Wordless Wednesday

It's Wordless Wednesday. Go here for more information and see all the other wonderful participants.

Today's word is...PLATES




My favorite kind of plates!

My favorite little boy at home plate!

I'm Still Laughing!!!

Okay, so everyone knows how much talk is going around about the Swine Flu. It's everywhere and on many of our minds. I can't help it, I'm just one of those paranoid moms who tries to make sure I do everything possible to insure that Landon is safe and all the surfaces he touches in public are clean and disinfected. Especially shopping carts! I even carry my own hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes in my purse.

So, Landon heard us talking about it last night with my mom and, of course Landon had some questions for me about it. I tried to explain what Swine Flu was in a way that a three yr old could grasp. What I told him was that it was a sickness that came from pigs and things that other little boys touch and it would make him very sick and have to go to the doctor. That's NOT what he grasped!

Today we went to Wal-Mart and before I could take a wipe out to clean the cart, I hear this coming from Landon's mouth..."Mommy, don't forget to 'infect' the buggy. I don't want to be 'pig-sick'!

...I'm still laughing every time I think about it! I'm also thinking that maybe I didn't really do a very good job explaining things to him? Oh, I LOVE this kid! God knew what He was doing when He blessed our home with this little boy. I'm proud to be his mom. It the best job I've ever had.

Friend Makin Monday

Today on Friend Makin' Monday, found here, we are doing the 5 Senses Tag.
We are to list 4 things we love, and one thing we dislike, for each category. Here goes...


Sight
Like:
1.Looking at the world through the lens of my camera!
2.Watching my little boy sleep.
3.Watching my little boy interact with his dad.
4.That look someone gives you when they are pleased with something you gave/made for them.
Dislike:
1.Watching someone I love cry.

Hearing
1.My little boy tell me he loves me too.
2.Hearing the key in the door when my husband comes home!
3.Listening to the birds and animals on a still night/morning.
4.The preached word of God...it gives me strength!
Dislike:
1.Hearing someone put others down or talking about them in a negative way!

Taste
Like:
1.Chocolate Molten Cake from Don Pablos!
2.My MIL's homemade biscuits.
3.Nuts! (Except for peanuts)
4.Mexican food of just about any kind.
Dislike:
1.The taste of tears falling down my cheeks, into my mouth.

Touch
1.Holding Landon after his bath right before bedtime and snuggling!
2.Those unexpected moments when my husband takes my hand for no reason!
3.The hand of a friend offering encouragement/support when I am praying.
4.The feel of my little boy's hands on my face when he wakes me up or kisses me!
Dislike:
1.a dirty dishrag forgotten overnight in the sink!

Smell
1.The smell of rain coming.
2.Coffee brewing early in the morning...even thought I don't drink it!
3.Freshly mopped floors.
4.The smell of something baking in the oven.
Dislike:
1.The smell of iodine...it still makes me very ill to this day.

Saturday!

Since Landon only had a very mild case of chicken pox, and he was feeling great this morning, we were able to get out today! (I think he only ended up with about ten sores.) Again, Thank God for vaccines!

The weather was beautiful today, so we went to some garage sales early this morning and then headed out to the local airport for an Open House/Air Show. Landon is like his daddy and LOVES airplanes and flying. Mommy endured the trip...only because she had her camera with her! Here's some pictures...



They were giving rides in this helicopter, and Landon wanted to go, but it was a two seater, and he would have had to go up ALONE with a pilot I didn't know! I'm sure he was a nice guy, but...NOT HAPPENING! It made for a few 'tense' moments with many tears. Thankfully there was cotton candy and other things to take his mind off it.



We were right on the runway, so I was able to get some great shots when these guys flew over doing formations and tricks. I love these pictures.

Photo Friday

I know he's dirty in this picture. It doesn't happen too often, but he was playing at his grandparents house, roaming their land and having so much fun.


For more Photo Friday fun, visit Natalie here.

Spider bites, Chicken Pox, and an Award...All before my first cup of coffee!

So, yeah...it's been a LONG day. Oh, and I don't drink coffee. Although after today, I just might start!

This morning Landon woke up looking a bit funny to me. It took me a moment to figure out what was wrong. He had a huge knot on his forehead right between his eyes with redness all around the spot. Since there is a fire station on our street, my husband took him there to have the EMT look at him while I got dressed. He comes home and tells me the EMT's think we need to take him in to his doctor immediately because it looks like a spider bite.

