workin' man's blues

at 08/06/10 3:45PM
i never have been to new york city, and i can't say that i've ever had a strong desire to go, but andy has always wanted to, and his 30th birthday is coming up....so guess what we're doing (Lord willing) in september? mario batali, get ready (andy wants to be you when he grows up).

if anyone ever deserved a break, a vacation, my man certainly does. he has been working 12-14 hour days over the past few weeks (usually going in at 5 or 6 AM). what a hard working man! i had the pleasure of "interviewing" my grandma while i was pregnant with silas, and was interested in what she had to say about raising children to be hard workers. it seems like that isn't considered such an important focus for parents now, which i believe is a real shame. the men and women of our grandparents' generation and beyond must think we're so lazy. i am thankful i married a hardworking man, and i hope i can become the hardworking woman i need to be so that silas will grow up surrounded by good examples. and i need to do more to involve him in work so that he learns from an early age what it means to work hard (and joyfully). just one of the many, many responsibilities i have as a parent (GULP).
  • windham4life
    We just got back from New York!!! Boy, it is crazy and busy all the time, but I think you will enjoy it. All the touristy stuff is neat, like the museums, statue of liberty, empire state building, and of course central park is beautiful. Just make sure you have a plan of how you will get around town because it can get tiring really fast (wear comfy shoes), and don't try to do too much all in one day! You guys will have fun!
    by windham4life at 08/08/10 4:30PM
  • navydoc
    I went to NYC for a week about 5 years ago. I had a great time. I'd love to go back. Of course when I went there it was with the Navy so we had to wear our uniforms everywhere and had a curfew. But there is so much to do there. But it's also very expensive.
    Use the subway to get around, it's faster and cheaper.
    by navydoc at 08/08/10 8:56PM
  • rachierach
    Great post! I am also thankful for such a hard-working husband! And I'm with Andy... I would LOVE to go to NYC!! I just want to see it once in my lfetime. Hope you have a blast!

    What friends of yours are moving here? Are they members of the church?? We get so tickled when we get new members!! When are they planning to move?
    by rachierach at 08/09/10 8:21AM
  • pistal77
    Hope that yall enjoy New York. I need to learn how to work harder too.
    by pistal77 at 08/09/10 4:09PM
  • bean
    thanks for the tips tiffany and mike!
    by bean at 08/11/10 10:09AM

sweet child of mine

at 07/07/10 1:51AM
just started telling silas stories at bedtime (in addition to reading), and he loves it! he pretty much giggles the whole time. i'm looking forward to borrowing lots of stories that my parents told us growing up.

parenting is basically fun, i have to say.

  • isabeau_danjou
    Agreed. :)
    by isabeau_danjou at 07/07/10 7:08AM
  • rebecca
    swigart & zap really love it when i tell them their bedtime stories too. they meow "the end" with me.


    BAHAHA. are you annoyed enough yet?
    by rebecca at 07/07/10 10:54AM
  • windham4life
    awe, that's awesome :)
    by windham4life at 07/07/10 4:26PM
  • pistal77
    that is great to hear!!
    by pistal77 at 07/07/10 11:01PM

03/17/10 4:29PM

the channel (driftin' luke) is playing a show friday at 1:30 PM at the mellow mushroom (pizza!!). come if you can! it will be a little different than other times you may have heard/seen the channel, but should be fun. :-D

i'm colorado-bound this weekend and very excited! i'm going all alone - no husband, no child..i'll be feeling so weird without them all weekend, but at the same time blessed to be able to spend some QT (quality time) with my sister and bro-in-law!

hope you austinites are enjoying the beautiful weather we're having!
  • jamilo
    what fun things you have going on! I wish I could come see the channel do their thing... I remember once driving from BG to Austin for another such event.... I need to come back to visit soon! Maybe whenever Jeni is ready for a roadtrip...
    Have fun in CO!
    by jamilo at 03/18/10 12:54AM
  • bean
    yes, you haven't met silas yet have you?? come visit anytime (please).
    by bean at 03/18/10 9:03AM
  • jamilo
    I did meet Silas, but only briefly- when you and Becca and Jeni came through Nashville last fall on your way back to TX just before Becca's wedding... but I think we need to be reintroduced! :) I'll look through my schedule.....
    by jamilo at 03/19/10 10:16AM
  • jenilikesjuice
    i concur!
    by jenilikesjuice at 03/19/10 4:03PM
  • racheldean
    That is my favorite child raising book! And I love what she says about the marriage relationship too.
    by racheldean at 05/17/10 2:50PM

happy new year (take two)

at 01/29/10 9:17AM
everything's slowly getting back to normal around here...silas is getting over his allergies or cold or whatever it is, and andy's over his strep throat, and i'm feeling almost completely myself again. thanks to everyone for your prayers!

