When I woke this morning, it was just a normal day. I asked JD what he wanted to do and, of course, he answered “No!” which is his answer to every question. Then…the phone rang.

The first call was from my mother. She confirmed that we are having a yard sale Saturday. She suggested that I sell baked goods and drinks. The second call was from my sister suggesting that I email my friends and see if anyone can donate items. So, I did just that…let me tell you how great God is: within 20 minutes of my email, my phone was ringing once again with donations and my Inbox was overflowing. Wow…that is God, people. That is what would be described as a miracle. Don’t believe that miracles still happen? Then you are NOT paying attention to the world around you. Worldy people will read an email about a person they may not know and delete it. People who are attentive to God’s work will read an email and ask: “How much do you want because I will give my all?” That is a miracle. God is so good!!

Then, I got another phone call from Crystal. A friend of ours father passed away this morning. He had been struggling for many months with cancer and fought the good fight. Today that man, who has been ever-present in my life, is now present in front of the All Mighty Healer. It is heart wrenching to see a family deal with death. But, again, even in such a sad state, God appeared. He really is everywhere! When I drove up to this family’s house, my dad was cutting the grass, Momma and Crystal had just finished feeding all the kids (and I think there were about 10) and Crystal, Momma and another friend were scrubbing, cleaning and vacuuming. That is God, people! How amazing is HE??

I just want to thank everyone today for stepping up and helping our family and others. Give God who you are–not who you think He wants you to be–and He WILL use you! I thank you all so much.

Please come out to Crys’ house this Saturday to browse and buy.

And, mostly, pray for the Chapman family this week…

Starting in the morning Michael will be on first shift for about a month or so. This is strange…as most of you know, Michael has been on 2nd shift for more than 8 years! 2nd shift is 3:30 to midnight! Now, he will work from 8-4!! It will only be for a month or so, but I will take what I can get!! Yahoo!!! Just pray for us as we will have to adjust to actually being a “married couple” during the week…it is strange! I’m so excited!

We have been gone for almost a week and I can say that I am glad to be back and look forward to my bed tonight. But, other than that, I have had a great time!!! After being sick Tuesday, JD and I headed down to the lake Wednesday to be with a few of our friends. They invited us to stay at their place, cruise on their boat and eat their food. Who would turn that down??? We had such a great time. I am so blessed to have friends that are so gracious to open their vacation to the 3 of us!! Tori and I worked on a 1000 piece Photo-mosaic puzzle of Micky Mouse and got most of it finished…except for the hard parts. That is a record for us. She and I started a puzzle before she had her daughter and we just finished it last month. Her daughter is almost 3!! Yeah…it took that long. So, we started this puzzle for JD and made pretty good progress considering we had to work when the almost 2 and almost 3 year old were both asleep. So, I left Sunday after a wonderful full weekend of sun and “wawa.” On my way home I get a message from Crystal saying that they were going to be at the beach until Tuesday and if I wanted to come, I could. Well, how could I say no??? So, I did a load of laundry, threw JD back in the car and we drove to the beach. I was SO glad to get there that I can’t even explain it. Why? You ask? Because if JD asked me one more time “Where’s Ry-Ry?” I was going to scream! So, when we got to the beach (after almost a week of the 2 of them not seeing each other) I thought JD was going to run them over. They were all so excited to see each other. It really is the sweetest thing I have ever seen. We have to have daily Ry-Ry fixes because JD can’t go too long without seeing him. I actually got to the beach this time, got super sandy, did a little body-boarding and was again in awe of how beautiful the beach is. I really can’t believe how majestic the beach is. I am not a big fan of sand and waves, but I am a big fan of God’s beauty and the beach is IT! Gorgeous!! Absolutely amazing. I am so thankful for my vacation. God is so good!!

Crystal and Addie and now, me…yep…I have strep throat. I don’t remember ever feeling like this with a throat ache. I feel like my head weighs 4 million pounds and is just going to roll of my shoulders! I am not even worried about my throat because my head hurts so bad. I don’t think I would be feeling this bad if it wasn’t for my head.

The sad things is I am supposed to be at the lake on vacation. Obviously, I’m not. I am hoping that I feel much better in the morning and I can pack up and leave. Michael is taking Thursday and Friday off and we are supposed to be having a weekend of fun in the sun!

The great thing is that I have such a wonderful sister that took my child and kept him over night. I am so grateful. I slept for hours this afternoon and I can’t imagine having to have gotten out of the bed. Thanks, Crys!

Hopefully tomorrow I will be much better!

Last night JD slept in a big boy bed all night! At bed time Michael said, “Alright, JD let’s go to bed.” JD went to his room, crawled into his new bed, balled up and fell asleep. No problems, no argument. I couldn’t believe it! I was SO nervous all night long. I kept making Michael check on him. Below is a picture of one of the times we checked on him. I just knew he was going to fall out and hurt himself. Michael kept reminding me that even if he did fall out, it was only a 12 inch drop–but that didn’t matter to me! I was still thinking the worst!

