Happy Halloween Southern Style

There's nothing like looking out at this every morning:) However, the bandits left evidence.....a Saints Toboggan:) Gotcha!

All in fun! My kids have rolled a yard or two...too:)

Now on to the cleanup:) I'm thinking my birthday present will come in handy.

Carrie

Relief!

It's not Wednesday....but....this totally works for me....so had to share.....today! If you suffer from allergies or sinus trouble at all, you will want to take note. Go here for RELIEF! You can find it at Wal-Mart, Target, etc., better yet...visit your local drug store. My local drug store is awesome. I had an unexpected $30 credit on my last RX refill. Now that makes me happy! MC and IDS you rock!!

It's cheap people! $3 for the applicator and $10 for 100 packets of the rinse. Ask your pharmacist, they may have it behind the counter.

What's crazy, I had given SIL this advice, only the Neti Pot, and never went through with it for myself. So, you have two choices, the NeilMed or the Neti Pot. Why don't I listen to myself?

I feel as if all the fog I've been in lately has lifted. I can see clearer, breathe easier and hopefully think clearer:) Amazing at what a good nasal irrigation can do:) and what came out:)....oooohhh.

Kinda messy, but definitely worth it! It's strange how you can squirt water up your nose on one side, and it comes out both your mouth and other nostril simultaneously. Cool!

All of this stems from a visit I made to the ENT yesterday. It's funny how when you think one thing is wrong with you, but the DR. proves otherwise. All this time I was thinking allergies were my enemy, to find out in fact it was my gut the whole time. TMI...I know. Anyways my allergies scaled down to 2 out of 4 for hickory nut trees and sugar maples. Not enough to be wreaking the havoc I was experiencing. Hopefully this will be the LAST post on allergies and such. I'm expecting NeilMed, Omnaris and Prevacid to cure all that is ailing me:)

Now on to what was really on my mind....

Mom felt like traveling with me. Bless her heart. It was a LONG day of testing and doctor visits. As always, she was a trooper. Thanks to God, and the prayers of my friends and church family for praying for Mom. I've been worried about her lately and it was great to be able to spend the day with her, even though it was in doctor offices. We talked. I just needed that! I hope it helped her as much as it did me!

Somehow:) we managed to have some fun. We had an itch we needed to scratch:), that required Belk and Target to fix. It's amazing what new clothes will do.

Oh and don't forget the snickers blizzard!

Carrie

Mrs. Stretch Armstrong

Why was stretch Armstrong a man versus a woman? I mean can men really stretch like that? I'm getting the strong part, but the stretching?

Stay with me here:)

I remember brother having one of these back when, and all he was interested in was what was on the inside. Like most typical little boys, he did just that...cut it open and to have this oooey, gooey, slimy mess ooze out. Fun! Or just stretch it too it's limits and it would break.

Now that's what I'm talking about. Stretched to the limit. And the next thing I know, this slimy mess of nothingness consumes me and spills out. Not good. How do I get myself to this point. Pulled in every direction, but getting no where!

If only.....

I would consult the Father on His way.

If only.....

I would be still and know the He is God.

If only....

I would take His hand and let Him lead.

I was reminded as of late how important it is for me to stop and smell the roses. I cannot be effective for Christ if I'm running on fumes. That must explain my 3 hour nap yesterday:) I cannot be a good wife, mother, sister, friend, if I'm spinning in circles. But...don't you just love those buts....with the school owning my boys and everything thing else they are involved in....where is the time to actually sniff a rose:) Much less find one in my yard that is still living, due to neglect on my part, because of yet once again...no time. I hear Mom speak of enjoying this time in my life, because once it's over..it's over. I know and understand that.

But still.....

"We make plans...but the Lord decides." Proverbs 16:9

Carrie

Ya'll Bless My Heart

I'm drinking from the saucer, 'cause my cup has overflowed!




Thanks sisters for all the wonderful comments you left from this post. I'm typing through the tears. They touched me so.




There have been some strange things going on lately. Seems God is in every detail of them too! Of course!



I love affirmation!




How cool is that?




