Sick

I have been sick since Christmas, I have an infection, and in alot of pain. Not doing too much of anything. My whole head is hurting, my ear, my jaw. Just yuky. I am on antibiotics, and pain meds, so I will blog more when I am feeling well.

We had a wonderful Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas. It was great to spend time with my family, and really take time to enjoy Christmas, and remembering what the real reason for the season was. We went to our annual Christmas Eve Party with my family, then to my parents, and then back home to get ready for Santa to come. The next morning, the boys woke at 6:30 am (thanks to my alarm going off). Little Adam told me that he made a promise to Jesus, that he would read two pages of his bible before he opened any gifts, and he did that. He sat and read his bible, as his brother opened gifts. He read to us, and it felt so good to spend that morning thinking of him.

Mary Did You Know

On Wednesday night we had a Christmas service at church, I always look forward to this. It's a Family service. The Children's Dept sang some Christmas Songs for us. Jenn and Dee did a great Job with this, and the kids were awesome.
Here is a picture of Alex singing in the program.

My oldest son, Adam is in a group called the Edge, it's a group for 5th and 6th graders. They performed a Drama to Mary Did You Know. I love this song. It gives you a different aspect of a sacrifice. This is a mothers view.

Mary did you know that your baby boy would some day walk on water?

Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man?

Mary did you know that your baby boy would calm a storm with his hand?

Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?

And when your kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

Oh Mary did you know---The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again.The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb---.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?

This sleeping child you're holding is the great

--I--- AM---.

My Son, as Jesus in the Drama. As I watched the Edge perform this it reminded me of that great sacrifice, Jesus wasn't just a sacrifice, He was the greatest sacrifice, a King, Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, He was a son, he had a mother and father. I know how much I love my kids, and I know that God loves Jesus and us more than that. It's the greatest love. More than anything we have ever known. Could I sacrifice my child. The great thing is that I don't have to think about that, because of a sacrifice that was made for us. It all started with the birth of a child. A little baby, who did what babies do. But he grew to be a great man, I can only imagine how that made Mary feel watching him. She got to see him in a way that we can't imagine. I know I look at my boys different than anyone else. Everything they do is amazing.

2 Days Until Christmas

There is 2 Days until Christmas (In my World).

Angela

Update

I got all my cloths put away. Hip Hip Horay!

Work Christmas Lunch

Today at work we had a potluck, and gag gift exchange. Here are some pics. It was alot of fun. Some of the gifts were a Mr. Potato Head, a toy gun, a pooing Santa, and the gift I brought and took home was an Easy Button.

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Destination: Florida

My sister is moving to Florida in Early February. She has a great calling on her life, and she is going there as the next step in this calling. She is going to open a Christian Home for teenage mothers here in Louisville. My sister and I were both teenage mothers, and were very blessed to have a very supportive family. It is one of the toughest things a teenage girl can go threw, and it's a blessing all at once. A new life. My sisters goal is for these girls to have a safe place to live while they finish high school. She is going to teach them Christs love for them. It's hard being a teenage mother, wondering how God could still love you if you don't know the extent of his love. She is going to provide a place that these girls can build a foundation, not only spiritually, but also with there child threw parenting classes and other services.

There is nothing like that here, but there are several in Florida, which is why they are moving. She has an internship at a home in Florida were she will learn the details of what her vision is going to take, and she will be working and finishing her college degree all at the same time.

These next two years are going to be tough. I love my sister, and she is always there for me. She will still be a phone call away, but it won't be the same. It would be selfish of me to ask her to stay here when I know what she is trying to accomplish. I can't wait until she opens the doors to the home. We are a very close family, and my parents are having a hard time with this, so keep them in your prayers. And pray for Jacqueline, Adrian, Starr and Adriana. It's not going to be easy. She has a lot of hard work ahead of her, and it will be hard on them being away from family. So pray that her vision stays fresh in her mind, and that God grants her strength to finish what she has begun.

Working Dog

So my husband is off, and that means late nights. He takes advantage of being able to stay up late. I am always up late, but this week I am going to work at 5am, so that I can leave earlier to spend time with my family. So last night when I went to bed he was watching TV, flipping threw channels. So I cuddled up to him and tried to go to sleep. So needless to say, I couldn't go to sleep, especially while he was tapping his fingers on my back to a beat. And he kept saying O, look at that babe.

So I was laying there at 12:30 pm, and he flipped to a Dog competition. As we laughed at a really furry Dog (I mean this is the fluffiest Dog you have ever seen), we noticed a Boxer. We can notice them from a mile away. It's kind of like a car. You get a car, and before you got that car you didn't really notice how many of that car was out there driving around before. But once you get the car, you see them everywhere. Well that's how it is with our Dogs as well. OK, not to get back on the subject. Adam noticed they had the Boxer in the Working Dog category. He brought it my attention. He said what do they do? I said I don't know. He said, "Man, ours don't do anything, I want my money back." I don't' know if it was really that funny, or if it's just cause I am going on like 3.5 hours of sleep.

