Happy Memorial Day

I pray that everyone has a safe and happy Memorial Day week-end. We are going to be working on home projects......Eric's garage and I have the privilege of picking out paint for the kitchen and master bath. Yeehaw!!

Please take a moment this week-end to remember what it is all about. Remember our fallen soldiers and their families and continue to pray for our troops that are both deployed and here in the states. Encourage them and lift them up. I am thankful to be a military wife and to know all the wonderful people that I know who have went the extra mile to protect and serve our country. I come from a family of those who have served as well. My grandfather served in the Marines and my papaw served as well. I think he was Army. My dad served in Vietnam and received the purple heart for his duty there and went on to serve our country as a police officer. My husband Eric continues to serve and will be putting that uniform back on in another two months after he is finished with this assignment. I know he is excited and eager to do that.

Applaude those that defend our rights rather than criticize this war. We are only seeing and hearing what the world wants us to see and here........I've heard many wonderful stories about what our troops are doing over and Iraq and we need to support them and defend them for defending our freedoms.

THANK YOU FOR SERVING YOUR COUNTRY AND GOD BLESS BOTH YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES FOR PUTTING OUR COUNTRY FIRST!!!

I've enabled her!!

Well, I did it! I enabled my mom to buy a Cuttlebug!! I bet the Carolina Swarm Gals are really proud of me!! hehe I also got her to buy some Catseye chalk. LOVE that stuff!!!

I have been working on preschool stuff today. I have made photo frames for the graduation class for Ms. Trish and Ms. Barbara and now I am going to start doing my summer lesson plans. Yippee!!! I need to do a few cards this week-end, along with do some more spring cleaning. We decided to go buy some paint this w/e since they have the Memorial Day sales (and being military we get an extra discount...hehe) so we can paint the kitchen. It doesn't really need it too badly, but I'm tired of the paint coming off the walls every time I wipe and fingerprints, smudges, etc off. That's what ya get when you buy a new home though.

Thank you to all who prayed for Deborah, she is now home! Can you believe that?? She is laughing and telling jokes like never before. They did not get to do the surgery on her spine. She goes the first part of June for that, so please keep praying for her family.

I pray you all have a terrific night! Oh, and just in case Rosie O'Donnell likes to skim blogs, GO ELISABETH!!!! Tell Rosie how it is!

Prayer Please.........

Tonight, I write this blog with a very heavy, yet confident heart. A dear friend of mine that attends our church, Deborah, has been battling cancer now for many years. She has two young boys, I believe that they are both under the age of 10 and she is a single parent. I don't know a lot of details about when her cancer began, but those things do not matter right now. Let me tell you a little bit about her........about her radiance, her determination, her everglowing smile.

When I first met Deborah, it was at our Women's Retreat. I had heard of her and prayed for her, but never seen her. She immediately came up and hugged me, began telling one of her crazy jokes and smiled as if life was a wonderful walk in the park. During that week-end, I learned about a woman with a strong-will to believe in God's grace and promises. A woman who was devoted to Him and praised Him with every ounce of her being. I remember walking away from that retreat feeling humbled by her testimony and the way in which she carried herself.

Not once have I heard her speak negatively about our Father; she only praises Him through the battle. These past few weeks, Deborah has been in enormous pain.....pain is something Deborah would never admit too so we all knew it had to be bad if she was speaking it. She then found out last week that her cancer has spread up her spine and that there is a tumor on her brain. What was Deborah doing during all of this? She was sitting in our church booth at the Relay for Life Friday night......laughing with us, joking, smiling at her youngest son, and talking about how she's organizing her home a bit more now that summer is here. I had mailed Deborah a card last week, and I had embellished it with dragonflies. I found out Friday night, that dragonflies are her favorite of all creation. She told me how it had lifted her spirits that day. I never knew that about her.

