Oh wear are my eyebrows?

The Queen B has tagged me with the seven randon things meme. Yes, that means today you are going to learn 7 things about me that I'm sure most of you don't know (and probably really don't want to know). So, hang on and enjoy the ride.

1. After a "near death" plucking incident in high school where one eyebrow (I'm not telling which one because those who know me and see me often will be staring at my eyebrow instead of my whole face next time you see me) was almost completely lost, I nnow have to fill-in (I mean major fill in) my eyebrows. Nice, huh?

2. My OCD plays into this one a little too much. Ok, so I need to have all my light/ceiling fan switches going the same direction. So, if for instance you go into a room and flip on the light from one end, I really need you to go back to that end and flip the switch off instead of using another switch. Can we say, therapy?????

3. I'm not really a collector of anything except the mail we receive that needs to be shredded. Instead of shredding anything I don't want (that contains our mailing information) as soon as I receive it, I put it in the special "shred" drawer until that sweet, little drawer gets so full to the brim that it is screaming for me not to open it again. It could have been so full today (because it hasn't been emptied since we moved into our house at the end of June this year) that it actually screeched when I opened it.

4. Husband had to help me with this one. He reminded me that most people DO NOT pluck their eyebrows in the car, but apparently I do. This could have led to the demise of my eyebrows from #1.

5. Husband also pointed out to me that not many people clean their cars with their swiffers while stopped at a stoplight. A clean car is a happy car, right?

6. Ok, this could be my OCD kicking in again. I don't like rattles/noises in the car. If a cup is in a cup holder and not situated properly and it makes a noise, it drives me crazy. I need to get to the bottom of all noises/rattles IMMEDIATELY and take care of them. Are you seeing any OCD tendencies????

If you have a weak stomach, I would stop now.

I warned you...weak stomachs, DO NOT read #7.

Last Chance...

Ok, here goes...

7. If you have made it this far in my list of random facts about myself, let me assure you that I have saved the best for last. Growing up, I lived on a farm. A farm that raised horses, cows, pigs and an occassional batch of chickens. We also had various other animals from dogs to cats to goats to lambs. You name it, we probably housed it in some form or fashion on our farm. Well, on a farm, when you have male cows, sometimes they have to be "cut." The result of this cut is something called a mountain oyster. These "oysters" are actually eaten and I will admit that I have consumed them. NOW LET ME JUST SAY THAT I DID NOT ENJOY IT AND I HAVE NOT EATEN ONE SINCE I WAS VERY YOUNG! Trust me, when they say it tastes just like chicken, sometimes they lie.

Well, that's about all the time we have for today. And let me leave Mandy, Ree & Big Mama with a "tag" you are it. There is no pressure for each of you three lovely ladies to let us get a bit more insight on each of you. Nor am I pressuring you with the fact that 1000's will be waiting on pins and needles to read your list of things (ok, maybe not 1000's, but it sure made it sound better).

Happy posting!

Mom, look what I've got for you

So D-Man was waking up from his nap today and called me in to get him out of his bed (yes, he's 28 months and still sleeps in a crib because this mom can't handle having her baby sleep in a big boy bed yet. Yes, the big boy bed is in our garage, the bedding has arrived, the bedrails are in hand due to a frantic call I made to The Queen B when D-Man went through a 3 day, I'm-going-to-climb-out-of-my-bed stage, but I still can't bring myself to make the change).

He may be in the crib until...I know, I need therapy. It's that whole "he's not going to be a baby forever" syndrome.

Anyway, back to the nap story. I went in to get D-Man out of his bed and he said, "Here's a booger, mommy!" Yes, you read correctly, D-Man had been picking his nose, but instead of finding an alternate way of getting rid of the "prizes" he found, he kept them for me. His Mommy. The one who birthed him. The one who nursed him. And the one that he so sweetly gives his boogers to.

The Fall of the Yeast

Ok, so I decided while at the grocery store last week that I really needed to try my head at making some type of bread that involved having to use yeast.

No, I hadn't lost my mind, I was just merely thinking of my family.

I settled on this...

Notice the fact that it is a wheat pizza crust (very healthy, don't you think) and that it is HIGH in fiber (always good for all that comes out in the end, you know!)