Point being, when we get our words and thoughts aligned with the Scriptures.....good things happen. Why do I even question? Thoughts of, "I can't, why me, are you sure, what will they think, etc.....should be rephrased to, "yes Sir, anything you ask Lord, who cares what they think, I can, I will, ask me, I'll try, and so on and so on." I expect that from my children. What makes me think God doesn't expect that from me. I know how I feel when I hear my boys say the negative woe is me. I want to scoop them up and say, "yes you can, just try, you can do it, trust me."....oooooh...ouch.....I can't imagine how many times, especially at work lately, I've been faced with branching out, having to do things that are not necessarily in my safe zone. My knee-jerk reaction is, "I can't, I've messed that up, get somebody else, they can do a better job."

Poor excuses.



God will give you the grace and courage to face any obstacle or task before you. Just say yes. Believe me, it's better than taking a whipping any old day!





I just can't praise Him enough!!





Carrie

Touched By An Angel Or Two

Updated to add: KT left a comment below. Go check it out! Coincidence...I don't think so. Goose bumps. Also, Mom had the heart attack on November 19th, 2006, for those of you who were curious of the date. I can always remember it was around Thanksgiving. Sister C and I shared that Thanksgiving all by ourselves.......another post.....another day.


For some reason this morning I was reminded of an instance when my sister P and I was visited by an angel or two. Before I tell the story, today was one of those mornings. You know, the kind where you wake up late, and have 1,200 things to do before you head to work. Not a pretty site. Lots of hurry up, we are running late, pants to iron, no clean jeans, wrong choice of jacket....get my driff:) Bus or no bus, the boys were going to eat the ham and cheese biscuits that I made:), whether they brushed teeth or not...sorry KT....those bicuits were going to be digested:)

We managed to catch the bus. I feel regret for getting in such a tissy and not hugging the boys one more time, and kiss Hubby goodbye to add another 5 years:), I need him around ya'll to keep me straight. Then all of a sudden as I'm applying mascara while brushing my teeth:), God just flooded my mind with this:

Some 2 years ago......

My sister P and I were at the hospital with Mom. This was when she had her heart attack. We were waiting, when the nurse requested we come back, because Mom seemed to do better when one of us was with her. As we were visiting, Mom just went out on us. The machine was showing the flat line. The next thing we knew, the room was filled with lots of people. And we were taken by the arms and escorted out.

As we sat waiting, the first angel came. She was great. She talked us through the whole ordeal. Keeping us focused on God and what He can do. To which He did. He brought her back to us.

Earlier that morning, as we were trying to catch some zzzz's in our straight chairs in the waiting room, we were starving. The kind of hunger where I didn't think I could even get out of my chair, I was so weak. We would just set there, numb and look at each other, like now what. We know we need to eat, but we cannot muster enough strength to actually get up. As we sat there in a room full of people, here comes angel #2. He walked straight over to me and handed me a Hardee's bag. In it was several hot biscuits of all varieties. He said he wanted to share these with me. Sister and I got up and went to find him, after he walked out, to thank him. We couldn't find him anywhere.

Why this was so real to me this morning, I have no idea.

Maybe it's for you.

Maybe it was to remind me to stop and smell the roses before my children are grown.

Maybe to remind me that God supplied our needs that day. Waiting for a new heart is difficult on so many levels. It has really been weighing on me lately, because I know it has Mom. Maybe this recollection of that day, is God's way of showing me.... He can. He will. In His time. In His way.

Maybe to show me that when I have a conviction to do something out of the ordinary for someone...I should obey.

Whether you've heard me tell this a time or two, I just couldn't shake it this morning. It was so real! Blessed my heart...again!! I love to feel the Sweet Holy Spirit. Especially on days when I feel as if I didn't deserve it. God is that good. He loves me even when I complain, or when I'm upset, or when I'm ill as Deb puts it:) He loves me through it all.

I want to praise Him today. I want the world to know that I serve a risen Savior who supplies all our needs!

Carrie

Love thy neighbor as thyself

Sounds familiar? It should, we have probably heard and memorized Matthew 22:39 our whole lives. But do I really love myself that much? Hmmmmm...probably not. I should, but days when loving myself is lacking....can I really love my neighbor?