We are going to see, I am legend today, so we will see if I can make it in a Dark room without falling a sleep.

Lesson Learned: I now know why my husband didn't want a TV in the bedroom for the past 3 years, while I begged him for one.

Pics of my Dogs doing nothing.

Portraits

We had our family pictures done last night, and it was so much fun. We took Liala and Trinidad with us, and that was an experience. We got one family picture with them, and I love it. It was well worth all the time it took to get them to sit still. We got some great pictures of the boys. They are the most handsome boys in my world.

Alex

“No matter how loud, No matter how silly. Giggle Ha Ha, Snicker Hee Hee. There's no laugh as cute as yours is to me.” - Crystal Dawn Perry

Adam

"You cannot catch a child's spirit by running after it; you must stand still and for love it will soon itself return." - Arthur Miller

I think my husband is trying to tell me something.

I am not the best at putting my cloths away. I know, shame on me. They are folded, but they are stacked infront of my dresser. They kindof stay there a while, or until I get in the cleaning mood, which doesn't happen much. So last night I got home, and saw that ontop of my pile, he bought me new hangers. Hmmm. What do you think he is trying to tell me.

God love him.
Angela

I decorated my desk for Christmas.

A little Jealous

I am alittle jealous of my husband right now. This is his last week to work until the new year. So he has off a little over 2 weeks.

So babe, I am a little jealous, but I still love ya.

Little Adam saw my blinkie that said I gots da baby fever. And he said he has da sister fever. Big Adam told him he wasn't going to get one, and Little Adam in all his wisdom told him, with Man all things are impossible, and with God all things are possible. Gotta love it.

My husband is so wonderful!

I am sure there are a lot of us that say that we have the best husband in the world, but I can honestly say that I have the best husband that I can ever ask for! I think we all have that special someone that is a perfect fit. Adam and I are so different.

I meet Adam a little over 12 years ago. I was a sophomore and he was a Junior in High School. We became friends, and to me he was my best friend. We were both dating other people, but secretly we wanted to be dating each other. Finally in January of 2006 I dumped my boyfriend and in true high school style, started dating Adam the same day. We have been together ever since.

I was born in Henry County, Kentucky, and he is from Chicago, IL. A county girl, and a city boy. You should hear him always correcting me when I say y'all, He says, Babe, it's You all, not y'all.

Music: My #1 pic is Country, and Christian. I really love all music, it just depends on what mood I am in. Adam likes Rap, Hip Hop and R&B. When he cleans he listens to Rap, or Hip Hop, and when I clean I listen to Country music. That brings me to another topic. Cleaning.

Cleaning: I am not the neatest person. Adam is!! He likes for everything to be in it's place. I don't like for things to be dirty, but I have so many other things I would rather do than clean. Pretty much, I would rather do anything than clean. When I first meet Adam in high school, before we even started dating. I figured that he was a clean freak. (I use that word loosely, he is not to the extreme of the towels hanging a certain way, or the cans facing a certain way. ) He always did chores on Thursday, and that has pretty much remained the same. He is just so awesome. I think that is why God put us together. Were I fall short, Adam steps in and visa versa. I tell Adam, that is one reason God gave him to me.

Another thing that is a little freaky. We think a lot alike. I will say something that has nothing to do with anything the we were talking about or doing, and Adam will say he was thinking the exact same thing. Sometimes we will say the same thing at the same time.

Other than that, he just makes it fun. We have our own sense of humor that we share. We have come along way, from teenage parents, to were we are today, still trying to figure this parenting thing out. But we both really do love it. We didn't do things traditionally, and have grown up together, but I have said all along that I prayed we would grow together and not grow apart. I truly believe we have grown together.

My Blog is Under Construction

Pardon the mess while I redesign my layout for your viewing pleasure.

Angela

Alex Says....

Alex said he felt a beap in his neck. I told him it was his hic-cups. He insisted that it wasn't. I said maybe it's your heartbeat. He said...ewww, your heart is in your neck.

What a Weekend!

Were do i begin. We found out Thursday that Adam's aunt Rosa passed away Wednesday, so we left for Chicago Friday morning. Rosa is Adam's mom's sister.


Visitation was Friday, and we got so see family that we haven't seen since our wedding, and others it was longer than that. Adam saw family that he hasn't seen since he was a baby, they remembered him in diapers. He saw cousins he grew up with . Rosa had two children, Rosie, and Frankie. They are both wonderful people. Rosie has the biggest heart. Rosie is a police dispatcher in Chicago, and the police and her co-workes came out in pull force to show there love and support. It was overwhelming. A pastor spoke at the visitation. He kept it real, and reminded me of my pastor. He prayed for comfort for the family, and said he didn't need to pray for Rosa because he knows were she is. He wanted to share the truth, and said that Rosa now knows the truth. He said that Rosa knew her family loves her, and that God loves her. But it's not until now that she knows the depth of her families love for her, or the depth of her heavenly fathers love for her.