As I wipe away the tears as I think of her testimony at this very moment, I ask that you all please be in prayer for her tomorrow. Deborah is having radiosurgery Wednesday on the brain. They are going to try to remove the lesion on the brain. If all works well, she may have surgery on her spine Thursday to remove some of the cancer to help make her more comfortable and give her some more time with the boys.

Deborah is strong and she is at peace with everything going on around her right now. She had told a friend that she feels God's presence in her life and she isn't afraid and that she has no fears about the procedures. Lord, I wish I could be as strong as her. My heart is breaking for all of them, especially her sons. Deborah radiates her love for those boys. And she lives FOR them. Join me as we lift her up in prayer......

Father, right now I lift Deborah up to you.....I lift her children up to you and those who will be caring for them these next few days. Lord, you knew that this was the life Deborah would lead before you even placed her on this earth, before you created her in the womb of her mother.....and Father, I just ask that you help us praise You and glorify You the way that she has. Lord, be with the surgeons tomorrow, the nurses, the anesthesiologists, all of those involved in the procedure that she will be undergoing. Father, I ask that you give her complete peace and comfort. Lord, You are the Great Physician, the Almighty Healer, and by Your hands, a miracle can occur. Father, right now we are just going to focus on tomorrow and we ask that You be with this family. Lord, Deborah has been a living testament of Your grace and mercy and I ask that you will just bless her with Your grace again. Please, comfort them all and wrap Your ever loving arms around those precious boys. Let them feel their mother's love and encourage them to walk in her footsteps. Father, bless them all now.

In Christ Precious Name,
Amen

Homemade Baby Gifts

Here are a few baby cards that I designed this week-end for a baby shower.


My good friend and pastor's wife, Amy, had her baby shower this past week-end and I didn't just want to get her any old thing. I knew that she would get tons of clothes from other church members and I really wanted to do something special. I made about 20 of these thank you cards, along with the gift bag and a mini scrap album for her daughter, Karlie. All she has to do is put a few pictures of her new baby brother in it and she's all set.





I then wrapped each individual pack in ribbon.



Here are pics of the front and back of the gift bag I designed.

Here is the scrap album I altered and made for Karlie.

Tomorrow's Morning Prayer

One of my good friends Trish sent me the following prayer and I thought I would share it with all of you....... I just hope I remember it when I get up in the morning myself!! I'll be Proctoring at Brady's Middle School tomorrow for testing so pray for me!!! There is a BIG difference in MS kids and Preschoolers!! Can't wait to update you all on the week-end events tomorrow.


Dear Lord,
So far today I've done all right. I haven't gossiped, haven't lost my temper, haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or overindulgent. I'm really glad about that. But in a few minutes God, I'm going to get out of bed, and from then on, I'm probably going to need a lot more help!

My dental visit!

Well, my day started off just grand!! The kids got ready for school on time, everything at the house went smoothly, work was even less chaotic than it can be, so what was my problem?? My mind was focused on my 1:00 dental appointment. I HATE going to the dentist!! I'd rather give birth to a monkey than to go to the dentist!!!!!!!

The boys have been going to this new dentist for a few months now and Brandon just love hims. He wants to stop by everytime we are in the area to tell him hello! And the dentist is just as thrilled with Brandon. So, I'm sitting in the chair, both the dentist and Jill the hygientist knows I'm freaked out and don't want to be there so they basically have to treat me like a three year old! Great!!! I'm the one sitting here with a staff shirt on that says PBC Preschool!!! Come on! So they numb me up....ah, no biggy, I only begin to feel my tongue swell and my lips getting bigger than an orangutang's (sp?)......I can handle this. Then comes the needle. THREE of them!!! Now Dr. Sanchez and Jill are just gabbing up a storm, laughing and talking about the infamous tractor pulls they have at the fair's down here......(Preston County folk know what I'm talking about).....remember, the dentist is from New York so he's knew to all this great country stuff. Not to mention he about fell off his chair when we told him they have lawnmowers and tractors in the Christmas parade. Now, go from watching Macy's Day Parade to that!! LOL

