His Amazing Grace

It is during the busy times of life when I am shown God's amazing grace so often, thus keeping me grounded!

Last Sunday, one of my second grade girls accepted Jesus Christ into her heart!!!!!!! I cannot think of a time when I have been more inspired by God and his amazing grace! When I agreed to teach sunday school in September, I was nervous in my abilities to 'teach'... while teaching is my passion, I still have self doubt. These kids, whom I have come to love so much and treasure, have taught me so much about God's grace and abundance of love. I am SO proud of each and every one of them and look forward to Sunday every week!

On a personal note and goal... I have committed to go to the Dominican Republic the last week in June on a mission trip. In the 'what is missing items' in my life for a number of years, mission work was definitely one of those items. From the mission work I did in high school to some in college, I have longed to do more and more. I am SO excited for all that God has planned for myself and all on the DR trip in 2010. For the people we will meet and spend time with.... for the words spoken... for God's grace shared.

These are family pics from September...... Thanks to my AWESOME friend Kate... who ROCKS in so many ways!

Blog... oh yes, I remember this!

Wow.. really it has been over 3 months?! Well... a LOT has happened... some good, some not so good... but we are doing VERY well and so ready for Christmas this year, as we are so blessed and love celebrating the reason for the season.

So.... here are a few tidbits with us......

Mark is still working two jobs but after the new year he will shorten his availability by a lot, we have a good plan for that to end all together.

Kaya can now write both her first and last name without any help. She ROCKS!! Her teachers at preschool ROCK my WORLD!!

Connor is talking SO much and says the cutest things and blows me away about what he catches up on. He is a totally boy... which I LOVE to pieces!

I am super excited about being a Barefoot Books Ambassador!! FREE SHIPPING on orders over $35 and guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve. Let me know if you have ANY questions!

We are all happy and healthy..... really that is ALL we can ask for, so for that we are so thankful!

On a sad note... our very good friends Royce and Chris (Royce and Mark have been friends since they were 3) lost their father last week after suffering from cancer. Our cat Blackie has been sick for a number of months and had stopped eating. Well, he has cancer himself but had an upper respiratory infection thus the lack of eating (as he could not smell the food), so with antibiotics he is doing SO much better. He will not be back to his youthful self, but he is at least doing what he loves to do and we are very happy to still have him in our family.... our first baby.

I am anxiously awaiting the phone call of my best friend closing on her very first home!! Hoping for the news before Christmas!

Peace, Love and Smiles to ALL!

Fuzzy........and thanks!

Cry out for insight and understanding.... Proverbs 2:3

So, my heart is SUPER heavy right now. Yesterday was a roller coaster of a day emotional and just felt fuzzy. I had a bad feeling in my gut all day after knowing things were not just ok. Thankfully things are ok (ish) for now and for that I am so thankful to God. If you read this, please pray for a heart that needs prays.... a person who is struggling so much who just needs prayers and peace. Thank you.

Yesterday was my littlest sisters birthday.. she is now 20, no longer a teenager. Hmm... interesting with that timing, as I have been feeling called to help teenagers a lot lately. I have had this calling for some time (months... since the beginning of the year really) and have been trying to pin point what God is telling me (all things show in due time, this I believe.. but sometimes it takes a long time, lol). I believe that I finally figured it out.... Young Life. YL is how I came to know about Jesus Christ... and how I was saved at 15 years old. A time in my life that was not pretty... a very dark time... a time when I did some things that I am not proud of.... thankful for that time though.. as it has made me the person I am today... SO thankful I lived through that time. So, I have started contact with the local YL area director and so excited to get plugged into YL again!

So.. it has been on my mind a LOT lately... my life when I was a teenager, that is. Again, God's timing is very purposeful.. this I know, but it still blows me away! Then yesterday... a teenager who needs help..... a call from God.

Yesterday was a full day... coffee in the morning with some great ladies.... frantically making calls to check on said person... great phone conversation with my little sister whom I am trying to convince to move here to attend college... more phone calls (spend the day on the phone it seemed.. but all good as Sprint announced yesterday that I have unlimited calling now.. sweet.. thanks Sprint).... thinking (plan/organize) about more things that are upcoming looking at my calendar wondering how October got so full already..... enjoying my day with Bug.... picking K up from school with her super happy face.... holding her and Bug extra tight this day... thinking about 9-11-01......... more thoughts about my extended family and some resolution that is needed..... enjoying a nice morning run/walk to start the day..... some good sleep at night... then awake and mind going again..... and now it is Friday.... September 11, 2009.

I go to my bible and open to Proverbs because really Proverbs is just amazing... I begin skimming and these words JUMPED from the page..... Cry out for insight and understanding......

Thank you God..... your timing is perfect. Thank you for life... for saving one today... thank you for your word... for your love and for your patience.. thank you!

4+ months later... refreshed!

I was driving along Haynes Drive last week (a street I travel almost every day) when I noticed lights on and cars in the driveway of a new home that had been destroyed from the 4-11-09 tornado that hit Murfreesboro. This house was one of the first on Haynes that was completely demolished (what was left of it) and then started the rebuild process. The exterior of the house has been done for some time (at least 1.5 months or longer).

While being back to 'normal' is not a phrase many of the victims would likely describe that they are currently feeling, it is so refreshing to see this home being lived in again! I can say that since our fire happened, I have never been back to my old normal. It is a new normal.... a new refreshed view on life and what is important. For so many, when faced with an event(s) where the very life of people you love and yourself are risked... you find a new normal!!! A much improved normal, if you ask me!!!

There is NOT one day where I do not thank God for all the people in my life and for letting me breathe another day to be with those people!!!! Even when I struggle with life, I am still incredibly thankful and blessed to have air in my lungs!

Love those that mean the most to you today and everyday!! :)

Hold on.......

So, this is how God works in my heart...... through what is really important and music!!! :)

Instead of staying up tonight to finishing reading the last 200+ pages of Breaking Dawn for the second time I have been posting ads for my services hoping and praying for some income soon (OK, I am doing a little bit of other puter work too... much easier than on my phone, lol)! Let me just say that now that I have faces and voices to go with the characters, the books are EVEN better the second read around! I picked up New Moon about a week ago to read before the movie came out (with enough time to pass before the movie so that I am hopefully not disappointed)... and I was really surprised how much better it was after having seen Twilight once or twice (OK... no idea how many times, lol. I even watched it on my tiny iPod screen on my flight to Seattle..... sad. sad. this I know)! So, I kept reading. YES, If you have not picked it up since seeing the first movie, I HIGHLY recommend it and SOON! I highly DO NOT recommend seeing New Moon right after reading the book New Moon, as a friend did that with Twilight and was really disappointed. Yep, I would be too!

