My Church Family

Easter Sunday was a mixture of talents. Praise the Lord for our youth! It was such a sweet service and a wonderful day!

I could never count all the wonderful blessings God has bestowed upon me. Giving me such a wonderful church family and place to worship is one of such blessings. We had another sweet spirit filled service yesterday. It was Youth Sunday and we had a visiting preacher who did an awesome job! I heard comments from one of our teenagers who said, "I thought Jesus was coming back just any minute." This young preacher man, preached his heart out, and I think really got the kids attention. Thanks be to God for calling young men into his ministry.

What really touched me, was when at the end of the service, when my nephew that was sitting next to me, who I didn't think was really paying attention because he told me several times how much he hated his new sandals that his Mom bought for him to wear to church and for me not to say anything to her....okay sister C....I didn't tell you:)lol!!!!........out of the blue, tugged on my shoulder and said, "I want to say something about..... you know, my Dad and Arizona." The preacher was asking if anyone had anything else to say and several were testifying and praising God, and A wants to say something. I said, "Well go ahead." He hesitated, and then looked at me with those puppy dog eyes. My heart broke for him, as did my eyes begin to sweat..as he says:) lol!! So I asked him if he wanted me to say it. Yes he wanted me to. I asked prayer for his Dad, because he was in Arizona for his grandmothers funeral, and for him to have a safe trip home.

We don't realize how much kids listen and understand. My nephew A... proved that to me yesterday. This plane trip for his Dad was a traumatic event in his life and it was worrying him. He knows that God can take our worries and fears and make everything okay.

Needless to say, I had a wonderful weekend and yesterday was the icing on the cake. It is so much easier to face the workplace on Monday morning, when your strength is renewed from the Sweet Holy Spirit and the love that flows from breast to breast in my little country church. It doesn't get any better to me than that!

I have a special prayer request for a sister in Christ. She is facing 6 more months of chemo, for a spot found on her liver. She has already been through chemo for cancer in another part of her body. Please pray for her and her family. As she proclaimed yesterday in church....." I win either way!"

Also, help A pray for his Dad as he will be flying back home tomorrow.

Hallelujah, Praise the Lord!

Love to all,

Carrie

1-800-222-1222

If you don't know the above phone #....let me clue you in.......POISON CONTROL:) I will forever have that number burned in my brain....ya know the brain that forgets everything:) And you are fixing to see what I mean by that!



I wanted to share with you today a picture of son #2's first game to pitch. He was sooooo nervous....almost to point of being sick...nervous. He did great! It was a good night out at the ball field......heck every night for that matter is at the ball field....and I aim to make them good! I love sports and bit of a competitor myself...so that helps a little:) We felt torn last night, with son #1 playing a game at another field. But, this was son #2's first game and he has been patient with us going to and fro with brother, so it's his turn.




Okay back to son #2's big night. I thought it was going to revolve around the "game", but no, it revolved around POISON CONTROL:) Yes, me the flying by the seat of my pants, Mom, was going to doctor son #2's cold. He has had this cold for several days...and after the game he seemed chugged up a bit and coughing. So, I commence to giving him "his".....see I did good, I gave him "his" prescribed medicine from a previous bout with congestion....where things went horribly wrong..... was I gave him too much. I had given him an OTC cough syrup that morning..non-drosy formula, which was a different dosage...and I mistakenly gave him a dose too much of the real thing last night. It hit me like a ton of bricks, what I had done! My knees got weak and a sick feeling came over me. Now what? It's late, he's asleep, I don't know if he'll wake up........my mind went wild with crazy thoughts. The same kind of feeling I got when son#1 went missing in the middle of the night at age 4. That story will have to wait for another day.



Before you contact DHR........this is my first call to POISON CONTROL:) and he's 9! I think that's pretty good:) lol!!!!!! I can laugh about it now.....he is fine! But, being a Mom...you worry! I called his pediatrician and the nurse told me to call POISON CONTROL. If I wasn't worried by then, boy I was now. I called POISON CONTROL........so here is what went down.



The call was made around 10:30ish, and around 3ish this morning...I collapsed! Those people mean business! I felt like if I didn't do exactly as they said.....DHR, FBI, and the POLICE were coming after me. The lady-drill sergeant, ordered me to wake him up, after she ran the figures on his weight vs. dosage,...... whew.... he wasn't toxic....., but he had to get up and stay up for 1 hour, all the while drinking as much fluids as possible! I managed to get him up, watch a game of b-ball w/hubby, eat popcorn, drink fluids....just as ordered. Next she called at 11:30..."is he still up, did you get him to drink, if not, you will have to take him to the ER".....yes ma'am I did everything you said. " Okay, I'll call you back in another hour. You can let him go to sleep, but wake him up when I call back." Yes ma'am! 1 am...."ma'am wake him up....is he okay?" Yes ma'am! "I'll call back in 2 hours." Yes ma'am! 3am......"ma'am is he still okay?" Yes ma'am!



