What would I do?

Ugghh. I just heard on the TV that they believe that the 3 year old little girl, Kaleigh Anthony, is dead. I was hoping and praying that they would find her somewhere alive and fine. I can't imagine something happening to one of my children. I have a four year old boy. He is my whole life. I can't imagine my life without him. How could a mother allow anything to happen to be her baby? What kind of monster is Kasey Anthony? The news is now saying that they found a hair sample from the Mom's car that appears to be the little girl's. Lately, we have been having alot of behavior issues with Brendan. He is having some awful temper tantrums, and has been waking up during the night. This has been very frustrating. It really wears on a parent when there is a difficult child involved. I just sit here now and think, despite the hard times, there are soooo many incredible times that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. He is so full of life, and so wonderful. he has the best sense of humor, and loves to make people laugh. He is a Mama's boy and adores his Daddy. I feel so guilty when I might go overboard with discipline, especially when aggravated. i can't imagine what I would do without him. We are so blessed to have him in our lives, and the horrible thing is, you never know how much time we are going to be given with our children. You have to make the absolute most of every moment, even the trying ones. Look at each difficult behavior as a stage that will pass, and enjoy and love your child while they are still young. One day, they won't be so quick to run up and hug and kiss you or sit in your lap for a story. Don't miss it. As Kenny Chesney says, "Don't blink." That is so true. I pray God's forgiveness for any time that I have been too hard on my baby or made him feel like he wasn't everything to me. I don't want him to ever doubt how much he is adored and cherished by his Mommy and Daddy.

Whew...I made it!

OMG! What a crazy day! The first day of school is utter madness, and, to top it off, we had to go to Wal-Mart! Ugghhh. I'll start at the top. First off, it was Bren's first day of pre Kindergarten. I so can't believe that my baby is in school. I really don't know where time goes. Anyway, he was obviously completely stoked about it. We got to his school around 7:10 or so. I meant to be at my school by 7 to finish up some stuff, but that didn't happen. So, I took Bren in and helped him get settled. Then I snuck out while he was talking to a pretty blond over Cocoa Puffs. I went out to get in the truck (I was driving Rodney's cuz he had farther to drive so he took my Honda), and it woudn't start! Ugghh! Of all the days for it not to start, this had to be it. I really think that God sometimes has a very odd sense of humor. I'm gonna take it up with Him when I get there! ;) So, this was at 7:15, so I start freaking out! How crappy is it to be LATE your first day back to school? It wouldn't have been quite so bad if I wasn't with a new teacher that knew nothing about the kids that I had last year, and who is not very experienced with this age group. Well, I called into work and told them I would be there ASAP. Rodney saved the day and came and rescued me. I got to work 1 minute late. Not too bad, except all my kids were there for the most part. It was ok, though. The new teacher was doing a group activity with them. At about 8:00, another boy walked in with his Mom. I had never saw this kid before. Apparently, he was new to our class. His Mom had registered him this morning. Who registers their special needs child the DAY school starts back? Ugghh again. So, he made the 10th member of our wild group. We are maxed out. NO MORE! I can't handle any more. ;( Overall, though, the first day went pretty well. It's gonna be hard stretching myself and the teacher enough to fit the needs of all 10 of them, because they are all soooo different. Even the grade levels include kids that are light and day away from each other in learning skills. It's really challenging, but I am determined that not one of these kids will fail this year. I would also love to see at least 80 % pass the EOGS. that would be awesome! Anyways, the Joye twins are doing awesome. Check out Ferris's blog. Also, if you want to cry a little, go to my myspace and click on my sister in law's page "Expecting #2". There is a ultrasound video of my soon to be new baby niece. She is perfect and healthy. God provides. I can't wait for the day when I can look into her eyes and tell her what a miracle she is and how much we all love her. I miss my baby niece, Carly so much, even though I only got to see her a few times before she went to be with Jesus. I still watch the videos that Rach has posted of her and I cry. She is so special. I know that Jesus enjoys every moment with her. I am so jealous. ;) I gotta go eat some chocolate cream cookie ice cream (it's fat free, so I don't feel a bit guilty.) Then, I'm going to bed. I can't get back in the swing of this. I'm thankful for Labor Day weekend. Ugghhh.

Goodbye Summer break!

