"The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow"

"Bet your bottom dollar"

Okay, that song has been going through my head as I am struggling today, so I thought I better think positively, though it goes against every grain in my being right now. Really though, it's not that hard. I've got a lot to be thankful for.

• Emily is reading some words!!!!
• Audree is standing for like 10 seconds completely on her own.
• I have the sweetest husband who takes good care of me.
• My mom is the best!! I wish I could describe for everyone what she is doing for us!!!
• My cast is off which means I will be able to sleep a lot more comfortably tonight than I have been!
• I got to eat at Texas Roadhouse tonight, one of my favorite places!!!
• I have to sit, but I get to sit on my new chair and ottoman.
• I get to watch Frasier tonight.
• I have the best family ever!
• I have the best friends ever!
• I have the best job ever!
• The weather is INCREDIBLE!
• I get to go to Dallas with my girlfriends and go SHOPPING in 5 days!! Can I get an Amen girls?! (Thank you Amy for arranging this!!!!)

Okay, so I feel a little better at the moment!

Good News, Gross News, and Bad News

Thank you so much for your prayers. I had my appointment today.

Good news - I got my cast off and am into a boot! :)

Gross News - I can braid my leg hairs! :P

Bad news- I can't walk on it for 6 more weeks! :(

Needless to say, I am pretty bummed today! If you could keep me in your prayers, please. My worse case scenerio was that I couldn't walk for 2 more weeks, so when they told me 6 weeks, I was pretty much in MAJOR SHOCK!

Why do I have a boot but can't walk? I can put a little bit of pressure on the boot using my crutches for a few minutes each day and have to do excersizes that I couldn't do with a cast to build strength, but that is it. There is improvement, just not as far as what I can do physically. It totally stinks!!! I thought that getting into a boot meant walking within a week or 2. Apparently that is not the case!!!! STINK!!!

The Message

To be honest, I'm really struggling tonight. I'm needing to let go of a lot of bitterness toward someone that has really hurt and betrayed me in the worst way! Let me tell you it is HARD! I am so tempted to allow hate to enter into my life, and I am praying everything in my power to steer away from hate. It is evil and will ruin my life! I went to Psalms for empathy and encouragement. Here is one that I am going to hold on to for the next couple of days!
Psalm 16
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=23&chapter=16&version=65

Hurricane Education By My Daddo

Hurricane Education: What I've learned after Hurricane Ike . . .

1. Frozen dinners and pot pies can be cooked on a BBQ grill.
2. No matter how many times you flick the switch, lights don't work without electricity.
3. My truck gets 16.21675 miles per gallon, EXACTLY (you can ask the people in line at the gas station who helped me push it).
4. Cats are even more irritating without power.
5. There are a lot more stars in the sky than most people thought.
6. TV is an addiction and the withdrawal symptoms are painful.
7. There are a lot of dang trees around here.
8. Flood plane drawings on some mortgage documents were seriously wrong..
9. People will get into a line that has already formed without having any idea what the line is for.
10. When required, a car will float, doesn't steer well but floats just the same.
11. 27 of your neighbors are fed from a different transformer than you, and they are quick to point that out!
12. Clothes hampers were not made to contain such a volume.
13. If I had a store that sold only ice, chainsaws, gas and generators... I'd be rich.
14. Price of a can of soup rises 200% in a storm.
15. Mayor Bill White knows a few cuss words. (Ask the FEMA worker in charge of the distribution point that didn't send the supply trucks out on time when the Mayor showed up for an inspection. Bill's gonna have to explain that one to his Sunday School students)
16. Linemen sleep in their trucks (So they can keep their per diem money. With regular and overtime pay that's about $8,000 a paycheck....NET! Sweet.)
17. Your relatives in other places have more fun than you do after a hurricane. Hurricane? What hurricane?
18. Fallen trees and damaged buildings everywhere just don't look weird anymore.
19. Spam is really not that bad!
20. I hate chainsaws!

Real Life Church

I got to teach the Elementary girls tonight. I really loooove teaching!! We had soooo much fun and I love seeing them excited about being at church!!! We started talking about the upcoming Trunk or Treat and Northview Jones weekend, and they couldn't wait to invite their friends!!!! I mean isn't it great being in a church where kids want to bring their friends?!?!?!?! They were naming friends that had a rough time and said that they wanted to bring those friends so that they could have fun and feel better!!!!

