Sunday, August 30, 2009

We should have known better...

...than to give the child a microphone!

Since today was our 5Th Sunday service, our church had Sunday School services as normal and then we had dinner and fellowship and a singing afterwards. We dismissed the evening services so that our families could spend time together. We were at the end of the signing when Landon decided that he had a song he wanted to share with everyone. Of course everyone wanted to hear his song because they all know how funny the child is and how much he embarrasses his parents!

The first song was just great and I was all proud as his mommy. He sang an old Sunday School song, "The Devil Is A Sly Old Fox"...then he just had to sing another song. One of which we don't have a clue what he's really saying. He says it's a song he wrote. It's called, "Christ Yile O, Jesus" Don't ask me why the child loves this song so much or why he insist on singing it for everyone. It's beyond me. I can't help but laugh at the way my husband just walks away when he realizes Landon is going to sing this song. How can a song with only FOUR words be so long?
Oh, the joys of parenthood!


And here's how we spent our night with family...
MawMaw took Landon riding the four-wheeler

Everybody wanted to join in on the fun!


PawPaw, Daddy, and myself found it much more relaxing sitting on the porch swing with a glass of sweet tea watching everyone come and go. It was a perfect and relaxed family night...topped off by MawMaw's cooking. It just don't get any better than that!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Honestly, now...



My blogfriend, Tanya, just tagged me with the Honest Scrap Award. After you're done reading my list you have to stop over Tanya's blog. You'll find yourself on her page for a while as she has some great crockpot recipes, among other things. Thanks, Tanya!
Here's the deal:

In accepting this award, I need to do the following:

1) Say thanks and give a link to the presenter of the award.
2) Share "ten honest things" about myself.
3) Present this award to 7 others whose blogs I find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged me.
4) Tell those 7 people that they've been awarded HONEST SCRAP and inform them of these guidelines in receiving.

1. I have a lot of clothes in my closet that still has the tags on them. I just am not a clothes person and don't like to wear new clothes or shop for new clothes. It would suit me just fine if all adults had to wear uniforms.

2. Most everything I own in the clothes department was bought for me by my mother. (I pay her for them...she just does the shopping and brings them home for me to try on.) She's a shopper and is forever buying me new clothes. She knows I don't wear half of what she buys but she continues to buy me things. I think she doesn't want people to think I can't afford more than a few outfits. lol

3. Knowing fully well about #1 & #2, I was in the store Monday with a friend and bought myself a new jean skirt. Knowing good and well that I will probably never wear it! I don't know why I bought it other than it was one of those spur of the moment things. I liked the skirt, it was on sale, I bought it...then brought it home and hung it in the back of the closet with the tags still on it. I know, sometimes I don't even make sense to myself, so I don't expect you to understand that!

4. The clock in my bedroom is 24 minutes fast, the one in my living room is 5 minutes fast. I don't know why...they just are. It bugs me, but I've grown so accustomed to reminding myself that they are fast and adjusting the time in my head that if I fix them now, well...I'd be late for everything!

5. If I walk up or down stairs, I have to count them. I can tell you the number of stairs in all my friends houses that I visit often because I have counted them for years.

6. I take my own candles with me when we go out of town and have to stay in a motel because it makes me feel better. If you want me to be really honest...I even take my own towel!

7. I still have a hard time leaving my son with anyone. He's four yrs old and I cannot hardly stand to leave him at a sitters house and drive away. I get lightheaded and feel panic rising if he's not where I can see him. I'm getting better with it, because we have a great group of friends and older couples in our church whom he just adores and loves to stay with when we have to take care of things like funerals and such.

8. I like to make lists. FOR EVERYTHING! I just find that I get more done if I put it all on paper. And, I love crossing things off the list.

9. I cannot be still when I am trying to fall asleep. I have to shake my leg. It helps me fall asleep faster. It also annoys my husband to death!

