Pointless BABBLING by Mason and Terri's Mom!

Katja said bounce back to blogging!

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:11:00 +0000

While on facebook this morning another fellow blogger and store owner Katja Presnal, mentioned that she is doing a live web show today at 2 p.m. EST and you can watch it live here on my blog!

She will be giving away 5 ~~~> $25 e.l.f. Cosmetics gift cards during the show.

The first gift card will go to the person who guesses the SUPER STAR that Katja saw in NYC yesterday. One of the remaining 4 gift cards will also go to a blogger who blogs about her show. Be sure to visit Skimbaco Lifestyle for more details and tune in on Katja’s blog, Snazl, or the e.l.f. Cosmetics promo page at 2pm EST for the party!

Time to Break the Silence!?!

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:02:00 +0000

...even though I can't get into details. *eh making promises for others selfish needs STINKS*

I just wanted to say that I'm alive and well. For the most part that is. ::smiles:: I'm still dealing with my endo pain daily, and the migraines come and go....but other than that I'm so blessed to be where I'm at right now. I'm sure theres at least ONE person whose reading this rolling ~~his~~ their eyes, but my life in the past .....end-feb, march, april and may...has taken a dramatic leap. I've moved. Let me rephrase, me and the children have moved. (won't say where) ;-) Along with some minor living adjustments I'm on a new road. I'm not sure day to day if it's gonna be good or bad from the reciprocating end....but I lift my hands up and just ask that we get through this as easily as possible.

I think this transition has been hardest on....~~him~~ ME. The kids are absolutely in every way fine. More than fine b.c now that they know they can play both sides. ::snickering:: I'm teasing of course. Mason and Terri in whatever crowd, in whatever house, in whatever room are going to be loved. Regardless whats happening. THAT is my main purpose in life.

Don't get me wrong, boy they test me, because they CAN Like more than before. Children really do need a positive male role model in their life to help guide them. I've always said this and can't say it enough, WE as mothers are much too merciful on our children at times. When daddy, or paw-paw walk in a room all of a sudden its little halos back on top of their heads. Meanwhile I now that I'm the one thats with them 6 days a week and has to do the punishing. Oh what you thought I was going to say that I don't yell? psssft! W.E. !! I'm the queen. ha haa. I've always tried to do that whole I'm in charge voice tone. M & T don't even pause. .. .they're like yeah ::throw in boo boo face:: we'll get outta this trouble in ohhh.....5 seconds. grrrrrr... IF THEY weren't so darn CUTE!!!!

anywho. I'm here. alive and well! ;-)
most recent pic of the kids...

sitting in a river on our trip to Mt.Bervard.

My Dads Progress...

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 17:46:00 +0000

I guess its been a long week. A really long week. After Tuesdays events and taking my dad to the Hospital I didn't think it could get much worse.

I took last week off from all blogging to motivate my dad. (w/ the exception my weekly review on SIMPLE- along with a giveaway) But I wanted to get him going in a new direction. Hes just been all over the place lately. Since last September he's given up all red meat, pork and most salt intake. But then again he's smoking more....so I'm at a loss there. ugh ::sigh:: I did however get him OUT of the living room this week and into HIS room. You might be wondering what I'm talking about. ummm... well my father with all back issues has for the past SEVERAL years slept on the couch. Which is worse on him in the long run but hes more comfortable there. About 3 or 4 years ago when I was working 50/60 hour shifts (Hospice) I along with my big brother went in and got him one of those craftmatic adjustable beds in a king size. Too bad the only thing he uses it for is too lay his clean clothes on while he folds them. He sure is anal about how he folds his clothes. Regardless he's now in a bed, which is one step in the right direction.

I went with him on Thursday morning to his follow up Doctor appointment. Checking everything after the hospital...

to make a long story REALLY short...my Daddies Dr "whatever" thats 30 years old and wet behind the ears. He looks at my daddy whose been cut open 6 times and is 47 and I guess he thinks my fathers one of those ppl that just likes to take pain medicine. (WRONG! He takes LESS than I do) But this Dr is new to the practice and when my fathers original Dr left this is who he got stuck with. Someone that walks into a room, doesn't introduce himself to my dad, just looks at his chart and says "I don't prescribe pain meds so if thats what your here for then I'm sorry." (My dad told me this and I BOILED) But I took him to the doctor Thursday Morning and me with my degree looked at the Dr about the 2nd time he interrupted my father and I jumped his butt. Ohhhhh. I was pissed. First off every time my dad goes to the Dr. the CMA NEVER reads his blood pressure accurately. For a WHILE now I read it after my dad goes in as well as bought him an automatic cuff for his birthday last year, and EVERY SINGLE TIME his bp is high. Even after he's cut his diet. Thursday after I got ahold of that Dr we left with blood pressure meds. (FINALLY years too late) pain pills (Dr DID eventually give him to him b.c he Rarely asks and his original Dr always gave him the same Rx. ), Lyrica for his convulsions, ...and a air mattress... all this from a doctor who looked at my father the first time and said "I don't believe in medication I want to send you to a pain management clinic" WHICH they pump you FULL of pain meds!! idiot. sorry I had to vent. I just love my dad and hate to see him walked all over.

