Tuesday, March 24, 2009

~What I've Learned This Week~

Yikes...I can't believe it is Tuesday again! Where do the days go??? I don't know about you but mine are flying by...way too fast for me to keep up.

What I've learned this week, well...it has been enlightening!

  • I thought I lived a boring life since all the "kid" activities have died down to one sport a year, no snotty noses to wipe, no diapers to change, no entertaining the kiddos, no dinner parties, very few school functions...for someone who lives a boring life...it sure is busy and I still never get to sit down!

  • That "something" that brings great pleasure to you and/or your life can become a burden when your attitude become "sour".

  • That as much as I love my wonderful job and have a wonderful opportunity to work from home with a absolutely great boss...in the spring...I resent having to work. I don't mind in the winter when it is cold and nasty outside, but I am an "outdoorsy" person and don't want to be cooped up inside when it is beautiful outside. I don't get wintertime blues....I get spring blues because I hate working in the spring, summer and fall. Yes, I am very thankful for my job BUT...I wish I could take my laptop outside and do it :-)

  • That I never realized how much I hated doing income taxes!

  • The year that I no longer have to do income taxes on rental property...will be a joyous year!!!

  • That getting up, getting ready to go to work for 8-10 hours in my own home is extremely hard when we don't have to get up and get ready for school. Yes, I like being able to work in my pj's but I don't work as efficiently.

  • That overseeing the renovations of the Children's wing at church is going to be bigger than I could have imagined and you will not make everyone happy with the color you chose to paint their Sunday School room. :-(

  • That is never fails to rain when I completely detail both my car and Roger's truck on Friday...it pours rain on Saturday!

  • AND....I thought by this age and point in our marriage that we would be cruising steadily toward those retirement years...oh, no....we are on a downhill, slippery slope and things are speeding up and I don't want to miss any memory making moments.

For more inspiring moments in our lives...visit Jo-Lynne at Musings of a Housewife!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Monday, March 23, 2009

~Please Pray For My Husband and This Test~

Please say a prayer for my husband, Roger today and tomorrow. He is at home today away from the busyness of the office, studying for his big test tomorrow. I can't begin to express the magnitude of this test or it's depth plus what it means in his line of work. There are so many different dimensions to this test from chemistry to equations and stuff that is way over my head...actually, it makes my brain hurt to think about it! LOL!

I was visiting my friend, Beth at warmHart and she was talking about...why do we wait for things to get to that "point" before we stop and pray. My reply was that I was guilty of doing this very thing. I will fret, fuss and get so wrapped up in the problem that I forget that the answer is just a prayer away. I find myself praying for everyone else and their problems at times and let my own get lost in the busyness of life.

Lord, help me to run to you before I get caught up in the situation or problem. Help me to remember that you already know the situation and that you are just waiting for me to come to you as a child would their earthly father when they are in need. I thank you, Father, today that you see over the hills and around the curves in my life. I thank you that you not only care about the big things in my life but you also care about the small things that might go unnoticed by others...you see every little aspect of our lives.

Thank you, Father for going ahead of Roger tomorrow and for being right there with him while he is taking this test. I thank you for peace, confidence, a clear mind and that you will bring everything that he has studied so hard on...bring it back to his rememberance...clearly. We will give you all the praise and glory!

I won't be blogging or visiting much this week...it will be a short week for me. I have tons of work to do for my job, my housework is in dire need, laundry, must finish income taxes, get them to the accountant and pack for Ty and I to leave on Wednesday evening to enjoy time together during his Spring Break. I will miss you guys but, I'll be back :-)


Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Saturday, March 21, 2009

~Then Sings My Soul Saturday~When God Ran

**Show and Tell Saturday is the post below this one...next one down...check it out**


**PAUSE MY MUSIC IN RIGHT SIDEBAR BEFORE VIEWING**

It is not a secret that I have a son who isn't living for the Lord, even though, God has spared his life...not once but twice. It grieves our Heavenly Father for His children to go astray and ignore the Holy Spirit's tugging at their heart. The good news is...that God still loves our children more than we do (that's hard to comprehend) and He longs for them to return to Him. He hasn't given up on them and He has sent the Holy Spirit to pursue them every moment of every day until their return.

The song is for all my precious bloggy sisters, who are wonderful moms that have children lost in sin. My sweet sisters...keep praying, keep watching and waiting because the prodigals are coming home soon.

God is watching and waiting...He is looking down the road all day long...looking to the slightest movement in the distance and when He sees it (them)...He will run to meet them and welcome them home with open arms. Oh, what a celebration there will be!!!

I am standing in the gap with each of your until that day come, my sweet, sweet sisters. I pray this song ministers to your aching hearts today...it sure does mine.



For more wonderful songs...visit Amy at Signs, Wonders and Miracles.


***Please pray for Roger...request at the top of my right sidebar. He has a huge test to be certified in harzardous material manager on Tuesday, 24th. It is very, very overwhelming and he will be studying all weekend. Please pray that he will retain, recall and remember all that he has been studying for over the past few months. Thank you all so very, very much!***

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Show and Tell Saturday~Handmade

**Then Sings My Saturday is next post down below this one**


It is Show and Tell Saturday again. Today's theme is handmade. Well, since I don't make many things...because I just don't have the time...I have lots of ideas in my head that I'd love to do. So...since I committed many months ago to participate in Pay It Forward...I had to make something with my own little hands.

Shhhhh....don't tell my 3 ladies that they are going to get one of these 3 crosses that I just finished tonight...but they are. I'm just not sure which one is going to which lady. I guess, I will have to number them and use Random.org again to be fair :-) LOL!

