Lots and lots happening - from Waynesboro to Mississippi

Hello Again - This will probably be pretty random because things are so scattered right now. For everyone who prays out there, go ahead and start praying for my Grandfather again. He needs all he can get - but mainly to get pain relief. He is an older generation who doesn't like to take pain medicine but has a new diagnosis of bone cancer and desperately needs the pain medication. Also we do have some answered prayers already - regarding his medicine to reduce the cancer cells. Normally would cost $6,000 a month - first call insurance denied it. Second call - they approved it! With a fabulous co-pay of $9.00 a month!

Luke has enjoyed his visit with my Mom - his Mimi - who's neighbor has a jumpoline. That would trampoline in the English language. He wakes up at 7am only asking to go to the jumpoline.

Luke spent the night with Uncle Frank and Aunt Heather one night. He was a trooper. Frank only has girls - so they think Luke is pretty cool. He was looking for their nightly visitors of raccoons that eat the cat food. He pulled a fast one on them the next morning. Luke requested Donald's for breakfast. (McDonald's in the english language) Once they got there he wanted to play on the playground - only this McDonald's didn't have a play set! So they asked what he wanted for breakfast - he said "pop tart".

Getting ready for the 5k race in Waynesboro to benefit the Center for New Beginnings. Each year seems to get easier on the planning end. I hope we have a big turn out!

Emma is almost 13 - November 29. She is trying to figure everything out - just per personality, hormones, friends, etc. She has moved into the youth group at church. So far she seems to enjoy it.

Dougie fresh is still being a 10 year old boy - He is trying to teach Luke to play baseball. The boy loves to cook and eat and cook.

I am not looking forward to nine hours in the car on the trip home -but I am looking forward to seeing my hubs tomorrow. I miss him dearly. I know Luke misses him too.

I wonder why after 13 years of marriage for some folks - they want to throw in the towel? I know I did after only five years of marriage, but I really feel differently about it now. Wondering why people give up so easy instead of seeking counseling and help. It makes me sad.

Well, I guess that is all for now.....

A Woman's Heart

Tonight my heart is very heavy. I attended a bible study entitled A Woman's Heart by Beth Moore. It is the first night in a series of 10 weeks. This heaviness has nothing to do with the bible study, but about the women who attended. When we think that things really aren't going our way or we had a really crappy day just know that there is always some one or many "some ones" that are far more in need of love, hugs, and prayer than we are.

We have a group of about 9 or 10 women that rush to get to one house by 5:30 pm to spend time learning about the tabernacle. Tonight people had all sorts of issues -  One lady has a daughter about to deliver twins any day - daughter lives in Ohio mom lives in Georgia. Daughter has MS and is very sick right now. Mom has been there all summer being a grandma to her 3 year old grand son and helping her daughter get around. By the way, daughter's husband is a med student......Mom has to come home to begin her school year and write lesson plans for the next month while she plans on being out to help her daughter after the delivery.

Another lady has a husband who is newly diagnosed with diabetes - she has to learn to cook differently and they have to adjust. Their daughter in law and her toddler just moved in with them due to being put on bed rest at 19 weeks of pregnancy. This is her fourth attempt at pregnancy after three miscarriages. Her sister has cancer every where !

Another lady just lost her unborn grand baby less than a year ago.....

Another lady is excited to get the news that she will be a Grandma..... in April but is missing her daughter because she is in Texas and Mom is in Georgia.....

Now my problems don't seem so bad...... just know that God has control of it all and knows all the outcomes of each and every situation. I can only imagine this ten week journey ahead and what we will learn.

Love to all

The Cat is Away.... Mice will play......

So the cat I am referring to is Doug and the Mice are Luke and I.......
Doug is gone on his annual bike trip with his buddy from Chicago. Every year they a pick a bike rally and go ride their motorcycles for a few days. This year they are in South Dakota and Wymoing. He actually has the best of both of his hobbies because there is a fly in during one of the bike rallies! Ha ha - boys and their toys - they never grow up!

So, while Daddy is away, Luke and I are hanging out doing what ever we PLEASE ;). We have had cereal for dinner twice, drank a lot of apple juice, and we went shopping last night for a toy. We went to the Wal*Mart in our massive town and purrosed the toy aisles. Luke is a lot like me - he carried around this one set of building blocks for about three ailes then He stumbled upon the ultimate toy! He quickly set down the building blocks and picked out this dress up outfit. When I stroll through TJ Maxx I put all sorts of things in my basket, but end up strolling around the store until I have seen everything and then I return it all to it's rightfull shelf or hanger. I usually leave with nothing after an hour.

But Luke would be different - we came home with it. Luke immediately pulled off the tags and stripped naked to don his new clothes. He played all evening, wore it to bed, and inisted on wearing it to Granny's house today! Mind you - it is 100+ degrees here! When I got to church tonight, he was STILL in the spidey outfit. I finally peeled him out of it for a bath and threw it in the washing machine for a much needed cleaning!

