He's My King!

Saw this video during church service this morning. Very moving and uplifting! I'm adding it here so I can watch it from time to time. Hope you enjoy!

Our Exciting Weekend . . .

Friday night started out fabulously. We gathered at Daddy's for my youngest sister Emily's graduation party. As usual, there was great food, lots of friends and family, and the kids were having a blast running around. As we were eating, Daniel was on the back patio and slipped out of a chair and hit his chin on the bench of a concrete picnic set. Yes, you guessed it! We ended up at the emergency room at a local hospital and he had to have three stitches. I had my camera with me because I had been taking pictures at the party, so I was able to take a picture of him while he was in triage and then as we were leaving the hospital.
Saturday night was Emily's graduation. I can't believe that 21 years ago I graduated and now my youngest sister is graduating. She's absolutely gorgeous, and is so smart and sweet to top it off! Congratulations Emily!!!
Today has been quiet and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it stays that way! I'm off to do some scrapping (surprise, surprise!).

Twilight FUN

Recent discussions in scrapping forums led to this creation . . . I think my glasses totally ruin it . . . but it is just for a bit of fun.

FOBTY ~ Sweet Shoppe Blog Challenge

From Our Blog To Yours Sweet Shoppe Challenge is to list 5 TV shows that I've seen every episode of OR want to see every episode of . . . so here goes . . .

#1 - LOST
Yes, I have seen every episode. Yes, I have seen some episodes more than once. Yes, I am going back to rewatch from the beginning during the long, unbearable span between seasons. Yes, I watch it because of Sawyer. SO? LOL!

Seriously, the story line is incredible and I just could keep watching it hour after hour after hour.

#2 - Gilmore Girls
I have not seen every episode. Some seasons, I've seen episodes three times in syndication. I know I've seen at least one entire season 'cause I borrowed the DVDs from my sister, but I can't remember what season. And it may have been more than one season. I'm not sure how I missed out on this when it was the hot show to watch, but I did, so this is definitely one that I want to see every episode.

#3 - American Idol

I missed the entire first season except for the very last episode. From that time on, I've faithfully watched the series. I might have missed one or two episodes in various seasons. Nowadays, this is one of the shows I DVR and watch every time it is on.

#4 - The Love Boat
Before you begin pelting me with rotten vegetables, you should know that I was a young girl when I watched this show . . . at any rate, I do believe I've seen almost all of the episodes, and I still like to watch them on TV Land. Along with Fantasy Island. **ducking**

#5 - Family Ties
Yes, another throwback to days gone by, but seriously, Michael J. Fox was SUCH a cutie. I remember crying when Alex danced with Ellen to the song "At This Moment" by Billy Vera and The Beaters. I know. Sentimental drivel, but . . .

So that's it . . . what this has succeeded in doing is making me realize how much television I've watched over my lifetime!

Saying Goodbye

Today my brother left for Montgomery, AL for processing and then will begin basic training for the Army. These are some of the pics I took today. It's been surreal. I mean, a blink of an eye ago I was walking into the hospital to see him for the first time. And now he's going off to train to defend our country.

It was really hard to say goodbye. Love you so much little brother!

PPF Great Scrap-Off Grand Prize Winner, I mean, WINNERS

Okay, so it was down to me and Andrea/Boyerville Scraps. We waited. And waited. And waited. At one point I commented that I felt like we were on the American Idol stage and were awaiting the results . . . and Ryan Seacrest had gone to a commercial break! LOL!

The announcement finally came last night . . . and we BOTH won the GRAND PRIZE. Some very awesome goodies and a chance to CT for the site for one year.

See the official announcement at the PURPLE PAPER FLOWERS BLOG

When I first registered for the Great Scrap-Off, the post in the forum that I read didn't say anything about a CT position being a part of the contest. I thought I was just competing for prizes. It was brought to my attention by a designer I CT for that yes, indeed, a CT position was included in the prize package. I went to the PPF blog . . . and yup, there it is in black and white ~ two CT positions were up for grabs. I was already at Challenge 3 or 4 at this point. I'm already on quite a few CTs, but the designers at PPF are incredible, so I decided to continue the contest and see what happened. And WOW, the prizes are awesome and I think the CT position is going to be one I'm really going to enjoy.