That's how his big night went! This must go down as the worst Mom Moment in history! I kept asking myself "why, what were you thinking?"



I didn't want to even tell what happened...but I thought this might either, 1....save some other poor child or 2. give you a sense of pride...seeing you are not the worst Mom ever:)...or maybe 3. provide you with just a good laugh!



Anyway, as I'm yawning today....DON'T ASK WHY......NOW YOU KNOW:)



CASE CLOSED....END OF DISCUSSION!



I would appreciate all the prayers and pat on the backs:)

BTW......son #2 said he felt good this morning:)



Carrie

In Loving Memory of Grandmaw Hale

For the B Family,

I want to dedicate this post to my BIL's Grandmaw Hale. The picture above was painted by Mrs. Hale. She gave me this painting, of my old church, as a gift. Everyone in the family got one. She was a wonderful artist. She did this from a snapshot that was taken of the church before the tornado destroyed it. I proudly hang it in my house. It is one of those gifts, that is dear to your heart, as was she.

I met her several years ago, when she came for a visit from California. I don't think that I have saw her since, but I will never forget her. She was a petite lady with a big personality, the kind of person you meet, who you felt you knew forever. She was a very creative, artistic, kind, loving and generous person. My sister C, R & A, received a painting every year, be it for Christmas, birthday's or anniversary. She had a way of expressing her love that way. I love to look at sister's collection of paintings and things that she had made for them.

This is a quote from her husband, "Her battle with cancer came to an end this week. The treatment challenges were great and her willingness to fight were maintained to the end. She used all the medical resources to fight the disease. J, my strong warrior, passed away on March 24, 2008. Her passing was peaceful and she is now in a better place."

She is now free from all pain and suffering. For that, we can be thankful for, although, I know how your hearts are grieved. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Psalm 23: 1-6, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2. He maketh me lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Please pray for R's safety as he travels to be with his family during this time of loss.

Love you,

Carrie

Update on Mom

Sorry I'm late about giving an update on Mom. It was run home from work, throw some clothes...I hope they landed in the washer...and off to the ball field we go. Which was a bitter cold night....I caved and sat in the car with my friend K. We enjoyed the game just fine through the fogged up windows:) Yes, we talked just a bit..... Just ask the umpires and fans who watched as we sat in the car with the headlights on. Hubby's car is not my favorite vehicle to ride in....it's like riding in a go-cart, with your head back and your feet up....and who can operate those stinking automatic lights. Every time you touch the car...those things come on...and will not go off...for what seems like 20 minutes. When the dugout talk......was something like this....who is the idiot in the car in the outfield who keeps turning their lights on......son #1 actually spoke up and said, "that's my Mom, and she doesn't drive Dad's car that much, so she doesn't know how to turn them off." Thanks son for taking up for your Mom......love ya:) Son #1 said Mom, you know they stop the game until they are turned off. Well yes, but..........oh come on...give me a break:) lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We had fun and WON....that's all that matters:) Right?

Okay back to Mom.....I do love her......I had this pic of her that I took Sunday with her IV in tow and her cooking away for this HUGE Easter dinner she had prepared.......but I'm having trouble finding my camera:) No surprise to you I'm sure...me either for that matter. So just get the mental picture of her standing over the stove cooking.

Now let me tell you when I say she is one tough cookie. I had to wash my windows Fri.....because she had told me that she had done hers. Come on people...she is waiting on a heart...I HAVE NO EXCUSES. The dinner was delicious! Heck, we are still eating leftovers!

She went yesterday to B'ham. It was a very long and stressful day for her. She was pooped. They did the heart cath and the results showed that she was doing better. The immune booster that she is getting via IV, is working. Yeah!!! As soon as this mammogram issue is resolved...which should be today...everything "should" be good to go. I hope and pray that she gets the call today saying the mammogram was fine and to get on with it.

I'm wondering if I can get some of that immune booster:) My tank seems to be running on fumes:) lol!!!!!!!!!!!

Update: I misunderstood Mom yesterday......she is not expecting a call from her coordinator about the mammogram. She said they would call only if they needed something else, etc. You'll have to bear with me on the details........things happen so fast and change with the wind....with these transplant procedures. We are just taking one day at a time......precious Lord take my hand, lead me on, help me stand! Singing again:)

Love ya'll,

Carrie

I Renewed My Driver's License

This explains my current state of mind and body:)

L8R,

Carrie

P. S. I'll update on Mom when I hear from her. She is at B'ham today getting a heart cath done. In the meantime...I thought you might need a good laugh on a Monday:) lol!!!!!!!!!

Good Friday!

It's Friday...But Sunday Is Coming!!