Also, it is AMAZING to have so many youth serving and leading our kids. If you want to see a picture of real life kingdom growth, come see our kids learn and the youth of Northview serve!!! You can't miss it!!!! They are being brought up in a culture that is really about living out the Great Commission!!!! The status quo of gossip, rules, religion, and politics in church isn't acceptable at all to them!!!! Church is not a game or social club to them, it is a place where people are brought to Christ and learn to be disciples!!!! Imagine what church will look like in generations to come if kids are brought up expecting real life to occur at church!!!

Politics, Weekends, and Rest

K, who all watched the debate? It was very interesting, not surprising, but interesting. I thought they both got their points across. I have decided who I am voting on based on the pro-life issue, so I, of course, think that McCain won! :) What did you think of the debate?

Now for the important stuff. THE WEEKEND!!! I am longing for some REST this weekend. Not that I haven't been able to get some, but there is just something different mentally when it's the weekend!

Oh yeah, I have my next Dr. appt. on Tues. I need as many of you as can to PRAY that I get the cast off and get into a boot!!!!! I have my hopes up and I am going to be soooooo disappointed if I don't get this green cast off!!!!!!!!!! :)

By Myself

Weird! I have found myself at home by myself tonight. I don't think I like it. I know I should enjoy it, but it's just strange. Maybe I'll put the computer down, lay down on the couch, and relax.

Parent Teacher Conference

Jake and I went to Emily's first parent teacher conference of the year. I love being the parent in a parent teacher conference! I'm so proud of Emmy! She is kind and respectful to her teacher and others!!! She also can identify all upper and lower case letters, give all of her personal information, and is even reading a few words!!! I had fun teaching her sight words and "Frog Jump" capitals tonight! Wow! I can't believe my baby girl is starting to read and write!!!!! It feels like she was just born. I love my girls!

New Pics from DADDO

Comments, Comments, Comments

K, you all are AWESOME!!!! I love getting comments.... Here are my responses to the comments from my last post.....
1. I don't stink, and I shower more than once a week. I think Jake is the one that smells!!!! :)
2. False Assumptions - I never make any. Ha! Ha! Like the one where I assumed that if I slammed the brakes, I could stop. Oops, instead IT BROKE MY ANKLE!!!
3. helmut = pain meds
4. Dad - I think we are more pathetic than you without mom at this point. Emily and Jake were begging for mom to come back!!! We are gonna have to fight over her. :) Actually, we want you to come up here soon!!!
5. I DON'T SMELL FUNNY! Jake just has someone to blame it on, but you guys already know that if you know my husband. :)
6. LOVED Lars and the Real Girl and would recommend everyone watching it!!!

You all are GREAT. Jake - You need to be nice to me. :)

The Last Few Days

Hi All!

K, sorry to disappoint! I have taken a break from the computer, and I know some of you are worried about me. :) I know, I went from posting 3 a day to skipping a few days. Actually, the lack of sleep I had been getting was really getting to me, and I have just been resting up.

A few updates till tomorrow....

• Audree did great with her tubes, she was very mad, but feels good now.
• Emily had her school carnival and took her friend Dax. They are sooooo cute. They both said they "missded each other! "
• Got new furniture!!! I seriously have been waiting 8 years for it!!!
• Am still in my cast trying to not go crazy!!!
• Am about to watch "Lars and the Real Girl" with Jake.

Till tomorrow....

"I Guess I'll Eat a Worm"

Nobody likes me,
Everybody hates me,
I guess I'll eat a worm,
Big ones,
Fat ones,
Little ones,
Skinny ones,
I guess I'll eat a worm!

This is the song that my mom used to sing to me when I was feeling sorry for myself growing up. It usually made me laugh and cheered me up, sometimes it egged me on. :)

As of right now, I've snapped out of my funk! And I'm gonna "just be positive, positive, don't be negative, negative!" Okay, I'll admit that I've lost it, but at least I've lost it and am happy.

Let's see...
Emily's school had a Chuck E. Cheese fundraiser night tonight. Each child got a sticker that promised them 10 free tokens if they took it with them, and Chuck E. Cheese actually made an appearance at the school. Brilliant!!! On a Tues. night, Chuck E. Cheese was full of kids who high fived Chuck E. Cheese in the hallway at school. I actually really had a great time!! I love watching kids, especially my own, get so excited about simple things, in this case pizza and games.

Oh yes, Audree cut her first tooth today!!!!!

