One Happy Book Worm!

I am so happy to be reading with such enthusiasm again! About two months ago, we turned off our cable as a "family experiment". Even though we did not watch a lot of tv... it was often turned on in the later hours of the night as a means of "mindless wind down time". I often found myself watching mindless matter when Don was gone on trips.

I have to admit I was a bit frightened at the idea of not having instant access to HGTV. As football season approached we also got a bit anxious. But in all honesty, it's AWESOME not having the ability to click that thing on and I have gotten back into my passion of reading books! I have read two in the past two weeks and have another one going ("Being a Great Mom Raising Great Kids") and one waiting in the wings (The Owl Named Wesley).

One of the books I have just read is "Peony in Love". It is so beautiful and the entire time I read it I kept thinking about what an incredible movie it will make... it HAS to become a movie soon!!!!

My friend Ryan came over last night and we watched "The Other Boleyn Girl" and I was really struck with how closely it parallelled the same issues of "Peony". They revolve around the same tragic issues of how women were thought of and treated in two totally different cultures. We got into such wonderful discussions last night about these issues that I actually dreamed about them last night and woke up this morning exhausted. SO... if you want a great read... get the book. And if you want a great movie to watch... rent the movie!

Daddy's Georgia Girls

Don and I had the pleasure of sneaking away for a Georgia game date this past weekend! Since we ended up with eight tickets, we went back and forth about a dozen times whether or not to take Abby. Even though we make dates a priority, we most always end up missing her and wishing she was with us.

Since she was recovering from chicken pox and the weather was going to be WARM, we decided to let her stay home and have her own "date" with the playful babysitter and we'd get some much needed adult time!

But daddy did not leave his smallest Georgia girl out of the festivities by any means. Saturday morning he snuck her off to Chick-fil-A and they brought back chicken mini biscuits with honey for our "tail gate" party in the bed! He'd gone out the day before and bought some "Bull Dawg Gear" as surprises for us both! She came to my bedside sporting a very large grin, a new Georgia t-shirt, a sticker on her face, and a new Georgia Bulldog purse for me! She was so cute and thrilled to be so included in the fun! (Daddy got some points for that one!)

Since I grew up in Alabama as a "Roll Tide" girl, went to college at UNC and became a "Tar Heel", and now reside in the beautiful Southern state of Georgia, (where my husband was a "Dawg") I have decided that I am a fan of all three teams... unless they are playing each other. I will have to be a "Dawg" this Fall for the Georgia/Alabama game!

Having been to games at all three of these colleges, I have to say that the Univeristy of Georgia knows how to have a ballgame! As soon as you arrive in Athens, the entire town is BUZZING and full of wonderful (and some not so wonderful) energy! It is so much fun and the excitement just takes me back to feeling like a kid... maybe that's why stadiums are always packed!

Last week's game was very fun, even though Georgia pounded Central Michigan. Plays like Dobbs running the ball back down the field for a touchdown and Moreno leaping over a defensive player to avoid the tackle added some memorable moments!

After the game we found a great little taco place for a quick dinner before our drive back home. All the way home we talked about which game we can take Abby to in the Fall! We'll see...

Thank you honey for a very fun date!

Back to Zero...

Ughhh. Abby had a seizure this morning at 5:30 a.m. So we are back to zero. It is so hard when that one comes after almost two weeks of quiet. Please pray we can start back over with night "ONE" of seizure free nights again tonight.

Her chicken pox remained mild and are "ALMOST" all scabbed. There are a few that don't want to give up! I think I'll take her in to see the school nurse in the morning to see if it is safe for her to return to school tomorrow.

Grandfather Update:

Thank you all so much for your sweet prayers and concern for my grandfather. His break was too risky to risk surgery and so they put a halo on him two days ago. It went well and even though it is very hard for him to have on, he is better. Some of the hospital issues have improved and now, of course, there is insurance drama as we are awaiting them to transfer him to a rehab center in Huntsville. Hopefully they will be resolved soon and he'll be out of there and closer to home to recover.

TEN NIGHTS OF BLESSINGS!

Even though our precious one has the coo-coo- pox... she has been 10 nights seizure free! We praise God so very much for this blessing and pray He continues to cover her with His almighty hand of healing, grace, mercy, protection and love!

Note: Abby likes to call her chicken pox "coo-coo pox". We have taught her that it is not nice to call anyone names. In her first year of kindergarten, kids called each other "coo-coo" and Abby was told not to say that so "coo-coo" became a "bad" word per say. When we discovered her bumps, she was upset and looking for the words to describe her dismay and "stupid" (also not allowed) and "coo-coo" were chosen! So I decided that "coo-coo" was an appropriate adjective to describe these little bumps of discomfort and she was very amused and delighted when I offered up renaming the disease "coo-coo pox".

Treehouse Adventures!

Daddy has been working for almost two months on building this amazing treehouse for Abby! My brother, David, came in July to help get it started and it is ALMOST finished. Daddy has been taking advantage of the AMAZING weather we are having and is finishing up the painting.

I have to say, it is a pretty wonderful place to play! We all had lunch up top yesterday and even Dusty climbed up the ladder, checked out the view, and then discovered the slide! Abby thought that was the greatest. They then started racing each other up the stairs.

In addition to the wonderful slide, swings, swinging disk, and top deck... there is a super cool climbing wall on the back side! Abby has mastered both sides and kept trying to get Dusty to try... she needs a sibling! She has taken advantage of her coo-coo pox (aka chicken pox) and has spent the past two days out there!

We decided about three months ago that our old playset was too "small" for her. She would play on it for about ten minutes and then be bored. Although she did spend some time out there swinging her babies and pushing them down the slide... Curious George is crazy on the slide!

So we wanted a more age appropriate version and Daddy took on the challenge of building it! He has worked very hard and actually, Joel and Calvin... our friends and neighbors... have also had a small hand in it! Thank you guys!

So it's almost done and the old one has been stripped, restained, and is on Craig's List. What we sell that one for will pay for about half of the materials for the new one! So come on over. We do star gazing and wine tastings up there at night! Soon we'll be sipping hot chocolate up there!

