I'd Like to Share

Here is a link I would like to share. It is heartbreaking, encouraging and heartwarming. Go here.

A New Addition

Let me start by saying I am not having a new addition, we recently purchased a new addition and it is not a pet either. We have been thinking of getting a 3rd vehicle for John to drive his 70ish miles a day to work (round trip). In the summer I use his truck for markets and on the farm and he did want to drive our Durango to work and get it all messed up and rack the miles up on it. Besides those factors it does NOT get good gas mileage. Let me say that BOTH of these ARE paid for in FULL! So we had thought about a small car but the boys seats would not fit properly in the ones we looked at. The boys still use a full seat with a five point safety harness and will for a long while yet.

John's sister (one of the three) called the other day to chat and told me they were thinking of getting rid of their third vehicle since they never drove it. Their third vehicle belonged to my mil before she passed two years ago (the sister had paid my fil for it). So I asked some questions and she quoted a price. I told her I would talk to John and call her back. It is a 2001 Chevy Venture mini van with 83,000 miles on it. The main thing was that the price was right. Actually is was $1400 less than book value. We talked and we decided to take it. It is perfect for him and us. There is plenty of room in it and if we need a family vehicle (should something happen to the Durango) then there it is. We can also get the boys seats in it and they have room too! I am glad that we have it and it is still in the family. i think that would make Mawmaw happy too!

So there you have it, a new addition! Do you have a mini van or are you a car person? What do you drive?

Blessings!

A True Blessing

I have been cooking for most of the out of town guests for a few days (since Tuesday am). Wednesday a lady (Cathey) called from our church and told me that the pastor's wife had told her to get the ladies together and provide us with a meal. Cathey is in charge of things like that. She told me they would be here Friday and asked what time. I told her 4pm. This morning I got up exhausted. Doing all of the usual things, taking care of my Mom, arranging child care, the funeral home stuff, flowers, the funeral and taking food to this house and that house. I had two aunts that made a few things and that was a big help. Then today Cathey came and let me tell you those ladies cooked for a army and a half!!!! We are so blessed to be part of such a wonderful church! Thank you for our wonderful church family!!!

There was meatloaf, kraut & wieners, 2 gallons of tea, 2 packs of rolls, peach cobbler, lemon pie, strawberry cake, green beans, chicken and rice casserole, whole kernel corn, mashed taters, deviled eggs, mac & cheese, cornbread salad and squash casserole! We feed 12 of us tonight, a far cry for the 30 we fed yesterday and the day before. One meal yesterday was provided by my cousin's church. We are so blessed in the midst of our grief. Today has been so hard for my Mom. She wanted to stay in bed but I took the boys over and she perked up. When she saw all of the food she and my Daddy both were just in aw. My Mom cried.....again. These were tears of thankfulness though.

Blessings!!

Praise the Lord!

I will post tomorrow. It has been a long and exhausting day. I sit here in tears praising the Lord for his goodness and keeping us all safe today. We had quite a scare with someone trying to get into our house and my parents' home too (while I was home with the boys by myself). We all are okay but we were absolutely terrified....... Please send a praise or a few up tonight to the good Lord above!

I'll post tomorrow........blessings and good night.

Off Duty!

Yesterday I had a full days with the boys and we all three exhausted. We had "school", dis art, had music, went to the library and then went to the garden and visited with my parents. We came home and cooked supper and Daddy was still not home from work. We went ahead and ate supper. While I am super glad he has gotten to work the last two days, he is leaving at 3:30am and last night it was 8pm before he made it home. By the way, he does NOT get paid by the hour. He gets a percentage of the haul.

I had given bathes and done the majority of the bedtime routines by the time he walked in. He had to shower before he came in contact with us because of the type of hazardous waste he had to haul. While he read the boys a book and did devotion I got a bath and then prepared the boys rooms for the night.

We got them in bed about 9pm and I crashed on the couch while John ate supper sitting beside me. As I caught up on my blog reading I came across this post (Waiting) by JMOM over at
Lots of Scotts. It made me think..... at 8pm I am exhausted! I need MY time! I get in the mind set that I am off duty when the boys go to bed. They are usually in the bed by 8pm, when they are not it interferes with me........how selfish is that!

Our heavenly Father thankfully does NOT have that mindset. He is with us at a ll times and hears ours pleas and cries at all times of the day and night. Don't get me wrong, if my boys wake up and need something or they are sick I take care of them and love being able to do so. I just need that time right after they go to bed to connect with hubby and veg out.