While I read this news story I was listening to 'Never Think' from the Twilight soundtrack. Dr. Ross was my OB-GYN when I was pregnant with Connor whom at the time I did NOT know he was sick in ANY way. I had some issues with him (differences of opinions and him not follow my wishes), but he did not end up delivering Connor. It was his tone and words that made me take my pre-term labor seriously the night I had to go to the hospital and then was but on bed rest. I remember him being very compassionate to me and he took a good amount of time talking to me about it. Yes, he was SO not my favorite person when I then went 9 days past my due date, but really that was a good thing for him to do as well (meaning nor Connor or me were in harm and C came just fine on his own in his own time). Dr. Ross retired just a few months after Connor was born last May. It is very sad for a life cut short and for him to have not lived long at all after retiring from delivering sweet babies! Life is short..... yes it is... for all of us... even if we live a long and happy life... it is STILL short!

So, yes... I have been *a little* crazed with everything Twilight lately.... music, tabloids, New Moon and RPattz as he is now known to me.... really my obsession is with Edward and Bella's amazing romance and love (I have a thing for the far out and forbidden stuff..... hence my Elvis obsession of my early days). In this song... of course song by none other than Robert Pattinson himself (amazingly talented musically if you ask me and I have a BIG thing for lyrics).... he talks about holding on to the one you love most. Here are the lyrics.....

I should never think
What's in your heart
What's in our home
So I won't

You'll learn to hate me
But still call me baby
Oh Love
So call me by my name

And oh, save your soul
save your soul
Before you're too far gone
Before nothing can be done

I'll try to decide when
She'll lie in the end
I ain't got no fight in me
In this whole damn world
To tell you to hold off
You choose to hold on
It's the one thing that I've known

Once I put my coat on
I'm coming out of this all wrong
She's standing outside holding me
Saying oh please
I'm in love
I'm in love

Girl save your soul
Save your soul
Before you're too far gone
And before nothing can be done

'Cause without me
You got it all
So hold on
Without me you got it all
So hold on
Without me you got it all
Without me you got it all
So hold on
Without me you got it all
So hold on
Without me you got it all
So hold on
Hold on

So, God is telling me loud and clear to HOLD ON and I am! The other part to the last post is that we are behind on some bills and it SUCKS big time, but WE are doing better now than a few months ago when our financial outlook in better shape. Why you ask? Because Mark and I are HOLDING ON to each other.... after having a very rough patch a few months back, we both learned a LOT from it and it REALLY helped us to re-focus! So... I will hold on just as told! :)

Time to buckle down again.... you would think we would learn!!

NOPE, it is way to hard to teach a dog new tricks, right?! I am totally a dog... at least in this reference!

So, we are living... yes this is true. We have food on the table for all of us, yes. Some weeks, it is VERY slim pickings and the peanut butter sandwiches get OLD fast! Yes, we have a roof over our heads..... a roof that is MUCH pricer than we should have gotten ourselves into knowing we wanted to be back to a one income family (but I digress). Yes, I have gotten REALLY good at bargain shopping and coupons are my BFF's!!

BUT.....

Most of the time..... I feel like......

a fish out of my fish bowl... gasping for air!

I am so incredibly thankful for the people in my life and the things that I DO have..... and I am a very simply girl, one that does not require too much (shh Mark... you know it is true). OK, I am NOT perfect... do I want nice things, hell ya.. I will not lie. BUT... I am not a shopper at all which is a good thing for us financially, that is for dang sure! Do I want certain things and find ways to get my way? Hmmm.. YES and this gets me in trouble sometimes for sure! But... I also OVER analyze almost every 'me' purchase!! Like, I got my hair professional highlighted in June (first time my hair has been professionally colored EVER). I agonized over this purchase and had thought to do it for many years, but I had always said that I did not want to start down that road as I thought I would not go back.... mind you, I am OK with my natural hair color too. Do I love how my hair looks now? YES, I really do. Can I live without it? Much bigger YES. Do I regret it? Not at all! I set aside money for it to happen and have NO guilt about it at all. That is something I have gotten SO MUCH better about over the last year or so too. Life is too *** short to worry to death about that kind of crap! When Mark and I were working full time, money was not a problem (no, we were not rolling in it... but we were not dependent on paycheck to paycheck). I did more 'me' purchases during that time, for sure.

Our house being one of them.... LOL. Not really, it was not that at all. I LOVE, LOVE our house and am SO proud of it... even the walls that need painting and the lack of decorations (after all that is all they are), but we bought this house with two incomes. Now, I did NOT make a crap load of money when I worked, but I certainly brought home a good amount to help cover bills and give us the extra we had. So.. it is NO secret that we have been struggling financially since we lost my income. Mark and I talk about it a lot... not like we do not.... although we certainly have had times where that has been a problem... that is really the only time that it REALLY stresses me out.. when he and I are not in communication about money or anything for that matter! Mark works 3 week nights and Sunday afternoons at SuperT to help (giving him 60-70 hours per week of work in total).. while I bring in a little bit of money here and there with MK and babysitting (nothing solid though).

It is NOT for lack of effort on my part to bring in more money either... and both Mark and I know that... I do not have to defend myself to him nor myself anymore (never mind what others might think about our situation and how I do 'not' work outside of the house but a little bit... ok, I digress... as yes that attitude from others does piss me off, but I stay focused and remember that we ALL have our situations... and what works for one does not work for another.. and that is THAT). I have tried on NUMEROUS occasions to get a solid babysitting gig (I feel weird saying that word, lol.. like I am a teenager looking for spending money) and have looked at a number of other options/ideas to bring home a solid paycheck. BUT, lets think about jobs in general over the last year, not to mention a lot of people tighten their spending (us certainly included)... hmm, not so many out there to get, lol. I have always said I would love to find something that would allow me to work at home. So, really in all seriousness, I canNOT work full time at home (well I guess I could if I decided to give up sleep and trap K&C in front of the TV for x hours per day, lol). Mark and I both agree that neither of us want that though. So, part time... yes, that would be PERFECT! Alas..... perfect = near to impossible to find! Again, this is NOT for lack of effort. Yes, I could be MUCH more aggressive with my MK biz... well, I am as aggressive as I feel I can be personally. Of course, it is a matter of how hungry you get as I have been told by a very smart women who happens to be my director. She is completely right, I know... but I really, REALLY struggle with it. I am getting better with this and have made more money of late, so that is a plus.

So, you might say... get a real job. Well, yes... again if it were that simple. Again, not for lack of effort here either but honestly this is NOT an option for us right now for a number of reasons.... first and foremost, we (both Mark and I) want me to be at home with the kids (yes.... me who was set on NEVER doing that) but I can get passed that for a period of time as I did it before. Well, that was with one kid in daycare... now with two kids in daycare... well, that would be $1500-2000 per month. OK, yes, I would still bring some money home..... but not much and well, we are keeping that option at the bottom of the list for now (not that it is NOT still on our minds, of course it is).

OK... to sum up.................. as I am typing this I am posting new ads for my 'services' lol. I am for hire to do just about anything!! :) HIRE ME.... to watch your kids, to clean your toilets, to make curtains, to run your errands......... hey, you have something you need done, I just might be able to figure it out, so let me know! I am highly trained in err a lot of things and attention to detail is my middle name!! Do you like my 'want ad'?? LOL

Really though.... I would greatly appreciate passing my name along to anyone that might need childcare, house cleaning, sewing!!! THANKS!

