Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving.

We are going to the lake to spend Thanksgiving with my in-laws.

We have a great time at the lake. When we turn onto their street the boys always say, "This is where the fun begins!"

We also have a tradition, once the blessing is said each person takes a turn and says one thing which they are thankful for.

While I am thankful for several things every year, this year I am truly thankful for all of my bloggy friends.

Each of you has blessed me in one way or another this year. You have encouraged me, lifted me up, and given me a shoulder to cry on.

Thank you friends.

I pray you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with your family and loved ones.

Being a working parent stinks

This week is the crazy scheduling of school Thanksgiving dinners and activities.

This past week, R8 had his Thanksgiving school lunch for the parents on Tuesday and R3 had his on Thursday.

Being an outside the home working mother, it gets hard to pick and choose which functions to attend.

I have a great boss who lets me leave when needed to take care of things for my boys but I never want to over step the boundary of asking off to much.

This is where being a working parent stinks!

It is always a hard decision to make. I don't want to hurt my child's feelings or for them to be the one with out a parent at a function.

I have seen the look on the children's faces whose parents don't come and it breaks my heart.

So I told both boys that I would try my best to come to each ones dinner. I ended up going to R8's and when I walked in the classroom, he had his head in his hands with a pitiful look on his face waiting to see if someone would show up.

His face lit up and was so excited I was there. It made me glad I went.

Thursday came and I just couldn't get away to go to R3's party. I had a 2pm deadline and I didn't take lunch just to get it finished in time.

Hubs ended up going to R3's party and he was just as excited to see him as he would have been to see me. I on the other hand still felt bad I wasn't there. I know Hubs has just as an important role as I do, but I'm the mom! I wanted to be there.

What I want to know is how do other mother's do it? I know I can't do it all but I could use some advice.

Quit grawlin' like an ol' barre

One night this past week Hubs and I were flipping through the TV channels and came a cross one of my favorite movies.

The Coal Miner’s Daughter.

I love this movie. It is one of those that I could watch over and over and recite every line.

Other movies I could do this with would be….
Sixteen Candles
Can’t Buy Me Love
An Affair to Remember
The Parent Trap (old and new version)

Anyway, Hubs made the comment he had never seen The Coal Miner’s Daughter and so from that point on the TV never changed channels.

I also know how he hates it when I spew out the coming line or even better when I talk with the actor when they are saying their lines.

So in honor of his first viewing, I kept my mouth shut. Oh it was hard but so worth it.

Y'all I love Lorettie’s accent when she is talking to Doo or her mama and daddy. I also love the one liners she constantly says during the entire movie.

For those of you who have seen this movie you know exactly what I am talking about.

The movie is based on the life of the first lady of country music, Loretta Lynn. It is truly a touching and amazing story.

She is always telling Doo to quit grawlin’ like and ol’ barre or saying daag gumit Doo.
Great I tell you, great.

Loretta grew up in a town called Butcher Holler. I never knew there was such a place till I saw this movie. I grew up in big city Houston and Butcher Holler is tiny city rural.

Speaking of rural, did you know that UPS considers College Station, TX rural?

(Did you just totally get that transition?)

I mean the home of Texas A&M University. Home of the 12th Man. Home to one of the nations top universities. Home of the Aggies! Gig Em'

Please, rural, I don’t think so.

I had to ship fire alarm plans for the company I work for to the Fire Marshal in College Station and they had to be overnighted.

So when I went to UPS and asked for overnight delivery I asked if they could be there at 8AM, because I know this a new option they are offering.

The nice sales lady said they didn’t offer the 8AM delivery because it was in a rural area.
Now I don’t know how many of you have ever been to College Station, but is anything but rural.

I don’t see how a city with a university the size of Texas A&M could be consider rural, but whatever.

So the only option I had was delivery by 10:30AM. So I jumped on that and sent the plans off.

The great news in all of this was the plans were delivered by 10AM.

