Once Upon A Miracle

The Wisdom of Age, by Mr. Daddy

2012-02-17T19:30:00.001-08:00

I remember as a tyke wanting to be wise.

and reading that wisdom comes with age and understanding. I was continually trying to rush into the future, and pushing myself to understand things. Only to realize, some things cannot be rushed and there are some pretty confusing things in life.

I would like to take the time to capture a few thoughts, and things I have realized as I have matured.... :)

Wisdom isn't always the high and lofty advice of disciplined and educated men, the likes of King Solomon, Buddah, Mahatma Gandhi, or Einstein. It goes without saying, that these men will add great value to our own lives if we only take the time to consider the wisdom of their observations....just saying..

But!!

Life experiences can also bring wisdom. Consider this: as a youngster I was all about the right tool for the job. Can you even begin to imagine the size of my toolbox? And yes I would stress about this and obsess, about which new shiny tool I would need, and what my next job would entail...

With age I have realized the there are only two things needed in my tool box... WD40 and duct tap. The WD40 is for the things that are tight and won't loosen, and the duct tape is for the things that are loose and won't tighten... "O" and a hammer, because if it can't be fixed with a hammer, it's an electrical problem.

(Rach in: I am totally laughing my elbutt off)

(Mr. Daddy in: SCORE!)

Consider this on marital harmony, I have decided that it is pointless to argue on the etiquette and proper position of the toilet seat. I let Rach win on this one and just pee in the sink... *snort* And yes I hear the collective gasp in bloggy land, but consider this ladies, has your beloved given up arguing about this little issue in your own homes??? Think on it to your mental peril... ~chuckling snidely here girls~ perhaps your own Dear Husband is gaining in wisdom....And if you ever come visit our little corner of paradise, maybe you should wash up in the kitchen sink.... ROFL (just kidding ladies... *maybe*) *snort*

(Rach in: No way. Just NO WAY. Now THAT would explain why your mother always bleached her sinks.)

(Mr. Daddy in: Mom bleached everything.)

A thought for the kitchen: To avoid cutting yourself, have someone else hold the vegetables. It is simply AAHH-mazing how effectively this has worked for me. Although I have had to take a few minutes out of my busy schedule to make a run to the ER for other members of the household... :)

(Rach in: And this with an already accident prone wife…)

(Mr. Daddy: You’re welcome Dear)

And Dear, there is a logical and perfectly sound explanation to the picture that you tried to shame me with on your last post. If you put the roaster pot in that way you get a moister cut of meat from one end and a drier cut from the other, thus saving time and effort for your distinguished guests... (who for some reason have started insisting on using the kitchen sink to wash up in???)

(Rach in: Oh Lordy… I’m actually more bothered by the fact that you cut your meat with your pocketknife…)

(Mr. Daddy in: Whaaat? It’s a TOOL, dear.)

For the medicine cabinet, If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives. Then you'll be afraid to cough. Now before you all go getting in an uproar, I know it sounds like crappy advice, butt if you will put yourself out there to try it, I am quite certain you will agree to the effectiveness of said method.

P.S. please don't choose to visit our corner of paradise while undergoing this treatment!! just saying....

Also For high blood pressure sufferers ~ simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure on your veins. It is important to remember to use a timer if you decide to try this method of treatment.

If you have trouble springing from your bed, all bright eyed and bushy tailed, and your snooze button is your nemesis... just put a mousetrap on the top of your alarm clock...You will be AAAHHhhhmazed at how quickly you will spring from your bed ready to talk to God and start your day....

Thanks for letting me share a few of my little insights, and consider the words of ~Piet Hein~
"The road to wisdom? Well, it's plain and simple: Err and err and err again. But less and less and less."

And also the sage wisdom of Red, Green: "If the women don't find you handsome, let them at least find you handy."

You all take care out there.

(Rach in: And no peein’ in the sink)

(Mr. Daddy: In the name of marital bliss… I’ll pee anywhere I need)

Letters of Intent - I promised you a winner, didn’t I?

2012-02-16T22:38:00.001-08:00

First some fun with King Julien… because everyone’s got a letter to write, right?

Dear Ms. Kindergarten Teacher:

I don’t know how you do it.

This deaf chick came to the V-Day party and had her lipreading skills sorely tested by the crazy combination you deal with every day.

Jadyn – Javyn

Ethan – Eastin

Ella – Emma

Rilee – Ryker

Love,

The mom who finally figured out Lyric is a boy and Jackie is a girl

Dear Mr. Daddy,

Really?

You didn’t notice anything was amiss when you put the pot roast in?

Something tells me this might have been part of the creation of the lovely carmelized sauce on the bottom of the oven…

Love,

The woman who loves that you cook

Dear Papa,

It really drives me nuts that you won’t let me post pictures of you on my blog. Cuz then I have to get creative.

That whole parent vs. grandparent thing?

I thought it absolutely charming that you demonstrated one of your signature impressive belches at the dinner table tonight. Then after Itty Bit asked why your burps always sounded like that (“bow”), he was swiftly instructed that he was to come up with his OWN special belch.

It will take months to undo the training he received at dinner tonight, practicing animal sounds and words via gastrointestinal emissions.

Somehow I can’t remember you ever helping me with my burps???

Love,

I can still burp longer than you

Dear readers,

Y’all rock. We loved, loved, loved the entries to this giveaway! And for stories behind this mini criminal’s mugshot? I was shocked at how many of his REAL stories y’all remembered.

By far, the one thing most of you figured was worthy of felony history, was his little escapade of CUTTING MOMMY’S HAIR. (I winced just typing that).

We had a blast laughing through the entries – thank you so much!

A real highlight of this silly contest was guilting poor PamD back into blogging action ;) She did not disappoint… she captured the entire expose from Itty Bit’s nefarious black market elbutt dealings, to Mr. Ed’s relative, and even squeezed a Mr. Braddy reference in there.

It’s well worth the click… here it is.

It sent Mr. Daddy into a coughing fit, so I think we have a winner! Congrats PamD! Can’t wait to see what you choose from the talented Katie Lloyd! (A huge thank you to Katie for her generosity!)

And from the follower comments; I totally did not do this the proper OCD way. I plugged in the total of all comments and hoped it would land on a follower one. Forgive me? (If I could even talk about the suckage of this past week, you would immediately order me to eat all of the prize chocolate).

…the bonus “My Favorite Things” prize goes to:

Oh no way… it’s LITTLE JO!

If you can’t quite place Little Jo… she’s my photobombing niece below:

(and yes, that’s Ju and little May-May and Itty Bit… I miss that itty-bit-ness!)

And the little karate skills vs. furniture episode might be kinda sorta inspired by this:

Thanks for playing along! Congrats to PamD and Little Jo!

Mugshot Madness Finale

2012-02-15T22:36:00.001-08:00

ENDS TONIGHT!

Prizes include:

Get your last entries in here. Two winners, unlimited entries.

Confession: I can’t stay up until midnight to post winners. I am insanely exhausted. The “situation I can’t talk about” has beaten me up this week. Badly.

Always look on the bright side though, right? Five pounds down in three days has got to be a record for this chick.

So much I wish I could say. So much I wish I could write about how kindness in children needs to be nurtured because grown up bullies are incredibly destructive.

It makes me appreciate – all the more – the incredible kindness and humor within the safety of these four cushy blog walls.

(That was a Thank You, in case you didn’t know :)

So I’m repeating what Mom used to say to me…

Stay blameless.

Gosh I miss her.

We’ll come back with the winners and have some fun with all those comments. We are loving those funny mugshot stories!

Giveaway here.

Mugshot Madness #3

2012-02-13T05:54:00.001-08:00

So really, this is just about photobombing.

Because I really love me a good photobomb.

Ever upload a bunch of pictures, hit delete, then think,

“waitaminute… what was that?”

Yeah… I kept the first one, deleted the second… then UNDELETED it after I took a closer look.

Am I mean for laughing?

(in an oh poor baby kind of way)

Seriously, have you ever seen a sadder pilot?

And speaking of photos… we only have 28 entries in the awesome Katie Lloyd Photography giveaway.