They turned out just like I had them pictured in my mind. I found the pattern online, already had the board, went to my mom's to use my daddy's woodworking shop, cut them out, sanded, brought them home to fix some booboos, took them back to my mom's this morning to sand somemore, brought them home, stained them, let them dry, decorated them with mosaic glass tiles, put the hanger on the back and waaa laaa...finished!



For more great Show and Tells...visit Kim at Homesteaders Heart.

Have a blessed weekend!!!

P.S. I will link up...when I wake up :-0

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Friday, March 20, 2009

Friday Funnies~I Love This Doctor!


Welcome back to Friday Funnies! My favorite day of the week because it's my day off from my job (work), not my wife/mother responsibilities :-) My plate is full for today but I'm determined to get great and mighty things accomplished today! Whoohooo!

Disclaimer: This is so funny and no, I don't drink alcoholic beverages but too funny not to post :0

Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?

A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it...don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?

A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even m ore of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?

A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?

A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?

A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! .... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?

A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?

A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?


A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?

A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

And remember: 'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO, What a Ride'

AND..... For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.
1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans..
5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.


CONCLUSION Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.



For more laughs today...visit Kim at Homesteaders Heart.
















Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Thankful Thursday~What A Week!

Welcome back to another Thankful Thursday! I almost didn't post a Thankful Thursday this week because...it has been a one of those weeks. This week was supposed to be an easy week for me at work, home and in life! I guess, that should have been the first red flag, huh?

My boss, the doctor, is out of town on Spring Break, which means that I don't have a lot of phone calls coming in and usually not having to make many either. It is usually a week to play catch-up.

Well, nothing has gone as planned this week and will all the different things that I had planned to do...none of them went like I had hoped for. They all to way longer than I expected or had alloted time for and you know what happens to the rest of your day when this happens. I feel like so much time this week has been "wasted" compared to what I should have been able to accomplish. Oh, I forgot to mention that I added a huge project/responsibility/commitment to my already long list of "to-dos".

I became so overwhelmed Tuesday night and the entire day yesterday that my chest felt (all day) like I was having a (mild???) heart attack. My chest would have shooting pains so much so that it would stop you in mid-sentence, tightness in the muscles across my chest, pain down my arm, neck and shoulders also hurt. I know...some of you are thinking...you assumed that you weren't having a mild heart attack? Yes, I assumed so because I've had previous "spells" like these and it is only stress and anxiety. When I get things back under control and the stress/anxiety will lessen and the pain goes away. Now, granted...I might not actually take a real heart attack episode seriously and wake up...dead one day :-)

**This is why I haven't been on visiting and commenting much this week, ladies...I'm sorry!**

Roger kept telling me to slow down and several of you told me to just breathe. I told Roger when we met for lunch, (I really needed to unload a lot of what I was carrying onto him...just talking it out with him always seems to help), that I felt like if I slowed down or stopped...I would burst into tears. I really needed a clone yesterday and could still use one today. I need someone who thinks like me, works like me, is driven like me, has the same determination as me, as personality as me and is focused just like me to get everything done.

I had a friend say that they had seen several of her friends had made the same comment yesterday on Facebook about needing a clone. She asked if it was something in the Spring air. My reply was:

Too many projects and demands = not enough time in the day or enough of me to go around to accomplish them all :)

For many of you, the answer would be simple...take one thing at a time, breathe, slow down or don't worry about what doesn't get done because it will all still be there tomorrow. That is part of the problem...I don't want it here tomorrow!!! lol! The main problem with this thought is...they all have deadlines that must be met and you can't take your time on these. When one thing doesn't get accomplished, then it spills over into the things that you have to do tomorrow or next week...making that day or week even crazier. We aren't talking about just dirty dishes, nasty house or piles of laundry...we are talking about responsibilities with my job, church, commitments, Tyler's school, income taxes and several unfinished projects.

Oh, I forgot to mention that I took both the boys (Brandon & Tyler) shopping Saturday and bought Ty a new pair of American Eagle jeans (he was down to 2 pair) that he loved. He wore them to school on Monday and loved them so much (doesn't like his other two...says they are baggy) that he asked me to wash and dry them so he could wear them again Tuesday.

I was with Dorinda (pastor's wife) and Jackie (children's church minister) going to different churches to view their creative decorations for the children's Sunday school rooms and halls. Yes, that is the huge project that I finally committed to overseeing the entire renovation project, forming a budget and getting it accepted by the board. Ty called me after he got out of football practice and asked me if I was still with Mrs. Dorinda. I said "yes, why?" He said "good, that way you can't say anything ugly when I tell you what I have to tell you!" Someone broke into his locker in the field house dressing room and stole his new jeans! They have had a lot of theft this year. The lockers are very flimsy and they are locked but they bend the corner of the locker back, stick their hand inside, pull out the jeans (hoping to find a wallet or cell phone), throw the jeans somewhere else and leave. However, we wised up after another friend had his wallet stolen...Ty doesn't carry his wallet to school anymore...just a few dollars in his pocket and he gives his cell phone to the coach, who locks them in his office until after practice. I guess, this must have made the thief mad plus these were new, nice jeans...the thief took the jeans and his leather belt that was on them. I was furious! I handed this off to Roger to handle. He is a part-time police officer and a level headed man. I told him that they might take him more seriously than from this mad mom. He went to the school to meet with the coach and athletic director yesterday.

Ok...I know you must be thinking...how on earth is this post a Thankful Thursday? Well, here is how...