Anyway, as D-Man slept this afternoon, I read the directions on the box and determined that I would need to start the dough making process about 4 pm in order to have the dough ready to bake by 6 pm. I did my afternoon chores and at 4 pm, I began the yeast activation process.

Now for those of you who have never made bread before that involves yeast (YES, let me say again that I have never done this process) you must activate the yeast using hot water (around 110 degrees). Well, this trusty baker didn't have a thermometer to measure the temperature (until later when I remembered that I had a meat thermometer that would have worked), so I first used 1 cup of hot tap water to activate the yeast from one of the packets. This didn't work, so I heated the water first in the microwave and then dissolved the 2nd yeast packet in it.

I seriously think they include 2 yeast packets for bakers like my self.


So,the yeast dissolved (or appeared to) and I followed the rest of the directions on the box ending with putting the ball of dough into a bowl that had been greased . The bowl was then covered with plastic wrap and a towel and set in a warm room so that it would have time to rise.

Well, you might ask, how was the pizza that night? Well, it ended with this...

Yes, that's right, a store bought pizza crust. Apparently I had killed the yeast with the hot water from the microwave and so the dough became a big ball of blah that was as hard as a rock and was the same size as when I originally added it to the bowl.

Moral of the story...always have a back-up plan when your yeast goes astray or kills over.

Food for Thought...About Santa

So, my sister, A-Girl, has posed an interesting question that I thought I would share with all of you (in hopes that you can give her some kind of answer that would help her out).

Her son, Goose-Man, asked a very riveting question the other day that caught A-Girl off guard. "Mom, what happens when Santa dies, do the parents just take over?" Hmmmmmmmm.....

A-Girl really didn't think about it at the time and just gave the old, "I don't know, Goose-Man" answer. But, later really pondered it and wants to broach the subject with him again with a more intellectual answer.

On one hand, she pointed out to me, if you say that Santa never dies then you are putting him up there on a pedestal with Jesus and that is in NO WAY what one needs to do. On the other, if you say, yes, the parents take over, will the magic of being a kid and having a mysterious man with a snow white beard dressed in a red suit leave all those things you've been wanting really be there anymore?

I don't know...food for thought. What do you all think out there! Weigh in so that we can help A-Girl give that A-plus parent answer!

Titles on Tuesday with a Twist

Today's Title on Tuesday entry is acutally a music CD title. It is the new Christmas CD by Michael W. Smith called It's A Wonderful Christmas.

I received this CD to review as I prepared for the Christmas holidays.

This is one that is very appropriate to add to your Christmas collection. My favorite on the CD was song #1 called "Christmas Angels." There are many other original songs as well as a familiar favorite, "What Child Is This."

Visit the website and check it out for yourself!

Is there sap in that thing?

***Updated****

Well, the buzz of the Christmas holiday has begun and I am so giddy and so happy I can't hardly stand it! This is my absolute FAVORITE time of the year! Even more so now that I have a child of my own to experience the magic that Christmas brings. To me Christmas is about tradition and family and most importantly about the birth of my Savior, Jesus Christ (more to come about this ultimate gift in later posts).

So, I decided that this year I wanted to start some new traditions. We have already trimmed the inside trees (we have to have artificial ones because I love to have them up for too long for the life of a real tree to withstand) and the outside has been decorated. Well, you might ask, what more is there to do? And the answer is, decorate the deck with a real-go-to-the-woods-and-cut-it-down cedar tree. Yes, that's right. No tree farms for us; we have to have the rocks, hills and muddy slop that comes with trekking through the woods for the perfect D-Wold (like Griswold) family Christmas tree.

We set out to find that "perfect" tree roaming the pastures of Husband's parents farm. We drove from corner to corner hoping that we wouldn't have to get out (since it was raining and the temperature was very-near freezing...OK maybe only around 40 degrees, but it felt freezing to me).

Here is Husband and D-Man scoping out our options from the driver's seat (yes, D-Man is not in his car seat because we are driving in the middle of the pasture and Husband wanted him to get all he could out of the experience).

No options were to be found from the inside of the heat-blowing-on-high cab, so into the woods we went.