Just one more thing...

My precious one, Abby, has chicken pox. When I helped her get dressed this morning, nothing. When she went to the restroom tonight at 6:30 p.m..... half her body is broken out! Mercy! Next... I'll get measles... or polio... or scarlet fever... and Don can fall from the tree house he is painting and break his leg... and then the dog can get hit by a car... and then... wait... I should stop there... don't want to spoil it for everyone! And my husband just beat me mercilessly in dominoes (as usual). I need to go pray. UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Once Again...

My grandfather was in a car wreck this weekend and broke his neck. Yes, this is the grandfather who lost two of his daughters and his wife in the past eight months. He was air lifted to Erlanger in Chattanooga, TN. The situation is horrible... a joke... madness. That's all I will say for right now.

My mother is trying to get a lot of things done today and I just ask for you to lift her up in your prayers. She is almost sleep walking at this point. She needs energy, patience, comfort, strength, and guidance. Please pray God will open a door today and my grandfather will get the treatment he needs and the hospital will be held accountable for some HORRIBLE things they have done and for so much they haven't done! Thank you.

Please pray my grandfather will be brought closer to God during this time and that he will be given strength and a calmness in his spirit... he is literally about to lose his mind. And please pray for the rest of the family members who are just SPENT at this time.... they so need God's very hand upon them to renew them and walk with them during this time. Thank you all so much for your faithfulness in loving us and praying for us during this time. Much love to you all.

P.S. Today is my precious mother's birthday. Happy Birthday Mom. I love you so very much... I love you crazy.

Turtle Sadness Today

UGHHHHHH...........

Seriously, the sadness that overwhelms me on this rainy day is... crazy. It has brought me to tears and a lump remains in my chest and throat.

Yesterday, while driving Abby home from school, I passed a small turtle on the edge of the road. "Oh.... Abby, we need to help that little guy before he gets hit," I say as I cross the median to turn around and save my new little friend (as I often do for animals around the road).

When I approached him, he hadn't moved and I thought to myself, "What am I going to do if he is already dead... now my day is going to be ruined... why can't I just keep driving!" I reached down to pick him up and there were ants all under his belly. "Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... you poor baby." But as I picked him up, his little legs jutted out and a glimmer of hope surged through me. But then I turned him around and saw that his precious little neck and head was bleeding.

So this is when it hits... a rush of emotion that is not normal. I seriously started crying and was overcome with such grief that this little guy was just sitting here, dying slowly, all by himself. Since my car is in the road (with my flashers on) and my daughter has now climbed into the front seat for better viewing, I gently placed him in the grass and told him how sorry I was that I had not been able to help him, got into the car, and drove away.

Abby can see that I am upset and asks, "Did we crash the turtle Mommy?" "No," I answered, trying to stop crying for mercies sake, "Someone else hit him honey." So I started praying out loud, "God, thank you for the precious animals you have created and for their place in this beautiful world. My heart is saddened deeply for this precious turtle and I ask that you let him die right now and not suffer by the road any longer. Please allow him to come quickly to heaven to play with you and Lodie. Thank you Lord. Amen" Abby chimes in that she wants to call daddy and tell him the turtle died.

So I worry about that turtle all day, every time a pain seriously arises in my gut and throat. I managed to FORGET him until this morning when I was returning from taking Abby to school. As I passed the spot, I looked for him and he wasn't there. Animals must have gotten him last night. Mercy. Please God let him have been dead.... why does my mind do this!!!!!!!!!!

Then... oh yeah... then as I pull into my neighborhood this thought comes crashing into my mind... "Why didn't you take him to your vet Dawn!?!!!" GREAT... now on top of GREAT sadness for this turtle... GUILT... one of my great old friends... GUILT! Why in the world did I have to go there!? My vet is a wonderful man who has a love and compassion for animals that I have always greatly admired. He is wonderful and HE could have done SOMETHING for this precious little guy.

So that's my yesterday afternoon and this morning. Turtle Sadness suffocating any joy I am feeling from feeling better. UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

I have come to a new understanding just recently why possibly I feel and respond to these situations in such a manner. Of course, I think it comes from my childhood. After my parents divorced, I lived in Alabama on my grandparent's farm. Although there were wonderful things on this farm like baby chickens, apple and cherry trees and weeping willows to play under, it was a dark place to me. Animals were raised and killed there. This tormented me as a child.

We had a chicken house and this is where many of these feelings started seeding themselves in my soul... I think. The big truck would come with thousands (maybe just hundreds... I don't know I was like twelve) of precious, tiny, fuzzy, and yellow baby chickens. They swarmed the freshly cedar lined ground of our very long chicken house and just ran around and chirped. To catch one was easy. Then in my hand, I would hold this tiny, soft, warm and fragile little baby chicken who would look at me and chirp.

The first day, they were all safe. The second day, things changed and they were in danger. I knew what my grandfather was doing as he walked up the road with his large white bucket swinging in his hand. I had seen it before and been horrified to my core. He would open the door to the chicken house, step inside and close it behind him. As I watched him disappear from the my spot in the kitchen window, emotions or anger and disdain would start creeping into my throat as I envisioned his steps.

Walking slowly up and down the length of the chicken house, the baby chicks would scamper away from his feet. If one moved too slowly, limped, or dared not move at all, he'd bend down, pick it up, bang it on the ground to kill it and toss it in the bucket.

I had the terrible job of washing the feeders in the chicken house with ammonia water. The first time I saw him do this, I thought I was going to explode. He was a great authority figure and you didn't talk back to him or even look at him funny. I marched over to my aunt, who washed feeders with me, and asked if she saw what he was doing! "Yes, Dawn," she replied, "He has to do that so any sick chickens don't infect the rest." She was fine with it. My anger surged even more. What was wrong with these people? Who can just pick up a baby chicken and smash it into the ground without even flinching!?

I sobbed and sobbed and sobbed that day as I watched my grandfather add to his bucket. "What if some were just tired," I thought. What if they could get better if just given some time...? I mean it's crowded in here. What if they just weren't afraid of him and that's why they didn't run away!?

