363–Women of Joy–Day 2

Another great day!!! I actually saw a sunrise from my hotel room this morning.

Worship was amazing this morning.  Here we were on the front row bright and early this morning (poor quality, but - Stacie, me, JoJo, and Stacie’s mom, Cheri)…

This evening before the “Casting Crowns” concert, I stood in line for over 2 hours to preregister for next year. 

We’ll have five in our group… we’ve added our friend, Lorna, and my TWO girls are planning to go! I am SO excited about that!
The highlight of our day was the concert… they were so good! (I know it was for women, but I really was wishing Tyler was there with me tonight. He would’ve LOVED it!)

We’ll have one more service in the morning and then we’ll be heading home.  (Is it okay that I’ve missed My Maddie??)

PS - #364 people!!!

362–Girl’s Weekend

Jodi and I are in Branson for the Women of Joy Conference.  Tonight was the first night and it was really good.  I loved the worship!! Charles Billingsley is SO good!
The speaker tonight (Sheri Rose Shepherd) brought me to tears when she said the reason she was there, in ministry, a Christian, is because as a little Jewish girl growing up in a poor family situation, some woman was on her knees praying for the “faceless” girl who would one day be her daughter-in-law.  I am so blessed by the women that God has given to my sons…and I’m thankful that I was mindful to pray for them from the time my boys were just little.  My thoughts wandered to Kayla and Daisy as little girls in pig-tails when I was praying for them so many years ago.  Having them in my life is one of the greatest gifts God has given me as a momma of two boys!

It’s late and we have to get up early… so we’re settling in for the night.  Hope y’all have a great weekend!

361–The Week

It has been such a busy week… with all the weather we’ve had and not being able to drive my car for a few days, things have just been kind of crazy.  Tyler and I talked this morning before work about all the storms and the damage they caused both yesterday and throughout this last week.  It is so sad and I’m praying for those who were impacted.

I wanted to show you this sweet gift I got in the mail this week from my friend, Marlene, at Stitchin by the Lake.  She lives in the same town that my youngest sister (Kristin #11) lives in.  She was also affected this week by the severe weather and I’m so thankful she and her husband are safe.  Thank you, Marlene.  I will be using my sweet bag and will think of you every single time!
I gave Maddie a little “lip gloss” last Sunday morning.  She likes to sit in the bathroom with me and watch me put on makeup before church.  She always asks for makeup for her, so I touch her little cheeks with my blush brush after I’m done and then she gets some lip gloss for her lips.  That always satisfies her.  She decided she wanted to take the lip gloss with her to church and since I have about 10 of them, I let her.  She was a little upset after church when she couldn’t find it.  We finally convinced her that it was probably still in her Sunday School class, so that’s the first thing she looked for last night when we went back.  I got tickled this morning when I got to work and found this sitting on my desk. Haha! She’ll be looking for it again, I’m sure.

I’m so excited about tomorrow.  Jodi and I haven’t had a lot of time together lately, BUT this weekend we’re going to the Women of Joy Conference in Branson together.  It is going to be amazing, I know!!

360–Secretary’s Day 2011

“Thank You!” to whoever worked on our dirt road the last two days! I’ll finally be able to drive my car to work tomorrow.

Ms. Judy came in today bearing gifts.  I thought she was early for my birthday, but as it turns out, it is “Administrative Professionals Day”.  I’ve been a secretary long enough that I still think calling it “Secretaries Day” is just fine. I am SO blessed to be able to work where I work, with the people I work with, and for the best church family in the world!

Late this afternoon, Tyler came in to my office with this sweetie pie! She said to me tonight on the way home from church, “Ms. Jacquie, you got me that Easter dress.”  I said, “Yes, I did.” Then she said, “I think I need another one.” (She must’ve liked it.)  She also informed me that I haven’t bought her a blue dress yet. Haha!
Do y’all realize I am only four posts away from completing “Project 365”?

359–Yet Again

After work, I met JoAnn at the park for some cardio.  We barely finished when our old friends “lightening” and “thunder” showed up again. I think we are finally on the downhill slide of this crazy weather pattern.
There was some good TV on tonight.  Biggest Loser followed by The Voice.  Next week is “makeover week” on BL! I love that episode.

358–Spring Flood 2011

I only have 1/2 mile of dirt road, but even though it’s not far I couldn’t get my car across it to get to work this morning.  It’s washed out in three places on the 1/2 mile stretch. So, Tyler drove me to work this morning.  Looks like he’ll be doing the same tomorrow.
When he came to pick me up after work, we ran to Walmart for a few groceries and just as I came out the weatherman was announcing a tornado warning for our county – specifically our area of the county.  As we drove home, the sky didn’t look too bad, so we drove slowly to see the effects of all the rain. 
We took a few pictures of the ponds that are overflowing into the fields.

And water covering our road.

This is my dirt road…

When we pulled in the driveway, the sky was looking awfully threatening.

And the wind picked up and within a minute or two it was storming. Bad.

It didn’t last long, but I don’t think the ground here can’t take much more.

Things could be much worse.  We’re safe and dry in our home.  Some are not as fortunate.
But I sure am looking forward to some warmer, drier weather soon!

357–Easter 2011

We had a really nice Easter Sunday (even though it’s been pouring most of the day today - again).  Church was amazing this morning and we spent the rest of the day together as a family…

(Tyler’s little “family”. Maddie was being goofy!)