I usually purchase all the giveaway prizes, but Katie was generous enough to offer an 8x10 print from her shop – so I would really love to knock this giveaway out of the park for her.

You don’t have to be a follower… unlimited entries for coming up with a story behind our son’s mugshot!

It couldn’t be easier… just being a follower gets you an entry into the bonus prize round if you leave a comment. Bonus round?

$20 giftcard to your choice of Target or Starbucks:

Some decadent chocolate deliciousness:

And some Bath & Body Works yumminess:

Plus some stuff to make your house smell good too:

Let’s extend the giveaway another couple days to show Katie Lloyd some love. Wednesday night sound good? I’m slowly catching up on your blogs and can’t wait to see what you’ve been up to!

(Hopefully an update post from Mr. Daddy soon… wish life could be ALL as fun as giveaways and blog buddies!)

Mugshot Madness #2

2012-02-11T21:27:00.001-08:00

Seriously you guys… there’s only 24 entries in the giveaway.

(My son has burped at least 24 times today, just to put that in perspective for y’all).

But if you’re still on the fence about it, let me assure you that if you like either of these, you’re in luck for the bonus prize:

Who can resist that dangerous Dollar Aisle or some caffeine?

(are y’all tired of this picture yet? Because it still makes me laugh my elbutt off)

So it wasn’t just Itty Bit that deserved a mugshot…

The Mister also earned one of his own.

His crime? Just check out the Facebook deets:

Yes, you read that right.

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN comments.

That tells me y’all thought it was quite felonious.

(I don’t even want to tell you how crazy that Facebook conversation got… I am just continually in awe of how randomly funny people are)

“But I’ll wash ‘em. They’ll be fine.”

Seriously… this stuff? With my pretty girlie scissors?

See that yumminess dripping off? That does something to the chemical composition of metal. Something that makes them completely unworthy of contact with pretty fabric ever again.

(Moment of silence for the shears now relegated to utility tasks)

A hunting buddy jumped in… you rednecks always stick together!

Methinks the redneck owes Momma a cute new pair?

(go ahead honey… the picture links to the website to purchase them ;)

And that redneck?

Thoroughly unrepentant.

Now hop on over and add your entry! One for being an awesome follower, another for blogging or tweeting about it, and UNLIMITED for exposing the crazy stories behind Itty Bit’s mugshot! Until Monday night, enter here!

Mugshot Madness #1

2012-02-10T01:20:00.001-08:00

In the I’m Not Even Kidding category… which often accompanies the Shopping with Kids category…

Getting groceries at Kroger.

Wincing as I realize I have 25 items in the 12 item lane.

Itty Bit playing with the debit card swipe thingie.

I glance behind us and mentally brace myself for the trainwreck that is about to happen.

Itty Bit peeking around me.

(holding breath… shooting warning flares out of my eyes)

Momma?

No honey. No.

Momma?

No honey, not right now.

But MOMMA!

Honey, later. Not now.

MOMMMMMMYYYYYY

Honey, wait a minute. Don’t talk.

So my obedient son did just that.

Instead of talking… he looked around me again and began signing.

Except… that some signs are just patently obvious.

Like when your 5-year old points behind you, then circles his finger upward around the top of his head like he’s a Dairy Queen dipped cone.

I couldn’t bring myself to look at the man behind us. I was mort-i-fied.

(frantically grabbing his hands)

Honey no! Later!

But Mommy!

Later!

He lasted all of two steps away.

Then he turned on his loudspeaker voice and made a grand announcement.

But Mommy! He looks like a Wise Man!

So that’s my story behind the mugshot. At least for today!

Got an idea of what other trouble he’s been up to? Head on over to the giveaway post and leave your tales for unlimited chances to win!

I’m already LMEO (laughing my elbutt off) at the comments there… and take a look at what our very own PamD put together! By golly, I think she busted the criminal of the century!

(I have no idea where that “by golly” came from… apologies).

Linking up with Proud Mommy Moments… what are yours?

The Passport Giveaway

2012-02-08T00:19:00.001-08:00

I promised some fun.

I just didn’t tell you that YOU were going to provide it!

I can never do a straight ol’ giveaway. Always has to be some goofy rule or general silliness (anyone remember the Stupid Human Trick giveaway?)

But isn’t that kind of sort of why you keep coming back?

(please say yes)

Let me start with a story here.

See, certain kiddo needed to have a passport photo taken.

But even before that, I had to fill out a form detailing everything down to whether he had a relative that settled the original 13 colonies (yes), and whether he liked asparagus (heck to the no).

As I reached question #4,297, I looked at Mr. Daddy blankly.

Height? Honey, do you know how tall he is?

Nope.

Oh shoot. It’s 11 o’clock. He’s sound asleep.

Right. Sound asleep.

So the two brilliant people that we are… we took a dadgum measuring tape, one grabbed his head and the other pulled his legs straight. And by golly we measured that sleeping Pilgrim by the light of a cell phone.

How tall honey?

47 and 5/8 inches.

Let’s just call it 48, k?

Sure.

Ohmygosh… he’s as tall as I was when I entered high school.

HA HA HA HA HA HA

(stinkeye) That’s not funny.

Stick with me… there’s a giveaway in here somewhere.

Then it was time for the actual photo.

And of course, the day I pick him up from school for it… he’s drawn on his face with marker.

(If you are laughing right now… your day will come. Your day will come.)

Green dots on one side, dark fuschia on the other. Thanks for that, kiddo.

I brought my ~~Easter egg~~ kid to Rite Aid for the fancy pictures where he promptly announced over the loudspeaker that he had to GO POOP.

(score 1,843 for the kid who is determined to check out every public restroom)

I escorted the little guy to the other end of the store where he spent the next five long minutes loudly praying “Jesus, please help me pooooop”.

I ignored the guy laughing in the pharmacy.

Really… there’s a giveaway… hang on…

After propping him up against the backdrop, the photographer said, “don’t smile”.

(Because really… the customs agents won’t recognize you if you smile)

And this, my friends… is what he got:

I could not.stop.laughing.

The guy actually gave it to me for free because he was laughing so hard.

(See the lone fuschia spot on his cheek?)

The comments were pretty much spot on:

Here’s where you come in…

We’re overdue for a giveaway and Katie Lloyd from Scripture and a Snapshot fame offered one of her beautiful prints.

I’ve had her work on my big photo wall for months – it adds just the right amount of color and retro funk.

This one has been on my favorites list for awhile…

This is so timely for us right now:

Adore the detail and processing!

Makes me smile… I can’t help it:

But the bottom blue one kind of sort of might have gotten PayPal’d to my address for a certain polka-dotted kiddo.

She has loads more prints. And has just opened a brand new shop “Anthology on Main”!

Fine. I also stole this from there:

Right now she’s offering a 20% discount for her prints… go here and enter 20VALENTINE for your sale!

You know there’s a twist…

The twist? Enter AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT with this:

Tell me the story behind that picture. What on earth did this kid do that he’s earned a mugshot for? Come on… did he say “shoot the butt”?

And if you don’t feel like writing a bit of funny fiction, there’s these:

The usual: blog about it for another entry – and leave a separate comment with the blog post link.

The usual: tweet it for another entry – leave the link to the tweet in a separate comment.

and the Almost Usual: if you’re a follower, leave a comment.

Because two prizes will be awarded: one for the mugshot story and another for simply being a follower. (Because we looove our followers!)

Main prize is an 8x10 from Katie Lloyd’s shop (!!!), and the bonus prize is a collection of my favorite things (which may or may not have a lot of chocolate in it… depends on how hungry I get before the post office.)

We pick a winner Monday night, so start writing those rapsheets! What on earth did this kid do?

**The Fine Print: Photography prize is generously sponsored by KatieLloydPhoto. My Favorite Things prize sponsored by yours truly. Juvenile Delinquent homemade by Rachel and Mr. Daddy.

So we left off with the elbutts…

2012-02-01T23:15:00.001-08:00

I cannot resist.

I warned you about this ridiculous curse of messing with song lyrics…

I like elbutts and I cannot lie

You other bloggers can’t deny

When a nurse walks in with little dinner plate

and a shocked look on her face…

I apologize. But that really did happen.