Prepare yourself: now's when I start rambling. I feel very blessed to CT for the designers and the sites that I do. Some teams have more requirements than others . . . but I'm going to be scrapping anyway and it's a pleasure to be able to work with their designs. I am so overwhelmed by my passion for this craft that I start to get emotional . . . it feels like I am a child again filled with the wonder and joy of life. Don't get me wrong: I have an awesome life apart from scrapping. My dear husband and two children are incredible and my immediate and extended family are a big part of that, too. I have a relationship with Christ that is still growing. I love to read as well. Yet there is something about digi scrapping, the ability to create, that is immensely satisfying and rewarding. Part of that is learning how to scrap my faith (thanks Faith Sisters) and letting that come through in my pages . . . being able to share Christ's love through scrapping . . . wow! The other part is feeling that I am doing something of lasting value. I'm still not finding the words to get this out right. I am just grateful that I have found something that makes me feel so ALIVE.

So off my soapbox and back to reality . . . woo-hoo for me and my prizes and my CT position at PPF! I think this is gonna be a GREAT year!

When I say I am a Christian . . .

When I say "I am a Christian," I'm not shouting ''I'm clean livin."
I'm whispering "I was lost, now I'm found and forgiven."
When I say "I am a Christian," I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say "I am a Christian," I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.
When I say "I am a Christian," I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
When I say "I am a Christian," I'm not claiming to be perfect.
My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.
When I say "I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.
When I say "I am a Christian" I'm not holier than thou.
I was just a sinner who received God's good grace by faith! [author unknown]

This is a shout-out to my Faith Sister, Jackie Ann, who shared this today over in the forum with all of us and I just love it. Jackie Ann has a great sense of humor and is compassionate and caring . . . and she prays with and for me! In fact, I've got a spiritual family growing 400 strong now . . . it's amazing to me that God has blessed me with so many Christian friends! A big thank you and much love going out to ALL my sisters.

Household Chores

So I'm a domestic goddess, huh? Well, I do rule over my house.

There was a time when I completely let this inanimate thing have total control over me. Sometimes it has partial control. But most of the time I am on top of things.

It's simple, really. Just have to do the thing(s) you don't want to do. Just get up and do it. Lately, I've been making a little internal deal with myself: can't scrapbook, work on blog, or go to forums until I've completed x, y, z. It's been working. I still have loads of time for family, scrapbooking, Bible study. It's amazing, honestly.

So just try it. Do the thing you really don't want to do and then reward yourself. When you are done with the reward, do another thing you don't want to do. Before long, you will find that you have a lot more free time that is really FREE because there is no guilt of "not having things done."

'Twas The Month After Christmas

‘Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I’d nibbled, the eggnog I’d taste
At the holiday parties had gone to my waist.
When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).
I’d remember the marvelous meals I’d prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,
The punch and the candy, the bread and the cheese
And the way I’d not said, “No thank you, please.”
As I dressed my self in my husband’s old shirt
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt---
I said to myself, as I only can
“You can’t spend a winter disguised as a man!”
So—away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
“Till all the additional ounces have vanished.
I won’t have a cookie—not even a lick,
I’ll want only to chew on a long celery stick.
I won’t have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I’ll munch on a carrot and quietly cry,
I’m hungry, I’m lonesome, and life is a bore---
But isn’t that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot,
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!

This super cute poem was shared by a Faith Sister. I'm not sure who the author is, but thank you for the smile!

I've Been Tagged - 5 Little Known Facts About Me

This is my first time being tagged by a Sheree, a friend from small group study at Olive Baptist Church, and I'm not really sure how to play - but here goes. I am supposed to name 5 little known facts about myself. YIKES.

1. I don't know if you've heard of the Bible story where the woman searches high and low for a missing coin . . . well, our church was putting on a play about it and there was a box of coins (they were actually golden Mardi Gras coins I think). One of the ladies that was in the play addressed the children that were playing around on the stage after rehearsal and specifically told us to leave the coins alone. Red flag in front of a bull. Here I go, age 7, and STOLE a coin FROM the box IN MY CHURCH. To make matters worse, I hid the purloined coin in my PANTIES. You can imagine my delight when all the adults began searching for the coin (it was just like the play). My mom was onto me somehow. Probably the smug look on my face. Anyway, we left to go home. We had a Pacer at the time and when we got in the car, the coin slipped out of its hiding place and clanked on the floorboard (which was just metal - no carpet). SNAP!