And the Fire Marshal approved the plans so we can start working on a new multi story apartment complex designed in the shape of a horseshoe, with its very own multi story parking garage. And it’s very own mini shopping center right in the middle. Complete with gas station, grocery store, work out complex, and laundry service. Kind of like its very own city.

So if College Station is considered rural, what would this new state of the art apartment complex be considered?

Borrowed blog award

Jules from The Roost is an incredible woman.

She is always so encouraging and uplifting. Not to mention beautiful.

She comments on my blog often and I love reading what she has to say.

She won two blog awards this week and passed them on to all of her readers because she couldn't pick "just a few".

Since it's Friday and I am kind of lacking an idea for today's post, I totally borrowed this award.








Thanks, Jules.

With this award comes a list of questions to answer with just one word. Here are my responses.

1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Where is your significant other? school
3. Your hair color? brown
4. Your mother? Pam-maw's
5. Your father? home
6. Your favorite thing? family
7. Your dream last night? peaceful
8. Your dream/goal? devoted
9. The room you’re in? office
10. Your hobby? blogging
11. Your fear? loss
12. Where do you want to be in six years? vacation
13. Where were you last night? friends
14. What you’re not? fake
15. One of your wish list items? trip
16. Where you grew up? Texas
17. The last thing you did? eat
18. What are you wearing? clothes
19. Your T.V.? off
20. Your pet? none
21. Your computer? Mac
22. Your mood? there
23. Missing someone? grandma
24. Your car? SUV
25. Something you’re not wearing? heels
26. Favorite store? hhhmmmmmm....
27. Your Summer? blast
28. Love someone? yes
29. Your favorite color? navy
30. When is the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? weeks

And since I too, can't pick just a few bloggers, please feel free to take this award for a great way to start the weekend.

A Christmas give away

The wonderfully talented Yvette at The Charm House is having a give away.

I can't even begin to describe all of the amazing things she has made. Just one look at her blog and you will have to agree.

When God was handing out creativity, she was the first in line.

I have been on the receiving end of her gifts and I love them all.

So go check out her blog and see the cool thing she is giving away and leave her a comment. I know she will appreciate it.

An early Christmas present

Hubs gave me an early Christmas present. Even though we said we weren't going to exchange gifts between us this year he couldn't resist.

A while ago I was reading a post by Shannon for this.

I immediately fell in love with it and proceeded to talk about it for the next week.

We are out of the baby stage in my house and there are no plans for going back there either. But I loved the idea of using it for my lap top.

I like to sit in the recliner and work on the computer but the darn thing always gets so freakin' hot that I have to put a million blankets over my legs. Then I get hot and have to kick them off only to have to put them back on. It's a vicious cycle.

So this pillow was the perfect answer.

Hubs ordered the pillow for me and didn't tell me until a few days before it arrived. I hugged his neck, glad to see all of the subtle hints I gave during the week worked.

So on the day it was to arrive I was super pumped. But it never came. For some reason or another it went back to Heather at the Blessed Nest.

Heather is wonderful! She kept apologizing to Hubs for the inconvenience. And because it ended up being a few more days till I actually got the pillow, she threw in another cover.

How is that for customer service? I will never have to wait to use my pillow because the cover is dirty and being washed.

The pillow is terrific! If you know anyone who uses a laptop computer or is expecting a baby, this would be the perfect gift.

The only problem I am having right now with mine is I never get to use it. R8 takes it and snuggles with it. And I have to wait till he is asleep to pry it from his grasp.

Paying it forward

Beachy Mimi, who by the way has a heart as big as the world and is so funny she will have you rolling on the floor laughing, had a give away going on a while back for Thanksgiving and I won!

I couldn't believe it. I was so excited. I love to win, anything really. It's the thrill of the win that gets me.

Anyway, she was giving away two $50.00 gift cards to Walmart. TWO!