D-Man wasn't always happy to be trekking through the rainy, wet woods, but he persevered.

And we walked and walked and walked until I thought I could walk no more (well, not really, I just thought it made for a more exciting story). We actually walked just a few hundred feet and then we came upon this (imagine that song from Christmas Vacation is playing and a bright spotlight is shining upon it)...

This tree is what we believed was the "perfect" tree for our deck. Yes, the top is not able to be viewed because it was quite possibly a little taller than we expected.

So, Husband and D-Man set out sawing the tree down.

And they hauled it over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house...oh sorry, I mean they hauled it through the woods and to the truck. D-Man liked the look of Husband dragging the tree and so he walked from behind.

And we (I like to feel I had a hand in things since I was the "official" photographer) took it to the truck only to learn that it might be a little bigger than anticipated (imagine the Griswolds cutting the rope that was holding their tree closed only to find that it completely filled their ENTIRE living room--we had this same feeling).

Now the Queen Mother commented on an earlier post that this might be the ugliest tree she has ever seen (and I admit, looks can be deceiving). But let me assure you that to us it became the prettiest real tree we have ever had (wait, this was the first real tree we have ever had, so I guess we really have nothing to compare it to). Anyway, we brought it home and Husband cut about 3 feet off of it. We put it in the tree stand, brought it onto the deck, decorated it with colored lights and ta-da, we have...

Our D-Wold Family Christmas Tree! OK, so I admit that it isn't the fullest, perfectly round tree that you find at the tree farms or in the tree lots, but it is more about the memories that we made and the fun we had and the experience we shared, don't you think?

***Update-The tree know stands, I mean lays, in a heap on the deck because a big wind blew it over last night. All I wanted was a new tradition of getting a tree ourselves in the woods. Is that too much to ask?????***

What, we have a Christmas tree in the back of the truck

This is a taste of a journey I will tell you about later in the week. Let's just say that this photo might give you some hint of what could turn into the Griswold's family Christmas. Do you think it was supposed to be this long?

We did, we did it, we did it, YEAH!

Like The Queen B and Shannon at Rocks in my Dryer I am on cloud 9 after the Razorbacks win over NUMBER 1 ranked LSU. Yes, LSU was (let me repeat, was) ranked NUMBER 1 and the Razorbacks, complete with the Wild Hog Formation, Peyton Hillis and the D-Mac/Felix Jones duo (as well as many other talented folks) brought it to LSU and gave the national television audience a game to watch! Go Hogs! D-Mac for Heisman!

To be truly thankful

This year as Thanksgiving rolls around, I must reflect on those serious (and not so serious) things that I am thankful for.

I am thankful for my family, Husband and D-Man are my world and without them I would have no reason to be me.

I am thankful for my immediate and extended family and family-in-law. How blessed I am to be graced with their wonderfulness each year.

I am thankful that there aren't 10 more pounds this year on my hips. Maybe my New Years resolutions from last year really worked (or did I just buy bigger pants?????)

I am thankful for the friends that I have. The ones who have stuck by me through the prosperity and the adversity and haven't stopped being great!

I am thankful that D-Man, Husband and I aren't packing the car this year to head out on our Thanksgiving Holiday whirlwind adventure because this year we live in that adventuresome little place all ready.

I am thankful for Husband's great job that allows me to stay at home and be with D-Man (temper tantrums, dirty diapers and all).

I am thankful for my health and the health of those who are most near and dear to me.

I am thankful that once again I don't have to figure out how to cook a Thanksgiving dinner all by myself (thanks be to Mom and RADMom for that!)

I am thankful that all of you out there have given me a chance to explore my creative side by hosting this blog. Keep reading and I'll be even more thankful! :)

Most of all, I'm thankful to be a Christian and to have a Father who calls me His own.

Be Thankful, Be Bountiful and be Full this Thanksgiving Holiday! I'm taking a break to be with family and friends and I'll be back on Monday.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Unwritten Underwear Rule

Ok, so Husband is in a profession where he emplors lots of medical knowledege. I've been having a slight cough for the past couple of days that was getting progessively more painful. So last night, Husband (and D-Man) pull out their stethoscopes (yes, D-Man has his very own) and proceed to listen to my lungs. Husband decides that after D-Man goes to bed that he wants me to go to the hospital (about 30 seconds away from our house) and have a chest x-ray done.

