Fun was had by all!!!!

I must say that I had so much fun last night at Missy's house!!!!! The ornament swap party was a blast!!!! I really like your "Presbyterian friends" LOL. Now I can put a face to a name when I read their blogs (which are always entertaining and now I know why) and by the way we do need to plan us a Florida trip. It would be so much fun!!!

The food was great, I especially liked the baked brie. I wish I had gotten that recipe and the mini cheese cakes were awesome! I do hope that this is going to be a yearly tradition with Missy.

Tag I'm It

1.) Wrapping paper or gift bags? I will use a gift bag, however I prefer wrapping paper with fancy bows.



2.) Real tree or Artificial? We always do a real tree. Sometimes we have it shipped in from New Hampshire or Vermont from a Christmas Tree Farm. It cost about the same and it is shipped right to your door. But we have been known to go the a local Christmas Tree Farm and cut one down. I think Jessica's best memory is Terry going deep into the woods off of a country road in the middle of no where and cutting one down . A very funny memory for the three of us! (It has something to do with a briar patch and being caught on someone else's land LOL)



3.) When do you put up the tree? We like to put it up the first weekend in December. Most of the time it falls on the day that they play the SEC Championship Game, so if we go to a local tree farm we always go early in the day and then decorate it that night after the game. Terry's job is to put the lights on the tree and he is very particular (can I say anal) about how they look, so if the game is coming on by the time we get home, I have to wait till after the game to start the decorating.



4.) When do you take the tree down?Always after the new year.



5.) Do you like egg nog?No, but Terry and Jessica do, so there is always some in my refrigerator this time of year.



6. )Favorite gift received as a child? It's a toss up between my batton or the army men I got one year (Long story)



7.) Do you have a nativity scene?Yes- It was Terry's mothers so it is very special to me (Christmas was her favorite time of the year)



8.) Hardest person to buy for? My Mom



9.) Easiest person to buy for?Autumn



10.) Mail or email Christmas cards?Mail



11.) Worst Christmas gift you ever received?I'm pretty easy to buy for, I like anything but if I had to pick one I'd say a pair of Black boots that were to small and would not zip all the way up my calves (talk about making you want to loose weight!!!!)



12.) Favorite Christmas movie(s)?White Christmas, Its A Wonderful Life, Holiday Inn, A Christmas Story the list goes on and on.

13.) When do you start shopping for Christmas?If I see something during the year for someone, I'll usually buy it then, but I do the main bulk of my shopping either online early or I'll do an all day shopping trip usually around the 10th of the month.

14.) Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?Not that I can remember.



15.) Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?Saugage balls and fudge.



16.) Clear or colored Christmas lights?I like colored lights.



17.) Favorite Christmas song(s)?Silent Night, Mary Did you Know, What Child is This, O Holy Night and again the list could go on and on.

18.) Travel at Christmas or stay home?We normally stay home, but that tradition may change in the future.

19.) Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen and Rudolph!

20.) Angel on the tree top or a star?I have both, Terry perfers the Star but I have a beautiful Angel that is fiber optic that I like, so we take turns.

21.) Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?We open presents with my family on Christmas Eve and Terry's family on Christmas day.

22.) Most annoying thing about this time of year? Crowds of people in stores, it drives me crazy!!!!

23.) Favorite ornament theme or color?I have some of Terry's mom's ornaments and they are special. I also have ornaments collected over the years that Jessica made.

24.) Favorite dinner for Christmas?Ham, Green Bean Cassarole, Sweet Potato Cassarole, Red Velvet Cake and Pecan pie.

25.) What do you want for Christmas this year?What I really want is a visit from Jessica, Deacon and Autumn, but since I don't think that is going to happen I be happy with anything that someone wants to get me. I like surprises

26). Do you bake lots of goodies during the holidays?I love to bake so yes I am always making something.

27). Do you decorate different rooms of your home?Yes I do. Mainly the Living room and kitchen.

28.) What decorations do you put outside?I have a light up Santa Claus head (It was Terry's Moms) that I hang on my front porch. I put candles in my front windows and I also have a light up sleigh and reindeer that I put out in the front yard.

29.) How do you spend Christmas Eve?We spend it with my family, usually at my sister's house, we all bring snack like food, lots of sweets and there is always a pot of Taco soup. We just eat and eat and open presents and watch old videos of years past. It is so much fun. Then my sister and I normally go to candle light services at her church. I love that the best!