Bitter thoughts about my grandfather, paw paw, filled me and I felt he was detached, inhumane, thoughtless, uncaring, and just plane horrible. In addition, I was a child and I was helpless. With all my might I wanted to march up to him and yell at him what I thought, but I could not. So inside it remained... and grew.

When men from the church came to slaughter the hog, these feelings grew. I'll leave out details that made this event even worse. When my grandfather tried to get to me to hack off a chicken's head, these feelings grew. When the large chicken truck came back to get the chickens that we had fed and taken care of and take them to be slaughtered, these feeling grew. I'd cry as they were stuffed into crates and taken down the road, helpless, on the way to the death with no options, no choice, no chance.

So... this is why I HATE hunting and think it is ridiculous that men get a jolly out of tricking animals, tracking them down and killing them... sport... please... go bowling for crying out loud. This is why I let most bugs go out of the house... most. This is why I stop on the side of the road and try to save a turtle, take a bird to a shelter that I have found in a parking lot, and once tried to hide and save a baby chick in the basement of my grandparent's farmhouse. This is why I am saddened so deeply today about this turtle. This is why I am on the verge of becoming vegetarian. And this is why I need some serious counseling!

Our Timing, God's Timing, Life's Timing

Saturday night, just before 8 p.m., we received a call about a baby girl we'd just found out was available the day before. Don had just seen her picture that morning and we'd not really been able to talk about it fully... or pray. After answering the call, we were asked to make a moment's decision to commit to flying out to the West Coast on the first flight in the morning to meet and possibly adopt this child.

Our minds were racing. If we made this commitment, the mother wanted a conference call with us in 15 minutes. The room swirled as there were various issues to discuss. How long would we be there, what would we do with the dog, how long would Abby miss school, could my mom come down and Don and Abby fly back here after a few days while I stayed and finished the legalities and paperwork, was she too young, and yes... can I, should I be traveling when I was still recovering from surgery? Why was it happening so fast? Was it the right decision? This was/is what we have been wanting... why now... why not just five or six days later when I am more healed and when we could have time to talk and pray?

Needless to say, it was horrible. The moment was full of panic and stress and this unseen force of... something... something that didn't seem right. I had asked, pleaded for five minutes with my husband before we made the decision and so I called back to say that we just couldn't do it... not like this... not now... this very moment and hour. It was horrible. Just horrible. And so, I write this to ask for your prayers in our walk, wait, and journey to find and be available to the child God wants us to love for Him, for the child that Abby asks for every day and prays for every night, and for the wisdom and eyes to see when it is HIS leading.

As I sat on my bed that night in tears, I realized that if we had said yes, we'd be scrambling to pack, making arraignments for the dog and getting little sleep before morning came. I thought about her sleeping in her bed at that moment, having no idea how our worlds had just brushed each other so closely... yet not really touched. I prayed for God to raise up the family that could meet that demand and be there for her.

I don't know if someone was found that night. I do believe God has a plan for her and is taking care of her. And I do feel more peace each day in knowing that I could have not traveled that day... or the next... maybe today. But I do know if that situation was truly our situation... it would have waited for a mommy to heal. I find comfort in that and continue to wait for another phone call.

Out of Touch...

Oh where do I begin? I had surgery last week and no, there are no pictures. Actually, at my post-op on Friday, there will be pictures of my insides... that is blog worthy if I ever say so! My husband's eyes still bug out when he tries to tell me about them, as he got to see them while I was knocked out! "It's not dark at all... it's like walking into a fully lit room!" he exclaimed. Don exclaiming anything is exciting. "What!?" I ask... not following. "It's like right there and all lit up and stuff... you wait... you wait until you see," he assures me.

Well, all laughing aside, today is a good day. I am still convinced that they pulled my belly button up over my head while I was under. Either that or a nurse tripped and fell to the floor with half of it in her hands.... if only it were Grey's Anatomy! They found and removed endometriosis and so I am hoping for a much less painful life now! A biopsy of my uterous came back normal too and so there is a small to medium chance that I could have a pregnancy that goes full term. Although this is what I am told... I do not count, wish, hope for it... that would be a bonus... a miracle bonus. Just better health is what I am clinging to... so we'll see. For now... I am just mending.

Homework Girl

As of now, we are excited about homework and are finding a routine that works. We're doing half after she gets home and has a snack and the other half before bed. It's so hard to make her sit down and work after being at school all day. Plus I know her brain is just so tired. So I am hoping this will work for her and us!

Today she had a math sheet and a color key sheet. She worked very hard and I was/am very impressed with the great job coloring she has done and how well she stayed in the lines. This one (post) really is for Abby and Grammy... so hang in there with me!

Even though she wanted to skip the bricks... she got a second wind and finished the sheet! She also did a great job matching the colors to the key!

I had the hardest time getting her to put it back in her folder to go to school tomorrow... she wants to keep it on the fridge. I see the future of my fridge becoming very colorful again... and I love it!! I'm ordering new magnets for her off etsy to hang her new work with!

SIDE NOTE: On a side note... I have the photo editing blues! Don slicked our hard drive this weekend and I lost my photo editing software only to find it's been discontinued! So my pictures look horrible! Oh the difference good software makes! Ughhh... so hopefully after shopping around I can find a new one and get my pics back to looking good.

First Day of First Grade!

What a blessing it is to see our precious one start first grade! She was so excited and a tad nervous. I was more nervous for her this year than before! I followed her schedule at home all day and prayed her through all her activities!

I was sad for her because she had a seizure at 5 a.m. and so she was still a bit droggy and aprehensive when I dropped her off. But when I picked her up she was happy and chipper and thrilled about her first day!

She has a very sweet teacher and we are very excited about the amount of help she is getting this year with her work. We are also hopeful that she will be able to learn better as we are in the process of tapering down her topamax (one of her three seizure meds). We are convinced her very high levels are to blame for her inability to retain and process information. We have researched the side affects online and are saddened to see that adults on 75 mg can't function properly... she's been on 245 mg a day along with THREE OTHERS! MERCY.