I am thankful:

  • That this week is nearly over!
  • American Eagle and Aeropostale have their jeans on very cheap (online clearance is the way we shop)
  • Spring break is next week
  • The colors are officially picked out and the ball is in someone else's court for the time being
  • I am not leaving this house today and solely, working hard at my job
  • By tonight, Ty's CAP...Career Action Planning will be done...meeting with advisor at 5:30 PM...his 4 year plan will be complete (only 3 yrs. left)
  • I can just refuse to answer the phone depending who's on the caller ID
  • Friday is my day off and Ty is out of school starting tomorrow
  • I get to sleep in tomorrow (I'm very tired)
  • I am working 3 days next week and then taking Ty camping...can you say...no phones and no internet!
  • One week left and my part of the team registration for the 1st Annual Brothers for Hope St. Jude Golf Classic will be finished until the actual tournament on April 18th

Yes, it is truly a Thankful Thursday...wheee...this week is almost over! Praise The Lord!!!

I have made it without saying anything ugly, offensive, haven't created any enemies, haven't lost any friends, haven't lost my religion...not once, no angry outburst and I am feeling much more relaxed today.

For more thankful hearts, visit Lynn at Spiritually Unequal Marriage.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

~The Winner Is...~

Good Morning!

I am running way behind, overwhelmed, overloaded and desperately need to clone myself...more on that later!!!

I wanted to quickly post the winner of the drawing that I just did in celebration of my son, Brandon's life and how God spared his life a year ago when he was in a terrible car wreck in Atlanta, GA. If you missed this post and its pictures...check it out here.

I used a great site to draw my number for me...Random.org. I listed all of my bloggy sisters who asked to have their name put into this drawing...in the order that they posted their comments. I then numbered their name and entered the minimun number as 1 and the maximum number as 7 and let it select my winner.

So...the winner is #3...Tammy at Not My Story, But God's Story. Congratulations, Tammy!!!

Tammy...email me your mailing address and I will get this in the mail to you on Friday.

Thank you all for the wonderful, sweet and encouraging comments that you left for me...we, all...will give God all the praise and glory for His hand of protection on on our families.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

~What I've Learned This Week~


What I've learned this week is, well, I already knew it but it was confirmed in a greater sense and I gained more understanding.

That is...this world is full of hurting people. We are never alone in our pain whether it is emotional pain, physical pain, family/relational pain, marital pain or even, spiritual pain. Someone is always hurting and probably closer to you than you might realize.

Many people don't share their pain with us but choose to "suffer" silently and others are more open about their struggles. It doesn't really matter which one you are...your pain hurts just like the other person's does.

We need to be more sensitive to those around us because many, many people try to hide their pain but it seeps out in other areas...attitude, reactions, getting offended easily to easily angered. Just because someone is hiding their pain doesn't mean that they are not hurting...it does mean that we might never hear about it.

Sometimes, just a smile or a "hello" to a cashier, receptionist, teacher, crossing guard or whoever...just might be what that person needed to get through the day without crumbling and breaking into a million little pieces.

I've learned this week...pain is all around us and we need to be more observant and sensitive to the people that we come in contact with every day.

For more "What I've Learned This Week" visit Jo-Lynne at Musings of a Housewife.







Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Monday, March 16, 2009

~A Mother's Thankful Heart and Prayer~

**Last day to get your name in the drawing for a very powerful prayer book..."Everyday I Pray For My Teenager" by Eastman Curtis. You don't have to have a teenager to find this book a very powerful tool when praying for your children, nieces, nephews or grown children. It is all about praying the Word of God over them. Please leave me a comment on this post or the one that I posted yesterday...celebrating one year since God spared my son's life. There is power in prayer...never underestimate it!!!**

I posted this prayer back in May '08 after writing about the "Pain of a Mother's Breaking Heart". This post gives more background into the battles both in the physical and spiritual realms that we have encountered with Brandon over many, many years.

Satan has tightened his grip on Brandon but if he thinks this mama is going to roll over and let the enemy have her son...he has got another thought coming. I am just now getting started good in my battle. Satan is a liar and a loser because the war has already been won. Jesus took the keys to death, hell and the grave when He died on the cross for our sins. The final chapter has already been written but I guess, Satan hasn't read it yet.

Heavenly Father:

I thank you for the precious life that you entrusted me with 22 years ago (now, almost 23). I know that I have not been the perfect mother, I have asked Brandon to forgive me for my shortcomings and repented for where I failed you as a mother. But you know, Lord...the one thing that I have never failed in is my love for Brandon.

Father, I thank you for your hand of protection that you have had on his life, as you have spared his life...not once but twice. Once in the ocean when he was so near death, but he cried out to you and you saved him and his dad. I know without a doubt that your hand of protection was on him that dreadful night in March ('08)...Your hand shielded him from death because Satan intended on taking his life that night.

Father, I thank you for the Blood of Jesus that had been prayed over Brandon so many times...Your Blood is what saved his life. I know that you have a special calling on Brandon's life and your have great and mighty things in store for him. He will be your voice to the lost and hurting young people of this world.

Father, I thank you that you knew Brandon before he was formed in my womb and you had a plan for him even then...that plan has not changed. I love you and I thank you for all that you have done for Brandon and will continue to do for him and through him.

In Jesus Name...Amen

God hears our prayers and He welcomes our thanks and praise!

**If you are interested in having your name in the drawing for the drawing...mention it in a comment here or on the post below.**


Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

~It's Been One Year~God Is So Good!

~GIVEAWAY TODAY TO CELEBRATE GOD'S HAND OF PROTECTION ON BRANDON A YEAR AGO AND THROUGHOUT THE LAST YEAR~MAKE SURE YOU MENTION IN YOUR COMMENT IF YOU WANT YOUR NAME IN THE DRAWING~
3/19/08

Today, 3/14/09
I'm sorry this is so long but this is as condensed as I can get it, tell the story and give God all the glory...it is worth reading. We serve an awesome God!

