Update about Adoption

Okay, I remember telling you guys that the adoption process could move fast, but I had no idea. Jason and I are planning on having dinner with the birth mother a.s.a.p. because she is actually 7 or 8 months (she isn't quite sure) and is already dropping! WHAT!! She desperately wants to get this taken care of so the baby has a safe, healthy environment to come home to.

Yea, seriously!

I only know a few details. Email me and I will answer questions.

Keep praying...we are on our knees!

Prayers please

I hesitate to write about this, but we need your prayers. We have been approached by a birthmother who is 5 months along and wants to be done with the pregnancy & adoption quickly. We are praying! We are not getting too excited, but we are hopeful. I am calling the lawyer tomorrow to set up a meeting with him. We have no idea how we are going to finance this, but God has brought this mother to us for a reason.

So, watch for updates....and for the mean time....PRAY, please!

Mandy Needs

Yes, this is what I do when I am waiting for my nephew to wake up from him afternoon nap.


Goto google and do a search. Type in your name followed by "needs". So I typed in: Mandy needs. The results can be hilarious! Here are some of my favorites:

Mandy needs little introduction, having established herself as one of the funniest and most frequently pregnant comics in the local area

Mandy needs a 6 ft fence as she can sail over 4 ft fences

Mandy needs a thorough physical examination and some tests

Mandy needs an obsession

Mandy needs help in ways I cannot comprehend

Mandy needs to keep her image clean and remember what got her to where she is

Mandy needs to snazz things up, pronto!

Mandy needs help with a present for her best friend

Mandy has high exercise needs and has been trained to run smoothly on a lead beside her owner

I was cracking up. So, I had to do Jason's, too. So, here are some of his!

Jason needs to put on his shirt, overalls, shoes and socks

Jason Needs a Helmet

jason needs to stop making her think he likes her if its clear he doesnt

Jason needs tech help, so what else is new?

jason needs to visit a therapeutic, he has lost it

Jason needs to be around everyone more

Jason needs to feel the luuuvvvv of people who connect with him

You HAVE to try this and post in the comments what your said!!

The Flywatter

I don't know about where you live, but here in North Texas we have an overabundance of flies. As you know from my earlier posts, I have a three year old visitor this week. He and I have been fighting flies all day. When his Munkle Jason got home, he asked him to get the flywatter and get those flies.

As you can imagine, Munkle J. got right on it!

Praise be to God for this precious little life!

That Sure Was Some Good Swimmin' Today

My nephew, Tucker, is here with me this week. So, you can bet that I am going to have tons of stories. We spent the morning with Aunt Mandy tutoring, and T. watched Power Rangers. He was soooooooo good.

Then we went to the pool. He loves going and playing with Aunt Mandy in the pool. Oh, who am I kidding. He would play with anyone in the pool. I just like to pretend that I make it the best day ever. On Sunday, when we took him to the pool, he mastered the slide. Today, he has discovered his adventurous side that allowed him to swim by "yourself" in the three feet sections. He is quite a little guy! On our way home, he said, "Aunt Mandy that sure was some good swimmin' today!" I melted!

I love this little guy!

Now, we came home to have his "favorite" meal. Cold hot dogs and mac and cheese. Sister, I won't even think about why this is his "favorite" meal!

Sweet Baby Kate

My sister and her family came in this weekend to go to the funeral, and to spend some time with family. While A. was here, sweet, Baby Kate passed away in Amarillo. I can not begin to express to you how precious this dog was, but in my own inadequate way, I am going to try. She was special from the moment A. brought her home. She went everywhere with my sister. She was a true companion. She is the reason I fell in love with Bostons. She would come visit Aunt Mandy. She and I would go to Pet Smart and pick out a toy or a special treat. She was such a cuddler. She had such a sweet, adventurous spirit.

Another good-bye that just breaks my heart!

Aunt Mandy loves you, Baby Kate!

Giving away sweet pets...

Howdy!

My sister and brother-in-law are going to give away their Boston Terrier Male, Duke, and a mut, Ginger. If you are interested, we are looking for a good home. Read my sister's blog for more information.