And an apology to Brandi. See, I thought this was her little boy’s elbutt.

When in fact, it was her.

Skinny little thing… I’m not sure we can be friends anymore.

Though I am still wetting my pants with her “LMEO”… I am annoying everyone by saying, “laughing my elbutt off” constantly. They think I’m weird. You internet pals are the only ones who get me :)

So we were last in the waiting room… being distracted by parade of cheekiness that was blowing up my phone.

After 4 hours, finally…

He's out. He did good and is in recovery. With the nutso snow... we may not get a room for awhile (less staff here). Logging off for a bit while I wait another hour to see how he wakes up. Please pray for a quick and easy wakeup and fast healing!
Oh... and his surgeon isn't big on hugs. Ask me how I know.

I have a hard time putting it to words – feeling helpless when I finally found him laying in pain.

They’d had trouble with the breathing tube and he was pretty banged up. Each time they asked him to rate his pain, he’d hold up two fingers (seriously macho dude? TWO?) then slowly fingerspell to me.

h-u-r-t

He couldn’t even speak. This wasn’t a TWO.

I pulled rank and asked for painkillers.

Morphine went in.

h-u-r-t

A second round of morphine.

h-u-r-t

H-U-R-T

I ached every time I saw his fingers sign it.

Apparently the man is one of the 7% of the population that morphine does not work on.

Morphine abandoned, the next medicine finally gave him sleep.

~

I could finally breathe. And knew we were just surrounded with prayer. I watched that stained glass window glow brighter and brighter through the evening until I finally nodded off in the wee hours.

As we slept, that snow gained a sparkly layer of ice. I began to worry about our return trip home.

When he finally felt well enough for a meal… they committed an unpardonable offense.

But how could I not laugh at GunDiva?

You can NOT give a redneck a veggie burger? Is this the surgeon's payback for the hug?

We realized quickly that we were going to be snowed in. You know it’s bad when you’re on the top of an icy hill and kids are SKIING down it. And when the news keeps showing your entire county without power. And your family sends you pictures of your newly renovated property.

As in:

Reports of trees down on our property. Praying they don't hit the fenceline & free the horses. Next door trees on house & truck. Tree just fell on power lines right in front of our house :(

Umm yeah… that line across the middle of the picture. Not supposed to be there. It was uber freaky having three power lines down at the house.

A niece’s car was moved to the other side of our property right before a tree fell where it had been 20 minutes earlier.

And the fenceline? Wrecked.

But hey… on the bright side, the flooding covered it and my prissy horse won’t make a break for it through the water.

Then we got a call.

Mr. Daddy’s father was in the ER, being admitted for emergency surgery.

Seriously Lord? One more thing???

Then they told us to stay at the hospital one more day.

Stranded.

And if this all seems neverending, it’s because it really and truly felt that way the whole week.

We were finally released on Friday… some of the nursing staff had been snowed in and bunking in patient rooms since Tuesday. When we left to check out, there was only one other patient there.

While they searched for a doctor to clear Mr. Daddy, we were suddenly yanked back from the finish line:

Really?!?!?!! Fire alarm at hospital forced us all to evacuate out into snow. They couldn't get him down in wheelchair so he had to go down 3 flights of stairs. No coat & hurting. Then back up 3 flights.

I was DONE by that point. Walking down those flights holding his elbow, then out into the snow… I wanted to cry. I missed my kid, we needed to get back to my father-in-law, we needed to be HOME.

When we finally posted bail, I braved the scary hill. Then the freeway with chunks of snow flying off other vehicles at us. Ten minutes into the drive, a soft chuckle…

“You’re gonna wear the skin off my hand if you keep that up”.

“Oh sorry”, as I released my deathgrip.

Even gas pumps were without power. We found one lit up and waited 30 minutes for the privilege of filling up.

Cars abandoned along the road. Traffic lights dark. Complete carnage.

The trees – I still want to cry – just sheared. On a scale I never imagined. The snow completely covered with green boughs and broken trunks.

My mom told us they lost power too – they lit a fire to keep Itty Bit warm. I’ve never been away from my kiddo three days.

She didn’t tell me until later that they couldn’t even leave the house… snowed in the driveway and a tree across the road. Then this:

What you don’t see… is that only the right side of the tree had broken at first. After the dust had cleared, my mom and Itty Bit were out sawing it into smaller pieces.

When they heard it begin to crack again.

Not knowing where it would fall, my mother threw herself on Itty Bit (and I’m sure she prayed).

My heart stopped as she told me…

In the aftermath, the tree split into six pieces, and the last came crashing down onto the barn my grandfather had help build before he died.

(Mom, I love you… thank you for protecting our son).

We bundled up Itty Bit and finally arrived home five hours after leaving the hospital.

Our beloved Cutie Left and Cindy Lou Hoo were also without power and no source of heat. We asked them to camp out by our woodstove.

(no pictures of that night, but aren’t they ridiculously cute?)

Except that poor Cindy Lou Hoo was sick. Fever, cough, and ultimately throwing up.

No running water + throw up = lots and lots of paper towels and cuddles.

The next night? Rinse, lather, and repeat. Without power still.

Husband recovering from surgery (defying orders and carrying in firewood), lipreading by Coleman lanterns, sick girlie, stir-crazy boys, and father-in-law in hospital.

Five days later… power was restored. And I praised the Lord for hot showers and kids not asking, “which one is the poop toilet again?”

Then this:

Is it crazy to think that LA laughed at us for calling this “Snowmageddon”?

I feel like a survivor and I should have a t-shirt to prove it.

Thank you to those of you who joined the “Two Elbutts for Mr. Daddy” campaign. For those of you who joined in fasting and who sent messages, cards, cookies (Beth) and even CHOCOLATE! (My big fat elbutt thanks you, Tiffany!)

You deserve a t-shirt for making it through this post…

I promise we have some fun coming up. Stay tuned for a bit of competition!

Part One: Snow, Surgery, and Support

2012-01-29T23:13:00.001-08:00

I know.

I have a massive amount of catching up to do.

But OHMYLORD the hits just kept on coming.

SNOW:

We got an insane 14” of snow overnight. So we drove to a hotel near the hospital to avoid the icy roads in the morning. Wait ‘til you hear what that snow did. What that ice did. Bad snow. Bad ice.

SURGERY:

Obviously before surgery.

(And obviously I’ll be spending the night on the couch for posting this)

The dude was brave.

I pretended I was.

Until he handed me his wedding ring and my chest felt tight and my stomach started flip-flopping and I felt like I was at the top of a high dive platform and someone took away the ladder.

The nurse was kind. Realizing I wouldn’t hear if they called my name in the waiting room; she wrote, “Wife is deaf. Has black hair”.

The mile between the anesthesia hallway and the waiting room was where I nearly lost it. But I knew I couldn’t. Not because anyone was around, but because no one was around.

The snowy roads meant that no one else could make the drive to the hospital to wait with me. I walked to the edge of panic and didn’t want to jump unless someone was there to catch me.

Ironically, in the middle of my entire family being snowed in and being unable to simply call someone up to talk for several hours… it was YOU who was there in that waiting room with me.

SUPPORT:

It started with a few text messages. Linny had coordinated a day of fasting and prayer for that husband of mine. Each buzzing of my phone reminded me that people (YOU!) all around the world were praying for him and us. Amazing. Humbling.

I was so thankful for the prayers that you took the time to tell me you were praying. For the words of encouragement, for the perfect Bible verses for that moment.

And then…

My facebook blew up.

It started innocently enough the previous week at Mr. Daddy’s last-minute biopsies. I’d posted a picture of Mr. Daddy’s lovely medical bracelet and my sister asked to ensure that I also posted a photo of his lovely hospital garb from behind.

Stay with me… it’s gonna get hairy.

Oh come on now… it looks pretty darn real don’t it?!?!

The man was totally cracking up as he told me to post it.

And just so y’all truly believe me when I tell you that this is an ELBUTT (or as Brandi says, “guns, not buns”), here’s the SOOC shot:

A little creative cropping and you’ve got yourself one genyouine certeefied redneck derrière.