So today i am going to be more diligent in trying to have more patience and be a better Mommy to my boys. I love them so very much and they are growing up so quickly. I intend to cherish all of the moments there are little sprinkles of teetee that misses the potty, every little bit of food that I clean up and all of the moments in between when I hear......."I lubbbbb you Momma! So precious are the blessings that God has bestowed me with to raise as his!

I am so blessed! Thank you Lord for all of my blessings, especially my little miracle boys!

Blessings to you today!

Computer Update

My wireless is working now. Thank you Aaron! The computer guy walked me through getting the router going over the phone. So, I don't have to take the laptop back! YAY!

Blessings!

3rd Birthday Boys!

Wow! Has it really been three years?! It seems like just yesterday! The boys had their party yesterday. their actual birthday is today though. I will have a separate post on their party later. You can read their birth story in the following parts:

PART 1

PART 2

PART 3

PART 3 (edit)

PART 4

GOD IS SO GOOD! ALL OF THE TIME! SEE HIS LIVING MIRACLES!

Blessings!

What a Pleasure!

You know, tonight as I stood at our bed and thought about all of the clothes, linens and towels that were awaiting me to fold them, I had a thought. Wow! I am so blessed. How many people do not have that, a washer and a dryer. Healthy hands to fold the laundry. How many do not have water and washing detergent? How many pass off the folding as just another chore?

What a pleasure to be able to fold the laundry and have clean clothes for my family.

I am in pain, real pain tonight. I went to the dentist today to have the permnament crowns put on the top front two teeth and stayed in the chair for 3 hours straight. They were very busy. There was NO pain numbing meds today......my gums hurt, but how blessed I am. I had the money to pay for it, a warm and safe vehicle to get me there. Two wonderful parents to care for my children while I was away and a terrific, hard working hubby earning the money for the charge. I came home with the repaired temporary on and the crowns going back, to be reshaped and sized. One was much wider than the other. I am so, so blessed though.

Tell me about your blessings.......what have you been blessed with?

God is so good, all of the time!

Blessings and Sweet Dreams!

Blessings All Around

This morning as I awoke beside hubby, I just thought about how blessed I am, truly am!

I have a wonderful husband and the boys have a great Daddy who loves us so much. Enough to allow me to be a stay at home mommy (I chose with his blessing to help on the farm, seasonally).
My boys have been well since early November until this week. Tiger has a deep cough today but slept all night and so did Mommy.

It was 9* degrees according to the thermometer this morning but my house was warm and the coffee wonderfully delicious with a hot breakfast.

I was watching the boys playing as I finished chores and they are truly amazing. I just stood in awe! God is so good! Thank you Father!

I have two wonderful parents still mostly healthy for their ages and am so BLESSED to have them so close by.

As I listened to the washer, dryer and dishwasher humming along this morning and the timer go off on the oven (cookies baking for a weekend snack) I thought WOW, I am so blessed.

My home and all 3 vehicles are paid for , all of our bills are paid and our debt (cc) is very little. I am going to pay taxes on the truck hubby won at work this afternoon. I am headed to the bank to open each of the boys a college fund (my parents have them one each, but now they will have two each). I also am opening our first retirement fund as well. I have also put back our first $100, again in our emergency fund......goal is $1000. Thank you Lord!

Hubby's work is slow and some work weeks are only 3 days instead of the 5 or 6 we are used to....BUT we are so blessed he has a job and good insurance!

I have a wonderful mother's Helper that has been with us since the boys were about 4 months old. I am so blessed to have her here when I need her. she is the best. Thank you Ms. KK! We love you!

God is so good all of the time. I could go on and on but I'm sure you're sick of my happies today. I just wanted to share with you!

Blessings!

Looking Back

2008 brought many things for our family, some wonderful, some sad and some terrifying. What got us through all of it was that God is the same, today, tomorrow and forever. He is here each morning I awake, i can always trust him and depend on him.

We saw many things take place in our lives in 08........here's a brief recap.
Our boys stayed sick with various illnesses for the first two months of the year. One of them (Monkey) endured four surgeries as well. We were given the all clear on Tiger's spine! No more braces and definitely no surgery needed for what we thought in the beginning was a doomed diagnosis.

My mother-in-law, Marilyn, bravely fought here incurable, untreatable cancer to the bitter end. She spent her first Christmas with Jesus this year.

The boys turned two and hubby and I both turned 32!

We had to wait two months to find out that my Daddy did NOT have a brain tumor and had a stroke at some point, causing the spot of his brain. He also had eye surgery.

The boys were released from all of their therapies. Praise the Lord!

I went back to work for four months on the farm, while the boys attended long days at pre-school.