Stay tuned for my sewing creations! I am thinking of things to make to sell now that I have an AWESOME machine thanks to my wonderful MIL and am getting my sewing area set up FINALLY!

Oh, in general I know with 100+% that it will all be good...... because God is so dang good and with him ALL things really are possible, this I know! Sometimes, he just needs some time, I know that too! :)

Seriously?????

Door to door salesmen...... NOT happening, so stop trying! I do not trust any of them and really get annoyed with the hard sale! If I wanted that I would go to a car lot!!!!!!!!!!!

Still here....

Long time, no blog!

Summer time = OUTSIDE, OUTSIDE and fun. This sums up our summer for the most part. Of course with the fun has come both of my kids testing their boundaries! Can I say how much I *love* having another kid that does this?! Here is a little update on my sweet hellions.. err I mean angels!

Kaya is BORED like crazy with me and is ALWAYS saying "where are my friends?". She will stand at the window waiting for the site of a kid anywhere and jump for joy, lol. OR when we are outside... she will quietly listen for the sounds of kids voices, and say "I hear kids!". Oh, gotta love that girl!! We have done a ton and it has all been good, but I really struggle with her bored times when I just need some time to myself too. She has times where she can do things on her own... but it never seems to last long. Well, she starts 'school' two days a week on Sept 1st, and we are all counting down the days! :)

Connor is WILD and such a BOY! He wants to do EVERYTHING his sister does, including the monkey bars, lol. It is funny and cute at the same time to watch him attempt to climb the ladder to get to them. He likes to try to swing by himself too. He is RUNNING... yes, walking is boring I guess, lol. He can get into trouble in no time, and of course with that the word "NO" is not really in his vocab yet. He is able to say more and more.. which is great b/c I am a huge fan of words vs. whining/screaming! He walks around the times saying "aya"! He says it loudly just like I do when I am really trying to get her attention... hmm, mini me on my hands, lol.

Well.... there are a few more weeks left of summer.. hoping and praying for a cool August, but I think that is a bit much to ask for after such a mild July!! Enjoy it!

The good and the bad....

So having a StrawBerry (urr... I mean BlackBerry) is both good and bad! I find myself too attached to it yes indeed... hence why they are called Crackberry's, but I have no problem stepping away from it at least for a little bit, lol. Meetings and therapy might be needed at a later date.. stay tuned! :)

On to the good..... I LOVE, LOVE the convenience of it and how easy it is to do things like capture sweet video of my kids and actually share it!! While I have the video camera ready for all those sweet moments and do capture many of them... I NEVER share the video with anyone as it is a PAIN in the to share it. It is doable, yes... but it takes more than a couple of steps and more than 30 minutes... and I tend to shy away from tasks that take that much, lol. Yes, I suck... this I know.

So, here is more video from my StrawBerry..... This was captured yesterday afternoon during an improv outside music session with the world famous band called "KC and the Sunshine Band"! I know you have heard of them... just maybe not this one, lol. Yes, my kids initials together are KC... hmm maybe there is a band for them in the future! Kaya is on the piano and vocals... and Connor is on the drums (urr table)! :) Enjoy!

Saturday at Kroger I used my StrawBerry for something that I had stressed to Mark and others would be great to have one. I whipped out my pretty phone/mobile computer and searched for Publix's phone number and called them to ask how much was their corn on the cob! I was buying 12 ears of corn, so price was good to know, lol. Hey.. yes I could have called 411 but that would have cost money! Now, I have Publix phone number in my phone, so it will be easy next time this situation comes up.. but it was cool to do all of the above on my pretty little phone... along with sharing sweet video of my sweet kidlets!!

You are my best Momma!

So just when I have a day where I think I am doing a lot of yelling to not do (insert anything here) and not feeling like I am being a very good mom... my daughter says to me while she is swinging "You are my best momma"!!! It is amazing how four little words can mean SO much and change my mood completely around! I love this kid!! This came after a really good morning bible study that had me very emotional in a wonderful way, so this just made the day even better... God is good!

Here is a video clip of Kaya praying from yesterday. She prays here and there... not always when we ask her if she wants to pray (like at dinner or whenever)... which is totally cool as she is her own little person and I love that. I love her prayer.. very heart felt!!

TIME to take care of YOURSELF!

With summertime in full swing, it is time to remember to pamper yourself!!  I am here to help!

Do you want a 10% discount on Mary Kay products?

Place an order anytime between now and end of day Sunday, July 12th and the entire order will be discounted 10%!

Check out my site Mary Kay and place the order on the website!  Let me know if you have ANY questions!

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Need to run through the sprinklers!

Honestly, there are just times where it ALL sucks, right?!  Well, yes there are these times, but the thing is... I cannot let myself really think that.  I mean come on... I am healthy, have a great husband (who has been more wonderful the past few weeks than in some time), two wonderful kids who are happy with all the little things..... what more do I need?  Really?!  

Here is the thing...... I expect SO much of SO little!!  While I tell myself that... life is short and you have to live it while you have it... which I truly do believe.... at the same time, I canNOT just live by this way ALL the time!!!!  From feeling pressure to have a clean house (some of the time would be good, lol), to being a good cook, to being a good wife, to being a good mother.... I think about all the crap that keeps me from achieving these titles!  Well, the reality is.......... I put WAY too much pressure on myself!  Why is that?!?!  I am not sure about the whole answer.  Yes, I can pinpoint parts of my personality that led to this, but really I think the master answer is.... I AM HUMAN!

So, how do I help myself with this?  Well, If I could answer that... I would be a miracle worker, right?!

The biggest answer for me..... to be God centered, truly centered.... in God's word and prayer (the two ways to the truth as the bible study I am doing states.... I am seeing this more and more)!  Really, here is the thing... ready for this!  God does NOT expect perfection at ALL!  He simply wants a relationship with ME.  Simple as that.  So, the title of my blog is 'Simplicity Simplified'.... is that accurate of me?!  I really do think so... I see this in my kids.  They LOVE the simple things and I have been a driving force in teaching them this!  Give them a $2 sprinkler and a $5 pool... they are the happiest kids for countless hours!  The things Kaya asks for most... going outside and books, lol.  So simple child.  Connor loves to explore things with his sister along with on his own.  He cracks himself up with just the simplest of things!

So... right now, maybe I just need to run through the sprinkler?!  I so often act like a kid along side my kids.... then I have times where I get too caught up in all that should be and get done that I cannot just be a kid with them.  My head hurts!!!  This is WAY too much thinking for such a hot day, so I think it is time to run through the sprinklers... wanna join me?!!!

2nd Annual Planting HOPE in the 'Boro 5K and Family Fun Walk|Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37130|Saturday, June 27, 2009 @ 7:00 AM

JOIN ME for the 2 year anniversary of losing Jenna, an amazing women who would be running with me, I know!! Miss you girl!! :)

2nd Annual Planting HOPE in the 'Boro 5K and Family Fun Walk|Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37130|Saturday, June 27, 2009 @ 7:00 AM

Shared via AddThis

5K = 3.11 miles

IF I can do this, YOU can too!!  I will be jogging... not racing to the finish!!  Please join me on this day that is SO meaningful for all that knew Jenna!  She will be running right there with us.. betting my butt too!  :)

YAY for Owen!!