Thanks!

And the award goes to. . .

ME!!

I am tootin' my horn today, girls. I know. I know. I am so not supposed to do that, but I think I defied gravity yesterday.

This was my day:
7 -9 am - mowed, weeded, edged, pruned the roses, sprayed the roses, relocated some monkey grass, fertilized 9 trees,
10 am to 12 pm - painted my bathroom cabinets
12 - 1 - made some phone calls
1 - 2 did some laundry
2:30 - 3:45 - sat on the couch and watched people cook to inspire me for the meal I knew I was about to embark on
3:45 -4:30 J.came home and I patiently listened to the glories of electrical work, and let him tell me how awesome I was for all the work I have done today!
4:30 started dinner - homemade pasta with cheese sauce and Mahi Mahi....
That lasted a while, and I was in bed by 8.

Now, let me just say. I tell all of you this because I have done little this summer but sit in front of this computer learning the language of html and css so that I can build my company website - Paper Cravings. Yesterday I did more physical labor than I have done in months, and today I am paying for it big time!!! Now, I know you super moms who do all of this and juggle twelve kids are rolling your eyes. It is okay! I am impressed with you, too! I will gladly read about your day and cheer you on! I promise!!

So, I told J. that today I have to tutor, run to the bank, and then I am holding down the couch for the day! Yea right! I have already repotted 4 plants and it is 7:53 am. Oh, my muscles are going to be calling tonight!!!

I am also debating colors for my bedroom & bathroom. Any suggestions?

Good-bye's Break My Heart

I feel incredibly selfish, but I hate good-byes.

This summer has been the season of good-byes. I have had to say good-bye to several friends with whom I wish I had made more time to make memories. They have come in and out of my life for just a moment, and I missed it. I was selfish, and for this, ladies, I am so sorry. I missed out on spending time with both of you during this precious season of life. To say that I am sad, truly doesn't express my heart. I am a better person because of knowing you. I see Jesus so much clearer because of the way you step aside and allow Him to shine through your actions as a mother, wife, and friend. I look forward to hearing how God uses you to bless your new communities. You are amazing women, and I miss you!!!

I also have to say good-bye to a lady who has been a part of my life since I was three years old. Tonight, I can not stop the tears again because she took her last breath this morning. She was one of the ladies that was on my list to write letters to. She has always been a creative person who challenged me with her unique ways of making events and days special. She would do the most amazing arrangements in her daughter's bathroom on game days, birthdays, and other special occasions. I was always amazed by the way she could arrange a table to make it shine. Because of her, I had decorations on the tables for my wedding. I needed to say thank you. I needed to take the time to tell her how much I appreciate her uniqueness. I never did that. I needed to let her know that her love for animals challenged me and encouraged me to see the beauty in God's creations. I never did that, either. I never stopped my fast paced life to say thank you. Now, I have to say good-bye. Oh, good-byes break my heart.

Please, if you ever take anything from this blog, please, please take this...tell the people around you how they have touched your heart. It isn't silly or overly emotional. Please let the individuals that God has placed in this season of your life know that you are thankful that they are a part.

There are so many things that I want to say...so many things I SHOULD have said....and tonight...and this week....all I can say is "good-bye".

You Will Be Missed!!!

We love you guys!!!

Wow! What a weekend!

I pray each of you has had a wonderful weekend so far! I know I have been blessed.

Friday, we were served an amazing dinner by some friends of ours, and it was a blessed time of laughter and enjoying their family. We cherish these times with friends. In fact, that is one of the ways God has blessed us by this house and the move out here. We are surrounded by people that I have only dreamed of having in my marriage. There are open, honest couples all around us that are striving to be holy not happy. WHAT A BLESSING!!!! There is such a difference in my marriage because of the influences that God has placed around us! Thank you to each of you and the blessing that you are to J. and I!

We got up on Saturday, loaded up our grill, and J. cooked about 125 dogs for our church's community gathering. We were surrounded by the amazing people that I mentioned in the paragraph above. So, it was a blessing to serve and to be lifted up.