Wow, it's been a year since I got the most frightening phone call that every mother dreads...it was the call that did not shake the foundation of my faith but kicked it up to another level.

At 10 AM on March 15, 2008, I received a phone call on my cell phone telling me that my son had been involved in a terrible car wreck in Atlanta, Georgia and was in ICU. Debbie, Jason's (passenger) aunt, assured me that Brandon would recover but when the list of injuries began to roll off her tongue...I had to sit down. I was in Little Rock, AR which is about 2 1/2 hours from home and Atlanta, GA was another 7 hours from there. That means, that I was a minimum of 10 hours from being at my son's side. I still had to drive home, make phone calls, pack for at least a week, call my boss, get Tyler situated for a week at home with dad without mom and then drive a long road alone to get to my son...in a tornado wrecked downtown Atlanta to the trauma center where he was.

The following is the post about that fateful day:

Monday, March 17, 2008

Brandon...Update On His Condition
For those of you who know and for those of you who haven't heard yet...our son, Brandon was in a terrible car wreck Friday night...early Saturday morning in Atlanta, GA.


Roger and I had taken Tyler to meet up with the youth at our Fine Arts competition and spent the night before heading back home Saturday morning. We got up Saturday and was just about to leave the hotel coming home when I received a phone call from Georgia...I had assumed it was Brandon since I had left him two messages and sent him a text the night before with no reply. There was a tornado that hit downtown Atlanta on Friday night...I'm sure most of you have seen the coverage on television and he had moved back to Atlanta three weeks ago.

This is what happened: He had just gotten off work and his friend picked him up....it was after midnight when his shift ended. For some reason, Brandon was driving going back to where they were staying after the tornado had hit downtown...where he also works. There was another storm coming through with lots of rain and high winds...as they were driving down the interstate...the high winds hit the car and he hit standing water causing the car to hydroplane and go into multiple spins before slamming into the retaining wall and hitting the other wall on the other side. They say the car looks like a piece of tin that has been crumpled into a ball. His friend, Jason, was conscious and was able to drag him out over the console because the driver's door was jammed. He got him out of the car before the car's engine caught fire. Jason was able to pull Brandon free of the car. I am so thankful that this car was equipped with OnStar. At the very moment that the crash occurred, OnStar immediately notified fire, rescue, police and ambulance to the scene.. I believe the prayers of this mother...pleading the blood of Jesus over him daily were heard. Satan would love nothing more than to end his life but God intervened and spared him.

**(We found out later that there was a defect in the car and the front airbags did not deploy. When a front in crash occurs, there is a bar that is broken causing the airbags to deploy on impact. However, the bumper and the bar was ripped off the car and the airbags failed to deploy...causing all the internal injuries to Brandon.)**

I had a conversation on the drive to Atlanta (7 hours) alone Saturday night...I told him that what he intended to harm my son...God intervened and spared his life. I told Satan he was a LOSER in the name of Jesus...needless to say by this time...I was angry! People would have thought I had lost my mind if it had not been dark. I arrived in Atlanta to a hospital downtown and it took me an hour to find it because of power outages, debris and blocked streets.

He looked pretty bad when I finally made it to the ICU unit. He are the update, official list of his injuries:
(1) Two punctured lungs with chest tubes now in place - hope to removed in 2-3 days
(2) Broken ribs - nothing to be done except wait for it to heal itself
(3) Broken pelvis - nothing to be done except wait for it to heal itself
(3) Broken ankle in 3 places...now with pins and a metal plate in it
(4) Internal injury to his bladder rather than the puncture they had originally thought. - catheter x 3 weeks, rescan and it not healed then catheter x 2 more weeks
(5) Perforated small intestines...found when they did surgery thinking it was a bladder problem - surgically fixed on Saturday night
(6) 3 small lacerations to his liver...other cause of abdominal bloating and drop in blood count. - nothing to be done except wait for it to heal itself
(7) Incision now from surgery that starts at breast bone and extends to groin - very painful without all the other injuries! They left his stomach open and it is just bandaged to help prevent infection or if they had to go back into surgery...pray for immediate healing
(8) NG tube...up nose that goes down to his stomach to help prevent vomiting and aspiration if he did vomit. -hope to be removed in 1-2 days
(9) Nothing to eat or drink...not even water...want intestines to have time to mend before making them work again. - hope he can when NG tube is removed.

Needless to say...he is in a huge amount of pain. They did figure that his nausea was not caused by the Morphine but by the internal bleeding and not allergic to the pain medicine. PTL! This ICU here allows family to stay with their loved one 24 hours a day except for 6:30 AM - 8:30 AM and the same time at night as well. That I am thankful for. It has been a long two days but it will be even a longer road to recovery.

Please pray that he will get moved to the step down unit, get his NG tube removed so he is able to have at least water, chest tubes removed in the next day or 2 and pain management. He is extremely frustrated and agitated right now. It hurts terribly to cough, hiccups or even talk much and now he is itching all over...asked doctor for Benedryl at 6:15 AM this morning.

I am at the hotel to get some sleep while his friend comes to stay with him. The friend who was in the car with him went to surgery yesterday looking for internal injuries but they did not find any. He is having severe back pain and will be kept for another day or two.

I am so thankful that he was not knocked unconscious too or they would have both burned to death. God is ALWAYS in control regardless of how it looks, how it feels or what anyone ever tell you. He promises to NEVER leave you nor forsake you.