SO, I went back to work at the elementary school yesterday. Goodbye to a great summer. I'm very excited to get back to work, though. I love my job. This is the first job in a very long time that I can honestly say that I love. It is exhausting, and very demanding, and at times I want to quit....but the kids always make me remember why I am where I am. It makes me feel like I am really doing something good. I love seeing these kids succeed. They are great kids, they just need alot of love. I'm with a new teacher this year. He is very cool. i think it will do our boys and girls good to have a guy teacher. They were surrounded by estrogen last year! We still have BED (Behaviorally and Emotionally Disturbed), actually, this year they changed it to SED (Severely Emotionally Disturbed). We are breaking up grade levels, though, which will be great. We have 3-5th grade. the kids come back Monday, so I'm really excited! ;) I already miss my sons, though. It's been nice having a whole summer with them. Bren should be starting Prek next week, and Micah's gonna stay home with Dad. I am so thankful that we don't have to put him in daycare. We have had nightmare experiences with daycares!! I am praying that Bren can get into the school where I work. That way, I can keep an eye on him. Plus, this school is, by far, the best elementary school that I have ever seen. The staff and administration are top of the line. They are all fantastic. Hopefully, I can find out this week when there will be an opening at our school. Bren's number one on the waiting list. Anyways, I'm blogging on my lunch break, and now, I have to get back to school to laminate posters!! Joy Joy!

Random Thoughts...

So, Rodney and I are sitting here watching the presidential candidates debate with Pastor Rick Warner. This campaign has me really fubared. (I know that's not really a word, but I used it, so, ha!) I have always considered myself a Republican, but, I don't really know what to think this year. It is not a cut and dry election. I feel that, because of the issues that fell upon Pres. Bush, the 2 candidates are saying alot of really nice things that everyone in the US wants to hear. Senator Obama makes many great points, and explained his views very well tonight, and say does McCain. McCain seems to be more of a comedian than a politician. He really is funny, but tonight, I think Obama outdebated him. I wish I was more political. I have to blame it on pure ignorance. I have no clue. This election effects the next 4-8 years of my life, as well as my children's. Who knows. Anyways, we have church tomorrow, and that is always exciting. I really love going to our church, and spending time with our friends. Most importantly, I love hearing Darrell teach us about our awesome Savior. I love it. I can't wait to see where God is leading our church. Oh, by the way, check Ferris' blog and check up on the girls. They are doing better. Liana is a trooper. She is doing great. Adleigh is doing better, but still greatly needs all of our prayers. She is still on the vent in the NICU. She needs to be with her sister. (I told you these were RANDOM thoughts. Tehe!) I'll post more later!! Buuuyyyeee!

Prayer request for Joye Twins

Hey everybody, please really lift up Wade and Ferris Joye's twin girls, Adleigh and Liana up in prayer right now. I want to get everybody that reads this (I don't know how many that is, but it doesn't matter), to please copy and paste this to your email contact list, church prayer chain, etc. They are preemie babies that are currently in CMC Charlotte. You can check my blog list and click on Ferris's for better updates. Liana is actually doing pretty well. She is now in progressive care, but is having a little trouble with feedings. Ferris wants her to take a full bottle very soon. The sooner she can do that and tolerate it, the sooner they can come home. Liana also needs prayer for a severe brain bleed that she had. Please pray that when the next ultrasound is done, that there will be no evidence of a brain bleed at all and she will be completely healed and normal. With Adleigh, she just got moved back to the NICU today from progressive care due to some issues she has been having. They had to put her back on a vent, which, as you can imagine is extremely difficult on her parents to watch. Her oxygen had to go way up as well. Please pray that she gets some needed rest while in the NICU. She is having her 2nd blood transfusion in a few hours. Pray that that gives her the needed strength to recover and move back to progressive care with her sister. Wade and Ferris are such an encouragement to so many people. They are awesome Jesus loving people, who still believe that He heals. I DO TOO!! I know in my heart that God has a huge plan for these little girls, and I ask that you all pray and intercede on their behalf. The projected date for them to go home if all goes well in Sept. 18th, but I pray that God works it out to where it is sooner than that. I ask for perfectly healthy, beautiful girls who love Jesus with their whole hearts, and go to any length to tell others about Him and what He has done in their lives!

