Once Upon A Miracle

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!

The Dare Is On!

2011-11-30T22:44:00.001-08:00

You all rock.

Seriously.

Amazing.

112 votes at last count, all because of you.

To give these sick babies a chance at the medical care they need.

And now we wait… for the finalists to be announced December 5th.

Who else sucks at waiting… surely not just me??

So while we wait, it’s your turn for some fun.

I promised y’all a chance to thrown down your best Double Dog Dares. And you came through with 100 votes. So we have to pay up.

Anyone up for some pig kissin’?

I think that would be right up Mr. Daddy’s alley, wouldn’t you say?

Wait… that didn’t come out right.

How about a little Polar Dip?

I volunteer the Mister for that. Doesn’t it just sound like a redneck thing?

Okay, in his defense… I tried to find something I could do. But when I looked up skydiving, this picture is EXACTLY what I’d look like:

And knowing my penchant for stupid injuries, I’d probably get bit by a Bald Eagle on the way down and get fined for tampering with an endangered species.

So send us your wackiest dares. What crazy prank do you recall from your school days that is just begging to be captured on film?

And if some of you are willing to come out here and join me for a flash mob, I would TOTALLY do it.

So bring it on! I can’t wait!

Because I haven’t slept

2011-11-29T23:47:00.001-08:00

otherwise titled: Insomnia makes things funnier.

I already outed myself as one of those “devoted” bloggers…, but you know it’s bad when I have a bunch more pictures that I forgot I had.

And because I’ve slept approximately 3.7 hours each night for the past two weeks… these are probably far more hilarious to me than to the average well-slept person.

(is that what you call them? "Well-slept”?)

Please tell me I’m not crazy for thinking they might be… well… off?

I think they are confused.

I know the sophomore behind the counter was definitely confused by the weird girl taking a picture of the sign.

FOREVER?

I do not think that word means what you think it means.

(quick! 50,000 OnceUponAmiracle points for the movie reference!)

Does this stuff just happen to me?

Or is this totally normal?

See it?

No worries… I’ll zoom in so you can enjoy it too.

Someone please tell me that they don’t put this on their face?

Because the horse version is definitely not a glamorous beauty routine.

Pop quiz hotshot… here’s another funky online ad:

I wonder if Mr. Daddy would mind if I bought Itty Bit a sister?

By the way… what’s the going rate for them these days anyway?

One last crazy ad… which seems totally normal at first:

Perspective is everything my friends…

Apparently bad taste is expensive. Who knew?

Holy smokes you guys…we’re in the homestretch of the Morning Star Foundation voting… and we’re up to 96! Just four more votes and y’all get a chance to throw some crazy double dog dares at us!

I am so grateful for everyone who took the time to vote. Can you imagine that those babies could get an early Christmas present from blog friends around the globe? Amazing to me.

Lynsay is halfway around the world with her husband and two girls… holding these babies, caring for Timothy at his hospital bed.

Thank you for voting here.

And for more information on what that Double Dog Dare is all about… :)

Truth In Advertising

2011-11-28T23:28:00.001-08:00

It’s official.

Taking secret ninja pictures of blogworthy moments = devoted blogger.

Writing a self-humiliating TST for a couple of years = devoted blogger.

Writing down blog post ideas on scraps of paper = devoted blogger.

But keeping a collection of weird pictures on my desk, waiting to scan them and blog about them = officially nutty blogger.

First up, is this gem from The Scooter Store:

They obviously know me well if they want me to have them CALL ME. Trust me… the only time this deaf chick answered the phone in the last decade was to do this to a poor feller. (May 21st… remember that day we were all supposed to be raptured?)

So, no I won’t be asking them to call me.

But WHY ON EARTH do I need a Free Mobility Consultation? And why is it capitalized like some official medical test?

Conspiracy Theory #1: They read my blog and know I have a special talent for stupid injuries. That might explain the AFLAC mail too…

But what really cracks me up… is that they somehow think their offer of a free Puzzles and Games Booklet (again, with the wonky capitalization!) will convince me to let them call a deaf chick. I mean it’s not even a Book! It’s a bookLET! What fancy Puzzles and Games Booklet has to do with a scooter, will forever be a mystery to me.

Behind Door Number Deux, we have this beautiful “must have” advertisement from a magazine.

Just for kicks… tell me how old do you think that magazine is?

Now check out the date at the bottom.

SEPTEMBER 2011.

And somehow, those printed pants are the sixth most needed thing in my wardrobe this season?