30.) Is Christmas your favorite holiday?Yes it is

Christmas card photo

As you can see by my new blog look that I am trying to get ready for Christmas. Therefore the picture that you see is the preview of my Christmas card. It took 30 minutes to get the perfect photo in the middle! I think that my Christmas card is going to read, "Jingle Bell Collars - $20, Picture with Santa $50 - Wishing you a Merry Christmas - Priceless" What do you think? Or can you think of a better saying. If you can, let me know.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is a day that is supposed to remind us to be thankful for all of our many blessings. However, we should be thankful everyday. Sometimes I think that we all get a little to busy and forget and especially today, Thanksgiving Day, we should take time to reflect over the past year and look at all we have been given by God.

1. So today, as I travel between two hospitals (to be with my Mom and then my cousin) I am thankful for my car (new company car) and that gas has gone down in price.

2. I am thankful for my new grandaughter Autumn (even though she lives 1000 miles away from me)

3. I am thankful for my sister Janet for all she does and our close relationship.

4. I am thankful for my husband, who has kept the house clean and clothes washed this week while I was so busy with Mom and Karen.

5. I am thankful for my church who has lifted me up in prayer during this hard time and for my Pastor who made a special effort to bring comfort to my cousin during this difficult time.

6. I am thankful for my friends and family.

7. Most of all I am thankful for the Grace of God that he sent his son Jesus to die on the cross and shed his blood for my sins so that can know a peace beyond all understanding during difficult times and know that one day I will see him face to face.

Happy Veterans Day!

My father was a retired army captain. I am very proud of the service that he gave to this country. I have heard many of his stories over the years of the time that he spent in the service and of the friends that he made there. He finished out his time in the service in the National Guard. When I was growing up he went away two weeks out of the year and every other weekend, but it wasn't during "War Time" I cannot imagine what the families of the service men and women go through, during this day and age but I am very thankful for their service and pray for them everyday.

My father-in-law was also a veteran. In fact he was shot in the war and received a purple heart. I used to love to listen to his stories of the times that he spent in the Philippines.

As I drove into work today, I listened to "Rick and Bubba" and they were honoring Veterans, several Veterans called into the show and told their stories and they really touched my heart. But let us remember to honor Veterans every day, not just on Veterans Day.

I'm Glad It's Friday!!!!!

I'm so glad that it is Friday!!!! I'm one tired person! I've been struggling with a sore back all week long and I also can't seem to get adjusted to the time change.

How do you like little Autumn the Butterfly!!!! From what I heard from her Mom, she enjoyed going Trunk or Treat with her cousin Emma. She got to experience her first every sucker and her Mom and Dad got to reap the benefits of all of the chocolate and other candy that she received!!! (This Nana sure wishes that she could have seen her in person!)

O.K. all of my Blogging friends. I have a big prayer request. My cousin Karen Meyers who is my age is a very, very sick women. She just moved up here to Montevallo from Jacksonville FL about 2 1/2 months ago, anyway she has (RSD) www.rsds.org which is a pain disease and has been sick with this for about 8 years now. But due to the heavy medicines that she takes for this it has caused acute/chronic Pancreatitus. She has been in the hospital 8 times this year already with bouts of it and twice since she has moved here. To make a long story short, it has damaged her Pancreas and she is scheduled to have most of it removed along with some of her Duodeunum (intestine) and part of her stomach on November 24th. This is major, major surgery and obviously she is very scared. Not very many surgeons do this. She is having her surgery at UAB and the Dr who is doing it did an internship at the Mayo Clinic. When I talked to her yesterday, she asked me if I would have my pastor come to the hospital before surgery to see her as she does not have a church home here. Since they have moved here she has been so sick, she has been unable to find a church home and really feels out of touch and afraid. Karen is a christian and knows that she is in Gods hands, but to not have a church home and family is difficult for her. She misses her friends in Jacksonville and her family, but I truly feel that God has her here for a reason, so please join me in praying for her comfort and peace and for God to guide the surgeons hands.

The Election is Over

Well the election is over and now is the time to really start praying for our country. Our God is Sovereign so nothing happens that is outside of his will. We must remember that. A long, long time ago, the people wanted a King so God gave them Saul, we as a country have rejected God so I think he has given us Obama. The most liberal Senator that we have ever had is now our President elect. What amazes me is that people think that he won't be as liberal as a President. Come on people WAKE UP!!!!! I have committed to praying for our country at 6:00 a.m. every morning. Won't you join me?

So Today is Halloween!!!!