One for you to keep for yourself and one to pass on. Pay it forward she said. She also said be in prayer for a specific need to give your card to.

So I did just that. I prayed and asked God to lay on my heart what to do with the gift card I had won.

I prayed for several days and then all at once God answered me. He said ask Hubs. He teaches school and would surely know a family that could use a $50.00 gift card this time of year.

And I did just that.

I told him about how I wanted a child who might not usually experience the holidays the way we do, to have a chance at possibly making one of their dreams come true. To have food for Thanksgiving or presents at Christmas.

He said that was a wonderful idea and would ask the school counselor if she knew of a family that could use a little help this year.

The catch on my part was I wanted the gift to be completely anonymous. I didn't want this family to feel obligated to thank us or worse to feel embarrassed if they saw us in the hall at school.

So Friday morning Hubs brought the gift card to school and approached the counselor. God has such perfect timing. PERFECT TIMING!

The counselor had said just that morning a family was put before her who were in need of some help.

It was a family of four whose out look for the holiday season wasn't very bright and they were struggling.

See God's perfect timing? He amazes me every day.

He provided me with the win from Beachy Mimi to provide this family with a little hope.

When Hubs called me and told me the story two things happened.
1. I got chills, big fat goose bumps.
2. I felt blessed.

I know the economy is in the toilet right now. And everyone seems to be pinching pennies.

But I am asking all of you to find some way to pay it forward. Whether it be a gift card for $10.00. Or volunteering at a soup kitchen. Maybe donating old coats and blankets to a homeless shelter.

Give to some one who could truly use your blessing this time of year.

Pay it forward. You won't regret it and in return you will be the one who is blessed.

Give me a break

OK last time I talk about politics, for a while. But this one I couldn't resist.

Why not just call them by their real names.

It's not like they just didn't tell the entire world!

Geeezzzz.

Ring The Bells

A few weeks ago Big and Boo had a give away on their blogs for the new Travis Cottrell CD, Ring The Bells.

I entered but didn't win. And that's OK because I said if I didn't win I was going to buy the CD anyway.

Last night I did, and OH MY GOSH!!!!

It is completely A-M-A-Z-I-N-G ! ! !

I love the songs Ring The Bells, and Once More. Those songs give me shivers and bring tears to my eyes.

So if you have never heard of Travis (Can't imagine anyone not hearing of him) or even if you have but don't have this CD, run, RUN and go buy it.

Oh and Lifeway has it on sale right now for $10.00

Run I tell you, run.

I hope there are no spiders

Construction on the inside of my house started on Monday.

I went home after work and this is what I saw when I walked through the door.

I am excited about the progress that was made. The sheet rock was in the garage already but I forgot to take a picture of all the pallets.

It was very humbling to walk into my home and see the roof boards. No ceiling, no insulation, nothing!

And truth be told, attics completely freak me out.

I won't even go in ours. I will stand on the ladder with a broom and flip on the light before I will even think of poking my head up beyond the landing.

Something about the thought of spiders crawling around or even worse sliding down a web string and landing on my head.

The images of the movie Arachnophobia run rampant in my head.

I don't do spiders of any shape, size, or color.

No way! No how! Not happening! Not now! Not ever!

Did I mention I don't like spiders?

The big time

R8 has reached the big time.

He is now a bus rider at school.

We live outside the school district lines but Hubs teaches in the district and as perk our children get to attend school there.

Hubs takes R8 to school every morning and has since he started kindergarten. Usually R8 goes to after school care at the daycare where R3 goes.

After much discussion Hubs and I decided that R8 can ride the bus to the middle school when school lets out to meet him while he coaches basketball. Also our friend S graciously said she would pick him up for us if we ever needed her to. That would be very convenient for me as we are staying with them right now.

Yesterday was the first day for him to ride the bus and I must say I was very nervous. I always rode the bus when I was in school and this really shouldn't have been a big deal. It wasn't a big deal for R8, he was excited. Me, not so much.