So, this morning, I didn’t know what he was going to do. I heard him call me at 9am….then, he didn’t say anything. So, I kept listening. About 9:40 I heard a very faint, sweet knock. I opened the door and JD looked at me, oh so sweet, and said “Eat? Mommy?” It was the cutest thing. He had been in his room playing quietly for more than half an hour. I could tell because all of his race cars were all over the room. I can’t believe that my baby is so big!!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

We had such a great time at the lake!! Thank you Meme and Papa!! Here are just a few snapshots of the great time we had! I love the 4th!! I think we all need to take the time to say thank you to all the men and women who have fought and are fighting for our country and our freedom!! I am forever grateful!!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Today was a first of many: JD and Ryan are having their first sleepover!! So far, everything has been wonderful. Enjoy my first Smilebox (thanks, AhAh for introducing!). I hope the night goes just as well!!

I know that when you read the title you are probably thinking: Oh, why would she be tired? It is only the first day of VBS and running around with preschoolers for a few hours. That is not why I am tired. I thought that all day until I realized that I stayed up last night until almost 2 reading. The Last Summer (of You and Me)by Ann Brashares (who wrote The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants). Ok, this is not a Christian book at all, but not horrible either. The basis is two sisters who have spent their whole life living summers on a popular island up north. The older sister is best friends, since forever, with this guy. The younger sister just wants to do everything like her sister but ends up falling in love with the guy. They hook-up and, of course, plot twist, tragedy happens and life must mend. I couldn’t put this book down, but I don’t know if it had to do with the book or the relationship I could see myself in. The younger girl loved her older sister and put her on a perch. Their relationship was growing together finally, each one respecting and understanding each other more and more.

I am so glad that we have the chance to grow into who we are supposed to become. I praise the Lord that none of us stay in a perpetual high school phase–or even worse, MIDDLE school!! I was the worst: the little sister who got her way and idolized her big sister. I am thankful that we are older now and can relate more. We still are sisters and act like it sometimes, but we are friends. I love Crys. I think she is the best mother and has more strength and patience then I could ever imagine. She is brilliant, in SO many ways. Last week she took care of four kids at the beach, outside of her comfort zone and the kids loved it! Heck, I loved it! She is wonderful, in every sense of the word. Between her and my mother, I have the BEST role models anyone could ever dream up. There are times I still want to be just like her, although I am more comfortable in my own clothes (I can’t believe she let me wear her clothes EVERYDAY in high school, how annoying was I??). She is wonderful. She is the advice guru–between her 3 kids she has faced everything and every situation. She is the one I ask all my medical questions and I am glad she doesn’t charge me the price of THAT doctor bill. She is my rock when I need someone to turn to. I am so glad that she is here and we can have this sister/friend relationship. God is so great!!! I am so blessed.

So, thank you, Crys, for being the best big sister in the world and a wonderful friend. I love you!!

I am back from a week at the beach. I was able  to go this year because I had a conference to attend all week about SEX. Yes, you read right, sex. I teach the sex-ed class at school and I have to get certified every year. This year they put us up in this really nice condo, encouraged you to bring family and fed us outrageous food all week. So, any question or concern or if you just want to learn something about sex, just ask. I know more than I ever wanted to know or thought was even out there! Let’s just say that I am glad to be in a stable, married relationship.

One thing that I have learned this week is that my child is actually a fish. Now, I know that many parents say that when their child will get in the water and float there for a few seconds before crying, but that is not my child. My child, Mr. Indepentent, thinks he can do it ALL by himself. He can kick, float and get in the water by himself. If he goes all the way under, that is ok, he still doesn’t want your help. He was actually coughing and pushing my mother’s hand away from him because she was trying to help. He has absolutely NO fear of the water, which I guess is good. But, some fear would be ok, too. He likes to climb the ladder and jump off backwards, and it doesn’t matter if he face goes under. Now, he is wearing swimmer muscles and a swim jacket, so he comes back up, but I think he would try to get in even if he didn’t want to. Tonight he jumped in the kiddie pool with his regular clothes on. I am glad that he doesn’t fear the water. I just know for the next few summers until he learns, I am going to be a very busy and watchful mother!

Normally, you would not hear me complain about the heat. I know how to beat the heat: GO INSIDE!! But….today I am going to complain. Why the change, one may ask? MY AIR CONDITIONER IS BROKEN!! Yes, you read correctly–BROKEN!! Currently it is 90* at my house! I have sent JD to Kiki’s (where he would rather be at any time) and I am stuck here in the heat waiting for the repair guy. This has been a long saga this week with the air making some interesting noises and last night was the final straw: It sounded like someone put a spoon in the garbage disposal–not the sound it was supposed to make! So, I had to turn it off. We are almost 24 hours without air. It is hot! I think I may go sit in my car with it running…oh, wait, I can’t do that–it’s $4 a gallon for gas!! But, I will leave that complaint for another blog. So, my blogging friends, let’s sing another fun song together: “It’s gettin’ hot in here, so take off all your clothes. I am gettin’ so hot, I’m gonna take my clothes off!!”