Pray for my baby girl as she gets tubes put in her ears tomorrow morning at 8 am. I know it is a fairly simple and common procedure, but my baby is having surgery.

One more thing....thanks for all of the encouragement yesterday and today. It was needed!!!

K, not feeling so great

Okay enough is enough!!! I am not in a look at all of the blessings in life mood! My leg hurts and I can't walk, can't take care of my babies, have a throat infection, dealing with some other stuff that frustrates me!!!! I feel like I am totally worthless right now!!!! Urg!!!! Definitely on the dip in the roller coaster ride today!!!! I have been off my feet for 39 days and have oh probably 27 more to go!!!! Then physical therapy!!!!!!!! I know I need to count my blessings and it could have been worse, but I'm just not in that kind of mood. I know nothing good can come out of self pity, but I sure am in a bout of it right now!!!

Thank goodness for my husband and mom!!! Hopefully I will feel better about life tomorrow, but I'm just not feeling it tonight. Maybe some good old fashion sleep would help. Oh wait! I have a sleepless baby!

K, I will try to change my attitude tomorrow!!!

Ooh Gross Dad! Seriously these are my parents! :P

Hurricane Ike Destruction Slide Show

Abusing God's Word

Okay, my babies are both sick. They are puking, have fevers, and sore throats AKA strep. Oh yeah, Audree has another ear infection, but I've just come accustomed to the fact that she always does. Seriously I've lost count! She is having tubes Thursday! PRAISE THE LORD!!!!! Anyway, all of that to say that I watched church on TV today instead of going! Bummer cause I really love the series and message that our Pastor is giving!!!!!

Anyway, I watched this pastor on tv this morning use and abuse what the Bible said and the worse part is he had an audience. I literally sat and typed what he said because I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I won't give you the whole sermon, but let me highlight and summarize a few things he said.

• It was the whole give to receive in this lifetime sermon.
  
• God blessed him with designer clothes and he has so many people buy him clothes he has the tags hanging off of some.
• He said if you give to God (AKA his ministry) now, you will receive blessings 100 fold
• He said "Some may say that they do not believe that you don't give to receive financial blessings then I have one song for them" "How dumb thou art, How dumb thou art" He literally broke out into song!
  
• If you don't believe the scripture that says "Give and you shall receive" than why bother believing John 3:16 or anything else the Bible says?
  
• If you are going to doubt the Bible wouldn't you rather doubt the bad like hell than verses about receiving blessings?
• These are just some of what he said!!! It was a good 30 minutes worth of this nonsense!
  

Then the time comes to ask us for money. "HOLD YOUR WALLETS TOWARDS THE TV AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE DRAW A PICTURE OF ONE!" Here's what he said about giving to his ministry.

• I'm gonna pray this prayer of blessing and a miracle for 1,000 of you. 1,000 of you to give 1,000 in 90 days.
• I'm gonna pray that 1. you will receive financial blessing 2. you will have a debt free house 3. that God will send someone in your life that has seen that you have given and invest in your life and give to you financially. He elaborated on this point by saying you don't have to have everyone like you just one person that has the resources to invest in your life
• The end times are coming and you want to have a debt free house more now than ever, so be 1 of the 1,000 that will receive that blessing and give today. (A definite fear tactic.)
  
• It may be from a bonus you recieve or if a love one passes away and leaves something in a will.
  

I can go on and on! I can't believe people listen to this and preach this. What an absolute abuse of God's word and intentions for kingdom growth!

Do you think God wants us to love Him and give to Him so that we can use Him to receive financial gain? I don't know about you, but I prefer not to have friends that like me because of what I can give them. I have had them and they suck! Those friends are the most deceitful and hurtful to me to tell you the truth! I have been used by a friend to help them get what they want and I am still bitter that their intentions of our friendship had ulterior motives behind them!

I know that I want people to love me just because. They love me, respect me, do things for me just because..... I also am friends with others because I love them and respect them. I want to do things for them just for the pure intention of bringing them joy and hang out with them just cause I like to. That is my interpretation of the relationship that Christ wants with me. I give because I love him so much and I want the blessings of that to be kingdom growth not financial gain!!!! I am blessed just because God loves me!

Let me tell you how I really feel! :)

Thoughts?

I'm Hanging Out in My Chair with My Green Cast

Really, that has been my life for over a month now! If you talk to me, anytime, email me anytime, there is about a 90% chance when you ask me what I am doing I will say the title of this blog. :)

First of all, I want to say THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR MY FAMILY!!!!! They survived! They do not have power and many trees have come to the end of their lives, but my family is safe and sound!!!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!