In the Spring my parents kept the boys for a blissful (for us) 48 hours and we made a mad dash to Atlanta for the weekend.

In the Fall we took the boys to Chattanooga and experienced all it had to offer.

I canned and froze hundreds and hundreds of jars and bags of harvest goodness for the harsh winter ahead.

We added more and more cows and calves to our farm family.

Hubby got an awesome safety bonus that he busted his tail feathers for with the grace of the one above behind him and also won us a new TRUCK! Then we both got nice Christmas bonuses.

I started my mix business back and hope to continue it doing well.

Hubby wrote out an E-F 2 tornado with his sick, bedridden Mom and his family in a double wide.

We had two awesome yard sales bringing in some much needed income.

We paid off more med bills and have all paid in full now except one!

Hubby had his third knee surgery in September and followed many hours of pt.

Major purchases were a freezer, patio set and two tvs (the others had went out, one three years ago).

Hubby was misdiagnosed with Lupus! Praise the Lord!

There were also several emergency room visits with the boys.

I was bit by a mean, mean spider.

Also for me there has been countless hours spent in the dental chair.

I am still under the care of the eye doc for various issues.

We celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary.

I think that is about it. I hope you had a great 08 and 09 will be even better!

Thank you Lord for all of your blessings! You are a gracious and loving Father!

Blessings!

Can Ya Believe This?

I need advice. Our accountant is on vacation and we are in a crisis!

I am going to try and explain this the best way I know how.

Hubby's companies accountant told him that instant of gifting the truck to us, they are adding it as income. It will show as extra income on our taxes, to the tune of roughly $30,000.00!!!!!!!!!

Then they will cut us a check for their part of the taxes and then we will pay them.

Does this sound legit to you? I know nothing of this type of thing, so we need help.

NOW, a friend of hubby's told him instead of doing the above...........

have his comapny make him a bill of sale and sale him the truck for $1.00.

Is that legit?

HELP!

Speechless

I guess, that's okay since I am typing it all out anyhow. We have been so blessed, I don't even know how to say this. Hubby got the $3000 safety bonus today. His company surprised the drivers by also giving a $500 Christmas bonus to everyone.

There was only 23 drivers out of 120 in four terminals to earn the safety bonus. Well, there was then a grand prize. They put each driver's name (only the ones that earned the safety bonus) in a box and had a drawing and hubby won!

He won a new.......................................................................................











TRUCK!!!!!!!! (click on truck)

The only difference is it is white. Can I get an AMEN!?!

Praise the Lord! thank you Lord! You are so, so good!

Hubby should receive it mid week. It is at another terminal right now. We are sooooo excited!

Hubby has a 1999 Chevy that has almost 114,000 miles on it. It is a single cab and you cannot get 2 adults and 2 carseats in it, but we can in the new one!

Blessings!!!

Boy, Did I Get Mine!

I do not even know where to start, my heart is so very full! I thought it would be heavy with disappointment but I let him lead me and look what he gave me in return! I have a dear friend that is having a hard time.....a very hard time. Her hubby lost his job 3 days after they closed on their very first house. I have known her since I was expecting the boys. She has been so very good to me and my family, even though we have never met. I love you sweet friend and I wish for you not to be mad at me.......please!


A few weeks back after learning of her situation, the message at church was on giving and letting the spirit lead you. The verse was Luke 6:38. I felt it on my heart right there in the church building. I knew I had to do something to help her, but what? We are strapped ourselves, so I petitioned some of you. I sent 20 or so an email asking to send her a gift card to Wal-Mart (for groceries and gifts for her kids). I was not asking anyone to anything I was not willing to do myself. Only two responded, one could help and the other did not feel led to help. I am not mad or hurt, perhaps a little disappointed but God works wonderful things out.


My gift card was returned because I had the wrong zip and I resent it today with some essential items.

Fast forward to last Monday.


The one that said she could help had emailed me and said her children had "something small" coming for my boys. I didn't think anymore about it.


I went to buy groceries at Wal-Mart and saw these darling little Handy Manny trucks. I knew my boys would love them but we could not afford one of them much less two. So, I put it out of my head. On Friday I went to check the mail and the postmaster said I had two big packages and I thought what in the world is that (and from toys r us)? We already had the boys presents bought. I got them home and realized it was the same exact trucks that I wanted for the boys. God was in that. MY friend didn't know a thing about this until now.


But wait, that's not all! Then on Saturday I checked the mail again. The night before i had looked to see how many dvd's we had for the boys stockings, we have 5, not an even number. I wanted 6 but needed the money for other things. Well, in the mail that day was a Handy Manny dvd. God is here.