Please pray that God will minister to Brandon, his friends and the staff in a very powerful way and they all will see the love of Christ in a very tired mom...who loves her son so very, very much. I would change places with him in a minute if I could take his pain away. Please also pray for a speedy recovery...faster than anyone expects...he is already surpassing where the doctors predicted he would be at this point.

Please, please pray against ANY infection, pneumonia or blood clots...dangers he is facing right now. Please keep us all in your prayers and I will update when I can...don't have access to internet except at the hotel for right now.

Love you guys!

These are the links to the additional post made during this time in our lives:
Update from Tuesday Night
Please Pray - Wednesday
Update on Brandon - Thursday
Friday's Update on Brandon
Update on Resurrection Sunday!
We Serve An Awesome God!
Brandon Is In The ER Today
Update on Brandon Condition

It was a very rough week with numerous obstacles to overcome from ICU, difficult nurses on the floor, additional injuries discovered, frustration, depression and lack of food or sleep (I was currently on the Daniel Fast at church during this time and remained faithful to it).

God was so good, faithful, merciful and mighty during this entire situation.

I pleaded with Brandon during his hospital stay to realize that God was trying to tell him something, heed the warning, acknowledge that God prevented his death for a reason, God had answered my prayers as I had been praying for him and pleading the Blood of Jesus over him that night plus my plea... "please, Brandon...don't let your pain be in vain, learn from this and use this experience to your advantage".

One afternoon in the hotel, I wasn't able to rest which was desperately needed, so I got my Bible out and read Psalm 91 and this is what it spoke to me. After reading this and praying...sleep came.

Psalm 91
1You who sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow,
2Say this: "GOD, you're my refuge.I trust in you and I'm safe!" - read as "God, you're Brandon's refuge. In You will he trust and was kept SAFE!"
3That's right--he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. - car wrecks
4His huge outstretched arms protect you--under them you're perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. - death as result of car wreck...Satan's attempt to steal my son's life but God intervened and spared his life.
5Fear nothing--not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, - high winds and standing water in the dark of night immediately following the tornado that just hit Atlanta
6Not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon.
7Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you.
8You'll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance, watch the wicked turn into corpses.
9Yes, because GOD's your refuge, the High God your very own home,
10Evil can't get close to you, harm can't get through the door. - death or infections
11He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go. - in the car, in the hospital, in surgery
12If you stumble, they'll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling.
13You'll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,and kick young lions and serpents from the path.
14"If you'll hold on to me for dear life," says GOD, "I'll get you out of any trouble. I'll give you the best of care if you'll only get to know and trust me.
15Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times; I'll rescue you, then throw you a party.
16I'll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!"

I know my son heard me but he wasn't listening. He knew and agreed that God saved his life, he asked others to continue to pray for him, he was thankful for the many prayers that God answered and spoke more about God than he had in several years. However, when he got out of the hospital and began to recover...he didn't make the "about face" that I was praying for.

Brandon was discharged from the hospital 9 days after his near fatal car wreck!!! That alone, is worth giving God all my praise!

Mandi, the girl, that moved to Atlanta with Brandon and Jason three weeks prior to his accident, continued to prove what I had already felt...that she was trouble. Since she had been traveling with Jason, Brandon and a couple of more "friends" in gypsy style for 2 years prior to him moving back to Arkansas and before moving to Atlanta...she knew the strained relationship that Brandon and Jason had with their parents. She played on that. She made several comments to Debbie and Jason's mom that we (his mom and me) had "disowned" their sons and she was the only one who "really" loved these guys, she was the only one who deserved to be there taking care of they boys and she would fight to stay there and us (moms) away. The remarks continued to increase and when they finally got back to me. Well, I was at the hotel trying to get some rest when Debbie called and in the course of our conversation, she told me what all Mandi was saying and "trying" to do where Brandon and Jason was involved.

Needless to say, I hadn't had much rest in the past 36 hours, my son was critically injured, had a long road of recovery and now this. Oh, no!!! It wasn't going to happen on my watch and he was MY SON...Brandon was not her boyfriend, son, brother...nothing. I called the hospital to check on Brandon and she was so nicey-nicey but I was very "cool". She asked me what was wrong and I told her that I would tell her all about it when I got back to the hospital in a few hours. I let her sit and wonder.

When I got back, I called her out in the hall to keep from upsetting Brandon and told her nicely, firmly and matter of factly...what for! I let her know that I knew what she had been saying about us (parents), and how she was trying to turn Brandon against me and it WASN'T happening. Satan himself wasn't going to destroy what we had been trying to rebuild over the past few years and Mandi certainly wasn't. Never forget...BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER!

Brandon wasn't very happy with all that was going on plus all the pain that he was in...upset him. When I finally told him what was going on, what Mandi was saying and how she was trying to drive a bigger wedge between me and him...he began to see the light.

I just started praying that God would remove her and the influence she had on him from his life. I prayed that God would destroy any and all relationships that were unhealthy, ungodly and would continue to lead Brandon down the wrong road.

God hears our prayers, knows our heart, longs for families to be united and for restoration to occur.

The next day, Brandon had confronted Mandi, told her what he thought of her and her actions. He let her know that she would NEVER come between me and him. He loved me and wanted a relationship with me. He let her know how happy that he was that I was there with him and he wanted me there by his side...not her. By the next morning, Wednesday, she had decided to move to Delaware where another "friend" that had moved around gypsy style with them. PTL! By, Thursday morning, she was on a bus headed to Delaware and hasn't returned to Brandon's life.

Jason wasn't a good influence on Brandon either and no, Brandon is far from an angel but I know that if I can get him away from the ones the he ran all over the country with, doing things that would send them to jail, none of them had any work ethics, didn't care, satisfied to just "get by" and no desire to better themselves...Brandon stood a chance of making something out of his life, if her could just surround himself with better "friends".