Now, at bedtime, He is next to me passed out in Doug's spot in the bed. Well, it is a special occassion. ;)

Things I am Thankful for - and it's not even November......

1. My Salvation
2. Grace
3. My husband Doug - who truly is my soul mate
4. My children - Emma who makes me laugh at her silliness, Dougie who is so stinking sweet for a boy and Luke who is just in his bad phase right now. oh yeah - and child #4 for keeping me awake with such strong karate kicks.
5. My family - such as brothers, Mother, and Grandfather - I miss them dearly.
6. My blessings - a good job ( yes that I have to work most days, but it means I am able) , a house ( even if we have a mortgage - I am not in this terrible heat with no where to go) , my friends (who are all just as busy but we still find time to laugh and hang out)
7. Last but not least - Ice Cream - I have attempted to make a deal with myself - only one time a week! We will see how that goes!

Luke-ism

Tonight we stopped in Publix (grocery store - for those that don't have Publix) to shop for cupcakes - I know - no I wasn't craving them. Doug and I decided to celebrate Dougie's birthday even though he is with his Mom this week. Since we had baseball all weekend, we really didn't get to do the cake thing yet. Anyway........ back to Publix - We walked in, and front and center was this bag...........

Luke proceeded to say to us, "When I get big I want to take these hunting to feed to the animals!"

He must be planning on big game hunting since the pictures on the front elude to such animals. 

Hilton Head - Thank you, I needed you -

It has been a couple of weeks since we went, but I have been extremely busy with work since our vacation! Here is the update with pictures!

So we set out to Hilton Head - this is our first visit there and Wow - we really enjoyed it! We rented a house in one of the local communities near the beach and only had a short drive to the beach every day. I know, I know, but with me being preggo, Luke being three, two pre-teen girls, and two boys, and a Hubby - we had a lot of stuff to haul back and forth.

The beach here is absolutely beautiful and there was no evidence of jelly fish or the recent problems with sting rays. The only night we had jelly fish, apparently there was a storm brewing and the waves were absolutely huge and fun! The kids really enjoyed the boogie boards and playing in that. Luke would even ride the waves in. The fun all ended for me when I got stung by one of those lovely creatures. I have yet to figure out why God made them. Thankfully none of the kids got stung. Dougie is usually "bait" for the jelly fish. We set up our umbrella every day, took a cooler full of snacks and drinks, and played the days away.

One day, Doug and the kids went "off shore" fishing. They seemed to really enjoy that. We ate at the Salty Dog Cafe for lunch that day - and my sweet Emma who saves everything - saved the napkin for her scrap book! Hehe...

We had a very relaxing time - we rode bikes, went for walks on the beach, and swam constantly when we were at our house. Ice cream every night, lots of shopping at the outlet mall, and good food.

That is my type of vacation!

Summer Fun.....Having a Blast

Wow - has this summer been packed or what! I just wanted to share a few things and pictures so far. Mostly we have been very involved in Dougie's all star baseball. They played really hard, but only made it to the first round of district tournament. He got a lot of playing time considering he was playing on a team with mostly 10 year olds. He played right field and caught every ball hit to him! We had fun going to all his games and he enjoyed playing. Well, the heat was a bit much in the end, but overall we did have fun!

On to Lukee poo - He has been taking swimming lessons and at three years old can jump off the diving board and swim to the steps.  It does take a little coercion to actually get him off the diving board to begin with.  We have a kiddie pool at our country club and he enjoys swimming in it and playing with the other kids.  He is a beach bum - constantly asking when are we going to the beach.... it is hard for him to understand two weeks from now, etc.   Doug has drawn the line - I have to take him for a hair cut today.  Well, the curls will grow back.  We did take a trip to my Mom's house to visit my brother and grandfather.  We drove 9 hours one way - and Luke was a trooper!  He enjoyed hanging with Uncle Fink (Frank) and his daughters. Also enjoyed playing with granddaddy and Mimi. 

Emma-laide has basically ditched us both weeks she has been with us! Well, not really ditched us, but she is at the age where she is off to camps all the time. The first week she attended cheer leading camp and her squad won the award for the most spirit all week! She also attended VBS for the beginning part of the week - being a journalist for all the activities going on at Saddle Ridge Ranch! She enjoyed that, because she does love to write. Then second week, she attended her last church camp before she moves up to the ...gulp.... youth group! She did have fun and was so funny when she came home - she told me that she and her room mate ate an entire row of oreos in one night looking out the window watching people! At home we are stingy with our oreos - only two or three at a time! I hope she was liberated! Due to her not being here, I don't have any photos of her.

This coming week we are all going to the beach together! So I will have plenty of photos! Hilton Head, here we come!

Love to all!