10. I saved the most honest thing about myself for last. That is the fact that I am happier than I have ever been in my life! I was so against moving to Louisiana when the subject first came up, and lost much sleep over just the thought of it. Now that we are here and settled, I cannot imagine my life being any other way. I am in my element here. I get to give of my time and myself to others to help them develop their christian walk and being the best they can be. I love everything we do here. I love staying busy with the church and the community. I don't mind one bit when our plans get changed at a moments notice when one of our church members need us to come stand by their side in a situation, or just need to talk. It's what I was born to do and the joy and fulfillment that I have been searching for all my life. I enjoy working with my inlaws. (For those who don't know our situation, my husband is the assistant pastor at the church his dad pastors.) They are the greatest mentors, and teachers and are two of my best friends in life! I couldn't be happier...UNLESS my mother and dad would move here too! Then life would just be perfect!


These are the people I tag...I only have four of the seven, but HONESTLY I didn't know of anyone else who would want to play along. If you'd like to play along, fell free to do so.
Monica
Kim
Alexis
Parsley

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

NEVER send a man to the grocery store!!!

My husband is a very smart man...on most accounts. However, when he walks into the grocery store something goes terribly wrong with his brain! Here's the list I gave him...

1) 1lb box of butter
2) Large bottle of Vanilla flavoring
3) Dozen eggs
4) large tub of shortening
5) 5lb bag of sugar
6) 5 lb bag of flour
7) six pack of 7-up (in 20 oz. bottles)

I was just wanting to make a 7-up pound cake for our church bake sale. It was a simple list...only problem was I NUMBERED the items. I noticed he was not in the best of moods when he started to carry the groceries in the house. I couldn't figure out where all the bags were coming for for just seven items. Then I realized what he had done. He read the list wrong. Here's what he came home with...

1 one pound box of butter...no problem. got that one right!
Two large bottles of vanilla flavoring...What? I only asked for one on the list!
Three dozen of eggs...yeah, we're gonna have egg sandwiches all week long!
Four large tubs of shortening...I could fry fish for everyone in DeQuincy with that much lard!
Five 5lb bags of sugar...where am I gonna store 25 pounds of sugar???
Six 5 lbs bags of flour...what did he think I was going to do with 30 pounds of flour???
About this time I just started laughing...why you ask? Because I knew that the last thing on the list was the six pack of 7 up...and I knew that he was about to bring in 42 bottles of 7-up. I just scooted all the other stuff over and made room for them! The man has an EDUCATION...just no COMMON SENSE! '
But I love him!

Outdoor Wednesday



I'm joining Outdoor Wednesday for the first time today. I've always enjoyed reading many of the post there, but decided to join in on the fun today. Be sure to visit Susan at Southern Daydreamer for more Outdoor Wednesday posts.

These pictures are from our walk through the Botanical Gardens in Athens, Texas. There's only one thing I love more than flowers...it's flowers with insects on them.







The gardens were just beautiful...

Landon enjoyed playing on the slide and in all the little play houses.


Even Daddy had fun on the slide...

We plan on going back when we have the entire day to spend...we didn't have time to see all of the gardens and exhibts.

I have to include this picture because I thought it was too funny. We thought it was just an old empty outhouse exhibit and was showing it to Landon and when my husband opened the door, he cracked up laughing. I thought for sure that he had opened it door on someone using it. This is what he was laughing at...

Monday, August 24, 2009

Opening up...The Heart Remembers!

After many years of silence, today I open up my heart before the world on a subject I thought I'd never write about. I cannot sleep tonight...I looked at the calendar several days ago, and I noticed that Aug. 25th was approaching. I wouldn't say that I dread that date, but I definately don't look forward to it.

August 25, 2002 was the due date of our first baby. As happy as I am being a mom to the best little boy in the world, and as much as I don't live with the day to day pain as I used to, my heart cannot help but feel heavy on this day every year. It's like a dull ache arrives and sits in my chest the whole day. Memories that are uninvited rush to my mind all day...feelings that are unexplained overwhelm me, tears that are unannounced fall, and I have learned that I am much better if I just sit and let my heart remember how the dream ended before it was given a chance to grow. I kept a journal during my pregnancy and after the time that we lost the baby to a miscarriage, and I sit and read it every year on Aug. 25th. Over the years, it has gotten easier, the tears still come, but they are not as heavy as they used to be, it's just that my heart needs those moments to remember the precious gift I lost.

