Redeeming Love

If you haven't read this book by Francine Rivers, run - don't walk - and get it right now! Holy cow, I dare say that was one of the best books I've read EVER. There are those certain ones that just grab me and this was definitely one of them. I don't typically read books more than once because it takes me so long to read one and there are so many I want to read that I just can't justify taking the time to read one twice. I might just have to nullify that little rule because of this book, though. No kidding, I'm thinking of opening to chapter one and starting that little gem all over again. Man, that was good!

EARLY is for the birds....

Yes, I'm one of those nuts who was at the stores when they opened. I got most of my Christmas shopping done before 6:30am today. I was at Kohl's at 3:30 and the first to get my hands on the item we choose for Rachel's big Christmas gift. Then Michelle and I got all our other deals and headed for the already ridiculously long check out line. We were out of the store within 30 minutes of arriving. We decided to head to Wal-Mart. I'm usually a Target girl, but we'd have had to wait an hour and a half... no thanks. So we headed to WM. Holy mother, that was crazy! I have never been to Wal-Mart when they first ripped the packaging off the palates of Black Friday merchandise and Michelle and I just stood there wide eyed, shaking our heads at some of these people. We're all for getting our groove on and getting to business, but these people were crazy. Then, once we'd made our WM purchases, we headed on over to Toys R Us, because at this point, Target still wasn't opened. TRU has a CRAZY policy where they only allow so many people in the store at a time. So, we stood in line, though the store was opened, for a good 20 minutes in hopes that the items I wanted were still in stock. THEN, we stood for another 30 in the check out line. They were extremely inefficient, I felt, but had great customer service, I must say. I left TRU and headed to Target thinking I might get a thing or two. Um, NO! The lines were a hundred miles long and I was not about to stand in those just for a couple DVDs - so I came and got my family and we headed back... hehehe. We actually did really well this morning and I shopped in total for over 9 hours. My feet are sore. I'm so sleepy. But by golly, I will get this Christmas tree up in my house and get in the Christmas spirit if it kills me!

A Message From My Mom

I received this email from my mom last week. It made me cry. Thought I would share...


Friday would have been Rich and my 16th wedding anniversary. Little did we know last year that it would be the last one.
Kids, I just want to say to all of you, please don’t take each other for granted. Don’t neglect spending time with each other just the two of you. And Jill I don’t mean after the kids are in bed. Jamin and Kim, you need to take a weekend together just the two of you.

Don’t get so busy with the kids, jobs and other things and forget about quality time with each other. God forbid that your marriage will be cut short like ours was. Stephen and Susan I know you have to be away from each other a lot. Make the most of the time you are together. Steven and Vicki, just don’t take each other for granted.

You never know when your health or life could be taken. Do everything you can so that you don’t have regrets. Rich spent the last year of his life in very bad health and I spent it taking care of him and I don’t regret one minute. I just wish it could have been different for him.

I love all of you and want the best for you.

Sara, Stephen, Jamin, Jill, Steven; you all have great spouses. Treasure them and take care of them.

Don’t get too busy.

Love to all.

The Difference A Day Can Make

I feel much better than what I did when I posted my last post. It's amazing what a difference a day can make. Today is sunny outside and that's kinda my mood today.

We had MOPS today at church and the founder of Kingdom Kidz Club, Kim Norton, was our speaker. I've been using her music for Miss Jilly Bean time at Kids Day Out and teaching her songs to our little ones. It was very exciting to meet her again (I'd met her very briefly back in April) and get to visit with her about all that God is doing through her songs in our program. It's so amazing and wonderful to see all these little children learning God's word through song and so fantastic to know that these are things they will keep with them for the rest of their lives. I'm praying that as these kids learn these songs that the scriptures from which they come will emblazen themselves on their little hearts. They are learning songs that have taught them to Trust in the Lord with all their hearts, God's Telephone Number which is Jeremiah 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things that you do not know", John 3:16, the Disciples, the Ten Commandments, and others. When you ask any of my older kids in the program what God's telephone number is, I'm pretty sure they can whip out a loud "Jeremiah 33:3!!" And to get to visit with Kim, who wrote all these songs, was such a blessing! She is one of those people that just make you feel good after you've been in her presence. Oh to be that way to other people.

Now I'm heading to choir practice. THAT is always a blessing. No matter what kind of day I've had, being in choir rehearsal and singing praises has a way of melting away everything else. Plus, our worship leader, Kim Noblitt, is just gifted beyond words. Not only is he a fantastic leader and director, not to mention he can sing better than most people can speak, he's got such a heart for Jesus and you can't be around him very long before you just feel closer to the Lord. His desire is that we meet with Jesus each Sunday morning (and Wednesday night rehearsals), regardless of if we sing 5 songs or one - as long as God has met with us. Thank you Lord for a leader like that!

Off to sing some Christmas songs at choir... It's the most wonderful time of the year, you know!

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Nope. Still didn't help.

help....

I need someone to watch Rachel and Porter on Friday afternoon from about 2pm until sometime around 3 or 3:30. I have a doctor's appointment and my husband was going to watch the kids, but had something come up at work that prevents him from being able to be home. I called to try and reschedule only the next available appointment they have is for the 3rd week of December! Not happening. So, I know most everyone is picking up kids right at that glorious time, but if anyone isn't and could watch my two for a couple hours, I would be incredibly gratful!!!

New Blog Name...

I'm trying to think of a new name for my blog. I'm never creative at this sort of stuff, so when I started the blog, I just did something quite unoriginal. Now I want something new, something creative.

Mikes suggestions so far are:
Living with Awesomeness
Thank Goodness I'm Not French

I'm thinking neither of those really fit what I'm trying to convey with this blog, thus I will not be renaming my blog either of those options. However, if any of you out there in the blogging world have suggestions for me, please feel free to comment and let me know.... keeping in mind (Jeremy) that I will not be titling my blog with anything having to do with the awesomeness of my husband.

Pumpkin Patch 08

Mike and Rachel being crazy at the pumpkin patch.







Porter just being cute.






Porter and Rachel






Posing in front of the photo site






One of my faves from the pumpking patch. I feel like such a model in this picture... ha!






Could a kid get any cuter?