Tailspin to Peace in two words...

I don't usually do this, but today I felt I should for one reason or another...if for noone else, to document for myself in 2 places because I felt it was a huge revelation for myself. If you benefit in some way, that is even more awesome. Here is my journal entry (word for word) from this morning where I stored away in a hole alone in the library.

4-30-08
I've been distant with my God, my family, and even myself. I don't know exactly how I got to this point, but I am here. I'm deep in the depths of depression, sin, anger, bitterness & lots of darkness. It is evident on my face now I'm sure because people are starting to ask. I hate it that I am prone to coming to this dark hole, but reality is (for me) that I am. So, I have to work extra hard not to allow myself to get to this point. The good news is I have a sweet God who only allows me to stay here long enough to know I want out. Revelation 3:20 says "Behold, I stand at the door and knock..." He is here and is knocking. How sweet of Him! Oh how to open the door? I know but I don't. I feel like Paul when he says in Romans 7,

15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Maybe why I can relate to Paul so well is his scattered and hard to comprehend thoughts on what he does versus should be doing. At the very most I have been going through the motions of life. And I am so sorry to my family for this most because I know they've suffered becaues of it. My kids have been acting out horribly and my hubby got the worst migraine of his life and is feeling stressed. I feel depressed and stressed and I haven't been taking care (at least not good care) of anyone.

I have a full pate and the calendar before me beginning this weekend is enough to make a fish seasick. But, I am feeling a little more grounded now, instead of in the complete tailspin I was in a few short minutes ago. Its' funny what scripture (and Jesus) does to a person. God is good. All of my issues are certainly not solved, but I know in the moment that it's okay. Do I sound bi-polar? I feel like it sometimes. I think that is just the power of God to be able to take me out of something so deep so quickly.

It's neat that it took me two weeks to get there and two words "come in" to get out! Thank you Lord Jesus.

Things to pray for:
-officially going to wean Creighton (she turns 18 months on Saturday)
-intentional discipline/parenting of my heathen children
-daily be in the word and prayer
-finish strong
-get some sleep!

Anyway, my thoughts are so scattered I know. But it was a complete turn around for me this morning. I MADE myself go to the library. I MADE myself pray. I MADE myself journal. And then I got in the word...willingly! I spent almost 2 hours there. It was a sweet time. I feel much better and nothing has changed but my heart. Everything that I have on my plate still exists, but God took my burden. I love that.

Thanks friends for your encouragement and love (and prayers) throughout this time. I am sorry I have been distant and cranky.

Jokes

Since I have been the opposite of a wealth of knowledge, conversation, &/or information this week, I thought I'd leave you with 2 jokes that I have somehow missed in my lifetime (but have been around for years). I thought they were so cute. You've probably all heard them (or could guess the answers...) but I loved them...

Enjoy!

If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?

Pilgrims!



Knock-knock?

Who’s there?

Panther.

Panther who?

You’re panther down, better pull them up!

nothing...

I just am feeling very unmotivated to blog. I have nothing to say...at all. It's really weird. This no sleeping thing is REALLY getting to me. They trade off. Everyone other night Jackson will sleep through the night and on the other nights Creighton will have a great night...I just don't get it. It's like they have a signal or something telling them which one to sleep and which one not to. I guess it is certainly better than them both being up like last week though...that was nightmare-ish!

No sleep

My kids have forgotten how to sleep and when to do it! This whole week I have been bombarded at the craziest hours of the morning and night by one or both of them (and then Jeff's alarm too!). I don't know what it is, but it has got to stop. I don't function like this. That is why I haven't posted at all. I don't barely know my name this week and I have been so crabby too. It's just no fun for any of us. And the worst part is, you'd think they'd nap well because they are so exhausted, but no, naps have been inconsistent at best for them both. I am very much so looking on to Monday and I really think I might sleep all day.

18,000 Words for our past week!

These are just a few of the pictures that represent our past week. It's been a good one and a busy one. I love the weather! I can't believe how much I love the weather. It's just been perfect.

Note to anyone: first good weather Saturday of Spring, don't go to the zoo. Or if you do go in the morning. When we were leaving at 2:20p in the afternoon and it was ridiculously busy. The line for entering the zoo was all the way into the parking lot...at least 200 people in line. And the park closes at 5 (I think). That is NOT worth it and by then it was getting really warm and people were just standing in the heat and babies and kids were SO cranky...I am glad it wasn't us.