This day commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus at Calvary. As I was beginning to write this, my niece J was helping me, and I asked her what Good Friday meant. She said, "It was the day Jesus died on the cross." Good job J! Other countries call it, Great Friday, Sad Friday, Holy Friday, Long Friday, Day of Christ's Suffering, High Friday and Passion Friday. No matter what language you say it in.....the truth remains the same. God sent his only son to die on the cross for you and I. What a sacrifice...what love!

As I began to study for this week's upcoming Sunday School lesson, I was expecting the lesson to revolve around the events of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. However, the Holy Spirit had another thing in mind. This lesson is about how God keeps promises. Solomon's prayer of dedication was fulfilled when Jesus, the Son of David, died and rose again. II Chronicles 6:12-17; Luke 24:44-49 These passages of the Old and New Testament are interwoven. Together they show how God's plan for the Redeemer was fulfilled in the coming of the Son of David: Jesus. "Thou.....hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him:.....and hast fulfilled it with thine hand" (II Chronicles 6:15) God kept his promises to David and his son Solomon, as he has for you and I. Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father today, interceding for us.

He bought us, paying for us with the blood of His Son, Jesus. We may not have temples today as in Solomon's day, but we have the Holy Spirit that lives within us. Our bodies are the "temples." My prayer is that my temple will always be holy and acceptable in the sight of the Lord.

That makes this Friday.........GOOD!

Happy Easter to you!

Carrie

Green M&M's

UPDATE: Friend W wanted to know the results of the said M&M so-called promise of elevated romance levels. Let me just say.....FALSE ADVERTISEMENT:) Hubby wants me to sue! lol!!!!
I'll get you a bag, W.......they may work for you:)......do tell if they do:) lol!!!!!!!!!!!


As explained earlier in yesterdays' post about my current drug induced coma...now fog...I'm in, I grabbed a bag of discounted m&m's off the counter as I checked out. The lady said they were just .25 cents...so who could resist that..plus they were peanut to beat it all:) Yeah...throw some in my bag!

Today I found them in the bottom of my purse. I ripped the top off and dug in...when the caption on the bag caught my eye. Now, before you start cracking jokes at me, it was St. Paddy's Day the day I bought these, and I was thinking green....St. Paddy's Day....ya know. Well, no, that's not why the pack was totally green peanut m&m's.....btw are my F-A-V-O-R-I-T-E kind! Apparently during Valentine's they made a special pack for the LOVE day. Who knew? Back to the caption on the pack.....it says and I quote, "What is it about the green ones? Mportant notice: Consumption of The Green Ones may result in elevated Romance levels."

I about choked!!!! lol!!!!!!!!!!!!



Carrie

Zyrtec and Me

I have this allergy thing going on and so yesterday I stopped in the local drugstore where I work and browsed for the perfect drug to cancel out all these symptoms I'm experiencing. So, what do my wandering eyes see.....ZYRTEC......yes, that's it. I haven't taken that one in a long time:) Now, I know why I haven't. Have you ever experienced a drug induced COMA? I have now.....I took the ZYRTEC yesterday morning....felt good...symptoms gone.....oh yeah...I made the right choice.....WRONG! It all came crashing down on me as I was driving home from work. The kind of sleep I've been dreaming of getting...finally hits me on the way home. The kind where you have to roll the windows down and turn the AC on:) I managed to cook supper and eat..I think? Then as hubby and I were talking after dinner around 6:30 or so, I drifted off into lala land:) Hubby woke me up @ 9:30 pm:) I staggered to the bed and went back to my COMA and didn't wake up until 6:30 a.m. :) this morning! No dreams of falling off cliffs, saving children or any weird dreams....just that good 'ole sound sleep!

The drugged effect is finally wearing off! I'm totally sworn off ZYRTEC.....if you happen to see me reach for it again....please cut my arm off. I can't handle it:) I need to be able to function......let me rephrase....my family needs me to be able to function:) lol!!!!!!!!!! Although, hubby did a great job of cleaning the supper dishes! Thanks honey:)

I'm back to the OCEAN saline nasal spray...the kind in the aerosol can, with the long snout on it! Let me tell you if you need your sinus cavities and brain for that matter, blown to smitherines...this is your nasal spray. I won't make the mistake of skipping it from my daily routine of nasal washing and have to resort to ZYRTEC ever again!

Aren't you glad you know my nasal hygiene?

Your welcome....any time:)

L8R,

Carrie

Jacob's Ladder

RISE AND SHINE AND GIVE GOD THE GLORY!

Genesis 28:11-19-This passage describes Jacob's vision during his flight from his brother Esau.

