The Dress ...

I am reminded of those days not so long ago when we were shopping and planning weddings.  Girly girls weddings were so much fun.  I love all the little things.  Oldest girly girl chose baby blue and silver for her colors.

Her dress was a lovely fitted gown that had a slight mermaid shape to it.  It had these beautiful lace leaves all over it.  It was THE Dress and she knew it the moment she put it on.

We cried over this dress.  It was a bit more than we planned to spend - things were tight back then.  After a day of crying we went back and purchased it.  It was the right dress and she was lovely in it.

I made the veil she wore.  She found a headpiece and we added tiny silver leaves with just a touch of blue to it.  She wore the pearl necklace I made for her too.


Youngest girly girls wedding was at the same church her sister got married at.  She choose a black and white theme for her wedding.  She had looked on line and found lovely dress but when she went to try it on it didn't hang right at all.  Little Sweet Pea was already in the making and He had other plans for her.

It's been a while now hasn't it...

 I guess life has been busy around here or I just haven't felt the need to share anything lately.  Perhaps it's a combination of both ?   Bible study for the past 2 weeks has been on prayer.  It all started with a question from the son in law and kind of just snowballed from there.  Silly me, thinking I was the one teaching.  I learn so much from them, if they only knew.

The one thing that I really think that struck me the most was that God has written a love letter to all of mankind.  It's called the Bible.  He loves us so much and every word of the Bible is spoken out of love for us.  I can't even begin to fathom the depth of that kind of love.  I just can't wrap my head around it.  The Bible is filled with promises from Him and every single one of them He keeps.  There is not one lie and no "maybe".  God is who He is.  He does what He says He will do.  We are never forsaken.

Playing at Grandma and Papa's House !

There is nothing better than getting rides from Papa !  Baby J seems to be looking around waiting for the ride to begin.  Sweet Pea has a look that says "let's get a move on !".

That's the way the day goes...

I don't know what it is but it sure seems the weather around here is more muggy than I can remember it ever being since I've lived here.  Really, what is the point of putting on makeup when it's just going to drip off your face in about 30 minutes?

Aside from the mugginess - today was a good day.  Oldest girly girl, Baby J, Youngest girly girl, Sweet Pea, and Stinker Bell all came for a visit today.  The kids played and chased one another through the house most of the afternoon.  Stinker Bell has learned to sit on her little round bottom and not fall over !  She's taken to rocking back and forth on her hands and knees - that means soon she will be off and crawling all over the place.  We had a diaper rodeo there for a while.  Sweet Pea, then Stinker Bell, and finally Baby J - lets just all poop one right after the other !  Baby J and Sweet Pea entertained each other for most of the visit.  They ended the day with a ride in the wheelbarrow compliments of Papa !

Girly girls battled it out in boggle on the wii.  It was nice that they got to just kick back for a moment and play a game.  Silly time doesn't happen too much when your busy raising children of your own.

Praying for Isaiah...

There was a new picture of Isaiah tonight on fb.  A little boy with a bright smile his brother and sister at his side.  He wasn't quite looking at the camera.  His skin was pale compared to the tan of his siblings.  He too, is one of those few brave ones.  The ones who recover against all odds.

I have a hard time looking at pictures like that.  It brings back a lot of memories.  It stirs up emotions that I have quietly tucked away like winter clothing because it's now summer.  Neatly folded and set out of sight because it isn't needed any more.  The pictures bring back those very first moments.  Those emotions flood back as if I'm standing beside the hospital bed once again.  The rush of tears, the uncontrollable audible gasp of sadness, and then the swallowing of it all deep inside because "she can hear you".  It's all still there - just as if it happened today.  It makes my muscles tense, my eyes fill with tears, and my throat clench.  It always takes me a bit to pack it back away - fold it neatly and place it in the drawer - and breath a sigh of relief as I close the drawer.

Tonight - my prayers are for Isaiah and his family.  I have been there - waiting just as his parents are waiting.  Father God, they are waiting on a miracle.  I pray it comes quickly.  I pray Isaiah will soon return home, that he will walk, that he will see, that he will draw, and that he will get to live the rest of his life without tumors.  I pray his parents will have rest and peace knowing it is all in your loving hands.  Amen.

Happy Go Lucky - NOT...

I'm a generally happy person.  You know - I'm the gal who makes lemonade out of lemons.  Yep, pretty much me all the time.  Once in a while though, I find myself sinking into sadness.  For whatever reason.  It could be anything - a few words said wrong, an old memory that pops up without warning, and a few other things I won't say because well, you just don't say those things out loud.  At least, if you are me, you don't. 