So today is Halloween!!!! Not that it is some big holiday for me. I don't celebrate witches, goblins and such, (however I must admit I do love me some candy!!!!!) and after today there will be 1/2 priced Halloween candy at the store !!!!!! Just what my hips need!!!! But today marks the start of the Holiday season. First Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas and all of them without Jessica and Autumn. Not at all what I was expecting this year! I told Terry that I was going on strike this year. (Can you do that?) Just hide out until after all of the holidays are over. I don't want to decorate, cook or do anything and I know that is unfair to Terry and everyone else in my family, but deep down that is truly how I feel. I really, really wish that I could just go to bed and not wake back up until January 3rd!!!!! Unfortunately, life doesn't work that way. So, I will pray for peace and comfort and strength to get through the next few months of holiday times without my daughter and grandaughter being here. I will be thankful for my phone converstations with them and I will focus on what is truly important and the reason for this season.

Six Years Ago Today

Daddy & Willie the Mean Cat

Six years ago today my father passed away, so today is a sad day for me. I miss him, but I know that I will see him again one day so that gives me great comfort. My father had Parkinson's Disease and his final years were not very pleasant. The last two years of his life he was totally bed ridden, completely dependant on others for his every need. In the end, he couldn't even speak, but his mind was always clear and he could convey a message to you with smile, a squeeze of the hand and through a look in his eyes.

The picture above is of he and my mom in Gatlinburg at my wedding to Terry in October of 1999. They were married 58 years when he passed away. My Mom met him at a streetcar stop in downtown Birmingham. He and Bobby Pair asked for directions from my Mom and her friend Bunny. Then they proceeded to go around the block and come back to the streetcar stop and take the streetcar that my Mom and Bunny were taking. Since my Dad was stationed at Anniston he and my Mom became "Pen Pals" and the rest is history. By the way, Bunny and Bobby married too.

My parents marriage worked because God was always first, then each other and then us children, always!!!!!! I think that now a lot of marriages don't work out, even in christian homes because when it gets tough, we just decide to quit and move on instead of putting God first and then each other and then the children. 58 years took work on many occasions and I can tell you from experience that they didn't always agree on things to do about us kids, but in the end, Daddy was the head of the household and Mom differed to him and God worked it all out to his glory. I often wonder if he was disappointed in us kids as each one's first marriage ended in divorce. He lead by example, but we didn't chose to follow. That is something that I will always regret.

My father never met a stranger! He always had a smile on his face and boy did he love his grandchildren! He was just as comfortable taking my brother's son Daniel bowling as he was taking my daughter Jessica or my niece Heather shopping for clothes. Being a single parent for so long while Jessica was little (from the time she was 5 until she was 18) he also became more than a Grandfather to Jessica. He was at every football game when she cheered in little league, every dance recital, every colorguard competition and even Drum Corp Competitions when she was in college. They had a very special relationship and I know that Jessica misses him alot. When Jessica was here a couple of weeks ago she and I both noticed how Autumn props her leg up like her Great Grandaddy Chuck, when she was sitting in her stroller. It made us both smile!

My father also had a way with animals, maybe being raised on a farm in Pennsylvania had something to do with that, I don't know. If we got a dog or a cat he when I was growing up, he always became that animals favorite, no matter what. It would make my Mom so mad!!! She would get an animal and feed it and baby it and it would alway choose my Dad. The picture above is of my Dad and their Cat Willie (the meanest cat every!!!!) It wouldn't have anything to do with anyone but my father and with him he was a sweetheart.

So today, I will be a little sad because I miss him, but I will smile as I remember vacations, late night talks, setting quietly listening to music together, silly arguments and all of the love that we shared. But most of all I will smile because I know that I will see him again in the most glorious place of all and in the presence our Lord and Saviour Jesus!!!!

"I Love You Daddy!!!

My New Favorite Website!

If you like cooking, photography, home and garden or design stuff you need to check out this website http://thepioneerwoman.com I love it!!!!! I especially love her cooking/recipes.

Busy couple of weeks

I've had a busy couple of weeks. Jessica and Autumn flew in for a quick visit. I sure enjoyed having my daughter and granddaughter with me even for a few short days. I miss Jessica and Autumn so much and not having them here is hard, but I'm adjusting to being a "long distance grandmother"

At work we have been so busy because of hurricane Ike. The phone doesn't seem to stop ringing. I can't even imagine what the people out in Texas are going through. We really need to keep them in our prayers.

I started teaching Pre-school choir again. I really have to pray for patience on Sunday evenings as my 4 and 5 year olds don't have a long attention span. But I really love working with them. We started using rhythm instrument this Sunday (tambourines and rhythm sticks) I was a little afraid it would get out of hand, (you know, hitting each other and stuff) but they did surprisingly well.

