Friday, June 29, 2007

Thank You God for My Ankle and Foot!!!

Well....tonight I am especially thankful that I can walk. Here's why. For the past few weeks I have been very diligent about riding my bike everyday. I am so proud of myself because my diligence is paying off, and the pounds are coming off (even if it is ever so slowly). Well, today was no exception. I usually ride in the evening, since Paul is home to watch the kids and when the temperature is a little cooler. Well, tonight about 8:30 I set out on my bike ride. As I was riding along, getting closer to town, I passed this house and two dogs came after me. However, the one that actually "nailed" me was one that looks almost exactly like the one pictured above...a PIT BULL. Thankfully he didn't even break the skin, but he did get quite a bit of a squeeze on it, and I'm already feeling the soreness. When I got home, I of course told Paul, and at the time I didn't realize that it was a Pit Bull. After I got to thinking about it, I got on-line and looked up some pictures of Pit Bulls, and seeing the pictures pretty much confirmed my suspicion. After I told Paul that, he called the Sheriff's Office. They immediately dispatched the Animal Control Officer (ACO) to come out to our house and get the story. He was very nice, and he told me...more than once, that I am a very lucky person that I did not sustain injuries much worse than I did. He said usually once a Pit Bull bites, and gets a grip, they usually don't let go. The only reason they usually let go is if they think they can get a better grip. In retrospect, I just am so thankful that the Lord protected me tonight. I realize NOW that it could have been sooooooooo much worse, and I could be in the hospital tonight, rather than at home, ...BLOGGING to you :) Anyway, the ACO left here and went immediately to the home where the dog resides, told the owners that they are to either keep the dog in the house, or if he is outside he is to be on a chain at all times. He also told us that if we are ever driving by and see that the dog is loose, we are to call him, and he will see that the dog is taken care of. I'm not afraid of dogs, but I think that I'll be making a purchase in the near future...a large can of MACE!!!





Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Still House Hunting



We went and looked at this house last night. It is a really nice place, but there were a few things that concerned us, just room wise, and the upstairs bathroom only had a tub, no shower, etc. It seems that it is so hard to find exactly what one is looking for, in the right price range. I guess that our tastes are too expensive, or something. It's just that we need more bedrooms, or at least more room, and bathrooms too, as our children are getting older, etc., etc. I did however come across the house pictured below today. It is really out of our price range, but as I pulled into the driveway an electric truck was pulling out. The man got out of the truck and came over to our van. He asked me if I lived there. I told him "No" that I had just seen the for sale sign, and had come to check it out. He said, "Well, maybe they really need the money now, because I just turned their electric off for non-payment." I don't know if the house is empty, or what the situation is. The only way that we could afford this place is if they came down A LOT on their price. It truly would be a miracle, but Paul and I both have been praying for the impossible in our lives. Nothing may ever come of it, but a least it's fun to dream. If you think of us, please pray for us that we'll find and know God's will about another house.


Monday, June 25, 2007

Just TOO Cute!


This picture was taken at church on Father's Day. This is my baby Makayla, and Jerry and Janice Cooper's little girl, Kaly. Kaly loves babies, and she just loves hugging Makayla. Just couldn't resist posting it.


There are more pics on the church web site. Feel free to check it out: http://www.fbhc.net/.

Fruits of My Labors


I cleaned out closets today, and believe it or not, it took me ALL day to do two (huge) closets. I couldn't believe that it took me that long. Of course, the day was not without many interruptions, but tonight I'm feeling like I accomplished much, and ready to hit it hard again tomorrow. I took EIGHT, yes Eight, trash bags full to Goodwill tonight. It sure felt good to get them out of here, and I'm motivated to get more done. Tomorrow I will work on dresser drawers and underneath beds (namely my children's). It will remain to be seen what all turns up from under there, but it will be a great job to get done.

Seven Months Old Today and Catching Up!


Today Makayla turns seven months old. It really doesn't seem possible that she has been a part of our family that long already. Anyway, she has, and time keeps marching on. She sits up well on her own now, and when she's on her belly, tries to get up on her knees, and can push herself with her toes to get to what she wants. She is spoiled, I must admit, because she has three older siblings that think if she even whimpers that she has to be pick up, talked to, or made over in one way or another. I'm dreading when they all go off to school in the fall. I'll be holding her a lot, I'm sure. Oh well, their only young once, and I had a mother of five (whose children are all adults now) tell me last night that these are the best days. I told her that I had heard that before, and so I am trying to cherish every moment, even if I'm wore out. For all too soon they'll be grown, and I'll long for Jeffrey to ask me to tuck him in (like he did yesterday). Lord, help me focus on those tender moments, because in a heartbeat they will be no more.


And...


My friend Ladonna was here last week, and Paul's brother and his wife are coming next week, so...this week I'm playing catch up. Lots of laundry to do, I'm trying to re-organize my closet, clean out and get rid of. Tomorrow evening we are going to look at a house for sale. It actually is not on the market, but our realtor has known the owners for quite some time, and they want to sell, if she has a buyer. She thought of us, and it sounds like what we've been looking for. We drove by it last week and it is really nice. We're excited, and anxious, wondering if this is the house that the Lord has for us. So...with the thoughts, in the back of our heads, of possibly moving, I'm trying to clean out things, get rid of what we don't need, and what we don't use, in preparation for that, in case this is the house for us. So it's off to clean some more. Thanks for looking us up, and feel free to let me know that you stopped by.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Journal of a Frazzled Mother


Where do I begin? Today has certainly been a day, and the children are still in "high" gear. Will today never end? Do any of you other mothers out there ever feel this way? Anyway, this afternoon we decided to go to Lafayette to do some shopping. After getting most of the shopping done (and I won't go into all of the details of THAT), we decided to go to Golden Corral for supper. It went something like this:


6:45 - Enter restaurant (Jeffrey is holding himself, begging to go to the bathroom).