After night #3 of VBS and being MORE tired than previous nights as last night was the BIG lesson and the one I taught.. and had been quite nervous about thus it took a lot out of me.  Totally great though.. in all I think it went VERY well.  We need to come back tonight and review and focus in, as I am too dang wordy sometimes and can make things confusing, lol.  Again, I really feel the kids GOT it... just want to make sure of that tonight!!!

Anyway, I got home and did some farming that was WAY past due, lol.  My poor farm has suffered lately with me being too busy, lol.  Then, I got a pic text of a sweet little boy that had only been born a few hours before!!!!  I was SO excited and brought to tears!!  What wonderful news to end the day!!  Congrats Sarah and Jon and welcome to parenthood!!!!  I cannot wait to meet little Owen!!!!!!

This is what it is ALL about!

Night #1 of VBS was Sunday night.  Kaya was SO excited!  She picked out her clothes and shoes to wear for the night.  She has a shoe holder on the back of her closet door that allows her the independence to pick her shoes out on her own.. and her clothes too.  This is something that she really LOVES to do and will stand in front of her mirror talking about her outfit and shoes she picked out, lol.  What a girl!  Oh, she LOVES to accessorize too!!  She is TOTALLY a shoe and purse girl... oh vay we are in for it when she gets older!

So she picked out her newest sandals.. white with daisies on them.. super cute and Momma loves them b/c they match everything, lol.  I was busy at church getting our room together... the 3rd grade room where I am co-teaching with two WONDERFUL ladies!  Mark dropped Kaya off.  Sunday was a CRAZY day and I did feel a little bad with most of my attention diverted from my family, but I knew what I was doing was very important too.. even for my family!  Anyway, after a super FUN night #1 of VBS, I went to get Kaya from her room.  I was TIRED and drained... good feeling though, just really ready to be home and done as my mind was already thinking about night #2, #3 & #4!  So, I see Kaya walking with only one sandal on her foot.  I asked her "Kaya, where is your sandal?"  Reply from her "I dunno.. it is somewhere."  This is the answer I get whenever I ask her where something is, lol.  While it is totally cute b/c she usually shrugs her shoulders and has a concerned look on her face... yes, that is my little girl.... I was annoyed with her response.  Remember I was very tired.  We looked around the room and then in the sanctuary.  I told her "we will find it, no worries" which is what I thought too... I was not annoyed with her losing it.. just annoyed about thinking of one more thing to remember for the next night (yes, that is SUPER trivial but that is what I felt at the time).

Fast forward to Monday morning..... I slept in a bit as Mark had to go to the tire store to get one of the truck tires repaired, so he waited around until they opened.  When Grammy woke up, Kaya told her about the sandal and how she hoped she could find it (mind you, Kaya was not totally devastated or anything... she is just a very compassionate child and was genuinely concerned about the sandal.. oh and she does NOT forget anything).  Grammy said "well, lets pray to Jesus to help find your sandal".  So, Kaya put her hands together tightly (as she does when she prays.. which is TOO dang cute), closed her eyes tightly and prayed "Jesus, please find my sandal".  Wish I had that prayer on video!  :)

Jesus answers ALL prays in some way... this I believe!!!  It might not be the answer you were looking for.. but he DOES answer each pray in some way.  SO, my daughter at 3.5 years old had her first BIG prayer answered Monday night!!  While I did not see this happen as I was in my class and not with Kaya, I had TWO of her teachers tell me the same story that follows.....

When the sandal was brought to Kaya after being found, then lost, then found again.... Kaya hugged and kissed the sandal and said "Thank you Jesus"!!!

THAT right there is WHAT it is ALL about!!!  Thank you Jesus, yes indeed!  Thank you Jesus for answering Kaya's heart felt prayer!!  Thank you for each of the amazing 3rd graders that are teaching ME more than I am teaching them!  THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

OK, I found the offical trailer to New Moon!! ENJOY!!



There are more trailers linked to this clip... remixes and such with more clips. 11.20.09........ getting closer each day!! :)

So Sad but TRUE

Really, I have SO many words.... Sad, SUPER pathetic!!! Yet, SO true that this has probably gotten more hits than important things in our world!!! Well, I am one of those hits... b/c I just HAD to click, lol. Sad... sad... SO dang sad! :)

OMG

So, I just watch a brief trailer for New Moon......... OMG Jacob... who knew??? I CANNOT WAIT!!!! November..... get here already!!!!!

Letter of the day is S

S seems to be my letter as I keep thinking of a ton of words starting with S to express my emotions lately.

~Sleep (or lack of): I usually have 1-2 sleepless nights per month (sometimes not even one though). Lately, I seem to be having 1-2 per WEEK!!!

~Stress: Hmm, do you think my current stress level is largely causing the above? YES! My nature is to be stressed anyway, but I have gotten really good (or at least I think so) about keeping most of my stress in check... by NOT over committing myself, taking each thing with stride. However I am MORE stressed RIGHT now than I can recall being in some years...... even through some very stressful life situations. I have had a strange chest pain for about 3 weeks now... it is getting better. I totally think this is my body warning me! That and a direct outcome of stress and anxiety. Oh boy Meredith... get it in check!

~So in love with my husband: We are REALLY struggling...... but I love him very much and am getting reminders of the things that brought us to marry each other almost 8 years ago to the day (6-16-01). Sometimes you need to remember back to move forward!! Hey, I like that saying! :)

~Slowly getting perspective: Yes, it is SLOW... but I am making progress.

~School (VBS and my return to school): VBS starts tonight (Sunday)! 3 weeks ago, I was stressed about all of it..... just wondering HOW I would be able to lead 3rd graders. Well with lots of prayer and listening to God, support and help from my AWESOME co-leaders and preparation... I am SO excited for VBS and feel like I am going to ROCK as a teacher/leader!! I canNOT wait to see all that God has plan to occur this week! My return to school will either be Spring semester or next Fall.... 2010 will be my return to academia and I am excited!

~Sad: Well, this comes with the above territory. I have been MORE sad and having little crying episodes. I like to blame some of that on hormones, lol. Really though, there is some truth there. I have recently stopped BFing #2 and starting BC pills for the first time in 5 years... hmm, ya think my hormones are a bit messed up?

~Sex: Well, yes I will say this one. My sex drive went WILD after C was born... well now, not so much. Again, it is all connected with the above things too.... this I know. Just another thing on my mind a lot lately.

~Slacker: no explanation there, lol. Slacker side of me has kicked in HIGH gear lately!

~Shape: as in I am working to get my booty (and the rest of my body) in shape.. and this is helping both my stress and my well being. This is a very personal thing for me to work on... yet it is difficult physically and mentally. I am really trying to overcome my hip problems, but it is hard for my mental outlook. I am NOT defeated though!

~Sunshine: I LOVE, LOVE the SUNSHINE!!! This does help my mood...... not as much as I would like right now, but it would be MUCH worse if not for the sunshine!

Back to Sleep...... hoping to get some of that now as I have a VERY busy day ahead!!!