We take Landon in to the doctor at 8:50 this morning, and his doctor tells us that it is a spider bite, but not a poisonous one. He tells us what to do for it and proceeds to check Landon's ears, throat and all the normal stuff they do at a visit. He gets to Landon's tummy and says, "Hmmm. I think Landon is breaking out with chicken pox."

Imagine our surprise. The doctor says it will be a mild case since Landon was vaccinated for them, but I'd prefer no case at all! So, I guess we'll be spending the next few days indoors and not going to a birthday skating party tonight and to the zoo and aquarium like we had planned for our family day on Friday. Needless to say, I will have to deal with one disappointed little boy the next few days.


Finally, something to make me smile today!
Tanya, from Miller Racing Family gifted me with “An Attitude of Gratitude” award. Thank You, Tanya!!


So there are a few rules to this award:
1.Put the logo on your blog or post
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs that show an attitude of gratitude
3. Link to your nominees within your post
4.Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received this award
5.Share the love and link to this post and the person who nominated you for the award. Tell us how you've come to have an attitude of gratitude.

I want to always have an attitude of gratitude for all that I've been blessed with.
I love this quote about gratitude and have to remind myself of it's words often...

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."

Now for the last rule of this award...Tell us how you've come to have an attitude of gratitude. This one's hard to put into words, but I'll try. I think the way I've learned to have an attitude of gratitude has been by watching how life operates. What I mean by that is, just when I think I'm having my worst day and everything is upside down and going every way but the way I had planned, all I have to do is look around and realize that there are others who would love to be having my 'bad' day.

Take today for instance, there's a mother somewhere who would love to be taking her child to the doctor and dealing with spider bites and chicken pox. A mother who's either lost a child or has a child facing something much more life-threatening. That alone makes me stop and be grateful for the things I do have...money to take my son to the doctor, a car for him to ride to the doctor in, money for the medication he needs, the assurance that this situation will soon pass...you get where I'm going. When I look at things in that perspective, GRATITUDE puts my chaos of today into order, it turns my problems into gifts.
So take a moment today to be grateful for the small things in life that aren't so small after all.


I am gifting the following with this award...
Monica-Whatever Things
Kimeri-Kimeri's Kastle
Shirley-Dunn But Not Finished
Layla-These Are The Days
Sondra-Dandy Gandee's
Kasey-All That Is Good

Priceless...

Fishing pole...$15
2 boxes of worms...$5
Making memories with PawPaw...PRICELESS!



Also, my friend, Tanya, at Miller Racing Family, is celebrating her 100th post with a free giveaway. Go check her page out and grab some really great crockpot recipes while you are there. You have the time! You're gonna love her blog! Congratulations, Tanya!

Roller Coaster Ride!

The past week has been a roller coaster ride for me. I honestly think I have experienced every single emotion imaginable to a human. I've experienced heartbreak, joy, tears, shock, exhaustion, gratefullness, rest, relaxation, I've been surprised, amazed, and even humbled.

We left early Tuesday morning for Louisiana to be with some friends who found their youngest son dead. My husband helped with the funeral, so we were at the church with the family Tuesday night, all day Wednesday and then for the funeral on Thursday. My heart was so grieved to watch my friends go through such a loss in their life. Just when I thought I couldn't cry another tear, I felt them rolling down my cheeks again.

After the funeral Thursday, we were on our way to my in-laws house when I became so ill I thought I was going to pass out. I felt so bad that I told my husband I thought I was about to die. The only way to describe it was that I was so weak that I felt like I was falling into a deep sleep. When we got to the house and they checked my blood pressure it was 33/57. I honestly can't remember much after that. We called my doctor and he called me in a prescription to the pharmacy in the next town, and told us to keep checking my blood pressure and to take me in the emergency room if it did not improve. To make the story short, my blood pressure went on a crazy trail the next couple of hours, going extremely high and then extremely low. What they think was happening was pure exhaustion. I had been up till after midnight for the last three nights and when I was able to fall asleep, I was up and down most of the night. That along with all the emotions and stress of the situations at hand was just too much for my body. After 11 hours of sleep, I was able to get out of bed and felt much better.

