Nothing like it

There's nothing

quite like

the thrill

of learning

how to

jump rope

by yourself







for the very first time.

Happy Anniversary!

I just wanted to wish my husband a very happy anniversary today. These 7 years have gone quickly (and quite eventfully, I might add). I would marry you all over again in a heartbeat.

I love you.

Melina says Merry Christmas!

Melina wanted to wish everyone a very Merry & Blessed Christmas from our house to yours, by singing a few of the songs they sang at their Christmas concert for preschool last week.



May everyone have a happy and safe and joy filled CHRISTmas!!

Moving manger

I seem to have an amazingly wonderous moving manger. Looks different everytime I walk by.......compliments of Bubba, no less.

Makeup Update

I have recently found out that the E.L.F. line of makeup has not been bought out by Nordstrom's as previously posted, and that they always sell their make-up for $1. I have also found out that it is real makeup, but not as long lasting as others. Maybe my daughter's dress up box has just been expanded. We shall see.

My apologies for misleading anyone. (I removed the post as to not mislead anyone further.)

She most certainly did not!

So just how smart or sneeky or conniving or thoughtful can one [just turned] 4 year old girl be???

I always keep this in my purse (but it doesn't usually look like that):

Last Friday night I was at Clemson University attending my son's high school state championship football game and could feel my lips chapping in the cold. I searched and searched through my purse and couldn't find my Blistex.

Instead, I found this:

Something that has been in my make-up drawer in the bathroom for years, and most certainly would not be carrying around in my purse. Not to mention, it's not my color.

So I'm sitting there thinking..... "okay, so obviously Noni took my Blistex out of my purse and replaced it with this. But why?" Thoughts like this were running through my mind:

• she replaced one tube for another so I wouldn't notice the weight difference as I was carrying my purse

• since she was taking my Blistex out, she didn't want to leave me empty handed with nothing for my lips, so she thoughtfully went and got that tube & put it in my purse

• she thought that maybe I wouldn't notice or mind the change

But then maybe that's giving too much credit to a 4yr old. When I think of a 4yr old taking something out of her mommy's purse, I don't really picture them replacing it with something else. That takes thought and planning.......and sneakiness. But it did make me smile, and I put the wrong color lip gloss on to protect my lips from the wind & cold. (Maybe that's why noone talked to me at the game. Wrong color & no mirror for application = hideous looking lips.) hmmm........

So I was wondering what in the world she wanted my Blistex for. I found my answer when I went up to her room after her nap.

She said she wanted the car to be a different color.

That's my girl. Make sure the car you have is the color you want it to be. Don't settle for anything less. (And please.....don't use mommy's favorite Blistex anymore.)

A terrible turned treasure for this Tuesday

'


Today was a mixed day. Started out just awful.....but ended up in retrospect to be a treasure.


When I went to pick up my two toddlers from day school around noon time, I had walked out to my Jeep to a HUGE puddle of rusty brown looking water underneath it. I immediately called the guy that fixes our vehicles, and he said that it sounded like a busted water pump, and to get it to his place tomorrow morning. But in the meantime, if I keep the radiator full of water, I should be fine picking up the kids he said. Well.....I didn't even make it half way to our church and the Jeep was smoking/overheating. I pull into this rinky dink, small town garage and asked for some water. When we popped the hood, it looked like something that was rusty brown exploded all over my engine. It was a mess. When he opened the radiator, it looked like it was full of curdled yellow mustard mud. It was so gross. The owner came out and starting pouring water into the radiator for me. It just came right out the bottom. He confirmed it was my water pump. He also said that it looked like someone had poured stop leak gunk into the radiator. NOW......we had just bought this Jeep used in July & have had NO work done to the radiator. Never opened it, in fact. Stop leak gunk is meant to be used for short term, not for months and months. So had the previous owner TOLD us about this, we could have fixed "it" before it busted my water pump.

I turned my head away with tears in my eyes and said "Lord, please help me."

When I looked back at the owner/mechanic, he asked where my kids go to dayschool, and I told him First Baptist Church, and he said, "that's where I go". (Thank you Lord.) He then immediately called his mom to have his younger sister come pick me and my car seats up to take me wherever I needed to go. I then called the church to get ahold of the dayschool director to let her know what was going on, and the church administrator got on the phone & found out that the mechanic's dad teaches Sunday School at our church, and said that they would bring my kids to me.......over at where my husband parks his van in the mornings for the car pool.