I didn't want him getting on the wrong bus. I didn't want the older kids to have a bad influence on R8. We all know kids can be cruel and I didn't want that for my child.

Also we had a family tragedy a few years ago that has left a deep scar regarding bus riding.

So I really had to pray about this. I had to turn all of my anxiety and fear over to God. I had to give him complete and total control. I admit, it took some effort all day.

While I knew deep in heart God would cover R8 and take care of him, it's the mama in me that wanted to micro manage.

But in the midst of my struggle God provided me with peace and proof that he is in control. He had his hand all over the situation.

R8 arrived safely to Hubs. And the message Hubs texted me said this...

He is here. Powers out!

Thank you to our veteran's

Happy Veteran's Day!

Today is a day to remember all of the men and women who fought or are fighting for our country.

Today is a day to remember all that these individuals have sacrificed for me and for you.

Each and every veteran, in the front line, behind the scenes gave of them self for our nation.

Today is a day to thank each one of them, from past wars to current wars. A day to pray for them and their families.

I am completely humbled when I think about all they have given to me and my family.

Thank you veterans!! May God always bless you!!

Stocking and stitches

When R3 was just a few months shy of turning two we made our first trip to the Emergency Room.

We had managed to avoid this adventure with R8, but R3, I have a feeling this won't be the first and last visit to the ER.

Hubs and I decided we were going to try something new for Thanksgiving that year and we weren't going to be home that weekend.

I have always decorated the house for Christmas on Thanksgiving weekend, and I really wanted to keep with that tradition. So I decorated the weekend before.

I put the wreaths on the doors, pulled the tree out of its box and fluffed it up. I put out the stocking holders and put our stockings on them. I put out the trees and lights that go in each boys room. And then put out all of my other Christmas decorations.

R8 had gone off to his room to play, Hubs was at the computer, and I was still making sure everything was exactly where I wanted it, when I heard the most excruciating sound to any mothers ears.

R3 let out a blood curling scream like I have never heard before.

I turned around to see him standing in front of the fire place with blood running down his face.

Me, being the calm, cool, and collected one, oh wait that would be Hubs. I PANICKED!!!

I started to scream and then R3 screamed louder and Hubs literally had to take over. Something about the blood and the howling freaked me out.

Hubs scoops up R3 brings him into the kitchen and sets him on the counter, while I try to grab the boo-boo Spiderman from the freezer at the same time I am trying to get a cold wash cloth from the sink.

Hubs wipes R3's face to see where the blood was coming from and looks at me and says he is going to need stitches.

What? What did you say? Stitches?? No, I can't do stitches, I can barely do this.

Oh the other thing I forgot to mention, we were in our PJ's, all four of us.

We tell R8 to get dressed, Hubs gets dressed, then I get dressed and then I try to get R3 dressed. I put a long sleeve shirt on him and some jeans. Grab my purse and we all pile into the car.

I try to put R3 in his car seat but the stupid thing won't latch. I was the stupid one, I put both of R3's legs into one leg of his jeans.

I know I have skillz!. So right there in the garage I strip him down, while blood is still trickling down his face and fix the jeans issue.

OK, all fixed and off we go. Hubs drives because I can barely keep my self together and there was no way I was driving a car while my baby was in the back seat bleeding.

The entire 10 minute trip to the hospital, I am praying he does not need stitches and thinking Child Protective Services is going to come to my house and investigate our family. Great!

We park the car and walk into the ER. I hate the ER. Totally creeps me out being there. We check in and the nice clerk tells us we need to walk across the street to the minor care facility, because the ER is completely booked and it might be hours before we are admitted let alone see a doctor.

So, Hubs grabs R8's hand, I am carrying R3 and we walk out the door and head over to minor care.

It is at the point I realize three things. 1.) it's about 50* out side and R3 has no jacket and no shoes. 2.) None of us have jackets. 3.) I forgot the diaper bag!