After Brandon was discharged from the hospital, it wasn't long and things started to put a huge strain on their friendship. Within 2 months of the wreck, Brandon was back in Arkansas alone!!! He still doesn't have much contact with Jason anymore either.

He has a good friend, Heather, who is older, established with a home, job and going to nursing school full time...who took him in. He has been living with Heather ever since he moved back to Arkansas, got a full-time job, paying his bills, paying off debt that he has accumulated and has already had one promotion.

He told me today that he was getting another promotion to manager of Outback in the next few week.

Is he where he needs to be in his spiritual life? No, way! Has he made a vast improvement and started heading in the right direction? Absolutely! Is he there yet? Absolutely not!

I believe it is just a matter of time before he submits his life back to Jesus Christ and starts living for him again. I will continue to pray for him daily.

I pray this prayer over him daily...Lord, you know where he is and what he is doing. You know what it will take for him to turn his life around and come back to you. You know how far to push him and what will be too far. You know his every thought, his ungodly friends and their influences in his life. I ask you now to destroy every ungodly relationship that he has with friends...not just break the ties but destroy them, never to be repaired. You know that he was raised in a godly home and to love you with all his heart. Your Word says to "Train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it". So, Lord, I ask you to right now...invade his every thought, his sleep, his dreams and let there be not one ounce of peace in his life until he returns to you. Bring back to his memory the scriptures that he has memorized, the sermons he has heard and all the church camp experiences that he has been a part of. Shine your love deep into his heart and remove the blinders from his eyes. Show yourself to him in a very real way today. Protect him physically from sickness, disease and death but beyond that...break him, Lord. Lord, you know that I would lay down my life today, if I knew that it would cause Brandon to turn from his wicked ways, but only you know what it will take. Lord, I am willing to do that if it means spending eternity with my son in heaven one day. I trust you to do whatever it takes to bring him back to you.

Thank you, Jesus, for saving Brandon's life last year and giving him back to me. I thank you for the work that you have done in his life over the past year and I will continue to thank you in advance of the marvelous work that you are going to do in him in the days ahead. The prodical son's homecoming is just around the corner and the rejoicing that will take place on that day, Father. I come boldly before your throne today, Father, not just for ,but for my many bloggy sisters who have lost loved ones and are believing the same thing. We believe by faith that this will be done. Your Word says that where two or three agree on earth concerning anything (our lost loved ones are a big anythings) that we ask, it will be done by God, the Father in Heaven. Lord, we are believing in the evidence that we can't see yet and that the enemy doesn't want us to ever see but by faith, we trust you. Your Word also says that we can put all our confidence in you that the good work that you have started you will see it through to completion. You never leave anything unfinished and our lost loved ones are not finished yet. We thank you and we praise you!

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Matthew 18:19
"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Some pictures of the car, before and after pictures of Brandon plus, pictures we took today...one year later.






I am giving away a great prayer book to celebrate God sparing Brandon's life a year ago and sustaining his life this year. Why should we wait for them to be teenagers to pray these prayers over our children? We shouldn't.

Anyone who leaves me a comment today AND also mentions wanting to have their name in the drawing for this book...will be included.

The book is "Everyday I Pray For My Teenager" by Eastman Curtis. The book for praying for you teenager...is not just for teenagers but can be used for children of all ages and adult children as well. This is an awesome scripture filled, very powerful prayers on every single subject or situation that involves our teenagers and what they are facing in our world today. It has 5 sections: Spiritual Life, Bondage-Breaking Prayers, Relationships, School Needs and Life Skills. Example topics: Spiritual...The Call of God, Confidence, Grace and Favor, Renewing of the Mind and Resisting Temptation (29 in this section). Bondage-Breaking...Abortion (had or contemplating), Addictions, Anxiety, Cult Influence, Gangs, Hate, Promiscuity and so many more (42 in this section alone). Relationships...Acceptance, Controlling Sexual Desires, Dating Standards, Disloyalty From Friends, Future Spouse and Peer Pressure (34 in this section). School Needs...Academic Achievements, Cheating, Choosing a College/Major, Favor Among Peers, Favor in Sports and Teacher Relationships (15 in this section) and Life Skills...Budgeting Finances, Career Choices, Employer/Employee Relationships and Preparing for the Future (12 in this section).

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF PRAYER OR THE PROTECTION THAT HE PROVIDES WHEN WE PRAY!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Then Sings My Soul Saturday ~ The Motions

Show and Tell Saturday with Kim is the next post below TSMSS! Check it out too!
**Pause my music on the right sidebar before viewing the music video**



Do you ever catch yourself just going through the motions of life, Christianity, as an employee, a friend or in your marriage? Have you been going through life without much emotion, loss of passion and maybe, you've just lost your enthusiasm?

I love this song and its message about not wanting to just go through the motions of life. I don't want to go through the motions of life and one day have regrets wishing that I had done things differently. Do you?




Matthew West - The Motions
From the album Something To Say
This might hurt

It’s not safe
But I know that I’ve gotta make a change
I don’t care If I break

At least I’ll be feeling something
‘Cause just ok
Is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

Chorus
I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything?
Instead of going through the motions

No regrets
Not this time
I’m gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love
Make me whole
I think I’m finally feeling something

Take me all the way
Take me all the way
Take me all the way

For more wonderful TSMSS...visit Amy at Signs, Miracles and Wonders.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Show and Tell ~ Pets


It's Show and Tell Saturday again! Today, we are showing and telling about our favorite pet(s).