Shouldn't that count for more than one?

2. When I was 13, I snuck out of the house with a friend who was spending the night to meet two boys. They were late. Something made my mother wake up. I was caught before we even met them. God was looking out for me, even when I didn't want Him to!

3. I'm a SAHM now, but I used to work as a certified legal assistant at a prestigious law firm in town (almost 10 years). I actually filmed a series of commercials with one of the founding partners. I was a local celebrity for a short period of time. Hee, hee.

4. I had back surgery when I was 21. I still have problems with my back, but before the surgery I was continually doped up on pain meds and muscle relaxers, and could barely function. In another time and place without medical technology, I would have ended up as a morphine or heroine addict.

5. I had a brother who died when I was 13. He was only 2 days old. His mother (my ex-step-mother) was a carrier of Group B strep, and by the time they figured out what was wrong, the bacteria had attacked all his major organs. What is really weird is that I was a carrier of the Group B strep during both my pregnancies as well. Without administration of antibiotics during labor and delivery . . . well . . .

HMMM . . . whom shall I tag? I'll torture: Jackie Ann and Marilee. They love to digress . . . they make me want to digress . . . oh wait, I already am . . .

Fun Little Quiz

You are Elizabeth Bennet of Pride & Prejudice! You are intelligent, witty, and tremendously attractive. You have a good head on your shoulders, and oftentimes find yourself the lone beacon of reason in a sea of silliness. You take great pleasure in many things. You are proficient in nearly all of them, though you will never own it. Lest you seem too perfect, you have a tendency toward prejudgement that serves you very ill indeed.

Take the Quiz here!

Thanksgiving 2007

Yesterday we went to my grandmother's for lunch, and it was wonderful. Grandma made the turkey, dressing, and zipper cream peas, Tracy made a sweet potato casserole, and I made mashed potatoes, green beans, a green salad, and heated up some of those yummy Bunny bread heat-and-serve rolls. It was a smaller crowd this time around: Kevin, Tracy and their 3 boys, Jay and I and our 2 children, Anna, Mama, Grandma and Amanda and Jim. Everyone was able to sit around one table! We missed everyone else that had other plans, though.

We spent a lot of time sitting around the table talking. It was the best Thanksgiving meal I've had in quite a while. We went to Aunt Nonie's on Saturday for Thanksgiving with my dad's side of the family, and I always enjoy seeing everyone. But it's somewhat chaotic and disjointed. We don't have a place where we can all sit down and the kids are usually running crazy outside anyway. So half of us are inside and then outside and then on the porch and over at the shop. I didn't feel like I was really able to spend a lot of time with everyone. Of course, I love me some Laura and Lisa 'cause they make me laugh, and I did hang with them quite a bit. I just kept having to mill around to get to everyone. The food was absolutely fabulous, too. It's probably just me anyway. I wasn't feeling great with my foot and I was worried about Daniel's broken arm.

So I guess I'm just thankful that I had such a great day yesterday. I'm thankful that we had the time to spend together. And it was cool 'cause Anna came and spent the night last night. She got up STUPID early this morning to go shopping with Amanda for Black Friday deals . . . they should be back in a little while. She's supposed to hang here (for the nighttime anyway) through the weekend so she doesn't have to drive back home each night.

Jay is still working on the other computer, so he's run to pick up an adapter. Olivia is trying to catch up with her cousins to see if they can come over and play this afternoon and spend the night. Daniel is, guess what, playing with trains. It's just gonna be a relaxing day around here . . . I hope everyone had a great day with their families.

Another visit to the doctor . . .

Today my son fell and fractured his arm. This was after my fall last Thursday. I am still recovering from a severe sprain. Hobbling around. We are such a pair. He can't use his right arm. I can hardly walk on my left leg. I am having some difficulty accepting these events plopped right on top of each other. I can see the good in the situation, but it keeps getting overwhelmed by my sheer anger! I get so mad thinking about all my injuries and pain and then everything that Daniel went through with his two surgeries. It is so sad that my little boy has to deal with any more pain in his life. So I am praying that I will be given supernatural power to accept my circumstances and continue to praise God in the midst of my storms. This is another time when I'm grateful for my favorite song (see post below: Indescribable). He sees my heart (the rage and anger filled heart) and He loves me the same! So I'll pick my chin up, head to see the ortho tomorrow or Friday and see what can be done for my little man.