Since we have recently moved, and are renting until we find the perfect place to buy and settle, so many of our things remained packed. My journal that I read each year on Aug. 25 is packed safely away...therefore I find myself coming here and releasing some of the emotions and memories tied to this day.

I was just entering my fourth month. I walked into the doctor's office that day with my video tape in hand and a camera nearby. My husband and I were so excited that after 14 years of marriage and waiting...and giving up...Today we would see our baby's heartbeat for the first time! After the video was inserted, and the nurse looked for a heartbeat to show us, there was silence. I tried to read the look on her face, knowing that something wasn't right when she never pressed the record button for the tape. I knew something was wrong. My husband knew something was wrong. She tried a little more, then stopped. She tried to reassure us that the doctor needed to take a look and that I should just wait for him to see what he thought. When my doctor came in, and he had the same expression as the nurse, our fears were confirmed. Where there should be a heartbeat, there was nothing. Where there should be the words "Record", I read "Pause". As my doctor began to talk to me, I remember turning my head and being the maddest I have ever been in my life. My husband feel to his knees on the floor and began crying, "No...this can't be happening."

My world stopped spinning for a moment, but then I remembered that I had a hope that some don't have. I had God...and He loved me and would take care of this for me. I just knew He would. After all, I had served Him and been faithful to church and had all my ducks in a row, so to speak. He wouldn't think of letting this happen to one of His own children.

After I was dressed, my husband and I were taken to the doctor's private office and were told that he wanted me to be admitted to the hospital and have a D&C immediately because I had signs of infection in my body. I stood up and walked out of his office and refused to accept anything I had just heard. I walked out in faith...knowing that God was going to prove that He was still in the miracle business and that He was going to use my situation to show His power.

I waited two weeks and carried my baby safely inside of me, waiting on that miracle. When I became so ill that I couldn't go on, my husband brought me to the doctor's office and they immediately set up the surgery for later that evening. I had extreme complications after the surgery due to the fact that there was so much infection in my body. To this day, I become very ill if I smell iodine and just the smell of it takes me back to that day of the surgery. It's amazing the little things your mind remembers. I guess my mind was trying so hard to block out the truth of what was happening and just choose to focus on other things around me. I still cannot stand to smell Bath&Body Works cucumber melon lotion, as I remember the nurse was wearing it.

I remember leaving the hospital after the surgery and having to literally make my mind shut off the fact that I had just handed over the most precious gift I'd ever known, to people who would not hold it the way I would have, or cared for it the way I would have. I wanted to just jump out of the wheelchair and run back inside and tell them one more time...it's not just tissue or matter...it's my baby, small as it may seem to you. Please don't treat it without respect. Please give it proper treatment. Please be kind. The hardest thing a mother can do is walk away...without knowing what is really being done behind the closed doors of where you just left your baby.

I can sit here tonight and even though the tears may fall quitely, I am a stronger person than I was before. Though my faith in God was tested, though I went through a season where I wouldn't talk to Him, though I questioned Him many, many times. I am thankful that I found the strength to run back to His arms and to trust Him again. I found that when my world had been turned upside down and inside out...HE was the One who understood my hurt better than anyone else. I found Him to be a faithful refugee again when we lost two other babies to miscarriages. Then, on June 8, 2005 I found Him to be faithful to His promise. I found HOPE in the eyes of a 6lb 12oz baby boy that God blessed me and my husband with. Landon has helped my heart to heal, he's given me so many reason to smile...but my heart can't help but remember that he's not my only child. There are three others who I love with all my heart and cannot wait to hold one day. And, on this day, my mind can't help but to wonder, and my heart can't help but to miss and think about 'what might have been'...