Next, I have to admit that I have no life, but I must say "THANK YOU LORD FOR LAPTOPS!!!!!" I do have quite a virtual life right now. :)

Seriously, I'm not bored one bit!!!! Jake set a printer up for me, TV trays all around me, and I've gotten more work done than I ever have!!!

Other things I've been able to do because I literally can't move....

• create this blog
• create another blog about Craig Groeschel's book "It" www.getitandkeepit.blogspot.com check it out :)
  
• keep up with other people's blogs
• make a million more friends on facebook
• learn the new facebook - Dude, I'm really trying to stay positive and keep repeating to myself "change is not bad, I just have to get used to it!" Can I get an AMEN!?!
• planned NVKids' series through the end of Oct. and began into Nov. (if you know me I am usually just trying to keep up week to week)

Okay, you have to make comments, I am literally "hanging out in my chair with my green cast" waiting to see if you leave a comment, please. It's sorta like opening a Christmas present!!!!! It can be random, just like my posts. Pretty please...:)

Top 10 Ways a Hurricane is Like Christmas

Number Ten:
Decorating the house (with plywood).

Number Nine:
Dragging out boxes that haven't been used since last season.

Number Eight:
Last minute shopping in crowded stores.

Number Seven:
Regular TV shows pre-empted for 'Specials'.

Number Six:
Family coming to stay with you.

Number Five:
Family and friends from out of state calling you.

Number Four:
Buying food you don't normally buy . . . and in large quantities.

Number Three:
Days off from work.

Number Two:
Candles.

And the Number One reason Hurricane Season is like Christmas:

At some point you're probably going to have a tree in your house!

By: My Daddo

What were YOU doing on 9/11 ?

Wow! Can you even believe that it is 9/11 ?

I was sitting in my 2nd grade classroom when I learned about the horrific events of the day. It was before the kids got there and all of us teachers were in the library around the TV. It was awful. The bell rang and we had to go back to class and pretend that everything was fine in order to not scare the kids. It was a nauseating day. We had a TV in the lunch room where I remember watching the towers fall. By the end of the day I think I had maybe 8 of my 24 kids left in my classroom. I remember about 3 days of pure mourning with the nation. I, along with Jake, were glued to the TV watching the planes hit and towers fall over and over and over again!

What were YOU doing when you found out? Please make comments!

I've Got People!

I just have to say that I've got people! I mean I've got awesome people surrounding me!!! I've got an awesome family! I've got awesome friends who have my back when times get tough!!! I've got awesome coworkers who actually fall into the friend category!!!!

When I think about having a rich life this is what I think of!!! I am wealthy in life because of "my peeps." SERIOUSLY!!!!! You all know who you are, and you are AWESOME!!!!!!

Ecc 10  If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who
falls and has no one to help him up!

5 - # of times I've used the word AWESOME! :)

Craig Groeschel Signed My Cast

Craig Groeschel Signed My Cast

Okay, so I went to a conference today and the speaker was Life Church's pastor, and author of the book IT, Craig Groeschel. I think he is so AWESOME!!! He is real, genuine, and I truly feel like he is a regular guy being used by God to do INCREDIBLE things!!! It's funny though because I had a small conversation with him about my accident and felt like I just talked to a celebrity! I also saw him signing autographs, so I went up to him and had him sign my cast. I was doing it to be silly, but I really got a little star struck and think it is so cool!!!!

Message for Craig:
If by some chance you ever read my blog, Craig, (you know in your spare time) I just wanted to let you know that your humbleness, passion, and transparency to be used by CHRIST is refreshing and contagious!!!! I can't wait for God to take what He has taught you and apply it to my own life and ministry!!!

"Where does liberty live?"

"Where God Reigns as King"

"Oh, Satan can deceive us into believing so many lies. He can use our human nature against us to turn our thoughts inward and twist our understanding of what we see. But when the glowing light of God's Word is alive in our prayer life, His unchanging love, His total forgiveness, His tender hand, and His big-picture guidance can cut through the distortions and leave us standing in the warmth of true peace and hope."

"Virtually every stronghold involves the worship of some kind of idol. The stronghold of pride....self. ...addiction....some kind of substance or habit. In one way or another, something else has become "god" in our lives, the object of our chief focus."