I’m incredibly confused.

(and the random vines and hay are totally reminding me of the Fire Swamp – anyone else?)

Next on our must-have list is an essential grooming device.

Unfortunately, I’m not only apparently wardrobe-impaired, but I am also woefully behind on the bedazzling trend.

I didn’t opt for the $200 Luxe Edition Crystal Slant Tweezer and Stand (because really, who doesn’t have a tweezer STAND???).

I now feel fully justified in blaming my $2.99 Walmart tweezers for the fact that I look like Geraldo every morning.

And I totally challenge any of your Pinterest addicts to go make one of those out of Swarovski crystals and a glue gun - then CALL ME to tell me they work better because they’re sparkly.

;)

Conspiracy Theory #2 – THEY WANT ME TO GET HURT.

Does this only look ridiculously dangerous to me because I’m fun-size? Tell me!

This one takes the I.cannot.stop.laughing prize.

I’ll shut up and let the video do the talking…

And I know, I know… I’m becoming that annoying blogger who keeps begging for votes. But can I be serious here for a second? I am so thankful to those of you who are dropping by daily to vote. Who are spreading the word.

I don’t really know much of what it’s like to live halfway around the world – sacrificing for children who are aren’t born with healthy bodies or families who can care for them.

I don’t really know what it’s like to deal with IV’s and feeding tubes.

I don’t really know what it’s like to hear that a hospital will not admit your desperately ill baby without several thousand dollars in cash.

Voting ends on Wednesday, but these kids will still need formula, diapers, surgeries. That $1000 is more than a prize – it could mean a lifesaving medicine at exactly the right time.

God is doing big things through the Morning Star Foundation Home. Bill and Lynsay are at the top of our list of charities… this isn’t a big giant corporation; it is a home with willing hands loving children who might otherwise be forgotten.

Please know I am not overstating this… children die. Bill and Lynsay have put their hearts into this, and I know it must feel incredibly unfair that funds sometimes seems to stand in the way of a life.

See for yourself… then please vote. Just two more days.

You can make a difference.

Please vote here.

I Heart Faces–Bust a Gut

2011-11-28T00:01:00.001-08:00

In our home, laughter is the great equalizer.

I’m deaf, and crack deaf jokes all the time.

Mr. Daddy is a redneck and cracks redneck jokes all the time.

Itty Bit is a kindergartener, and he… well… he’s just innately hilarious.

Time to brush your teeth honey.

But Mommmmmyyyy…

What honey?

I have narcolepsy.

(snore)

~

Eat your dinner honey.

Mommy… Watermelon gum makes you lose your muscles.

What?

Watermelon gum makes you lose your muscles.

What?

Yes it does. Blake in my class told me so.

But honey…

Mommy! You said a bad word! You said BUTT!

No I didn’t, I said “but”, it’s diff…

BUTT IS A BAD WORD! YOU SAID A BAD WORD!

Heaven help us. We may die of laughter here.

But it’s always wonderful to see the huge grin that accompanies his oversized laugh. No hearing impairment can get in the way of “hearing” the laughter coming out of this kid. Can’t you hear it too? :)

(Nothing quite says Happy Birthday like being sung to… “You smell like a monkey!”)

What makes you bust a gut? Join the fun at I Heart Faces!

p.s. The Double Dog Dare challenge is still on! Please remember Baby Timothy and the other babies at the Morning Star Foundation Home. We’d love to win the prize money for them and make a tangible difference. It’s as easy as casting a vote – we’d love if you could help us help them! You can vote daily here.

Many thanks!

in other words, I Know Better

2011-11-27T00:21:00.001-08:00

I thought we’d sweep through the Midnight Madness sales, then go home and blissfully sleep while others duked it out on Black Friday.

Except that 93.7% of the Pacific Northwest thought the same thing.

My mother was my partner in crime. If you’re wondering which version of her it was… Walla-Bip-Boo is correct for $400.

We drove up to Toys R Us shortly after 10pm. It was POURING.

And the line went around the side of the building, but people seemed to be moving quickly in. After all, they’d been open for an hour already.

I ditched my coat (mistake #1), and we ran to the back of the line.

Except the line wasn’t moving any more. And the end of the line was…all the way around the building to the back.

It was POURING.

We discovered that the ~~crazy~~ shoppers were only being admitted in batches and we were at least 3 or 4 batches away.

It was POURING.

My mother decided to run back to the car and grab our coats.

It was THIRTY-FIVE DEGREES out y’all!