Papaw playing with Jackson on the seesaw plane.
Nanah holding Creighton and playing dress-up with her hat on Nanah's head.

She was so sweet this day. Again, we spent a large chunk of our time at the playground at the zoo as opposed to actually seeing any animals. Well we saw a few. Their favorite this time was the elephants!

Here is Creighton totally passed out in the stroller. Jackson said he was ready to leave and I was occupying them with a snack on the way out. She didn't get but one bite and fell asleep with her hand up still in the air and her hat fell over her face. We put her hand down because she looked really uncomfortable.

This was our backseat on the way home from the zoo. Creighton never even knew we left the zoo, and didn't wake up till we were in the driveway. She was OUT COLD! That never happens.

Sunshine and the kids playing outside makes mommy happy!

My handsome man!

She loves to ride anything and everything and has NO fear! She was all smiles.

I really like this picture a lot!

They got these helmets for Christmas and Jackson decided today was the day they need to wear them...I thought they were cute though

First experience with washing Daddy's car (or any car for that matter) (at least that I can think of) They LOVED it!! Although they were both shivering furiously and their lips were blue after we were finished.

Creighton looked so cute in her little swimsuit. I didn't put either of them in diapers though, and her swimsuit you could totally tell...it was cute (but only because she is less than 2)
They have so much fun together (most of the time) and that makes me a very happy mommy!

I am not sure my kids will EVER get tired of swinging in these baby swings. I am so glad I found another at a garage sale for $5 that was brand new!
Umm...really?! I love this kid...and this face...and the fact that he loves his mommy! :)

This doesn't really look like Jackson to me...it cracked me up though!

She is becoming a Daddy's girl...and it is so sweet (and my heart's desire for her)

When Grammy and Pop were in town (and I was out of town) the "fair" was at the mall and my kids LOVE to ride rides...I can't wait for the Kiddie Park to open up! Thought this pic was cute with Creighton's hair blowing in the wind!

Amazing day FULL of activity

Pretty excited to share some photos with you all. I am pretty sure today was fun for everyone! We went to the Zoo with Nanah and Papaw and then came home and went to the park with Daddy (with special treats from Sonic in hand) and then we came home and played outside and washed Daddy's car in our new swimsuits from Grandma Debbie! They had a blast and we're all tuckered out! I will post pics tomorrow (or maybe Monday). It's been a great day and mostly ALL of it was spent outside in the GORGEOUS weather we had....loved it! G'night

Firsts Meme

1. Who was your FIRST prom date?Justin R. was my only prom date. We only had Sr. prom. We ended up dating for a long time after that...

2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love? I'd say that my first love was the aforementioned boy from question one. And, no we really never talk. However, I don't think there are hard feelings there anymore, our paths just don't cross.

3. What was your FIRST alcoholic drink? I have never had an alcoholic drink, not even a taste, unless you consider Nyquil (for its purposes). I have, however, smelled just about everything, and the smell alone is gagging to me! I don't see how people enjoy that taste in the least!

4. What was your FIRST job?I am sure I babysat some, but I remember my first job being at a place named Champions Sports Complex. I did odds and ends, ran the concession, ran the entrance desk, etc. Wasn't too bad, but I didn't work there too long...now it isn't even in business. I worked at Kanakuk Kamps in the summers all through college, but I guess my "job" was playing volleyball (or at least that is what I tell people it was) both in high school and in college. It paid my way in full for a private education! :)

5. What was your FIRST car? My fist car was a red 1988 Nissan Pulsar. It was a great first car. It had t-tops and it got me from A to B and it was certainly (albeit old) "sporty" looking. I got my favorite car I have (and maybe forever) ever owned shortly after (about a year or so) It was a Mazda MX6 and it was white and it was "fast as lightning" with 12 changer cd player in the trunk and whew...I just loved that car! (I was given it as a present for my "full ride" to college from my parents).

6. Who was the FIRST person to text you today? My small group girl Bethani about lunch plans (at 7:02 AM)

7. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning? My daughter Creighton who decided to not sleep well (I was up with her at 3, 6, 7, and then for good at 8:30.) I thought I might shoot her :) (I kid, I kid)

8. Who was your FIRST grade teacher? Mrs. Ibarguen (she had a son named Blake that was my age and she was blonde and tall...that is all I remember about her, except for I totally "Failed" an assignment about learning left from right (it was a mickey, minnie, donald and daisy assignment...I TOTALLY remember it).

9. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane? Not totally sure. I think I remember my mom saying I flew pretty young. (like 8 months maybe, but I have no idea where). I don't really remember my first flight either. I love to fly.

10. Who was your FIRST best friend and are you still friends with them? I believe it was Amber Autrey. She was the pastors daughter at our church when I was little. We are still friends today, but because she moved away when we were in fourth grade, our lives led different paths, but it's like we spoke just yesterday every time we do talk/get together! Apparently when we were little the nursery workers in the church always sent us home with the wrong parents...crazy, huh? We really look absolutely NOTHING alike. But we were both blue eyed and bald and only a month apart.

11. What was your FIRST sport played? Gymnastics. I loved it too! I was also in dance, basketball and track all through elementary school. I played softball in middle school on a competitive team and then I began volleyball and that is what stuck!

12. Where was your FIRST sleep over? I am sure it was at my friends Amber or Jeanette's. I don't know though. We were such close family friends with all of them that I think it happened a lot younger than most start doing that thing.

13. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today? At 3am this morning I asked Jeff what time it was as I was running (awoken from a dead sleep) towards Creighton's room. But after that it was Jackson, and then Creighton and then Jeff again.

14. Whose wedding were you in the FIRST time? I believe my first one was my Uncle Kevin and Aunt Francis' wedding when I was 5. I was rather naughty in it, so that might explain why I wasn't in one again till my sister got married when I was 12.

15. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning? At 3am I nursed Creighton and then put her in her crib and let her scream/cry for the next 30 minutes, nursed her again at 6, thankfully this time she went back to sleep, and then at 715 I got her and brought her to bed with me and she proceeded to nurse for the next hour! I think its safe to say I nursed all morning!

16. What was the FIRST concert you ever went to? I am not completely certain...I remember though being VERY excited to see 4 Him in concert at the Mabee Center at ORU when I was in high school. Surely, I saw one before then though...

17. FIRST tattoo or piercing? No tattoos, and that will remain. Piercings, I think I had my ears pierced at 10 or 12 I don't know. Then I went wild in college and had 3 piercings (belly, tongue, belly again)...I know I know...you would have never have guessed it...but I loved it, the tongue ring/bar.

18. FIRST foreign country you went to? We went on a cruise when I was 7 and went to Bahamas and Caribbean. Then went to Mexico when I was in middle school. We went to Germany and France when I was in 9th grade and I went to Australia and New Zealand my senior year of high school. Then I went to study abroad in Europe when I was in college and then I have been to Haiti too (and Canada)

19. What was your FIRST run in with the law? I was 16 and on my way to church on a Sunday and I was going 95 because I was late and a very cute boy was going to be there :) I was SO upset...and it was the first time I ever heard my dad cuss (and AT me at that).

20. When was your FIRST detention?Never had one.

21. What was the FIRST state you lived in?Texas.

22. Who was the FIRST person to break your heart? I am sure it was broken a lot as I was very boy crazy growing up. I am told (and vaguely remember) a boy when I was five named Micah Peatree. I think I was usually good at the breaking up as opposed to being broke up with, until the boy in question 1.

23. Who was your FIRST roommate? A tennis player from Bolivia named Monica at The University of Tulsa. We only lasted a semester because to say we were from two different worlds was the largest understatement in the world.

24. Where did you go on your FIRST limo ride? I believe in 8th grade I rode in a limo on the last day of school with a bunch of girls I certainly do not speak to today...but I thought I was so cool!

Wanna play? Tag yourself, link to me, and get your groove on!

ABC

Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of "Camp Complaining"
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To "thank" is a command
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
X-alting God most high
Yes, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!*
*Author Unknown

Hurt

Last night I got on to post a blog about how awesome my day was...however, by the time I finished reading my emails and a few other blogs, I was just a wreck! I don't understand how sadness just finds its way to my heart in so many forms, but last night it just did.

My friend and accountability partner from the Institute emailed me and let me know they just found out that their little girl Aubrey has a serious heart condition. You can read along on their blog here.

Then another friend Maria, let me know about a new Daddy to a precious and adorable preemie who lost his wife a few hours after delivery (can you possibly imagine?). Read here.