Fast forwarding to surgery day… the one-and-only GunDiva outdid herself:

She remarked that when someone was praying, the clasped hands create two elbutts (Lord, I apologize, but that’s funny right there).

Her Two Elbutts for Mr. Daddy touched off the most amazing perfect campaign of prayers to speed up this man’s recovery.

See for yourself… but beware of someone coming around your computer and having to explain the images

from Beth:

from Shana:

from Tiffany:

from Tiffany’s Ty the Super Dog:

from Mrs. Mom:

from Mister Mrs. Mom:

from Mrs. Mom’s Lutin:

from Brandi’s little one:

from Brandi’s wedgified little guy:

from PamD:

from Cari Berry’s little girl:

from Mrs. Mann:

from Pam Bowers:

from my sister Ju:

from my Ju’s Little Jo:

(shame on my sis for refusing to blog and be linkable ;)

from Angel’s family:

And then I realized that I would have to withhold these from Mr. Daddy until he could safely laugh without tearing out his stitches. This realization came with Angel’s son’s submission of his “gutbutt”:

It got crazier and crazier… here’s Brian’s:

(I loved Julie telling him he should get that checked)

from Brian’s wife Julie, also in the hospital:

I was cracking up over how many of you started out saying, “I would NEVER do this for anyone but you…” (seriously, how could you not be touched that someone would do that for you?) And how many of you actually sported ink (love the “kiss me”). And it was ridiculously funny seeing so many people say, “OHMYGOSH, mine looks REAL!”

Didn’t I warn you to watch for people seeing this on your monitor?

Our sweet 70 pound fun-size nurse walked in while the laptop was facing her and I was oblivious to what was on the screen. Go ahead and blow up the above photo and you can understand the awkward expression on her face as she probably tried to figure out why on earth someone had an IV on their rear end. And better yet, why I had a giant picture of it on my computer.

*sigh*

But I couldn’t help but giggle every time a new picture popped up. They probably thought I was the crazy lady laughing to herself in the waiting room.

The crazy lady with BROWN hair, apparently.

Because they walked around looking for me and never once pegged me as a raven-haired deaf chick. (A little toldyouso to my husband).

Stick with us… the ride got crazier. Much crazier. So thankful for your support. Even in the form of some much needed laughs.

Oh! And after the adventure of escaping the hospital… my Dad sent me an extra special bloggable gift.

Oh Lord…

You just never know

2012-01-26T20:46:00.000-08:00

You just never know when that smile you just suppressed, would have brightened someones day, that really could have used the encouragement.

You just never know when that name popped into your head, you should have made the call to talk to them.

You just never know when the comment that you were going to write, would have made an impact. or bestowed a blessing.

You just never know, when that a kind word or smile to a stranger, (or friend) will be that MOMENT! that will make a difference.

YOU JUST NEVER KNOW!!!

Life is made up of moments, the past is just that.....PAST!!!! The future???? Well, it is just that, waiting to happen. (but no guarantees).

What you have is Right Here, Right NOW!!!

So spend those smiles, make those phones calls, comment till your fingers fall off!!!!!! :)

You just never know, that you can make a difference, until you do it.

BE the cause of a defining moment in some ones life...

The words of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross are so true:

"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within."

So let the light of love that resides within you, light up the true beauty that is you....

YOU JUST NEVER KNOW....

Mr. Daddy

In Surgery

2012-01-18T08:36:00.000-08:00

In surgery.

Right now.

That mile between anesthesia and the waiting room is where I nearly lost it.

(Okay, so maybe I did... but there wasn't anyone around).

Crazy snow means no one else in the waiting room.

Blogger says this is my 973rd post.

And I never dreamed that those posts would somehow connect me to YOUR posts... and leave me far from alone in this waiting room.

My phone is going crazy... notifications of comments and messages.

Hope
Prayer
Support
Humor

You guys really rock.

Thank you - so much.

Please forgive me - don't have all the links for everyone - but Julie and Brandi put this together - and it has been rockin' out on Facebook and blogs... it makes me smile... every.time.

Feel free to grab it - it would make the Mister smile to see it once he gets out of surgery :)

Common Paths–by Mr. Daddy

2012-01-14T13:02:00.001-08:00

We all share common paths in life, but we all walk lonely roads.

Roads oft time so dismal and bleak that despair is the only companion in sight.

While we shadowbox with our grief, and wrestle with our anguish, time continues on at the uninterrupted pace of 60 seconds in a minute, and 60 minutes per hour, 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.

Without becoming redundant, suffice it to say life goes on. In an uninterrupted pattern of joy and pain, that we have little to no control over...

Now in saying we have little to no control, I am not suggesting it should control us. Or that we should be fatalistic in our views.

In the words of Jawaharlal Nehru:

Life is like a game of cards. The hand you are dealt is determinism; the way you play it is free will.

I believe that our attitude is the key to whether we win or lose. The common path we share in this is summed up by W. Clement Stone:

"There is a little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative."

Or as Kahil Gibran puts it:

"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens."

I think the summing up of this is best described by Francesca Reigle:

"Happiness is an attitude, we either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong, the amount of work is the same."

Rach, mentioned in her last post that it seemed as if life had kinda taken a dump on us lately. Looking back over the last three and a half months, I think that you will agree that, that is a pretty good assessment.

Since losing Mom on Oct 3rd to a cancerous brain tumor, I have lost 3 pretty close friends: one to a freak hunting accident, and two to massive heart attacks, and another 4 in the community from everything from a motorcycle accident to Alzheimer's...

this seems to be the relationship that I have come to with the grim reaper....

I know in my heart that he will never win, but for a bit I would really like to broker a truce. But alas, the dude just doesn't want to deal. He throws a sucker punch in the form of a little lump on my thyroid.

Yep the doc told us last week that he was 95% sure that it was a rare type of thyroid cancer. (Does that make me special??? :o)

He set a surgery date of the 18th and more tests - 4d ultrasound which ended up in two more biopsies :o( yesterday. (It wasn't too bad but if I'd a had my druthers I would have rather went to the zoo...)

Now I don't want to sound unthankful or anything but y’all bout burned up Rach's phone with your support. And for that there are not enough words of thanks, or an adequate way of expressing it..
SSSSOooooooo!!!!!

THANKS :o)

As we were waiting for the testing to start I was reading a book by James Merritt, and this is what I read:

"The law says, "What's mine is mine; I'll keep it."
"Our lust says. "What's yours is mine; I'll take it."
"True love says, What's mine is yours' I'll share it."

Love sets off a divine chain reaction. Love is the spark that kindles the fire of compassion. Compassion is the fire that lights the candle of service. Service is the candle that ignites the torch of hope. Hope is the torch that lights the beacon of faith. Faith is the beacon that reflects the power of God. And God is the power that creates the miracle of love.

The way of love is not only the right way, it is the best way. You can experience nothing as self-gratifying or encouraging as loving others through both words and deeds.."

There is a qoute by: Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within.”

We are truly blessed by a network of friends and family, I would like to give a special thanks to Linny and DW, while their little one was in the ER and awaiting critical brain surgery, (please say a prayer for her) they took the time to call and say a prayer the night before my testing and text to keep track while it was going on, and also to Julie, and Brandi & Scott, Pam D., Mrs. Mom, GunDiva, Beel and Juanita, Ju, Dana, Brian and so many more who blogged, texted, and messaged....

I had never heard of a virtual pastor before, thanks DW... (the call came at just the right moment:o) nor had I been aware of virtual family...Thank you I hope you feel my virtual hugs. And realize how brightly the light shone from within you.

The commons are the mountain top and valley experiences. What transcends that, the uncommon is our attitude in it...

Antoine de Saint-Exuper once said

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."

and with that I will leave you with one of my favorite Psalms, 51:10

Create in me a clean heart O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

I don’t want to

2012-01-05T23:11:00.001-08:00

I don’t want to do this.

The specialist finally told us what the rest of them only danced around.

Ninety-five percent.

And the dude knows what he’s talking about.

It’s the one thing I didn’t want to hear. Anything but cancer.

He’s strong. A little sleep-deprived, but cracking jokes. Processing.