And because I hadn’t had a chance to change out of my Thanksgiving outfit, I was dressed in 3” boots (mistake #2).

I stood there shivering while 1200 ~~crazy~~ shoppers looked at the one poor amateur who didn’t have an umbrella or a Starbucks cup.

It was POURING. Did I mention that?

Do y’all know what solid rain does to my hair?

Ten minutes later, my mother returns.

In her car.

This is crazy. Let’s go to another store and come back.

So we wind up at the mall – and without fail, all of the other stores open at least 90 minutes later.

Old Navy

Macy’s

JC Penney’s

Target

Fred Meyer

Kohl’s

Which led to a “let’s just go to Walmart” moment (mistake #3) where we are greeted at the entrance of the parking lot by this scene:

Walmart–auto vs. pedestrians

Drunk driver vs. pedestrians – a 9-year old and her aunt. Unbelievable. Prayed as we parked, then braved the crowds.

Lovely Walmart basically had none of the good stuff on sale until midnight – and employees were guarding plastic covered rows of the sale items. Lines stretched down aisles and I was amazed at how many little kids and babies were along for the madness.

So we ditched Walmart and headed back to a DIFFERENT mall.

If you’re counting, it’s SEVEN stores and we haven’t bought a thing.

Finally it’s midnight and we pick Kohls because the line was shortest. We dash through and have our goods in under 30 minutes. Since there were no carts or bags to be found, we soldiered on with boxes stacked nearly to our heads.

The checkout lines were I.N.S.A.N.E., so we headed back upstairs to Customer Service to pay there (mistake #4).

Unfortunately, they let us wait awhile in that line before announcing that Customer Service would only be handling credit applications. ARGH.

Marched back downstairs to a line that literally made a circle around the store. ARGH again.

We spend the next hour sliding our boxes by inches across the floor. And conversing in sign language ninja style.

Because nothing requires so much stealth as talking about the four completely stoned customers in line in front of you.

Nothing like free entertainment.

By the time we’ve paid for a handful of items, we are past curfew and this chick needed to head home to trade shifts with the Great Hunter.

I crawled into bed at 4am – after shopping at exactly ONE store, and slept hard until Mr. Daddy left to chase the wily wapiti.

Stupidly, I decided that Itty Bit seems pretty mellow and maybe I can cover a few Black Friday sales (mistake #5).

Normally the kiddo is something like this:

But he seemed fine… here’s proof:

(If I hadn’t put him in the cart, that would have been Mistake #6, yay me!)

And he was being pretty darn quiet.

Except for the coughing.

Which got worse and worse and worse.

I did the speed shopping thing at Target – noticing that people kept looking at Itty Bit when he’d cough. I got a million judgmental stares and felt like explaining every 5 minutes that the doctor said he wasn’t contagious and it could take awhile for the tickle in his throat to go away.

Made sure he was feeling okay and checked – no fever.

We raced to Macy’s for that awesome $9.98 deal on cake pop makers:

Except that Itty Bit kept stopping to cough… and finally, very considerately, threw up into his hands.

Imagine me rushing the kid to the bathroom, cleaning his hands and making sure he was alright. Not traumatized. Just mellow.

And coughing.

And of course, by evening, it was a barky cough with a fever.

Parent Fail.

And no cake pop makers.

What was your Black Friday like?

And I know you guys will get sick of me asking… but it’s probably the easiest and cheapest (free!) good deed you can do today. Can I beg for your daily vote here so that we can support Morning Star Foundation with a $$ prize? This is not a large-scale operation… these funds go directly toward life-saving care for babies like Timothy.

So grateful to the amazing friends who have voted and helped spread the word!

Please vote here – and leave your double dog dare here :)

Update: It’s now a Double Dog Dare

2011-11-26T00:35:00.001-08:00

So…

I was kinda sorta serious

about the whole begging/pleading/puppy dog eyes thing.

This is our chance to speak up for Timothy. For sick babies that don’t always have the opportunity to have the medical care that we may take for granted.

A click.

32 so far. Lots more needed to put these babies into the finalists.

I loathe asking for help. But there is a special place in my heart for babies who are tiny underdogs. Someday I hope to tell you why.

But for now… would you make a difference? With a single click?

Bunches of you have already… and I realized after I first blogged about it, that you can vote daily! This would put us that much closer to a tangible way to help.

I would be grateful if you could spread the word. Amazing to think that a band of friends from around the world can do something real.