And then I came across a comment from Becky on Christy's blog about another story of a family of God losing their little girl. The letter from the mom to baby made me weep and sob and cry for over an hour. I think partially because it is heart wrenching, partially because I didn't get to grieve Baby A's death like I wanted, partially because I am just tired of hearing about all these families hurting

...and it makes me ask the questions that I feel guilty for asking and for asking questions to God that make me feel awful for, but I just really don't understand. I can't fathom any of this, but especially all of this. There just seems to be so much of it right now. I think that is the one thing that is hard about being so "connected" to the world with this Internet...and also one of the amazing things at the same time...

Yet, I guess it just reminds me that this world is not our home and I long to be in heaven where there will be NO more of this pain, this hurt, these tears. My plead is this: people get the picture! God is using these stories for people who don't know him to be able to...in the words of Paul, "I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation!"

I Was Getting the Bugs Off!

Whew! I am home. And I am glad to be. Not much time at this very moment, but I know some people thought I might still be stuck in Tejas, so I thought I'd let you all know I am home now.

I have one funny story quickly to tell:

Months ago we were playing outside. Jackson was digging in the dirt. Creighton was swinging and someone (can't remember who) was there with me. I noticed Jackson had a bug (I think a mosquito) on his shirt, so I swatted it dead (on him). He looked up at me like, "MOM, WHY DID YOU JUST HIT ME?!!?@?" Without skipping a beat I said, "I was just killing the bug, I am sorry if I hurt you." For me: end of situation, never to be thought of again...

UNTIL TODAY...

Months later (today) he had a really bad day at school. His teacher was gone and the sub was not the normal sub, and he had a bad night of sleep (down late, up early (very very very early)) and he has been away from me since Friday.... but enough excuses for him ...his substitute said he was making bad choices all day today. She proceeds to tell me that he scraped a little boys finger with a rock, he threw some sticks at people and he had a saw up to Emma Kate's neck

get this

...all in the "name of" "getting the bug off"

This had been (somewhat) plaguing me lately because he would always say something about "getting the bug" or "killing the bug" when he would do something wrong. And I didn't have a clue what he was talking about and really started to worry about him having hallucinations or something...it was starting to scare me. So today I had enough and I called the doctor. She said they had 3 other phone calls saying their children were seeing bugs too...at this point I am WIGGED OUT! But then she says, oh wait, but he isn't on that medicine!...whew, I guess!

Then tells me she'll call me back.

In the mean time Jeff and I are racking our brains trying to figure out an incident or experience or show or something where he has seen someone hurting a bug or doing something of that type. Then it dawns on me this little episode from months ago and it clicked...

He had NO idea he had a bug on him! I just hit him for "no reason" in his mind and my excuse was "I was getting the bug" and it was OKAY for me to do that in the name of getting that bug! So, for months now he has been doing something naughty and saying, " I was getting the bugs"...and oh my goodness...however funny it is, I have no idea how to reverse this. I tried talking to him about it and it just isn't sinking in...

HELP!?

One day I will laugh hard about this I know...but for now I am facing quite the dilemma...he thinks he can do ANYthing and just blame it on the bugs...oh man...so glad I was able to post about this...I think I'll never forget...but just in case I do, its forever documented!

I am sure his teacher/sub thinks he is crazy (or that we all are)

One more quick thing about my sweet boy: last night he wanted to talk to his cousin Jake so bad, so I let him call from my cell phone and Jake got on and jackson said: "say sumtin' to me" it was so cute!...maybe you had to be there

In Dallas

Not quite there [home] yet but I am in Dallas. I have been in this airport since before 12 and it is after 4 now. I have attempted to get on 4 different flights and have had NO success. I am hoping (and the odds are good since I now actually have a boarding pass with a seat located next to MY name) to get on the next flight out of here. I was really really wanting to get in earlier so I could go to Apples of Gold tonight, but it just wasn't in the master plan of my life I guess.

This little trip I was on was so fantastic. I loved it and only wish it had fallen on a different weekend. There were so many things I missed out on, but the Lord had different plans for me, and although I am a little leery of the journey ahead of me, I am content...knowing that on the other end of it there is really good stuff...great things in store for my heart and my relationship with so many people I cherish.