Make a slide show, scrapbook, or ecard

After the funeral on Saturday the police and Rosie's co-workers put together a dinner for the family and friends. Again, it was so wonderful of them to do that. The family got to spend time together before everyone headed on there seperate ways with plans to keep in touch better in the future. Right before we left, it started snowing, so the kids were so excited. We let them play in the snow while we packed the car for our 5 hour ride back to Louisville.

We left Chicago at 2pm. 2 hours later we had made it 50 miles, when the snow turned to ice. We came to a stop on I-65, and sat for 4 hours. It took us 11 hours to get home. The map shows our 2 hour journey, and we stopped near Merriville for 4 hours.

Dishes

Last night we stopped by my Parents house. I was in the bathroom with my mom straightening her hair, when Alex walked in telling us that he washed all the dishes in the sink. No one asked him to do it, he just went into the kitchen and started doing dishes. My mom said, you did! (Very encouraging) Did someone run the water for you so you could rinse them off? ... He said No, I didn't need any water, they were all ready wet, so I just used a towel, and they are on the counter ready for you to put up!

We were cracking up, because they were sitting in the sink water ready to be washed. so my mom told him what a great job he did, and to leave them on the counter so she could put them away, so he didn't hurt himself, (so she could rewash them and put them up.)

Kids and Fasting

We are fasting as a family, and the boys are eating fruits and veggies for 3 days. We were just talking about it, and I asked Alex if he remembered why we are fasting.

He said...for bible bucks. lol

Then he asked if after tomorrow he could start another fast, because he wants to give up more for Jesus. My heart is so big it could burst.

Fasting

I want some coffee, but I want my family to be out of debt more.
I want some Pizza, but I want to grow in my relationship with God more.
I want a cookie, but I want to impact the Heart of the city more.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was great. We went to my Grandfathers house in Livermore, Ky, and our whole family was in. My grandmother passed away 2 years ago, so everyone pitched in and cooked Thanksgiving Dinner. Dinner was great; we had the traditional Turkey, Ham and all the trimmings. I cooked Puerto Rican Rice and Pigeon Peas, and my sis cooked greens per my request (she make the best Greens!!!!)

Livermore reminds me of Mayberry. There are two caution lights, and one grocery store. The only restaurant chain is Subway, and you rent movies at the gas station. I love Livermore. My dad grew up there, and the house my grandfather lives in use to be my Granny's house. When we go there to visit is almost like it is it's own little world. There is a population of 1482 people, with 614 households, and 405 families. It's one of those towns were everyone knows everyone.

It was great to see everyone and catch up with what was going on in everyone’s lives. The kids played, Adam, Alex, Starr, Adriana, Alexandria, and Caden. Me and my sister and my cousins, my mom and my aunts, all looked at Ads for the Black Friday sales. The kids were driving everyone crazy, because it was too cold to play outside. They reminded me of all my cousins, and me and how we used to play together and get really creative, like the famous Pickelitis Homemade movie. It was about the dreaded disease Pickelitis.

My oldest son wants to be a Marine when he grows up. My Uncle Bob was a Major in the Marines and he had lots of cool things to show him. He gave Little Adam something he had made up that had all of his ranks that he attained, and his deployment information, and Little Adam loved it.

We went to the Cemetery, which sits on a hill, Oak Hill Cemetery. We always go to the cemetery, and love when my dad walks around with me telling me about our family and his friends who are buried there. As we went to leave I told Alex how I like to kneel down and say a prayer before I leave, and I looked over and his little eyes were squeezed shut. Then my dad kissed his hand and touched my grandmother’s tombstone, and we all did the same as we turned to leave.

When we got back to the house, we said our goodbyes, and I walked into the kitchen. There are so many memories in the house, and everywhere I look, I see my grandmother. In the bathroom her bathrobe still hangs, and her makeup is still on the vanity. It is always hard to leave. It's hard to leave my grandfather there, alone. But as a friend reminded me, one day he will be there with her, and it will like they never left each other.

I am so thankful for my family and my friends. I am thankful for my church. I am Thankful for my God, and that he gave his only Son for me, my family, friends, my church and for you too!

My Dad

This morning at 6am while I was on my way to work, I thought of my Dad. I love my dad with all my heart but there is something that makes our relationship special. My dad and my mom meet when I was 3, and have been together ever sense. Most people don't know that my dad is not my biological dad, and I am not embarrassed or hesitate to let people know, because he is more of a father to me, than I could have ever asked for if I designed it myself. I do not remember my Biological father, he left when I was little, and if he walked in the room right now, I wouldn't know him. Growing up, I would wonder every once in a while were he was, why he left, wondered what he may be like. I don't think of him often, I think it is because I don't feel a lose. Don't get me wrong, I still wonder sometimes. I think that is only natural, but I have found something better, or really he found me.