I've been singing this song for two days. Can't get it off my mind. It's on a CD that my friend CB shared with us 6 girls that are trying to sing as a group, that S named, "Generations". That is quite comical in itself...because #1, we only sing at church, and no Hubby not at the Quarterback Gospel Singing, like you said we would, and there is actually 3 generations. Ask first mister! We do have a lot of fun practicing, which is not often, but we all love to sing. Anyway, a song we are trying to learn was on this B Family CD. They all sing so good. We can't hold a candle to them, but we love to try. Maybe everybody will just listen to the words, and not us, because we want God to speak through our songs, and for Him to be glorified! The song Jacob's Ladder is on this CD. BTW...it is not the song we are supposed to be learning, but I hope we will.

With raising children you never know what the next day will bring. Is it going to bring disappointments, sadness, sickness, challenges, pain, etc. ? No matter what may come their way.....like in the song.....each day brings us one round higher as we are climbing Jacob's Ladder to our home in the sky. God has his angles hovering all around our children and us!

I wanted to add some pics of the plant, "Jacob's Ladder". I loved the captions written under these plants.

Place Jacob's Ladder in partial shade where the plant will receive some sun. Too much sun and dryness will produce a poorly grown plant with ugly leaves. Keep soil moist and well drained for best results...which is the sky blue bell shaped flowers.

Like the care of the plant, for us to receive the best results in our life...we need to plant ourselves under the shade of God's hands and feed/water our soul's with....... His Word!

This will carry us through our days of child rearing and the rest of our lives. We are soldiers of the cross...and whatever life throws at us.....I'm climbing one round higher each day with my Lord!

Love to all,

Carrie

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Hope you wore green today...or else you'll get a pinch! Ouch! Mawmaw even celebrated St. Patty's Day, although it was a little early. This pic was taken last weekend.

(Pictured L-R: Cousin M, MawMaw & Aunt M)

God is good! He has answered so many prayers for our family. One being, that Mawmaw could move from the nursing home to an assisted living home. She got to move last Friday to her new home. It is such a wonderful home. There are only 16 patients! It is so clean and nice...but most of all, a caring staff who makes you feel right at home. This is truly a blessing!

Hope you all have a Happy St. Patricks Day!

Love ya,

Carrie

Sinfully Sweets Saturday!

I'm talking DESSERTS sweet:) DESSERTS spelled backwards spells STRESSED! An email I received from friend S yesterday reminded me of that! Any justification I can find in eating some sweets, is okay with me. And stress, sisters, is validation to me:) lol!!!!!!! If you don't know anything about me by now......know that I LOVE SWEETS!! Any form, shape or fashion! Heck....I JUST LOVE TO EAT! Ask any of my family, friends or co-workers....up most priority!



So with that thought in mind, here is the recipe for Mom's pecan pie!



KT's Pecan Pie



Ingredients:

3/4 stick of butter, softened

3/4 c. sugar

4 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla flavoring

1 1/2 c light karo syrup

2 c chopped pecans

2 regular pie crusts



Directions:

Mix together the butter, sugar and eggs until creamy. Add syrup and vanilla flavoring. Then add the pecans. Pour into 2 ready made pie crusts.

Bake on 300 for 1 hour. Let stand until cool....unless you're like me and eat it when it's hot with a big 'ole slab of vanilla bean ice cream.



Umm Umm Good!! Lick your lips...eat the whole pie....GOOD! Too bad the thing is gone.....ya know the ones I made Thursday for son #1's school project.....are gone.....I sure would like to have another bite:) We cannot keep groceries around here. If prices continue to soar through the roof...we are going to have to resort to gardening, rationing and milking our own cow:) lol!!!!!!!!! Hubby returned some calf milk, a 50 lb bag, to the local farm store. The guy asked why he was returning it, hubby replied, "because I can't get my kids to drink it!" Here's your sign!! He was trying to be funny, but probably serious too! That liquid gold they call milk is outrageous!



L8R,



Carrie

Pi or Pie

The 16th letter of the Greek alphabet. It is used as a symbol for the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, which is 3.141592653, commonly rounded to 3.14 .....Ya didn't know you were getting a math lesson today did ya? Well, you ain't! Cause I do not like math, but there is a relation between the two....at least for today. Funny thing is, I work in Accounting at my job:) Good thing I don't have to work with algebraic equations, rational coefficients, natural logarithms, circumference of a circle, logarithms of imaginary numbers, periodic functions and polygons! Whew! I'll stick with + or - ....... with a pinch of %, fractions, division and budgets:)