So, D-Man goes to bed and I head out the door with my x-ray orders in hand.

I arrive at the hospital and am greeted in admissions by a lady who is fighting, I mean fiddling with the printer. She tells me to have a seat and she'll be right with me. As she is finishing up her wrestling (or wras-lin with the "a" sounding as in the word grass) with printer she says something to me about someday she really should print the paperwork before the patient is admitted like she is supposed to. Little does she know that I am one of the wives of those "persons with lots of medical knowledge" who asks for those papers to be printed prior to the patient's admission and when she realizes this is ready to scarf those words back down, crawl under her desk and dig a hole (or at least her look told me this).

Anyway, I get the necessary paperwork completed and am waiting for the x-ray tech to call me back.

She calls me back and on the way to the room asks the most bizarre question I had heard in a long time, "Amy, do you have a bra on?" To which I quickly reply, "Yes." She then asks me to remove it so that the x-ray will not be hindered.

So there we are (the "girls" and I that is) standing there waiting for the x-ray to begin. All the while, my brain is still trying to wrap itself around the question I had just been asked, "Amy, do you have a bra on?"

"A bra on?" Who doesn't have a bra on? Now I must admit that I have been very blessed with an ample amount of padding in the top half of my body and know that I CANNOT and for that matter WILL NOT let the girls go out by themselves! But, even if I wasn't so blessed, the girls would still need some protection in this rough old world and would always have their bra right by their side. So, you see my quandry....

I continue replaying the question over and over in my head as she takes the first x-ray. As she is positioning me for the second x-ray, my mind overtakes my mouth and I blurt out, "Do people really come in here without a bra on?" She smiles at me and says, "You would be surprised what people come in here without. When they come to the hospital and they are sick, they sometimes forget their bra." Whoa!!! Newsflash!!!! People really do walk around on the streets letting their "girls" hang-out in the crowd.

Nevertheless, the x-ray looked fine, Husband has me on a high powered antibiotic to knock out whatever I have and it looks like all will be better come Turkey Day!

Note to self...Always keep the "girls" close to my heart (with a bra!)

Titles on Tuesday

Today's title is one that I have just read for a book club I am keeping up with. This book club is hosted by my best friend B and I was fortunate enough to get to meet with them last month. During last month's meeting, B introduced us to our newest book called Be Sweet by Diann Nutt. It is a wonderful book about 2 sisters who were raised by the same parents but lead completey different lives as adults. They come together and learn the true meaning of sisterhood back in the place they once called home as children.

A great, easy read that will warm your heart! I highly recommend it.

A Bird's Nest

Well, I'm kind-of in a funk today. I suffered a husband-had-to-bring-me-home-from-church-early migraine yesterday and my hair looks like this.

Yes, that is my very own birds nest. On top of my head. For all the world to see.

Here's another view.

Quite lovely, don't you think. If anyone needs my styling tips, please, please, please don't hesitate to ask (or run the other direction!) If my stylist could only see me now...she would be so proud!

Anyway, I'm not really in a blogging mood today seeing as I feel like I've been run over my a mack truck and the only thing I've had to eat in the last 36 hours is a PB & J, some Doritos (because I rationalized that the fat in the chips might actually make my head feel better) and a couple of Triscuits (or hay as Husband calls them). So, join me back here tomorrow for another addition of Titles on Tuesday.

Happy Hair Styling (and one more picture of my hair to keep you laughing throughout the day!) And yes, I took these pictures myself as Husband stared at me strangely.

How sweet it is

After dinner this evening, Husband, D-Man and I went to visit my parents. My brother, Gator, and his 3 boys were also visiting. Well, let me rephrase that, Gator was hunting for hickory wood with my Dad and my Mom was watching all 3 boys plus my little bro. Yes, Mom could be categorized as a our angel and I'll blog about her awesomeness some other time.

Anyway, while we were there, the boys broke out the karaoke machine. Yes, this is the one that my brother, J-Man, got a few years ago at Christmas and the one that my sis, A-Girl, and myself karoked to all Christmas morning. What did we sing, you might ask? Well, that great "Love Shack" Christmas ballad that everyone sings, right??? Sidetracked, sorry....