I’m weak. Sleeping fitfully. Losing my funny. Numb.

And kind of in disbelief.

If I’m honest, I’ll tell you that the Great Equalizer in me thinks that everyone should have a fair amount of happy and grief.

(Oh wait, is that some kind of cosmic socialism? My bad).

And I feel like… well… like life kind of took a dump on Mr. Daddy lately.

(Sorry. This is a bit raw.)

Except… that I believe in God.

A God who has a bigger plan.

One who loves me – every single imperfect part of me.

One who can bring good from bad.

One who is more interested in my character than my comfort.

And the One who gave me this man to love.

And in looking at the broken pieces of my life, I can see where He painfully healed those edges in ways that brought blessings. I have to take my own advice to Not Waste The Hard Things.

In true Mr. Daddy fashion… a quote that I love:

We have no right to ask when sorrow comes, "Why did this happen to me?" unless we ask the same question for every moment of happiness that comes our way. ~Author Unknown

We can do this… because God already knows. He knows every single yucky detail, every single diagnosis, and every single moment of our life that needs to not be wasted.

“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.” Ernest Hemingway

My Facebook account exploded today. My phone buzzed with text messages. Emails came non-stop. Sweet comments on the blog.

Bible verses… typed prayers… threats for not updating…

And this beautiful gem from PamD:

"Do not be afraid of tomorrow; for God is already there." ~Author Unknown

And many others that I’d post except that Facebook just went down for maintenance as I was typing this (seriously?!?)

I’m getting teary-eyed thinking of all the times my phone buzzed today. It is probably a record for a cell phone in the hands of a deaf person. You guys are amazing. A true support team. I don’t even know how to say Thank You.

It seemed every few minutes that persistent buzz startled me and each word brought a feeling of being hugged. It is no exaggeration to say that people were praying from all over the U.S… and all over the world.

How humbling.

So thank you. I’d love to hug you around the neck.

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” Hebrews 10:23

And His promise? To never leave us alone.

That man

2012-01-04T22:37:00.001-08:00

There’s eleventy hundred reasons I love him.

But sometimes it’s the littlest things that make you glad you married your best friend.

In the midst of the Christmas chaos, Itty Bit’s advent activity for the day was a little cardboard racecar. With approximately 1,714 tiny parts and instructions written in wee Japanese.

After a long week, the man didn’t hesitate as he sat down to solve the Part XEI attach Part 92Y in north left quadrant 60 angle craziness.

He might have sort have mumbled something about that stupid Target Dollar Section, but he still willingly suffered for his kid.

And let me tell you… the image of him using a magnifying glass WHILE wearing his hilarious Walmart reading glasses… is one that cracks me up and makes my heart do a funny flip all at the same time.

(Seriously… the dude keeps those crazy glasses because he once had a dog that chewed on them and he misses that dog. Love the story, but he completely earns every guffaw when he puts them on).

The car took 45 minutes to put together. And lasted all of 45 seconds. Apparently Itty Bit needed to “check the engine compartment”.

But that man sitting there, impressing the heck out of his mini-me… (doofy glasses and all)…

is something I hope the little guy remembers as one of his favorite Christmas memories.

I’m feeling a bit sentimental and scared tonight.

In a few hours we hit the road for that all-important “surgical consult”.

My stomach doesn’t like those words.

Would you please pray for that ornery, wonderful, bad taste in glasses man of mine?

(And pray that he finds his blogging mojo soon… anyone volunteer to pester him about that? ;)

We appreciate you.

And I promise to catch up with all of you soon… I’m ready to quit being overwhelmed.

Source: tumblr.com via Susanna on Pinterest

What? It’s not December?

2012-01-01T20:08:00.001-08:00

Anyone else think that the last half of December is the most cruel time for a Mom to be sick?

It should be illegal

or something.

We did manage some fun before the snot took over. Like Christmas tree hunting.

Which is a very serious sport in Redneckville. All aspects must be considered: height, fullness, shape, color, allowable gaps, needle dispersion, sharpness, rate of shedding…

I neglected to share with you the adventure that was last year’s tree picking ceremony.

Both of the boys suddenly had bladder emergencies. And while it is still somewhat socially acceptable for a 4-year old to unzip and whiz… I think the grown kid could have earned us a promptly escorted exit.

So peeing in tandem… I was relieved that it didn’t make a reappearance this year at the same Christmas tree lot. This may or may not have had something to do with the owner giving Mr. Daddy permission to access a prized fishing spot.

It’s a weird, weird redneck world.

(You don’t let me use your fishing trail, I pee on your merchandise)

Anywho… my retelling of last year’s faux pas earned this expression:

Apparently public urination is hilarious. Who knew?

Then Mr. Daddy and I had a very important discussion about the tree selection process. After breaking the news to Itty Bit about his choice…

it proceeded something like this:

Oh honey, this one is perfect!

Rach, that one is too big.

No it’s not! It’s perfectly shaped and look, no gaps!

Rach, that one is too big.

No it’s not! We’ll put it under the vaulted ceiling in the living room.

Rach, that one is too big.

Honeeeeeyyyyy… (batting my eyelashes while Itty Bit looks at me in confusion)

Raaaach… fine.

(hauls tree home, sets it up in the wrong spot… scrapes ceiling… drags it to the vaulted section, touches ceiling…)

Rach…

Honey, why’d you get such a big tree?

And in other December news… other than refraining from peeing in public, my husband also bestowed a well-met gift.

King Julien and I have dared each other for some time to post photos of what we considered our World’s Grodiest Sofa. My frugal self knew that our set was a good decade past replacement time and I wouldn’t gross y’all out with a picture because I LIKE YOU.

Thankfully the furniture guy was ready to dicker. (An important side note… furniture stores will dicker even quicker if you give your 5-year old a frappucino before entering and tell him to test out the cushiness of each couch. Especially let him know that everyone wants to hear “The Wheels on the Bus” at full volume. Kindergartener available for rent).

Our set is not quite as broken in, but every bit as comfy looking.

Hallelujah!

I wasn’t sad to retire the bachelor/bachelorette set :)

Moving right along… December is the most dangerous month for kitchen fires. Did you know that? Due in great part to the fact that *I* refuse to be beaten back by that ridiculous smoke alarm.

I was finishing up the last batch of ELEVEN zucchini bread loaves (desist mockery, I actually get asked for the recipe) at 12:30 AM (if that is not the definition of holiday schedule cramming…).

I was leaned over to retrieve the hot pans out of the far corners of the hot oven. Seeing as how I’m vertically challenged… this meant that I was doubled up over the blistering inside edge of the oven door. With my short little appendages fully inside the searing heat.

My thoughtful redneck (whom I’d assumed fallen asleep in front of Facebook as he is wont to do each night), chose that moment to TICKLE the inch of back fat that had become exposed during the whole leaning process.

(utmost apologies for the traumatic mental image)

So as my upper body is awkwardly ensconced in a 4000 degree inferno device, you can imagine how the sudden unexpected pinch went over.

Yeah.

I shrieked.

And one of those stubby little appendages flew backwards with uncontrollable speed and force, directly into a redneck’s sacred zone.

The hallowed procreation station.

(oh come on. Go say it again a’la James Earl Jones and it’s funnier)

In the split second that followed, I spun into a soutenu en tournant that would make my ballet instructor proud, ripped the oven mitts off my hands, took in the sight of my husband doubled over gasping for breath, and unleashed a supersonic stream of I’m still freaked out words.

The poor man held to the counter groaning as a very grumpy (albeit ticklish) Keebler Elf angrily squeaked recriminations at him.

I’m sorry! But you can NEVER tickle me when my body is half in the oven. Oh my gosh! I’m sorrry. AHHHHHH! You scared me to death and I would have burned myself. I didn’t mean to hit you THERE. I’M SORRY! But it’s your fault. You can’t do that!

I’m sorry OKAY!?!?! But you CAN’T do that! Why on EARTH would you tickle me when I’m in the oven like that? WHY!??! I’M SORRY!

He couldn’t even form words. And I couldn’t stop. It went for approximately 428 seconds without a breath until he finally gestured toward where Itty Bit was (hopefully) sleeping.