So, as I sit here tonight and even as I will go through the day today and remember and honor a precious life that forever changed me, I find a reason to be thankful.
See, the journey of losing three babies has left me a more compassionate person, a more sensitive person, a woman who's more aware of the hurt and needs of others who have experienced the same pain as I have. I can look back over my life and see that I am who I am today because of the love (and because of the loss) that I came to know of when I first became a mother many years ago...and though I had to wait till Landon was born to experience the joys of motherhood, I cannot overlook the fact that through these times of great loss, I gained so much of my character. I learned so much about who I really was and what kind of relationship I had with God.

So, here's to remembering a precious life...my dear little one...you have no idea how many times today my thoughts will turn to you. I'll cry. I know I will because I always do on this date, but my heart is always comforted because I know that Jesus has a rocking chair, and I know that He holds you with tender, loving care. I know that He took you from the safety of my womb for a reason...His ways are higher than my ways. I'll not question Him...I'll let the tears flow and let them wash my heart and soul...knowing that He understands my tears today!

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Pictures. Pictures. And more Pictures...

Saturday morning our youth group had a car wash for about three hours...and made almost $500.00! We had the best time.






One of the men in our church brought these puppies to give them away and guess who wanted it???

Yep, Landon wanted it and has cried for it since we left! He told me it was my choice...I could either get him a baby sister or the dog! Ummmmmm, yeah...the dog just might be coming home with us Monday.


He settled down a little when he got to ride in the Jeep with my friend, Sheree. I think Landon would live with 'Ree-Ree' if I'd let him. He just took up with her so fast and spends a lot of time with her. I'm just thankful that he has someone he feels comfortable staying with should we ever need to leave him for anything.


Wow, looking at the next picture, I realize that he has been 'cheezin' it all weekend!

Now, a few pictures of us. It's a rare thing...I'm usually behind the camera taking the pictures. My husband was interviewed for an article in the newspaper here, and they needed a famiy picture and a picture of him by himself. A friend of ours from the church who does photography took these for us. Thought I'd post a couple of them. For some reason Landon was 'cheezein' it big time today. We couldn't get a regular smile out of him for anything. That's life with a four yr. old! Trust me when I tell you that this was the best family shot we got. The other's his smile was even worse. We plan on taking family pictures later when he's not in this kind of mood. I'll just have to save a newspaper clipping for his scrapbook and show him when he's older just how he acted at important moments in our lives. HA!

I loved this one! I am a lucky girl!


Friday, August 21, 2009

A couple of favorites...

I've always loved these two worship chourses, but these arrangements have to be my favorites! Enjoy.

Please keep my father-n-law in your prayers. He's had several great days of feeling better and gaining strength and had just begun to put a few pounds back on, but has had a setback today. He is going to see a doctor again tomorrow morning. We are praying and believing for some answers as to what is going on.



Thursday, August 20, 2009

This is your Captain speaking...


You know it's been a LONG day when you break out the Captain Crunch and Fruity Pebbles for supper and NO ONE complains!!! I think it's time to go to bed early.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Birthday Time

Saturday night we had our monthly Adult Fellowship (40& over) at church. We meet once a month and eat and play games and have a great time. We usually play music and sing afterwards and always have the best time. My father-n-laws's birthday is tomorrow, so the group decided to surprise him and give him a birthday cake and money from all of us. It's hard to surprise him because it's common knowledge that a church will celebrate their Pastor's birthday, and with his birthday being on a Wednesday this year and our mid week church service being on a Wednesday, well not much of a surprise. But surprise him we did Saturday night! He's worthy of being celebrated twice in a week!

The only question he had was 'Why is there only four candles on his cake?' The answer that came was..."They were pretty sure he had enough strength to blow out four candles...the real number...not so sure about that many candles!"




It was so great to see him smiling and in better health! He's been very ill and not able to eat much for the last three months. He was in rare form and eating well, laughing much, and picking on people. I'm thankful that he is improving more each day! We have missed him at our church functions.


We love you 'Pops' and are so happy to see you feeling better each day.

So, Happy Birthday to a great man! May health and happiness shine on you this year...You deserve it!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Where do I start?