Hence the reason for this post, being that it is 3-14! Son #1 mentioned to me LAST NIGHT that he needed for me to make a KT's (my Mom) Pecan Pie for his math class on Friday, March 14th. He told me the spill about what pi is in mathematics. Okay son.....I did know this once upon a time:) But go ahead and refresh my mind:) I thought that was a neat thing for the teacher to do....as a way of celebrating pi day! This is one SCHOOL PROJECT that I can do:) BTW...Wednesday was D-Day for the presentation of the pot-putt boat! All I can say is...when I get my composer together enough to explain the rest of the story....I WILL:) lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay back to this pi thing. As I was reading up, excuse me refreshing my mind, on it....the description stated that from the earliest history of pi, nothing has changed, except now with computers, they can calculate in 8 hours, what man would have worked 8 hours a day for 30,000 years to accomplish. Wow! Also, it has now been calculated to more than 200,000,000,000 digits, although, the exact value of pi cannot be computed. And....no other number has been pondered or examined as much. Aren't you glad you know that! lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That made me think of how great God is......like pi......we cannot fathom how BIG HE IS, and also like pi......he has not changed! No matter how many hours we put into a day of trying to thank him for his love........our pens would run out of ink and our tongues could never tell of all His blessings! I started to break out into the song, "The Love of God", but I'm pressed for time. Go to the good ole Red Church Hymnal or to http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/o/loveofgo.htm and listen to it. The 3rd stanza was found penciled on the wall of a patients' room in an insane asylum after he had been carried to his grave. The general opinion was that this inmate had written the epic in moments of sanity. Goose bumps!! "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" Romans 8:35

Thanks macromoments for sharing the cyberhymnal website!

So, today on 3-14, let's celebrate pi.....but most of all....God for allowing us to have scholars to even imagine a number this great! And for the wonderful PIES that we get to eat:) Now, that's what I'm talking about!!

Hope you have a great weekend!

Carrie

Update on Mom

Geez Louise.....what a contraption she is wagging around!

As I'm sure you are aware of by now...getting a new heart is some more of a roller coaster. But God is supplying her every need and has answered so many of our prayers. She is very thankful that she is not having to get the pump, so carrying around a 10 lb(an exaggeration) bag of IV and it's battery, is not too much of a hassle compared to having open heart surgery to get the pump. For that she is grateful! And the bonus...SHE GETS TO STAY AT HOME! I was thinking it was going to be a port, like cancer patients have, but it's not. It's a pic line...I hope that is how you say it....in other words...she has a permanent IV. It is inserted just below the right elbow, and the line from it is fed through the vein to the heart. This is supposed to "boost" her up! They have moved her from the bottom of the transplant list to the top. So this IV will be worn until she gets the heart.

When she gets the call....she will arrive to a "holding room" as they call it...and her and several other heart transplant patients will be waiting for the team to come out and tell them which one of them are getting it. Wow.....how emotional can that be? Excited for yourself...but sorry for the others that didn't get it.

Home Health is coming to her house today to help her with the IV, and teach them how to change the bag, battery, etc. They will come once a week to keep a check on it.

Too much info I know, but this is also like a diary of sorts...so we can remember just how it all happened! You know us....remembering things is not our speciality:)

Thanks for your continued support and prayers! You are the best!!

Love to all,

Carrie

God is Watching Over Us....

Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

This was an email I received from my friend S. I don't usually read all the emails I get, but this one caught my attention. Thanks S for sending it my way!

Just as a silversmith sits in front of the fire the whole time, holding the silver and keeping his eyes on it the entire time it's in the fire, so does God when we are in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. When asked how he knew when the silver was fully refined, he smiled and answered, "Oh, that's easy---when I see my image in it."

When you are at your weakest, with your feet to the fire, God has his eye on you and will keep watching until He sees His image in you. I don't know about you, but I need all the impurities burned away, even if it means I have to feel the heat! Because God knows best for me!!

Now that makes me feel good!!

Update on Mom: I made my morning call to Mom, and she sounded good, although she didn't sleep a wink last night. She said she couldn't even tell she was taking the transplant meds...so I'm assuming that is a good thing. She did say that she would be taking them by IV, when she gets to come home. No problem, we can handle that. Right? Yes, because God said that we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us!

To fellow bloggers....what happened to my font color and size buttons on my posting page? And how do I get them back? I sure miss them:)

Love to all,

Carrie

Update on Mom

Another 2 post day!

Mom just called me and she is in the hospital. She has started the heart transplant meds via IV. She doesn't know how long she will have to stay....it depends on how her body responds to the meds. If she does okay on them, then she will be able to come home and take them. These meds will have to be taken until she receives a heart. They have bumped her up on the list. So, now it's just wait. She sent Dad home:) I think she is in need of some quite time. Dad has been a great supporter, never leaving her side for a minute, but sometimes a woman just needs her space:) Do I hear an Amen sisters? She insisted she feels fine and for us to not come down there. She will call when she is ready to come home! Yes ma'am!! Gotta love her Independence!

We love you Mom!!

Parenting 101

I desperately need a handbook that answers all these questions?

When are kids old enough to be left home alone? Is there a legal age for this, so the parents won't get arrested or DHR take them away?

This is a time in my life where I feel like the worse Mom ever for leaving them in the first place. Where do you draw the line?

