Thank You.....

Thank you for your thoughts, kind words and prayers during the death of my Grandfather. I love all of you, my Blog Friends.

=],

My Grandfather.....

My Grandfather died. Today. This morning, in fact.

Please remember my family in your prayers during the difficult days ahead.

=[,

Jungle Man.....

My Senior, Haley, on her Last "First Day of School"

My 7th Grader, Kylee

Hayden, 1st day of preschool. He looks so little!

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Saturday Morning, as I was sitting on the couch enjoying my morning coffee, a car pulled into our driveway I didn't recognize. Since I was still in my pjs, I sent the husband outside to see who it was.

Confession time...............

I was peeking out the french doors trying to see who it was and what was going on.

I literally bent over double laughing when I looked outside.

There in the driveway were 2 guys neatly dressed in black slacks, long-sleeved white shirts and ties and here was Hayden.......





Underwear + Safari Hat + Jaguar + Lion Tamers Stick Whip = Perfect Combination

Turns out, the two guys were canvasing our neighborhood for their church. Now, it was HOT in Alabama Saturday, so I know they had to be burning up in those clothes.

Q.) Who wasn't burning up?
A.) Hayden

He wasn't any wearing clothes to burn up.

Gotta Love it!

=],

Which Button Cuts Aunnie Off?.....

So far, so good on our first week back to school. Surprisingly enough, the girls have gotten up without any problem. I figured after sleeping in all Summer I'd have a really hard time getting them up. I am soooo glad that has not been the case.

My Grandfather, much to every one's dismay, has had a complete change in condition-for the better. Hospice can't believe the fight he has in him. They, well actually all of us, expected him to die days ago. God is in control. Period. He is alert, and has decided he is hungry, so he is now eating 3 meals a day. Now, he is not consuming much, but just the fact that he is alert enough to tell us he's hungry and eat is amazing. Please continue to pray for him and my Dad. My Dad's vision has not totally returned in his Right eye from the detached retina. The Doctor told him it may be 2 weeks or so before it does. Today is 2 weeks so he is getting antsy that it may be as good as it is going to get. I told him he said 2 weeks or SO, so be patient. I know it must be difficult and frustrating though.

I have a prayer request for y'all. My blog friend, Cindy at Fearfully and Wonderfully Made gave birth to a sweet baby girl, Adalei Rose Tullis, on Monday. This precious baby girl was born with Transposition of the Great Arteries. She was to have Open Heart surgery today between 11-12. Please pray for Adalei Rose, as well as her family. God, without a doubt, is The Great Physician, The Comforter, The Source of Strength. He is Faithful and He hears our prayers.

I'll leave you with a funny. This weekend, Hayden, my 3 year-old nephew, for those of you who don't know, picked up the remote control, pointed it at me and said, "Which button cuts Aunnie off?" to which Haley and Kylee replied, "It ain't that easy"
Have I told you I am so in love with this boy?

I love being his Aunnie!

=],

Laminin.....

Have you ever heard of Laminin? Chances are, you haven't. Neither had I, til tonight.

What is Laminin?

I am sooooo glad you asked.

Laminin is defined by Webster's as: "a glycoprotein that is a component of connective tissue basement membrane and that promotes cell adhesion"

In Layman's terms, Laminin is a protein that acts as the glue that holds all of the trillions of cells in our bodies together.

Still wondering why Laminin is so special?

Let me show you what Laminin looks like.....


WOW!

Did I say WOW?

WOW!

The glue that holds our body's cells together is the shape of a Cross.

WOW!

Coincidence?

Not a chance!

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Colossians 1:15-20 (The Message)
We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body. He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he's there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.

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Psalms 139:13-16 (NIV)
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

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Pretty awesome, huh?!

=],

Pass The Torch.....

School starts back tomorrow, ugh!

I will officially be the Mother of a High School Senior and a 7th Grader. Really, where has the time gone?

Seems like yesterday I was getting them ready for their first day of Kindergarten.

Wednesday night at Church they held the "Pass the Torch" ceremony. This is where the outgoing Seniors "Pass the Torch" to the incoming Seniors to be leaders and examples for Christ within their Youth Group.

Outgoing Seniors

Getting ready to Pass the Torch



Class of 2009 Passing The Torch to the Class of 2010

Class of 2010

Praying for Leadership

It was a great ceremony, very moving. Of course, I cried. What's new, huh?

Enjoy your Sunday afternoon, friends!
=],

Blog Button.....

I have been working on a button for my blog and FINALLY it is finished. Grab the code to the left and add it to your blog.

And The Award Goes To......

Happy Saturday Morning, Blog Friends!

I was extremely thrilled to find this from Serenity. Thank you for this award.



For this award, please accept it, then acknowledge the blog and blogger that has given you the award in a post along with his/her name and link
(Serenity at Two Sides)
Then pass the award onto 5-10 other blogs that you love to stalk.
Remember to write everyone to let them know that you have given them an award.
Here's is my list:
Nelly
SSS
Warren
Teresa
Grace

I love reading all of your blogs.

Just a Matter of Time.....

So many of you have asked how my Grandad is and quite honestly, it's just a matter of time.

He was released from the hospital this week with Hospice, simply to be made comfortable, free from the pokes, sticks, tests, etc.

All the decision have been made, everyone is in agreement, and peace has been found.

It has been extremely hard to go through, to be the "patient's family" and not the "nurse", more so, to watch my Dad wrestle with decisions that mean life or death.

My Dad has done a remarkable job. My Grandad would be proud of the Man he is, I know I am.

Thank you all for your thoughts, phone calls, e-mails but especially for your prayers. This journey is not over, it is just a matter of time.

I do ask that you continue to pray.

My Dad had to have emergency surgery Thursday night for a detached retina.

Yeah, I know, when it rains it pours.

My Dad is doing well, but now must lay flat face down for 5 days. The Doctor told him he was "lucky" they were able to operate on him when they did.

I don't believe in luck. See, it was just a matter of time before my Dad lost his vision in that eye, but God is in control of ALL things.

When thinking of time, another thing crossed my mind this week.

Our Church had two different mission teams out in the field this week, one in inner-city Orlando, the other in Romania.

Last year, the Romania team asked me to pray about going with them this year. I love missions and wanted to go but for one reason or another it just never worked out.

Same thing with the Orlando trip, I wanted to go so bad, more so than the Romania trip. You all know how much I love inner-city missions.

This particular group was returning to our Orlando mission site from last year and that group of kids touched my heart like none other.

I prayed about going, and planned on it but it just didn't come together.

I wondered why? God knew I had a heart for those kids.

While driving back from seeing my Grandad, a light bulb went off..... I had not even thought about the Romania or the Orlando teams until then.

Way back when the initial planning was being done well over a year ago for these trips, God knew what was in the future.

He knew this VERY week, my Grandad would be clinging to life, and my Dad would be having emergency surgery.

He knew where I was going to be needed the most.

Once again, I am soooo thankful, He is in control and knows what is best for our lives.

He knows WHAT we need, WHEN we need it.

He knows where we NEED to be.

He knows where we WILL be.

He knows what we WILL be facing.

See, it's all just a matter of time, HIS TIME.

I leave you with these beautiful verses.....


Psalms 31:14-15

But I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, "You are my God."
My times are in your hands;
deliver me from my enemies
and from those who pursue me.


Have a great weekend!


=],