Mamaw and Papaw...hanging out at the game.

My In-laws will be married for FIFTY YEARS this Saturday, June 5th! AMAZING!

First of all, let me tell you, I adore these two. They are so cute! They have to be the sweetest couple ever! I hope that me and my husband can be like these two for the next forty-six (and then some) years! They set such a wonderful example. They do so much for others and ask for NOTHING in return. They are truly made for one another and are examples to be followed.

The year. 1960.

Gunsmoke, My Three Sons, The Ed Sullivan Show  and The Red Skelton Show were among the favorite TV shows. Eisenhower is President. Kennedy wins the election for new Presidency. Price of a new home: 16,500. Cost of a first class stamp: .04 cents. Gallon of Gasoline: .031 cents. The Twist by Chubby Checker was on the Billboards along with Sinatra songs….just to name a few things going on…and my in-laws…Jimmy and Carolyn Davis were in LOVE and getting married.

Ah….June…the month of  Love! The month for marriages. This past weekend I dug for all the facts of their blossoming love and how they fell for one another. And boy, did I learn alot of how my father-in-law adores his lovely wife. He does ADORE her! I love that about them…they are still so in love after 50 years of marriage.

They have raised three wonderful children. And helped with raising their 7 grandchildren. They both worked hard at their careers and are now retired, but don’t let the term retirement fool you. They are still hard at work, spending time with their grown children, grandchildren, gardening, taking care of his mother by taking her places and mowing her yard weekly, volunteering at church, St. Joe hospital, and anyone else that may need a helping hand, they serve as deacons at their church, and teach Sunday School. The list goes on and on of the many things that keep them busy.

I hope that this June they take time off to enjoy one another and remember why they fell in love to begin with! Here’s to another 50.

I’ve just been so busy with taking care of my sick mother for the past year and a half, but there is light at the end of the tunnel and she is on the mend (for now and hopefully for quite some time)! Praises be to God! That’s another story for another post!

For now. I just wanted to say….I’m still here! =-)

What does that mean….well…it could mean many things….but today it means being aware of the people around you and doing more for others, even those you have never met….especially those you have never met.

As I got my 9 year old off to school today…sitting at the computer, it’s my only ‘off’ day….mind you, I have tons of stuff to do, but I’m taking some ‘me time’ this morning….so, sitting at the computer, watching the TODAY show…Al Roker speaks to 3 women with BLUE scarves on and a poster of the most adorable 20 month old baby in a hospital crib. His name is LIAM.

His name means ‘Powerful Warrior’. He had a rare blood disease and became an angel on 9.9.09

How do I know, did I meet his mother? NO. I went to her website from the TODAY show… it is www.liamslighthousefoundation.com . Very Interesting. Please check it out. I learned something new today….AND I’m loving LIKE CHRIST…although I don’t know this lady…. I’m going to embrace her. I’m a mother too….and I would hope if anything were to happen to one of my Angel’s that some other mothers would rally with me!

Do something for others today….you can also financially support this ‘Liam’s lighthouse foundation’….monetarily…so that others can be educated (including doctor’s) about this rare condition. (HLH).

Loving Like Christ

~Shane

First, I just wanted to let you know that I’m a jesus-lover. I would love to be able to SERVE even more than I already do, but honestly, I just don’t have time…I’m really struggling to find more time as it is to allow myself to grow closer to SERVING my lord and savior. I by NO means am perfect, nor do I claim to be…I’m also looking  and struggling to be a little more patient…a patient mother, wife, daughter,teacher  and friend. This list could go on forever.

I’m also a full time Mommy and Wife. When I’m not taking care of them (which is actually never), I help to take care of my sick mother, volunteer at church and at my daughters school, and I also do Pampered Chef. I’m a consultant for The Pampered Chef!

I help teach in the children’s department at church, which is on most days a challenge as well, I guess the children just don’t want to listen, or they’re just tired of being cooped up all day at school. I haven’t quite figured that one out just yet.

I’ve been a consultant for the Pampered Chef for a little over a year and a half now, and absolutely LOVE it! I’m really starting to get comfortable with it!  It’s a ton of fun, I get to meet new people and stay home with my children! How cool is that? Plus I get tons of FREE product from the Pampered Chef and I’m working on earning a trip…all expense paid to Maui this year! Wahoo!

I love my family, my ability to stay home with my family and care for my mother. I’m thankful that my husband takes care of us so that I can do all of these “missions”…I truly feel blessed and have GOD…to thank.

Bring a new year and a new attitude! That’s what I want! I need to SHED a few lbs this year as well….that’s where the whole BRING IT phrase came from…me and my friend Bebo started working out last year and that was our motto….and I kinda like the catchy little phrase…

I slacked off of the whole working out thing, I’m hoping to get back into that this week.