Due to a break-in in our home a few years ago, this staying-at-home by themselves, is not up for discussion. It urps me to know end, that not only did they steal everything valuable we owned, but they took our sense of security, and that folks, is something you can't put a price tag on. To add to that no price tag item, my pictures and videos of the kids, were also taken.

The thieves were caught and some items we recovered. I even wrote a letter of forgiveness and tried to witness to the man that was jailed. I know you are wondering, what was she thinking writing to a jail-bird, but he had written us a letter asking for our forgiveness. God forgave, so by the grace that he gave me, I could forgive too. But now, years later, the old devil keeps bringing it back up to us. I'm still proclaiming the forgiveness that I did in that letter, and I hope and pray that man was changed, that he accepted Christ as his Saviour. The scripture says, "Be Not Afraid", this is the comfort that I have in knowing our God will take care of us. He did that spring day when they broke in. Hubby had just left the house on a tractor. These men were traveling through and were armed and considered dangerous. God was watching over Hubby that day.

We are trying to tell the kids that God is watching over us and will take care of us. We can't let the devil win! Life goes on...yes with more precautions...but it is a life worth living...and one that we shouldn't be held down by chains of fear. Please pray for the security we once felt in our home, will once again be restored.

Update on Mom: Mom and Dad have left this morning heading to B'ham. For what, we don't really know,except they are supposed to start transplant meds, but as soon as I hear, I will post another update.

Thanks for all the loving prayers and support you all have given us.

Love you all,

Carrie

I'll Be Right There Honey:)

This is Hubby on the side of the road this cold artic morning!

We are one dysfunctional family....

Dejavue? I've been to this same spot, for the same reason, for Hubby and son #2 when he was a wee little boy:)

Me "Hello"
Hubby "Hey can you come and get us?"
Me "What now?"
Hubby "We ran out of gas!" "Bring the can in the shop."
Me "LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!"

My Dad gave son #1 this decrepit truck. It was a deal they made last summer for some work son #1 did for him. Now, this truck is 20 years old and in need of some repair....let me rephrase....LOTS OF REPAIR! So, today on this 25 degree, gusting winds, blowing snow of a day....they decide to take it for a spin and get some gas, oh and a battery. It is running on the boat's battery that is being held in by a rope:) The boys were worried about someone seeing them on the side of the road:) lol!!!!

So, I get bundled up and take off with the can. Me, "LOL!!! Hubby, "I thought you would drive my truck." Me, "You didn't tell me why I needed to drive the truck." Hubby, "Well, I need the jumper cables...the battery is dead." Me, "LOL!!!!!!!!!"

Some conversation with the boys and Hubby went something like this.....sons, "Dad what were you thinking?" Hubby, "Well sons it's like this....you said you were bored...so now you are not."

Ain't we having fun:)

L8R,

Carrie

I Am A Cold Fish Loafer!

You Are Loafers

You are confident, powerful, and successful. Hard working and business like, you always dress and act appropriately. You are consistent and a bit conservative. You aren't really susceptible to trends, although you always dress well. While you tend to be formal, you know how to adapt to your surroundings. So are professional at work... but more laid back when your with your friends. You should live: In a huge city You should work: In a competitive field where you can rise to the top

What Kind of Shoe Are You?

Okay...if you really say so? I'm not buying it....but I answered the questions I thought correctly.....so I must be. I thought sure I was a house shoe or flip-flops:) Seeing that I could wear them 24/7!

Go ahead and try....see which shoe fits you!



I took another quiz....romantic quiz.....guess what? It says...and I quote, "You are a hardheaded realist who sees the world pretty much as it is. No room for fantasy--you're practical to a fault. You might be seen as a cold fish when it comes to amorous notions. You're "thing oriented" rather than "people oriented." You may need to thaw out." I resent that! lol!!!!!!!!!!!! I love people!!!!


Ouch!! I think Hubby was on the grading end of that quiz:) lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



No more quiz's for me! Just when I thought I was beginning to know myself. Why didn't somebody tell me how FLAT AND COLD I was?




L8R,




Carrie

Update: This quiz was from Lisa @ lisawrites. Also, I've highlighted the link to do the quiz. Sorry for the blog blunder:)

Update #2: I'm experiencing technical difficulties, so therefore, you will need to visit lisawrites to do the quiz. Sorry for the inconvience!:) I'm seeing a big red error across the top of the posting page....wonder what I've done now?