Oh and BELIEVE I will be back. He was in the ER two weeks ago and STILL can't see fully out of his right eye. He has a 30% curve to his spine, 9 bulging disks and 6 pinched nerves among other things. He will not be overlooked.

CAn I add that my dad walked out of there so proud of his little girl for yelling at that Dr. Throwing all his medical terminology RIGHT back in his face, and by the time we left had him asking me...."anything else? are you sure? are you sure? IF you NEED TO CALL ME DO SO FOR ANYTHING!!!!!!"

:O) I usually don't loose my temper but DO NOT mess with my family.

Oh and the end of the week was even better....grrrr!!!

Praying for My Father

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 02:28:00 +0000

I had to rush my father to the ER Tuesday morning. I thought he was having a stroke. My grandmother called me and told me that something was wrong with him, he was very confused and he couldn't see or stand. When I got to the house he was in the fetal position on the couch, he kept saying "I don't know whats wrong, I couldn't remember your name or your number, help me...help me"

I tried to get him to squeeze my hand to signify if he had lost use in his hands (he said he couldn't see out of one eye and one hand was curled up {a sign of stroke}) but he wouldn't acknowledge me. I got him up, and rushed him to the ER. (my grandmother screamed at me when I tried to call for an ambulance--shes insane--my father doesn't have insurance so she thought about the COST UGH) when I got to the ER the nurse asked him the date, the year, where he was...he looked around and all he could say was that he was "with Elizabeth and that he was ok". When they got him back he kept asking me where he was and what was going on. He was crying in pain. Literately CRYING...screaming practically. It was so terrible.HIS EKGs and CAT scans showed that it was the onset of a stroke, that he had previous "activity" (like he had had minor strokes or heart attacks already in the past and not known about them) but that morning he had an anxiety attack that was brought on by the extreme amount of pain that he lives with ...daily. They ended up giving him 8 mg of morphine and 2 ativan. [morphine is distributed depending on weight and pain in doses between 1-4 mg. so he had the maximum both times.] He was in so much pain. I just sat there beside him and held him and cried. It was so sad. He at times didn't even know I was in the room with him. He would talk to me as if I were a stranger.

He is fine now. I suppose. I mean he is still weak, really tired, pale and extremely confused about the other day. He only remembers coming home and staying with me. (I brought him home to my house that night to stay) :-(

I've spent the past couple days with him at his house trying to keep an eye on him, making sure he's eating (he's lost all of his appetite) and not having to do too much. Also the kids being around him keeps him so happy.

praying.

IKEA comes to Charlotte

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:31:00 +0000

I know I've mentioned that I have anxiety attacks. Well Saturday at IKEA is not idea in my situation. Had it not been for the overwhelming amounts of things that I fell in love with then I'm pretty sure I'd been much worse off.

First off we lucked up and got parking 4 spots from the entrance. sweeeet! Well once we got in the IKEA store we were pointed to a "childrens fun place". If you've never been to IKEA I just have to say that whoever created this classed in "fun zone" KNEW what they were doing. You can drop you child(ren) off for ONE hour. They give you a buzzer (similar to restaurant buzzers) in case of an emergency or if your just having too much fun shopping. There are height requirements, minimum 36" (and fully potty trained) and a maximum of 54". Terri was about an inch or two over, and yeah we all know fully potty trained for ages. The couple behind Clint and myself asked "is she 4?" We both kind of grinned...."no she's 2 1/2" As their jaws dropped we just said yeah we know we get it all the time. Terri has the long hair (very deceiving for her age) shes really tall (daddy is 6'4") and she speaks very well. So after giving our rugrats the boot we went up the escalator.

The whole shopping experience is much different than a typical store. You go to the showroom first look touch, even try out any and everything; then if you see something you like you get the number off the tag and then you can go and either pick it up your self or have someone get it for you. (Purchase items downstairs...a whole next floor of shopping.) CRAZY I KNOW.

Well my first mistake was that we went against traffic. How were we supposed to know? We were instantly overwhelmed. We of course started at the kids toys/playroom/furnishings. I felt bad that all I kept saying was "I wan I wan I wan" I don't think I finished the entire I WANT. I don't think my sweety minded one bit b.c he was right there beside me the entire time thinking how good this would look or that here or there in the kids rooms. NOW I understand why when you enter they have you go through the living room, office, bedding areas before the kids stuff. (Once you become a parent you will completely neglect our own needs just to make sure our children have that one thing that will keep them occupied, or that awesome new something to make their room that much cooler.)

Well...heres where the anxiety comes in...We moved out of the kids section and the traffic started. Oh boy, I felt like I was floating. NOT in a good way. I was fuzzy headed, nauseous, clammy. It was terrible.

