WW #3

Cousins: Andrea and Todd

Don't Stop

I know some are wanting an update on how things are going...
First, I want to thank all the Prayer Warriors who are praying for my family.
God is working and I feel the strength and encouragement from the prayers.
The "lost sheep" is home (PRAISE THE LORD)!! The battle is still raging. I know this is a spiritual battle and I have given it to God. This is so hard to do. I keep wanting to fix things and I am learning that I need to leave it with God. Don't stop praying. We have small battles everyday and and I know that God will win the war. This is all I can say right now. I hope to have more bloggs soon.
Just remember to pray 24/7. My little lamb needs covered in prayer 24 hours a day.

Calling all Prayer Warriors!!!!

Prayer Warriors......My family is under attack We need prayer. Please pray for Joey and I to have guidance and direction. Pray for Andrea to find her way back to God!
Call your deacons, prayer chain....anybody who can pray. Ask them to pray for us!!

Funny Friday

I found this on crosswalk.com .. I work in education and thought these to cute not to share.

Who Needs the Better Education?

These are real notes written by parents in a Tennessee school district... (spellings have been left intact.) 1. My son is under a doctor's care and should not take PE today. Please execute him.
2. Please exkuce lisa for being absent she was sick and i had her shot.
3. Dear school: please ecsc's john being absent on jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and also 33.
4. Please excuse gloria from jim today. She is administrating.
5. Please excuse roland from p.e. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip.
6. John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face.
7. Car! lo! s was absent yesterday because he was playing football. He was hurt in the growing part.
8. Megan could not come to school today because she has been bothered by very close veins.
9. Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side.
10. Please excuse ray friday from school. He has very loose vowels.
11. Please excuse pedro from being absent yesterday. He had (diahre, dyrea, direathe), the runs. [note: words in ( )'s were crossed out]
12. Please excuse tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea, and his boots leak.
13. Irving was absent yesterday because he missed his bust.
14. Please excuse jimmy for being. It was his father's fault.
15. I kept billie home because she had to go christmas shopping because i don't know what size she wear.
16. ! Pl! ease excuse jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it monday. We thought it was sunday.
17. Sally won't be in school a week from friday. We have to attend her funeral.
18. My daughter was absent yesterday because she was tired. She spent a weekend with the marines.
19. Please excuse jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed well. [Might be a good thing?]
20. Please excuse mary for being absent yesterday. She was in bed with gramps.
21. Gloria was absent yesterday as she was having a gangover.
22. Please excuse brenda. She has been sick and under the doctor.
Now we know why parents are screaming for better education for our kids. They too may be parents some day!

I would love to hear your funny. send me a comment and make me laugh!!!

I've been tagged

Friday, November 30, 2007

I've been tagged
Tagged!!!Okay, I've just been tagged by Dee Dee for the longest meme ever invented. It's self explanatory, so I'll just dive right in. 'K here goes.
1. What kind of soap is in your bathtub right now? Pomegranate with burst bubbles
2. Do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator? Uh, no
.3. What would you change about your living room? family room for me the carpet.
.4. Are the dishes in your dishwasher clean or dirty? Clean
5. What is in your fridge? still leftovers from Thanksgiving
6. White or wheat bread? white but it is old....I need to feed it to the birds.
7. What is on top of your refrigerator? tray with pretty clear bottles with food coloring in them.
8. What color or design is on your shower curtain? clear with mesh pockets for Andrea to put things.
9. How many plants are in your home? 5 live ones from when Joey was in the hospital.
10. Is your bed made right now? yes
11. Comet or Soft Scrub? Soft Scrub
12. Is your closet organized? NO, I wish it was.
13. Can you describe your flashlight? I don't have one.
14. Do you drink out of glass or plastic more at home? plastic.
15. Do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now? no
16. If you have garage, is it cluttered? CLUTTERED!!!
17. Curtains or blinds? mostly blinds, but I do have 2 rooms that have curtains.
18. How many pillows do you sleep with? 4 ..2 for head, 1 between my knees, one to hold or put to myback. I know weird.LOL
19. Do you sleep with any lights on at night? just a night light in the kitchen.
20. How often do you vacuum? ummmmmmm not enough
21. Standard toothbrush or electric? Standard.
22. What color is your toothbrush? blue
23. Do you have welcome mat on your front porch? yes.
24. What is in your oven right now? no
25. Is there anything under your bed? yes, 2 blankets and some stuff of Joey's.
26. Chore you hate the most? cleaning the toiliet.
27. What retro items are in your home? ?????
28. Do you have a separate room you use an an office? yes..
29. How many mirrors are in your home? I think 5
30. Do you have any hidden emergency money around your home? don't think so...
31. What color are your walls? beige for most of the house. my bathroom plum or purple.
32. What does your home smell like right now? prob.taco bell. supper last night.
33. Favorite candle scent? I love candles ...not sure of my favorite.
34. What kind of pickles are in your refrigerator right now? Dill chips
35. Ever been on your roof? NO
36. Do you own a stereo? no, Andrea has 1
37. How many TVs do you have? two
38. How many phones? 2 phones and 3 cell phones.
39. Do you have a housekeeper? Ha! Yeah, her name's Darlene and she is not doing good right now. Lately I've been thinking of letting her go... (that was Dee Dee's answer... but I agree lol)40. What style do you decorate in? not sure