Our van is also needing work. The new serpantine belt is probably stretched because it's making a LOT of noise, and the engine stinks horribly of a burnt rubber smell.

God's fingers have touched blessings all over this terrible situation today.

SO......since I will have my husband's van in the morning, I can have "our guy" that fixes our cars, look at our van to see what needs to be done, while we're waiting for the Jeep to be towed to him. Blessing #1. Van looked at & "maybe" fixed tomorrow, instead of having to call and schedule an appointment, and risk something more major happening in the meantime. (Thank you Jesus.)

Blessing #2. The water pump broke while at my house instead of me driving down the highway or at some store or something. (Thank you Jesus.)

Blessing #3. I was able to get to a garage to have it [quickly] assessed -- by a fellow church member. (Thank you Jesus)

Blessing #4. His sister came to take me to my husband's van. (Thank you Jesus.)

Blessing #5. The dayschool director & church administrator delivered my children to me. (Thank you Jesus.)

Blessing #6. My older children were understanding that there may not be any Christmas presents under the tree this year, AT Christmastime, due to the issues with both cars, but that we'll make it up to them in the spring. (Thank you Jesus.)

So that is my "treasure" for the day today. Being able to see all the blessings from God admist the yuckiness. Thank you Jesus.

Not Me Monday!

Not me. I most certainly did not wait and sit by my computer to post to try and be one of the first, so that I can generate some sort of traffic to my pitiful, little blog. Nope, would not do that. And it was not me that did not post a not me Monday post ever before because I was afraid that I would not be as witty and cute as some other awesome bloggers. I would not stress - like a teenager in high school with a big pimple on her face before the big dance - out of fear that others might think 'how droll'. That would be silly. I am way older than that and over it already.

I would never have washed, rinsed, rinsed, washed, rinsed AND rinsed the same load of gentle wash clothes over a period of 5 days just because I didn’t want to take the time to deal with air flufflin’, finding enough hangers and hanging the clothes to dry. That would be just lazy…..and that I am not all the time.

I did not eat – this week alone - two whole bags of the wonderfully delicious mint M&M’s that come out only during the holiday season. And most definitely not the two bags that I had bought for the older boys for their Christmas stockings and now have to go buy more. That would be really piggish.

Bribery is not a good thing, and that’s why I did not say that “if you sit still and look really nice for our annual kids’ Christmas picture you can have a brownie”. That’s unthinkable, since it was breakfast time. And especially on Sunday morning BEFORE Church. What good mother would do that? Not me.

Black is a basic color. When dressing, you need to start with a basic. So why can’t Bubba wear black shoes once in a while? Who cares if they actually belong to his sister, and she calls them her “clipping shoes” because they make noise. “Dressing up” as a toddler helps build the imagination, and I’m all about stretching their minds in any way possible. I most certainly did not mail pictures of our toddler son wearing girls shoes. That would be embarrassing. Daddy would not like that, so it was not me that did that.

Hissy fits are so unladylike, that I would never have one. So I most certainly did not throw one when my huband and older kids were not doing what and how *I* wanted the tree to be done. It was not such a major hissy fit that I locked myself in the bedroom and yelled through the door "we're not having a tree this year". I know better than to be like that. That was not me.

And it definitely was not me that worried that I would link wrong and that it wouldn't show up.

Hurry over to MckMamma's for some other 'Not Me Monday' posts and have some fun!

Thankful Thursday

This week I am especially thankful for my best friend Tammy and her husband Pat. She has been there through thick and thin, especially after our horrific car accident. She was the one that bought me a new blue jean jacket when I was upset that they had cut my other one off of me. She was the one that talked Pat into coming to visit me in the hospital, instead of going out to celebrate their anniversary, just so she could see me try to take my first step to learn how to walk again.

She was the one that would bake me lasagna for my birthday because I didn't know how. She was the one that took the boys, bought them new clothes and had their pictures professionally taken for Christmas the year of the accident, because I wasn't able to. She was the one that was the first to introduce my [then] 3yr old (now 17) to pop - full strength - when she was babysitting for me, because she thought he was deprived at 3yrs of age and not have had that experience of fizz yet. She was the one that talked her husband into grilling out in the middle of winter (& LOTS of snow) for me because it was a special day. And he did it, because he's that special too. And so much more specialness amongst them and what she has done.