The boys decided they would all have their turn in the spotlight. The younger ones of the bunch didn't quite no how to "use" the microphone and spent the majority of the time licking it or coughing on it. Can I, can I, can I be next in line to sing into the coughed on/licked on microphone???

The "normal" karaoke songs (if you are 2 & 4, that is) were sung tonight. There was "The B-I-B-L-E" sung by D-Man & "Simple Man" sung by Ran-Man (who says he is going to be a rock star when he grows up). At this rate, they will both be rock stars when they are in their 60's, don't you think?

And then there were 5

A few posts ago, I spoke of having a little brother 19 years younger than I. He is the youngest of our clan of 5 (3 girls and 2 boys) and is the only one still left living at home with our parents. He is in the 5th grade, plays every sport (that the parents will let him play at this age) and is the coolest Uncle J on the planet. In my eyes, though, he is so much more.

Let me set the stage for you. I am 18 and a big, bad senior (well, not really that big or that bad) in the final semester of my high school days. I was playing basketball, I had a boyfriend and I was headed off to "The University" in the fall. My life felt complete, well-rounded and as full as I really thought it needed to be. Then, the bomb went off.

I had returned home on Valentine's evening from a basketball game (nothing says love and romance like the sweat and smelly shoes of basketball players). Anyway, this is when mom & dad decided to deliver the news of, "Guess what kids, we are going to have a baby!" And these thoughts ran through my head: Oh my goodness, my friends are going to know what my parents have been doing! Our life feels so complete, how can anything or anyone make it any better? This, God would teach me a few months later.

I went off to begin my freshman year of college as my mom began her 3rd trimester. I was beginning a new chapter in my life and back home my parents were about to embark on a new chapter themselves. There I was staying up late to study (well, maybe to just watch tv and eat) and my parents were back home waiting for a new arrival. I got the call, yes the "I've gone into labor call" about midnight in early October and J-Man (or Uncle J as I'll refer to him also) came into the world late the next morning. By the time I got to see him, he was several hours old and from the first time I laid eyes on him, I felt truly blessed. Blessed to be his big sister, blessed to watch him grow and prosper and blessed that I might have a chance to be a shining example in his life. WOW! I grew up together with my other 3 siblings and didn't really take-in what it was like through their eyes. Then, God blessed me with J-Man and there he let me see each stage of life through his eyes, the eyes of an innocent child.

J-Man is now 11 and still a shining light in our lives. I feel now more than ever the responsiblity I have of being a good example for him. J-Man is not only my little brother, he is also the Uncle to my little D-Man (and to 5 others-4 nephews and 1 niece). To them, Uncle J walks on water, he hung the moon and he loves them so much.

One day I hope to be able to tell J-Man what an impact he made on my life. Someday when we are older and more wiser I hope to sit down with him, tell him about how life was before him and them impress on him that life got so much better after he came along. I love you J-Man!

New Wednesday Tip

Today's Works-for-me Wednesday tip is a simple punch recipe that will dazzle your guests (but not frazzle your hair!) Simply take a can of pineapple juice and a 2 liter of a clear carbonated beverage (Sprite or Ginger Ale work great) and chill them. Mix the above two together in a punch bowl or pretty crystal pitcher and add your favorite flavor of Sherbert.

Mix it all together and serve. This is a sweet treat your guests are sure to come back to for more.

Be sure and check out all the other great tips at Shannon's site!

Titles on Tuesday

Today's title is called Daily Wisdom for Mothers: A 365-Day Devotional by Michelle Medlock Adams. It features short, biblical devotions that are written by a mom. These devotionals are often humorous and provide a sense of comfort and empathy for all of us moms out there. The devotionals are divided into themes (worry, discipline, etc). It provides much encouragement and helps you be the best mom that you can.

By Almost a Foot

Last week after returning from a trip up to the "Hill" in Arkansas for a wonderful visit with my best friend B (and a quick trip to my miracle stylist), I picked up D-Man from my parents and brought him home for a quick rejuvenation nap.