My Aha Blog Moment and Other Thoughts

Yes, Oprah would be very proud of me. My Aha Blog Moment finally arrived.....now let me see if I can remember it...just kidding.....I figured out how to get the cute little buttons on my sidebar. Sorry, Lisa, I've been wanting to put your "I Am" study button on my blog, but couldn't figure out how. This blog thang is so much fun. Maybe tooo much fun! It's an addiction! I feel like a need a pill to quit;) I also read an article in a magazine about blog etiquette. Friends please don't feel obligated to post a comment or even read for that matter. And if you don't want me to mention you or your family, please do tell. You won't hurt my feelings one bit. Remember this is my cheap therapy:) I wouldn't want to hurt or offend anyone....yes, not even you hubby:) That's why I'm not showing a pic of the pot-putt boat I bought on-line:) lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the fun we had last night watching it putting around in the bathtub. I better quit while I'm ahead:) The rest of the story on the SCHOOL PROJECT will eventually post, when son #2 actually gets to present the thang! I'm not promising when:) lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hubby did the right thing, and worked with son #2, teaching him how to build something. My intentions were good, however, not the best solution to every problem. I thought maybe if they had one to look at, then they could fix theirs. Okay enough of that!



My other thought for the day is this: Life is a Roller Coaster!

Mom just called me and said B'ham called and my stomach immediately jumped in my throat. No not a heart, just wanting her to get a mammo done today. She is going to the local hospital to get this done and hopefully B'ham will have the results this afternoon. This is all routine follow ups to the previous one she had done a few weeks ago. The call was to inform her that she was the topic of conversation among the docs today and they want her down there Monday. They will start her on transplant meds and told her to bring her toothbrush...assuming she may have to stay. They don't give a whole lot of details, so this is all I know. Looks like she is getting closer to getting a new heart. I feel so weird saying it like that...but I don't know how to say it any other way. Just pray that the mammo is fine and she can go forward Monday on whatever it is they are going to do. What a change already in plans as to the previous post just the day before on the two week gaining weight deal. This is just part of it. Some days are routine, while others change with the wind.

Blessings to you,

Carrie

20 Years From Now...

This is the topic for scribbits March's Write-Away Contest. I thought, why not give it a whirl? Writer I AM NOT, but I remember how challenging it was in Mr. C's English class in high school, where he would write an idea on the board and we would have the class time to write our thesis. I never thought I would even say that, but I love a good challenge. Especially now that I can't remember to put the chicken in the refrigerator:) My mind needs all the exercise it can get! lol!!!!!!!!! So this is "my point of view, my dream" of where I will be at in my life...20 years from now, God willing!

So here goes nothing:



March 5th, 2028

Dear Journal,

As I set here this morning, I'm taken back to the time in my life that, as I look back now, was a time of much prayer and thanksgiving. My Mom was awaiting a heart transplant. It was a journey to such low lows and the most spiritual highs that one could imagine. The emotional toil of sorrow, worry, grief and pain, paled in comparison to the joy that came every morning as Jesus revealed his glory in each beautiful dawn he extended to Mom. He kept her in his arms of love, giving hope and promise for a brighter day. He surrounded us with loving, caring friends and family, that rallied around us through it all.

On those long nights as I prayed and cried myself to sleep, I wondered how He would have worked it all out. Twenty years later, I'm looking back and thanking Him again today for what he did. I can see now how it was all according to His Perfect Plan. I will never forget what he did for Mom back then.

That was twenty years ago. I was 36 years old and raising two boys. It seemed like my life was crashing down on me. I could not concentrate on any one thing long enough to accomplish the task before me or even finish a thought. My mind was constantly bouncing off all points; what for supper, did I pay the electric bill, what time is practice over, when is the next game, study for upcoming lesson, visit Grandmother, how is Mom, time for hubby, spend time with kids, did I wash the sheets last week, orthodontist appointments, do I have my hormone patch on, the list went on and on. I can look back now and smile and laugh. Wouldn't I do it all again? Yes, I'm sure of it.

The kids are grown and have families all their own. I get to spoil the grandchildren and send them home. Now that the nest is empty, we fill our time with planning vacations, gardening and volunteering wherever needed. It is also a period of transition for me. Time has come where the parent/child roll reverses. Although it is not an easy task, it is one that comes with a sense of pride and honor. It's time to return the love and care that was bestowed upon me as a child. I count it a privilege to care for our parents.

I need to close for now, as I'm meeting my sisters, family and friends for some last minute plans on Mom's 20th Birthday Celebration!

Carrie

P.S. Wonder what the next 20 years will bring? I can't wait to find out!

Waffles in the Cupboard, Chicken on the Stove, Air in the Brain

Here is some funnies that hubby and I do from time to time:

Sunday was a rush rush morning, usually I make the traditional chocolate gravy and biscuit, Mawmaw style! Not this past Sunday. The dudes made themselves some good ole frozen waffles:) Here's where the fun began.......that afternoon as I was putting away the lunch stuff....I find the frozen waffles in the cabinet:) lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Did I remember to poke fun at hubby....no I FORGOT:) Darn....I had one on him and let it slip away, because he was horse laughing at me this morning, because I went into the kitchen last night to put the chicken in the refrigerator, I even announced it to everyone what I was doing, and guess where hubby found the chicken this morning.....yep, you guessed it, still in the pot on the stove:) !!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you think I remembered to bring up the waffle thing then, no, not until he asked me what happened to the waffles. Then I finally remembered to ridicule him:) We both had a good laugh! Kinda scary if you ask me:/ And to beat it all....I can't remember what I did when I went into the kitchen last night to put the chicken in the refrigerator:) It was only 3 little pieces, but hey, I was looking for a bite of chicken salad:(