Let this be a lesson dude, let this be a lesson…

Oh, and I would give you pictures of that perfectly shaped too-tall tree that didn’t get peed on… except that y’all already know I broke my lens.

(OHMYLORD I BROKE MY LENS. MY BABY!)

So I got some terrific unintentional bokeh.

Except that every picture of every PERSON also looks like this. Yay me.

Excuse me while I go weep into my new couch cushions…

And how was YOUR December?

over

2011-12-28T14:38:00.001-08:00

whelmed…

Christmas was good. In a sad way.

I don’t think it will ever feel really right.

We are battling stupid colds. An anniversary couldn’t get more romantical than falling asleep at 7pm with some Nyquil.

We need to get better. This dude has a pre-op appointment next week :(

Want the quickest Christmas Day recap ever?

This kid… got up Christmas morning and didn’t even want to open presents. He was all-consumed by his Christmas Eve Legos.

Goodbye Thomas and “I want my Percccccyyyyy”. Welcome punctured soles and grinding vacuum cleaners.

You’re probably welcoming the absent crush of holiday pictures. 100,000 Freak Out points to me…

I BROKE MY LENS.

As in, I BROKE MY 50mm 1.4 LENS.

(Commence sobbing).

In true it could only happen to me fashion… the camera bag strap got tangled with my purse strap. And as my purse swung around, the bag hit the floor with a thump to wake the deaf.

I managed to completely kill the autofocus motor… the rattle inside the lens confirms it. Manual focus is off and refusing any tack sharp shots.

Now is probably not the time to try to talk Mr. Daddy into an upgraded camera, eh?

Many, many heartfelt prayers this season.

My friend who got married this year is facing the final decisions of her diagnosis.

We prayed she would survive to use the tickets to her first Nutcracker ever. And she did. Barely.

Literally as she was fading from a burst tumor, another one grew over it and stopped the bleeding. Talk about God working in mysterious ways.

You couldn’t wipe the smile off her face as she sat there watching the same production that I’d danced in for years. It was 26th season I’d either performed or watched it… I knew every scene.

But it was brand new to her.

As we giggled like juveniles over the men in tights, the curtain parted for the second act. Fog swirled over the stage as little girls in white dresses floated on their tippy toes.

She was silent, misty eyed.

Without taking her eyes off the stage, she quietly said,

“I wonder if it will be like this when I go home”.

I had no words.

She will leave two boys and a new husband. A family devoted to her. I can only imagine how they are squeezing the most out of each day.

Hospice has been called.

And as much as I’ve asked for your prayers recently, I ask for them again. She is ready, but the heartbreak is never easy.

And in choosing to be intentional about our time and the blessings given to us… I hated the thought of letting your efforts for the Morning Star Family Home be for nothing.

We were up to nearly 300 votes by the time it closed… THANK YOU.

darn me for unfriending all those strangers on Facebook

A certain someone is a bit of a softie for those babies and the work Bill & Lynsay are doing… he volunteered to donate $1 for each vote.

Thank you, for walking through 2011 with us. Through some sad lows and some beautiful climbs.

We cherish you and wish you the most amazing 2012.

Mr. Daddy, Rachel, and Itty Bit

topics for his therapist

2011-12-18T23:53:00.001-08:00

You know… it doesn’t matter when life slaps upside your head. Because LIFE still happens.

Those crazy moments where your kid wraps a random item (soccer field cone) and puts with the stuff you just wrapped… and you can’t.tell.the.difference and you realize that you are going to have to open it all up because your wrapping skills suck that bad.

Let’s just pretend he’s that good, k?

Or when you count how many times your husband has unintentionally injured you in the last 24 hours (FOUR), and it cracks.you.the.heck.up. (That post to follow).

Those random hilarious moments? Yeeeahhh. I already assume that once Itty Bit finds this blog, we’ll be in for some hefty therapy bills.

Mr. Daddy put some tiny plaid boxers on the little guy today. And totally missed the whole “welcome to manhood” initiation speech.

So this is what I got. At Walmart, no less.

He simply could not believe what his Momma was telling him.

But Mommy… there’s a HOLE in my underwears!

(Hallelujah, he has finally stopped calling them panties – no thanks to all his little girl cousins!)

But when he truly realized his red-faced parent was not kidding him…

I died a thousand deaths.

And so did the three poor ladies who were apparently not hearing-impaired. I am sorry that our conversation interrupted you mid-stream.

I did not feel one bit guilty over the spontaneous awkwardness that ensued when Itty Bit came home and yelled,

Hey Daddy! Look at THIS!

And because I couldn’t leave all of you out from the loveliness I found on the Walmart website today… for your listening and viewing ~~trauma~~ pleasure (you’re welcome PamD):

This boy

2011-12-18T03:10:00.001-08:00

was throwing stuff at his own face.

Like bouncing off his noggin, thumping his cute nose.

Like flinching and picking it up to throw at himself again.

And while I might tolerate a certain amount of “I have no clue why he is doing that” boy stuff…

I finally interrupted his self-flogging-with-a-full-water-bottle exercise.

Honey, why are you doing that? Stop please.

But Momma!

Butter, why are you doing that? You’ll hurt yourself!

But Momma… look! My glasses are SAVING ME!

Holy cow kid.

$395 on a pair of indestructible glasses so you can pelt them with random objects… while they are on your head.

I’m scared to ask the kindergarten teacher why little Noah wasn’t wearing his glasses yesterday… please tell me this isn’t the newest fad in eyewear destruction?

And in other randomness… my kid still gets upset every time the farrier comes to trim Kona. Because he still somehow believes that she is the TOOTH FARRIER and he feels gypped that he hasn’t lost a tooth yet.

And in non-Itty-Bit news… I cannot get this song out of my head.

Help me.

I have the enviable ~~curse~~ talent of making up new lyrics to songs. Or applying them in really juvenile ways. I’ll spare you some of our famous family songs that contain references to bodily functions, but this particular song doesn’t even need any lyrics work… just a topic shift.

See… my one concession to pregnancy cravings was a warm gooey brownie with all natural vanilla ice cream.

And as I passed up a brownie at a Christmas party this week… I could not stop this song from running through my head. Think of it in terms of that brownie with real milk chocolate Ghiradelli chunks. It’ll make a lot more sense.

You’re welcome.

What are you craving?

2011-12-13T22:43:00.001-08:00

It’s been hard not to be sad this week.

I’ve barely been online. It’s too easy to think about things if I sit at the keyboard for too long.

Does anybody else love Christmas like I do? This year seems especially sentimental. So many reminders that our lives are so short – and that unwrapping the gift of a tiny baby is what makes it worth it all.

I’m refusing to miss out on the miracle. Refusing to let sadness overwhelm me. Refusing to give in to fear without a fight. Because seriously? This dude is too ornery to quit.

(I had to look at this and LAUGH today. Our beloved PamD did a bit of Photoshop magic on “Mr. Braddy” for his birthday – in retribution for the razzing he gave her about hers. If you don’t hear from me for a few days, the prime suspect looks like the guy above… well minus the crown. I borrowed it ;)

Does anyone else think it might be slightly sacrilegious to have a picture of Baby Jesus, and then a picture of that?

Sorry.

So in an effort to keep some smiles on this here blog o’mine, I thought we’d play some more Etsy.

Confession: I had such impressive intentions to do an Etsy giveaway before Christmas. I’m asking y’all to forgive me because I’ve been thoroughly slapped around by life recently. Howsabout we keep window shopping and then have some fun with it after Christmas – when the Etsy sellers are a little less frantic?

That being said… I encourage you to check these sellers out – most of them have a shipping deadline of this week to get things to you by Christmas. It would be a wonderful way to support small businesses and give something one-of-a-kind. Maybe to yourself? Ahem

Because these make me smile:

Are you not totally cracking up? I LOVE THIS! From CollageOrama.

And one of my oldest favorites in my Etsy list:

This little cutie from TheWishingElephant would be utterly adorable on the little one in your life. Heck… I’m kinda hoping someone makes this for ME :)

You think you know what this is…

And you’d be wrong unless you guessed it gets sudsy.

YES! Soap from DigitalSoaps!