It's so hard to balance her quality of life with seizure control and the amount of medication she is on. We want her to be able to learn and develop yet we HAVE to keep the seizures away... so, your prayers, as always, are appreciated as we increase her Keppra levels and decrease her Topamax. She has had several seizures this month already and so we remain on our knees and wait to see what happens.

We'll keep you updated.

Drivin Down the Highway...

In Huntsville earlier this week, I had some good time with David and Cynthia. I really enjoying spending time with them. The air conditioner in my CRV conked out Saturday and so I had to take the convertible on our trip to Sharon's funeral. Of course David and Neener thought that was great and we put the top down and had some fun on the way back to the hotel after dinner one night.

I have made several trips to Huntsville lately and have been so struck with how beautiful the drive is... they don't call her "Alabama the Beautiful" for nothing!

The state has held so many bad memories for me, it's been refreshing to see her in a new and grown up light! The cliffs and mountains and lush green trees are just beautiful.

This has been a year for funerals for my family. I am still kinda in a daze at how much has happened so quickly with my mom loosing two sisters and her mother in less than eight months. Abby was more upset about Sharon's funeral than any of the past two. I think it's because we were just there visiting her. She was really upset about the idea of putting her in the ground. I tried to explain the idea of a soul and it's separation from the body but bless her heart, she just couldn't really grasp it. So we skipped the graveside service on this one to give her more time to understand that Sharon wasn't really being put into the ground.

Life is so precious and can be so very short. It strikes you deep inside how final death is. But there is a wonderful peace that overshadows it all when you know the departed are in heaven with their Father. I couldn't stop smiling on the way there. Just thinking about her in the GLORY of heaven, walking with the Holy Spirit and in the glow of the Son of God and in the very presence of God Himself... I could not be happier for her. What amazing things she has beheld already. What beautiful and unthinkable music she is hearing from the angels. It is hard to really grasp the thought of what heaven truly is like.

Dancing with the Lord Himself!

My aunt Sharon went to dance with the Lord last Saturday, August 2. I am so thankful she did not have to suffer with the brain tumors... it was very quick. She had such a hard life, I can only smile to think of how BLISSFUL happy she has to be right now in the presence of her Lord and King, whom she loved so much.

My continued prayers go out to her daughters, Candi and Jaime... to her precious grandchildren... and to her best and faithful, loving, and precious friend Sandy. And also to my mom and my aunt Cynthia... may the Lord cover you all with peaceful healing and divine comfort.

Life Keeps Coming...

I wish I could write something funny and light, seriously, I do... but the mood is so far gone! Life is running at me hard right now and I am so very very tired. We took a few days last week to sneak away to our lake house and it was much needed and appreciated... although the peace was short lived.

Abby had two seizures this morning that confirmed my suspicion she had one a couple nights ago... and so up again we go on one of her drugs to try and stop them. You see, seizures are tricky little creatures... that's how I see them. The longer she goes without having one... the harder it is for her to have one. Once they start breaking through... it's like they remember how to do it or the path they took and she can have another one easier... so I actually see them as visual little creatures of havoc. I hate them.

On top of that, in addition to the various heavy family issues... I went to the girlie doctor today. I have had two episodes of what I think are ovarian cysts rupturing and have been in some pretty hefty pain. My last episode was this past Saturday night that has left me in pain since. So today I was told I need to have surgery... soon... to check some things out and to see if I have endometriosis. I have been having issues since I was about 16 and so I am ready... I am ready for the next step and hopefully some answers and relief.

So that's the latest in a small nutshell... I will attempt to leave on a lighter note. Having looked at some of my friends blogs that include much more fun than mine (hmm hmm... Teecy), I have decided to add a little list of ten things you may not know about me (or care to know) to try and lighten things up.

1.) As a child, half my bed was in the closet to give me more floor space to play on in my room!

2.) My first kiss was in the 8th grade behind some bushes in his yard (he was a neighbor).

3.) I love frosties with hot salty french fries.

4.) I have written a couple of children's books that have not been published.

5.) I love to watch golf on television... and college football and basketball.

6.) I love storms. I think they are a personification of God's awesome power and beauty.

7.) I love dogs and really do not care for most cats.

8.) I used to have to clean feeders in a chicken house on my grandparent's farm when I was a child with bleach water... may have something to do with my fertility issues! ha

9.) I get passionately angry about things I do not agree with like abortion and taxes!

10.) I spent two summers in Gitmo (Guantanamo Bay, Cuba) as a kid before it became a compound and it was two of the coolest summers of my life!

There... see... everything is not so bad!

Let us Rejoice!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. ~ Psalm 118:24

In the midst of the pain my family is walking through, there is great joy in this past year of health that Abby has been so graciously given! We celebrated her 7th birthday this past weekend with a big birthday celebration!

In Huntsville, we got to spend some time with aunt Cynthia and uncle Hoyt (Floyd! :0). After visiting Sharon, we went to dinner with them and Abby had some pre-birthday celebration with a present and some carmel pie! I'm not sure what she liked better, "Happy Feet" or the pie! Thank you aunt Cynthia and uncle Hoyt! WE LOVE YOU!

After spending the night in the Hotel with Grammy, we made our way back home Friday in time for Abby's birthday dinner celebration at her favorite restaurant, Thai Spice, and back to the house for some more presents!

Saturday we had a fun party with lots of wonderful friends! Fun and photos to follow soon.

Adoption Update

We received some news that has led us to feel this last situation is not for our family. It has been very hard to come to this decision but we have a peace that God is in control and that we are making the right decision. We continue to wait and now have two more children to pray for... it was a sibling group.

Call upon the Lord... and He will answer...

Answer me, O Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. ~Psalm 69:16-17

Life can come at you so quicky that you are left standing breathless and trying to feel your feet on the ground. You know that God is good and your faith is strong and yet you feel such a void in the inner most part of your soul that it chokes you. It is in these times that you must fall into the arms of the Lord with every ounce of trust you can and lie still.

My heart is breaking to see my aunt Sharon become consumed with cancer. Her physical body is being taken quickly and people who love her are watching with a helplessness that can't be put into words. It is happening so quickly.