Well, I could say what I think interrupted me.....ummmmm....let's just say it has SCHOOL PROJECT written all over it:) Enough said on that....I'll post the season finale of it hopefully by Thursday. I know the suspense is killing ya'll:)

BTW...........I think what mostly had me in the AIR last night was Mom's good news yesterday. I JUST CAN'T PRAISE HIM ENOUGH FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR HER!! I'M HERE TO TELL YOU,

"I SERVE A LIVING SAVIOR, WHO'S IN THE WORLD TODAY, I KNOW THAT HE IS LIVING WHATEVER MEN MAY SAY, I SEE HIS HAND OF MERCY, I HEAR HIS VOICE OF CHEER, AND JUST THE TIME I NEED HIM, HE'S ALWAYS NEAR.....HE LIVES! HE LIVES! CHRIST JESUS LIVES TODAY, HE WALKS WITH ME AND TALKS WITH ME ALONG LIFE'S TROUBLESOME WAY...HE LIVES, HE LIVES, YOU ASK ME HOW I KNOW HE LIVES....HE LIVES WITHIN MY HEART"

Love to all,

Carrie

PRAISE THE LORD!

Mom just called me...so this warrants a 2 post in one day, kind of day!! Let me lead you up to what I just heard.

Mom and I were setting in church yesterday morning...and I asked her how she felt. She said she felt better than she had in a long time...which is surprising to us because she is off of some meds that keeps her fluid down...anyway, she looked at me and said "Reckon I've been healed?" I said, "Why sure Mom it could happen"!

Back to our conversation today....Mom said, "The main doctor saw me today and he said that after examining me today, he feels like I can just wait for the heart transplant and NOT HAVE THE VAD!! He told me to gain 10 pounds in the next two weeks and he would keep his word on NOT HAVING THE VAD!!" Okay Mom, you had it now......we are going to eat like pigs for the next 2 weeks...did you get the WE part! I love to eat:) Should be no problemo:) In fact I can see me and the sisters taking Mom out to eat frequently....ummmmm all the cheese cakes and Italian food we can get:)

Ya'll just don't know how bad Mom did not want this VAD thing! She dreaded it like the plague!! She just didn't feel good about it one bit! Ain't God good!! He knows our every need!!

She is on the transplant list and hopefully, if she keeps her end of the deal......we will sit and wait....and I know she will.....because she asked the Lord to intervene on the VAD and HE DID!!

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise him all creatures here below, praise him above ye heavenly host, praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost"

Thank you Jesus for hearing our prayers!

Thank you all for praying....keep it up!!

We love you all sooooooooooo much!!!!

Carrie

Miss-Print, Miss-Informed, Miss-Taken, Miss-Everything Wrong Mom

I was informed that my post on the infamous Putt-Putt Boat was namely wrong......Excuse me....it is a Pot-Pot Boat. Whatever you want to call it.....it is going to be the death of Hubby. As I'm wiping sweat from my brow.....the due date is Wednesday...gulp! I'm hollering "calf rope!" I'm making a trip to Hobby Lobby ASAP! Want we do anything for our young-uns? I would include a pic of "IT", but hubby would not be pleased with me.....ya know...it's not finished yet.....I mean it's together...just needs some finishing touches.....like......to get it to actually work:) lol!!!!!!!!!!! Hubby is really a genius...as I could never even attempt to construct what he has. I was very impressed....it just won't work.

So in my attempts to redeem myself and take back all the Miss-Mother's....I'm going to help hubby out. When in doubt....just BUY IT:) That's my motto:)

If someone reading this happen to have the same project assigned to them...please don't tell hubby if you had an easy time of making it......hubby might not take kindly to that....ya know it's a man thang! Oh, but I would love to know:)
BTW....I just ordered the thing on-line:) Should be here tomorrow:) lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Update on Mom and MawMaw: Mom is in B'ham today. She should find out if her system is clear of all infections, and making a date for the VAD surgery next week. I'll let you know tomorrow what the outcome of today was. Please continue praying for Mom.
Mom and I visited with Mawmaw yesterday and it just tore me up. Why can't I get a hold of myself? Mawmaw just out-stretched her arms for us yesterday, just like always, and I just wanted to stay wrapped up in her arms forever. Her eyes seemed so lonely and so far away from us at times. I know this is the aging process...but man it hurts. Please continue to pray for her and us as we make this transition, and that she will be rehabilitated enough to move to assisted living.

Love to all,

Carrie