As he lay in bed dreaming those 2 year old sweet dreams, I proceed to unload the car. As I carry a load in and turn back around to step down the 2 steps into the garage, my eyes fix upon something shiny, black and squirmy about a foot from my SUV. Yep, you guessed it, I had almost stepped on a snake who has hanging out next to my car inside the closed garage in the middle of a cold fall day. And, ladies and gentlemen, I was barefoot (yes, that means that if I had stepped down from my car much farther, I would have stepped directly on the pesky creature).

Well, what's a girl to do, but call her mom and tell her about the snake (and remind her how much they freak her out). Then, upon mom's advice, I proceed to call little brother (I'll call him Gator) to ask for help. Gator is so sweet and kind to his older (and more wiser) sister by advising her to stick her finger under the refrigerator (yes, the snake had moved under the garage refrigerator) and wiggle it at the snake and he would surely come out. Love, that is real brotherly love folks!

So, there I was, tears streaming down my face, as I did what any woman would have to do in this situation: call her husband at work and ask him to race home and save his scaredy-cat wife. He raced home (my hero) and heaved (maybe just scooted) the refrigerator out of the way to destroy that which had frightened his wife. Was the snake there? Why no! Where had he gone? Oh how I wish I knew! Husband could not locate the snake, nor could he tarry all afternoon searching for it, so he left everything a wreck, backed my SUV out of the garage and returned to work. And no, 5 days later there is still no sign of him.

My husband asked me later about the whole situation and I decided in order to make myself feel better about the everything that I would tell him that I was really testing his love for me (sounded good, right?) He didn't buy it, nor did he deny it (his love for me that is) and we have once again returned to life as normal. I have to admit, though, I don't walk past the refrigerator (or past anything in the garage for that matter) without watching my step.

On the Road Again...

Well, Husband and I are headed out Friday morning to the state of Tennessee. We are headed to Knoxville with his parents to watch the Arkansas Razorbacks take on the Tennessee Volunteers. Therefore, the post today will be oh so short as I pack all the wonderful Razorback wear I have in order to root on those Hogs! Ya'll have a great weekend and I'll see you back here on Monday.

Go Hogs Go! Woooo Pig Sooie!

TP Takeover (Literally)

Yes, your eyes aren't deceiving you, I am really blogging about toilet paper. I am posting it here to my blog for all the world to see (or at least those of you who are faithful enough to give me an ego boost everyday and read my blog-THANKS!) No, I haven't lost my mind, just lost a roll of tp and D-Man might know where it went!

Let's just say that D-Man decided that the tp didn't really need to be housed in the bathroom anymore. Instead, it needed to follow him (in his chubby little hands) down the hall, through the foyer, across the living room and out into the playroom. It needed to trail behind him in all it's white glory for Mom (and NaNa and cousin J-Girl) to see.

When I turned to him and asked if the toilet paper really belonged all over the house, he simply replied, "Yes!" To which I quickly counter-replied, "Yes, ma'am (you know a mom's got to keep on top of those manners-even if it is in the middle of a tp crisis).

Thankfully, there is no tp shortage or square-order (like in boil order) at this time, because if there was, we would be rolling up our sleeves and rolling up the ENTIRE roll that so beautifully decorated our home.

A Question for you this Wednesday

Today's "Works-for-me" Wednesday at Shannon's site is acutally backwards were instead of getting tips, questions are asked in hopes of many great answers!

So, here goes my question for all of those out there, and yes ya'll I'm being very serious when I ask it. What is the etiquette on gift giving and batteries (if the gift requires them). Do you buy those along with the gift (and send the parents of those you bought the gift for into a mental institution because the gift you got was so loud and obnoxious and the batteries you got NEVER wore out) or do you let the parents decide when (or if) the gift can actually be used by giving them the duty of buying batteries? What do you think?

Be sure and check out Shannon's site for more great questions and answers!

Titles on Tuesday

Today's Titles on Tuesday selection is from a series your kiddos might enjoy. It is the Boxcar Mysteries series targeted at kids in the age range of 7-12 (I have to admit that I've re-read this series long after I was twelve and still enjoyed it immensely!)