My devotion this morning was titled, "Accepting yourself." That is such a tight rope to balance. We certainly are not to be vain, but to love ourselves in a healthy way. Easier said than done. But not impossible, for nothing is impossible with God. He can see past my sinful nature and restore in me a new heart. A new way to see myself.



I hate to look in the mirror. Yet, I have them all over the house. I'm constantly dodging them:) I glance long enough, so as to make sure I'm not going to scare myself or others:) lol!! As the case lately, the mirror screams, " the bags under your eyes are the size of Mt. Rushmore." Mirrors and pictures do not lie! Truth hurts, it's ugly at times, but it's what I need. If I didn't take a look, OMG, what a mess I would be.

So I'm taking inventory.

Not closet inventory. Which reminds me of something I read about people being like a chest of drawers. We have a "drawer" for each situation we encounter. I pray that I will be a hope chest and have only 1 lid and that all the treasures inside belong to Jesus!

Good 'ole soul searching.



I love light and sunshine! Therefore, the use of mirrors to reflect the light. I want my house to be as light as possible. Shouldn't I reflect the light of Jesus? By all means, yes! Can I accomplish that, if I'm constantly beating myself up over how bad a Mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, neighbor I am? Don't think so. I use concealer to mask the bags under my eyes. What am I using to conceal my insecurities?

Lots of food for thought. So, while I'm pondering on all that, have you ever really thought about loving yourself? Be honest.

Carrie

Dad at Comedy Barn

Dad at Comedy Barn

What did we do before YouTube? Well, if you are from my neck of the woods, we have my sister C:)

I've saw this video numerous times and I love to watch it over and over.

Today is one of those days.....when you need a good laugh:)....and sis is not around to cheer me...so she sent me this!

Love you Sis:) ROFF:) lol!!!!

Carrie

The Chia Pet and Me...

Do you ever get in a mood and just want to change everything? Happens to me quite often. I rearrange everything. The boys have learned to look for the couch before they just decide to throw themselves on it:) A little situation we have at home...where you don't just sit calmly down....no siree...you take a run and go and move the couch a few feet when landing on it:) Anyone relate? ;)

Anyway....I've been in one of those switch-er-roo moods where I'm mixing things up a bit. Watch out guys:)

I had a haircut appointment last night and I took along a pic of a haircut I liked. I sprang it on K. She was shocked. It was going to be really short. Yes, I'm ready. It's only hair...it will grow back. And seeing my hair is kin to the chia pet, I'll I have to do is water it a little and bang it's back out there. Catch it when I say "out there". My hair grows out, not down:) Vertically challenged it is. I could not count on all my little piggies how many times my Mom and I just sat and cried over my hair:) I had a fro people, but mine was a bird nest version:), 'cause that was the only thing Mom knew to do with it....perm it:) lol!!!!!

Yesterday was the point...you know where you think you just can't stand your hair one more day. Can I get an Amen sisters?

So, she did...cut it short. Thank you!!!!

I feel better now.

I got a few looks from Hubby and son #2. ;)

Son #1, said, and I quote, "Mom, what were you thinking?" ;)

Do I care? No ma'am:) lol!!!! And sirs:) lol!!!! BTW...which leads me to why men like for their ladies to have long hair? Or do you? Is that a pre-conceived notion we've just conjured up?

Why do we want what we know our God given hair is not capable of performing? For me....I've longed for the long flowing, when you shake your head it actually moves, kind of hair. But that's not what I got. Nope, I got "horses hair." Coarse, straight/bent, never moves, grows straight out, thick head of hair.

Did I mention I feel better?

Carrie

Orator.....ton em:)

This should be no surprise to anyone who knows me. I have trouble with a capital T, in finding the right words to say. Heavens to Betsy, you add an audience in front of me....all you are going to get is.....blaaah, blubber, stammering, jumbling mess of words.



For example:



I'm calling Hubby at work, where he is the boss, and I ask the lady, "Hello, may I speak to Carrie:)"



Hello! Knock, knock, brain, or whatever is supposed to be occupying space in my head......where were you on that?



