Dear Scott,

HAPPY 32nd BIRTHDAY, sweetheart! It's been a VERY looooong year! I wanted to publicly tell you how much more I love you now than I ever have. You are the most wonderful, supportive, God-fearin' husband and I thank God every morning for you and the relationship that we have. On top of that.....you are an AWESOME daddy! I already knew you would be. JP is blessed for many reasons. YOU are a very big one!

Thank you for who you are. I will never be able to thank the Lord enough for the blessing He gave me when He sent me you! I hope your day is WONDERFUL...you certainly deserve it!

I love you,
Me

P.S. To all of our buddies and lurkers out there---we went to dinner w/ Terry,Shannon and the kids tonight...FYI, Scott's gift (which was the HE-MAN Masters of the Universe DVD) came in a Hannah Montana giftbag with a singing Hannah Montana card! hehehe! PLEASE make fun of him for that!

Move over Steven Curtis Chapman......

Here comes Terry Wood!! He will probably kill me for posting this, but OH WELL! It won't be the first time he's had it in for me and I'm sure it won't be the last. He's not usually good at following through with his threats, so I'm not worried.......

ANYWAY.... you may not have had the opportunity to hear of him as of yet, but I promise you will! He has been in the ministry of loving Jesus and serving people (mostly students) for a very long time. In fact, I met him and his wife 13 years ago. He was my youth minister. Well, after serving God in a few churches and ministering in numerous roles in the church, he is FINALLY following his God-given passion and talent and going into full-time music ministry! I hate that it's taken this long for God to provide this door for him....I guess I am a little bias, but he has the most amazing voice! (Kathi can tell you, ha!) He is currently in the studio working on his 1st music CD. I am very excited about it, and wanted to publicly announce it to everyone who reads this blog. When you find his CD in the store...BUY IT!!! Tell every church you come in contact with about him. He has a heart for God, family and music!

Okay, this advertisement is coming to a close. I will tell you to check out his ministry website: http://www.collideoscope.net/

Pray for him and his family as he begins this new chapter of his life. Although it's exciting, it's also scary. They are expecting a new baby in April and are trusting God to provide for their needs!

UGH!!

I feel like I have not been a part of civilization in several days. JP and I BOTH were bit by the flu-bug. Thankfully he has been fever-free since Thursday night and is feeling like his old self again. I, on the other hand, feel horrible. I am better today (thanks to LOTS of drugs and antibiotics) than yesterday. I was unable to walk yesterday morning....literally!

JP is going to Connie's tomorrow and I am staying home ALL BY MYSELF! I am NOT getting out of the bed! I will miss my baby, but I cannot wait to be alone and not responsible for anyone but me! Scott has been wonderful. He is exhausted from taking care of both of us, but there have been times when JP wanted me. It's hard to feel this way and have a baby hanging on your leg!

Well, I hope every one's doing well. This bug has been nasty for everyone who's been affected by it. Hopefully it'll be gone soon.

STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND PRAY!!!!!!!!

A good friend of mine is in the hospital with her husband. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor almost two years ago. He began having seizures yesterday afternoon. He is having continual seizures while in the hospital.....the Oncologist has told them that he will probably not recover from this. I spoke with her this afternoon and she told me that they would probably be calling Hospice in.

My heart is literally breaking for her! Although she has a great support system, I can't imagine what it's like. She has two children-an 8 year old little boy and a 4 year old girl. She is taking them to the hospital tonight to see their dad.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE PRAY FOR A MIRACLE FOR THIS FAMILY!!!!!! I feel so helpless. I want to be with her so bad, but JP and I BOTH have the flu--yuk! There's no way I can get around them. We all know that God is the Great Physician! Join me in asking for a miracle on their behalf!

Say a little prayer for us!

JP and I both have colds. He has been running a fever for a few days. I am only beginning a cough. I am not one who normally gets sick--thanks to working with kids for so many years! However, with the flu making its way around the upstate, please pray that we do not get it!

Actually pray specifically that JP will sleep at night. He's not getting better because he doesn't rest which means I am more likely to get sick because I am not sleeping either. YUK!!

I hope this will go away soon! Thanks for your prayers.

Laugh if you will.......

I found myself watching Oprah again yesterday. She had Jim Carrey and Carol Burnett on as guests. It was pretty funny for the most part. However, ONCE AGAIN, towards the end of the program she introduced viewers to the newest book she is endorsing for her book club. In fact, she is doing an ENTIRE class/workshop on the "spiritual" teachings in this book. It's called "A New Earth." After the show was over I went and looked up the book on the internet. I wasn't so shocked at what I found---the entire first chapter is how the world began, (according to this author.) He makes numerous references to Jesus and Buddah. They apparently were teachers/philosophers/messengers a long time ago. He grouped them together because they are alike....right?!

Don't worry, I'm not going to get on my soapbox, but I will tell you that I wrote her a letter and I'm putting it in the mail tomorrow. This is the part I fully expect you to laugh at me for! It's okay....just join me in praying that it actually reaches her. It's not at all ugly---I don't believe in Christians sending "hate" mail that preaches hell,fire and brimstone. I just let her know that the book is wrong in it's teaching and that God has a plan for her life. With her influence, if she experienced Jesus, (the REAL "high power" she refers to often), she could rock the Christian world. I also told her that there were lost people out there who hang on her every word.