Even with us living 1000 miles apart, she is still my best friend, and we always pick up at the drop of a hat where we left off last time when we saw each other. The years and miles just melt away. (Though the years on her never get added on in the first place.)

They are now experiencing their first grandchild. I am so happy for them, for her. I am so thankful for her and all the years of friendship and love that we have shared. I am truly blessed to be able to call her friend. I miss seeing her everyday, but I am thankful, and ever so grateful. I miss you bunches Tammy. Thank you for the 16+ years so far.

Reinforcement

I love visiting Katie over at Katie's Calamaties blog. She is witty, unique, full of an interesting persepective, born in the wrong century and has a great apron. She has been experiencing a technology breakdown recently and is unable to post pictures. I took this picture recently and it reminded me of something that Katie would appreciate.

So Katie....this one is for you:

Hello Mr. Turkey

I hope that everyone has a happy and blessed thanksgiving! Here is a special thanksgiving wish from my daughter.

Tuesday Treasures

God is my treasure.



Zephaniah 3:17The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."




He has brought my two boys and I through this.

And we have lived to tell about it and testify to God's greatness and mighty power and awesome love.

6 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Psalm 62:6-8 (New International Version)

There is no better treasure.

Thank you Lord Jesus. I love you. To God be the glory.

For more Tuesday Treasures, check out: http://storinguptreasuresinheaven.blogspot.com/

I must be famous!!

I seem to have my own papparazzi.

How cool is that?!?

I must be famous.

I must be mom.

Flashback Friday

**this is my flashback Friday post, and had originally started it on said day...but life & computer just got in the way today. So please read it as if I did post it on Friday.**









HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SON







My oldest son Matthew, turned 21 today (Nov 21). He was born at 7:48am, weighing in at 9lbs 110z, and was 21.50" long. He is an extremely special blessing to me, and he had been given up for adoption.







Here he is at two days old. This was shortly before I had left the hospital, leaving him there in the care of nurses, until the assigned social worker came to put him in temporary foster care. I wanted to take one more look at him as a 'newborn'.














A few short weeks later on Dec 8th, we had the hearing to terminate my parental rights and formally have him placed for adoption. The hearing was expidiated at my request, and my social worker was able to arrange a meeting early with a judge after only weeks, instead of the usual months.




We had picked his birth parents, and they were waiting to take their son home that day.



This picture is the last one I have of him & I together. We had just come from the judges chambers, and were on our way to meet his new parents. We were allowed a short visit with our son to see him one more time, and to say goodbye.














The parents that we had picked out for Matthew was such a blessing to us. They had sent me monthly pictures the first year of his life, and then every year after that, along with a letter to let us know how he was doing. Here he is shortly before his first birthday. What a handsome boy!!

Here he is at age two at his grandpa's farm.

Age 4

Couple of years later.....

Then here is his 8th grade picture, 14yrs old.

It has been a pleasure, honor, privilege and blessing to see him grow, to read about how he is, who he has been turning into.

Dear parents of Matthew,

Though I only "met" you one time in person, I feel that I have been invited to share a very special part of you. Though I know not your last name nor where you live, I feel that I have been a part of your life. Though I know not of what Matthew looks like since high school, I feel that I would recognize him immediately as a sister in Christ.

All these years you have been faithful in the raising of Matthew. You have been faithful in loving him, caring for him, meeting his needs. Faithful in showing him the love, grace and mercy of our mighty Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful in allowing him to be himself, yet guiding him into the man he is today. Faithful in keeping your promise to me that you would send pictures and updates. Those pictures and updates have been a HUGE BLESSING to me. Seeing him so well loved, hearing how his heart is, made me glad in the choice that was made all those years ago.

That choice was a diffcult one, but one that I have never regretted. As any [soon to be] mother knows, you cannot wait for your child to be a part of your life. I knew that Matthew was to be a part of my life, but in a special way. There were times that I longed to hold him and hug on him, but then I was comforted by my Lord, and knew that HE was holding and hugging me, and thus my longing was fulfilled. There were times that I missed him, and the Lord knew that too. It would be then, that I would receive some pictures and a letter from you. Once again the Lord taking care of me. When he turned 10, you had written about what a blessing it was for YOU to be Matthews' parents, and how thank you never seemed enough. I must tell you. *I* am the one that has been extremely blessed, and me saying thank you to you doesn't seem like enough. Looking at pictures of Matthew, it is very evident how fully he is loved. That made my choice no longer a difficult one. I feel as if Matthew could not be loved anymore than what he is loved by you today.