I can't tell you how happy I was to see the exit. I love this place and will surely be going back, just NOT ON A SATURDAY! When we went to pick the kids up 10 minutes early...they were the only two kids in the place sitting at a table coloring. I was so happy they weren't the ones swinging around like crazy monkeys. Not that I would much mind, thats the point of being a kid right? I did find out that Terri took her pants off...she wanted to lay down and watch a movie on all the pillows and she hates wearing pants to sleep. :-/ OKAY so not the best scenario but at least Mason was there to rat her out I mean help her get her pants up. (The lady said she heard Mason saying "NO NO SISSY PULL YOUR PANTS UP" so she got her before she got them fully off.)

What fun!

Afterwards we went to Osaka and ate Sushi and Miso Soup....(the Hibachi steak and shrimp got packed up to come home with us.) When I say we ate Sushi YES my kids love it. Crazy huh? Mason will ask as soon as we walk in if he can have a California roll. tee hheeee...Then he ate HALF of my Philly Roll and Terri munched out the Spicy Tuna.

Can I just add that we LOVE OSAKA!

Follow Your Heart-A Small Taste of The Love Dare

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:53:00 +0000

WHY Is Following My Heart Not Enough?

I have been reading a book called The Love Dare. It is from the new movie Fireproof. I really want to share a portion of this book that has completely moved me.
"Whatever you pour your time, money and energy into will draw your heart."

HE WHO TRUSTS IN HIS OWN HEART IS A FOOL, BUT HE WHO WALKS WISELY WILL BE DELIVERED. [Proverbs 28:26]

Whats Wrong With Following My Heart?
It's Foolish. The world says "Follow your heart!" This is the philosophy of new age gurus, self-help seminars, and romantic pop songs. Because it sounds romantic and noble, its sells millions of records/books. The problem is that following your heart usually means chasing after whatever feels right at the moment whether or not it actually is right. It means throwing caution and conscience to the wind and pursuing your latest whims and desires regardless of what good logic and counsel are saying.

Proverbs 23:17 Do not let your heart envy sinners yet we struggle to "keep up with the Jones'" - or we allow our daughters to wear "what Britneys' wearing" (venting sorry) I'm sooo at fault here(self admitted sinner raising hand!!)..BUT I'm not exactly pushing the mini on my 2 year old, but nonetheless I must look at myself in the mirror each day and know the sins I commit and WHO I must answer to.

This book goes on to answer the question...

Why is Following My Heart Not Enough?
Because our hearts are so subject to CHANGE and so utterly untrustworthy, the Scriptures communicate a much stronger message than "follow your heart." The Bible instructs you to LEAD YOUR HEART. This means to take full responsibility for its condition and direction. Realize that you do have control over where you heart is. You have been given the power by GOD To take your heart off one thing and to set it on something else. {verses in the Bible that communicate a message of leading your heart: Prvbs 23:17, Prvbs 23:19, Prvbs 23:26, 1Kings 8:61, John 14:27, James 4:8, James 5:8, Ecc 10:2 ...}

in a nutshell...(for those of you reading this like what in the world? {read it twice you might "get it"} You see that new pair of shoes that just came out...you HAVE to have them...you LOVE them....YOU WANT them...you NEEEEEED them...but at what cost will you go for them to be yours? WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO SACRIFICE?) I personally have to spend more time in prayer, and focusing on whats here right beside me now...tweedle dee and tweedle doo. What are you going to focus on?

(portions of this blog post were copied from "The Love Dare" written by Stephen & Alex Kendrick)

PICTURES!

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:29:00 +0000

The Playroom!

The Kids Bedroom!

After a WHOLE week (without daddy cause remember he works out of town now) the kids are playing together, eating together (did this before but their was always some sort of discrepancy of some sort.), going to bed at the same time, SHARING ....EVERYTHING...and BEING just TOTALLY sweet all the time.

HELLO! This worked. I'm not saying it will work for everyone but so far so good! YIPPIE! and double yippie cause I only have one room to clean toys in! (and I got rid of a TON!) I still have to go through a BUNCH of books though ugh.

teee heee....love the ROOM SWAP!

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:00:00 +0000

Once you see the rooms your gonna be like "OH MY GOSH!!!"

The hardest thing is what I'm about to do....move the clothes. Terris clothes to Masons room and then take the pjs and undies and put them in (fabric)baskets and put them on the shelves in the kids bed room. Terri has a HUGE shoe rack (hanging and Mason has a tiny one) so I'm going to put Masons in the kids playroom and use it for craft supplies (explain in a second) and put Terris in the kids bedroom.

In the meantime I'm going to put all their movies (that are taking up valuable room in the closet) in the bottom two drawers of the dresser. Then I need to head to IKEA and find some sort of BIG hanging net or hanging basket (preferably) to put all the stuffed animals in.

so the small shoe rack..probably wondering what I meant by craft supplies right? I'm going to use Terris old closet (now the playroom closet) as a CRAFT closet....better known as a scrapbooking/ MOMMY closet. Where I can keep all my supplies to make my bows/bow holders. blah blah blah. :-) teee heee...

Where were the kids while all this went on? WITH their DADDY! Thank heavens for THAT!

woke up this morning achin' in every possible way....but still motivated to get it done... and a play date at the park at 2. whew hew!

pictures anyone? posting them SOON come BACK!!!