CLICK HERE

Please help support my friend Patrice in your efforts to raise money for a mission trip to the Dominican Republic!!  This is a WONDERFUL cause and you can win something REALLY cool too!!

Biggest Loser... so far so good!

I am doing the Biggest Loser challenge with some awesome ladies at church.  Last Wednesday night was the first weigh in.. ready for the number..........

well.... should I post it, really?

Yes, I will...... 176!  I do NOT own a scale... and strongly believe in NEVER owning one (as I would watch the number too much).

The first person to lose 10% of their weight WINS ($100).  That would be to weigh 158.4 pounds for me... oh I would LOVE to weigh that!

So... what am I trying to do to keep myself focused...

~I have been trying to eat better.. you know eating the veggies (that I do like and have no probs eating so there is NO excuse not to) over grabbing the cheesz-its all the time!  I am really trying to eat a protein each meal along with the veggies and some fruit.

~Oh, bye bye DP.... I do miss you!!  I had two in total over week #1 versus have two per day!  I will still reward myself with a DP, as life is just NOT complete without it, lol.  I love water so again there is NO excuse not to drink it more.  And yes, I am more hydrated and feel better after one week of drinking mainly water (milk too) versus soda!

~My single biggest problem with eating is NOT eating breakfast (thus causing eating more later in the day and night), so I have REALLY tried to focus on that.  Today is the first day where I have mainly just had coffee (my norm as I just forget to eat something or get myself too busy).

~Well, I am really focused on doing my first 1/2 marathon on 10-3-09, so the timing of this challenge is PERFECT!  So... I went for a 2.5 mile walk/jog (jogged only 1 mile of it) Saturday morning early.  If felt great and I was feeling REALLY good until Sunday morning.  Yep, I had a hard time walking..... my dang hip!  REALLY, I am 31 years old and have a bad hip!!!!!  This would be from my car accident on 8-31-04... yep I am messed up for good, lol.  I know I need to ease into this so I do NOT injure myself more, so I am going to ask Debbie for some help... as I know she will have some great tips for strengthening, etc so I CAN do my 1/2 in October.

RESULTS for week ONE:

Last night I weighed in a 171... 5 pounds lost (2.84%)!  In all, I am VERY happy with that number!  I was really surprised to see any loss, as the cheez-its have started talking to me and besides for my attempt Saturday morning, I have not done my regular walks and kick boxing.  

I need to work on my hip as it has mentally really taken a toll on me (well it has been a rough week emotionally too).  But really... I am 31 years old and I feel like I need a hip replacement!!!

Nothing harder, this is true

While I have NEVER thought that marriage was a walk in the park....... it is just HARDER than hard right now.  I am not afraid to admit that...... nor am I running away from the fight!  I love Mark more than I thought possible to love someone... this has NOT changed at all.  There is NOT one event that has occurred lately to make things harder.  

It is hard having him working two jobs (both for him and for me)... it is hard for me to feel like I do not get breaks... he obviously struggles with having breaks.... we are both being pulled in a number of directions thus making it harder to work together...... it IS harder as a couple with TWO kids...... this is ALL true.  What is also true is..... we love each other... and we are working on ways to see things differently!!  We need support though..... so PRAY for us, please.

Prayer is powerful... I know that for sure!!  I am praying hard!!!  Pray for openness for BOTH of us... this is my prayer!

FUN Friday!

This is Kaya's version of "helping" feed her bro some cereal! Well, I guess he 

did NOT want that much!

At least she knows she has to help clean up too!

"What Momma?"

Fighting over ONE toy when we have SO many toys.  

Gotta love sibling rivalry!

Aww.... this makes it ALL worth it!!!!

Mark's Friday Fun... well actually Thursday night fun! It looks really GOOD honey! Thank you for getting your end of the project done... 

now I have NO excuses for not painting, oh no!

Kaya asked that I take a pic of her being silly.. and this was the result!  

It shows her attitude to a T!!!!

Kaya's a budding photographer... what do you think?!?!

IT has been a VERY FUN FRIDAY for us!!

Another one bites the dust.....

So, yesterday after gymnastics, Target to get a blanket and getting blanket to Cindy to embroider... I was looking through my coupons for eating options as it was that time for lunch and I wanted to just get it done instead of going home and dealing with it with TWO tired kids who really just needed naps (meaning they both would have likely just taken naps w/o food... we do have those days).  

I have two coupons for Bab's Deli (BOGO sandwich), and we were close so that is were we went.  We walk in and I hear an auctioneer doing his thing... I was like "huh?""  All I could think was another local great small business bites the dust... so sad yes indeed!  I really do hate this for small bizs all over!  Needless to say.. no awesome Bab's Deli bagel sandwiches any longer.  :(

See pics of us over the last few months....

on Facebook!

I have been very bad about blogging lately... not for lack of thinking of things to blog about.... simply a timing thing.  When it has been sunny, we have been outside away from the computer (as here in Nashland it has been RAINING a lot).  When it has been raining... hmm, well we have been busy and I have been avoiding the puter a good amount, lol.

At any rate... I am uploading pics to my FB right now as it is SOOOOOO easy to do this on FB versus blog.  There are a lot of pics in the "Spring 2009" folder as it had been a LONG time since I downloading pics from the camera..... crappy camera GRR!

Posts and pics still to come from C's birthday!!  They are still on the camera and will stay there for awhile, lol.

Love to ALL!

The BEST Mother's Day ever!

Really it could NOT have been ANY better!

~God gave us all in the area SUNSHINE!  That was present enough for me so I could be outside ALL day!

~Hubby let me sleep in until 8am!!!!

~Woke up to two happy little monkies... Kaya who came bouncing to me saying "Happy Mama's Day!" followed by a huge hug and then "Mama... you have a card and a tea kettle!"

~Yes, I had a tea kettle and the sweetest cards (one from the kids and one from Mark)!  This was the best thing (material thing that is) that I could have gotten.  You ask why?  Well, I have been wanting one for a long time and just ALWAYS forget to get one, lol.  I love tea and HATE heating water in the microwave.  So, hubby rocked my world with a little black tea kettle.

~I did NOT get breakfast in bed, but I did have a TON of pancakes that hubby had made.  He made a quadruple patch of HIS pancakes (he makes them from scratch with buttermilk... and YES they are MUCH better than anything from a box, lol).  He made so many for us to have for the week!  ROCKS as then breakfast is super easy for the kids and me (if I eat it, lol).

~TWO bottles of SLEEP from B&BW.

~Hubby then changed out the dining room light switch to a 3-way dimmer switch!  Again, I thought this ROCKED as it is one of those things we have wanted for the light for some time and there it is done!  He did some other little odd jobs around the house... all of which I have 'nagged' about!  What a guy!  I love you Mark!  There are times when you annoy me a ton... but you have times when I just love you like crazy!  A way to a wives heart..... fixing things around the house, lol.

~After church, we went to Publix (treat right there too as I LOVE Publix), where Kaya decorated a little cake for ME all by herself (will post pics of that for sure).

~Hubby grilled hamburgers per my request versus eating out and made one of my favs (cole slaw.. the way I like it!).