But wait, that's not all! My hubby's company is not doing well and we knew a Christmas bonus was probably a thing of the past.........but according to a little bird, it will be more than ever. IT should be here Friday.....to the tune of $2500.00! Praise the Lord!

UPDATE!!!! Make that $3000 instead of $2500! Hubby just called and he had just found out!

But wait, that's not all.........an out of state customer called and confirmed his order for baskets from my mixes.....all 15 of them at $100 each to be shipped out next week! I also had an order over $100 go out this week and another one for $100 going out next week.

I was certainly not expecting ANY of this but God is good and true to his promises. Check out Luke 6:38! Thank you to my dear blogging friend as well. I love you sweet friend and God has something special in store for you!

I am not bragging, but God is so true to his word. Please don't think I am, I just wanted to show his works........... THANK YOU LORD, YOU ARE SO GOOD, ALL OF THE TIME!

Christmas Blessings!

Thank You Thank You!

Thank you all for your great birthday wishes! I had a great day!

My Mom and I shopped and shopped aznd had a great lunch. We had an ice cream cake drizzled with chocolate and caramel. We had a great pizza supper.

My parents got me a sewing box and gave me $100! Hubby and the boys got me cards, Deanna Favre's book and A Christian mom's Organization Journal and $20 from each of the my little boys ($40). My brother and his family gave me $25.

I don't feel any older........just yet.

Thanks again! Blessings!!!!

Quite Unexpected

Today has been a day of unexpected events, friends and happenings. This morning we got a call from my cousin's husband (retired Air Force). They live just outside of Greenville S.C. He said the gas stations that had gas was charging $5.23 a gallon. OUCH!!!!

We got up (6am) and gas at our local Jet Pep was $3.45, this afternoon (6pm) $4.65. YADDA!!!! People were lined up by the dozen. CRAZY I tell you!

Thankfully we all got every vehicle filled up by 10am (and all of the gas cans too). Dadblasted hurricane!!!

My friend owns the Chevron station in our town and her supplier told her they would likely be out of gas tomorrow and she likely would not get any for a week or more. LOVELY!

Some of the other stations were setting a 10 gallon limit. I cannot believe this madness.

On to other news......we have been trying to get in touch with a guy that worked for us part time this past summer and could not reach him. We needed him to do some work for my parents and soon. This afternoon he stopped by and asked (he works for our local Tyson) how my Dad was. Just out of the blue and when he found out what was going on he went right to work. He will be back tomorrow to finish. Thank you Lord for blessings!

We are finished with peaches.......OFFICALLY........thank you Lord for the bounty and now thank you Lord for the rest!

Then, two (couples) of my parents friends stopped by at different times today and visited for a long while. They prayed with us all and it was so wonderful. Praise the Lord!

Please pray for everyone that has been and will be affected by hurricane Ike! It is going to be a long several days and even weeks.

Tonight I thank the Lord for a dry (and safe) home, roof in tack, clean drinking water, safe family, hot meals and power and phone and of course internet. I could go on and on.

Many blessings.............

Happy Birthday Daddy!

I dedicate this day to one of the most precios men in my life........my Daddy! HE is celebrating his 75th birthday today! HE is so awesome.

Thank you Daddy for always being there for me and showing me the way to go. You mean everything to me and the boys!

Happy Birthday!!!!

Refreshed, Reconnected and Ready!

Good Morning! I am back! I did not take my laptop for those of you wondering. We had a wonderful trip and feel so much better.

We left Friday afternoon when Hubby got home from work. We dropped off the boys and went on our way. We stopped and had supper at our favorite restaurant (Top O' the River). Then on to Atlanta. We stayed at this Embassy Suites (Friday and Saturday nights) and it was fabulous! We got up and went to the grand atrium for a fully cooked to order breakfast each morning (included in the room price). They had omelets, bacon, ham, sausage, eggs, grits, hash browns, toast, bagels, english muffins, muffins, doughnuts, cereals, every kind of fruit, six kinds of juice, hot chocolate, coffees, hot teas, iced teas and soft drinks. All you can eat kind of got me off of the diet path. I twas so yummy!

Each evening they have a manager's reception with appetizers as well as cocktails and soft drinks. We did not get to attend but heard it was great. The three glass elevators overlooked the grand atrium for a wonderful view.

Our suite was gorgeous. It was a living room and king bedroom divided by the kitchen area and bath. There were two televisions (not that we watched much tv), microwave, coffee pot and refrigerator.