I love the coolness in the air. I'm so glad fall is here. It is my favorite time of the year. We normally go to Gatlinburg in October, but I don't think that is going to happen this year. (Repairs to the septic tank did away with that trip) so maybe some day trips around B,ham will have to do to see some nice fall foliage.

Oh, I almost forgot, in Awana last night in our workbook time I got the biggest laugh, I had to explain to Aime (he was the new little boy that is 5 years old) that when Lana was telling me that her mother gave her "Whine Stopper" because she said a bad word, you didn't give her "Wine" to drink. That it was apple cider vinager. Which lead to him telling me that his Mommie likes Beer better than Wine and he didn't understand why you gave Lana Wine. Then Kesy had to tell me that his Mommie does backflips and started to go into a discussion about his Mommie and Daddy and that is when Miss Valerie had to put the brakes on and go WHOA!!!!! "To much information" Let's concentrate on workbooks and learning our verses. That's what I get for having two 5 year olds and a 6 year old in my room with me! Kid's do say the funnest things!!!!

Is it Every Going to Stop!!!!!

In the continuing saga of my bad week and everything going wrong, my car broke down! I go to leave work yesterday and it wouldn't stay started. It would fire up (I put a new battery in it in June) but then it would choke out. Now mind you 15 minutes before I left work, I had to move my car so that the Dumpster Company could manuver their truck around in our parking area and it started right up and I moved it to another parking space. So imagine my surprise when I went to leave and it didn't stay started. So I spent the better part of last evening getting a tow truck to come get my car and take it to the shop and getting myself home from work (I work in Alabaster so it is about 38 miles to my house from my office.) My wonderful boss's wife gave me her car to use to get home and back to work this morning. (I must say I enjoyed driving the Lincoln) but all of this made me miss Awana (which I hate to do)

So as I'm writing this, I am trying to find the blessing in the situation - so here it goes.

1. I was at work, not on the highway when this happened.

2 When I walked into the Car Repair shop (which is right down the street from our office) to make arrangements for my car, the first thing I saw was a Bible Verse at their reception window, which gave me a peace they they wouldn't take advantage of me.

3. I didn't have to rent a car or have Terry come get me listen to his lecture about if I wouldn't drive my car so much it wouldn't break down. (I just got to hear that when I got home!) Barbara offered hers.

4. It was Courtney's turn to lead large group time in Awana, so I didn't have to worry that someone wasn't prepared for this when I couldn't show up.

So now, as I set here and began my work day, I am praying that NOTHING ELSE goes wrong or ya'll might have to lock me up in "Bryce's" because this girl is heading for a nervous breakdown!!!!

Bad, Bad Week!!!!!!

The little poem has been going through my head "Rain, Rain, go away, come again another day" as I am so tired of the rain I don't know what to do! Constant rain gives me the blahs!!! It causes so many problems for my job it is not funny!!!! I have three buildings that are ready to be delivered and installed, two in Louisiana and one in South Carolina and because of the rain we can't. On one job, we were digging the holes for the concrete footers, got them dug and inspected and the rain started before the concrete truck got there, so all of that work will have to be done again when it finally stops raining. The problem with that is it is a double cost to me not the customer, so less profit on that job so less commission. Yuk!!!!!

Then our Septic Tank goes haywire yesterday afternoon when Terry was washing his work clothes. We had it pumped out in June and at the time the guy said that we might start having problem with our field lines because of tree roots and the drought, etc well it happened!!!! So repairs or replacement is schedule for this Saturday so there goes my vacation to see Jessica and Autumn this year and maybe next year too, just depending on the cost! Then during all of the rain and wind we noticed a scraping sound on the roof. It seems that our pecan tree has really grown over the spring and summer and now several limbs are laying on my roof. So we have to have a tree service come out and cut them. I can't wait to see what that is going to cost. Then my sliding glass door latch broke off. So we have to replace the door and the list goes on.

So when is rains it pours litarally at my house with all of the problems, but I remind myself that God is aware of everything that is going on and I can lean on him. It doesn't mean that he is going to miraculeously fix my septic tank or break the limbs off the trees supernaturally, but I can get my Bible out and read some verses to calm my soul and have a little "heart to heart" and even though everything is "falling apart" I feel calm and happy because God will provide a way to pay for everything and it will all get done. Terry (my husband) doesn't understand my attitude and is watching me very closely, (sometimes I think that he thinks that I'm a little crazy when it comes to this "God thing" as he calls it). He ranted and raved for 2 hours last night about how nothing ever goes right, etc., which gave me the perfect opportunity to state my case of "we are not promised perfect, but we are promised that he would be there with us to see us through it"

Just typing this and thinking about how God's hand was in this makes me smile.