This one just turns me into a puddle of butter. A puddle of butter who wants to go wake up and snuggle her 3, 4, 5 year old who is growing too fast.

Perfectly perfect, from BarnOwlPrimitives.

Isn’t this utterly beautiful and creative?

Maneggi is the artist behind these incredible pieces. Makes me want to dress up more!

One of my very favorite photographers… I love the insane amount of talent that goes into these shots – and the story the end result tells. Makes you think. Makes me smile.

Boywonder:

I feel like this right now. Like there’s a certain amount of courage required just to get through the normal things.

Go check his other amazing work!

And for my crafty friends… AHEM Shana. Here’s a DIY project that would be perfectly acceptable for a grown woman with a hunter husband, eh?

TinyOwlKnits makes the patterns for these terrific hats!

And just for that Dread Pirate Roberts of mine…

StudioMarshallArts – couldn’t have done it any better. I think I need this.

I hope you enjoyed a few of my favorites.

Mr. Daddy, my Paypal password is under the phone book on the right side of my desk ;)

And please… the voting is not over until Friday. If each one of our followers voted once per say, we could win this thing for the Morning Star Family Home. You can vote once per day per Facebook account.

Please spread the word, please vote here - to help babies like Esther.

Whatever you do, please don’t stop praying.

hard frost

2011-12-10T09:17:00.001-08:00

The moon was huge.

It was the first big freeze.

And no matter my thoughts, I couldn’t help but notice the how bright the night was.

How it looked as if everything had been dusted with glitter.

I carried another steaming bucket out to the horses’ frozen trough and laid my hand against my girl’s soft nose.

It was utterly still except for the fog of our breath rising.

This is hard.

I don’t really want to do this anymore. It’s hard to keep your footing when the blows keep landing.

Yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that that hushed moment of watching my entire world shimmer – was a moment of peace that was a gift.

I was reminded of what I said to my cousin, not knowing he was days away from horrific injury.

“Don’t waste the hard things”.

Reminded of what I watched Mom do as she struggled to against a 6-month prognosis.

She didn’t waste the hard things.

If this is the only part you see of me, I want you to walk away knowing that I believe in a bigger plan.

The news wasn’t what we’d hoped for.

I don’t even know where to start, except that I hate that the cells show this may be the dreaded “c” word.

Hate the word “suspicious”.

Hate that they need to schedule surgery.

Hate that this brings fear into our lives.

Grateful that they are treating this aggressively.

The results were inconclusive. But isn’t that how life often is?

I’m choosing – to really experience this Christmas.

Because God doesn’t change.

I don’t have the right

to say “Lord use me…

…but only if it doesn’t hurt.”

Not by sight

But things unseen

Will give life worth.

I don’t want to waste this.

Because if this is the only way

that You will be glorified

then take my pain

and use it for good.

If this is the only time

Someone will see my life

I want them to know

that You’re still good.

I don’t want to waste this.

A little Etsy under the tree

2011-12-08T22:30:00.001-08:00

I’ve had this post in my head for a long time… without enough actual minutes to sit down and write it.

Something about the state of the economy and how we can do our part to help small businesses and moms who work out of their homes. And the words never made it to the keyboard – but it didn’t keep me from actually purchasing a few Christmas gifts from these artists.

Like many families, we’re reining in our holiday spending this year. Not that we went overboard in years past; but that we have a deeper appreciation for the good we can do with the funds we spend. And our focus has changed from MORE, to MORE MEANINGFUL.

I have something up my sleeve.

But let’s have fun with it for a bit, want to?

Etsy is my go-to source. Am I the only one who says, “I can do that!”, then remembers the glue gun scar on my left arm, and that my art teacher asked if I was sure I didn’t want to take horticulture instead?

You might be able to do them… you might be inspired by them… but if you’re anything like me; you’ll drool over them, know you don’t have time to make them, and you couldn’t possibly do them as well.

(Well, unless you’re Brandi, but she’s got that crazy Martha gene)

Here are some favorites… some old, some new, and some already under our tree (shhh!)

Who doesn’t need a silhouette of their offspring? (I’ve actually given these as gifts, and trust me – they are a hit!) OutOfAlabaster draws these professionally, then sends you a digital image to print however you want. Love the detail!

For a piece of jewelry that is whimsical and sentimental, I adore this:

Mandipity sold me on this perfect quote. My great-grandmother used to sing that song to me before I lost my hearing. This makes me smile every time I see it!

If you’re more about practicality… this one is a winner in our house:

Greenbubbleshome sells this laundry detergent. Like knockyoursocksoff stuff. Seriously, I have been using this for months, and it takes a TABLESPOON per load to get those stains out.

I was hesitant to use something new with our front loader, but this works perfectly in the High Efficiency machines – to the point of outperforming my liquid stainlifter.

I use a mixture of 1/4 vinegar to 3/4 water as a softener, and I am doing laundry el-cheapo.

Now… I need a cute jar label, cute spoon, and cute container for the vinegar :)

With all the money you save on laundry, you could spring for a superhero zebra for your favorite little!

Cannot.stop.grinning.

Love this from easterstudios – lots of sock monkeys, puppies, and hippos too!

If you have a wedding gift to plan for, I adore these!

jessicaNdesigns… amazing work and perfectly personal!

(She’s super nice too… just saying)

And if you’ve got a wee one to dress up this Christmas, I cannot think of anything better than this package of adorableness.

I exaggerate not.

(As the rest of you are reading, Brandi has now left and is already sewing the second bootie)

AnimaliaRepublic crafts these goodies. And they make my ovaries hurt. Someone please go buy this and send me a picture of your little reindeer? I mean, there’s even a hoofprint on the bottom of the bootie!

And last, but not least… anyone up for a good old fashioned game of Pirates vs. Ninjas checkers?

Goosegrease makes these wonderful little characters – and you can totally get sucked into their Etsy shop. Insanely jealous of the creativity!

I promised I had something up my sleeve.

And I do.

You might want to just keep an eye out on our little blog as we share some more Etsy fun in the next few days.

Thank you so much to those of you who are voting in the photo contest to raise money for the Morning Star Family Home.

Bill and Lynsay are blog-friends-turned-real-life-friends ministering to babies who have some severe health issues – sometimes showing them the only real love and care they will receive in their short lives.

Please help me. If every single person voted who normally reads here, we would be in the lead. A few clicks and you’ve just helped get us one step closer to making a difference halfway around the world.

My heart breaks seeing the pictures. But reading the captions…

Morning Star Family Home

It never, ever gets easier to hold a baby who is dying, or to hear news that one of the one that we were supposed to help died before she could get here.

Please, if you can, help us by clicking over daily to vote here. The $1000 prize would go to Morning Star Family Home to help give these babies a Christmas miracle.

They matter.

Much love… and stay tuned!

Nothing says Get Well Soon like…

2011-12-06T23:16:00.001-08:00

So we hit the road this morning for Mr. Daddy’s biopsy appointment.

The entire procedure went perfectly…

and now we wait.

Which is all kinds of sucky because I’m just not good at that.

But truly, what says “Get Well Soon” better than this?

The Cabela’s Shooting Gallery!!!!

I’m pretty sure this was all kinds of against the rules. But no one ordered Itty Bit off the counter, so he fired merrily away.

Then we headed home and I received a rather awkward text message from my Dad concerning Mr. Daddy’s recovery.

Seriously, I can’t make this stuff up.

Let’s just say that when the dust settled (and my hysterical rapid-fire interrogation of my husband was complete), there were a couple of earlier text messages from MR. DADDY’s phone that filled in the blanks…

Enjoy.

I don’t know whether I was born into the weirdness or married into it.

And as a lovely finale, my funnier-than-heck Dad sent me this after my threat of publicity:

See what I mean when I say that blog posts just HAPPEN to me?

And you knew it was coming :)

We are a few votes behind in the Tiny Prints contest – the one where we are trying to win $1000 for the Morning Star Foundation. The grand prize winner has to receive the highest total of all the categories. We need something like 350 votes to catch up.

I know this isn’t impossible. I know the greater blessing is that people are learning of these babies and praying for them. Thank you to those of you who have voted, have spread the word, have prayed for them.