Then, we went to some dear friend's of ours to pick up a donated refrigerator to take up to my sweet little grandparents. Meme is 85 and Grandaddy is 93. They are so funny. It is quite hard for them to say thank you and enjoy a blessing. So, it is always fun to wow them with a gift like that.

Finally, on our way home from Paris, J and I stopped by my baby brother's house to wish him a Happy Birthday! I love that guy! It always makes me so happy to be in his presence! He and I have such fun when we are together, and his cute little wife, K. is the biggest blessing to our family. She is good to him and our family, and they are too cute together.

Anyway, today is Sunday. J and I are zonked (I can't begin to express how hard that guy worked yesterday), but we are so excited that we have had a full weekend. I am hoping to get some more stamping done this weekend, and I have several projects for Paper Cravings that need my attention before the next week start.

I have to admit this is my favorite kind of weekend. I adore to be surrounded by friends, family and being on the go. It usually wears J. out, but this weekend, he has been right in step with me. I love you, J.

Have a great day! I am going to spend some time with my man!

My Sister!

There really isn't anyone who can make me laugh like my sister! She simply cracks me up!! We used to get in trouble as young kids because we would get tickled at the dinner table. My grandfather (ex-military and ww2 vet) didn't understand the need to get to the table and act silly. However, it never failed that when we all sat down...giggles were bound to begin. Even to this day the three of us can not be in the same room without being loud and rolling with laughter.

I can't tell you how much I love this girl!! She is such an amazing person! I am so proud of the mom, wife, sister, and friend that she has become. You see, our mom and dad got divorced when I was thirteen, Amy was 8 and Jason was 7. I was given by God's grace two of the most amazing siblings that a girl could have. It was my joy to help mom raise A. & J.

Amy has a gift of giving me such grief and teasing when I am being too emotional. She simply is my very best friend. However, when the reality of infertility hit...she was the one I could cry my heart out to. I would do anything in the world for her.

I am sure she will have quite a different take on my emotions and our childhood memories...so....Check out my sister's blog! Pardon her blog design. I am in the process of creating it...She and I are both in the middle of creating new companies. We will keep you posted so that you can check them out!

I love fireworks, actually, I love just about anything having to do with being festive and spending time with friends and family.

However, I have a special love for the summer and summer festivities. Reson number one, I am out of school - which always puts me in a good mood. Secondly, for years while I was serving as a youth pastor, I spent the 4th of July at Bridgport Camp sitting at Vespers on the top of the hill watching God's amazing firework display. We (the teenagers and I) LOVED it! Such fond memories that brings me back to fireworks. Summer means time to slow down. Soak in some good rays (which have been few due to the massive amounts of water flowing from the sky)...spend time with family....and watch fireworks. . . according to Mandy...enjoy things around you.

If you know me at all, you know I am a sap. I am overly emotional, and by some people's accounts, crazy. However, I simply love life. I want to soak it all in. I want to notice each petal on a flower because God put it there. I want to see the sparkle of love in someone's eyes because God put it there. I want to celebrate each day with gusto because God gave us the day to celebrate. According to some, I love too emotional, and I live frivolously. ANYWAY!!

Now, I don't really know where this post is coming from....but let me tell you. My family thinks I am just plain silly because I have this intense desire to love and and enjoy everything. I don't do it on purpose. It just comes to me....I assume because GOD PUT IT THERE!!!!

which brings us back to fireworks....yes...I know...I am rambling...

anyway...yesterday, J. and I went out to Babe's Chicken in Sanger (which is a whole post all by itself!) to celebrate the 4th. We (actually, I) figured it would take a while to get seated, and then, on our way home, we would be able to drive along and view some fireworks. Romantic, right?

We got there around 7.

Got seated immediately.

Out of there by 8. J. is a very set in his ways kind of guy. So, when dinner is over, you go home.

I am a soaker. I want to take it all in...linger on the way. Just in case....life might happen (or fireworks)!

Home by 8:30.

You guessed it!!! It wasn't even dark yet. SOOOOOO...my perfectly romantic idea of how the evening should play out was dashed by fast service and my over active expectations....

Happy July 4th!