1. The Septic Tank didn't back up in the house - it just flowed washing drain water out into the yard. I don't know about you but that is a blessing!

2. The tree limbs are scraping, but my roof is not leaking.

3. The handle broke, but I actually lock my door with a HUGH Bar Lock, so the house is still secure.

As for not seeing Jessica and Autumn on my vacation in October, my boss has offered to fly her and Autumn down this month (he has a free ticket) so if she can work everything out, I'll still get to see them. YEA!!!!!!!

Final Words from Tony Snow - Beautiful!!!!

This was forwarded to me today and I decided to post Tony Snow's words in my Blog. We all need to remember that we are held in the Arms of our Most Awesome God and whatever the outcome of what we are going through he is always carrying us through and we are never alone!!!



"For several years, I listened to Tony Snow on the Fox New Channel, always appreciative of his concise and clear conservative viewpoint. I watched his few months as he served President Bush as press Secretary. Again approaching death, what he has to say here, reflects his gift of organizing and presenting the Greatest Truth. Enjoy his final commentary.


Tony Snows Final Comments Blessings arrive in unexpected packages, - in my case, cancer. Those of us with potentially fatal diseases - and there are millions in America today - find ourselves in the odd position of coping with our mortality while trying to fathom God's will. Although it would be the height of presumption to declare with confidence 'What It All Means,' Scripture provides powerful hints and consolations. The first is that we shouldn't spend too much time trying to answer the 'why' questions: Why me? Why must people suffer? Why can't someone else get sick? We can't answer such things, and the questions themselves often are designed more to express our anguish than to solicit an answer. I don't know why I have cancer, and I don't much care. It is what it is, a plain and indisputable fact. Yet even while staring into a mirror darkly, great and stunning truths began to take shape. Our maladies define a central feature of our existence: We are fallen. We are imperfect. Our bodies give out. But, despite this, - or because of it, - God offers the possibility of salvation and grace. We don't know how the narrative of our lives will end, but we get to choose how to use the interval between now and the moment we meet our Creator face-to-face. Second, we need to get past the anxiety. The mere thought of dying can send adrenaline flooding through your system. A dizzy, unfocused panic seizes you. Your heart thumps; your head swims. You think of nothingness and swoon. You fear partings; you worry about the impact on family and friends. You fidget and get nowhere. To regain footing, remember that we were born not into death, but into life - and that the journey continues after we have finished our days on this earth. We accept this on faith, but that faith is nourished by a conviction that stirs even within many non-believing hearts - an intuition that the gift of life, once given, cannot be taken away. Those who have been stricken enjoy the special privilege of being able to fight with their might, main, and faith to live fully, richly, exuberantly - no matter how their days may be numbered. Third, we can open our eyes and hearts. God relishes surprise. We want lives of simple, predictable ease, - smooth, even trails as far as the eye can see, - but God likes to go off-road. He provokes us with twists and turns. He places us in predicaments that seem to defy our endurance and comprehension - and yet don't. By His love and grace, we persevere. The challenges that make our hearts leap and stomachs churn invariably strengthen our faith and grant measures of wisdom and joy we would not experience otherwise. 'You Have Been Called'. Picture yourself in a hospital bed. The fog of anesthesia has begun to wear away. A doctor stands at your feet, a loved one holds your hand at the side. 'It's cancer,' the healer announces. The natural reaction is to turn to God and ask him to serve as a cosmic Santa. 