And just to make it a bit more fun… let’s shoot for 100 votes and throw down the gauntlet. Give me your best dares. One that Mr. Daddy can gleefully capture photographic evidence of – and we’ll show you just how important we believe Morning Star Foundation’s work is.

Wait.a.minute... I’m sure Mr. Daddy would gladly perform one of those double dog dares too – and I can stay ~~safely~~ behind the camera lens!

What do you say? ;)

Please and thank you. You guys are the best.

Voting: here.

the least of these

2011-11-23T21:56:00.001-08:00

This post is going to come from left field, but I truly need your help.

On a day that celebrates thankfulness with a national display of gluttony followed by a marathon shopping spree…

I couldn’t get Michael out of my head.

Nearly two months ago, a friend who is serving God in China wrote about his last day:

All I could feel was relief and overwhelming joy that at 12:12pm on September 28th Michael was finally happy and whole, and that while we were left with a broken heart, his was completely healed.

It was heartbreaking being helpless. I know – I felt the same way when we said goodbye to my sister’s Gracie.

And while Michael and Gracie are celebrating Thanksgiving in Heaven, there are other babies with desperately sick hearts that need help.

Bill and Lynsay are our friends in real life.

(I have no idea what was so funny, but I’m cheesy like that. A lot. Sorry)

They run the Morningstar Foundation, caring for babies who need a miracle.

We kind of like miracles around here.

Babies like Timothy need a miracle. So tiny and malnourished that they don’t know how old he is.

And in a totally random way, two emails sort of collided and I wondered if it would work?

After all the fun of the Tiny Prints Christmas card giveaway, they sent an email encouraging bloggers to join their Talent Search. They gave us a choice of a few card layouts, and I cracked up at my boy-about-to-break-Momma’s-camera shot all over again.

Then I got Lynsay’s email about Timothy.

Here’s where the random collision and YOU come in:

The prize is $1000.

A thousand dollars can make a difference for a Michael or a Timothy.

And I am normally not crazy at all about voting contests. I don’t have a big blog with a bajillion readers. I don’t normally stand a snowball’s chance in a greeting card contest (painful pun totally intended).

But I do have blog friends who care - and I refuse to underestimate you :)

For Timothy and other sick babies an ocean away… I am willing to beg and plead and even take a few dares to earn your vote.

Seriously… easy.

You vote. Itty Bit’s mug wins. Morningstar Foundation gets the prize.

Go here and simply click “vote” for Itty Bit.

I can’t think of a better way to show gratitude today – let’s make a difference for them.

Pretty please?

the other mother

2011-11-21T22:42:00.001-08:00

When they placed me in her arms, it was us against the world.

I don’t think she could have imagined how far we’d travel or just how much harder and better things would get.

Protector.

Nurturer.

Who battled through my silence to give me words again.

She was Mommio.

Then along came Walla-Bip-Boo.

(shockingly, that is only part of her actual nickname)

When I was old enough (and brave enough) to whine, her fingers would tap my lips until an honest-to-goodness Indian war whoop escaped.

While Mommio filled the grocery cart with organic peanut butter and soy milk; Mommio’s fun twin got a running start and rode the grocery cart all the way to the car.

And while Mommio taught Sunday School, Walla-Bip-Boo fastened the giggling kids to the wall with duct tape.

Mommio sang in the church worship team… Walla-Bip-Boo rocked the toddler drum set after the service.

While Mommio is grossed out over a certain daughter’s public burping skills (ahem), Walla-Bip-Boo has no problem embracing the humor.

Walla-Bip-Boo does nothing halfway.

While Mommio entertains one kid with puppets…

Walla-Bip-Boo wins the Grand Marshal prize by entertaining thousands more. There may or may not have been several Super Soakers involved…

(We look like sisters? You don’t say!)

And though Mommio was more than willing to pull Grandma duty at the pumpkin patch…

It was Walla-Bip-Boo who stole the spotlight with her Julie Andrews impersonation.

(You have got to love the random confused kid behind her)

To be honest, I love both of my mothers.

Because both Mommio and Walla-Bip-Boo love Jesus.

Here’s her comment on my last post:

Anonymous said...