So my old friend, Sadness is visiting me tonight.   Sad for lots of reasons.  Sad for things I cannot change.  Sad for things I cannot fix.  Sad for losses in life.  Sad because life is just hard.  I'm grateful for my life, for the blessings I have been given, and yet there is just a tinge of sadness for the difficult things.  I know everything happens for a reason.  Reasons I may never ever understand here on this earth. 

Father God, here I am with this sadness.  Please let it run it's course and leave me with peace.  Let me learn the lessons You wish me to learn.  Let me use it to comfort someone else.  Amen

Reminders ...

As I write this a young boy named Isaiah is resting not so comfortably in a hospital recovering from brain surgery.  He's just someone I came across on facebook because they were asking for prayer for him.  Isaiah has not had a good few years and yet, somehow through all of the surgeries and radiation treatments he has managed to have an unwavering faith.  His dream - that by sharing his story he can share Jesus with others.  Dear Isaiah is in my prayers tonight and I believe his miracle is happening as we speak.

This reminds me - in all of the chaos of life - to be thankful for the many blessings I have in my life.  Thankful for healthy children and grandchildren.  Thankful for my own health.  Thankful for each and every day I get to share with family and friends.  I'm reminded that even when things seem the worst - God is working it all for the good of those who love Him.  I am truly grateful for Father God who loves us so dearly.

I'm putting the worry monster on notice.  I know how to deal with him now and he has no place in my home or heart anymore.  I haven't perfected dealing with him - but I know enough now to send him packing when he does manage to try and set a place at my table.  I won't be sorry to see him go either !

It's been a busy couple of days 'round here...

Don't ya know it.  Bible study on Thursday that lasted into the wee hours of the mornin'.  We never did make it to the video and discussion.  God had other plans.  That's ok - His plans are always better than mine !

  Friday brought adventures.  I went in to watch sweet pea and stinkerbell for a bit in the morning.  That went fine.  I come home and after a bit of sitting here in my own sweat and makeup dripping off my face - I decide - it's 90 + outside - time to crank on the AC. 

Not too much later and I'm trying to bring up my fb account on my browser and it says to me "cannot load page".  Uh oh.  Uh uh oh.  That usually doesn't mean good things.  So I make a call to tech support and the adventure begins.  Could you "click here"  and type this in.  Hmm.  It's not supposed to do that.  OK lets try this.  Please don't make me go to dos.  Not dos - it scares me !  Anything but dos.  You guessed it - dos.  That didn't work.  Finally after 30 minutes of wandering up and down the stairs from the desktop to the laptop it's time to to take the pesky router in my hands and take control of the issue !  OK - lady press this teeny tiny non-existent button buried on the back of the router, hold your tongue just right, and do that for at least 30 seconds.  Now click here, type in this code, lets see.  Bingo !  oh, oh wait.  Premature Bingo.  Lets do that whole thing all over again.  Wait.  Wait.  WA - LAH !  You now have Internet.  I don't know why, don't really know what happened but hey, it worked !  All the while I'm thinking to myself - "man, I gotta turn that AC down - it's HOT in here.".  Yeah well, a few hours later.  Shabang !  Guess what - you know why it's so stinkin' hot in here ?  BECAUSE the AC ISN'T WORKING !  Geez Louise !  Adventures !

Return of the Worry Monster !

Yeah, he's gettin' sneaky now.  Hangin' around the corner waiting to poke me when he gets the chance.  Oh my - this is not an easy thing.  I think God should have given me bigger feet so I could "stomp" on all the worry and take it out with one good tantrum.  Ah, but that's not what this journey is about is it?  It's not about getting to hit the easy button and conquer it in one little click.  Nope - it's about learning to really lay it in His hands and know that no matter what comes or doesn't come - He's got it all under control.  Control - oh I don't want to go there.  I like to be "in control".  I don't like feeling like I'm at any one else's mercy.  I don't like not being able to take care of things myself.  My Way.  Oh my - this is gonna be a long journey isn't it ?

I have a new name !

Wait for it...  Wait for it ...  It's official I have a new name !  Ethan called me "AhMah" today !  His version of Gramma !  Awww - made my day.  He even followed it up with his sweet little Popeye kisses !  I call them that because he always tucks his top lip in and sticks his bottom lip out real big to give kisses - reminds me of Popeye the cartoon !  Lol