41. Do you like solid colors in furniture or prints? I would love a flora couch ...Joey always says NO ....so we have leather.
42. Is there a smoke detector in your home? yes... I think we have 2.

Wordless Wednesday #2

Andrea all dressed up for Calera's Prom "07" along with Paul (her date) Hillary and Danny

Camping on Thanksgiving

I had so much fun camping over Thanksgiving! We left on Wednesday evening and found a great spot at Winn Creek just across the road from Paul, Tracy and Connor Bush. Joey and Andrea left to find supper while I stayed behind and organized the camper. I cooked 2 pans of corn bread for my dressing and was ready to eat by the time they returned (we had pizza). On Thursday, I cooked my FIRST Thanksgiving Dinner. I really never thought about how much time goes into preparing such a great feast....till Thursday. WOW! I cooked from 8am till like 11:45..I loved every minute of it!! Can I just say I CAN COOK!!! even in a camper!!!! I was thrilled that my first Thanksgiving meal for my family was yummy O! I cooked turkey, ham, dressing for the very 1st time and we could eat the food (it was so tasty....YUMMY O!! We also had green beans, mac and chesse and mash potatoes. and store bought pecan pie. The best rolls that was so good you almost forgot to chew.LOL I just smiled when I tasted each bite and even better was watching Andrea and Joey's face when they tasted each bite. YUMMY O!!!
Okay, I will stop bragging about my FIRST Thanksgiving meal. I bet you can't tell that I am proud can you????
The weather was a little cold....but perfect when sitting around the camp fire. I could hardly wait to go out by the fire on Friday. One of my favorite things is to sit by the fire and eat roasted peanuts and throw the hulls in the fire. I got to do this 2 times!!! I felt like a kid at Chistmas. We had movie night at our camper on Friday night and watched Santa Claus 3 and then on Sat. night we listened to the Iron Bowl. I am sad to say my team didn't win, but, I was thrilled to spend time with Joey, Andrea and the Bush's. (no my camper doesn't have a satelite). Maybe Santa will bring us one???
Okay, I did go to Wal-mart like 3 times and on Friday Andrea talked us into going to Goody's.

I am so Thankful for the time spent with Joey and Andrea. It was also good to spend time with Tracy, Paul and Connor. They are so much fun and it has been great getting to know them better. I introduced Connor to knew foods like pomegrantates, dog food (chex mix in choc and covered with powdered sugar) That was one of our Wal-mart trips was to teach Tracy how to buy pomegrantates.
I needed this time away. God has blessed me and I am so Thankful for all HE has done, is doing and will be doing for me.
How did you celebrate Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving: means so much to me....especially this year. Joey, Andrea and I are going camping again this year for Thanksgiving. We usually go after we leave his Mom's....but this year we are suppose to go on Wednesday and return on Sunday am. Joey teaches a Sunday School class and doesn't want to miss this. This means I will be cooking my very first Thanksgiving meal! I am excited and scared!! I will let you know how it turns out.

I am so thankful for all the friends who have prayed for us. Things are going so much better.
I am also thankful for family, my church and friends. Health, job, home. Thankful that I have a church family who will pray for us and encourage us in the good times and bad. Thankful that I have a bible ( not just one, but many). Thankful that I can worship freely. God has truly BLESSED me and my family....for this I am thankful. I could go on and on and on. The list is to great to name each one. Above all these things I am thankful that I serve a LIVING GOD who is my KING and I am HIS princess.