Kaya made me the CUTEST and sweetest card in Sunday School.  Then she answered a sheet of questions about me that her teachers helped her with!  It made me cry!!  Her teachers did say that she came up with all of the answers totally on her own!  I will type a post about that more later!

I hope all the Mother's out there, expecting Mother's and future Mother's had a WONDERFUL Mother's Day!!!

MUST read for ALL men!!

I could not have given any better advice!  Are you reading this Mark?!  :)

Buying the Right Gift for Your Wife on Mother’s Day

Men, although by definition your wife is not your mother, if you have children, it becomes your responsibility to come up with just the right Mother’s Day gift.  Take it from me, don’t ever, ever respond to your child’s query of “What are you getting Mom for Mother’s Day?”—with the logical statement, “She ain’t my momma.”  So in an effort to save you grief, and an unwanted stint on the couch, here’s what NOT to buy her:

1. Don’t buy anything that plugs in.  Anything that requires electricity is considered utilitarian—a tool or gadget, that is actually for you.

2. Don’t buy clothing that involves sizes.  Your chance of getting the right size is less than 1 in 1000, the other 999 times you’ll offend.  Too big and she’ll ask “Do I look that large?!”, too small and she’ll inform you that she hasn’t worn a size 6 in twenty years.

3. Avoid all things useful.  The amazing “Tarnish-B-Gone” polish, that saves hundreds of hours of labor, or the miracle “Dust Magnet” that holds 100 times it own weight in dirt, won’t win you any brownie points.

4. Don’t buy anything that involves weight loss or self-improvement.  She’ll perceive a membership to a gym as a suggestion that she’s overweight.

5. Don’t buy jewelry.  What she wants, you can’t afford; what you can afford, she doesn’t want.

6. Don’t fall into the trap of buying frilly lingerie.  Your idea of the undergarments your wife should wear and what she actually wears are light-years apart!

7. Finally, don’t spend too much—“How do you think we’re going to pay for this?” she’ll ask.  But don’t spend too little—she won’t say anything, but she’ll think, “Is this all I’m worth?”

Guys, I may not have made your mission any easier, but I have made your Mother’s Day less painful!  Whatever you get her just put a lot of love into it, tell her how much you appreciate all she does, and you’ll be fine.

Need to post pics.....

WOW!  Have I been doing nothing and that the reason for no blog post in a few weeks?  That answer would be NO!

Just a *brief* listing of my thoughts at that moment with some of the latest haps......

~I have a lengthy post almost done to my big #1 boy......... My sweet little Connor turned 1 on Sunday!!  He loved his blue airplane cake.. and I was VERY pleased with how easy it was and how good it looked!

~Amazed with both of my kids!  Just when I have moments where I think I am not doing a good job being their mom, I have someone tell me "Is your kid ever not happy?"  and "they are always smiling".  Well, yes.... they have their unhappy moments and times when they are not smiling.... BUT, these really are few and they really are happy, smart kids!  I guess I am doing a *few* things right....... I definitely think so!

~Hubby and I are in need of some date time.... great that my MIL will be here for 2.5 weeks!!  I have two dates planned already and am very excited.

~My mom left today after being here for one week for little man's birthday.  It was a really good visit.. only downer was the rainy weather that kept us from hitting up Cheekwood and the zoo.

~I have chocolate brown paint on my walls in the kitchen and dining room F-I-N-A-L-L-Y!!  After 1.5 years of living in my house, I finally have paint that I want in the main living area!  Thanks to Sarah's GREAT suggestion of the brown... you were right, I LOVE it!!  Oh, thanks to hubby and my mom too for helping complete it in ONE day!  Now, the ceilings need the copper metallic to finish it off AND then it will be RED in the living room... along with some canvases that will ROCK this world... this I totally KNOW!  Well, there are more rooms to do... re-do the kids bath into a beach theme, master bed and bath (have paint for it), bonus room (so no hurry there).  While my MIL is here, we are going to make valences and roman shades (hoping to figure out how to make these!!)  I will get there... to all of it in MY own time..... after all that is how I do everything, right?!  Stubborn, yes!

~C's birthday bash is this weekend which I am really looking forward to.... even if it rains and keeps us from putting up the bounce house!

~I have some ROCKIN' peeps in my life and I am so thankful for them ALL!!!  I love you guys for being YOU and for loving me for being ME!!

The last time I downloaded pics off my camera, it did not take all the pics.  Once I get that figured out, I will downloaded the new pics on my camera and get some POSTED!!  I have NO room on my card right now.  Oh, that is a plus too.... I think we are going to downscale our camera purchase, so we can get a new one MUCH sooner.  Mark now agrees with me that we should just get a lower end SLR for now and then maybe someday get the higher end Nikon for his lenses (that may or may not take the lenses after all, lol).  Anyway, I am SO excited.  Now, I need to decide if we will go Canon or Nikon!  Thoughts?

Eight Things

I was tagged by my girl Patrice for this meme that is all about 8's, so here I go!

8 things I am looking forward to...

1. Painting my kitchen, dining room and living room FINALLY!

2. Painting my front porch when my mom is here at the end of the month!  Hmm, I must like to paint, lol.

3. Visits from my mom and my MIL.... seeing the kids with their grandparents truly is PRICELESS!

4. Next week when hubby is NOT working at Target at all!

5. Getting ourselves to the point financially where the Target job is NOT needed at all..... making great steps towards that!

6. C's birthday!  While part of me is sad thinking of him being ONE... I so enjoy each little moment and take it one day at a time!  I do look forward to seeing him with his birthday cake!

7. Swimsuit season... what am I thinking?!  While I do NOT love how I look in one... I DO love pool time especially with the kids!

8. Going to the library to get a number of awesome reads I have reserved!

8 things I did yesterday...

1. Put birdseed out in feeders for the first time in too long.... hope the birds come back, lol.

2. Took a LONG and relaxing bath!

3. Watched Australia and really liked it.

4. Helped K make some thank you cards.

5. Some laundry...... something I never do, NOT!

6. Feel asleep on the couch waiting for hubby to get home from Target... bummed I could not stay awake... nothing new there, lol.

7. Reserved 5+ good reads at the library online!  That rocks that you can do that!

8. Made tomato soup and grilled cheese for dinner!  YUM!

8 things I wish I could do...

1. Travel with the kids more... one thing I wish we could afford more.

2. Manage time better.. with ya Patrice on that one!

3. Be at better peace with strained relationships.

4. Speak French fluently, lol.

5. Go back to school now.... soon though.

6. Buy a hammock!!! 

7. Go camping..... hmm, this *might* happen this summer with the kids... should be fun!

8. Go bird watching.... yes, I love to do this!

8 shows I watch...

1. Numbers

2. Ugly Betty

3. Mentalist

4. Ellen

5. Castle (new fav, I think)

6. Grey's (only b/c I am glutten at this point, lol)

7. Desperate Housewives

8. Private Practice (still like more than Grey's)

***more online as we only have rabbit ears and love to pay ZERO dollars to watch ANY thing online!***

8 people I tag...