Not having a father can leave a huge hole in you that people try to fill with so many different things, drugs, sex, money, material things. I never felt this way, and it is because of an amazing man. If this is something that people sometimes can't get over, I figure that my dad is so amazing that he is the reason that I don't feel lost for not knowing my biological father.





My mom is the most amazing mother and wife, and I see the way my dad loves her, and it makes me love him even more. My dad is always expressing his love for my mother and for us. He tells me all the time how amazing my mom is. He loves Adam like his own son. And his grandkids are his world. We have to go over sometimes just so he can get his grandkid fix. My parents recently went to Florida alone, and they said they were so board, they both love being with there family, and said next time we will all be going together.





There are certain people in your life that you never doubt there love for you.





A few weeks ago Pastor did a sermon on forgiveness. It made me think. Have I forgiven my Biological Father. I thought about it, forgiveness is really the only thing I have struggled with about him not being there. I do forgive him. If he hadn't done what he did, then I would not have the wonderful dad I have now. My parents have shown me love, and nothing can ever replace that. I would never want to replace that. Nothing could replace the memories we have had as a family.



I remember when he came home when I was little and told my mom to pack our things we were going to Opry Land for the weekend, that was so much fun.


I remember when we danced at my wedding, that was such a special time for me.

I remember when he was baptized one year ago. That moment was the most amazing moment. When my dad started going to Church a little over 2 years ago I never thought I could ever get him in a church, let alone that he would be baptized. He would tell me that he loved going to church, but that he didn't need to be baptized because he was baptized as an infant. It was to my surprise when he told me that he would be baptized with my sister and niece, just the way is was designed my the big man upstairs. He was baptized with the most important things to him, his children and grandchildren. I wept as he gave his declaration that Jesus is the Lord of his life. That was huge, and answered prayer. Those are one of the prayers that you pray to live right and do what ever you can just so that God will grant that one prayer, to Baptize my dad, and it happened. I couldn't imagine when I prayed that how i could feel that day.

I compare my heavenly Fathers love to my Dads love for me. He loves me no matter what. I remind my self that God loves me more that my dad, and I know how much my dad loves me, so that is amazing.

I love my dad so much, and I think I love him more because he didn't have to be there, he could have said I don't' want two kids that aren't mine, I am not ready for kids. Instead he loved me mother so much, and in turn he loved us, and I can be sure of his love for me. He loved me by choice and that is more than anyone can ask for. I will never doubt his love for me, and that is the greatest feeling.

Black Friday

It is a tradition that me, my mom and my sisters go shopping the day after Thanksgiving (AKA Black Friday). I do not go out of town on Thanksgiving so that I can go shopping. We have it down to a science. We are up at 2am, and on the move at 3am. The earliest sales start at 5am, so we have to get there to be ready. I look forward to this, and I so ready this year. We save a lot of money, and I have been really good these past two years budgeting. Anyone that knows me, knows that I have an addiction. No, not chocolate. Not Coffee either, well I guess I have more than one. Shopping. Black Friday is the worst place to be when you are addiction to shopping or are an impulse shopper. Me and Adam have recently gone on a serious budget, we are on a mission to get out of Debt. So this year I will have my budget with me, and I will stick to it! I have already seen the ads, and know what I need, and I am ready to run, and stand in long lines, and squeeze threw the crowded Toy Dept, but more than anything I am ready for another Black Friday with my mom and sisters. We work as a team to get what we all need, and it's just something we do. After Thanksgiving dinner we will pull out our ads, and map out our strategy. One day I will video my Black Friday Adventure.

Married with Children

Finally after almost 12 years it has sunk in.... My husband looked at me yesturday and said...your my wife.....and we have kids...

Well honey, I am glad that you finally realized that.

He is goofy, but I know what he means. Do you ever just sit and it hits you, who you are, were you are, and think back to a time that you couldn't have imagined that you would be here, now, married with children. There are times I look at my husband and think, I can't believe it. He is my husband, I am so blessed to have him, and he is Hot! I look at our children, these amazing little people that came from us, they are a special gift. God really does amaze me. God made them from us. They work, like they function, there organs are inside working away, there minds are learning and growing, there soul, what can I say, they are amazing. it is just overwhelming sometimes to think how we came to be, were we came from, to look at how God brought us to were we are. I have to warn you, I can get really deep sometimes, and end up not even knowing what I am thinking about.

Alex says....

My sons are so funny, and are always saying things that make Adam and I laugh, so I thought I would start sharing those with you.

Last night Alex looked at his bother and said...Are you pondering what I am pondering?

We were rolling. It was funny, guess you had to be there.

My oldest son is going to kill me, but I am going to tell you anyway.