Now, will it get to her? Who knows. If it does, will she even care? Doubt it. STILL, I wrote it because I felt led to. Who knows, maybe one day I can appear as a guest on her show!! hehehehe

Me and the "mini" love of my life

Mommy FINALLY took me to get my hair cut!

I know he looks drunk in these pictures....the only time I could catch him being still was when he was watching the VeggieTales music video. We had just gotten him out of the bathtub, so his hair is wet. I think it's so cute, but he looks like such a little man now!

Saturday supper gone bad!

Thanks to members of our immediate family, we were able to treat ourselves to dinner more than once for "Valentine's Day." (Thanks again, you know who you are!) So, tonight we went to Fatz Cafe in Greer. From the moment we strapped ourselves into the seats of the car, things headed south. JP took ,MAYBE, a 45 minute nap all day, so he was tired from the get-go. In an attempt to keep him occupied, (aka, screaming at the top of his lungs all the way to dinner), I opened up a pack of fruit snacks. While they definitely served their purpose, his white shirt had a self-made rainbow collar by the time we reached the restaurant. But, there are worse things! I just did not realize they were in our very near future!

JP insisted on holding the vibrating beeper that alerts you when your table is ready. All was well until he had to return it to the lady at the front station. I'll let you use your imagination there. Next we headed to our table. He wanted absolutely NOTHING to do with the high chair, so I stood him beside me in the booth. We've never done this before (and never will again). He had to have everything that was on the table. I offered him the crayons and that comes with the kid's menu. He threw them across the table. I offered him his bag of cheerios. He threw them underneath the table. AFTER opening them! Did I mention that this WHOLE time he's whining...NOT crying, but whining. An ear-piercing whine. Nothing made him happy. I opened his applesauce. He only wanted it if he could feed himself. By this time, I did not care how messy he got, I just wanted him to SHUT UP! I bribed him w/ the container of applesauce and an adult sized fork to sit in his chair. Success! He took maybe 2 bites and tossed the fork across the table. He must have enjoyed this, because he began trying to swipe everthing within his reach onto the floor. He threw his sippie cup full of tea behind him almost hitting an elderly man coming back from the bathroom. By this time the opposite side of the table looked like the Enoree landfill. We couldn't put anything in front of him. The only item left at his disposal was the cup of applesauce....just as he was reaching to throw it, Scott reached across the table to stop him. Only my (completely full) glass of sweet tea was in the way. Needless to say, he knocked it over. Into my lap!!!

By this time, JP's food had arrived and he was happy as a lark. The entire episode probably lasted ten minutes, however, it felt like an eternity. Thankfully, Scott was wearing his 5 Point t'shirt that says, "JESUS" in big bold letters across the front. The Holy Spirit reminded him of that when he wanted to either cuss, or throw JP into the kitchen with the waitresses who thought he was "such a doll."

I am very proud to report that NEITHER of us lost our cool or allowed the flesh to take over! We called my parents on the way home and asked if they could come over and allow us to go to StarBucks and sit/read/drink coffee for an hour or so. We went and collected ourselves emotionally. It was nice!

I thought that most of my friends would get a kick out of this story. I trust that none of you are laughing at my expense!

Future Heartbreaker!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Mommy...you're so silly! You always have that camera in my face!
My knight/valentine coming to pick me up for dinner!


This is my "sweet" face!

I hope everyone has a GREAT Valentine's Day! We are spending the evening together WITHOUT the television on!

Big Enough to Play on the Couch!

Hey! I'm jumping on the couch....
Peek-A-Boo!
Cheeeeeeze!

I'm laughing so hard, my sides hurt!!
I just hit my forehead on the back of the couch & I'm laughing about it!

I see you down there, mommy!
JP's new thing is playing on the couch. He thinks it's great that he can be up there all by himself! We were playing "peek-a-boo" and I thought these pics were cute!

Can you say obsessed??

HELP!!! JP is OBSESSED with the Doodlebops! I was unsure of where to draw the line until last night when he decided that it was necessary to sleep with the DVD case! He carried it around all night and when it was time to rock, he pitched a fit when we took it from him. I gave in. Once he fell asleep, I was able to get it, so fortunately it never made it into the crib. We'll see what tonight holds!

Who does this???

Women Of Flesh

Several weeks ago I told you that I felt God leading me into a new direction. Well, I want to share with you what that is...

It began as just a thought. I have several friends who are active in a Bible study group, and honestly I have been a little envious of them. I began to pray that God would provide some sort of group that I could be a part of--not a church, but a group of women who love each other, are honest with one another and who share their lives with one another. I'm not sure if I expected God to drop them down from the sky into my lap, or what, but nothing happened. SO, I was driving to work one morning, (my favorite prayer time), and it hit me.....God said, "If you want to be a part of a Bible study group so bad, why don't you start one." I had never thought of that. That's all it took--- the flood gates opened up and I was emersed in ideas!