I can't wait to get out of this airport and hug on my hubby and my babies! I missed them a lot...and of course I really hate pumping and dumping so I am very ready to be finished with that. My time on this computer is about to end, so I must go for now...

I am off...

I am off to a retreat for a few days. I will not be back till Tuesday night. I don't know how excited I am right at this exact moment but I do know that once I get there it will probably be a really good thing! The Lord's hand must be in it because I am missing so many things between tomorrow and Tuesday night I could cry...but at the time I signed up I REALLY felt the Lord leading me there...so I walk out in faith for this weekend really double faith since I am flying American Airlines!

I'll catch up on Wednesday and post about how things were...I am praying that my heart, my mind, my soul, my spirit, and my faith are all renewed and refreshed while I am away. You could pray for Creighton as I don't have enough breast milk to leave behind...it could be a rough next few days for her...

Jeff and the Tree

During the ice storm in December, our tree snapped in three pieces and one of them fell barely missing our sun room roof. We were lucky! Just last week someone sweet removed that from our front yard (that had been sitting there since the storm). Well that was Sunday and then Monday-Wednesday we have had some more severe weather. Severe weather. Monday night (Tuesday morning) we were awoken by a HUGE thunderous noise...assuming it was thunder accompanying the lightning we rolled over and went to pretended to sleep. However, it was another third of our tree breaking and falling on our power lines and backyard shed that probably is what woke us up.

Jeff spent some of Tuesday, some of Wednesday and most of Thursday cutting down all the branches of this crazy tree with a hand saw! Poor guy. He tried and tried to get a chain saw and finally got one and it wouldn't start. He spent 30 minutes pulling and pulling on that silly thing and it just wasn't going to start for him...so he grabbed that hand saw and began cutting away again.

We borrowed a trailer so we didn't have to have the tree sitting in our yard for another 4 months before someone got fed up with us again was nice enough to remove it for us, and on his first load, he got the trailer and the trailblazer stuck in the mud. So, after a security guy helped him, they fortunately got the trailblazer out of the mud, but the trailer is still there...and thus, so most of the limbs still remain in our yard. ugh! And we have an awful eye sore of a stump-ish thing...Jeff is hoping to turn it into a table...

But really Jeff is quite amazing...thanks honey!

Random Photo Stop III

Feeling like nothing to say...to your benefit :)

Oh my goodness...I love her! She is getting so much bigger by the minute!

My little man absolutely loves his Nikao t-shirt like Daddy's...thankfully we have 2...he wants to wear it constantly now...
My little diva. American Idol (oh Lord, please, heck no!) in the making...I have video that is so so funny. She loves to sing and dance and she actually has a little rhythm :)

This was from Katie's party...totally random

Apparently he liked Easter egg hunting in Enid (not so much on Easter Sunday though).

Them riding the go-cart at Papa John's house...I love to ride that thing too! :)
More to come tomorrow on the aftermath of the storm and our backyard, house, and power lines, but I liked this picture!

Apples of Gold

So, I have wanted to post about this for a few weeks and I am not sure why I haven't. This is the greatest thing and I just love it! I don't know Betty, but it is fantastic and I think EVERYone should do it.

I love inter generational things...and this is one of them!

It is a study/event that is called Apples of Gold. Our women's ministry team at Grace has put this together and it is truly just awesome. They each are so unique in their gifts and it is very neat to see it all play out together and just how well they all compliment one another in this way.

What it is: a night where the "more birthday-ed" as I like to refer to them as women in our church take us younger women and serve us, teach us, spoil us, love us, and teach us so more! We are meeting for 6 weeks (each Tuesday night) for 2.5-3 hours. The first little bit they teach/show us a new recipe and some cool kitchen gadgets/ideas/tricks of the trade etc. Then we meet for a bible study over specific topics based on the scripture Titus 2:3-5. After that we get to eat what we were shown in the cooking part and also have fabulous conversation with a group of 4-6 women.

I just absolutely love this! It is priceless. I love hearing the lives' of women that have gone before me in the journey of being a believer, a wife, a mother, a friend...they are so sweet and precious--all of them. They each have different stories and different personalities and they are so fun! They seem to really enjoy being on their end of it as well. I like to make a big deal about them, just as they seem to do for us.