i've been soooo ready for february for awhile now; february will begin the mcallister's new year (take two). we're looking forward to fun times ahead....lots of bible studies, good music, a valentine's date (thanks to andy's mom volunteering to watch silas!), an increased discount at whole foods due to andy's impeccable health, more tom/andy dinner parties, etc.

pressing on, looking ahead, THAT's a good time!

  • pistal77
    glad to hear that things are getting better!
    by pistal77 at 01/29/10 5:35PM
  • jenilikesjuice
    happy new year mcallisters!!!!
    by jenilikesjuice at 01/31/10 2:01PM
  • gmfck
    HEY IT'S ME FRANKLIN-GMFCK!
    by gmfck at 02/01/10 3:25PM

portland and heaven.

at 01/11/10 10:12PM
well, we just got back from our interesting anniversary trip to portland. we stayed in a place called "bluebird guesthouse," which was a very cute old house with NO TV, which was awesome (it forced us to interact!), and their rates were really good.

i loved it there - the shops, the waterfalls, the mountains, the orchards (though they weren't bearing any fruit, we were just excited to see so many), and of course, the food. in fact, our rental car license plate number was something like 938 EAT. they must've known andy was coming their way. plus, we saw (stood a few feet from) toby flenderson from "the office," so that made the whole trip worthwhile.

through all of this excitement i actually had a miscarriage while we were there. i was blessed that it happened when it did, while i was alone with my loving, supportive husband. seeing all the beautiful creation out there helped too, putting a nice perspective on things. also, i can't imagine that i would've been a very good mother to silas while i was going through that, so i'm thankful he was with his adoring grandparents all weekend.

now we're back in austin, and silas acts as though we were never gone. i guess the grandmothers did a good job of keeping him happy!

i'm having difficult moments -- my body acts like it had a baby, which it did, but i'm not able to experience the joy that makes you forget the pain, so that's hard at times. but tonight i was just thinking about how i don't deserve ANYTHING; all the blessings God provides in this life, so i need to stop acting like i do. my mom likes to remind me of what's important, which i'm so thankful for, but it doesn't mean it's not hard to hear it sometimes. tonight she mentioned that maybe my granddad (who i never met) is sitting up in heaven with all his little grandbabies who've gone on. of course i've been crying as i think of these things, but really that's a pretty neat picture. i can't wait to join them someday!


  • racheldean
    I'm glad you and Andy were able to go on a nice trip together (that is so cool that you so Toby. Wish you could've gotten a picture). So sorry for your loss. Thankful for your husband and loving family who are there to help you.
    by racheldean at 01/11/10 11:11PM
  • joyfulsong

    I'm so sorry, Heather. I was thinking the other day that there are going to be a whole lot of babies & young children in heaven since they're innocent and will all go to heaven. It's pretty comforting to those that have lost children and babies to think of seeing them there. I'll pray for you and Andy.

    by joyfulsong at 01/11/10 11:48PM
  • blueeyes
    I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I will be praying for you all.
    by blueeyes at 01/12/10 8:35AM
  • scbrewer
    Heather, I'm so impressed and humbled that you put all this out here for us to see. Your faith and attitude is amazing. Praying for you and your family. I know Heaven will be wonderful because of all the children there. (HUGS) /\ prayers.
    by scbrewer at 01/12/10 11:01AM
  • bliss117
    It is hard to think that anyone can take better care of your child than you, but now, there is another sweet, little angel in heaven, with God, who will never have to endure any of the pain and suffering we go through here on earth. Love you, H...
    by bliss117 at 01/12/10 12:10PM
  • littlebit
    Praying for you all.
    by littlebit at 01/12/10 1:48PM
  • pistal77
    You have strength, that I don't have. You also have the Lord and my prayers. Love you!
    by pistal77 at 01/12/10 7:09PM
  • windham4life
    oh Heather, I am so sorry about your loss. :(
    by windham4life at 01/13/10 7:51PM
  • Marilee
    visit me!
    by Marilee at 01/23/10 10:59PM