VBS

So, tonight was the first night of the first VBS for Real Life Church!! It was awesome! We had almost 50 kids..actually more including nursery! Hopefully we will have more tomorrow. The kids had a blast. Everything went very smoothly, thank goodness. I thought my friend Robyn (the pastor's wife) was gonna have an aneurysm. :) Haha. All went well, though. She is awesome and she got VBS off to a great start. We would all be a mess without her. It was really fun to dress up like pirates! The theme is "the Pirates who Don't do Anything" (veggie tales). VBS is a great way to end the summer. I have to go back to school Monday. Ugghhh. It will be great, though. I miss the kids and the people that I work with. They are all great. The kids are my favorite. I work in BED, (pretty much, difficult children in difficult situations) and I love it. Most of these kids just need good direction and love. None of them are "bad", and they have heard that they are most of their life, which is really sad. I love being the one to encourage them and lift them up. I'm going to go now and check Wade and Ferris Joye's blogs and then go to bed. If you really need a blessing, or just need to see how awesome God is, check out their blogs. I look so forward everyday to checking them. They recently had twin daughters very prematurely. They are still in the hospital in Charlotte, but they are doing phenomenal. Wade is a worship leader at Elevation Church in Charlotte, where my family visited a few times before we moved down to Fayetteville. I love that church. Check out their website http://www.elevationchurch.org/. Their pastor is Steven Furdick, and he is incredible. Check them out!! Goodnight!

Happy Sunday!

Well, I haven't been on in a few days. We stay soooo flippin busy all the time. Time seems to fly away before we know it. Rodney and I went to Albemarle this past weekend and sung in a wedding. It was very nice. Rodney was so incredibly nervous. I thought it was hilarius because he's a worship pastor! He leads people singing all the time and he's awesome at it. He is silly sometimes. It went really good though. I love the opportunity to sing with my husband. Especially sweet lovey dovey songs. Hmmmm...anyway, I also got to go and see my friend Judy's new baby girl Madi. She is beautiful of course. She is just a little thing, around 6 lbs. I don't know anything about 6 lb babies. Bren was 8lb 12 1/2oz, and Micah was 9lb 8oz!! They were almost toddlers when they were born, but that's cool, cuz one day, they'll be NFL stars, and will be supporting their loving parents who live in St. Thomas!! Or maybe Australia..I would love to see kangaroos....I'm so ADD! Hehe! Baby Madi is such a blessing. She is gonna be spoiled rotten. I can't wait until the first of January when we have my new baby niece!! ugghhh! The anticipation is keellling me!! Church was great today, like always. One of my buddies, Brandon, talked about his recent mission trip to Hong Kong. God really blessed them, and us through Brandon. He definitely has a calling in missions. Anyways, it's really late, and I'm going to bed!! Night Night!

My new baby "Neice"!

One thing that stinks about moving to Fayetteville, (aside from missing my family) is that I left all of my best friends behind. I have a few girls that I was very tight with. The sad thing is, when you move away from each other, you can't meet up for lunch, or drop by each other's work to say "hi." I just missed my friend Judy giving birth to her first baby! Ugghhh! She and her husband had been trying to have a baby for a long time, and she was worried that it just wasn't gonna happen for them. She is the most wonderful person, and she was meant to be a Momma. She just has that Momma mentality. She is so loving and patient. She is great with my kids. We used to pick on her because she would buy baby clothes and baby things for her baby that wasn't even conceived yet. When she found out that God was blessing them with a baby girl, she was thrilled. Madison Rae Parker showed up at about 11:17pm Friday night, August 1, 2008, on Judy's daddy's birthday. She weighed in at 6ibs 12 1/2 ozs, and 19 in long!! She is gorgeous! Babies are such a blessing. I pray that this baby has such a positive impact on people, and that through her, people, including her family, come to know Christ if they don't already. I'm not sure of the salvation of her parents. I have prayed for them for a long time. I believe that God honors prayers, and He will work on them. I just pray that they accept his call. So, that is my exciting news for today! I have been cooped up in this house for 2 days, and I'm going crazy!! We have band practice tonight, though, so that will be fun. We are getting ready for VBS next week. Fun times at Real Life!!

Went to the Neurologist..

Before I found out I was pregnant with Micah, I was having issues with migraines and blurry vision. I also had a spell of Bell's Palsy (which is when 1 side of your face goes paralized temperarily). Anyway, I had 2 MRI's, a CAT scan, and a spinal tap (Lumbar puncture). No fun. The dr. then said that I had MS, which the lumbar puncture proved was a misdiagnosis. Then I found out that I was pregnant, and couldn't do any more testing. I should have gone back before now, but I was nervous and kept putting it off. Today, the Dr. reviewed my results from the lumbar puncture, as well as the MRI's and said that I have a chiari malformation, which just means that a part of my brain is lower than it should be, possibly down to my spinal column. He said that I also have a abnormal spot on my brain, but I already knew that. He said that occassionally, the malformation can lead to MS, but that we would keep a close check on it. He told me to take Aleeve for my headaches, and gave me medicine to help me sleep better. I go back to him in 3 months, so, we'll see. Everything will be fine. My friend Jamie said, "So that's what's wrong with you?!" Huh. Thanks alot. ;) Ugghhh. How come ever since I turned 25, I feel like I'm at the doctor's office all the time? Do people typically start falling apart at 25? I don't feel terrible all the time, I just have to deal with these stupid headaches. I actually have felt better in the past few months because I have lost 21 pounds!! Yea!! I'm really proud of myself, which is not something that I'm used to. I just tried to give up sugar for the most part, eat more fruits, veggies, lean meats, and fiber. I don't even work out. I chase around the boys, but that's it. I hope to lose alot more when I get back to work and have to chase my kids at school! That is a great workout! I hope to lose about 25 more. Then I will weigh what I did when I got pregnant with Brendan. Anyway, I'm gonna go lay on my couch and be lazy. Rodney is with Darrell and our new friend Adam, having a "meeting" for church on the golf course! Ha! Life for them is hard, huh?