On Friday, we went fishing and had the most relaxing day ever. Several of our friends were at the lake, so we had a nice visit with them all.




Landon entertained our friend, Eddie while they were fishing. I say entertained because it was quite funny to listen to a three yr old ask questions of a forty yr old that he didn't have answers to. And, to answer your question, Eddie...No, we do not make him read a dictionary for fun!

Saturday we spent with no plans...although my mother-in-law and I had secretly planned the night before to hit some garage sales in the area! (If the guys only knew...) I just love garage sales in small towns. They price things to sell! I think everything I bought was either a quarter or a dollar. Gotta love that. I even bought my father-in-law a large tool box (Craftsman) on wheels with lots of drawers in it for a dollar. He likes me even more now. It was a wonderful day with lots of rest ending with a great dinner at Texas Road House. I was shocked they have a Texas Roadhouse in Louisiana?

Sunday we had wonderful church services with many lives being touched. My husband preached Sunday morning about the 'Vacuum of Conscience'. It was one of those messages that really made you think. He brought out how that when there is a void (or a vacuum of emptiness) in our life, we try to fill it with so many things, and spend so much time, energy, and money to fill the emptiness, but the only thing that will satisfy that void is the spirit of God. Many times we override when our conscience is telling us that the One thing we are searching for has been there all along with outstretched arms waiting to take us in and help us, thus creating a void or an emptiness in our life. I know I can't do the sermon justice in my explanation of it, but you'll just have to trust me that it was good. His mother looked at me on the ride home after church and said, "That was one of those exceptionally good messages." I'd have to agree. We left services Sunday night after a great presence of God and went to eat at some friends house. Thanks Shonda and Dan Dan...we had the best time ever and enjoyed being with you a little longer.

We had a great time and enjoyed visiting with some of the friends we haven't seen in a years. My only wish was that we had been taking the trip under different circumstances. We got back home yesterday afternoon, so I really should be finishing unpacking and laundry. It's amazing how much there is to do when you return. Hope everyone has a wonderful week.

Tagged

So I have been tagged to play this fun game of eights. I was tagged by Tanya at Miller Racing Family. She has some of the best recipes on her blog that you really should check out!

So, here is my list of eights.
8 things I am looking forward to...
1)Landon's birthday party in June.
2)Some family time in Arkansas.
3)church growth...we broke a record yesterday in church attendance...241
4)answers to some of the prayers we've been praying
5)Landon's little garden he planted growing it's first fruits/vegetables
6)my husband closing on the job he's working on
7)yard work...it's a stress reliever for me.
8)getting my new zoom lens for my camera

8 things I did yesterday...
1)Went to church with my family and enjoyed a wonderful service
2)Hunted Easter eggs with Landon
3)Helped with all the Easter festivities after church for the kids
4)Talked with my former pastor's wife for a long time on the phone. Just an enjoyable catching up and chatting time.
5)Packed to go on a little vacation to Arkansas with my in-laws. (This trip was cancelled early this morning after learning our friends youngest son was found dead in his truck. We are heading to Louisiana again for the funeral instead.)
6)Laundry
7)Cleaned house
8)Enjoyed a night at home with just my husband and son


8 things I wished I could do...

1)Relax!
2)Loose weight fast! (Don't we all wish for that one?)
3)Get my laundry room organized
4)Get caught up on my son's scrapbooks
5)Trust people more
6)Keep my car clean! (My husband wishes for this too!)
7)Go on a month-long vacation
8)sleep in every day!

8 shows that I watch...
This is not a good question for me because I don't have any shows that I watch regularly, and don't even know what shows are on at this time other than the ones people blog about or ones that I read about in the paper or online. I'm too busy and gone too much. In my little world about all I know about television is PBS, and one of Landon's favorites is Sid, The Science Kid. We watch it when we are home. So, guess I'll skip to the next 8.

8 people I tag...
1)Monica...Whatever Things
2)Layla...These are the days
3)Kimeri...Kimeri's Kastle
4)Sondra...Dandee Gandees
5)Shirley...Dunn But Not Finished
6)You...if you want to join in the fun.
7)**just about everyone else has been tagged that I know!**
8)**had to make it look like an official 8!

Happy Easter!