To all who read this whether you are far away or just around the corner....I WISH YOU A HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND I PRAY YOU ARE HEALTHY AND SAFE!

P.S. my words don't always come out like it sounds in my head. I wanted to post something profound about Thanksgiving and all I can do is think about what I am thankful for and how God has blessed my family. maybe it doesn't sound too goofy....

Can you believe this?

It is so hard to believe all the things my family is going through. Just this week: Joey wakes me up at 4am on Tuesday with moaning and groaning! I asked him if he was okay and he said NO. I am in severe pain. The pain is on his right side and it is real bad. Joey being the man that he is decided that he could drive himself to the doctor. When he arrives at the doctor the nurse gives him 2 pain shots. Then the doctor tells him he has kidney stones. Of course he can't drive home because of the pain shots and I leave work to pick him up. Then find out that he can't be left alone in case the stone gets lodged in movement. The house has to be quiet and so lets just say I have a very long day. I pick Andrea up from cheer practice and later we go and pick up Joey's truck. Later that night, Joey has passed the stone and is feeling better. Thank you God!
Wednesday morning, Andrea tells me that her shoulder is hurting and she could not lay on the shoulder in the night. She goes to a local chiropractor who says the shoulder is dislocated and she has possible micro -tears in the deltoid muscle (I think). Andrea can't cheer or practice for 1 week. The cheer squad has a state competition on Dec. 1st and they have practiced a lot to prepare for this. Cheer coach takes Andrea to gym to ice down the shoulder. Then proceeds to call the physical therapist for Jemison Athletics. He wants to see her right away. My family is always so dependable....on this day I could not reach anyone. So, Stephen and a family friend Sam are nice enough to come and pick Andrea up and take her to Clanton to see the therapist. He tells her that she has limit rotation and weight lift in her shoulder. She needs to see doctor and may possibly need surgery. She is going today to see Dr. Lemak at St. Vincents to probably have a MRI and then see what he says. I know this is backing up ....on Monday I took my car to the Mazada dealership because the check engine light is staying on. They have to order a part and should be in and ready to go on Tuesday. The part is back-ordered and may be up to 5 days before they can get my car ready. They offered to give me a loaner car. Because I need to pick up Andrea from cheer practice at 5pm(she is grounded from car) and Joey's truck there is no way I can make it to the dealership by 6...so I tell them I will pick up loaner car on Wednesday. On Wednesday, I call and guess what, the loaner car is now loaned out to someone else. They offer to rent me a car and I tell them okay, I will come on Thursday and pick it up. also not to mention some things going on in Children's dept. that I can't go into. you know....budget, workers, etc.
By this time ......I am feeling very overwhelmed! I think "what in the world is going on here?"
Honestly I feel like giving up and hiding in my room under the covers. Plus, you know my family has been through so much in the past 3 weeks. I really am considering giving up Children's and Women's teams and just not doing nothing. I have a 5:30 women's team meeting on Wednesday.
I talked to Dee Dee about my feelings and she encourages me and tells me not to give up. That has much as I love Andrea that God loves her more. And not to give in to all this that is going on in my life. Andrea for the first time since all this began ....gets in the car after church and actually talks to me about the fun she had in her class. I am so excited! This is the Andrea that I always knew. This is the Andrea that I have missed so much!!
When we sit down Wednesday night to have our family devotion.....you would not believe what it is on!!
Faith! I sat there stunned and teary eyed. My God is telling me not to give up to keep pressing on ...not to lose FAITH! I shared with Joey and Andrea how I was feeling about giving up and how I feel that God was sending me this message. I don't know if they really understood what I am going through ....they just kinda looked at me. Maybe they too are in shock. But, I know without a doubt that God loves me and doesn't want me to give up; that HE will take care of all my needs and I truly believe that all will be great in my family again. I don't know when or how long it will take. I do know that God will take care of us!
Thanks to you for all the prayers...I know you will continue to pray for Andrea's heart and now shoulder. I will let you know what the doc. says.

Wordless Wednesday

Focus:

I know it has been a week since my last post, my heart has been so heavy that I just couldn't seem to write.

I think you can figure out from reading my past blogs that my family is going through a rough time. Things are slowly getting better and when I say slow .....it is slow. This is a time I wish it would pass fast.LOL

It is hard to explain what is going on....