I have been spending time on my knees and in the Word since then. The end result? I am starting an organization. Yes, you heard me....an organization. You have probably heard of "Women of Faith." The group of about 8 or 10 women who travel the nation leading conferences etc..? Well, I feel God wants me to start a group along those same lines. Rather than Women of Faith, we are "Women of Flesh!" A much more accurate description of me! Our motto? "Striving for the Spirit while suriving in the world!" God has given me the names of 8 women who will serve on the leadership team. These women will prepare Bible lessons, food, music..etc... Who is invited to the Bible study? EVERYONE!!!!!

We are meeting for the first time as a leadership team today. I will be anxious to share all of the details when we prayerfully decide on them. There will be a "Women of Flesh" blog that I would love for you to check out. When it is up and running, I will post the address on my sidebar. This is where you will find out meeting times and locations. Again, I am PUMPED up about this!! We are ALL overcome by our flesh daily. This is the place where you can come and HONESTLY be who you really are and find love, compassion and support. And most importantly we will seek God's strength and guidence in destroying the "flesh woman" inside of us!

I will ask for your prayers. I'm stepping WAY out of my comfort zone to pursue this. I will need all the help I can get!

Oprah

Okay, I will not use my blog as a means to debate or argue my beliefs, but I HAVE to ask.....did you see Oprah today??? Are you kidding me???? She had three women there who were discussing how you can "get whatever you want out of life." The majority of the talk was based on the book "The Secret." It's basically a New Age book that promotes the "higher power" within you. I feel like I can say that because I have read it. I was curious.

Anyway, the women encouraged people to make a "visual chart" with pictures of things that they wanted in life. After looking at them day after day, the Law of Gravity would bring it their way.

Again, I say.....WHAT?!!?!! In addition to the forces of the air sending these gifts, you have the power to control your destiny. It's funny to me, because they swear by this. I guess it only works for some people though. I mean, I had pictures of JP hanging everywhere in my house and I can promise you that I stared at them LONG AND HARD!!!! It still didn't bring him here any faster. I hate making fun of things, and I know it's wrong, but it was the craziest thing I have ever heard. If it were true, we all would have what we long for! And honestly, I don't want to be in control of my destiny/future.....what a mess I would make of it! I'm perfectly happy with God being in that role.

I just thought I would share. It is amazing to me that something that crazy was aired on national television.

Love Them Like Jesus

Casting Crowns wrote a song, "Love Them Like Jesus." I won't write the lyrics down, but basically the song talks about people who are going through tough times. As Christians, we don't always know what to say to them. We don't always know the answers. I feel like I NEVER do! The good news is we don't have to. We're not suppose to. We are only suppose to love them the way Jesus would.

I'm sure you're wondering where this is coming from.....

Tonight, Kathi and I hung out with our friend who recently lost her little boy. When she called me this afternoon and told us we could come over, I was a little nervous. How do you "hang out" with a mother who's just lost her four year old? Before heading over to her house, we made a mental list of all the things we could talk about. Things that did not relate to Tyler, however, once we arrived we forgot about our list. To my surprise, it was a very comfortable and relaxed visit. We sat around her living room and talked/laughed. Yes, she laughed. Before we left we held hands and prayed together.

I cannot relate to the pain that Kristen is feeling. But I can love her the way Jesus would. I can take her dinner. I can bring her PEOPLE magazines and suspense novels to keep her mind busy. I can send her text messages just to let her know that she's on my heart.

I can pray with her.

Monday Morning Eve

Yuk! For those of you who haven't realized it, Monday comes in the morning. It's not as exciting as Christmas. It's not that I do not love my job or hanging out with my co-workers....I just LOVE being at home with my family! This was a great weekend. Friday we hung out in Easley with a Tennessee cheerleader. Saturday we were lazy most of the day. JP only woke up once. Scott brought him into our room at 6:00 thinking he was up for the day.....NOPE! He fell back asleep until 9:45!!! It was awesome! Saturday evening we played with Kenzie at Scott's parent's house. Last night...(drumroll, please!) HE SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT. He didn't wake up until 7:00! I thought I was dreaming. We went to church this morning-got home around 11:00 and have been goofing off the whole day. It's been good.

JP is pulling on my leg as we speak--I have promised him that we will go to the Doodlebops website. The t.v. is currently off limits due to the SuperBowl.

Despite the fact that the weekend is over, I hope everyone has a great Monday!

GO VOLS!!

What's everyone laughing at?
I'll pick my nose since you're laughing anyway.
Look, daddy, I'm dressed like a cheerleader AND talking on a princess phone!


Don't judge me! Let me explain.....

We were hanging out at Terry and Shannon's last night. Most of you know that Shannon is pregnant (yeah, God!) Pregnancy causes your brain to mis-fire sometimes. Knowing that, and knowing how she just LOVES to aggravate Scott, she dressed JP up in one of MaryElizabeth's old Tennessee cheerleading outfits! Complete with a pretty orange and white bow!

I laughed so hard! It's a joke, however, Scott is unable to handle this kind of humor! He pouts about it. So, we had to quickly undress him....but FIRST I had to get some pictures of my beautiful little girl! hehehehehe