My favorite pets are my precious little Maltese girl, Biscuit, who is 5 years old and our tabby, Tiger who is 10 years.Tiger loves our son, Tyler and sleeps with him every night. He will sit outside his door and cry, paws at the door to get his attention if the door is closed. If that doesn't get his attention...he will grab the cord that runs under his door to his XBox Live and yank on it until Tyler opens the door. Tiger is a very loving and affectionate cat who always tolerates Biscuit.

Tiger loves our son, Tyler and sleeps with him every night. He will sit outside his door and cry, paws at the door to get his attention if the door is closed. If that doesn't get his attention...he will grab the cord that runs under his door to his XBox Live and yank on it until Tyler opens the door. Tiger is a very loving and affectionate cat who always tolerates Biscuit.

My precious little girl is Biscuit. We got her in January '04 and wheb she was 8 weeks old, weighing 1 lb. The picture here is her when we first got her with a toilet paper roll which was as big as she was. She is the sweetest little girl that I've ever had.


She is with me 24/7 and is spoiled rotten. She tends to get an attitude if she is left at home alone when I go somewhere that she isn't allowed to go. She started out going into my bathroom and turning the trash can over. She doesn't tear anything up, just strews it all over the floor. I started shutting the bedroom door, then she went into my office and turned that one over. I started putting my office trash can up on the desk and she moved on to Tyler's room. She is also know to get into things left on the end table in the living room. We came home from church one Sunday to find an entire bag of Cheetos dumped in the floor. She didn't eat them, but just wanted us to know that she was upset that she got left at home.

She goes everywhere we go, if at all possible and has only been boarded once. We even bought a camper so we didn't have to find hotels that would allow us to have a pet. She loves to go to the pharmacy and the bank because they keep dog treats for her and she knows it. She jumps in my lap, rest her chin on the edge of the window and patiently waits for her treat.


When I started trying to talk Roger into letting me get a Maltese. He said "I don't want no fluff dog, I want a manly dog". Well, he had "sucker" written all over him because the first thing out of his mouth when he comes home is...where is my baby girl and he's not talking about me.

She knows when it is time to go to bed and if you get up, start toward the bedroom...she grabs her squeaky bone and is ready to go to bed. If we don't go soon enough to suit her...she starts making these funny noises with her mouth open and curling her tongue...we say she is talking to us.


She is just like her momma...she loves to sleep in. She was snoring the other morning when I was getting ready to take Tyler to school that I had to get up to go see what the noise was...it was her snoring. She sleeps in the bed with us...actually, she sleeps between us. Most mornings when you wake up...she is laying with her head on the pillow beside you with the covers pulled up to her shoulders...just like a human.

She thinks she is human. She knows exactly what I am saying to her. When you put her out to potty at night before bed, you have to watch her or she tries to sneak back to the door like she went. I open the door and ask her..."did you go potty?" and she will duck her head (in shame), turn around and walk back to the grass and goes potty. She is so smart.

Can you tell that I love her so much? I do...she is precious!!! Ok...I know, I'm not normal but I do love her and she loves be back :-)

For more fun Show and Tells...visit Kim at Homesteaders Heart.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!


Friday Funnies


TGIF!!!! I just love Fridays because I am off and I just love Friday Funnies! It is great to share laughs after a long and busy week. For more Friday Funnies...visit my friend, Kim at Homesteaders Heart.


REDNECK SEAFOOD DINNER

NOW,THAT'S FUNNY,
I DON'T
CARE WHO YOU ARE !


********************************************


A middle aged woman had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. While on the operating table, she had a near death experience.

Seeing God, she asked, " Is my time up?"

God said, "No, you have another 43 years, 2 months and 8 days to live."

Upon recovery, the woman decided to stay in the hospital and have a face-lift, brow lift, lip enhancement, boob job, lipo-suction, and a tummy tuck.

After her last operation, she was released from the hospital.

While crossing the street on her way home, she was hit and killed by a car.

Arriving in front of God, she demanded,"I thought you said I had another 40 years "Why didn't you pull me out of the path of the car?"

God replied, "Girlllllll, I didn't even recognize you!"

Thanks, Mindy...I loved these!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Thankful Thursday ~ Protection

Welcome back to another Thankful Thursday!

Genesis 50:20
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (KJ)

Today, I am so thankful for God's protection! It has been nearly one year ago (March 14th) that my son, Brandon escaped death in a terrible car wreck in Atlanta, GA, just after the tornado hit downtown.

As most of you know because I have blogged about it many times, Brandon is not living a life for Christ and hasn't for many years. Our relationship has been very strained over a period of about 3 years from the time he had graduated high school and left home. There was a period of about 6 months (right after graduation in '04) that I didn't know whether he was dead or alive. I had no way of contacting him, didn't know where he lived, whether he was in jail or out...nothing.

All I could do was to pray. God answered those prayers and Brandon called Tyler on his birthday in '05...6 months after my last contact with him.

From that point on, we began to "try" to restore our relationship but it was very strained due to the choices he was making in his life. His choices were in complete contraction with the way that he was raised and God's word.

This breaks a mother's heart to see her child in total rebellion and on a path of self-destruction. God had been laying Brandon on my heart so heavily...more than normal during the year of '07 to March '08. It was my prayer that God would do whatever it takes to turn Brandon's life around...all I asked is that he sustained his life and beyond that "Lord, break him".

Roger and I had taken Tyler to meet up with the Fine Arts group from church that Friday night and decided to spend the night in Little Rock...we were too tired to drive all the way home.

As we lay in bed, well after midnight, I saw the news about a tornado hitting downtown Atlanta. Fear griped my heart as my mind began to race because I knew that Brandon worked in downtown Atlanta and usually worked the late shift.