UPDATE on the Room SWAP!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 03:08:00 +0000

UPDATE!!!! ...is almost DONE!

ITs Saturday Night at 9:30....its only been one day and the kids are getinng along FAMOUSLY!!!
NOT gonna lie I'm hurting . . . but the fact that my kids are getting along so well, so worth it.

Mason even took the little table and chairs out of the "playroom" to put in their room so they could "enjoy a nice dinner alone tonight mommy" [while putting the chairs side by side to add!!!]

I'm only showing a couple pictures...given I'm only ONE WOMAN HERE!!

The paper drawing on the window is because the blinds broke during the transformation so I had to improvise. (don't want everyone peeping in the windows at night.) I decided to doodle on it today [mason helped] and it turned out kinda cute. Of course we'll eventually get blinds.....MAYBE. or we'll just keep drawing on the paper and replacing it.

Terris baby house/bookshelf is now a place for THEIR Littlest Pet Shop, Puzzles, school supplies, arts and crafts (SOME-the good stuff stays in my white cupboard), playdoh etc. and YES I so trust my 2 1/2 year old with playdoh at her level along with markers....she's THAT well trianed. She knows I'll kick her cute little butt if she messes with anything messy without permission!!

(I so thought Mason would have HATED the idea of sharing a room with his little sister, but I was WRONG) I used the fact that I shared a room with my big brother and we shared EVERYONE of our toys, and we LOVE each other now. . . and hes all about his uncle John John!!!

Making the SWITCH!

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:26:00 +0000

I'm PUTTING THE KIDS IN THE SAME ROOM!!

Making Terris room a Toy room.

(temporary till they can learn that its NOT "mine mine mine" all the time its OURS!!)

then eventually once they learn that that sacred bond thats called SIBLING LOVE is formed...or better yet FUSED together then I'll ~~let...ummm....GIVE~~ switch the rooms back!

HERES TO A ROOM SWAP!

and HERES too a wonderful neighbor thats coming over to help me sort toys and fold some clothes before CLint gets home (remember hes out of town working each week) IN 2 HOURS!!!

NO WAY I'll finish but I SO dropped Terri off for a night at PawPaws. SO NO KIDS TONIGHT!

**daddy and mommy can finally have alone QUIET TIME**

A Peaceful Prayer for Paps.

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:05:00 +0000

*(this picture is from this Christmas 09)*

Clints grandfather is in the hospital. I've wrote about him before, honestly not enough. But I'm terrible with posting all the pictures I take.

Years ago, when Clint and myself first started dating and I first went into nursing I took care of his grandmother Evelyn. A beautiful strong heart woman. Paps her other half was an ex marine drill Sargent. The entire family "warned me" how tough he was. Not intimidated I went in head first. I was raised by a very stern hand in a house with a Navy Seal. No child spoke out of turn. Now at first you would think Paps ran the show. Being his rank and all. WRONG. Shortly after staying with them, coming in everyday I knew what went on behind the scenes. It was "Ma-Ma" that was in charge, She held his heart and they both had mine. They had that old everlasting love.

Evelyn passed in the summer of 2005 right before Clint and myself got married but Paps was there and boy was he sharp looking. The marines never left this man. He was up with the sun and sometimes before. 4:30 everyday dressed and bed made. Even till last week (he came over to our house last Sunday) he's always dressed and shoes shined. 89 years old on Feb. 11th.

(*this picture from 5/10/07 post but it was from an earlier visit in 4/07*)

Last night he was admitted to the hospital. At first they thought he had too (same as Evelyn) congestive heart failure. But just now I got the call that its leaking valves to his pacemaker. This is worse. If it were congestive heart failure medications could be giving to prolong his life and keep fluid off his heart and out of his body; with the leaking valves the only way to fix this would be through surgery and at his age this is not an option. They said that overnight they have drained over 15 lbs of fluid out of him. From the waist down he has... well whats best described as elephantitis. Everything including his genitalia is extremely enlarged. He has refused to eat and is now refusing to even get up making moving the fluids harder.

I pray that he can pull through this. I know if its his time then there is no reason in me asking for the Lord to prolong the inevitable for my own selfish reasons, but I really want the kids to have just a few more years to enjoy Paps. Hes such a gem. (shouldn't I be over 60 to say that?) You know what I mean. . . hes just so special. If this is his time then I ask that the Lord takes him to see his love as peacefully as possibly.

I want to end this post with the song I melt too every time I hear it on the radio. I think of Trent and Evelyn....

Mark Shultz Walking Her Home....

I think about Paps sitting in MaMas room while she was in the Hospice bed, where I got a job to be with her in her final days. Till her final day. He would leave each night when I would get off work at 7. Then each morning when I'd come in at 7 he would be there waiting for me to get there before he went in. Every day she was there (for only a few weeks) he spent every moment he could in the recliner beside her. ♥

***to see pictures of Paps and the kids just click on my labels under Paps!***

The PURPOSE behind NOT blogging this week.

