Well Done Tim Tebow, Well Done

I can't tell you what football number Tim Tebow wears . I can't tell you how many touchdown passes he has thrown in his career. I can't tell you what his favorite color, food, movie is.... However, one thing I can tell you is Tim Tebow wears a scripture on his eye black during every game and I think that is wonderful!

I usually check some type of internet news page each night before I go to bed. Friday night as I checked the news a headline stated the scripture Tim wore during the Sugar Bowl game against Cincinnati. I thought how remarkable that a young man thought to do something throughout his career that gives glory to Jesus Christ each time he plays football.

I investigated a little and found that when he wore John 3:16 during last year's national championship game, Google drew a reported 93 million hits for that scripture that day! The article went on to say that searches for each scripture he wears go up 40 percent after every game. The message of Jesus being spread to millions all because a remarkable young man isn't afraid to show & share his faith.
He said in an interview that the idea came to him as a way to get the message out & reach people. Wow...there is no telling how many seeds this young man has sewn in the name of Jesus. So for that reason I may not know your accomplishments on the field Tim Tebow but for your accomplishments in what matters the most, I am truly a fan.

Happy Birthday Dad

My favorite pic of Dad & Hunter     May,1999

Today is my Dad's birthday he would have been 78. Dad was always laughing, quick with a little joke and always made me feel special and loved. Anyone who has lost a loved one knows you think about them all the time but even more so around the holidays. My dad loved Thanksgiving and Christmas. He loved family get togethers especially where food was involved :-)
He passed away February 15 2002 I was 7 months pregnant with Hallie at the time. I was devastated. Hallie was due on April 2nd but after losing Dad I went into labor a month early (Hallie weighed 9.2 lbs but my Dr. still stakes his career that she was early) I had a pretty uneventful pregnancy until losing Dad and the Doctors were sure the trauma and stress of the loss caused her to come early. I had a c-section with Hunter but since she was so early my Doctor recommended a regular delivery. I was blessed with a easy going Doctor with a wonderful bedside manner and he had also delivered Hunter so I was familiar with him. Everything was  progressing nicely and Tim and my Mom were able to be in the room with me.
The mood was lighthearted, the Doctor was making light conversation, joking around and then he wasn't. I knew something was wrong and terribly wrong. Without going into details she was too big and I should have had another c-section.  After what seemed hours of frantic nurses rushing in & out Hallie was delivered, but there was no baby's cry and she was blue. She wasn't handed to me instead she was rushed out of the room. I have never felt more helpless than lying flat of my back in a hospital bed while they are attending to me because of my complications and all I wanted to do was jump up and run screaming frantically "What about my baby!!"
I told Tim don't worry about me, find out about Hallie. The Doctor finished and would only evade my questions and then I was in the room by myself. I don't think I have ever been more terrified and helpless. I prayed out loud and fervently. I prayed to my heavenly Father but I also prayed to my Dad to not let anything happen to my little girl. I cry every time I think about it and the tears are falling as I write this. I believe God uses people in our lives to comfort us, show us the way, even lead us back when we have gone down the wrong path. I know he let me feel my Dad's spirit in that hospital room that night telling me not to worry she was going to be ok.
Hallie truly is an answered prayer my Doctor was sure that not only had he broken her shoulder but he had caused permanent nerve damage that would require years of therapy. He was wrong and still stands amazed when he looks at my chart that she didn't have any damage.
Thank you so much God I know I am so undeserving of this blessing. I know I am no better than other Moms that have been in this same situation and have lost their precious babies or faced years of therapy. I don't know why I was afforded such grace but I thank you with all that I am for blessing me with a healthy little girl and using my Dad's spirit to comfort me that night.
Daddy it makes me so sad that you didn't get to see your Granddaughter, hold her and spoil her like you did Hunter. It does give me joy that they both have big brown eyes just like you. Happy Birthday Daddy, I miss you.

Happy New Year, Never Say Never

As the New Year approaches, I think about changes that need to be made in my life. Unfortunately, I have never kept my resolutions so I don't make them anymore. Not only do I not keep my resolutions but things I believed with all my heart I would never do-I did!

I will never drive a mini van!

Yes that's my mini van in the driveway

I will never let my kids sleep with me!

Yes that is Hallie's bed which has never been slept in (because she is in our bed)

I will never have a dog in my house!