I began to pray and try to call Brandon on his cell phone and send multiple text messages. No answer, no reply to my text messages either. This went on for hours with no response.

I didn't get much sleep that night because I just kept praying over Brandon. Praying for his protection, his safety and where he would spend eternity.

We got up the next morning and were in the middle of leaving the hotel when I received a call on my cell phone from Brandon's friend, Jason's aunt. She told me that Brandon and Jason had been in a terrible car wreck just before 2 AM and he was in ICU at Grady Memorial (trauma center) in Atlanta. She began to list all of his injuries and tell me the details of their wreck.

I had began praying fervently for Brandon around midnight after hearing the news of the tornado damage. Brandon didn't have his wreck until about 1:30 AM. Remember, Genesis 50:20 at the top of this post...God intervened!

I had to drive home from Little Rock, get packed and get back in the car for another 7 hour drive to Atlanta...by myself. Needless to say, I used this time to pray, to ask others to pray and to give Satan a piece of my mind. Thank goodness, it was dark or the other drivers would have thought I was crazy because I was screaming and crying at the enemy of our souls.

John 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (NKJ)


God answered my prayers that night/morning because God had truly sustained his life. In all reality, Brandon should have died that night.

I am so thankful that God hears our prayers, cries, pain, fears, anxiety and He steps in to intervene. I am so thankful for His hand of protection on Brandon that night and everyday for our family. God is so good.

I Peter 5:7
Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. (Amplified)


I will be posting more of this story and pictures on Sunday plus starting another giveaway for a wonderful book called " Everyday I Pray for My Teenager". This book is great for children of all ages, not just your teenagers. It uses the Word of God just like God intended it to be used...as a two-edged sword and incorporates it into very powerful prayers for every situation that you can think of for your child.

For more wonderful thankful hearts, visit at Lynn at Spirtually Unequal Marriage.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

How Did We Get From There To Here?

Oh, my goodness! I have blogged before about struggling with my baby growing up too fast and how very soon my nest will be empty.

This past week and this one have been another eye opener at how fast it is approaching. We did a very basic, one year planning last year with his school advisor but I was in Atlanta with my other son who was in a terrible car wreck. His daddy attended the meeting with Tyler and his advisor, Mrs. West. So, last year wasn't the reality check for me...it is this year!

So, how did we get from there to here...so fast?

In just 10...very, very short years. There is only 9 weeks left of his freshman year (9th). It seems like it was just yesterday that I posted one on his first day of 9th grade and where had time gone. Well, it has gone even faster!

The picture on the left is his first day of kindergarten (1999-2000) and the picture on the right is his freshman year school picture (2008-2009).

We are currently in the middle of working on his 4 year plan (only 3 years left) for CAP...Career Action Planning. He is getting ready to start taking his ACT test...one of many times he will be taking it. We are trying to juggle all the classes that he wants to take and all the ones that are required to take to have 24 credits to graduate. Oh, plus, he is taking all the AP (Advanced Placement) classes to graduate with Honors.

Can Tyler do it? Absolutely! He is very smart, applies himself daily, refuses to miss school because he hates make-up work, gets all his homework done at school, very seldom has to study and still has all A's.

It's not him that I'm worried about....IT'S ME!!!

We have our CAP meeting on Thursday, the 19th to plan is sophomore year and get an idea of his junior and senior year. It will be here before we know it...senior year, that is.

In working on his 4 year plan, they are allowed to take college courses at the local community college...MSCC. If he takes college courses that are also required by the state to graduate...he can earn his high school credits plus 3 hours per semester course of college credits.

I don't want to be talking about college!!! But, it is reality and it has to be planned out now to get everything in that he needs and wants to accomplish before he graduates.

Did I mention...IN 3 VERY SHORT YEARS!!!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

What I've Learned This Week


Well, this past week was a trying one for me. So, here are a few things I learned about myself and life.

  • The older I get, the more tired I become on the same amount of sleep as I've always gotten.

  • When I am tired, fatigue is always just under the surface...along with a few other "not so attractive" emotions...oops! (hiding my face in shame).

  • When I don't get the proper amount of rest, my eyes get tired easily and being in front of a computer for 8-9 hours a day causes daily headaches.

  • When I am tired, it takes fewer irritations to be "the straw that broke the camels back" and push my buttons to one extreme or the other...angry or slightly depressed.

  • When I get that tired, it is harder to pull myself out of the "funk" that I get in.

  • No matter how much I have grown spiritually, how close of walk I am having with God...when I don't get "good" rest when I sleep...I am personally opening the door for Satan to slither in and disrupt my life.
Bottom line...get the proper amount of sleep and put all my cares at the feet of Jesus so that I can get the rest that I need.

But...this will only work if...I turn off the TV, get off the computer and turn out the lights at a decent hour to insure enough hours of to get the proper amount of sleep!

This is what I've learned this week, what have you learned? For more learning experiences...visit Jo Lynne at Musing of a Housewife.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Then Sings My Soul Saturday ~ Jesus Take The Wheel


I have loved Carrie Underwood since she won American Idol but this song always touches my heart.

The past few days have been difficult for me. There have been a battle of emotions, thoughts, and reactions that include disappointment, stress, discouragement, anger, frustration and a bit of depression. If it could go wrong, it has gone wrong...in my eyes and right now, those are the only eyes I've been able to look through.

I know it is an emotional battle that is coming from the spiritual realm and at times like right now, I am too physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted to fight.

This is the reason that this song ministers to me today. Enjoy!

Carrie Underwood ~ Jesus Take The Wheel



For more Then Sings My Soul Saturday...visit Amy at Signs, Miracles and Wonders

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

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