Most of Andrea's teenage years she was always focused on God and so in love with HIM that I never thought I would worry about who she gave her heart to. Andrea had very high standards in what she was looking for in a boyfriend....for example: no bad language was big one.
Andrea told me one day about a guy who liked her in 8th grade and I think she might would have liked him if it wasn't for one thing. His mouth. He used bad language. She said if she agreed to be his girlfriend and he talked like that, then what would God say? and she didn't want to let God down. Oh, how I cherish those wonderful conversations. Somehow over time and I really don't know when, but something changed.

Andrea started a daily quiet time with God in 7th grade. She was always so loyal in doing her quiet time. I would go by her room and check on her and she would have her bible out reading the scripture for the day. Her mentor, Michelle would tell me how proud she was of Andrea for spending time with God and doing her quiet time.

I think in the past 6months and maybe even a year, Andrea lost her focus. I was not even aware that she had stopped her quiet time. Which is what I think led us to what we are going through ....

Andrea was devastated that Joey made her and boyfriend break-up.....maybe one day I will tell you about it. Right now she is hurting to much for me to put it all out there. Joey and I feel we did what we thought was best for our daughter...God gave her to us to protect and that is exactly what we are doing. She doesn't understand this ......one day she will. We think because Andrea lost her focus with God and that is why she allowed this guy in her life. A guy who didn't put God first (or Andrea for that matter) in his life.

My family has gone through so much in the past 3 weeks and I know it could have been so much worse without God in our lives. We started a family devotion each night. This is a start to hopefully mending us back together. I know it will take time for hearts to heal and I know that God is doing this.

What I am trying to say is when you lose focus things happen. Andrea lost focus and fell for a smoothe talking, good looking young man. I know she is not the first and unfortunately want be the last....it still hurts. My Andrea... is such a treasure and God truly blessed us when He gave her to us and I know God has great things planned for her. I also know that he has the perfect young man for her too. When the time is right for him to come into Andrea's life, I know God will have her heart ready.

I suggest to those who are reading that have teenagers to ask them often about their relationship with God and about their quiet time. Like....what scripture did you read today, how can I help you with your quiet time or if they have any questions about the devotion or what would they like to share from their devotion. Do a family devotion at least once a week or discuss the devotions as a family at the dinner table. These are things I didn't do and wish I had. Maybe, I would have known that the focus was off and could have helped get it back. I don't know????

If you are wondering if Joey and I would go through this again if necessary? The answer is YES!

The road is bumpy and there are huge pot holes.....but, through God we will dig out of the pot holes and bounce over the bumps.

"For nothing is impossible with God" Luke 1:37

P.S. To those who are praying for us.....THANK-YOU for praying we can feel strength from those prayers and encouragements. Keep us on your prayer list. I don't know how I would make it without friends and prayer warriors!!!!

Sad today

Today, I am very sad. My family needs a lot of prayer. Our daughter is going through huge things at this time in her life and I am sad because she seems to have turn her back on what matters most. I hope I am wrong but, this is how I feel. If you read this....please pray for her and us (parents). I know that God is in control and I know we are learning a lesson, but right now I wonder at what cost and what is the lesson?

