AmAzInG GrAcE

God is amazing! What a whirlwind the past month has been but God still proves to be amazing! In the midst of my daily trials and struggles, I can still find comfort in knowing that my Jesus loves me and cares what I am going through.

On Friday, I couldn't seem to get moving and get my booty in the car to travel to Mobile, Al for my uncle's funeral. This was very hard for me for a number of reasons: 1)to be honest, I was mad that I was doing this by myself and really wanted Josh to be with me, 2)tired and didn't want to travel again, 3)was just not ready to say my last goodbye to my uncle, 4) not sure how the next 24 hours was going to go....

We had a good trip and the monkeys were really good for me. We got their about 6:30 pm and went straight to the funeral home for the wake. This was hard but my uncle looked great and I know that he is not in any more pain. What a time of celebration and a time of showing others the comfort we can find in our Savior! Well off to dinner we went and then to bed. Long night with a potentially broken rib or just a really bruised rib!! That is another story....

The next morning we get ready to head to the church and it is here that I love the child like faith....As a mother I hesitated to let my children see their great-uncle lying in the casket, but death is a part of life. I explained to them that he was asleep and now with Jesus and that they were having a big party in heaven. Sydney then says "with pink balloons". I said "yes with pink balloons, Uncle Johnnie would love that". How sweet to see life through the eyes of a child. During the service, Sydney asked me "what is his name up there?" I said "you mean uncle Johnnie", she said "yes". She asked me again "what is his name up there in the bed?" How sweet is that.

I had the honor to sing "Amazing Grace" and what a chance to be a witness for God to a church full of people. This is not a time of sorrow but of rejoicing and singing for GOD! It has been 5 years since I have sung in front of a church so this is normally a very nerve racking thing for me but I could feel God's presence. I was not nervous at all and the notes came out right. As I look over to my family and see the tears in their eyes and I can rejoice in the fact that I will see my uncle again one day and will see all my family and friends again one day as long as they believe that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior!


Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,That saved a wretch like me....I once was lost but now am found,Was blind, but now, I see.
T'was Grace that taught...my heart to fear.And Grace, my fears relieved.How precious did that Grace appear...the hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares...we have already come.T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...and Grace will lead us home.
The Lord has promised good to me...His word my hope secures.He will my shield and portion be...as long as life endures.
When we've been here ten thousand years...bright shining as the sun.We've no less days to sing God's praise...then when we've first begun.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,That saved a wretch like me....I once was lost but now am found,Was blind, but now, I see.

Heavy heart

The past month has been so long and full of so many changes, illness, events, and just daily living. I have not been up to par for what seems like this entire deployment. Josh and I laughed about all the "silly" things that I have done:

• fell and hit my head and hurt my thumb in the wee our of the night and had to take the monkeys with me to the ER;
• traveled to visit family for Easter;
• slipped on some pine straw after their preschool program so off to the doctor I went to have my foot/toe seen about which by the way still hurts and this was back in May!!!!;
• needed my first round of antibiotics for a sinus infection and looking back now I probably needed the drugs way before May;
• my best friend from high school got married (I was one of her bridesmaids and made the wedding cake in my dad's apartment and another friends home in Macon, GA) (side note: if you ever try to bake anything away from home just image having to bring all your cake decorating tools and then bake with 2 year old twins at your feet)
• visited family so the monkeys could go on Mimi and Pop's boat =)
• waiting for preschool , patiently waiting for preschool=)
• received another round of antibiotics while in MS, still feeling pretty rough!
• a long time friend of our family started declining (he has been battling MS for over 15 years)
• still feeling like a truck hit me and an elephant was sitting on my face~! went back to the doctor for yet another round of antibiotics (this time with predisone and a nasal spray=( )
• CT scan of my sinus passages to see how much fluid is still in there and if I have any polyps. uuuugggghhhh
• now today, my uncle has passed away....I know death is part of this life but it is still hard and the human in me struggles with it but the FAITH aspect prevails! My uncle wants me to sing Amazing Grace at his funeral! I have not sung in such a long time and the last time he heard me sing was at my mom's funeral October 1999.

My heart is so heavy and I so want/need my honey at times like these but at times like these I do know that I have my Jesus to lean on to find that comfort.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

what a fun night!

Well life is good, feel terrible but life is good. My dad came this morning at 9:45 am and will be here until Tuesday so nap time can begin without interruption.....hahaha

About 10:30 am I took a much needed shower to shave my legs, wash my hair and then get into a nice HOT bath with bath oil, a magazine and peace & quiet! Wow how great you feel when you are clean! Yes if you are a mom you realize there are some days that you don't get a shower much less when you feel like crap. I put some deep conditioner in my hair while getting in the tub, so yes I had to get in the shower again. To say the least I am squeaky clean! I then proceeded to color my hair and wow I feel great! Just want to give a shout out to GOD for letting me be born in this day and age of hot showers, razors and hair color! The simply things in life.

We took the kids down to the Thursday Art Walk downtown. Went to my new favorite store Ingredients and ordered Sydney a bracelet. They had two artist in their Sharla Adams with Designs By Sharla. Check out her website: www.designsbysharla.net I am excited to see what she will make for my spunky little girl! Will post pics when I get the bracelet. The other vendor was a women after my own heart: Tammy Hyatt with Hyatt's Custom Cake and Confections. Check out her website : www.hyattscustomcakes.com . I did not get a chance to talk to her because she had several waiting to talk but she had some great samples. Sydney loved her truffles!

We made our way around the corner and Sydney said she wanted some pizza for dinner. I told here we were going somewhere that she would be able to get pizza..."I love some pizza. Pizza, pizza, I love pizza" all while doing a dance. My girl loves food! We enjoyed a great dinner at The Blackhorse Pub and Brewery: www.theblackhorsepub.com ....YUMMY! Beer Cheese Dip is the best!

ON our way back to the car we got a little dance show from you guessed it Sydney! The car was at the red light playin some booty dancing music and we know whose child she is, uuuummm yeah she started doing the booty dance and they just loved it. the car behind them rolled down their window and played some more booty music and she just loved it and danced with her mama even more. It was precious and priceless!

My dad is a big fan of "doo waap" music as he calls it and Sydney is becoming one too. she tried so hard to learn the words and sing along with "papa". He loved every minute of it. Tonight was such a good night. We all needed it after the long week we have had around this house!

26 days left till R&R!~