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:40:00 +0000

I chose to keep the previous post up for this week for a couple reasons;

Awareness, so many women have gone for years through pain and unknowingly let their doctors tell them that its nothing, "try a new position", "change your diet", "its just a cyst it will pass"....and only about 30 percent have the courage to change their doctor and GET A SECOND OPINION!

Looks can be deceiving, take the time to listen to others because I promise your problems might not always be so bad. Pay attention to those around you, be perceptive to others in need. If you see someone that appears in pain, even if you don't know them, help them. Many times I've struggled to get out of a store with both kids (or even 3) and a cart full of groceries and a buggy goes one way and a kid goes another. Meanwhile a woman or man will just walk right by too high and mighty to help or just to into what their doing. Know that just because someone looks capable maybe just maybe their not. I'm young and appear healthy yet I'm debilitated in many aspects. SO many things I can't do that years ago I wouldn't have hesitated in an instant to do.

God. I left this post here to let you know that I know that I don't stand alone. I have my family and friends, but I stand firm that the Lord is with me every step of this journey. Throughout life we get older and weaker but as this happens our minds rippens we become wiser and hopefully most of us become spiritually richer.

Don't worry be happy. LET GO LET GOD! see me? I'm IN PAIN. YET....~~~~> STUPidly HAPPY. psst. it comes from the inside. my heart is joy filled. (I promise its taken alot to get to this point in life, it DOES NOT come over night. Alot of talking with the Lord.) Surround yourself with positive people. Regardless the circumstances in life at some point there will be pumps in the road, nothing better to get over those bumps then good strong HAPPY people holding your hand! HERE TAKE MINE! lol

*YES my head IS that big (& my mom had me auu natural thannnk u very much!)*

Be thankful. Praise the Lord for what you have. OR for what you DON'T have. Be thankful for those who help you in your time of need. I don't mind speaking out. When I had my last surgery (I had a lap. done when Mason was 14 months old to diagnose me with endo.) I was so appreciative for all the people at my church who reached out to helped us. I'll be honest I was struggling. I didn't ask for help I didn't know how too. I didn't know what I was going to do. Clint had never cooked for us before, never done laundry...well let me rephrase that he had at that point thrown some oily work clothes on top of some whites and pulled the knob. (so thats doing laundry right? lol) but I didn't know how I was going to get by.
The surgery I THOUGHT was scheduled for December 16. Little did I know that it was only 2 days after we returned from our beach trip to Ocean Isle. :-/ I am SO blessed that a friend from church happened to call the day we got back to see how the trip went, then I told her about the surgery she IMMEDIATELY sent out a church wide email for food to be delivered and childcare for Terri while Clint worked each day. She did this with my tonsillectomy surgery last November as well. (she is such a life saver I know) but without her and all the others at the church who knows how it would have turned out but ya know...I'm sure somehow...it would have. HE always provides.

[psssst....I'm lost in my own rambling] ha haa

Oh I remember what I wanted to say....take life one day at a time. SO what if the laundry doesn't get done today, who cares if you don't get to mop on your Thursday schedule (I mop on Thursdays you guessed it) I say grab some DVDS, take out and sweats and snuggle in the bed with the kids. CRUMBS AND ALL!! [not I hate crumbs] get a quilt and lay on top of the comforter. If you work do all this after work. There's ALWAYS Saturday. YES I know there's a bi-gillion other things you have to do on Saturday...hey whats one more? Take the time to spend with your loved ones because your not promised tomorrow.

My best friend almost found this out yesterday and now shes' in the ICU burn unit with her husband. She called me yesterday morning and said that her husband was electrocuted. He works for duke energy and he's a line man. He was air lifted to Winston Salem so I drove her. We spent the day there.... He IS ok. I mean its a serious miracle that he's alive. He will loose a couple fingers on his left hand and the electricity that flew threw his body bypassed his heart and literately exploded out his right hand. [he has a HUGE round 3rd degree burn and hole] the currant has to have an entrance point and an exit point. (they're doing surgery on his hands today...besides the impact from the fall, minor scraps and burns, the burns his hands are the worst.)
Hes an ex marine and hes a TUFF guy for sure...as soon as he regained consciousness he was ready to go home. he said "ok just cut off the fingers, I don't use my pinky much anyways." what a nut. but hes a strong Christian and I'm so glad the Lord was with him!!!!!

sometimes its ok to speak out(you might be shedding light on a painful subject that someone closes to you struggles with too....anxiety, depression, weight, money). BUT WHEN is it time to hold your tongue? (when do you just sound like your a whiner?) I've had these health issues for years. But if you look at my blog its not a dark or dreary place. Its not a reflection of that. I know of a few other bloggers and throughout the week have had the privilege (through email) to meet a few more, that too have some similar issues, and they too (some) choose not to dedicate their blogs to dwelling on the bad but on the contrary reflecting the good in their life. I'm not saying to put on a mirage, as if your life is peaches and cream but there are just some things that shouldn't be blogged about everyday. Sorry. I know we've all been to "that blog" before where "that person" just goes on and and on about how terrible their life is and this and that when in fact they should be thankful for what they have. I mean do these people not think about the pain that Christ suffered as their typing (constantly complaining)? *ugh* You just keep going back to see WHAT possibly NEXT can they complain about?!?!? Yeah not my place, there is just so many of them out there. you blog how you want. I'm the one thats gone a whole month before and not blogged then filled in the blanks with a cute picture and a one sentence explanation. :-D gotta love those posts. ha haa