Yes that's our dog Biscuit resting peacefully on our couch

Friends I hate to tell you not to believe a word I say but if any of my sentences start with "I will never..." don't believe me!

One statement I can make and you can believe "I hope you each have a healthy, prosperous and wonderful New Year"
I wrote this post a few days ago but today I have been feeling a little melancholy and have not felt lighthearted as this post represents. As I get older starting a new year makes me sad in some ways. Time seems to be flying by and I think of so many things I wish I had done differently and how my children are growing up so fast. As I said earlier I don't make resolutions but this next year I hope I make the most of every moment.

Expect The Unexpected

This post has no real direction but just how unexpected life is at times. A few weeks ago a dear friend had borrowed a shirt of Hallie's. Hallie was wearing the same shirt to school the following day so I called & Tim stopped by to pick it up. Unfortunately this dear family was under the weather and just hung it outside. I'm washing clothes & grab the sack with the shirt. I notice what I think is yellow tissue paper and think well how sweet but she didn't have to wrap it just to send it back. Then I unwrap it to find pee & poop!! I always love to use pictures to demonstrate my stories but I think you can use your imagination ;-) Talk about the unexpected!
After I screamed I started to laugh hysterically. You see it was pouring rain and since they were sick; they couldn't make the trip to throw the puppy's pad in the trash can so they hung it outside. Poor Tim unknowingly grabbed the wrong bag!
Now if that was not enough of a shock the next day as I come home for lunch; I walk in the kitchen and let out a blood curdling scream because I see this on my kitchen ceiling....

 

Yes it's a tongue! A fake one of course but still!

Hallie had won a set of slimy creepy parts and decided it would be fun to throw this one on the ceiling before she left for school.  Wasn't that sweet of her?! It's probably always a good idea to be prepared for the unexpected but as a parent it's a requirement!

Final score Spanx-1 Me-0

After having 2 kids and a c-section I am blessed with a wonderful (insert sarcasm) belly. I have been all different sizes in my life but I have never had this "lovely" belly until after my 2 pregnancies. It won't go away with exercise, weight loss, nothing! I know after being blessed with 2 beautiful healthy children it's a SMALL price to pay but being a woman it still bothers me.
This brings me to my latest adventure, I was dressing the other morning and just didn't like the way I looked in my skirt. I'm tearing through my dresser hunting hose which I hope may help when I run across a little deceiver called Spanx.

The Deceiver!

 My wonderful mother gave these to me years ago. She lives under the rule one for her-one for me although she has never needed one! Anyway I have never worn them but thought why not? I looked at it and it didn't look like much; it was soft & stretchy.  I didn't think it would hold anything in place. Oh how looks can be deceiving! Ten minutes later after I have rolled around on my floor like a fat contortionist I have this little jewel on. I looked like this...

It was not worth it, off they went and I felt like I should break into a chorus of "Born to be free" :-) I was traumatized! I thought, I know they sell millions of these and some women live in them; what is wrong with me? I didn't have the package and there was just a letter as sizing,  a letter A. I checked the internet to see that size A maximum weight range for my height is 120 lbs! OH MY GOSH no wonder I felt like a human sausage link!!

I can do that!

I am not usually the type that looks at something and says "I can do that." I am usually the intimidated one that thinks I could never do that; but maybe there is a first time for everything. While I was surfing the net a few nights ago I ran across monogrammed polka dot ornaments and thought hmmm... ornament, paint pen- I can do that! To my surprise I found I could do that but once I started I couldn't stop-it was addictive!

Here is about half that I have done so far

 Pink with white polka dots

Pink with red polka dots

White with pink polka dots

White with red polka dots

A pink one for a precious friend!

An Alabama one for the guys (the only red ornament I had was crackled which is why the paint looks like it does)

This is Hallie's that she did all by herself! Didn't she do a great job!

Ok somebody stop me! No really they are a lot of fun and I already have so many more ideas in mind. If you like them, give it a try-I promise if I can do it anyone can :-)

Happy Birthday Jesus

Luke 2:1-20

 ¹And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
 ²(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
 ³And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
 ⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
 ⁵To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
 ⁶And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
 ⁷And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
 ⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
 ⁹And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
 ¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
 ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
 ¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
 ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
 ¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
 ¹⁵And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
 ¹⁶And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
 ¹⁷And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
 ¹⁸And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
 ¹⁹But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
 ²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
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