… and then this evening we went to my parent’s house for our usual Easter family get-together. Maddie snarled up her face when we told her that Erik and Sophia weren’t going to be there. She loves to hang out with Erik!
But there were still several kids there to play with (and boss around a little bit).  Haha!

 

(Maddie and my little brother Kevin’s (#10) two youngest – Dom and Alissa.)

We stopped on the way home at Tyler’s friend’s house… his sister had some hand-me-downs for Maddie.  I don’t know who was more excited about going through them – Tyler or Maddie.

They had a little fashion show.  It was so sweet.
PS – I LOVED the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie tonight!! Did you watch it??

356 - Another Girl’s Day

Daisy and I decided to spend this rainy day together at the movies.  We saw “Water for Elephants”.  I think we both agreed that we liked the movie better than the book because it was rated PG-13 and the movie left out the raunchy parts that were in the book (for the most part).  After the movies, we went to get pedicures.  We’ve been trying for almost a month to find a time that we could go and today was FINALLY the day.  It was so relaxing after sitting in the movie theater for a couple hours to get a back massage in those pedi chairs!!
Tonight, as I write this, I’m listening to Miss Moo sing in the bathtub while Tyler and Daisy get a little quality time.
I heard a song on the radio today and it’s been on my mind and heart ever since.  “What can wash away my sins? What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”  I am so thankful for what Jesus did for me on the cross!!

355–God Knows What He’s Doing

God knows what He’s doing. I am simply not meant to have straight hair.

The hair dresser round brushed and straight ironed my hair today – it took a LONG time.  It didn’t look too bad from the side or back, but I absolutely hated the front.  The finished texture is really not natural and anyone could tell that it was “artificially” straightened hair.  I have fought the curl my whole life, but I guess I’ll go with what God gave me.
Have you been seeing the previews for “The Voice” on NBC? We are really looking forward to it. It looks like it could be really good.  And if you love Hallmark Hall of Fame movies – there is one coming on this Sunday night.  I have my DVR set… I LOVE Hallmark movies!!

354–22 Years Ago…

Twenty-two years ago today, I gave birth to my second child… Tyler.  This isn’t news to him, but  when he was born I was a little upset … I had totally convinced myself that he was going to be a girl  (remember, we didn’t get ultrasounds back in those days) and when he wasn’t it upset my apple cart. Everything I had convinced myself of for months wasn’t true and I was going to have two boys instead of a boy and a girl and I wasn’t too happy about that at first.  I actually told the doctor to “put him back” after he told me he was a boy! Terrible, I know.
But, an hour or two after he was born the nurse brought him to me and I spent every minute of the rest of the night holding him and talking to him and naming him (since I didn’t even have a boy’s name picked).  I fell in love that night.  Can you blame me?

I can honestly say that having two BOYS has been the greatest blessing of my life and I wouldn’t change it for the world now.  Hindsight is 20/20.
For T’s birthday, I pulled out the journal I (inefficiently) kept for him.  Here’s one of the entries:
May 23, 1992 (not quite 3 years old)
Tyler,
You know, the first year and a half of your life I thought you didn’t love me because you always clung to your Dad.  But, you have so much love in you, I know that’s not possible for you.  You have more joy and happiness in your little heart, mixed in with a little orneriness and quite a bit of toughness.  It makes a wonderful combination and we absolutely love watching you grow up.  I remember laying on my bed at night looking over the side at a (too large for the bassinette) four-month old Tyler. I couldn’t stand the thought of putting you in your own room. I wanted to look at you, touch you, hear you.  It was one of the most precious times of my life and has been that way every day since, just sharing my life with you.
We have more nicknames for you: Mr. T; T.T. (Terrible Ty); Ty-boo; Monkey; Mookie; Titanic; Tidal Wave; Boo-Bear; Ty Ty; the list goes on.
You are a very loved boy. You have a wonderful personality. I am so blessed to have you! Kale is teaching you so much.  You can do 200 piece puzzles. You can (almost) make your own paper airplanes.  You have a plan for everything you attempt to do. You absolutely LOVE 4-wheelers! You love fun! You’re in the middle of everything that goes!
My heart is so full of love for you. You’re a sweet sweet boy and grow sweeter daily!
Love, Mom
PS. Thanks for the smiles and the tears!
Anyone that knows Tyler will find it funny that when he was 4 years old I wrote “Your facial expressions crack us up daily and your heart grows sweeter with each beat.”
This little story sums up how Tyler looks at life:
One day as we were going down the road, we saw a hitchhiker and Tyler asked, “Why is that guy giving us the ‘thumbs up sign’?” He thought it was the man’s job to be an encouragement to passersby!! Haha!
God gave Tyler a wonderful, warm and fun heart.  The fun part of him was oftentimes a challenge for me as a parent… but I NEVER wanted to break him, only bend him in the way of the Lord.  I am so so thankful for God’s hand in Tyler’s life.  He is so tender-hearted and loving.  He is a man after God’s own heart. And I am so blessed to be his mother. 

* * * * * * *

Izzy gave Tyler a birthday greeting this morning before he left for work…

We spent the evening piled up watching “Sleeping Beauty” with Maddie-Moo (and the Idol results show – can I just say “finally”?).

We grilled pork chops and had mashed potatoes (my favorite!), green beans, and corn on the cob (Maddie’s favorite!).

And then there was Tyler’s favorite dessert – banana pudding.  I think it may be another of Maddie’s favorites!

It’s been a good day for a birthday…
Happy Birthday, Tyler Wilson! We love you!