So much has happened since I last posted. We find ourselves busy with something involved with the church every day. Not that I am complaining because I love it! We have our church business cards, our letterheads, and matching envelopes in, and they are beautiful. Thanks for all the help, Denise. I think Denise has a blog and I'll put up a link to it as soon as I find it. If your church or business needs affordable and professional logos and such, she is the one to call! You will not be disappointed.

Here's our logo package with the letterhead, envelopes, cards and logo...Isn't it beautiful? Denise designed this packet for us and used a picture of our church in the design to make it personal. The greatest part of this package is that she gave it to us as a gift. We've known her for a long time and she wanted to bless our church. She definately blessed us! Thank you, Denise!


Here's the cards I designed for us to mail out to our first time guests as a follow up. It's my first time to work on anything like this so I am pleased that it turned out as good as it did. These are postcards on the back, so it's a really unique and inexpensive way to follow up on guest.


Here are some of the other things we will be mailing out to the community in hopes of boosting our attendance and getting our name out there. I told my husband that now that I'm getting the hang of how to design these things, I am loving it and find it so much fun to create them. This really could be dangerous! lol
Front...


back side...


Here's the caps I done for the guys...


I haven't got the tote bags in yet, but here's a picture of them. I made them for the ladies that attend our Ladies Prayer Meetings on Tuesday mornings.



And, to end this post, here's a picture of the cutest little boy in the world...at least in my world!

Monday, August 3, 2009

Catching Up...

What a busy weekend we had! Friday night our youth played 'Mud Ball' and all I can say is what a blast and a MESS! Gotta love youth (and a few adults) who love a good game of softball in the mud. The most exciting part of Friday night is we had 43 in attendance. Our first youth activity a month and a half ago we had 3!!! We are so excited to see the attendance growing in our youth activities.

On Saturday we drove to San Leon, Texas to attend our nephews birthday party. Landon loved the water slide and had a blast. On our way home we stopped by the bay area in Baycliff, Texas and done a little sight-seeing. What a beautiful place.






On Sunday morning we honored two very special sisters who have attended the church for over 50 years. They are two of the founding members of this assembly. They have seen the church go through many changes in the 53 years they have attended here. It was great to see them honored for all their years of dedicated service!

Here they are with Anthony's parents.

My husband with Sis. Asolete. Anthony spent many days and nights at her house when his parents had to be called away for church business and such when he was younger.


Anthony and Sis. Tene. Anthony has so many memories with these two sisters since they have been a part of his life for the last 33 years since his parents took the church here.


Enjoying dinner after the service Sunday.

Sunday Night we had a great service. Isn't it just awesome to sit in one of those services where the presence of God surrounds you? There's just not words to describe that feeling of God's presence being so strong that it wraps you like a blanket. It's the greatest feeling in the world.

Monday was supposed to be our day off...the day we just spend with our family, but so many things needed to be done we decided to push that day off till Friday. We got the business cards for the church ordered and the stationary and envelopes are in the order process also. Now if we can just get the church website updated and running smoothly.

I have to brag on my little boy a moment before I end this blog. Tuesday morning we got the call that a brother in the church who had went in for a test on his heart was going to have to have open heart surgery immediately, so we left to go be with them at the hospital. It was one of those unexpected things...he thought he'd have the test and go home. The doctors found 85%blockage in the main artery and two other arteries that were blocked. We didn't have time to find someone to leave Landon with, so we just packed him a few things and took him with us. We were at the hospital for almost 11 hours, and the kid was just awesome! Granted, I have no change or dollar bills left in my purse and we hit every vending machine in the waiting area and lobby, but hey...that's a small price to pay. I'm thankful for a little boy who understands that sometimes mommy and daddy have to be places that are not fun for him, but he just rolls with the flow.

I'm also thankful that God brought our friend through the surgery! He had no clue how bad the situation was and we are all thankful that the doctors found it when they did. After surgery the doctor told us that he had found where he had a small heart attack already, so it was just a miracle that he went to have the test done and they were able to help him before it was too late. How great is it that God watches over us like that!