"Until we turn from our idols to the one true God, we will never find liberty. One missing link in almost every captive life is the Spirit of God's lordship."

-Beth Moore, Praying God's Word

My Foot is Swollen!

Okay, so my foot is soooo swollen and it doesn't have anywhere to go in this cast!!!! That means the incision is completely pressed up against the cast and it HURTS!!!! Boo hoo for me right? JK!! I know, I know it could be a lot worse, but OUCH!!!!!!

Now that I have gotten that out of my system, I better focus on the GOOD!!!!

Can I just say that God has a way of working things out for the BEST!!!! I mean a couple of weeks ago, I felt like my world was totally turned upside down and all at the same time too!!!! I was hurt physically and even more so emotionally!!!! It's incredible how God can take something terrible and then mend it better than it was the way before!!!!! I've had a chance to really spend quality time with my family and husband with this whole not being able to walk thing that I wouldn't change for the world!!! God has turned things around in other areas and is making them better than they ever have been!!!! He is good and if all I have to complain about is a swollen foot, I better enjoy it while it lasts!!! :)

Girl's Night

I went and played Bunco with a whole bunch of girls tonight and it was so much fun!!!! I ended up having the most Buncos and won a gift card for a pedicure or manicure!!!!!! Wahoo!!! Hopefully, I'll type something with a little more meat in it tomorrow!!!!!

Happy Birthday Daddo!

My Daddo's birthday is today! Happy Birthday Daddo!!!

My mom has been up here for basically the last month taking care of me and the girls since I can't really do anything!!!! It has been great for me, but my dad and my sister from Houston, are threatening to break their own limbs in order to get her back. Ha Ha Ha!!! With this nice weather you will never get her back!!!!!!! :)

For my dad's birthday, I sent him mom!!!! She was sent via aircraft at 13:46.

You Go Girl!

Oh my goodness!! Anyone else catch Palin's speech? Whoo! She is a "hockey mom"! I am such a fan and admirer!!!! I would love to see my daughter's give a speech like that some day!!!!! Till tomorrow, it's getting late....

My Green Cast

So.....I went to my doctor today and got into my cast. It is actually way more comfortable than that splint!!! I'm so bummed though because I really wanted a purple cast. Since I had stitches, he said that if it bleeds you cant see it through the purple. My only choices were a dirty looking cream color or green. I picked green. I guess I can deal with it. :)

I did find out that the doctor doesn't think I'll be ready to put weight on it until mid October. OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hello, can we say.....

broken ankle + 4 year old + 8 month old + children's director = FRUSTRATION

Thank goodness for my mom, Jake's mom, Dana and everyone else that has been taking care of me!!!!!!

Bad Dreams and After Nap Funk

Have you ever had one of those bad dreams where you are actually a little upset with the people in your dream? I did. I woke up from one of those afternoon naps that you actually feel worse after. I also woke up mad at a few people! I better keep reminding myself that it was only a dream! I better get out of my funk, so I can enjoy the rest of the day!

Nap Time

I think I need to take a nap. Yes, I said need. I know that Jake and the girls might actually agree with me if they are going off of the "grouch-o-meter." :) Hopefully, I will wake up and be pleasant and happy!!! :)

Labor Day and the Best Daddy!

And here Labor Day begins. It's been great for me. Not being able to walk, makes it truly Labor free for me. I am being waited on hand and foot. Can't complain, or I shouldn't anyways. :)

My poor husband on the otherhand....not so much!!!! I actually feel very sorry for him! He is taking care of me and the girls, and trying to host our company. It is also passed time to mow the grass, so while Audree is sleeping, he is mowing the grass. Definitely laboring.

Okay, so I have to get sappy and off subject now!!! Seriously, I couldn't ask for a better husband for me and daddy to my girls!!!!! He is so sweet and good to me!!! He also is the kind of daddy to my girls who makes time every day to sit down on the floor and play with them. If a day goes by that he can't give them a lot of attention, he makes extra effort the next day to spend time with them!!!! Their eyes light up when he comes home from work!!!!

I can say for sure that my girls growing up will not settle for negative male attention because they get so much positive male attention from their daddy!!!!! They will grow up knowing how they should be treated and what to look for when they are old enough to date and get married. That is my prayer and Jake's prayer of course too. He is actively doing what he can to ensure the best life for our girls and becoming an answer to his own prayer!!!!

I wish everyone a labor-free Labor Day!