The other day I picked him up from school, and as soon as he got in the car he said, "I think I am in Love, cause I met two HOT Twins!" This is usually the stuff he tells his Dad, and doesn't want him to tell me, so I guess I am in the club now.

We invented Post-its!

This weekend was my husbands 10 year high school reunion. We have been together since High School, and I can't believe it's has been 10 years.

Friday night was family night at the J-town football game. Adam's best friend David and his wife Shannon, and there little boy Zachary, came up from Savannah for the reunion. So we went with them to the game. The boys had a ball, they had so much energy they could have gone out on the field and helped J-town out a little bit. At one point they almost did ( that will be another post on How do I control my Kids) Just jokin! We had a good time, but all we could think of was our Church and what a Big night it was, and how much we wanted to be there. Our church, New Vision Ministry Center just signed the contract to Purchase the Showcase Cinemas on Bardstown Rd. This will be our new Church home. We are so excited to be a part of this!!

Saturday night was the reunion, at Saints. Shannon and I had a great time talking, and Adam and David talked with there old friends, and just had a good time. It was funny how people had to ask Adam who I was since I look so different from High School, but Adam hasn't changed a bit. At one point everyone tried to share what they have been doing since High School. One guy won Price is Right in 2001, that was pretty cool. David went to the military, and a few said he was the last person they ever expected to go into the military. David and Shannon are doing great, they inspire me. We love them very much, and love being with them. Adam being the goof ball that he is, said his claim to fame what that he invented Post it's! I think our biggest accomplishment since high school, is that we are still together. We meet when I was a Sophomore, and Adam was a Junior. We have been threw a lot that other people would have thrown in the towel, because it could have been easier to quit than to work threw it. Most people didn't think we would make it because we were so young. We have been together for almost 12 years, and married 5 years, and we have two wonderful boys. I love my husband and my children with all my heart, and I can truly say that they are my greatest accomplishment.

Caught Red-handed!

We have been putting Trinidad and Laila's food up so that the pups do not eat it since they are on puppy food. Well I guess they just can't resist. As you can see, Rocky and Scooby Tag Team up so they can reach it. This isn't the first time they have done this, just the first time I caught them with my camera in hand. The funny thing is, I caught them just as they are tipping it over on the floor.

Boxer Property Law

Boxer Property Law

1. If I like it, it's mine.
2. If it's in my mouth, it's mine.
3. If I can take it from you, it's mine.
4. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
5. If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
6. If I'm chewing something up, all the pieces are mine.
7. If it just looks like mine, it's mine.
8. If I saw it first, it's mine.
9. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.
10. If it's broken, it's yours.

This just reminds me how much personality Boxers have and how much fun Boxers are. We currently have 4 boxers in our house. We are puppy sitting for some friends of ours. They are Laila's Puppies, and they are so cute you just want to eat them up. Rocky keep trying to nurse off of Laila again, and Scooby runs under the table were he use to love to play before he went to his new home. Some people say that Dogs only have short term memory, and that after a few weeks they forget there parents and siblings. However I would have to say that They remember each other, and they are having a ball. I will post some pics soon.

Happy 50th Birthday Dad!

Yesterday was my dad's 50th birthday party! I can't believe it. He looks good for 50. Last night we had dinner over at my parents and gave him his gifts. My sister got him 50 Twinkies!! We were all cracking up.

Adam told Alex earlier that it was Papaw's birthday. Alex asked how old he was, and when Adam told him 50, Alex said, "Dag!!! Well at least he has a lot of life left! That kid cracks me up. My dad got a kick out of that too.

"Mom, I think we have a good surprise!"

Last month the boys asked how I would know if I was going to have a baby. So I told them about the pregnancy tests. They would ask me all the time, "Mommy, have you peed on that thing yet?", and I would tell them that we weren't having a baby yet.

Well this month I have been testing to see when I would ovulate. On Tuesday I got an positive Ovulation test, and I forgot and left it on the bathroom counter. Little Adam came into the living room, and said, "Mom, I think we have a good surprise". Almost like he wasn't sure if it was a good surprise or not. I asked him what it was, and he said, "that thing in there has two lines, so I think your pregnant". I didn't now what to say at first, I didn't want to explain Ovulating, so I told him that it is supposed to have a positive sign if I am pregnant.

So when we test, I am going to have to get a pregnancy test that give a positive sign, or he won't believe it.

Pumkins Vandals

This morning as I backed out of the garage, I looked over to the right to see if any cars were coming, and I saw something orange scattered all over the neighbors yard. I looked at my porch, and you guessed it, NO Pumpkins. Someone had taken our pumpkins and smashed them up. Our large pumpkin was carved to look like Spongebob, and they even smashed our fake pumpkin that you plug up!! Alex was devastated because they smashed his small pumpkin that he painted when we went camping. It was grown from Magic Pumpkin seeds. The only one that was left was Adam's painted pumpkin.