Thank goodness she is a nice lady who understands me:). Therefore, she and I had us a good laugh:)



Then there are times when I say waaaaay too much. To which I beat myself up for days over such ramblings. I need a muzzle! Seriously!



I would never intentionally want to say something to hurt or destroy. I pray daily for God to bridle my tongue and for me to let Him.



Back on a funnier note. The bunch of girls I'm blessed to sing with at church had a good laugh last night. Believe it or not, it wasn't at my expense this time. Dear friend S, has a touch of my wordiness. "Yelping" about John the Revelator. Who knew? All this time we should have been yelping about John's vision of the New Jerusalem. She really wasn't that far off. As young pups in Christ, shouldn't we cry out with a loud shrill, the wonderous works of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? Amen!!



Then there are times I switch the letters of couples first names. IE....Muddy and Byra. Sorry Auntie M...I figured you wouldn't mind:) lol!!!



I've posted below the best of the best! Enjoy!!

Carrie

Tribute to Archie Campbell

37 and Counting!

It's my Birthday, I can cry if I want to:) Booo Whoo!! Naaay, not doing that...yet...saving it for the big 40!

I'm celebrating today! Notice the new "du" above. That's the singing birthday card sister P gave me for my birthday. Inside it said, "Remember: what happens at the dessert cart stays at the dessert cart. Indulge a little on your birthday." Oh so true for me. When we go out to eat, dessert is the first menu I look at:) So this card is my new motto! I've been looking for a new "du" for the blog and this was it. I wanted a style that was me. And this is so it! Family, friends and sweets! Can't get any better than that! It sang the song, "Awww Sugar, Aww Honey, Honey...." Love it!! Thanks Sister P!

I've had a long weekend. Yes, my work observes Columbus Day!! Hubby, son #2, BT, KT and HT met us for dinner at Abuelos on Sat. night. Loved it!! Had a great time! Icing on the cake.....snickers blizzard at DQ!! OMG!!! Good!! Fun, Food and Shopping!! KT gave me a book "Wednesday Letters" complete with a box of kleenex. She knows me all too well! Love you girl!!

Nothing could compare to what yesterday was. We have a new song. Goes like this...sing with me...."1 thousand hick-o-ry nuts on the ground, 1 thousand hick-o-ry nuts, pick one up, dump in bucket, 999 hick-o-ry nuts....."

I have been known to hug a tree or three, but I'm seeing 4 hickory trees going down;-)

Today I have received phone calls, e-mails and text messages wishing me a Happy Birthday! Thanks ya'll..I love you so much!!!

Guess what Hubby got for my birthday.....a yard sweeper:) I've dreamt of one for so long! And my dream came true:)

I love 37!!!!!

Carrie

God Is So Good

I just finished listening to a CD with "Marriage" written across it. Hubby suggested I listen to it first:) One minute I was crying with them, for them, for us, for newlyweds, for Mom and Dad, and the next, laughing with them. He is in for a big surprise!

Thanks JW for taking the time to make copies of this CD and sharing with us. I have been truly blessed by the story of John and Donna Bishop. This is a must to listen to. The epitome of what marriage is.

Go here and let God speak to you through this husband and wife team. You will surely be blessed!

Carrie

Strange Love Facts......

Don't ask me why.....but.....some love facts I read by Laura Schaefer caught my eye:)



Laura: Men who kiss their wives in the morning live five years longer than those who don't.

Me: Whaaat? Do men know this?



Laura: People are more likely to tilt their heads to the right when kissing instead of the left (65 percent of people go to the right!)

Me: Whaaat? Yeah, eyes closed, your tilting your head as you are reading this:)


Laura: Falling in love can induce a calming effect on the body and mind and raises levels of nerve growth factor for about a year, which helps to restore the nervous system and improves the lover's memory.

Me: Whaaat memory:)


Laura: The women of the Tiwi tribe in the South Pacific are married at birth.

Me: Why do we need to know this?


Laura: The "Love Detector" service from Korean cell phone operator KTF uses technology that is supposed to analyze voice patterns to see if a lover is speaking honestly and with affection. Users later receive an analysis of the conversation delivered through text message that breaks down the amount of affection, surprise, concentration and honesty of the other speaker.