The first book in the series is titled The Boxcar Children and it's website gives this description of what the book entails:

Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden are orphans. Determined to stay together after the death of their parents, the children set off on their own. When they discover an old, abandoned railroad car, they take shelter inside and soon make it into a cozy place to live. But eventually the children are discovered by their wealthy grandfather, who takes the kids --- along with their old, red boxcar --- into his heart and his home. Together with Grandfather, the Boxcar Children lead an exciting life, traveling to new places, meeting interesting people, and getting caught up in any number of fascinating adventures. Ghosts, disappearances, and weird spooky happenings are all part of the fun in the Boxcar Children series. Of course, there's always a mystery afoot for the Boxcar Children to solve --- and just in the nick of time, too!

I would highly recommend this book especially as one to read together at bedtime. My mom and little brother (yes, I'm almost 30 and have a brother who is 11-another story, another blog) currently are reading a book in the series each night and very much enjoying it. Enjoy!

Patience...a virtue

So, I'll say this up front, I AM IMPATIENT! Patience is a virtue that God continues to remind me of each and everyday. He reminds me in my walk with Him, he reminds me in my relationship with my husband and he reminds me as I try to raise my son up as God would have him be raised. I know in my heart that all things happen on God's time table, but I still try to speed things along (or think I do).

In Hebrews 10:36 it reads,"For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the Promise." God wrote it in black and white in the simplest of terms, have patience and you will receive his promise. I feel that this really says, Amy, BE PATIENT! God's will shall be done in our lives and patience helps us wait for those great promises. Ask God for patience today if you might need a little extra and if you already have this virtue, thank God for bestowing it upon you.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for being the majestic, all-powerful God you are. Thank you for the rich blessings you give to us each day. I ask that through Your promises we might learn patience. Please forgive us of our sins and shortcomings as we ask for forgiveness today. In your Son's name we pray, Amen.

Houston, I have a problem

The costumes have been worn, the candy has been collected and oh-my-goodness-gracious, I am eating way too much sweet stuff. I strategically placed the chocolate in the bottom of the container holding D-Man's Halloween treats and placed the other candy on top hoping that would deter me from eating so much (because it would take you know about 2 more seconds to dig down to the bottom and get the good stuff). Anyway, my self-trickery has not worked and the chocolate wrappers are landing in the trash by the minute (sometimes seconds-you've never seen this one devour those oh-so-loved Milky Way's).

So, I'm typing to keep my fingers busy, listening to "Go Diego Go" to keep my mind preoccupied and hoping that the urge doesn't hit me again (at least not until tomorrow)!

Watching his footsteps

As our little D-Man continues to become his own little person, I am oftened saddened by the thought that he isn't in my baby anymore. The sweet lotion smell has been replaced by the awful (I mean wonderful) smell that only a mother could love, that of a wet dog. And, he is now learning that he has a voice (sometimes a little too loud like when we are in the middle of a restaurant and I can hear that sweet wail (I mean voice) all the way in the women's bathroom located 4 miles from our table).

I really notice that change in him when I see him playing with big-boy toys, like those his Daddy played with (these were his Daddy and Uncle Beeb's cars.)

But, I know at the end of the day, he is still my baby. I still get to hold and comfort him when he is hurt or scared, I still get to snuggle in bed with him and get our morning dose of Curious George and I get to be so very proud when I see him pick up my Bible and tell me he is reading 'bout Jesus. For I know that God loved me so much and wants that love to be radiated out of me to my sweet son. I have been given a huge gift and to that gift I am showing that GREAT love.

Our Tomato

Well, Halloween came and went this year and I have to say that the tomato I had was pretty cute. Our D-Man was dressed as "Bob the Tomato" a character from the Veggie Tales series. We had a time getting him to stay in the costume for more than 5 seconds, but once he got together with all his big-boy cousins and saw they were staying in their costumes he decided it was ok to keep his on.

D-Man actually went as two characters this year, Bob the Tomato and Johnny Cash. I say this because underneath the tomato costume, he was dressed all in black and so he reminded me of Johnny Cash.

Anyway, I'm kind-of blogged out, so this post is just going to be what I call "cute." Nothing earth shattering or mind boggling, just our cute D-Man.