When you have a baby, or un-potty trained child, YOU NEVER FORGET THE DIAPER BAG!

I am starting to feel like a horrible mother. I let my child get smacked in the head, I forget to dress him and the rest of my family properly and I FORGOT THE DIAPER BAG!

We get checked in, pay our ER copay and sit down to wait. I figure since R3 wasn't even 2 yet we might get back quick, you know being a baby and all.

W-R-O-N-G !!!

We had to wait almost 3 hours. By this time the bleeding had stopped and actually started to coagulate. He is acting fine, babbling and laughing, while I am a complete nut case.

We get back to see the doctor, he checks him out and says yes he will need three stitches. I say are you sure he needs three stitches? My child, stitches?

Yes ma'am he will need stitches. Oh and by the way what hit him an anvil?

OK, I think I can do this, breathe, I can do this. OK go ahead stitch him up.

The nurse comes in to prep R3 and puts him in what looks like a straight jacket for children only it's red and there aren't any sleeves for your arms. She wraps him this contraption and says to me, OK mom hold his legs down we are going to give him a shot to numb the area.

OK, I think I can do this, breathe, I can do this. OK give him the shot.

The nurse gives the shot, and then the screaming, and louder screaming. OK wait I can't do this, Hubs it's your turn. The whole time all of this is going on R8 is asking us if he can stay in the room to watch.

The doctors say sure if it's OK with your parents. Hubs immediately says yes. R8 plops himself down in a chair and is completely engrossed. I would like to say it was brotherly support but he thought all that doctor stuff was cool.

Me, I ended up out in the hallway pacing up and down like and expectant father.

I hear my name and think it's over and I can hold my baby, but it's not over. Hubs got to hot under the lamp over the bed and needs to come out of the room. And they need me.

OK, I think I can do this, breathe, I can do this. OK continue stitching up my child.

The darn procedure takes about 5 minutes, but to me it felt like 5 bazillion hours. Doctor says, OK you can go home.

So four hours and three stitches later we pile back into the car and get home at almost 1AM. Once home everyone gets back into their PJ's and off to bed. Except me, I put R3 in bed with us and watched him the entire night. I couldn't sleep. I watched him sleep peacefully all night. I was trying to redeem myself and find someone else to take the Bad Mother of the Year award.

Oh and here is what hit R3 square in the face right between the eyes. Yup right between the eyes.

A silver snowflake stocking holder that weighs just over 8lbs. And it has all of those pointy edges. See why I deserved the Bad Mother of the Year award.

It could have been much worse. So much worse. I am STILL trying to redeem myself.

Now when I put out the stockings, the holders don't even come out of the box. The stockings are now taped to the top of the mantel. I really don't think I have anything to worry about but I am not taking any chances.

Oh y'all to top that off. Exactly one month later....

R3 trips over Hubs' foot in the dining room and smacks his mouth on one of our solid wood chairs.

Yes more blood, and yes more screaming. Yes more visions of Child Protective Services coming to my house. He splits the outside of his mouth right where your mouth attaches itself to your bottom gum line and the inside of his mouth just to the left of that.

But this time after phone call with the pediatrician, no trip to the Emergency Room/Minor Care, and I remained calm, cool, and collected.

Sort of.

Moving out, sort of

Construction starts on the inside of our house officially on Monday. Woo Hoo!!!

I never thought this day would come and here almost two months after hurricane Ike, the day is upon me.

While the past few days have been crazy picking out paint colors and carpet, I couldn't be more excited.

And yes the same thing goes for the choosing the paint and carpet colors as the roof. Who knew there would be soooooo many shades of white, khaki, and pale yellow. Who would have ever thought that the color Sweet Butter would look green in my house but yes it did. Or that Snow White would look grey.

I am thankful we picked up enough color samples to finally make a decision.

So since that is now complete we have the daunting take of packing up as if we were moving but not moving out.