As a whole, whether your a Christian, agnostic, an atheist or an alien (I was on a roll with the A's what can I say?)...take care of yourself and those around you. For right now we're all we've got. Take the time to put your own selfish need aside and love one another. Take better care of yourselves and your loved ones and step out side of your comfort zone and help someone in need. Have leftovers and a single neighbor? Take em on over! [psssst....and you don't have to blog about it....we don't need to know your reward will be much greater later down the road] I'm a personal believer in Heaven but for some of you its Karma so do it for your own beliefs, do it for your kids. Do it cause you know that somewhere down the road someone will PayItForward!!!

...and she prays.

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:27:00 +0000

God shows a particular love precisely to those who He punishes in this world, b/c in purgatory there is only a long and harsh punishment, while, if we willingly accept the crosses in this world, we merit for ourselves an even greater glory in Heaven

as the Proverb says: for the Lord chastises him whom He loves.

accept the pain and focus on the Lord for the reward is great. Morn not now for the days you have the small load to bear. Morn because your Lord is not here with you, to hold your hand through it. HE IS Omnipresent and he is here and someday we will be with him.

Lord, I can carry this small burden. I can deal with everything you give me. I am weak but you make me strong. You show me the love that I need to survive this harsh world. I'm an advocate for you. Let others see your love through me. I pray I can shine with your light. Thank You for all you have given me, for having created me to love you for eternity, for the place you are keeping for me in heaven, for the supportive family and friends to help hold me through my struggle. You are my Lord, You are my savior. And I praise your name. Amen.

**I pray. I pray daily, multiply times daily. I will never know what the future holds for them but I wholly yearn for happiness for all those in my life. I hold my children and pray with them. I pray for Clint, for his salvation, so that he may be the father and leader to our children that they'll require in this life. I drive and I pray ....and sometimes I blog and I pray. My health is not good. If you look at me I look like the typical 25 year old woman but on the inside its bad. Very bad. My body is in stage 3 endometreosis. The surgery that I had October to remove the scarred tissue and the cysts worked but wasn't a permanent fix. I went to the dr. on Monday only to find that my endometreosis is back. its only been 4 1/2 months from last Octobers surgery till now. Typically after they go in and clean out all the scarred tissue and cysts they give you a couple years before it comes back. I totaled over 40 cysts. It wasn't supposed to come back for a few years if at all. . . not in this case. They're trying to offer me some new drug, honestly all I can ask for is prayers and the fact that I know that know matter the pain I deal with on a daily basis its nothing compared to the pain of the Lord ....and my focus at all times especially now should be on God.

If you'd like to keep updated follow me. I know alot of women deal with this and if you could tweet this I'd love to see if I could get a group together to see if there are others that have dealt with the same issues.

Eat it or plant it?

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:41:00 +0000

When mommies away . . .haha

yeah thats an onion. I bought a few onions the week before I went to Asheville...so around February 5th. I come home and say "EW the fridge stinks and whats in the pantry?" Clint said "I don't know, I didn't look." Ok CLINT WHAT DID YOU FEED THE BOY CHILD?

Well I did look and this is ONE of the things I found, along with a half cut onion in a Ziploc (BAD) and some slimy broccoli as well as some celery (double ew) Just wanna say that everything has been cleaned and all the funk is out of the kitchen. *Thanks Mason for all the help*

What you should know about me.

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:43:00 +0000

í'vє mastєrєd thє art σf вєíng símplє, ín a cσmplícatєd kínd σf waч ;-)

thє líttlє вoч & gírl that call mє "mσmmч" R mч єntírє wσrld!
thє kєч tσ mч hєart ís ín thєir hands…thєч R aвsσlutєlч thє lσvє σf mч lífє.

í lσvє mч famílч and í adσrє mч fríєnds.

í dσn’t knσw what í wσuld dσ σr whєrє í wσuld вє wíthσut mч famílч, & fríєnds. í am trulч a luckч gírl tσ havє sσ manч єхtraσrdínarч pєσplє ín mч lífє.

í wσuldn’t changє a thíng aвσut mч past, єvєn íf í cσuld.

í thínk ít takєs вєíng σn вσth sídєs σf that fєncє tσ trulч apprєcíatє thє thíngs that чσu havє...and lєarn tσ fσrgєt aвσut thє thíngs that shσuldn’t mattєr.

í am strσng, вut í havє vєrч sσft sídє (dσ nσt místakє kíndnєss fσr wєaknєss)

í am σutspσkєn, вut í alsσ knσw that sσmє thíngs arє вєttєr lєft unsaíd. í thínk ín cєrtaín sítuatíσns, a lσt can вє saíd ín thє mídst σf sílєncє.

í stand up fσr what and whσ í вєlíєvє ín & í apσlσgízє whєn í knσw í shσuld.