I can't really remember if I smashed any pumpkins growing up, I know I egged houses, and TP'ed houses. However i can guarantee that once I saw my son devastated, and crying because someone smashed his pumpkins, that I will never do it again.

Lesson learned, and I hope you learned from this too. Don't smash pumpkins, because you don't know who's child will be left devastated.

More than meets the eye!

We bought the Transformers DVD last night, and watched it with my parents. We went to see it in the Theater, and loved it, I would have to say it is my Favorite movie right now. So we couldn't wait for it to come out on DVD. The boys were so excited, all three of them :o) My mom normally doesn't like movies like that, but she decided she would watch it with us as a family, and she loved it. If you haven't seen it, go and get yours today!!

Noelani Update

She's put on 2 pounds in the past two weeks and has gotten considerably taller. She is doing really well in her training class, sit, down, stand, come all seemed to be very easy for her. One step at a time, her little puppy will power can only stretch so far! I've attached a couple photos, they bought the cats a new play gym thing over the weekend, so far they haven't so much as even sniffed at it but Noelani has found it quite exciting and they are having a hard time keeping her out of it. Enjoy!!!

I love her hair

I love her hair.

Noelani Update!

Update from Joe on Noelani......

Sorry, I've been remiss in my puppy reporting. Noelani is doing fine, that is the laziest, most rotten hound I have ever seen! I love her to death. We've been working with her on sit and lay, she doesn't know the commands yet but she recognizes and responds to the hand signals immediately. Doesn't like her leash,......at all. Growls and barks at it, (she has a slight stubborn streak), when you put it on her she bites it and looks at you as if in warning that you're next if you try putting this on her again. Her "first day of school" is this Saturday, I think she may end up being the problem child of the class, just too many puppies in one room, she will be literally quivering with excitement! Do the other dogs avoid the grass when it has dew on it? This stubborn lil girl refuses to walk on the grass once it dews up, she'll pee on the driveway instead and then goes out of her way to walk around and use the paving stones and walk ways to get where she's going so she doesn't have to get her paws wet. Did I mention she sleeps a lot? Once she passes out, (literally, I've seen drunks that are easier to wake) you can pick her up, roll her over, I've even stuck food such as ham on her nose and lifted her cheeks to place it on her teeth and she still doesn't stir or even open a solitary eye to glare at you. Thank you so much for this little beauty!!

Two Week Wait

My quote for the day.

It is just that I don't want to be discouraged by a negative if it is too early to get a positive.

On Prego Tests!

"Living in true beauty can require much waiting, much time, much tenacity of spirit. We must constantly direct our gazes toward the face of God, even in the presence of longing and sorrow. It is in the waiting that our hearts are enlarged. The waiting does not diminish us. As a pregnant woman is enlarged in her waiting, so are our hearts. God does not always rescue us out of a painful season. You know that he does not always give to us what we so desperately want when we want it. He is after something much more valuable than our happiness. Much more substantive than our helath. He is restoring and growing in us an eternal weight of glory. And sometimes...it hurts." --From the book "Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul" by Stasi & John Eldredge.

Angela

Tyson

Tyson went home yesturday. My cousin Anne, and her husband are his new parents. Hannah there two year old loves him. She got katchup on him last night, so he got a bath. Here are some new pictures.

Noelani

Our Brindle Girl Boxer went to her new home on Friday. Her new parents Joe and Jess have named her Noelani (pronounced Noah-lon e) it's Hawaiian for beautiful girl from heaven. Awww. She is just that! Here are some pictures of her at her new home. She is loved, and you can tell she loves them too.

My mom, a future Pilot

My mom has always had the dream of flying a plan. Since I was little I remember her expressing the desire to fly a plane. I remember her even looking into the air force because she wanted to fly an F-16. For Christmas last year, my sister and I arranged for my mom to have a Discovery Flight. It wasn't until this weekend that she was able to take advantage of that gift. I had the privilege of going along with her to take photo's of her flight. The night before, my mom couldn't sleep. She was anxious and nervous at the same time. Saturday morning we arrived at the airfield, and the pilot said that my sister, Ashley could go up with us also. She was very excited. He also said that he would come back, and drop us off so that my Dad and Adrian could go also.

We took off, and headed to my hometown in Henry County. We were amazed at how fast we got there, and how clean everything looked. It looked like a model town, not a real town. Everything looked peaceful, and perfect from the air. My mom was in heaven. She was like a kid in a candy store. Then it was my Dad and Adrian's turn. My dad has flown on small planes many times. I used to have to travel for work, however this was Adrian's first time in a plane ever. She was very nervous when my mom took over for and flew the plan on her own. The Pilot said she was a natural.

My mom is looking into taking lessons, and pursuing a Pilots licence. I am so happy and proud of her for following her dreams. I know she can do anything. I love you and I am proud of you mom!