My mom flew into Huntsville last Thursday and Abby and I met her there to go spend some time with Sharon. Her daughter Candi is taking care of her with strength and grace that only comes as a gift from our Father Himself in times likes this. I pray He continues to keep His hand upon her.

I am blessed to have so many prayer warriors in my life. I ask you to pray for Sharon. My prayer is that she does not have to suffer long and can be in the arms of her Lord and Savior soon. I pray she will be filled with love and comfort from the Holy Spirit and that she is covered with a precious blanket of peace. Please remember her daughters, Candi and Jamie, as well... her sisters, Cynthia and Debora, and her precious friend Sandy. Thank you all so much.

Adoption and Prayer Requests

Several of you have been asking about our adoption process. We are now considering a third situation and we need prayers from our friends. I do not want to share any specifics now as it is personal and just a huge life decision, but I do request prayers. God knows the issues we are weighing and bringing before Him and asking His guidance on and I do believe so fully in the power of prayer. So my little prayer warriors... very special and dear friends... hit your knees and ask God to clearly guide and show us what He wants for us. I pray for open and close doors as He has done before. Thank you all so very much. Your friendships mean so much to us.

I do also ask for prayers for my aunt Sharon. My mom's sister is very ill and her brain tumors have gone from four to six. She is not doing well at all. Abby and I are meeting my mom in Huntsville this week to spend some time with her and the family. Please also pray for her two daughters who are taking care of her. I pray for strength, courage, hope, peace, and strong faith for them all during this time. Thank you so much.

Abby is almost at two weeks seizure free again. We praise God for His faithfulness, mercy, and love! She will be seven years old this weekend and we are having a blowout party to celebrate her health and life! We are all so excited!

Barbie Makeovers!

My, my, my... these girls needed help! I do not promote bleach blonde ideals and so I am surprised it took me this long to give these girls a whack!

Abby actually came to me this morning and asked me to give one of them a hair cut. I happily agreed that this was a good idea and she went and got the rest! So, while she napped (didn't want her to watch and become scissor happy) the girls went to the spa. The funny thing is... I loved it. I may have just found another hobby... Barbie Spa. You can drop your Barbie off and run errands and when you return... she will be all hip and modern... no Pam Anderson wanna be around here!

I found myself looking at the way their hair was connected and coming up with their style. Then they all three had to be different. I knew I wanted one super short and so I did her second. She's my favorite, of course, and I chose the one with little pearl earrings so they would show up! Yeah...seriously... and then I gave the third one layers. I thought about bangs but the way it comes out of their head is pretty much straight up so I thought that would be a nightmare!

So she got some wispy long bangs that kinda fly out on the sides! (laughing hysterically)

So it is very clear to see that I had way too much fun playing the Barbies while Abby napped. She came downstairs just now and is thrilled with their hair. She's looking for others for me to cut! You will notice that the Barbies are naked. That is because most six year olds can only undress them and can't bend them enough to get the tiny clothes back on them! This is one of the reasons I loved the magnetic polly pocket clothes than then in turn made children ill and even die when they ate them... mercy. We are cursed with dolls that can't be dressed. So... I decided that they needed to have a photo of themselves dressed... for all our sakes as well... and so here they are... the three Barbies with their new looks!

Call me for an appointment... space limited!

One of the best books ever...

"An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself fully as if there were no others." --- A. W. Tozer from The Shack

I love to read. I love a book that I can't put down. I love a book that haunts me, calls me back, and leaves me wanting to reread it again. I love a book that changes me.

The Shack is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. Young is a brilliant writer and I can't help to think the Holy Spirit itself has left fingerprints on this piece.

The way Young personifies the Trinity is so intimately personal and real... just as they are. The way he describes certain scenes is almost like getting a glimpse of heaven... or having your "eyes touched and healed" for just a moment.

I devoured it in two days and now I am going back to reread it. There are parts I am going back to to savour and pray about. I am also making my list of people to send it to as a gift. So I say to you... READ IT, READ IT, READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fourth of July Festivities...

The Fourth of July is always a fun holiday for us. We had our second annual pancake breakfast with friends who gather at our house to watch the parade pass around the corner! I was half asleep and didn't take any photos!

After cakes in the cul-de-sac... we caravan on our golf carts to the corner where we watch a "Hometown Parade" with the perfect blend of Patriotism, local advertising, free samples and coupons, and cheese factor!

After the parade there is some down time before we have friends over again for a little cook out. I was BUSY fighting the brigade of flying critters to take any photos of that gathering as well! Then after we have our fill of burgers, dogs, steamed corn on the cob, fresh fruit, and Angie's amazing fruit pie... we caravan on our carts around another corner to the lake to watch fireworks! This year we had the amazing and much appreciated gift of a gentle breeze! It was great and the fireworks were spectacular over the lake!

We love to gather with our friends and share life. It makes me very sad for SO MANY who are in foreign lands fighting wars right now. My heart goes out to them and their families as they sacrifice so much for this country and what she stands for... I pray for their safety and that they all return home soon... and I say "Thank You".

One Week Celebration!

Praise God for one week now with no seizures!

"I shall say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." Psalm 91:2

Abby's "First" PB & J

Well, not the first she has eatten... of course... but the first she has made all by herself! When I asked her if she would like to make us sandwiches for lunch, she responded with much excitement, "Do I get to use a knife!?" That was the highlight! But here she is... making our lunch all by herself and loving every moment of it! We had been at her Brain Balance evaluation that morning and one of the questions she was asked was to explain the steps to making a PB & J. That type of processing is very hard for her and I was thinking that if she had actually made one, she'd have a better thought process of how to do it!

She was just giggling as she put the knife in the peanut butter jar... it was so cute. She was spreading the peanut butter on the same side with the jelly and I explained to her they each had a side... "Oh... sorry, that's my fault," she replied! But you know... who says they can't both be on both sides!

She added our carrots, our pickle and our chips to the plate and walked them to the table with a very wide and TOOTHLESS smile of self satisfaction! I love it!

