For those of you who read this, I just wanted to update to let you know I am doing better. Each day seems to be better. I woke up this morning after a good night's rest and it was easier to get out of bed this morning. I am still on medicine that keeps me wiped out but that is okay cause it makes me rest. I have had such good care. Lynette and the girls have been clenaing and taking great care of me. John is working from home this week so that has been nice for him to be home too. Our care group has been bringing meals each night which has been amazing! We are so blessed. I am going to go lay down once again . . . . thank you for your prayers! I am doing pretty good!

I am home!

My three wonderful children in their CrossWay t-shirts!

Flowers from Shannon and Shelly and CrossWay Community Church.

Flowers from my sweet hubby! They smelled so good!

This bouquet is from my mother-in-law Deloris. They were so pretty!


The surgery went well. I got home Wednesday morning. I have been sleeping a lot and just trying to do what the doctor said to do . . . take it easy! The medicine is making me a little dizzy but other than that, I am doing pretty good. Just wanted to update my blog to let you know I am home and doing well. Thank you all for your prayers . . . . they mean so much!

Bye bye Ursula!

I know . . .I am weird. When I found out I was having a hysterectomy I caught myself saying "my uterus" a lot! So I decided to name it Ursula instead! It has actually made our conversations quite funny! Well tomorrow is the big day! Ursula will be no more! YAY! I have to be at the hospital at 10 in the morning and will not be home until Wednesday. I don't know when I will be feeling up to getting on the computer but when I do I will update. Thank you all for your prayers! I love you all!

It just keeps getting better!

Man! What a birthday! It just kept getting better and better. The Smith Girls came over and made us dinner tonight. It was so yummy! Thank you guys so much. Then, Chrissie gave me a pedicure . . . it is so pretty! Am I blessed or what? Thank you girls for putting so much effort into making my birthday special. I certainly wasn't looking forward to having my birthday without John here with me, but WOW, I so enjoyed it! You guys are the best! I love you!

5 second rule?

Cassie was making choc. chip cookies for me today and all of a sudden I hear a gasp and the sound of something going all of the floor. This is what I saw when I looked into my kitchen! Her face is priceless! HA HA!!!

Who needs a dog when your kids are not afraid to eat off the floor?

Even Lynette got in on it!

Too funny not to post! Don't cry over spilled choc. chips . . . . just eat them!

I have great friends!

Wow! Was I ever so surprised last night! The ladies in our care group plus a few more, threw me the best 35th birthday party ever! I have never had a surprise birthday party so I was not expecting this at all! They got me good!!!! Shelly and Tiff showed up at my front door and blind folded me and kidnapped me! After much driving around (so Chrissie could get herself and my kids to the destination before I got there) we arrived at Lynette's house where I was totally surprised to see everyone gathered there all for me! They had a beach theme and decorated the house all up like the beach because I LOVE THE BEACH! And they all carried in Mexican food because I LOVE MEXICAN FOOD and our care group ladies make the best!!! It was so awesome. I just couldn't believe it. I had NO clue this was happening. I am thankful I showered and looked half way decent! Oh my! I got some cool patio lights for my patio and a group of them went in together and gave me a gift certificate to OOH LA LA for $95! WHOA! For those of you who do not know, OOH LA LA is a wonderful little boutique that sells Sorrelli jewelry. I am not much of a jewelry lover but this stuff is amazing! John bought me a necklace and earrings in Feb. and I just love it! I have Spring Rain so I decided to start a new collection of Pina Colada. I just love it! Thank you ladies so much for all you did for me. Just setting aside a night to come and be with me means so much. I love you all so much and am so happy that God sent us here to be apart of your lives. It is such a joy to just live life with you all. You are our family and we are so grateful to God for you! God is just too good to us to have brought us here. We feel at home and that is such a great feeling! Thank you for making all that great food too! You guys are amazing cooks! Cassie, thank you for making that delicious cake! I love that you love to bake like me! Chrissie, you really made me believe you were just coming over to spend the night! I had no clue! Your lies are so believable! I forgive you though! :o) To everyone else, thank you, thank you, thank you! You guys made my birthday so wonderful! I will NEVER forget this birthday! I love you all very much and am so thankful for each of you.

Birthday Surprises!

Pretty Spring Flowers from a sweet friend who shares my birthday! I love having fresh flowers in the house!

Thank you Kendra, and Happy Birthday to you (on Wednesday!) They are beautiful!

More Birthday Flowers from my sweet hubby. Kristen picked them out . . . can you tell? All pink!

Since John is away this week (left this morning at 6 to go to a conference) we celebrated my birthday early. He took me out for lunch then I took a big 'ol nap! I needed that! Then the Smith Girls came over with a secret project they had been working on with my family as a surprise for me. It was a DVD of my family (Chrissie took the cutest photos of them!) with quotes from them like "I like it when you fix me any kind of food" ~ Nicholas.
It was really neat . . .they even put music to it, including . . .Brandi, You're a Fine Girl! Then we had the singles over and Tiff made a birthday cake for Kendra, Jessica and myself since all our birthday's are this week. Kendra brought me flowers because she says every woman deserves flowers on her birthday. She brought me flowers last year too! How sweet! Thank you everyone who made my day very special. You are gifts from the Lord that I treasure!

A Lovely Tea Party!

We were so blessed to be able to have a little tea party with our girls in our care group . . . plus a couple more! Lynette works with a very nice lady who is wanting to expand her little antique shop in downtown Crestview to also do tea parties. She asked Lynette if she knew of any little girls who might be interested . . . uh, yeah! So we were honored to be her first group of little girls to practice on. And the best part . . . she did this at no charge to us. What a blessing! All the girls were so thankful to be able to come. And the cutest part of it was, her grandson was there all dressed up in a suit and tie and he read to the girls a story while they ate. Too cute! He was quite the gentleman!

Hairspray Party!

Cassie (Tracy Turnblad), Kristen (Penny Pingleton), Chrissie (Tracy's mother)
Ultra Clutch Hairspray Cake that I made for Cassie
Here is the other half of the cake!
Kristen won "Little Miss Hairspray"
Happy 16th Birthday Cassie!

Be still and know that He is God . . .

Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

This verse always makes me stop. It speaks to my soul. The Lord knows how hectic life can be and exactly what I need, to be still and realize that He is God.As I meditate on this verse I ask the question, "What does being still look like? And just what does God want me to know about him?"Here are some thoughts:
Quiet your mind, calm your heart, and realize that He is in ultimate control of what touches your life. Listen to what He has to say. Really listen! Allow Him to speak to your heart.
Delight in Him. Be content and know that He is aware of all your needs even before you ask. Wait patiently. He is working in you and through you. It may take weeks, months, and even years to complete. Don't worry! What may seem like unanswered prayers is actually His perfect timing for you and those in your life.
In everything be thankful! He is all-powerful, all- wise, loving, just, patient, and so much more. You can trust Him with your life.
"Be still, and know that I am God."

Matt Redman . . . You Never Let Go