Life With The Stanfords

The place that keeps you going, Treads and Care that's where!

At long last, the new location of Treads and Care Tire Company on Coursey opened in September. Jade and I joke that I had my baby in August, and he had his in September. Miles Holley, the owner, and his wife, Melissa, worked hard to open the new store. Jade and the guys needed some breathing room, and boy did they get it!

 

At the old store, the parking lot would be full of cars, and the guys would have to fix cars in the parking lot because there wasn't room in the bays. Now, they've got this!

 
It may look like just a shop to you, but this is the Mac Daddy of all shops. It's more than twice the size of the old shop, and so bright it's like daylight in there. I told the guys they should be really good now that they don't have to use "The Force" to see to fix the cars.

Nice rack! Treads has a lot of tires. They can get any tire for you AND you can get a Road Hazard plan which covers free repairs for the life of the tire and pro-rated replacements. At 10% of the cost of the tire, it's a good value. Also, if you go in there, ask them about buying a Lifetime Oil Change. Speaking of that, that would be a GREAT Christmas gift to give to someone. They have gift cards!

 

What I like even more are the complimentary fountain drink and cappucino machines. The bathrooms are nice! My lovely daughter, Claire, helps keep them clean. Treads also has great magazines, Wi-fi, and a pleasant waiting area. It's a lot like a coffee shop in there.

  
Here's a picture of the waiting area. (Keep in mind there's not usually a spread of food in the waiting area. That was for the grand opening.)

 
Speaking of grand openings, the kids really enjoyed it:

 
One of the local radio stations, WYNK, came out and gave prizes away. It was great!

 
Congratulations, Miles, Jade, and guys! You worked hard to make this place happen. Keep up the good work!

  

Rewind II

More pics to get me caught up. I have a lot of pictures like the one below. It's what Claire does. It makes me happy to see her enjoying her littlest brother. I can remember some pictures from when Ethan and Blythe were born where the enjoyment level wasn't quite so high. I've watched her get more and more comfortable with the little ones. She does a great job of looking after them, and sometimes, like below, she really enjoys them!

 

This is a picture of my Daisy Scout, Blythe, and her friend. Blythe was getting ready to go on her first daycamp outing with Daisies. She was SO excited. It was a big deal for her to get to go after being so sick. The girls had a wonderful time.

 

Phin is modeling the appliqued onesie I made for him before he was born.

 


This is a lump of sugar. He's so sweet, he makes my teeth hurt.

 

Look at this big blob of baby goodness.

 
I love me some Phinehas. I love him enough to give birth to him and then have all my hair fall out. Can you see the bald patch on the side of my head? I have a matching bald patch on the other side of my head. Ack! (Please, please, please grow back, hair!)  
 
I know these posts are a little dull. Remember, I'm just trying to get back into the swing of blogging. Practice, practice, practice. 

Rewind

Boy, it's hard to get back to blogging. I think maybe I've got blogger's block. I sort of feel like it's all been said. Also, my thoughts are mostly occupied with "serious" things lately. I'm not sure they're good blog material. Ultimately, though, I have to remember that the main reason I write this blog is for my children. I want them to have a record of their mother.

Anyway, I'm trying to get back into practice. I thought I'd share some pictures from the "lost months", the months I haven't really blogged.

This is a picture from the day Phin and I came home from the hospital. Blythe had come home from the hospital the day before. Lots of emotions that day. It was good to be back together.

 

Dude! (Note to Nony:  This reminds me a lot of your Parrain. Hee, hee!)

 
My friend, Sharon Colomb, bought the blanket (top) for Evelyn when she was born. It turned out to be her special "blankie". Two years later, Mrs. Sharon was appalled at the condition and could stand it no more. She bought a beautiful, new, exact replica for Evie. Evelyn wll have no part of this "new-fangled" blanket. The first blanket is Evie's Velveteen Rabbit. 

 

Evelyn loves her baby brother. We've been blessed that none of our children have gone through the "not the baby anymore" blues.

 
Remember, we are not to covet. Check out Blythe's eyelashes with a little mascara on them. I hope she appreciates these one day.

Yes, that's right. Another broken arm. I'll be sending the orthopedic doctor a Christmas card this year.

 
One more for today. Since she was old enough to care, Claire has had an obssession with baby equipment. Strollers, car seats, pack and plays, etc. set her heart aflutter. Don't ask me why. This is her doll's car seat from when she was little. Sweet little Phin fits perfectly. 

 

Maybe some more pics tomorrow.

 

 

December '10

It's the end of 2010 already, and I'm still in wonder at all that can happen in a year. Our family is not the same as when the year began. God has definitely done some molding and shaping of us in 2010.

I have to say that I'm approaching this Christmas with a solemnity that I've not known before. Even as a I buy the gifts that will drain our bank account and cook the umpteenth batch of fudge, I hear the Lord whispering, "Come away from this. Come to Me." Every year I say that our family will celebrate Jesus' birth differently -- no gift hoopla, no endless parties, no selfish sentimentality. And yet it continues.

It just seems that there's no room for Jesus at His own party. I think, as Christians, we ask ourselves how we can celebrate Jesus' birth differently from the world and still be comfortable? We answer ourselves by reading the Christmas story on Christmas day, giving to charity and maybe having a play about the nativity. But the world still can't tell a difference between us and them at Christmas. Not really. I think before God can bring revival to His people, we've got to begin to destroy our idols. I have an idol called Christmas, and it has nothing to do with Christ.

Help me, Lord, to tell the truth about Christmas...

 

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
   because the LORD has anointed me
   to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
   to proclaim freedom for the captives
   and release from darkness for the prisoners,
² to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
   and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
 ³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
   instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
   instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
   instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
   a planting of the LORD
   for the display of his splendor."  --Isaiah 61