My attitude needs to be adjusted as well, I’m working on that as well… I just think you get more with Sugar than with Lemons…and well…I’ve felt a little lemony (is that even a word? if not, I’m gonna own it, ok?).

I also need to bring it more with GOD…yes him…I hope you can all relate and I’m not the only loner out here…I just don’t talk to him like I used to….and guess what… even with GOD…even though he still loves me for who I am… my flaws included…I need to talk to him more. I know HE knows what’s going on…but he still wants to know…kinda like I wanna know what my kids have been up to.

Anyway…I’ve been an awful daughter to HIM in 2009. Not communicating with HIM as I should…so I’m gonna BRING IT!

I challenge you to BRING IT too…in whatever that may be…talking to GOD, friends & family, going to church, being the church, working out….giving more sugar than lemons…you get my drift….let 2010 be the decade that we all BRING IT!

This past year has been an unusually difficult year. Not complaining by any means…I’m happy to still be here and am fortunate to have my health, my family, my church (and after this year….my sanity).

My mother has been sick since Spring of 2007. Last year she went through so much…I don’t really even know how she’s even still here…by the GRACE of GOD, is the only explanation I have.  She’s had CANCER since Spring of 2007….although we didn’t find out until Nov. 2007. I’m really hoping she beats all odds this year and we can get her stronger.

I also lost a Stepmother to CANCER this fall. Did I even mention that I hate CANCER and all I wanted for Christmas was a cure? She was a lovely soul. Never would hurt a fly…alway there to lend a helping hand…I’ll post one solely to her in a future blog.

That’s one new resolution…in my SPARE time…I’m going to try to blog more. At least once a week would be good.

Anyway…so glad to be out with the old…in with the new.

Happy NEW YEAR…. hope this year is better for the economy this year as well. It has to get better! It just has to!

Summer is here… and we’ve been waiting!!!!!! Waiting and wanting! Ok.. so it’s NOT  *officially* summer… But it IS summer VACATION!  Yep… no more school… school’s out…. school’s out….teacher’s let the monkeys out!

We’ve been patiently waiting for warm weather… and it’s FINALLY arrived! Yay for summer! I LOVE SUMMER! And with that being said… comes all the fun and not so fun stuff about summer!

FUN: Swimming, catching fire flies (glow bugs… as Prissy calls them), planting a garden, the beach, popcicles, ice cream from Brusters, long drives down country roads with the windows down at dusk, BASEBALL, Beaches, Sand, Visiting Family, summer camp, VBS, lazy days, afternoon naps, chlorine, sun, smells of sunscreen, cook-outs, sleep-overs, painted toenails, shorts, sunshine, just to name a FEW! GOTTA LOVE SUMMER!

NOT SO FUN: Allergies and Athsma….

Baby has Athsma (reactive airway disease)… that I hope won’t flare up this summer!!! and THE BOY has SEVERE ALLERGIES to GRASS AND TREES… (we found out today)… gosh… and I was LOVING that he’s old enough to MOW now! Thank GOD for drugs! What did people do 100 years ago????

Happy Summer!

~S

My baby boy graduated from middle school last week and my baby girl (that we still refer to AS *THE BABY* is going into 3rd grade! 8 going on 18 for her. Yes folks… I’m either getting old or they are keeping me young!

Anyway…just thought I’d share with you… it’s a bittersweet moment in life…. you are sooo happy and proud that they get *PROMOTED* (NOT GRADUATE as I had put before), and yet SAD that they are no longer able to be rocked to sleep or to even sit in your lap! The BOY is TALLER than me by 4 inches… and weighs almost as well! CAN YOU BELIEVE???

Blessings!

~S

THE BOYPromoting!

I ooopssed!

I was cutting my brave hubby’s hair, when ooppsss…. off was the gaurd and gone was the hair! I’ve done this once before…but not with my brave hubby… with my silly son. I oopsed and scared his poor little head for life! I couldn’t help laughing this morning when it first popped off… but then, my laughter turned to tears…when I thought my Hubby would have to stay like this…

He’s all fixed now and he’s not mad! That’s the best part about it…he’s not mad! So, I truly hope I’ve learned from this experience and won’t pick up the clippers again …..unless my cat needs a hair cut!

I just love gracefullness… and wish I had more of it… and will take whatever I can get.

What I really love about amazing grace…..is that My God has it…and abundunce of it… how perfect is that…and what else is so sweet…is the sound it makes…

My son got an organ for Christmas….and he plays it daily… he’s TEACHING HIMSELF to play… the piano/ organ. I’m going to get him lessons….because he’s really, really good at it and I think with lessons, he’ll be even better…. today he was playing AMAZING GRACE…he’s 14 and taught himself to learn this… what’s just as sweet is that his sister is 8 and sings right along with him.

I told my hubby that we should be so proud…many children don’t even know this wonderful song! Praise HIM!