Here are some of the blogs that I follow that are public..... happy 8's to you ALL!

1. Sarah

2. Monica

3. Chandra

4. Rachel

5. Jill

6. Barbara

7. Courtney

8. Tamra 

What were we doing?

OK, so I know this is a lot of posts re: Friday... but it was one of those moments that I will not forget about.  I wanted to post what we (all of the Tennessee Lovell's) were doing during the tornado.  This one will be long.... like some of the others... this afternoon seemed much longer than only a few hours!  :)

Mark was at work in LaVergne (well outside of path of the tornado but certainly in the warning thus in the vault at work... which is a great place to be if a tornado hit him as he would likely survive hands down).  I called him early once I realized we had a tornado warning and that the storm was projected straight for our house.  At this point, the storm had NOT hit any part of Murfreesboro and there was NOT a confirmed tornado on ground.  As we (Rutherford County) has had a number of tornado warnings since we moved here in 3/06.  The worst time for us (well Mark only as Kaya and I were in Iowa, lol) was at the end of 3/06 when a warning hit in the counties west of Rutherford... mind you this was Mark's first ever tornado warning in his 30+ years!  He and I were on the phone the whole time... and I tried to assure him that he did not to worry too much unless there was a tornado warning in Rutherford County and to watch the radar to see where it was exactly.  Anyway, we all got through that one.  Side note... that same time (a few days after this, I think), there was a tornado warning where I was in Iowa (at my sister's) and I was driving when my sister called to say get to her house ASAP.  Just a few weeks after I returned to TN, on 4/13/06, a F2 tornado hit downtown Iowa City http://www.icpl.org/tornado/ That map looks so similar to the path of Friday's.

Back to present.  While Mark is in the vault at work, you are not supposed to use your cell phone (safety protocol), but he and I were calling/texting each other for quite awhile.  I was calling/texting as many people as I knew to see their status (both if they were ok and to get a on the ground report of where the storm was located).  Throughout, not all calls and texts both were not sending/receiving.  We got the older kids (7 in total) into the bathtub with towels and some pillows around 12:15ish and weather radio (I thought about getting a mattress at some point, but thought that would not be necessary... part of me was prepared for the severity but not all of me).  At that point, myself and my two friends (each of us with a baby in hand) spent most of the time on the front porch with the front door wide open and the TV on load.  The kids in the bathroom were a bit scared and restless, but in all they did SO well.  At some point, I got one box of fruit snacks for them.. then had to get more, lol (side not that hubby had just purchased those the night before.. hmm, great timing).  Chandra had more goodies in her bag, so the kids had snacks.  There were all the bath toys that they were playing with.  When all 13 of us were in the bathroom with the door closed (not a ton as I tried to save that for when I was freaked out so much that I could not be outside), it got quite warm and tight in there... as you can imagine.  We sang some songs... for the life of me I could NOT think of anything besides Twinkle Little Star and ABC, lol.  The three of us adults were all texting people to get on the ground updates. 

I would say around 12:30ish (DNJ posted at 12:33 confirming touchdown near Hwy 99 & Barfield Cresent Rd (basically as the tornado hit the first part of Murfreesboro)..... I heard on the TV "confirmed touchdown at Old Fort Pkway & I24" and then something about how they did NOT need a person to confirm it b/c they had it on camera.... later I learned this was b/c a camera mounted to the Old Fort Pkway overpass on I24 watched the tornado cross I24... you canNOT get more confirmation than that!  Hearing these words, I felt the need to say some very harsh words and run or something (like I could get away from it or something).  I did go into the bathroom and thought I would stay in there with the other peeps after I heard on the TV that it was projected to hit us (or near us) btw 12:40-12:45.  I am a little unclear on the order of events, but at one point all of us adults were on the porch (I think after we heard confirmation of tornado on the ground.. maybe just before).  Kristen was the first to see what I thought was a funnel cloud and circulation (or at least that is what I wanted to believe).  We had NO way of knowing if it was on the ground as there are houses and trees.  I am yelling across the street at my neighbors who were doing the same thing we were doing.. watching the sky while watching the radar.  I asked them "does that look like it?"  Yes is the response I get.  Oh, during this time and right before, cars RACE on our street... faster than ever before.  It is eerie calm (just like people say)... the sky looks that greenish/blue color that you hear about... and it just feels eerie.  Not but a minute later, Chandra and I both saw with 100%+ certainty the tornado as there was circulation and debris.  Her and I looked at each other and I think we both said "sh*t".  I honestly do not remember after that but shutting the front door and going to the bathroom as fast as we could.  

At this point, I am truly scared, scared for the first time with these events.  I think if it had just been Kaya, Connor and myself at home..... I would have been much less scared b/c I would have been in the bathroom more and not seen the actual tornado (I would have had to be right there with Kaya instead of having 6+ kids entertain her.. if that makes sense).  Something in me just went into plan mode or something.  I did wish I had batteries for my still camera... and that video camera battery had NOT just died a few days before (timing) to capture our first tornado.  I did snap a few pics of all the kids in the bathtub.

I got out of the bathroom after maybe 5 minutes.  Looked at the TV to confirm it was past.... but there was a line of storms on the radar after it.  The tornado warning for Rutherford County had been extended from 1:45 to 2:00.  Kept the kids in the bathroom, as we were still in that time frame and tornadoes can start anywhere, so we were not taking our chances.  In total, the kids were in the bathtub for about an hour and a half.

After the all clear was good, we let the kids out.  There was some debris in our yard (only a few pieces).  I grabbed a piece of roof with insulation and showed it to the older kids who were all like 'woah that was from a tornado'.  That seemed to be enough for them... as we never heard nor felt the winds, so they really thought they were just having a party in the bathtub (which I am so, so thankful that is their memories of the day).  Kristen wanted to get home (rightly so as it was talked to hit the area where she lived), so she got her kids ready for the long drive home (said it took her 1.5 hrs which normally takes 30 minutes).  Chandra wanted to get home too, but we had already heard about street closures including section of I24 due to semi being overturned.  Mark was enroute home as I told him to come straight home after he got the all clear to get out of the vault.  He got home right as Chandra and I were figuring out how she would get home with the street closures we were hearing about.  I was un-nerved at this point and really needed to get out of the house... I think I had to 'see' what had just happened.  I got in the car and let Chandra part of the way home worried that we might have to figure out a way home as we went and I knew the area a bit better.  

We got to State Farm around 3:10ish (as I texted Chandra at 3:21 to see how she was doing, so I am guessing on the time) which is at the intersection of DeJarnette and Memorial and turned right on Memorial.  Sirens are everywhere.... helicopters too..... debris scattered all over... people walking around in a daze... people in their cars in a daze..... I saw a tree completely uprooted... a man on his roof assessing the damage..... a lounge chair in a tree......... my neighbor at the bank as he works there walking around assessing everything I imagine.  The talk of 'it looked like a warzone' was all I could think of.  This is an area where the tornado did indeed cross, yet it hopped or something as the damage here was nothing compared to what it HAD done (this I would learn later though, so for me at that moment.... this was bad and seemed like a war zone).