Me: What's that # again? JK!!!

Laura: Couples' personalities converge over time to make partners more and more similar.

Me: We do look alike!


Laura: The oldest known love song was written 4,000 years ago and comes from an area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

Me: Why not just say the Garden of Eden? The way God intended love to be...between a man and a woman.


Larua: The tradition of the diamond engagement ring comes from Archduke Maximillian of Austria who, in the 15th century, gave a diamond ring to his fiancée, Mary of Burgundy.

Me: Move over St. Valentine.



Larua: Forty-three percent of women prefer their partners never sign "love" to a card unless they are ready for commitment.

Me: Amen!


Laura: According to mathematical theory, we should date a dozen people before choosing a long-term partner; that provides the best chance that you'll make a love match.

Me: False. Living proof here.


Laura: Bleep on this one.

Me: ???????????????


Laura: Every Valentine's Day, Verona, the Italian city where Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet took place, receives around 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet. 21. When we get dumped, for a period of time we love the person who rejected us even more, says Dr. Helen Fisher of Rutgers University and author of Why We Love. The brain regions that lit up when we were in a happy union continue to be active.

Me: Whaaat? & Why?


For the record.....why did I just post this?



Love is a strange thing......




Carrie

All Over The Place....

You'll understand why, by the end of this post:)



More on Mom.



Tentatively on Oct. 13th- pic line to be relocated. Unless, after the round table discussion by the transplant team, they decide "not" to change it after all. As Dr. Raymond put it yesterday, why mess with something if it ain't broke. (The previous problem with it seems to have subsided.) That language I can understand. He commended her on a job well done of taking care of the pic line. No infections, red streaks or numbness has occurred thus far. A first for them, after 6 months of it being in the same place. Way to go Mom!! The next date is Nov. 3rd., for another heart cath.



U-turn.



I'm tossing to and fro about some stuff. You know when you get burdened down, and nothing seems right. That's the state I'm in. I'm praying and asking God to reveal Himself to me in such a way, that I will know His way and not mine.



Do you ever try and avoid a conversation if you know that something you might say will hurt the other person? Guilty here. I am so not a confrontational person. Peace. The scriptures say in Ephesians 4:15 NIV, "speaking the truth in love, we will....grow up." No name calling, no attack, no judging, no demands, just plain truth spoken with love. Remember the old saying, "sticks and stones will break bones, but words cannot hurt." I beg to differ. The tongue can destroy in a split second, what would takes years to rebuild. Only God's love can build a bridge strong enough to mend the dam.

Agreeing to disagree.

Everybody wins.

Easy said. Hard to do. But can be done through love and by the grace of God.

Left or right?

I want to see/hear things with an open mind. Where do you draw the line with openness? When it compromises God's teaching, that's where. As Christians we should exemplify Christ, by the way we live. Not that we could ever come close, but at least be on the same wave length. Sure it's okay to have fun and enjoy our Christian walk. But isn't there a time for seriousness and allowing the Holy Spirit to touch our heart, mind and souls?

Just some places I've been lately:)

Back home from that trip! Aren't you glad?

Carrie

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence...

....so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16 NIV

Please pray.......

Mom is in B'ham, as I'm typing this, trying...again....to get the pic line moved to another location. Where exactly? Not sure. Hopefully, today will prove to be a successful day! One thing is for sure.....we will praise God through it all!!

Check back later for an update.....

2:55 PM.......

She's home:) Nothing...except a flu shot and a talk with a Dr. Raymond. He wasn't the doc she was supposed to see. The doc who requested she come to see him today, was in emergency surgery with a 2 week old baby.

Can you imagine? I have so much to be thankful for!

Dr. Raymond said she was doing okay and scheduled her heart cath appt. Keep in mind he didn't mention when/if they were going to change this thing out. Too many doctors with too many opinions:)

Singing...One day at a time, sweet Jesus. That's all I'm asking of you. Help me to stay. Show me the way........

Dr. Kirkland is the doc who tried to change out her pic line and he wanted to see her today. That didn't happen. Dr. Kirkland will be the one performing the transplant. She was so hoping to get to see him. God knows all about it. I know that He will supply her need...in His time. Today, a baby needed Dr. Kirkland. This family needs our prayers.