New Chores

Little Adam learned how to do his own laundry. Not having clean boxers will do that for ya. LOL. He is getting so big. He asked if this could be his new chore. I wish I could record that and play it back in about 4 years when he is complaining that he has to do chores. Kids, gotta love them.

Puppies are 5 Weeks Old

They puppies are 5 weeks old. I can't believe it. They are so cute. Once more week and they will be ready to go to there new homes. We still have two puppies available, if you know anyone who is great with animals, we are selling them for $300.

Check out the latest pics on my Flickr account.

Some will think we are crazy!

We have decided to go for baby #3!!! It was about 3 years ago when we started talking about having another baby. We have never planned to have a baby before, they were more like surprises. Very welcomed surprises. There are the normal things to take into consideration. You wonder if you can afford another child, we figured out that you just make it work. Are we doing it for all the right reasons, am I really ready for diapers, and late night feedings. My answer to all of those, are YES, YES and YES! Our situation is a little different, we have to take a lot into consideration. When I was pregnant with Adam and Alexander, I was very sick. I have Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) which is a severe form of morning sickness, with unrelenting, excessive pregnancy-related nausea and/or vomiting that prevents adequate intake of food and fluids. Hyperemesis is considered a rare complication of pregnancy but, because nausea and vomiting during pregnancy is normal, there is no clear boundary between common morning sickness and hyperemesis. Estimates of the percentage of pregnant women afflicted range from 0.3% to 2%. We are praying that this time I do not get HG. I was hospitalized with both pregnancy's, and lost a significant amount of weight, 40 lbs when I was pregnant with Alex. HG isn't normal morning sickness, it is all day, everyday, can't get out of bed, sleep on the bathroom floor, multiple ER visits, can't keep water down sickness. With Alexander I was off work from December to March because I was so week, and sick that I couldn't leave my house, let alone go to work. So, SOME PEOPLE WILL THINK WE ARE CRAZY to want to do that again.



So why are we. For us this is a part of having a baby. I believe with all my heart that God can heal this, and that I may not have to go threw with it. However if I do have to go threw with it, we are willing to do that. I believe that I can do all things threw Christ who strengthens me. There is alot more out there in the form of medical help than was unavailable with Adam and Alexander. They still don't know what causes it, and they don't' have a cure, but there is alot of new treatment methods, and I have a great Doctor who will treat it aggressively. Here is a website that I visit alot, it is a website for women that suffer from HG, and is full of info for us, and our family and friends so that they can understand and help us threw it. http://www.helpher.org/


So pray for us. Pray that God will heal me from HG, and that I will have a healthy pregnancy, and baby. You can pray for a girl too, Amen, Hallelujah!!

I was talking with the boys the other day about having another baby, and they are both so excited. At first Alex said he didn't a girl, because they are messy, which I think is funny, Have you seen his room? Ha ha. So I talked to the boys about how I get sick, and I asked them to pray. I told them that mommy and daddy were praying that I don't get sick. So they said they would pray. I told them that when ever they think about it, just pray right then and there. Little Adam and I continued to talk about it, and Alex says, "Hello, I am trying to pray here". Apparently we were interrupting his prayer time. So he finished praying, then he said, "Oh, I forgot to say Amen" He was quite for a few seconds, then he said, "OK, I am done." it was so cute.

Friend Day

Wow. Friend Day was awesome. I volunteered to do registration at Huber's, and it was such a blessing. I got to see faces that I have never seen before, and got to here what people thought of service as we checked them in for there fun filled day at Huber's. I have to be honest, it was very overwhelming at times. The total for friend day was around 2300-2400, however this is not why I was overwhelmed. There was one girl I checked in, who just had a blank look on her face. She had two young children with her, and she had a black eye. I know there are lots of ways to get a black eye, but I always try to remember that we don't know what people have going on in there lives. This young women was invited from an outreach our church did at the Mall just the day before. I went to the bathroom, and it hit me. I prayed that we would show Gods love to them, all the visitors who are just like I was, searching for him, even though I didn't realize that God is what I was searching for. I know what I have found since coming to New Vision, and I wanted them to have that too. I prayed that she would see that acceptance, and love of God's that New Vision offers. I prayed that God would protect her, and her kids, and that she would come back to New Vision. I prayed for all the other Visitor, and all those who attend New Vision, that we would show them what Gods love is like. I believe Friend Day starts a new Chapter at New Vision, we will see those people return, and they will grown in there faith and walk with the Lord, and they will get plugged in.

I have to tell you, I saw that young woman again before the day was over, and she had a smile on her face, as she was enjoying her day at Huber's with her family. It brought tears to my eyes.

Adam and I enjoyed the day with our family and friends. We ate some good food, and had some fun, and got to act like a kid running threw the Corn Maze, and Jumping on the Balloon Bounce. Check out my pics!

What an amazing day.

Cave Woman

Premier Designs is so easy, even a cave woman can do it. Lol.

A full weekend!