Saturday we went to Turner Field and took the tour and it was great as well. After the tour we went and had lunch at The Ole Mill Steakhouse and back to the hotel for a rest before leaving for the Braves game. We got back to Turner Field for the game 3 hours or so before it started. It was such a great experience!!! Our seats were right behind 3rd base and just 13 rows off of the field. We had supper there, consisting of typical ballpark food. We had cokes, hot dogs and peanuts. The price was steep, but the experience was worth every penny! The braves got beat BUT it was awesome! By the way I do not like baseball, I have never watched a whole game on tv, but I went for my Hubby! Now, I am now a true baseball fan though. I truly enjoyed every aspect of the game!


Sunday morning we arose and went to breakfast, then checked out and rove home. We arrived right after noon and visited with my parents for awhile, packed up our boys and went home. We enjoyed ourselves, immensely but am glad to be back. Home sweet home.........nothing like it!

We never had to worry one moment about our boys, they were so well taken care if by my parents. What a blessing to have such wonderful grandparents for our little miracles!

I hope to get some pictures downloaded and up tomorrow but no time today. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and will have a blessed day today! Blessings!!!!!!

Happy National Day of Prayer

Today is the National Day of Prayer. I encourage each of you to pray today, throughout the day. We are facing hard times in this country and even more difficult given our choices to elect for president. My husband and I are having a very difficult time with the choice of canidates.

I hope you have a wonderful day and I am praying for all of my readers today as well. I do not know all of you by name or comment (since many of you never leave comments) but I am praying. You could make this a delurking post!;)

Hope you all have a wonderful and blessed day! Remember to pray!

What a Blessing!

As you know I am not getting a lot of sleep these days. My Mom called me night before last and told me to bring the boys and come eat lunch at her house yesterday (my Daddy had to work in the fields). So we got there and she had pintos, fresh turnip greens, meatloaf, cornbread and sliced onion. That made this southern girl squeal with delight. It was so yummy. She made me eat, while she fed the boys. It's a treat just to get to eat uninterrupted, if you know what I mean.

Then she told me to leave them and come back at 3 (it was 12:30 then)and get them. Oh my lands!!!! Do you know how much I got done? I folded 6 loads of clothes and did 4 more, took out all of the garbage, made some appointments, cleaned out the refrigerators (we have 2), loaded and reloaded the dishwasher, picked up toys, thank you cards wrote, vacuumed, made our bed, organized and cleaned the linen closet, straighten the pantry, cooked supper, chopped some veggies for later this week and then I took a 30 minute nap! Yes, ma'am I did......a nap!!!!

I went and got the boys and gave my Momma a good smack on the check and a big ole hear hug and told her what a blessing she is. She looked a little tired. Then she said, "Honey, I don't know how you do it"! I just told her that I couldn't do it without her and I sure did love her bunches. My Daddy had made it in for lunch (at 2pm, bless his heart) and had been with them the last hour. He was so tired as well. He had been working in the orchards since 6 or so that morning. I love him so much! They treat our boys like their very own.

I am SOOOOOOOOO Blessed!!! Thank you Lord for such an awesome Momma! (and Daddy!)

When I got home, I felt so refreshed and revived. Hope you have a blessing or several coming your way today! Happy Wednesday!

Hello Again

Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, calls, emails, cards and thoughtfulness during this time.
We are all doing surprisingly well. My Husband and fil both went back to work today. I am back at fulltime Mommy world too. We are trying to get back to a new normal.

Many of you know that I did not have a great relationship with my mil because of her lack of concern and respect for the babies health. In a nutshell she wanted and did (until I put a stop to it) smoke (the same thing that killed her) while around them and while at our home (although we allow NO ONE to smoke inside our home). They were so sick with reflux and underdeveloped lungs that it literally could have killed them. I really hate that we were not closer, although I tried on many occasions. I apologized to her several times after her diagnosis, although I never received one (which is fine). She thought that all was well and I could make it fine if she could too. She had a peace and that was what mattered. We did share some sweet time before her passing. My prayer is that we all get to gather again on the streets of gold one day.

God is so good and I have no regrets. I only wish my children could have known both Grandmothers and not just one.

I am late this week mailing my coupons out for the coupon train. I apologize and will catch up next week. Please forgive me Mimi.

Please keep the King family in your prayers. I went to school with Amy and graduated with her sister. What a woman! She is so strong. Her is the news link. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,343176,00.html. a true blessing that everyone survived. Thanks to Amy and her quick thinking.

I hope to be back to blogging today, although it may be tomorrow. I hope you all are well. I cannot wait to catch up with you all. Blessings always!