"If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." I John 5:14 NKJV

Feel free to leave Mom a comment. I'll pass them on to her.

Thanks for your continued prayers and support!

Love,
Carrie

4th Grade Math

WHY PARENTS DRINK... A father passing by his son's bedroom was astonished to see that his bed was nicely made and everything was picked up. Then he saw an envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow that was addressed to 'Dad.' With the worst premonition he opened the envelope with trembling hands and read the letter.Dear Dad: It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with mom and you. I have been finding real passion with Stacy and she is so nice. But I knew you would not approve of her because of all her piercings, and tattoos, and tight motorcycle clothes and the fact that she is much older than I am. But it's not only the passion...Dad, she's pregnant. Stacy said that we will be very happy. She owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. We share a dream of having many more children. Stacy has opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone.We'll be growing it for ourselves and trading it with the other people that live nearby for cocaine and ecstasy. In the meantime we will pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Stacy can get better. She deserves it. Don't worry Dad. I'm 15 and I know how to take care of myself. Someday I'm sure that we will be back to visit so that you can get to know your grandchildren. Love Your Son John P. S. Dad, none of the above is true. I'm over at Tommy's house. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than the report card that's in my center desk drawer. I love you. Call me when it's safe to come home.

Let me first say that if/when the boys ever pull a stunt like the one above....

Raising boys is difficult at the best times:) Raising boys and trying to do 4th grade math is.....well.....nerve wracking to say the least:) For example...we finished math homework at 10:08 PM. What time was it when we started, 2 hours and 45 minutes earlier? No using hands here or looking at a clock. It must be a formula, equation, whatever they call it now...just some written way to get the answer:)

We don't drink.....yet? :) lol!!!! JK!!!!!

Have a good weekend!

Carrie

P.S. God has blessed me beyond measure.....for that I'm truly thankful! And for those of you math whizzes.....go ahead and laugh at the time it took us to figure out the procedure. We knew the answers...just couldn't explain on paper how we got it! Should 4th graders know military time? Oh, and military time ain't got nutin to do with it:)

More Fall Decor!

Hey ya'll it's fall!!

Go over and check out my cousin-n-law at CrazyKidTeacher! She is showcasing Hobby Lobby at it's finest!! I wish I didn't have to drive 50 miles to get to the nearest store.....seeing gas is scarce:) Had to hunt again this morning for the liquid gold!

Thanks BL for sharing your home with us!

Now.... these mini pics are from my friend TW. After visiting with me via blogasphere on this date, she commenced to texting me a few pics of her fall decor. I've requested they be willed to me:) She mentioned she didn't know why she decorated...due to the fact she has no friends:)...JK!!!....no...really it's proximity....and only her family gets to see it. Same here....and all I get is, "Mom, what did you buy that for:)" Oh well, I enjoy it and aren't we allowed to enjoy something? :) Your home is beautiful TW!

Okay TW.....enjoy your company!!


Carrie

The Agony of Defeat

Have I mentioned that I'm a sore loser! Well, I am! Last night was one of those nail biting, barn burning, good 'ole football games. I love 'em! But I dislike the losing part. 26-28 was the final score. We led the whole game and they snuck up and beat us in 4th qtr.

Son #1 would not pose for a pic this morning. Imagine that:) So I'm forced to give you the visual: red, bruised marks on his face and neck.... and I think back. He'll be real proud of me advertising his battle wounds:) Oh, but just imagine what his opponent looked like this morning. According to him, his marks were results of him mashing his man into the ground:) You go boy!! Hurt 'em!! :)

Needless to say, we played hard, but came up 2 points short!

Another life lesson.

Even when we do our best, we don't always win. BUT.....every trial makes one stronger...so never give up. Keep on keeping on till the Lord returns! Be resolute! Such faith honors God, and God honors such faith!

Try, try again! Even when Satan is grabbing your feet, trying to trip you up on every play:) Hold on, never give up...keep on trying...keep on fighting....singing that song from Selah.

Blessings,

Carrie

Hold On - Hands for Christ