Merry Christmas!

My Dad

A couple of weeks ago my Dad started having dizzy spells. On Tuesday the doctor sent him to the ER and so began a roller coaster week of emotion.

First I want to take this opportunity to send a very heartfelt and sincere thank you to all of you who prayed, texted, called, sent messages, etc. The past several days have been very difficult but I truly felt the prayers and positive thoughts sent to my family and I. I really, with all my heart, believe they helped. My Dad was VERY, very sick and didn't only have us worried, but also the doctors.

During his first surgery, they removed an 80% blockage. Yes, 80%!!! A stent was put in and the surgery complete. The doc came out to tell us that the surgery was successful and that it should take care of the life-threatening arrhythmia's he had been having. What a relief! But this is where the roller coaster ride began because we went from being ecstatic to worried and scared again within 30 minutes.

About 1/2 hour later, Dad started having the arrhythmias again. We then learned that he was still in danger and would need yet another surgery. It seems in addition to the blockage, Dad also has electrical issues with his heart. After the second surgery we learned that Dad would need to be on medication to keep the arrhythmia's under control, but it was something he could live with. We'll take it! We'd rather have him on medications the rest of his life than not have him around at all.

He is still in the hospital and we aren't exactly sure when he will be getting out because he needs more tests and the meds have to keep him arrhythmia free for 24 hours. He was still having a few episodes of arrhythmias today and they won't let him go until the episodes are gone. He has to stay in the hospital until the meds work. The road ahead may not be easy, but his prognosis is good and for that we thank and praise God!

A cross between Houdini and David Blaine

File this one under......actually, I don't even know what to file this one under.

This morning, into my bedroom run two little boys. One is as naked as a jay bird and the other is laughing hysterically. It seems the baby wanted to be very helpful this morning by scaling the crib (he got up all by himself), taking off his pj's and diaper (he's helping get himself ready to go), breaking out of his room (even though we have child proof locks on the door) and going into his brothers room and climbing into bed with him (he was his brother's alarm clock today so he wouldn't be late for school).

See how helpful he is?

The little guy woke up this morning to a naked baby in his bed. About 10 years from now, he probably wouldn't have found it funny, but this morning, he thought it was hysterical, and he was right.

I think the baby is going to be a cross between Houdini and David Blaine.

My Husband - Thankful Thursday Post

For my amazing husband. I can't imagine walking this earth without you. Truly, you are my better half and I love you more and more each day. Thank you for showing me true, unconditional love. Thank you for your patience, your understanding, your ability to make me laugh, your faith and love of God and for being a wonderful role model and father to our boys. SHMILY.

Halloween & my beef with Amazon.com

I'm a little behind on the Halloween post, but what can I say, it's been busy!

I ordered the baby's Halloween costume a couple of weeks before Halloween. The little guy wanted to be a firefighter, so it seemed fitting that the baby be a dalmatian. After searching the web, I finally found a costume in the baby's size on Amazon.com. Great! Order placed, confirmation received and the estimated date of arrival was Friday, October 28th. Shew, that was close!

Well, Friday comes and goes and I double check my confirmation, yes, it was definitely ordered. No need to panic yet, I'll just call Amazon.com to check on it (or at least I thought I would). I go to the web site, click on the "contact us" link. No number. After searching their site for 10 minutes, I realized they have no phone number to call. What, is this a joke? No joke, no number. Alas, they do have a link where you can click and enter your phone number and request they call you back, along with the time frame you would like them to call. Unbelievable, I'm actually requesting they provide customer service! I enter my number and request a call back in 5 minutes.

10 minutes later my phone rings. After a brief conversation I learn that the costume was out of stock. I was told an email was sent and they were sorry. I went back through my emails over the past couple of weeks. No email. Angry just isn't a strong enough word, I was LIVID. Livid isn't even strong enough. Not only did they not contact me to let me know the item I ordered AND PAID for was out of stock, they don't even provide a number so a person can expeditiously resolve an issue. UGH! That is the LAST time I order from Amazon.com!

Anywhoooo.....I was left SCRAMBLING! I went to at least 20 different stores looking for a white jogging suit so I could make the costume. FINALLY, I find a little white sweat suit at Belk. The only problem, it's a girl's with obvious "girly" touches like bows and ruffles. I know that when it comes to my hubby, this will not do. This means Mommy is going to have to do some alterations.