I have asked Kaya a few times what she was doing during the tornado and she says "playing in the bathtub with bath toys and my friends"... oh, I so love that is her story to tell of the afternoon's events!!  Connor spent the entire time in my arms... even though he really wanted down especially when we were outside.. he wiggled and put his arms out which his is way of wanting to play.... when it was raining a little, he really lit up and wanted to play in the rain, lol.  Nope, he stayed on my hip as I could NOT let him out of my sight for a second!  The youngest child here that day, who is all of 2.5 months, spent some of the time in the bathroom sleeping in his mom's arms!  Oh, I am truly THANKFUL these are the stories we have to tell and remember!

A teacher of mine once said 'God creates tornados (floods, fires, etc) but people create tornado (flood, fire, etc) damage'........... hmm, yes this is true.  Had this tornado hit just an empty field or something like that, then it would have been talked about a minor tornado that caused crop damage or such, but not what how it is being talked about.  Now, I do agree and believe that God knows this would happen right when it happened..... but it is not an act of God in that he is punishing anyONE...... God is the all healing..... he did know there would be loss of life and that is something he is VERY sad about along with us... he lost his son, remember.  God is healing...... this I believe more than anything.... I know God is what was the driving force that got me through things after our fire... and after so many moments in my life, good and bad.  God WILL heal us all...... it WILL take a LONG time.... but he is all healing!

Close in feet not miles....

Here is a video that I feel is well done....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_vboJmpx6w

Google map of the tornado path:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=110609751342067139763.00046746bc93ded9717cb&source=embed&ll=35.8501,-86.439743&spn=0.389593,0.615234&z=11

We live on Mission Ridge Dr (blocks from the corner of Mission Ridge Dr & Marian Ln).  We are less than 3,000 ft from being in the path.  To see that number in feet and not miles hits me even more.  My friend Kristen said it well on her blog post as she was one of the adults in my house at the time (10 kids + 3 adults) when the actual tornado came very close to my house... " I went to the bathroom to make sure all the kids were still there, and to take cover. Moments later, I heard an explicative and then the front door slam. The other moms just saw debris flying in the tornado, and they had had enough fun."

The tornado was originally categorized as F3 but has not been confirmed to be an F4 (http://www.tornadoproject.com/fscale/fscale.htm  According to this information, an F4 tornado is classified with wind speeds of 207-260 mph and damaged is described as Well-constructed houses leveled; structures with weak foundations blown off some distance; cars thrown and large missiles generated.  Also note that at the bottom of this information it states in RED "the size of a tornado is not necessarily an indication of its intensity" 

Other stats about the Good Friday tornado of Murfreesboro, TN:

~~traveled a path of 23.25 miles diagonally through Murfreesboro (thus businesses and residential areas, not open fields, etc).

~~It lasted 26 minutes

~~It destroyed approx 100 homes and damaged approx 800

~~Officially, it claimed 2 lives (possibly 3 more) & hospitalized approx 58

Mark and I know a large number of people directly affected by the events on Friday and an entire community (and beyond) that is affected for many reasons.  Seeing first hand areas that I drive every day and the area where the woman and 9 week old baby were killed which is 2.8 miles from our house DO really hit me hard and make me very emotional.  Then hearing from good friends of ours at church whom live just behind the area where lives were lost........ shared that they saw the remnants of the "It's a Girl" sign from when baby Olivia was born.  Seeing in pictures and when I was on Haynes Drive late Friday the "SE" or "C" on doors of homes representing homes that have been searched and this letters meaning the results of that searched for people/bodies.

I think for me personally, these are the things that hit me the most....... to think of a young family just starting their family with their first born little girl.... a father who will NEVER be the same...... these images and thoughts bring a night back into my mind like I cannot fully explain..... that night my very young family was physically all OK, thank God!  For all these people affected.... countless people..... included those like me whom have NEVER had a tornado hit this close to home who now look at the sky much differently..... for those who have to look at their houses and feel they are not their homes any longer.... Please pray for us all!

Meaningful day..... meaningful words!

Today truly was an amazing day!  He has Risen..... yes indeed!  The weather could NOT have been more beauTIful!  Service was just aww inspiration and quite emotional... with a poignant message in deed.  I went to the SS class that I have heard is just incredible and I left there saying "WOAH"!  It WAS incredible..... real and SO good all at the same time!  Then we had lunch with such wonderful people..... whom do not even know how much this time meant to us... although I told them too!  K&C had a super fun egg hunt with some big kids..... hey I am a big kid too!  :)

Another thought of the recent events.......

As I saw the tornado and headed straight for the full capacity bathroom with Connor in hand... I prayed to God for the safety of all in my house and also "please do not let me and my family have another one of these moments".  Part of me feels selfish in that prayer, but at the same time I do not know anyONE who prays for their home to be hit by a tornado.  Today in SS, it was well said...... when you build a home, you do not hope for it to be destroyed.... when a child is born, you do not hope for that child to die before you.  These words are SO true... but this morning they were EVEN more true.  Do you believe that people are put into your life at specific moments and they speak specific words at specific moments... and you really absorb (not just hear) those words at specific moments?  Well, I do believe this....... and today this man said these words at a specific moment when I was in need of hearing those specific words.  

He also said something that hit me HARD!  If you do NOT grieve when tragedy strikes... then you are not real nor true to yourself and will not heal.  This makes sense, I do believe.  Also, in order to really grieve you HAVE to digest all of the events that occurred in this tragic situation.  Hmm, again... he spoke very specific words to me at that moment for a specific reason.  See, my house is fine from this event (not my personally tragedy... others yes), but there was a night when my house was NOT fine.  A night when life DID stand still... a night when all I could do/think was "WHAT is happening?"  See the events that occurred on Friday in my community were tragic (worse of the family who had loss of lives), but the tragedy continues and WILL for months and longer (to this day, I am hyper sensitive to the smell of fire).  While material things CAN be replaced where people canNOT............. there are items very valuable (not in dollar value but worth so much more) that will NEVER be replaced.......... this is HARD to deal with....... THIS is something I know personally..... and my heart ACHES for my community.  At the same time, my heart beats for joy with my community and all the people helping.  It is said that Friday night at the Red Cross shelter there were only 3, 4 or 10 families needing shelter when over 100 homes were destroyed (plus many, many more w/o power).  Hmm, what an amazing community we DO live in....... pulling together to help your neighbors, your friends, your family (blood or otherwise)..... How very fitting during this Holy weekend where we celebrate the resurrection of Christ!!

This is located approx. 5.5 miles from my house moving in the direction of my house.  I did the mileage as the my best idea of how close WE were to being in the direct path of the tornado.... 1.6 miles!  That is TOO close for my comfort!  I only pray that is the closest I will EVER be to a tornado... to date, that is true for sure!

Aftermath video.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjN-U17In-k

Since I did not video nor take pics...... as I did not want to 

get in the way of anything... I will utilize other people's 

tornado chasing desires, lol. I am one of those people!

Of course, the best thing is just stay out of the way!  

OK, I am outta here........ off to see how a friend's house 

is (as she is out of town and lives in the path) 

and then to run a few errands and see if/where I can help.