Welcome fall!

I am so glad to see October! Fall is a favorite time of year for me-the leaves changing, the cooler weather and of course, pumpkins! I have a strange affinity for those orange orbs. Not sure where that comes from, but they make me smile. I am always on the lookout for that perfect one to display and I like to keep it around until well after the holidays pass.

Grandma's hip seems to be healing up nicely and mom has adjusted to Arkansas life pretty well. She likes to be needed and she is happy being there to help out with grandma. We were talking the other day about how much life has changed for us. It seems like things were pretty consistent there for a long while and then almost overnight our lives have been turned upside down, never to be the same again. I'm sure it's all part of God's plan for keeping us close to Him. If we get too comfortable, we tend to think we don't need Him as much. But life simply cannot stay the same, if we are to go with God. We can either embrace the changes and figure out how to be happy or reject them and be miserable.

I am working on my daily walk with Him. I want to be ready to respond when He speaks to me. I don't want to be so busy with the things of this life, that I cannot hear what God wants me to do. Along with the change of seasons comes the commitments of life with children. School projects, sports practice, meal preparation, bed time routine, hand-washing...it amazes me how a day flies by. The coming of fall reminds me that a new year is right around the corner. I certainly hope that 2010 has more happiness than 2009. Dad had a song on his mind the last few months of his life. I remember him asking me if I had heard it and he later talked to his friend George about it. I don't know all the words, but the most important line is "Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand. But one thing about tomorrow is that I know who holds my hand."

Today I'm happy with the changes I see on the horizon and I'm at peace with the changes of the past. I think I'll put on a sweatshirt and smile at pumpkins.

Little Chunky

The Knight is back from his out-of-town business trip so life has been a bit more normal this evening. I did my typical fall into his arms and thank him for coming home routine this afternoon, but I meant it even more than usual. It has been so crazy around here this week with doctors appointments, school bus hysteria, rain, not being in the mood to cook, missing my dad, missing my knight....I don't know how to describe it, but it has been a strange week. The girls are out of school tomorrow so I hope we can do something fun. Right now I'm ready to fall into bed. I forgot tot tell you this-The little man came up behind me, patted me on the bottom and said "Move out da way 'little chunky'!" Nice, huh?

God is at work all around us

This summer Allison would often say "I hope ___ is not in my class again this year." Much to her chagrin he was and the worst thing about it for her is that she sits right next to him. I asked her tonight at supper why she thinks it worked out that way. "Well Mom I'm sure it's because God wants me to try to HELP him."
You know if we take time to think about the fact that God is at work all around us, we will see each day with a new perspective. I know I am. Think about that today

Experiencing God

I am looking forward to getting started on my new Bible study-Experiencing God. Today's lesson alone has really spoken to me. "As you follow Jesus one day at a time, He will keep you in the center of his will." I love that. Often when I pray I will ask God to keep me smack dab in the center of His will, but the most important thing I must do is to follow Him day by day. He's not going to lay out a big year-at-a-glance calendar for us to follow Him by, it has to be a day- by-day desire to walk with Him.

Prayer requests---My neighbor found out yesterday that she has breast cancer. It seems like I am hearing more and more women who are being diagnosed. It looks like she may have to have chemotherapy AND radiation. I hope that I can be an encouragement to her and her family in some way. My sister-in-law is doing well so thank you for praying for her. My grandma is not making progress in the rehab center as we had hoped. She is not able to walk, so maybe today's xray will diagnose the problem. She only has a little over a week left there so she must make great strides so she can go home. A friend of mine that I used to work with has requested prayer for her sister and her family. She has battled breast cancer for over a year and has decided to stop treatment. But God can still heal her. Just pray that He will give them peace. Kyndal, the Chapman's oldest daughter has a problem with her hip. Hopefully the shot they gave her while she was here will prevent her from having surgery. Please pray for that sweet girl and always for her family. My friend Julia has been having a lot of trouble that hasn't been diagnosed. Pray that her tests go well tomorrow and that she will get some news that can help her get her on the road to recovery. Remember my friend Magdalene who has had trouble with her blood pressure. She is too stubborn to go have it checked out and I am worried about her. Zoey is going through a little period of insecurity. Mr. Phillips broke his hip and lots of people are sick, Eve's dog is missing and Marty has a toothache. I hope you will take a moment to pray for these and feel free to let me know about what's on your heart. You know God is able. Love you all.......