í am pєrsístєnt whєn ít cσmєs tσ gєttíng what í want, thσugh í wísh í was вєttєr at knσwíng whєn tσ trч hardєr and whєn tσ walk awaч.

í am prєttч hard tσ ímprєss, вut єasílч amusєd.

í am a vєrч hσnєst pєrsσn...вrutallч at tímєs. sσmє pєσplє apprєcíatє that aвσut mє, whílє σthєrs maч nσt!

í havє aвsσlutєlч nσ tσlєrancє fσr líars. dσ nσt wastє mч tímє wíth dєcєptíσn.

í can вє vєrч sarcastíc & stuввσrn at tímєs.

í aвsσlutєlч thínk that what gσєs arσund cσmєs вack arσund!!

nσthíng ín thís lífє ís cєrtaín, σthєr than at sσmє pσínt ít wíll єnd!

Webkins style Tetris

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 22:49:00 +0000

So Mason has accumulated a few Webkins. For those of you that don't know these are stuffed animals that you buys that have a tags on them that are virtual pets as well. You can go online and "adopt" your pet. Name it, give it a gender, decorate its home, buy it clothes, feed it, put it to bed.. and so on. You can get a "job" to earn cash, take quizes (in math, social studies and history; depending on your age which you have to do to get jobs) and you can also play games.

ONE of the games Masons loves is one of my old favorites from when I was his age, Tetris. I remember when we got the Game Boy. ahhh I remember it as if it were yesterday. [I'm not that old so its not been that long ago, well I gues its been 19 years HOLY COW!!!!] I can see it now... opening an empty package with my big brother Johnny to send us to another room to another empty package in ANOTHER room, until finally there it was beside the grandfather clock an old shoe box with ugly wrapping paper. We opened it to find Our (yes we shared-isn't it sweet.) Game Boy. With the Game Boy we got Castlevania (Johnny took this one over, I was fine with that.) and Tetris (oh so MINE!) I was the master. I couldn't be touched. My hand eye coordination was amazing after playing that game. But I had to focus....something SERIOUS!

Guess WHO has it on their Webkins game now and loves it???

Thats right! My Peanut! Its called Bamboo Break but he loves it. After he gets all his homework done he gets 20 minutes or so of computer time before bath and this is right were he goes..... :-D

I'm shocked at how well he does on the trivia too. Hes moved up to the 8 year old trivia questions. He misses alot but he's already passed the 7 year old stuff. congrats to my baby! (reminder hes only 6)

:-/

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:50:00 +0000

Whoa is me...

but it will always be ohhhkay. {(::smiles::)}

**picture from LAST summer after Carowinds**

Facebook Addicts beware!

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:35:00 +0000

I can't help it. I'm a sucker to all social media networks. You name it, I've done it or at least tried it. But my biggest obsessions right now are of course Twitter, Facebook and yes Myspace. (great way to keep up with younger siblings and church youth)

The hilarity of "Facebook Fever" is video blogged by Christine of HappySlip.com and I can't seem to stop laughing about it. I just love her videos she seems to see everything in my perspective....LIKE

********SIDE NOTE about FACEBOOK************

My cousin Christi just warned me that EVERYTHING but on Facebook is copyrighted by them. When you sign up for Facebook you agree to this. Quotes, sayings, PICTURES. EVERYTHING. SO if your the person thats gonna come up with the next "THATS HOT" saying then don't put it on Facebook first cause your signing if over to them!

Little Sassy....POSE of the Week!

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 01:02:00 +0000

Everyone has their favorite pictures for the week...I think this is a great way to showcase your favorite shots. I'm gonna switch it up a bit....

My daughter is a sassy little thing with a LOT of personality. (I mean ALOT) Terri has a way of captivating a room when she walks in. Rarely do people believe me when I tell them that shes' only 2 1/2. Miss Thang has the vocabulary of a 4 or 5 year old and easily could outtalk one too. Yeah I know she got it from her mama.

We went to the post office today to weigh a package and Terri starts up a conversation with the lady behind me. "Hey, Dats my MOM. Her names Ewizabef _____ _____ "(yeah she included the maiden name) Then Terri asked the lady "Whats yer name?" ::waits for response:: "I wike that name, my name is Terri Jade ____"

GEEEEEZ Terri you don't happen to know your social and street address do you? THANK GOD! lol This lady was baffled when I told her Terris age. Then when we left Terri said "bye suzy" lol

I couldn't remember the ladies name and SHE DID! ....wow.

Well from now on I'm gonna try to get a POSE of the WEEK...since Terri is so INTO her posing abilities now ....I'm gonna have to show some of em out.