I am so thankful to you for raising Matthew. Thank you for being his mom and dad, not just father and mother. Thank you for all that you did. Thank you for showing him Christ, and living for HIM. Thank you for loving him. Last but not least, thank you for opening your hearts and arms to my son. I don't believe anyone could have raised him better. Truly, I am blessed.

Word filled Wednesday

with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills;
~Deuteronomy 33:15

This is both Noni's choicest gifts as well as her everlasting hill.

A trove of treasures for Tuesday

Tuesday's treasures.......ahhh kids. *smile*




"Mommy, let me get my iron and baby Emily's dress to iron so you don't have to iron alone."










"Hey mom! Wanna sing with me?"

"Mommy, mommy, mommy!" [As she comes tearing into the room and lays on the floor.]

"Look how big I am."

"Look at me! I'm an indian princess holding a baby."

"AND I can stand on my tippy-toes."

Check out Courtney's Tuesday Treasures at: http://storinguptreasuresinheaven.blogspot.com/

Flashback Friday

Once upon a time.......

they used to look like this

And then this.....

When it used to be just "the two boys" before they became "the four kids".

And now........it's this (as of Christmas 2006):

Click on over to Courtney's blog (http://storinguptreasuresinheaven.blogspot.com/ ) for other wonderful "Flashback Friday's".

Oh no! Silk tie...?

Yesterday morning, Noni was in desparate need of a belt, as we could not find her (one belt that she owns), and not all of her jeans stay up very well. I was behind on laundry - thus her needing to wear jeans to school.



So mommy had a great idea. Let's take an old tie of daddy's that he NEVER wears, and cut it down to size and just use that. Sounds good, right? Especially since he has so many ties that he had inherited from his dad (like from the 60's) that are not being put to any good use. I went and searched through the ties, and grabbed one that I have YET to see him wear. I figured that if in our [almost] 7 years of marriage, he has not worn it, he probably never will.


HACK!


SNIP!


CUT!








See.......? That was easy.

When daddy came home, Noni runs to him & tells him all about how fun it was to cut one of his ties for her to wear to school.

"Mommy cut one of my ties?"

"Yep. Wanna see daddy?"


A few moments later, daddy comes in to me, with his "tie" in hand and asked me............ "honey, why did you cut this?"

"Noni needed a belt."

"Yeah, but......... this was a SILK tie.

A very special silk tie.

A very special silk tie from England.

A very special silk tie from England that my uncle David (now deceased) had given me."



GULP.



"I didn't know. I had never seen you wear it before, and figured that it was one of your dad's that you'd probably never wear............"


"Did you not happen to see what kind of tie it was and where it was from?"








Ohhhh.......I suppose he meant that really big tag on the back of the tie that I just sort of ignored didn't see in my haste of getting her ready for school.

Nope. Didn't see it at all.

Who loves to eat pumpkin?

Apparently my son.

Giveaway!

Over at Peanut Butter & Pickles (http://pbandpickles.blogspot.com/)
they are having a FANTASTIC giveaway for a WONDERFUL cupcake carrier! You have GOT TO check it out!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday my sweet Bubba & Noni!!!

Enjoying the early morning with their birthday balloons

How delightful that my children already know exactly what they want.

Bubba wanted a "blue square" cake, so he got it.

Noni wanted a round cake with chocolate frosting and flowers.

I realized when I went to make her cake, I no longer had any "round" cake pans (the horror!). So I told her how really neat it would be to have a 'circle' cake with a hole in the middle instead.

I pray many blessings upon you today and hope that you both have a happy, happy birthday, and that all of your wishes come true.



I love you Bubba.

I love you Noni.

STATE CHAMPIONS!!!!

Last week my son's band won the upper state championship. Last night the top 6 from both upper and lower state came together to compete for the [overall] state championship.

WE WON!!!!

Bentley's band won the state championship!!!

I am so proud of him. They have won every single competition that they have competed in this year. What a way to finish up his marching band career as a senior. Champions through and through.

Though he is always a champion in my book.