The contractor says we have to pack up the house of all the nick-knacks and pictures and other items on the walls or in storage areas.

So right now the house looks almost like it did when we moved in, B-A-R-E!!!

There are no pictures on any of the walls in my house. The china cabinet is completely empty of all of my china and crystal. And all of my beloved pictures of my family are packed in a box.

There are boxes every where just waiting to be unpacked.

So I am hoping we will be back in the house for Christmas. Because that is exactly what it will feel like when I walk back inside after everything is complete and I begin to unpack.

Opening each box to see all of my stuff to redecorate the house and the best part is I won't have to go and pay big bucks to do so.

Nice, very nice.

My boys

The other night while putting the boys to bed, R3 asked if I would sit and watch the movie that was on with him.

He was watching The Parent Trap. I wish it was the original one with Hayley Mills but R3 likes the one with Lindsey Lohan. (When she was a respectable girl) And it's OK because I like the new version to, I just like the other one better.

So I plopped my self down on the bed and R3 leaned into me and we just sat there and watched the movie. I sat there for almost 30 minutes just breathing in his fresh out of the bath smell.

The next thing I know, R8 comes and sits down right next to me and grabs my hand. He says, I love you mama. And my heart melts.

The boys and I watched the rest of the movie together. Well they watched and I studied each child. I carved their features into my brain like I have done a thousand times before.

Trying to capture a moment in time. I really just wanted to freeze time and stay there for ever.

I prayed over each child. I prayed for the men they will become and the boys they are now. I asked God to keep them safe from harm. I asked Him for an easy journey in life for them, knowing at times it wouldn't be. And when those times presented themselves if He would lift the load and guide them down the path made easier by His presence.

I breathed deeply into each child's head. To smell their clean hair. To touch their soft check.

While I know my season in motherhood isn't always easy, sometimes it down right stinks! I know to the very depth of my soul that I am blessed.

Blessed to be their mom. Blessed to feel complete. Blessed God gave them to me.

It's over

The election is over.

No more campaigning. No more name calling. No more mud slinging. No more debates. I would like to say no more media coverage but that has only begun.

My candidate didn't win. I am heart broken.

I knew that who ever won last night history would be made with either a female or a black male in the top two spots of our great nation.

While reading the blogs I visit everyday and then a few new ones the views displayed on election day were all the same.

God is in control. He knew the out come of this election before we did. His hands were all over yesterday's election.

I know we need to pray for the new leader of our nation. We need to cover him with prayer. We need him to feel God's presence so strong that He can longer be denied.

God is in control. My savior is in control of me. He gives me peace and comfort. Only Jesus Christ can do that, not this new leader.

While there are many questions about the future of our nation, I have no questions in my future. My future will be with my Lord and Savior. I will rest in him.

Something I have been waiting for

We started out here.














And then we went to this.














Now we are here!!!




























Please do not look at the color of the trim work and shutters. (now that I have drawn your attention to it.) They will be painted in a nice pretty shade called Stallion. It is very complimentary to the brick and roof. Also please don't notice the satellite dish sitting on the ground. The contractor had to take it down to repair the eves and roof. It won't be replaced until the painting is complete.

But hey I am thrilled to have a nice new pretty roof and that's all I was really trying to show y'all.

VOTE!

I am not one to go all political but being that the election is tomorrow I thought I would throw caution to the wind and put it out there.

I know some people are tired of all the presidential mud slinging. It seems it has become part of the campaign. And the media is always looking for a new angle to show off who is worse than the other.

But the bottom line is get out there and vote. This is just my thought, if you don't vote, then you don't earn the right to gripe about who is elected.

I also think before you make a firm decision about who to vote for do some research. I have heard more people spit things out that make absolutely no sense about each candidate.

So just in case you are wondering who I am voting for, and yes I have voted already, early voting rocks. Here is my choice for the new leaders of our country....

Together they will do great things for this nation and they have my support 100%!!!