The puppies are getting so big. I have posted some new pictures on Flickr, and will post some in this blog. There eyes are starting to open. They are so cute. If we lived on a farm, I would keep them all.





I didn't work this weekend. it is the first weekend in a while that I have had off. It was nice to have the weekend off. Now I am counting down to our 4 day Labor Day weekend.



My sister was moving this weekend, and she had a yard sale, so I went over to help with that. She was selling a new couch and chair because she got a sectional for her new apartment. The chair goes perfectly in our dinning area, so we bought it, and we are still trying to figure out were to put the couch. I want to redecorate my whole house, paint and all. Adam isn't too excited about that.


Our stove has been acting up. The coil burners are a pain in the rear. While I was wiggling one of them to get it to come on, there was a pop and flash. And the light that tells you a burner is on stays on. Dummies Guide for Ranges #1: There is something wrong. So at this point, we need a new Range. But I couldn't keep that range the way it was because it was unsafe. So I look at it closer and see the problem. I set out on a mission to fix it. After getting the crap shocked out of me twice, I finally got it fixed. However at that point I never wanted to see that one again. So the rest of my Saturday off, consisted of installing a new Stove, and while Adam had ran out to pick the new one up, I decided to take down the Vent hood that went over our Stove. You see we have a new Over the Range Microwave that has been sitting in the box for a month, and I was just in the mood to get it all done. So Adam came home to a nice surprise. We didn't get the Microwave up (looks a little more complicated that I had thought), but we do have a new stove, and a beautiful chair for our Front room, and a couch that we don't know what to do with. All in all, we got a lot accomplished on my Saturday off.


Sunday started off with a great service. I took lots of notes, and saw how the message applied to my life. Prayer! I need to spend more time in Prayer with him. That is the road to the strong relationship I desire with him. The message was right on time as we prepare for Friend Day at Church. This coming Sunday you are all invited to Friend Day at my Church. At 9am and 11am. It is always a great message, and then we will all head out to Huber's Farm for a fun afternoon, and food, and it is all FREE! So come see what all the buzz is about, and then join us for a great day at Huber's. And if you have a Motorcycle, there is a group of Motorcycles leaving right after the second service.

Were are the puppies at?

We came home yesturday to find the puppies were not in there Whelping box. The box is 4x4 feet, and 2 feet tall with a door that only Laila can get out of. Laila took all the puppies outside the box. We found 1 inside Laila's Pen, 3 on the floor near the whelping box, and one all the way upstairs on Adam's bed. She is wearing me out. :o)

They boys gave the puppies temporary names.

The boys have given the puppies temporary names.

The brown boy and brown girl, I call them the twins, and at first they thought of Thing 1, and Thing 2. But then they came up with Christopher and Columbus, and Alex will say, "Get it? Christopher Columbus". He said it really slow, and things it is knee slapping hilarious.

The white pup with two brown spots is Piglet, because, well, he is a little chunky.

The white pup with black spots, Dynamo.

The Brindle Girl, is Trini-mom. Get it, Like Trinidad, but since it is a girl, Trinimom! They are so Corny, I love them.

The Puppies Have Arrived

The puppies arrived last night. Mom and pups are doing good. Laila doesn't want Trinidad around the puppies right now, she is being protective of her little ones. Here are some pics.

From Left to right: Brown Boy, White Boy with two brown spots, Brown Girl, White Boy with a few black spots, and last but not least Brindle Girl. Right Pic: Brown Girl (First Puppy born.)

Lake Trip 2007

We just got back from the lake on Friday and it was a blast. I would have to say that it was the best Vacation we have ever had. We went with a few other families and we really enjoyed spending time with them, and getting to know them better. We got to do a lot of things that we have never done before, and it was so nice to just get away from our busy lives.

We went to Lake Cumberland. We stayed on a houseboat, that was beautiful. It had 7 bedrooms, a great kitchen, and living area.

On the roof it had a lounge area, and a hot tub.

There was a tube slide off the back of the boat.

We parked in a little cove for the week, and relaxed, and sun-bathed, fished and swam. The water is very clear for a Lake, and it felt so good just to jump in for a dip anytime we wanted too. We caught so many fish it should be illegal. The boys woke up at about 6am every morning wanting to fish, and fished every night before they went to bed. I even caught a fish or two. We found out that Ham works pretty good for bait when you run out of worms. The boys even used there steak left over from dinner one night. The fish ate good while we were there. Little Adam caught an Alligator Garr while we were there.

Our friends that invited us to go have a speed boat. So we had a lot of fun flying the Manta Ray, riding in the 4 man tube (I got little bruised on that one), Adam concurred the Wake Board, and is Hooked (no pun intended Hook! :o) We body surfed, and Little Adam tried to water ski. It was a lot of fun.

Check out the pictures I have posted on flickr! There is a link on the main page of my Blog.

Check back for updates on puppies, we are expecting them any minute now.