthy, but it was also very segregated. You knew where the rich spots were. You knew the old money lived in Highland Park, the "nouveau riche" lived in Plano or Frisco and some of the poorest people lived in Oak Cliff. Of course this wasn't universal and there are a wide range of people living throughout, but not like here.
So what's so different about this place? Perhaps its because its not as big or as seemingly money-obsessed as Dallas, or maybe its because they were fighting wars for Independence here when Dallas was still just an open plain. Who knows? Perhaps cities, much like people, profit much from the wisdom that comes with age?
Family Resemblance?
If you look really carefully in this picture from our time staying with Valerie's parents in Tulsa during our move to Charlotte you can see just how much Zayne resembles Jerry.....I think its the moustache...
Breaking the news!
In this image from our last week in Texas, I had to break the news to Zayne that we were moving, but not to the Rockies as I had promised him our next move would be. As I had feared, things got ugly and he came at me swinging.
After a little baby cussing, a few animal crackers and a bottle, he eventually calmed down and I promised him that this move was for the best and that I wasn't moving him to the East coast permanently. I assured him that I yearned for the mountains just as much as he did and that after a few years of seminary we would do our best to find a nice little church up in the Rockies who needed a couple of fiery Southern boys like us and maybe even find time to catch a trout or two.
After a little baby cussing, a few animal crackers and a bottle, he eventually calmed down and I promised him that this move was for the best and that I wasn't moving him to the East coast permanently. I assured him that I yearned for the mountains just as much as he did and that after a few years of seminary we would do our best to find a nice little church up in the Rockies who needed a couple of fiery Southern boys like us and maybe even find time to catch a trout or two.
A moment in the sun
This was a shot from our last week in the house in The Colony as Zayne and Ben enjoyed a little fellowship under the dining room table. Who would think that the best dog you could ever have for an infant would be a 135lb miniature horse who thinks he's a lap dog? These two are becoming better buddies every day and I have a feeling that as Zayne gets older Ben's 20 hours of sleep per day are going to be a thing of the past!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
A "peek" into the drive to Charlotte
This video was taken on Monday, June 2nd on our trip into Charlotte. We were somewhere between Nashville and Charlotte when this took place. During most of the drive I sat in the back with Zayne entertaining him, or should I say being entertained by him.....
Our first blog posting!
Well, we finally did it. We set up our own blog site and have every intention of keeping it updated and for the sake of Zayne's grandparents, who are half a country away, we hope to do so. I (Valerie) am not much of a writer, so my guess is that this site will quickly become more of a Zayne photo and video site than anything else.
Just in case we have some visitors that have not been updated on the latest Hilliard Family News, here is the latest:
We relocated to Charlotte, NC a few weeks ago upon my acceptance of a job with Bank of America and of Justin's desire to attend Reformed Theological Seminary. At this point, we have settled into our little rent house that sits in a very old, diverse neighborhood on a 1/2 acre lot with many beautiful, mature trees shading the yard. The house was built in 1955 and just recently remodeled and it fits us perfectly!
I have finished three full weeks of work and have loved every moment. The work environment at Bank of America seems to be a very professional, healthy work environment. My coworkers seem to enjoy doing their job, working with each other and management cares about their employees. It has been enjoyable to meet a lot of new people and just relax while I learn my job. As I'm sure you will understand, one of my favorite things about moving to Charlotte has been the reduction of my commute from 1+ hours to/from work, depending on Dallas traffic, to a 10 min commute. woo hoo! I didn't realize how much more I could get done with a few "extra" hours every day!
While I'm at work, Justin has welcomed the transition into his life-long dream of becoming a house husband and I must say that he is doing a great job. While caring for Zayne, he has also spent his time emptying boxes, organizing, hanging pictures on the walls, doing laundry, grocery shopping and has managed to cook dinner every night!! I am so spoiled!
Just in case we have some visitors that have not been updated on the latest Hilliard Family News, here is the latest:
We relocated to Charlotte, NC a few weeks ago upon my acceptance of a job with Bank of America and of Justin's desire to attend Reformed Theological Seminary. At this point, we have settled into our little rent house that sits in a very old, diverse neighborhood on a 1/2 acre lot with many beautiful, mature trees shading the yard. The house was built in 1955 and just recently remodeled and it fits us perfectly!
I have finished three full weeks of work and have loved every moment. The work environment at Bank of America seems to be a very professional, healthy work environment. My coworkers seem to enjoy doing their job, working with each other and management cares about their employees. It has been enjoyable to meet a lot of new people and just relax while I learn my job. As I'm sure you will understand, one of my favorite things about moving to Charlotte has been the reduction of my commute from 1+ hours to/from work, depending on Dallas traffic, to a 10 min commute. woo hoo! I didn't realize how much more I could get done with a few "extra" hours every day!
While I'm at work, Justin has welcomed the transition into his life-long dream of becoming a house husband and I must say that he is doing a great job. While caring for Zayne, he has also spent his time emptying boxes, organizing, hanging pictures on the walls, doing laundry, grocery shopping and has managed to cook dinner every night!! I am so spoiled!
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