OK...so this one may be my favorite of all time posts - the only reason I say "may be" is that it is still in competition with your "Gramma-over-there" post about her wonderfully lived life & how deeply she is & will be missed.
So, as your Mommio, who has NEVER viewed you as handicapped - I want to say that I luv u and I am so very proud of you at this moment... PS me & Itty-bit ran into that little girl in the wheelchair (who by the way is now a grown woman) when I took him to see the movie "Hop" and introduced him as your son - she still remembers you... wonder if she noticed that he looks enough like you to be your clone? :)

I don’t know that you could understand unless you’ve walked it… what a huge thing it is to watch someone sacrifice for you – for decades. Going more than the extra mile – and doing it cheerfully. Knowing that the limitations of your life have transformed theirs as well – yet not sensing any kind of bitterness. Realizing that they’ve taken your hardships on themselves – and at the end of the day, can tell you, “I have NEVER viewed you as handicapped”. It’s motherhood times 1000. It’s Jesus.

It made me cry.

So if someday someone doesn’t say,

“You look just like your mother”,

and instead says,

“You are just like your mother”.

I’ll know God has made some headway in me.

Thank you Mommio Walla-Bip-Boo. I love you a bushel and a peck.

But I’ll still burp.

Excuse me.

Do you have two moms?

You have a disability

2011-11-15T21:46:00.001-08:00

I’ve mentioned it in passing… mostly the goofy stories.

I spent two years on a speaking tour after winning a state pageant.

You know, those glamorous things? (y’all are thinking you’re at the wrong blog, right?)

Coronations

Evening Gowns

Parades

Except that I was far from poised and usually had a pair of Converse sneakers on underneath those gowns (and as soon as I find that picture, I’ll prove it).

The speaking tour nearly did me in.

But to this day, it may be the one thing that I ever felt unselfish in doing. Not because of any noteworthy oratorical skills. Not because I held anyone’s attention. And not because I threw up before going on stage.

But if it helped prompt one bit of kindness to someone, it was worth it.

In the world of pageants, you must have platform: a topic important to you… and one you can make relevant to others.

And while others had platforms that were easy to envision, easy to measure…

Childhood Cancer Awareness

Literacy Programs

Senior Volunteering

Juvenile Diabetes

I found myself drawn to the simple thought that if we all assumed one thing about each other, the world would be a kinder place.

WE ALL HAVE A DISABILITY.

I don’t particularly love that word.

I let it define me for decades – accepting it like I accepted the space between my front teeth and the freckles on my arm.

But in the sense that a disability describes the way we feel about ourselves? About the things we relegate ourselves to failure status over? The things we assume we cannot do, or that everyone else can do better than us? The I Can’ts in our life?

They dis-able us.

How about the things we let get in the way of our grand childhood dreams? The things we dismiss as impossible -

too late, too old, too hard.

Those are dis-abilities.

And worse? Are the scars.

The experiences that paralyze us with fear or warn us from ever trying something bold and scary and powerful and healing. Dis-abilities.

Cruel words that found their way into a place where we watered them and allowed them to continue to speak to us long after the speaker’s footfalls had echoed away. Dis-abilities.

Abandonment or betrayal that dug a moat around emotions that were too wonderful to dare expose to harm again. Dis-abilities.

And somehow we rationalize that the way we speak to ourselves, the way someone else spoke to us, the way someone else treated us, our humble beginning or spectacular fall from grace… are all legitimate reasons to abandon the attempt at an intentional life.

All reasons to feel less than.

It happens everywhere. To everyone.

My guilt prompted this post after the heartbreak of watching a McDonald’s manager loudly berate a mentally-challenged employee while an entire restaurant watched and listened.

I was convicted by my uncertain response when my kindergartener said (so very unquietly, as five-year olds are apt to do),

“Mommy?

That lady was MEAN.

She yelled, ‘I TOLD YOU TO SWEEP RIGHT THERE!’

That was mean, Mommy”.

I took the coward’s way out. I went home and wrote a long message on McDonald’s customer service website. They responded with a rote reply that they had notified the branch and were addressing it.

That employee swept the floor and ended her shift with a smile on her face. I admire that kind of resiliency. She knows her self-worth isn’t found in a bully’s words.

It made me wonder just how many times I had been less than kind to someone who had an invisible disability? Because we really truly all do. No one is immune from self-doubt.

That four-year old girl who stands blocking your cart in the middle of the aisle – completely ignoring you as you ask her to move.

Would you have had any idea she’d just turned deaf?

So many of us carry those disabilities on the inside. I am grateful that mine serves to remind me to check my impatience, my pride, my ingratitude.

Be kinder to someone with an invisible disability. You deserve it.

Once Upon A Miracle

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

The Dare Is On!

Because I haven’t slept

Truth In Advertising

I Heart Faces–Bust a Gut

in other words, I Know Better

Update: It’s now a Double Dog Dare

the least of these

the other mother

You have a disability