Great, so I purchase the sweat suit (silver lining, it was on sale for half the price of the costume). Then I run to another store to purchase fabric paint and a cheap back eyeliner pencil to color in my puppy's nose. Whew...rush home, and start hemming, altering and painting black spots on the outfit, after all, by this point, Halloween was a day away. Then it hits me...dogs have ears, not only ears, but they also have a tail. So, I get some black socks, stuff them and attach them to the hood and bottom of the outfit...WAH LAH....Dalmatian. Crisis averted.

Now to focus on what we do for Halloween. For my family, we choose to take this opportunity to learn to be better people and better Christians. The little guy always dresses up as something that represents something that happened over the previous year. (i.e. last year he was a helicopter, to commemorate his first helicopter ride) or a profession he would like to be when he grows up. Sometimes his costume represents both. We prepare for several weeks reading stories and learning about what he is dressing up as, what he has to do to accomplish it when he grows up, what the responsibilities are, etc. While trick or treating we use it as an opportunity to practice good manners and consideration. We only trick or treat for 1/2 hour because that's all the little guy wants to do. He can't wait to get home to hand out candy, sharing our bounty with others, regardless of if they deserve it, just as Jesus taught us. Halloween is a great opportunity not only to talk about it, but actually do it. My little guy loves Halloween, not because of the candy, but because he loves pretending he is actually whatever he's dressed up as (and he doesn't break character until the costume comes off) and most importantly, because he sees it as an opportunity to share with others. I had to talk him into going to the last two houses because he was in such a hurry to come home and share our candy. My heart was so happy.

I hope you and yours had a great Halloween too!

Time

Time is something I never seem to have enough of. I hear this is a common problem.

I haven't updated my blog in over a month and I don't really have the time to update it now, but I thought it was important. Over the past week two wonderful women in my life have passed. I learned of the second on the way to the funeral of the first. This started me thinking about how precious time is.

Think about what takes most of your time. It's probably your job. Your job could be anything from being a stay at home mom to the CEO of a major corporation. I believe that every job is important and that everyone must work to provide either the support or money needed for themselves and/or their family to survive, but outside of your "job" are you using your time wisely? Are you always sitting on the couch or playing games with your kids? Are you constantly surfing the web or having an engaging conversation with your spouse? Are you sleeping until noon or volunteering to help those in need? Most importantly, are you sitting around Sunday morning (or Saturday night, as some churches have Saturday night services) or are you dedicating that time to worship God?

Every blessing in your life, including the time you have, comes from God. Make sure you take the time to thank Him, worship Him and do what you can to help bring His word to others. Volunteer for your church missions, help teach children at Sunday School, tithe and help provide whatever else your church needs. Do it with a happy heart, do it with your family and remember to make the most of your precious time.

Seasons

It's finally starting to feel like fall! Is it just me or has it been an especially hot and dry summer this year?

When I was young, I remember dreading fall. I never wanted summer to end. Now, that I'm ol.....wait, now that I'm more "experienced," I have found that at the change of each season I find joy.

This spring my heart just sang with the birds when flowers started blooming and life returned to the sleeping earth. When summer rolled around I couldn't wait to go to the beach, jump in the pool and wear shorts and flip flops everyday. Now that fall is here, I find that I have been longing for the cool, crisp air, beautiful foliage and delicious comfort foods from my crock pot. As winter approaches, I will anxiously await that first snowfall.

It's funny how perfectly this is all timed. As much as I look forward to each new season, I am also always ready for the season I'm in to be over with. I'm done with summer now and happy to have fall. Around February, I will be so done with winter that I won't imagine ever being happy about it again and excitedly awaiting for those first spring flowers.

I realized that the timing of the seasons is perfect because it is His time. Not only is it His time, but He knew exactly where I should end up in life to enjoy the seasons He created. Some people are the opposite of me, they enjoy the comfort and stability of just about the exact same weather all year long. God knows we are all unique and He puts us wherever best suit our needs. His hand is divinely in control of all aspects of our lives, even the seasons and where we end up living so that we can enjoy them.

I can't imagine living anywhere else. I love getting to experience all of the seasons God has to offer and am thankful to Him for putting me exactly where I am.