Man alive, she's 65!

Happy birthday to the best mother-in-law anyone could ever ask for. (Thank you Aunt Sue for reading this to her over the phone!) You did a fantastic job raising the man I love! Your grandchildren adore you and can't wait for your visits. And you have a daughter-in-law that knows she is darn lucky to have you.
We love you!!!!
PS-If you bring me any more Fall decorations I'm taking them directly to Goodwill!

Can we go now?

The Little Man decided that he would take Puff the Magic Dragon and its accompanying musical CD to school today. He was beside himself with excitement as Puff has been a favorite library book and then recently received his own copy from my Aunt Gussie. So at 8:15 he layed on the bath mat outside the shower with his book on his chest and his feet on the wall ."Can we go now?" he asked.


"It's too early. Mrs. Libby is not even at school yet. Mommy still has to get dressed." I said. So LM flopped down on the step stool with Puff on his head. "Why don't you go get dressed too." I suggested. He is gone for 2 minutes.

"Can we go now?" LM asks coming around the corner with Puff under his arm and his shirt now put on, but backwards.


"Soon, Mommy has to do her hair. Go put on your pants and get some socks and bring me your shoes and I'll help you get them on." I said as I started to dry my hair.

LM comes back in 2 minutes wearing jeans properly and carrying Puff like a tray with socks and shoes on top and delivers it to my vanity, steps back onto the stool beside me and moans. "Can we go NOW?"

"Mommy has to put on make-up. Put down my make-up brush,"I say. "Boys don't wear make-up."


"Alex wear make-up?" He inquires from atop his perch. "Nope." I say while he lightly brushes his face with Clinique's all over bronzing powder.
"Jake-up wear make-up?" He wondered with a rhyme, moving on to the Victoria Secret lip gloss.
"Nope. Just mommies." I say as I line my eyes with khaki and he coats his lips with coconut.


"Can we go now?" He sighs, stepping down from the stool and balancing the book/tray.


"Not yet. Mommy is still putting on her make-up." I said leaning into the mirror and curling my eyelashes.


Exasperated, he throws Puff down along with his socks and shoes, slams my make-up drawer closed and says through gritted teeth,"JUST BE A BOY MAMA AND LET'S GO!"

So much to catch up on...

The first thing I want to tell you is that my sister-in-law Suzy found out she had breast cancer a few weeks ago and had a mastectomy on the 31st. I have been wanting to ask you to pray for her and many of you have, so I thank you. Hers was found on her routine mammogram (you better stay up with yours girlfriends!!) and it turned out to be DCIS-ductal carcinoma in-situ just like mine. She has a very good prognosis so hopefully the surgery will be all she needs. I am just in shock that cancer has hit our family again in such a short time frame. She is a fabulous SIL-she must be special if she is married to my brother- and I hate that this has happenend to her, but she is so strong and I know she will be fine. But keep her in your prayers please.

We just returned from a Labor Day trip to see my family in Arkansas and after a series of mishaps-missed our connecting flight and got stuck in Atlanta Airport for 3 hours with three children, got lost, boat ran out of gas- and then the worst thing immaginable happened-my grandmother fell and broke her hip. Surgery yesterday went well and she will hopefully be in rehab before the week's end. My mom was planning to return home this week, but she will now stay on to be with Grandma, which she is happy to do.
Have I mentioned that my mom is the most patient person I know AND the most positive? She really is and the more time I spend around other people the more I realize this fact. She is THE BEST. When I think about this year from her perspective I see that her husband was diagnosed with cancer and passed away one month later, her daughter had cancer and surgery, her daughter-in-law had cancer and surgery and now her mom has a broken hip. Yet, when I talk to her she focuses on the GOOD stuff. Today it was-"Mama had a good night's rest and isn't in pain. I slept good on the hospital couch and had a nice shower." Can you believe her? Most people would be like "I can't believe I have to stay in this hospital and my back hurts and I want to go home and why is this happenening to me and this is not what I had planned..... " Geez, I want to be just like her.
So, this is a quick update of whats going on with us. September is tuning up to be quite busy. Hope all is well with all of you!!!