Anyhow, Jill and I are sitting there talking waiting for the antisthetic to kick in when her eyes get bigger than fifty cent pieces and she asks if I'm allergic to latex. Now, I have no allergies that I know of....never had a reaction at the dentist before....but the next thing I know, they are lifting me up, calling for this hygientist to come see and Dr. Sanchez to take a look and shove a mirror in my face! Okay, I look bad I thought!!! Yes, I had the red blotchy face and I even noticed nasty dark circles under my eyes........so what are you trying to tell me??? Did I itch? No.....Can you breathe?? Well, yeah, but my nose is kind of full of dried up snot at the moment b/c you gave me that numb crap!! Well, we're going to sit you there and watch you a few minutes before we get started.........okay........so much for being calm now!!!!! That's OUT the window!!!

So, I sit there TRYING to remain still and unworried....silently in my head praying for God to help ease my anxiety thinking, "I got that Xanax in my purse......I could always grab one of them. Nah, I can make it." Here comes the drill.........okay, Lord, if I pass out, I wonder if they will notice between their conversations of Grey's Anatomy and Dancing With the Stars.!! The thing that really made me close to biting off my tongue was when Jill said she just found out last night that Rudy Gudiani is running for President.......Okay, now that's it!! I'm starting to worry here!! HELLO????

An hour passes and I am free to leave, red face and all. They gave me some hydrocortizone and some Motrin for the pain. Now, will I go back??? I'm not sure!!!! It was the most adventurous dental visit I've ever had that's for sure!!! Hope your day was much more relaxed!

"Your Angel"

I had to share this with you all since Mother's Day is coming up. It is so true! I know that my mother is my angel!


YOUR ANGEL

Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born.The child asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"God replied, "Among the many angels, I chose one. Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you everyday. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.""

And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."

"I've heard that on Earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?"God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking it's life."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, pleasetell me my angel's name.""Her name is not important. You will simply call her 'Mom'."

Her first prom!!

I cannot believe that this is the little girl I gave birth too a little over 17 years ago! She has grown up over night!!! Just look at her!! She told me that she had a very nice time with her good friend Ron at the prom. The most exciting part of the prom was that she got to dance with her secret crush (well, not sure if it's a secret considering how they stare at each other all the time in church!). She was so thrilled over it..........and his mom and I was too! There isn't much I can say at this point except just look at her!
My Bri Bri's First Prom May 2007

Another long day........

It has been such a long few days! It seems as though I haven't had any computer time. We are usually at the baseball field, but things have been pretty stressful around here. Brady has been getting into mischief once again so I feel very overwhelmed and at a loss. And no matter how hard his teachers or I try to convince his dad that he needs some changes, it never sinks through his hard headed brain!! Of course, I always tell everyone that I live in a home with two husbands because they are both so much alike and constantly boss me around. I'm just sooo irritated!!! I haven't even had time to scrap!

On to highlight a few good things, Brandon played an incredible game on Monday night. The Reds were winning 9-2 at the beginning of the 3rd inning. Then the Braves came back and scored a few runs and at the top of the 4th it was 12-12. The boys have both had close games this year (a far cry from last year). So we all sat on pins and needles until the very last inning and Brandon's team won 16-12. Yeah Reds!!!!

Brittany is going to her very first prom on Friday. Now, this is a pretty crazy story.....she wasn't asked until Sunday afternoon at church! So, that gave us 4 days to get a dress, shoes, etc. Well, it just so happened that the boy taking her has a sister, the same size as Britt and the girl is letting BriBri borrow her prom dress. And it's PINK!!!! Perfect fit for Britt too. So, we'll see how that works out. The prom tickets are $70!!! A PERSON! I remember when we paind $20 a couple! I'll make sure to take plenty of pics to post.

Just keep praying for me!! The bridge is looking better every day!!!