Speaking of satisfaction... we are now at six nights seizure free! We are thrilled to have several nights and are looking to make the one week mark tonight! We only had to go back up to .75 mg on the medication we had decreased from 1.5 mg and so if we can hold here... that's better than we were! She wakes up each morning and we shout, "We praise you Jesus for no seizures!"... very sweet... I do believe the King of Kings does smile at that moment!

We did some worksheets today during our "school time" today and was blown away to just watch her trace a number and then write it three more times without tracing! It was great and she was so proud! She also finished a color key sheet by herself and knocked out a pattern worksheet... getting them all correct!

Blessed... blessed... blessed!

Our Precious Abigail Grace


This little smile brings so much pure and full joy to my inner most soul. We are running through our summer in rapid fashion! Abby has already finished one week of swimming lessons, has finished her first round of brain balance and finishes her evals tomorrow, has been to Poppy and Grammy's for a week and a half and is now going back for the Annual Family Reunion this weekend! She continues to grow like a weed and I am amazed sometimes with how grown up she can look and sound. One of her new things to say when you ask her a question is, "Oh... ok... sure!" It sounds so grown! We have seen much improvement in her processing abilities and her expression. Up until yesterday morning, we'd been seizure free for over 5 and a half months. Sadly, she had one yesterday morning but not last night or today and so we press forward and remain on our knees before the Lord for His mercy and continued healing.
So she has another round of swimming lessons when we get back. Look at her go! This girl was free style swimming on her second day in the pool with her wonderful instructor Ms. Grace! She loves it and is turning into a little fish!
Please pray God will keep the seizures away with His mighty and powerful hand! Thank you and be blessed!

Celebrating with David... aka "Brazie"

I am going to have to do this in bits. I am trying to catch up on life after being gone for almost a week and a half! We just returned from Virginia where we celebrated David's 18th birthday on June 1st and his graduation on June 5th! My mind still hurts to think my little Brazie is all grown and heading off to college! It is definately an "I feel so old" moment... I am having more and more of those. (sigh)

I am so proud of my youngest brother. He just totally is one of the coolest guys I know. He is smart, funny, talented, thoughtful, kind, funny, God loving, adorable... and ... did I mention funny yet?

My parents had a huge party for him on the 1st and it was wonderful to see him with his friends and surrounded by so many people who love him. Especially since his "thoughtless" girlfriend of nine months dumped him just days before his festivities!

Had to get that big sister vent in! He's hopefully getting a really cool job for the summer (should find out anytime) and then will be heading off to Liberty in the Fall. Hurts my brain... badly!

So we combined these events with a much needed vacation trip. I miss my family so very much. We are so blessed to be close and it is very difficult to the be only one not living there. Epecially now that there are three grandchildren. I am missing my two nephews grown up and they are missing Abby... sniffles... sigh... moment... ok, all better now.

My beautiful sister has some festivities all her own going on! She will be heading off this Fall as well... to join the Air Force! How cool is that!? And she looks adorable in a military hat... you know that is very important and everything! She has just not been feeling the college thing and is hoping to go into pharmacy with the Air Force. Her processing is later this month and then she'll be given a class date!

So Abby took this last picture at David's graduation. She is always wanting to take pics and so after I sat down she came over and said, "Let me take a picture of you guys." I handed her the camera and she immediately started barking orders... "Ok, be quiet, I am going to take your picture, ok, now everybody stick your tongue out," she piped! It was hillarious and so we "obeyed" and ended up with a cute picture by Abigail Grace Photography! She is such a hoot lately and yes, we are still seizure free!!!!!!!!! That's five months and counting!!!!!!!!! She started swim lessons today and I stay amazed and THANKFUL each and everyday for the life God is graciously giving her!

Ode to Kindergarten... and "Osborne"


I can not believe that today was the last day of school for Abby... this year has flown by and left me spinning! It seems just like yesterday we were taking Abby's first day of school pancakes picture! We were SO very blessed to have Mrs. Osborne... aka "Osborne"... again this year. She has become such a special part of our family... we just love her to pieces! I have a special place in my heart for teachers. They are such a very special group of people. To be so underpaid and have SUCH an impact on our children and their future is just a disgrace and sad picture the priorities of our country... don't get me started! :0) We didn't say goodbye because we are friends and will be seeing "Osborne" often... hopefully. So... we'll see you soon Osborne. side note: "Osborne" is what Abby has called her for two years... (remembering the Mrs. and Mr. is often very hard for her) and as Mrs. Osborne will say, "She's the only one who could get away with it!" xoxoxoxo









Field Day!


Yesterday was field day and Don and I went to cheer our little one on to victory! She was line leader and so she was first for all the games. We were so amazed that she did such an awesome job, especially for being first and not getting to see the other kids do it! We are so blessed and so very thankful for her physical health right now. As we watched her participate in the games, we were just blown away with how much she seemed to be physically on track with her classmates. She was jumping in her jumping bag, squeezing and hopping with her ball... and she had confidence... it was beautiful! She has been seizure free for over four months now and is showing signs of developmental improvement every day! We do not take one moment of it for granted and continue to pray for God's hands of healing and protection to be wrapped around her!!




I love to see her interact with her friends at school. She seems so grown up and they are so cute together. One of her best friends this year was Edith (on her left). This precious little girl came about mid year and spoke no English. Well, Abby, being speech delayed herself, became Edith's long lost pal and started making up her own "Spanish" to speak like Edith! One of her words was "Adrico!". She'd say it ALL the time and trill the "r". Anytime she was happy... "Adrico!"... anytime she was confused... "Adrico!"... everytime she'd see you... "Adrico!". Thank goodness we are past that!!!! It was better than the barking stage though. Abby has had a hard time getting her thoughts out. So when she has a rush of thoughts... she'd bark or say, "Adrico!"! This is the stuff of sitcoms!!!!! :0)



What precious, precious little girls they are!!!!!!!!!



So we are officially starting our summer tomorrow. I can't believe the school year is gone. We have been so blessed to be at Abby's school. They are so dedicated to the children and everyone there has gone above and beyond, time and time again. I am excited we will be there again next year!! I am pretty nervous about the first grade. I am hoping that she will make great gains over the summer again and will start first grade off healthy and ready! Pray, pray, pray!!!