His Princess

What does this mean? in the dictionary Princess means: a daughter/granddaughter or a monarch: a female member of royal family: the wife of a prince.
I have a book called "His Princess Love Letters from Your King" by Sheri Rose Shepherd.
She says in the book " It's hard to look at our lives and think of ourselves as royalty. But, the truth is, God is our King and we are chosen by him". As I look through the book and read the letters to My Princess, and the scripture that goes with it....(light bulb moment) It makes me realize that I am a Princess and God is my King! I never really thought about it before. In John 15:16 YOU DIDN'T CHOOSE ME, I CHOSE YOU. I APPOINTED YOU TO GO AND PRODUCE FRUIT THAT WILL LAST, SO THAT THE FATHER WILL GIVE YOU WHATEVER YOU ASK FOR, USING MY NAME. Wow, God chose me to be HIS Princess! I am royalty even when I don't feel like it. God has plans for ME! He will show me how to let go of things in this life that are holding me back from the blessings that HE wants to give me. He wants to teach me everyday and I just need to recognize him has King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Lover of my soul! I don't know if you can tell...but, I am going through some pretty rough times lately. My daughter is a senior in high school and can't wait to fly away ...while Joey and I are trying desperately to clip the wings. I know I am not the only one going through this, but still it is not easy. Joey and I want any guy that comes into Andrea's life to treat her like a Princess. Right now that is not happening and it really makes me sad in a number of ways.
1. Our precious Andrea is so sweet and she has a good caring heart. There is so much potential for her in this life. For some jerk to not see this makes me sad.
2. My Princess should be put first. and if you can't do this ...then don't even come around.
3. My Princess is young in the things of this world.....don't take advantage of her.
4. My Princess is sometimes to willing to help others and while I am proud of her.....I don't want her to get hurt.
5. My Princess should be enjoying her senior year and not having to deal with jerk who is upsetting my family.
Maybe, I should not be calling this person a jerk,( I try hard not to call people names) but, right now that is the best name for him. I am trying to be nice.
Anyway, because we expect Andrea to be treated like a Princess, well, it made me start thinking about what a Princess really is.....and that led me to the book in the closet .....that let me to realize WOW, I am the King of Kings Princess!!! I can go to my King when I am: strong, weary, rejoicing and when I feel crushed. When I need rest, teaching...there is so much that My King wants to reveal to me. You see My King didn't create me for this fallen world....He created me for Paradise, but, the curse of sin tore us apart and He conquered sin and death for me and through the death of his son...I can go to him and live. "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28-29.
I know God has great plans for Andrea ....He told me in Jeremiah. I remind her of this all the time. While parenting is a huge job ( who ever said it gets easier when they get older...must have been on drugs) I wouldn't take nothing for My Princess!! I love her more than I can express ....I don't know if there is a word that can express it. I know I have made plenty of parenting mistakes and will make plenty more. But, God truly has blessed me with a daughter that is the sunshine of my life in good times and bad. As Scarlet would say " tomorrow is another day". I am sure this too will pass. My heart is say today and tears come to easily. I know that My King will give me(His Princess) guidance and peace. Thankyou My King, THANK-YOU!

Women need Women

Women need Women that is a fact. I am so excited we now have a mentoring group at my church. The beginning: Krista and I went to a women's conference at Brook Hills Church, and we heard about the Woman to Woman mentoring program and thought what a great idea and how we could use the program at CBC (Calera Baptist Church). We told our committee about it and started looking into how to set the program up for us.In the mean time.... we had several ladies express to us the need for a christian mentor to give advice in several areas like: husbands, children, christian living, prayer and accountability and how to find someone who would be willing to take on the task. The women's committee decided to pray about the program see where God led us.
Over a year later.....Well, can I just say "God is soooo Good!" It took a lot of work and dedication but, we had our 1st Coffee ( that is where the ladies come to meet and decide if the want to participate in the mentor/mentee program).
Then step 2 was the committee matching up the mentor/mentee. WOW, you could see in this meeting how God was using each of us ladies in matching these ladies. I must say, I never thought I would be a mentor. I don't feel worthy enough to help someone else and I have made so many mistakes in my life and well, I was just SCARED to be a mentor ......I wanted to be a mentee. God had a different plan. HE is asking me to step out of my box!! So, I told God...I will step out of the box, but I can't do this without you and HE assured me I would not be alone ( how awesome is that?).
Step 3. the kick-off was Oct.18th. this is where the mentor meets the mentee and their own prayer warrior. This is the beautiful part... to see all the ladies go to each other and introduce themselves has the mentors and mentees. I wanted to sit back and watch how they came together the surprise on their faces and then the hugs. You see when the mentees came into the room you could see uncertainty on their faces and they were nervous. The mentors the same with nerves and hoping the mentee would be glad to have you has a mentor you know like "what in the world am I doing" looks. But, has the ladies came together it was just beautiful! I wished we had video to watch this moment. To see what God is doing in our Women's ministry and allowing me to see it all come together and be apart is so precious to me. There was a time I got teary eyes, because ME .....Darlene allowed God to use me and the other ladies on the team to help bring all these precious ladies together. When I am old and gray I think this will be one of the moments I will look back on in my life .....I will never forget it.
This week my mentee and I will have our 1st meeting.....I am excited and still scared. But, I know that God will be right beside me.

I think this may be FUN!

I think I might acutally enjoy doing this. I am very nervous about wording and people understanding what I am trying to say. But, I am sure if they get confused they will ask me about it.

I started hearing about blogging from Dee Dee and I thought "what in the world is blogging?" Then I seem to be addicted to reading blogs everyday. I don't know if anyone is interested in me or what I have to say....but, I decided to try blogging out and see what happens!