I like it also because it is small. They only took 10 of us "younger" women and there is about 5-8 of them each week (I think they rotate, maybe). Anyway, we have had three weeks of it so far and I wish I could just stop time while I am there. I wish I could make this last forever because I love it so much. It is so refreshing and the food is really really really good! All together I am not sure there is much in my life that I look forward to right now than my Tuesday nights with these ladies.

I highly recommend anyone to this program. I suppose it needs to be put together well or it wouldn't be so fabulous, but our ladies did/do it top notch each and every week. They go to the extreme and it is so neat and fun! I hope that if you haven't had the opportunity to be a part of it and there is one in your town/church that you will find out more about it. It's that good! And I have learned so much about cooking/baking/being in the kitchen and then of course about being kind, and about being a loving wife and mommy.

Pure Excitement

Tonight we had an event called Pure Excitement in Bartlesville. It was fantastic...and it always is. Joe White puts this event on all over our country and has for years. I absolutely love it. Tonight I had the opportunity to go with 2 of my small group girls. I love love love these girls so much and tonight I just broke. I broke for them. I wept for them and with them. It was really neat. I know that God moved in their hearts and the Lord knows He moved in mine as well.

I was telling one of them as I was taking her home that "I am 27 and married and yet, the Lord still uses nights like that to restore my soul and remind me I am loved, I am forgiven, and I am free from the chains of sin..." That is it. That is what it is all about.

If I could, I would, hands down, make purity decisions for every teen in America. If I could, I would certainly like to redo some of my choices I made as a teen. But I can't do either of those things. But man, if you could see the tears and hear the commitments and listen to the worship, and just be still where I was tonight...at the sight of 200 plus teenagers committing or recommitting their lives to Christ and to purity...your heart would be soaring like mine.

I pray that it isn't/wasn't just an emotional experience that won't last and for some I know that will probably be the case, but even if just one of them change because of what they heard, are different forever because of a choice they made tonight, then it was dang worth it.

I haven't been to Kanakuk in so long. We have visited over the past few years, but I haven't been "IN" it like I was tonight in quite some time. There is good there...lots of good. I love it. I love it that teens are made to feel special and unique and good about themselves and to hear positiveness for a change and that its okay to be different than our culture teaches you to be. I love it. I just do.

I know that my two girls are different tonight as of 8p than they were when they walked in at 6p. God is good. All the time. I prayed so hard for this message to be heard...and it was heard. They heard and they listened and they responded...and I can't be more grateful and blessed and honored to have been able to be there with them. I just LOVE my girls and I could have said what he said tonight until I was blue in the face and they just needed to hear it from a different source...thanks Joe!

The name contains my soul's emotion....Pure Excitement

We are blessed

Today Jeff was preaching at church! It is a neat opportunity that he gets more often now that he is ordained! It was suppose to be an eventful day during second service because of some people wanting to cause a scene, but after much prayer--specific prayer--thankfully nothing out of the ordinary happened. That was a VERY good thing. I was so distracted the entire time thinking about what was going to happen that I really don't know how his sermon went, but I am sure he did a good job.

Then we went to lunch at this place where Pastors get to eat free! Well, even better than that, someone from our church paid for our lunch all together! That was way awesome. Thank you Watson family! What a neat thing...and just when I was thinking there weren't good people in this world :) (see a couple posts down if you don't know what I am talking about).

Then, it gets better...

I was coming home after dropping Jeff back up at the church and found upon my driveway...

wouldn't it be cool if I said there was a new car...

there wasn't :) but that is okay, because it was the next best thing....

someone, so graciously, took our dead tree and hauled it off to goodness knows where.

Y'all...really!? That is unbelievable. I have been begging Jeff for OVER A MONTH to do SOMETHING/ANYTHING with that eye sore/mess/dead tree (from the ice storm) from our front yard. It was awful in EVERYway...and now...its GONE. Poof...just like that...gone.

I can barely contain my excitement!

And the best part is, I have no idea who did it. That is good...good people, good deeds, good-ness! I love it.

Thank you whoever you are! Thank you for being nice. I will pay this forward...(let you know how I do that)

Baby A

Baby A went to be with Jesus last night at 8p. I don't know what to say but please pray for comfort and peace for the family. So excited that her life on earth touched so many. She survived for 5 weeks, 1 day and 12 hours. What a miracle!