Our little athlete!

Big things from little charms...

I continue to be amazed at what God is doing with my business this year... the year I was going to sell it. My latest endeaver with one of my newest stores has led me to an AMAZING opportunity!

The owner of Boulignini, my newest store to carry Georgia Jewels, has introduced me to one of her Zulugrass reps. I have been making bead clusters and silver charms that "clip" on the zulugrass bead strands she sells and they are a HUGE hit! The rep came in yesterday and LOVED them and asked if I could come in and meet her! I was in the chair at the salon when she called but made it up there just 45 minutes later to meet her and we hit it off! She loves my product and packaging and wants to present them to her company owners, the Leakey's!

This is really a cool thing for MANY reasons. For one, these bead strands and made in Kenya and Tanzania by African women and the Leakey family set up this company to sell them. A portion of the sales of these beads goes back to the women directly and they are building a community and becoming self sufficient! The second cool thing is that my colorful bead clusters are not only selling, they are increasing the sales of the zulugrass beads! The third cool thing is that I am going to give 10% of my sales of my charms to these women too!!!! The fourth cool thing is that I could be going BIG TIME really soon!!!!!

OK, breath. The Leakey family lives in Kenya with these tribe women several months of the year... you have to go to http://www.leakeycollection.com/zulugrass.php to see more about their passion for these women... it's very cool! They are coming back to the states in August. I could be meeting them then.... ok... breath! (giggle...giggle) In the mean time, the rep is forwarding my info and samples to her stores (in seven states) with the highest zulugrass sales so I can make charms for them too! And she wants me to attend a show she is doing in Atlanta in July to reveal the Fall collection!!!!!!!

So how cool is that!? How cool is God? How cool is it that with each one of these charms I am making... I am giving a little to a tribe of women and helping them and their children have a better life!!!!!!!!! I am thrilled to the core of my soul!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you God... once again... YOU ROCK!

Well...

Well, we got a call today from our facilitator. It seems the reason we haven't gotten a call from CA is because they can't get in touch with the mother. It appears she may have gotten cold feet. My first reaction upon hearing this was a sick feeling in my gut... but then I was fine. We have been praying for this little girl and her family... and her mother. We have prayed for God's will to be done and for everyone involved to be protected. So if she wants to keep her child... I praise God and pray that He will give her the ability to do so.

So the room is ready, our paper work is ready, and we are ready...waiting on stand by... we'll see what God does next! Your prayers in this matter are so much appreciated. Thank you for all the love and excitement you shared with us during this experience. Hopefully, we'll be doing it again soon! xoxoxo

PRAY PRAY PRAY!!!!!!!!

Oh my sweet friends and prayer warriors... please start praying for our new possible addition. We received a call yesterday about a three year little girl who needs a home. My heart is racing and about to burst. PLEASE pray for God's hand to be ALL over this situation... as I feel it already is. Please pray for the birth mother to be guided in God's will. My last prayer request is the biggest... please pray, whenever you think of us, for this little girl's heart. Pray GOD HIMSELF will prepare her for the transition that may be happening soon. Pray her little heart is in God's very hands and that HE will give her peace and let her see our love and feel safe. She is going to have a HUGE grieving process... please, please, please cover this child in your prayers and love. God is so very good and mighty and I know He will be here with us... thank you for your love and prayers.

Our God Rocks!

The coolest thing just happened to me at Starbucks this morning. I had been at physical therapy and hadn't had time to make coffee this morning before I took Abby to school. So after getting through therapy half asleep, I went through the drive thru at Starbucks to get a coffee for the way home. As I am in line, waiting to pay, I think to myself..."I'm going to pay for the car behind me." When I pulled up to pay, the cashier said, "The car in front of you paid for your coffee." My mouth fell open and I said, "No way... I was going to pay for the car behind me!" She continued to tell me that the lady had paid for that car too! Apparently someone had done the same for her the day before so she came back and paid it forward. So I said, "FINE... I'll pay for the mini van two cars behind me!" The cashier started cracking up and took my money. As I pulled away, I just smiled. How precious is my God to pay for my coffee when I have decided to pay for someone elses... what a tangible sweet gift He gave me today! My God ROCKS! And my coffee was great! Pay it forward... it's cooler than cool and very addictive!

I met my hawk today!

I was totally unaware until the last five minutes of our time together. But suddenly I saw it and was covered in chills from head to toe... as was she.

The past couple months, I have been struck with how many hawks I see. I love birds and everytime I see a hawk... I am moved by how "alone" and powerful and graceful it is. I always feel priviledged to see certain things in nature and so everytime I would see a hawk, I'd say outload, "I see you God... thank you for showing yourself to me today... you are majestic." Well, after several days in a row of seeing one... I started keeping count and I'd ask God as I walked to my car, "Show yourself to me... show me my hawk today." And when He would, I'd laugh out loud and be THRILLED that He was so... so there... like... "Ok... I'll show you."

So one day I was in the car with Don and it was about my 8th day in a row and I told him about it. He couldn't believe it and started looking for them too... he even showed me one. It was about 11 days straight and it got to the point where Don would call from a trip and ask, "Have you seen your hawk yet?"

Well, it has tapered off but I still see them often. Each time I do, I thank God and just get this warm fuzzy feeling all inside. So on to "meeting my hawk".

I had an adoption meeting this morning. Everything was going wrong. I couldn't find the directions they said they had mailed, I couldn't find an address for them on anything I had from them or online. I was calling like crazy for an hour (as I am blindly driving North on I-85) and there was noone answering. My cell phone was dead, Don had taken my car this morning and had my car charger... it was crazy.

With one cell phone bar left (I charged it 5 minutes before I left the house), my phone "whispered"a ring and it was Gloria. She gave me directions and I was going the right way and amazingly enough, I was there on time. We had our meeting and we really hit it off. I have been fearful of domestic adoption and so I wasn't really knowing what to expect. We had been going with a place out in CA but after our phone interview with them, Don and I both felt badly about the whole thing... it was weird. The next day, our homestudy lady emailed us with Gloria's info. It was a God thing.