'Dear God, make it all go away. Make everything simpler.' But another voice whispers: 'You have been called.' Your quandary has drawn you closer to God, closer to those you love, closer to the issues that matter, - and has dragged into insignificance the banal concerns that occupy our 'normal time.' There's another kind of response, although usually short-lived, an inexplicable shudder of excitement as if a clarifying moment of calamity has swept away everything trivial and tiny, and placed before us the challenge of important questions. The moment you enter the 'Valley of the Shadow of Death', things change. You discover that Christianity is not something doughy, passive, pious, and soft. Faith may be the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. But it also draws you into a world shorn of fearful caution. The life of belief teems with thrills, boldness, danger, shocks, reversals, triumphs, and epiphanies. Think of Paul, traipsing through the known world and contemplating trips to what must have seemed the antipodes (Spain), shaking the dust from his sandals, worrying not about the morrow, but only about the moment. There's nothing wilder than a life of humble virtue, - for it is through selflessness and service that God wrings from our bodies and spirits the most we ever could give, the most we ever could offer, and the most we ever could do. Finally, we can let love change everything. When Jesus was faced with the prospect of crucifixion, he grieved not for himself, but for us. He cried for Jerusalem before entering the Holy City. >From the Cross, he took on the cumulative burden of human sin and weakness, and begged for forgiveness on our behalf. We get repeated chances to learn that life is not about us, that we acquired purpose and satisfaction by sharing in God's love for others. Sickness gets us part way there. It reminds us of our limitations and dependence. But it also gives us a chance to serve the healthy. A minister friend of mine observes that people suffering grave afflictions often acquire the faith of two people, while loved ones accept the burden of two peoples' worries and fears. 'Learning How to Live'. Most of us have watched friends as they drifted toward God's arms, not with resignation, but with peace and hope. In so doing, they have taught us not how to die, but how to live. They have emulated Christ by transmitting the power and authority of life. I sat by my best friend's bedside a few years ago as a wasting cancer took him away. He kept at his table a worn Bible and a 1928 edition of the Book of Common Prayer. A shattering grief disabled his family, many of his old friends, and at least one priest. Here was an humble and very good guy, someone who apologized when he winced with pain because he thought it made his guest uncomfortable. He retained his equanimity and good humor literally until his last conscious moment. 'I'm going to try to beat [this cancer],' he told me several months before he died. 'But if I don't, I'll see you on the other side.' His gift was to remind everyone around him that even though God doesn't promise us tomorrow, he does promise us eternity - filled with life and love we cannot comprehend, - and that one can, in the throes of sickness, point the rest of us toward timeless truths that will help us weather future storms. Through such trials, God bids us to choose: Do we believe, or do we not? Will we be bold enough to love, daring enough to serve, humble enough to submit, and strong enough to acknowledge our limitations? Can we surrender our concern in things that don't matter so that we might devote our remaining days to things that do? When our faith flags, God throws reminders in our way. Think of the prayer warriors in our midst. They change things, and those of us who have been on the receiving end of their petitions and intercessions know it. It is hard to describe, but there are times when suddenly the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, and you feel a surge of the Spirit. Somehow you just know: Others have chosen, when talking to the Author of all creation, to lift us up, - to speak to Him of us! This is love of a very special order. But so is the ability to sit back and appreciate the wonder of every created thing. The mere thought of death somehow makes every blessing vivid, every happiness more luminous and intense. We may not know how our contest with sickness will end, but we have felt the loving touch of God. 'What is man that Thou are mindful of him?' We don't know much, but we do know this: No matter where we are, no matter what we do, no matter how bleak or frightening our prospects, each and every one of us who believes lies, each and every day, in the same safe and impregnable place: The hollow of God's hand!"