Lack of Sleep = Foolishness

I am an idiot! It was official before this for a million reasons, but it is quite official today. I am going to blame it on the fact that I have had NO sleep (with the exception of the nap I got on Tuesday) since Sunday night. I don't know what insomnia pill I took, but good gracious, I hope it has gone away before I hit the hay tonight....

On to why I am such an idiot....

Jeff and I have been talking about getting a laptop. (which we are both excited about for millions of reasons). I want a PC and he wants a MAC. I am not a fan of Mac because it is different and I am used to a PC...that is really the only reason, well and they are 5 times more expensive! But, anyway I got this email today saying I could receive a free MacBook Air. Usually I don't give those kinds of things the time of day and wouldn't even consider opening the dumb email. But today I did. I had time alone and I was tired but couldn't sleep (even for a nap).

Anyway, I knew knew knew that it was going to be a scam deep down in me, but something told me to check it out anyway. So I did. I thought I did all my research to make sure it was legit. It was legit I found out...however, a complete scam at the same time.

I am just an idiot and I can't even believe that I am announcing this publicly, because seriously I usually scoff at the people who fall for these things...thinking, "did you really think that was for real?" I know to trust my instinct. For crying out loud, Jeff used to calls me his "voice of reason" and typically for good reason!

In order to get this silly computer I had to complete 2 sets of offers from 3 different tiers. I have seen these before and realized that I could probably get away with spending not too much at all (usually they are like free trials that you just have to cancel within the 14 day trial period) and if it was for a Mac Book then, heck yeah, I can do that...even if I have to spend some money...what was I thinking? Anyway, I get past the first 2 tiers without too much damage at all, and actually have a little gift for my dad and brother on the way...thinking "this is going to be so great, Jeff will be so proud of me!"

Haha...laugh it up...laughs definitely on me. 3rd tier consists of ONLY 3 options, of which I have to choose 2! Do you want to even guess what they were? 1) a ROM machine (like 25-40K) 2) some pocket computer (12-15k) and 3) a European rail pass *you had to buy 2 (@$899/person)...what the heck? Seriously, I could have bought our whole community several MacBooks...

I was FURIOUS to say the least...a) because I knew it...b) because I blew it c) because I had spent money that I didn't need to, wouldn't have otherwise, and couldn't do a THING about it now because you had to do them in succession of course! I wrote a very nasty little customer service note and sent it to the people. But really, it was because I was just mad at myself and really felt sorry for those people who fall for this more than once, which Lord help me I hope I never do again. I think I am officially the most un-trusting person in the world right now.

ugh! I just felt dirty and used and like dumbest person on the face of the planet. They got my money, y'all get the laughs, but maybe just maybe someone else won't fall for that kind of thing. (Y'all probably don't fall for those kind of schemes...)

Anyway, it just goes to show that you should always trust your instincts...at least I know I should trust mine. They are usually pretty good at keeping me out of trouble and today I just was too tired to listen to it hoping there was someone good in the world.

The saying should no longer have a probably in it: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

I was a fool and it wasn't even April Fool's Day...a day late, a brain short (and much sleep deprived)=stupidity at its finest!

***Also, Baby A is 5 weeks old today and is struggling more by the day. She has touched so many people's hearts and lives in such a short lifetime. We are praying for them. Word has it that they are all at peace for now, but please continue lifting them up in your prayers...

Works for me Wednesday--Flashlight for Toddler Night Fears

I haven't ever participated in this new thing called Works for Me Wednesday from Rocks in my Dryer, but I figured since I like it so much I might should and maybe some of you that read my blog could benefit, as I have, from some of the great things that people put out there!

So, what works for me?

Jackson is terrified (here just recently) of monsters! How on earth this came about I am not sure...but he is certainly not watching Monsters, Inc. ever again :) But to solve this issue, we pray with him specifically for him to have sweet dreams and to not be afraid, and of course he has a nightlight.

However, about a week or so ago I was at Walmart and found a really great flashlight that is Cars--Lightning McQueen and it has a really cool feature that you can just press the button to make it work (and also do the normal push it up and it'll stay on mode) and only works while you are holding the button down. This has been amazing for him. I like it because I wasn't worried about it staying on and him playing or burning himself with it.

I told him if he gets scared in the night to just shine it where he sees the monsters (shadows) and they will go away. Literally, the night we got it for him he stayed in his room and hasn't come out of his room at night crying since! It is great!!!

That works for me!