Can we do something for them from halfway around the world???

As I sat here trying to figure out how I could ask, beg, plead with you again to vote every day – without annoying you with it… I picked up my Bible and read:

“…because I rescued the poor who cried for help,

and the fatherless who had none to assist him.

…I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.

I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger.”

Job 29:12-16

If there is not a greater gift to give this Christmas, than to be the eyes and feet of Jesus to those who need most; I don’t know what is.

My heart breaks with the latest update on this beautiful girl. Esther seems to be going into the early stages of heart failure.

Friends, I’ve watched what this can do to a one-day old precious girl. As I cried anew with my sister tonight over her Gracie, it makes me want to fight even harder for these babies who don’t have the automatic access to medical care that we so often do.

Those 350 votes sound like a lot. And they are. But we have more of you listed in that Google Friend Connect box in the sidebar… if you are reading, please consider voting. I would be so grateful if you were a part of a Christmas miracle for these babies.

Let’s do it. It’s just another week. Voting ends on December 16th. One vote per day allowed for each Facebook account. We can do this.

Whatever you do, please don’t stop reading because this is awkward. Because this is uncomfortable. Because this is hard.

I promise that the regular craziness is still here… I just believe with my whole heart that God places people in the right place at the right time.

And this?

Will take all of us.

Please vote here.

Helpless

2011-12-06T00:00:00.001-08:00

A little humor at my expense first…

Twenty comments on that post about Itty Bit cutting my hair – and eleven of you want to see pictures of the damage???

Seriously you guys? ELEVEN?

Y’all want to torture me and feel a wee bit better about your untrimmed by your kindergartener locks?

Let me just put it this way… when you have curls as crazy as mine… the only upside is that they can hide. A. Lot.

Like when your kid goes Edward Scissorhands on the single curl that was sticking straight out. Yeah, like that.

So imagine this… except that the “accidental black" is now lightened up considerably, especially on the GRAY. Thankyouverymuch.

(see that curl across my face? yep… gone)

But seriously… eleven of you oughta be ashamed ;)

(that includes my little sister who commented – girl, I’m gonna shoot your butt)

For the record… Itty Bit got a stern talking-to – not because I’m vain about that crazy mess on my head, but because I was terrified that he would be similarly “helpful” with a classmate.

And the thing that has been occupying the WORRY spot in my mind for the last month…

As you are reading this, we are likely on the road to Mr. Daddy’s biopsy appointment.

GAH.

I don’t even like to see it in print.

This wife wants to see her husband happy and healthy and leaving snarky comments on her blog for a long, long time to come. I can’t think much past that because I fall apart.

A sweet reader left this comment earlier and I re-read it tonight and clung to it:

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...." Isaiah 43:1b-3a

If you would, please say a prayer for that stubborn redneck of mine. We could really use some good news right now.

But let’s take a minute to appreciate just how much little kids take in… Poor Itty Bit, I lost it tonight when he asked me about the tests:

“They put a needle in his neck?”

“Uh-huh”

“And then they take his head out?????”

But what is GOOD? Is that your votes got us in the Top Ten for the Tiny Prints contest! Now we just need to win it!

I know y’all are probably sick to death of me bugging you about it, but the voting only lasts a week and you can vote everyday. If you only knew the story behind how we got this far, you would agree that it’s a miracle.

Right now, the lead card has something like 121 votes and we have 49. We’re tied for seventh place, but I know we can get the word out and close the gap!

Please, it may be the most meaningful few clicks you do today… a vote that puts us one step closer to the prize money for the Morning Star Foundation Home.

Little Timothy has been released from the hospital but is not doing well. Another baby girl is in the beginning stages of heart failure.

This is not a huge organization – these are personal friends of ours who are helping sick babies. In the trenches - giving life-saving care to those who might otherwise not know any in their short lifetime.

This money can go far… can you imagine it coming from bloggers all over the world?

Please join us and vote – each Facebook account can vote once daily. We would love if you would share with your FB friends, tweet, blog, however you can to get the word out.

Please consider voting here :)

We love you guys – we covet your prayers and are thankful for you!

Can’t.Stop.Crying

2011-12-05T09:03:00.001-08:00

I can’t stop crying.

I received the email this morning.

We are one of the TOP TEN finalists for the Tiny Prints contest.

And by WE, I mean YOU.

I mean the Morning Star Foundation.

I mean Timothy.

I mean babies like Michael whose short life can be the seed for others to care about babies who need your help.

Please go here to vote! We are about 20 votes behind the leader right now, and I know we can make that up quickly!

You can vote once each day for each Facebook user. Praying that you will join us in giving these precious babies an early Christmas present! The winner receives $1000, and this can go toward life-saving treatment for these babies. How else can you help someone halfway around the world with a few clicks? :)

Many thanks to you for getting us into the Top Ten – you guys are the most amazing, compassionate bunch!

If you wouldn’t mind spreading the link love, here’s the direct code:

http://tinyprints.promotionexpert.com/fbtalentsearchfinalist/ms/entry.jsp?tid=5b911df528a9a81f917b86101b68d72b

Look for this cute little troublemaker :)

I can’t stop crying… and it’s good.

Letter of Intent–Chop Shop

2011-12-01T23:47:00.001-08:00

Dear Readers,

You think you know what’s coming, don’t you?

Love,

You are wrong… oh so wrong

Dear Itty Bit,

I was putting in some last minute Mom-of-the-Year bonus points, sitting crosslegged on the kitchen floor making a felt stocking with you tonight.

We were having a jolly time.

Until I felt a whoosh by the side of my face.

And saw you staring at me with curious/terrified/triumphant expression.

As the pieces slowly began to fit together, your expression turned to concern mixed with a hopeful, “I’m cute, right?”

HOLY COW KID.

You went all ninja and totally snipped a lock of my hair off before I realized what had happened.

I stared in shock at you for a good eleventy seconds (giving plenty of time for your life to pass in front of your eyes), and STILL couldn’t help stammering. Each attempt a slightly higher and more panicked pitch.

Did you…?

Did you just CUT…???

DID YOU JUST CUT MOMMY’S HAIR??????

I don’t think you were even breathing by then. I think you were slowly realizing that you’d just broken a BIG BIG BIG rule.

Like bigger than the don’t say “shoot’ and don’t say “butt” rule.

“Mommy, shoot is a bad word. Mommy, butt is a bad word. Mommy, what about shoot the butt?”

(No lie, that happened today; and the only reason it’s a rule is because it’s so darn funny it’s dangerous when he says it at the dinner table).

So as I sat staring at you in unshakeable shock, you answered me.

YES.

Ohmygosh Boogie, WHYYYYYYY would you even do that?

And then… you broke out that ridiculous cute grin and I lost it.

I hope that you will remember our talk. Because even if they’re going gray and they aren’t real cooperative… I’m kind of fond of those disobedient hairs. Kind like you’re fond of Christmas presents…

Love,

The Momma Who is Afraid to Go to Sleep Tonight

Got letters? King Julien’s got a carnival for you! Join along!

Also linking up with Kmama & Emmy for Proud Mommy Moments!

Once Upon A Miracle

The Wisdom of Age, by Mr. Daddy

Letters of Intent - I promised you a winner, didn’t I?

Mugshot Madness Finale

Mugshot Madness #3

Mugshot Madness #2

Mugshot Madness #1

The Passport Giveaway

So we left off with the elbutts…

h-u-r-t

~

Reports of trees down on our property. Praying they don't hit the fenceline & free the horses. Next door trees on house & truck. Tree just fell on power lines right in front of our house :(

Really?!?!?!! Fire alarm at hospital forced us all to evacuate out into snow. They couldn't get him down in wheelchair so he had to go down 3 flights of stairs. No coat & hurting. Then back up 3 flights.

Part One: Snow, Surgery, and Support

You just never know

In Surgery

Common Paths–by Mr. Daddy

I don’t want to

That man

What? It’s not December?

over

topics for his therapist

This boy

More

hard frost

A little Etsy under the tree

Nothing says Get Well Soon like…

Helpless

Can’t.Stop.Crying

Letter of Intent–Chop Shop