Growing, growing!!

So, church this morning was great! I wish that we had service more than once a week. We actually took a pole today in service to find out when people would like to have another service, like a second Sunday service. Currently, we are extremely crowded, which is an awesome problem to have!! We tried doing an early service, but, apparently, Real Life does not have any early birds, except for staff that have to be there. We had 1 person show up this morning for early service! Haha! So, obviously, we canceled it. We are considering either a Sunday afternoon or a Saturday evening service. We really want to give people a chance to come that have to work on Sundays. It really makes me so excited to see new people almost every Sunday at our church. We have only been a "church" for 1 year! It is amazing how God has worked. At first, we had a launch group of about 20, including children. Now, most Sundays, we average about 100!! WOW! That is this summer...this fall should bring people back who have not been around much of the summer. We had a new couple come today that actually found us on our website. That was cool. Our website has been seriously neglected in the past 6 months, so it was nice to see it actually do some good. We have an awesome new man in our church who we believe God provided to get us up and going more in the technological world. Hopefully, he can spruce up our website, and get this church really rockin! It's amazing how God provides. It seems that whatever we have needed for our church, He has provided, whether that be a particular person with a particular gift, or a material object. It is awesome!

To update on our abused girl from the previous posting, I am glad to say that she called our pastor's wife yesterday and said that she wanted to come back. That was Saturday. We thought that she'd have come before now, but we are trusting that God is working on her and giving her the courage to come. I'm sure it's gonna be a battle with her "boyfriend." I hope not. He's such a jerk. A very unmanly, cowardly JERK! Pray for him, that God dramatically changes his heart and his life, and that I learn not to be so judgemental..but he really is a JERK! :) (God's still workin on me....)

Skillet Pictures & Photos - Skillet

Skillet Pictures & Photos - Skillet

I absolutely LOVE them!!!

I just finished a book...

My husband came home the other week and had purchased a book from a christian bookstore that he thought I might like. It was "The Shack" by William Young. I read it once, and I loved it. It involves a man who's young daughter is kidnapped and brutally murdered. He lives in a constant state of sorrow, hating himself and God for the events that had taken place. He has nightmares constantly with his daughter calling to him to help her and he can't. It later goes on to show how God "showed up", literally in this book, to guide Mack through it, and help him to forgive himself and the murderer, so that he could move on with his life. It reveals God in three physical persons; God, Jesus, and Sarayu, (The Spirit). I have already started to read it again. It gave me such a great vision of how God is so full of love, and how he wants to help us through our trails if we will just trust in Him. I just read a review, however, that leaves me a little bothered. You can read it at http://www.challies.com/archives/book-reviews/the-shack-by-william-p-young.php, but don't read it until you read the book. It pretty much says that the book portrays a far too lenient version of God, and does not reflect the consequences of not accepting Him as a person's Savior. It doesn't portray that people have a limited amount of time to make the decision to come to Christ; it actually has a passage where God tells Mack, "Time is on our side, I won't push you." That seems like God has already forgiven every one of their sins, whether they are Christians or not, which is definitely not true. I have refered this book to many people so far, and I did really enjoy it, I just want people to not be led astray from who our God is. Yes, he is awesome and loving and forgiving, but He is also only going to be ours if we ask him into our hearts and accept the free gift of salvation. If we don't, we know the consequences. Time is not on our side. The time is coming when Christ will return, and people need to know that they need to be ready. The only way to Heaven is through Christ. This came from God himself. Anyways, that's my "book review." Tehe!! I still really enjoyed the book. Many things about it I believe are true, but some things may be a bit off. It is a fiction book, however, and I suppose that happens. Always let the Bible be your number one source of information about Christ, not a fiction book. It is fun, however, to compare and contrast similarities and differences. Well boys and girls, I'm off to church for Movie Night at the coffeehouse!!