Here's my handsome little boy this morning at church. Landon is the one thing I am most thankful for in my life. When I looked at him this morning I couldn't help but feel saddened when I thought about how Mary must have felt when the son that she loved with all her heart was put to death on the cross. Imagine the heaviness she had in her heart that day as she watched what her son went through. Imagine how she must have felt, watching her beloved child bear the weight of sin and die a terrible death on the cross.

Still, Mary willingly submitted to God's plan. She let the plan of the cross be carried out. I have to wonder and ask myself...Can I willingly accept God's plan for my life, like Mary did? Even when I know that it will cost me? Oh, that I might learn to submit and not question His plan for my life. Even when I don't understand it all!

Hope everyone has a blessed and Happy Easter!





In case you're wondering why he's holding out his hand like he is...he found a roly poly bug and was giving it a home inside his Easter basket! Such a boy...

Landon was a helper in Sunday School class this morning. Here he is in a robe like Jesus and he had to hide because he had been buried in the tomb.

Easter Eggs

Here are some pictures of Landon's Easter eggs. We bought a kit that had stickers since I thought that would be a lot less of a mess for him to decorate with. He had so much fun. Funny thing happened when we were decorating the eggs...Landon has questions about everything in life! His daddy and I have made sure Landon knows the true meaning of Easter and how Jesus died on the cross for him and then rose on the third day. We've tried to explain to him that since Easter is in the springtime, we also do fun things to celebrate this happy time such as dying and hiding eggs. So, while we were decorating the eggs he asked, "Mommy did Jesus find pretty eggs when he came alive?"

How am I supposed to answer that without laughing??? How?

Hope everyone has a blessed and Happy Easter tomorrow.

Getting ready for Easter...

I know I'm different and like different things, so don't be surprised at my son's Easter outfit. I am having a very hard time that he is getting older and growing out of the dressy outfits, or as my husband calls them, "the little Lord Fauntleroy outfits"...he's not a fan of this style of dress!:)

When we were in Louisiana this past week, I went to several tot shops looking for an outfit for him for Easter. I had this picture of the perfect outfit I wanted in my mind and couldn't find it anywhere. I had told my mom I wanted something in yellow and white and something that had buttons on the waist, white knee socks and shoes. I FOUND IT! It was just one of those times when you walk in and there it is. This is probably (daddys says DEFINATELY) the last year I'll be able to dress him like this, so I am taking all the pictures I can! I'll have to post some of them after Easter.

Mommy cannot wait till Sunday morning to see him in this outfit. Now to find him an Easter basket for all the egg hunts we have planned! Hobby Lobby, here I come.

Here's a picture of him last Sunday night, I let him wear it while we were at his grandparents church.

Back Home

It's good to be back home, if only for a few days. We spent the last week at my in-laws because my father-n-law was very sick. He had an accident in his wood shop Tuesday night and cut and injured his hand very badly. He was not able to take care of his church services, so Anthony took care of them this week for him.

Sunday morning was my in-laws 32nd Pastoral Anniversary at their church. The church gave them money to take a vacation for the whole month of May and served a wonderful lunch following the service! Anthony preached a beautiful message about his parents and the service they have given to their community for the last thirty two years that morning and I don't think there was a dry eye in the house. I only wish that his dad had been feeling better. He was in so much pain he could hardly sit through the service.

Our plans are to leave after Easter Sunday and meet Anthony's parents and his brothers and their families in Arkansas at my in-laws camp and spend some family time together. Lots of relaxation, and four-wheeler riding and just doing nothing. So, I guess I need to be unpacking, washing laundry, and repacking. That seems to be the story of my life the past few weeks. Not that I'm complaining! I think I need this time away with no schedule. I have felt so horrible the last week that it's unnerving to me. My blood pressure has been 94/50 and even lower for many days and I just have little or no energy. I am on a new kind of medication that is supposed to help finish shrinking the tumor in my uterus, so that may have a lot to do with how I am feeling. We'll know if that's the case after I see the doctor this week. I think I need the solitude that Arkansas offers me. My in-laws have the most beautiful and peaceful land there. Lots of fishing and four wheeler riding and photo oppportunities that should make me feel much better and give my heart a lift that it so desperately needs.

Here's some pictures from Shangri La Gardens that my mother-in-law and I and Landon went to in Orange, Texas last week. What a beautiful place.




Mommy and Landon ditched the shoes to enjoy the beautiful spring day to it's fullest!