6:50 - Get through the line, boys run to the bathroom, Mom, Dad, DaNae, and Makayla go to our seat.

6:53 - Danae begs to go to the bathroom

6:54 - Boys return from the bathroom, we decided to go ahead and say "grace" without DaNae.

6:55 - Daddy, Jonathan and Jeffrey go to the buffet to fill their plates. Mommy puts baby food jar in hot water to warm for Makayla.

6:56 - DaNae returns from bathroom.

6:58 - Mommy spills hot water that the baby food is in, cleans up mess, begins to feed Makayla.

7:00 - Daddy, Jonathan and Jeffrey return with food, begin to eat. Daddy along with DaNae go to buffet to fill their plates.

7:05 - Makayla is fed, daddy returns to table, mommy goes to buffet to fill plate.

7:08 - Mommy returns to table, starts to eat, feeds Makayla some sweet potatoes off of the buffet, she gets choked, vomits on the table.

7:10 - Mommy cleans up mess, then goes to the buffet to find some crackers for Makayla.

7:12 - Mommy returns to the table with crackers, gives Makayla some to eat.

7:13 - Makayla throws the crackers on the floor while mommy sneaks in a few bites of food that is quickly getting cold on her plate.

7:15 - 7:20 - Mommy picks the chicken off of the bone for DaNae and Jeffrey so that they can eat it.

7:20 - Makayla begins crying very loudly drawing much attention to herself.

7:21 - Mommy makes a bottle of formula for Makayla,

7:22 - Jonathan (who is now finished with his supper) takes Makayla and gives her a bottle

7:22-7:30 - Mommy sneaks in a few more bites of her supper.

7:30 - Makayla falls asleep. SIGH!!!!!

7:31 - Jonathan puts Makayla in her car seat, (by the way, Daddy had to go out to the van to get the car seat, because we didn't take it in) we pop in a pacifier, cover her with a blanket, and sit her under the table (because the car seat won't sit on the seat without falling off).

7:32-7:45 Things are going pretty well, the kids are finising up their supper. Jeffrey comes over to my side of the table, is horsing around with Jonathan, kicks the car seat, and wakes up Makayla.

7:47 - Mommy picks up Makayla.

7:50 - Jeffrey spills a glass of water, it runs off of the table, and soaks the car seat that is sitting under the table. Daddy grabs the car seat, 18 napkins, and starts sopping.

8:00 - Time to go, Daddy folds a blanket to put in car seat so that Makayla doesn't get wet when she sits in it,

8:00 (and 30 seconds) - Jonathan takes the blanket out of the car seat.

8:01 - Daddy re-folds the blanket, puts it back in the car seat.

8:02 - DaNae informs us she has to go to the bathroom again.

8:03 - Walking out of the resturant, and toward the bathroom

8:03 - DaNae informs us that she left her umbrella hanging on the chair. Goes back to retrieve it.

8:04-8:10 - In bathroom with DaNae.

8:11 - Walking out of the bathroom across the restaurant.

8:11 (and 30 seconds) DaNae informs me once again that she left her umbrella hanging in the stall. Goes back to retrieve it.

8:15 - In the van wondering if I really did eat supper and on the verge of tears.


It probably doesn't seem that bad to you reading it, but living it was a different story. I'm sure that to anyone watching us it was like a three ring circus. Please don't get me wrong. I love my children, and wouldn't trade them for anything in this world, but right now I'd like to scream. This little journal of the restaurant experience is just a little glimpse of how it has felt that this whole day has been. I'm sure the time sequences were not just exact, but I think you get the picture. It was one caotic experience. No wonder I have indigestion. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHERE I CAN FIND SOME CHOCOLATE?


We had one more stop to make (Wal-Mart), and then we headed home. Needless to say, on the way home I DID cry. The children were singing to the top of their lungs, and carrying on. Finally, Paul got them to sing some songs together. DaNae was singing "Wide, Wide as the Ocean". She sang "I, though so unworthy, now am a child of His care..." Jonathan, jumps in singing..."and it's ONE, TWO, THREE STRIKES YOU'RE OUT at the old ballgame". About then, Makayla started crying (by this time she is very tired, hungry, needs a diaper change, etc.) and to end this memorable trip, DaNae says, "Oh my, Makayla's getting blessed" and she was as serious as could be. Paul and I just lost it.


In the time it has taken me to write this blog, the house is FINALLY completely quiet. It has been a whole five minutes since I've heard one of their angelic voices. I'm sure in the morning, after this tired mommy gets some sleep things will be much easier to cope with, and I look forward to a fresh new start. I'm thankful that I am blessed to be a mommy. I know that there are lots of women out there that would love to have children and can't. I am humbled that God would choose to bless me four times in such a special way, for I love them so very dearly. They sure do look like angels when they're sleeping.

Friday, June 22, 2007

I've FINALLY Switched!

Hello, to all those out there in blogging land. I have finally made the switch to blogspot, with the help of "Sleeping Beauty" (pictured below). I have been putting it off and putting it off, but my friend LaDonna Covert has been here this week, and she helped me do the monumental task of getting things started here. I'll be posting more later, but I just wanted to say hello, and let you know that I am officially "here", and will be blogging more soon.