Awesome Women's Prayer Retreat this Weekend!!

I only got to go for the day on Saturday but I so enjoyed it!!!! Such a renewal to my spirit that I needed. Fran Curry our guest speaker was great, and thank you Missy and Jeri for the great music!

Get the Tissues Out!!!!

Anyone that knows me, knows that I am a big Alabama Football fan. I know that everybody loved Bear Bryant (I even have a dog named Bear Bryant) but my favorite coach so far has always been Coach Stallings. I meet him once at a book signing, for his book about his son John Mark. I have always admired he and his wife for the way that they put John Mark first and didn't listen to the "experts" and have him institutionalized when he was born. It truly takes special people to be the parents of exceptional children like John Mark and others like him.

Anyway, a friend passed on this write up about John Mark to me and I thought I would share this to you in the blogging world if you haven't read it. (Get the tissues out!)

Gregg Thompson Contributor
Published August 4, 2008

All I ever really needed to know, I learned from Johnny Stallings. You can go to the finest schools and get any advanced degree they offer. Or you can read all of the business and self-improvement books you want. But for a Ph.D in true wisdom, take a look at the life of Johnny Stallings.You may have never heard of Johnny. He had Down Syndrome. When he was born, 46 years ago in Alabama, the doctors said he wouldn’t live even a year or two because of a severe heart defect. Other well-meaning doctors advised his parents to put him in an institution. “In a year,” they said, “you’ll forget you ever had him.” But fortunately for all of us, Gene and Ruth Ann Stallings didn’t take their advice. They chose to treat Johnny as a vital part of their family.And we are all the better for it. As his father advanced his football coaching career — first at Alabama, then to Texas A&M, the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals and finally to a national championship in 1992 at Alabama — Johnny was an integral part of the team. To Johnny, the most important person was the trainer. Trainers take care of the players,” he once said. “You can’t win without trainers.” To the day he died, Johnny Stallings wore a massive, diamond-encrusted National Championship ring on his frail fingers, which were tinged a grayish blue from the lack of oxygen caused by his heart condition. Johnny was front and center in that National Championship team photo. In fact, he was a part of every team his father coached, including the storied Dallas Cowboys. The players drew inspiration from him. When Johnny turned 40 years old, for example, his birthday party was attended by a Who’s Who of former NFL stars.Johnny had some accomplishments of his own. He was featured with his father on a popular national United Way TV commercial, has a playground named for him at the RISE center in Tuscaloosa, had the athletic training facility at Alabama named for him, and won a “Change the World” award from Abilene Christian University. But perhaps the most important thing that Johnny Stallings accomplished is this: he taught us that it doesn’t matter what awards you win, or what worldly accomplishments you achieve, it is how you live your life that matters most. So what can we learn from Johnny Stallings? • Every life matters. The life of Johnny Stallings teaches us that God can use anyone, no matter how insignificant in society’s eyes, to make an impact on others. Johnny had none of the things that you and I take for granted, but Johnny touched countless lives in ways none of us can even begin to imagine. Our materialistic, success-driven culture doesn’t really know what to do with people like Johnny. Society certainly didn’t know what to do with Johnny when he was born 46 years ago. But God did.• See the good in everyone. “Be my friend.” When Johnny got to know you, you became his “friend.” And he never forgot you. Despite being mentally disabled, Johnny never forgot a name or a face. Johnny literally saw no evil in people. Johnny had more friends in his short lifetime than any of us will ever enjoy. • Walk openly, simply and humbly with God.The Bible tells us, “And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” That describes the way Johnny lived. He could barely read or write, but Johnny Stallings prayed the sweetest prayers you ever heard. He didn’t necessarily know the fine points of theology, but you could tell that he knew God. He walked with God, openly, simply and humbly. And everybody knew it, whether they acknowledged that God or not. • Love unconditionally.In Johnny’s world, you didn’t keep score or attach strings to love. He loved unconditionally, all of the time. • Smile. Laugh. Hug. The last time I saw Johnny, we brought him a T-shirt from Dreamland Barbecue in Tuscaloosa, one of his favorite places to eat. Johnny hugged us. He patted us. He smiled all of the time. Johnny was one of these people who always made everyone feel better just for having been around him. Who among us can say that about ourselves?• Treasure every moment. Johnny, of course, was supposed to be put away in an institution. Doctors told them Johnny wouldn’t make it to age 4, and when he did, they then said he wouldn’t live past 11 because of heart and lung issues common to people with Down Syndrome. Then we always heard that Johnny wouldn’t live past 16. And on and on. So with Johnny, you treasured every moment. • Little victories are the ones that matter the most. Everyone focuses on the championships, but with Johnny, you celebrated all of the little victories. Then, after a while, you realized that those are the ones that really matter the most. •Trust God because He really does know best. Despite being frail and disabled, Johnny Stallings wore a National Championship ring. Every member of that 1992 Alabama team will tell you of Johnny’s impact on that team. Johnny Stallings literally changed the world and made everybody he met a better person — if only for that moment. Gene Stallings, a star football player, championship coach and tough enough to be one of Bear Bryant’s legendary Junction Boys, probably used to dream of a son who would be an impact player, who would change the world, make a difference and someday maybe — just maybe — wear a National Championship ring. “I prayed to God that He would change Johnny, but He changed me,” Coach Stallings once said in a speech. He added that if God offered him the choice of going back and having a “perfect” son without a disability or having Johnny, “I’d take Johnny every time.”
Gregg Thompson is a 1972 graduate of Paris High School, former sports writer for The Paris News and currently director of corporate communications for Chick-Fil-A in Atlanta, Ga.

What a week so far...

I spent most of the day Monday trying to unpack and get organized at work. Trying is the optimal word, because it didn't seem like I got a whole lot done, between the phone ringing etc, but it is finally starting to look like my office again, except three times as large! Woohoo!!! Then Tuesday we are learning how to use the new phone system when I get a call from Hearthstone Assisted Living where my Mom lives (she is 85 years old) to tell me that she fell and that she is on the way to the hospital. Well, by the grace of God I didn't get a speeding ticket, because I made it from Exit 238 (Saginaw) off of I-65 South to St. Vincents East in about 25 minutes.

I lost my dad to Parkinson's disease back in 2002 and my mom and I are very close. Sometimes I tend to take it for granted that she is always going to be here and then I have a wake up call like I had yesterday. Praise the Lord she had no broken bones and the fall wasn't caused by a stroke, she just bruised her knee cap really bad and has to stay off of it for a few days. So instead of using her walker (she broke her hip back in 1996) she gets to ride around in a wheelchair for a few days and get pampered.