At the end of our meeting, I was feeling very good about being there and being with this organization. We were talking about my back yard and I started talking about my bird feeders and how much I love birds and she said, "You know I am a hawk". "Hawk" is her last name. As soon as she said it, I was covered in chills and almost started crying. I looked up on the wall and looked at this bird I had been looking at while I was there and it was a hawk on a tree limb. She said, "Evertime my husand sees something with a hawk on it, he has to buy it."

I told her my story about hawks and she too became covered in chills... she is my hawk. She is my God sighting for today and I know, without a doubt, that God has led us to her to bring us to our second child.

If we had not started our adoption process for Kazakhstan, we'd not met Kelly... our homestudy girl. If we'd not hosted Karina from Russia last December, our relationship with her would have ended (at that time) with the final homestudy meeting and she would have never really known us so well. If she'd not emailed us about Gloria... I wouldn't have met my hawk! God is too cool and I am thrilled to see what He has planned for us next!

Saturday Morning Pancakes and Mother's Day

Our weekend always starts off wonderful with our Saturday morning tradition of Saturday pancakes in bed! Daddy makes pancakes while I steal a few extra zzzz's, Abby watches cartoons and Dusty drops his tennis ball on my head! His pancakes are THE BEST EVER! What is so very cool about them is that not only are they just totally amazing and bursting with flavor and crunch (granola).... they are egg and dairy free! He should totally trademark the recipe!!

So this weekend started with berry covered pancakes and my girl and crazy playful dog in bed with me! I love it! We had planned on trying to go to Stone Mountain but we had rain coming... that we very much needed. So after lunch and late showers... Abby and I headed out for the movie theatre. We saw Nim's Island and it was a great movie. It was very fast paced and I don't think my girl blinked once during the entire thing! We sat there in the theatre with our Twizzlers we snuck in (am not paying $20 for candy), our sodas (I did pay $8 for two SMALL drinks... RIP OFF!!!! next time I'll sneak in juice bottles too... just joking) and our SOAKING WET blue jeans!!!!! It was POURING by the time we got there and we had to run across the parking lot that was flooding and seriously... our jeans were soaked up to our thighs! And we laughed our heads off... it was great.

The sun was shinning on Mother's Day and after church we went to lunch with some friends. Then we were off to the park for about an hour and then we spent the rest of the afternoon on the deck. My two greatest gifts were "leisure time" AND my precious one falling asleep in my lap... as we sat outside and listened to the breeze (it was very windy and made a WONDERFUL sound whipping through our trees). As she layed there, I was overcome with thanksgiving at just how peaceful she was. She had fallen asleep many times in my lap... only to start seizing 10 minutes after falling asleep. I realized that I was not tense... anticipating it... begging God to just let her sleep this once... I was relaxed and enjoying the moment and it was beautiful.... thank you God for that very precious, priceless and intimate gift!

I wanted to send a "shout out" to all my mommy friends and just couldn't get to the computer...actually the storm knocked out our internet on Saturday but anyway... Happy Mother's Day to all my precious friends. I am blessed to have so many friends who are so selfless in the way they mother their children. I am inspired by all of them in a different way and it just enriches my view on one of the most wonderful roles there is in the entire world... MOTHERS ROCK and I love you all!

And I want to send out an very understated "THANK YOU" to my beautiful Mother. As I said in your card, you are the source of strength for me... you give me such love... I am warm just thinking about it. I treasure our relationship so much and am so thankful that you are here with me in this journey of my life... YOU ROCK and I ADORE YOU! Love you crazy.

Coming

Full

Circle

with

6th

store

this

year!

What a cool thing it is to be making jewelry for a jewerly store in my hometown, Boaz, AL! I am stamping necklaces for graduation for two high schools and it just makes me smile! :0)

A very sweet woman from AL has been reading my blog for over a year. She found my blog through a friend from high school who had me linked to her site. She had commented a few times and was always so encouraging. Not too long ago, after ordering a mother's necklace... she casually said, "Oh by the way, I own a jewelry store and have always taken an interest in your jewelry." WHO KNEW!?

So she loved the Mother's necklace and has ordered some for graduation to carry in her store! YEAH!!! That is just too cool. THANK YOU DONNA.... is it strange reading about yourself on my blog!?

Much Needed Mommy's Night Out!

I woke up yesterday and by 10 a.m. realized I was in much need of a night out. So several phone calls later... I realized I'd be spending girl's night out alone. Lucky for me...I totally don't mind being alone... I actually love going out alone just as much as with someone!

So after making a business stop at "my" newest store... I went to the bookstore to find a new magazine to take to dinner... will share that new little winner tomorrow... and headed to Moes. I was trying to keep my night under $20 and I love the steak soft taco with black beans, tons of cilantro, and a squeeze of lime! So I enjoyed my magazine and my taco and then headed to Newnan to see "Baby Mama" at the fun new theatre! It was HILLARIOUS! I love to go to movies that make you laugh out loud... several times... and this little hit was better than I had even hoped for. There were several people in it, Steve Martin, Sigourney Weaver and Greg Kinnear that I had not expected that had wonderful roles! Sarah and Tina are HOOT together and made the movie TOTALLY believable... I loved it! Go see it!

After the movie I stopped at Kroger and picked up some ice cream and brought my festivities home. I feel refreshed and ready for another week and another movie. I LOVE going to the movies and my husband really doesn't "feel it". So I end up going alone or with gal pals most of the time. So I don't get the theatre enough anymore.... must try harder... in ALL my spare time!

The highlight of the evening came when the girl ringing me up at Moes saw my necklace (disk necklace) and asked.. "Oh... did you get that at the Avenue?" I very humbly responded, "No, I actually am the designer and made it, Bouglinini is one my newest clients." She said, "My mom just bought one this moring that said "Inspire" and I love it... I'm going to get one!" So I broke and high fived her and told her she totally just made my day! :0) We were both pretty giddy! :0)