Sneek Peak-The Shiner

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 01:44:00 +0000

I couldn't resist posting this picture. I really didn't want too bc. of TERRIS HEAD. BUT the kids were just so sweet I had too. (I started making hairbows and hairbow holders and Terri is my "tester"!)
Also notice Masons eye? The slight "shine"? THAT would be his first black eye in the making. Today on the playground the boychild and his buddy had a head on collision. Our conversation was so adorable when I went to get him from school. (purse loaded down with sweets and stickers of course)

He said "Mommy me and my friend cried."
did you? was everyone looking at you?
"I didn't care. I was hurting so bad. The other boy stopped but I just kept crying cause my face and heart hurt so bad."
Oh honey I'm so sorry. Does it feel okay now?
Yeah a little better ::holds icepack to his JAW instead of his eye::
I'm glad
Miss. _____ (insert teachers name) rubbed my back until the other teacher came to take me to the nurse office. She did it good like you mommy. She must be a great mommy too.

::holds heart DEEP breath::

God I love this child.

Please be in prayer....

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:44:00 +0000

for a couple of our friends... as of yesterday Rob and his wife Amanda were expecting their fourth, going into labor she felt a bit uneasy. After getting to the hospital and starting the pitocin they couldn't get a heart beat(which surprisingly is NOT uncommon-due to the position of the baby), so they were going to go in vaginally and attach a monitor to the babies head only to find that the baby at 40 weeks had passed. Complications due to a "small" umbilical cord. Is all we were told up until last night.

This is extremely hard for Amanda and Rob, this would have been their 4th little blessing.

[for those of you that know me personally this IS NOT Amanda L***** my best friend that lives in Germany(also married coincidentally to a Robert).] This is a friend of Clints Rob and his wife that I just met this past year. very sweet couple that is having a tremendously hard time grieving and trying to explain to their children how and why this has happened. Please keep them and their children in your thoughts and prayers.

Her little black dress...

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:47:00 +0000

Now that I'm back from "vacation" (work-lol) I've been overly busy with cleaning, organizing, washing clothes, checking emails, opening packages....and I've only been home since Saturday night. I don't wanna neglect you or leave you hanging....I want to let you see the boo-quoos of pictures I took; but I need TIME! I have to edit them, that is AFTER I get my house back to normal! (yesterday was spent CLEANING-not that Daddy didn't do a phonemal job) But while moms away theres alot that is overlooked. ALOT. ::snickering:: But I'm not complaining...Mason was well fed (ALOOOOT of eating out), bathed (daddy does this every night regardless!), at school everyday and his homework done. Now his folders weren't signed and somethings were left out but his teacher completely understood.(I will say that besides the mounds of clean clothes that needed to be sorted and put away Daddy gets a BIG round of applause cause he did SUCH a great job.) I wonder if he even missed me? ;-)

************************

To leave you now with this, Riley Jeans FIRST LITTLE BLACK DRESS.

(and yes this week will be overloaded with miss r.j.)

FWD: Red envelope idea

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Dear Family and Friends,

I don't forward much e-mail, but I thought this was such a good idea that I had to pass it along. It was sent from a Pregnancy Resource Center.

*************************************************

Dear Friends and Intercessors:

This afternoon I was praying about a number of things, and my mind began
to wander. I was deeply distressed at the symbolic actions that
President Obama took as he began his presidency. Namely, that he signed
executive orders releasing funds to pay for abortions, permission to fund
human stem cell research, and federal funding for contraception. I have
been involved in the pro-life movement for nearly 20 years, and it pained
my heart to see a man and a political party committed to the shedding of
innocent blood. This man, and this party lead our country, but they do
not represent me or the 54% of Americans who believe that abortion is
wrong and should no longer be legal.

As I was praying, I believe that God gave me an interesting idea. Out in
the garage I have a box of red envelopes. Like the powerful image of the
red LIFE tape, an empty red envelope will send a message to Barack Obama
that there is moral outrage in this country over this issue. It will be
quiet, but clear.

Here is what I would like you to do:

Get a red envelope. (You can buy them at Kinkos, or at party supply
stores.) On the front, address it to:

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington , D.C. 20500

On the back, write the following message:
"This envelope represents one child who died in abortion.
It is empty because that life was unable to offer anything to the world.
Responsibility begins with conception."

OR

"There is no God who condones taking the life of an innocent human
being. This much we know." -- Barack Obama at today's National Prayer
Breakfast

Put it in the mail, and send it. Then forward this email to every one
of your friends who you think would send one too. I wish we could send
50 million red envelopes, one for every child who died before having a
chance to live. Each one counts. Maybe it will be used to change the
heart of the president.

I'm back!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 03:58:00 +0000

Did you even notice I was gone this time???

Ive been gone since Sunday (Feb. 8th) -- I drove to Asheville to help deliver my baby (shes 22 but shes still my baby) sisters BABY!

You didn't even notice I was gone did ya?? Proud of me for scheduling posts AREN"T CHA?????

YAY FOR ME!!!!!

...and SUPER YAY for DEZ!!!

MEET RILEY JEAN!
Born 6lbs 12oz @ 11:22 pm!!

FEEL FREE to comment and say how GORGEOUS she is. I have so many pictures to post. (I took TERRI with me[I'm exhausted BTW]) I can star at this picture for EVER!

**********

Happy Valentines Day!!!!

If we lived the word ...

noreply@blogger.com (Mason and Terri's Mom) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 02:11:00 +0000

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, who he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:3-7