It is hard watching Mom getting older and having a hard time getting around. It is especially hard watching her deal with the loss of my father (she still misses him so, they were married for 58 years) and the starting of beginning Alzheimer's. She hates that her memory is going. My sister and I have noticed that her confusion has gotten a little worse these past few months and it really frustrates my Mom when she is having a "bad day", but then she'll laugh it off and tell Janet or myself that our memory is worse than hers and go about her day. I have a lot of great memories with Mom like at the beach when daddy was at Guard Camp (we would stay for two weeks and he would come over on the weekend at Gulf shores) Or the time she took me to see "Born Free" at the movies, just her and I right after I had my tonsils out. I still wasn't feeling that well, but I really wanted to go, so off we went.

She loves living at Hearthstone and especially loves the minister there Joel (he was our children's minister). She trys to stay pretty active, but does have alot of aches and pains. I tease her alot, because now I have a hard time keeping up with her. It's me who is always leaving a message on the machine for her to call me because she is never in her room, she is quite the social butterfly!!!!

So today, Wednesday, I am very thankful to God, that my Mom has just a very swollen bruised knee and that she still has her wonderful dry sense of humor that kept my sister, the nurses and doctor all laughing yesterday at the hospital.

Lot's of Changes!!!!

Well, we finally got moved at work Thursday and Friday!!!! Both days were about 12 hours long and I was exhausted. We still have to unpack and organize the new office. Things went pretty smoothly and calmly and I think I only lost my temper once (with ADT) I couldn't believe the poor service we got from our ADT rep, we had the ADT Sales rep out and put in our order and the installer was supposed to come out on Friday between 1:00 and 4:00. I called our rep to ask where the installer was around 3:30 and never got a call back. I called their customer service line and found out that our order had never been turned in by our Sales Rep (no wonder he would not return my phone calls) Needless to say after a phone call to his manager and the weekend manager (thank goodness for Candace in the customer service department for giving me cell phone numbers that I don't think that she was supposed to give out), someone did come out on Saturday (not a normal working day for ADT installers) and take care of us. I even have a "panic button" under my desk free of charge.

Saturday I baked for the bake sale at church (Thanks for the Milky Way Poke Cake Missy!!!!! It was Awesome!!!!) cleaned house and helped cut grass, just normal stuff, (Well we did have a birthday cake for the dog) It was Hoss's third Birthday (that's his picture above), but that was more of an excuse to have birthday cake than anything! but Sunday was again a day of changes. It was promotion day in Sunday school and I lost my "favorite girl" Lana, she was promoted up to 1st Grade Sunday School. I sure am going to miss her beautiful smiling face on Sunday mornings!!!!!!!! It was a little sad yesterday for me. But they do have to grow up and Mr. Craig is an excellent teacher. Then Sunday afternoon I experienced my first "Children's Committee Meeting" Let's just say that it was an "experience" and I was told that it was a "Calm" meeting. I know that God has me here for a reason so..... I'm just going to set back and see what comes. You see I'm the type of person that doesn't like conflict so when people disagree with each other it makes me a little uncomfortable. (I must admit the stress made me go home and eat some more of the delicious Milky Way Poke Cake!!) Yum Yum!!!!!!

...HAVE YOU EVER HAD ONE OF THOSE WEEKS?

Have you ever had one of those week were you seem to eat everything in sight, even when you are not hungry? It's been one of those weeks for me or should I say the last couple of weeks have been that way for me. It's like I'm a bottomless pit! I eat when I'm stressed, so I know that is part of it (we are moving at work and the stress level is a 20 on a scale of 1 - 10) trying to still take care of all of my customers, create new business, pack up the old office, make sure everything gets done at the new offices-etc..... GIVE ME CHOCOLATE AND CHEESE DIP, CHIPS AND SALSA!!!!!! Probably not all together, but maybe within an hour of each other! The frustrating part is that I had been doing so good losing weight and getting "healthy" so I've really got to get back on track. I wake up every morning with good intentions, but ..... one little thing can set me off and to the Cookie Jar I head (literaly!) I also miss Jessica and Autumn so again you can say that I am an emotional eater. I wish I had a "great metabolism" that could eat anything and stay thin, but I can look at a piece of cake of fried chicken and it ends up on my hips!!!! I think that I've lost the same 10 lbs 3 times in the last 6 months, very, very frustrating.

Anyway, I just thought I share this with any of my fellow blogger how might have this same problem and ask if they have any suggestions to help with this eating attack. I'll check back with you guys later, it's time for coffee and Julie brought in Krispy Kreme!!!! (see what I go through!)