Happy First Birthday Emily

So many of you have prayed for baby Emily over the past year.  If you aren't familiar with her story, please run on over to her mommy's blog at http://ourbeautifulemily.blogspot.com/ (I tried to do the link, but Blogger is being a BOOGER)


Emily has been battling Infantile Seizures over the past 7 months.  She has had many hospital trips, many long days of seizures, many nights with no sleep... & many days of successful fighting, many days of strength being shown, many days of love being lavished on her by people who care for this baby, & most importantly, love being shown by her parents, my friends, Erica & Joe...

But this weekend, we got to celebrate... Emily is one year old!  Her birthday was actually last weekend, but Erica & Joe didnt want to intrude with Carly Sue's graduation, so they scooted the party up another week...
AND... the biggest news of all... we got to celebrate that it has been over 2 weeks since that little baby has had a seizure!!!!!  A miracle in itself & one we're praying keeps on going... Joe & Erica are giving thanks to God for EACH day that Emily doesnt have to face the seizures, they call "Monsters"... I'm telling you, stop by Erica's blog, she can explain, with such heart, the daily things they go through...

But how can I go to such a fun celebration & not take pictures?  You know I cant.... So as you look at this little baby's face, can you lift up a prayer for her?  And a prayer for her parents... & a prayer for her doctors & all the people researching on this disease... & all the people who are dealing with this in their own children every day...

You have to know... I totally want a tutu just like Emily's to wear... & you KNOW I would actually wear it too... wouldnt the world be a more beautiful place with tutu's?

This is Angie... she & Erica have been best friends since they were young kids... & have stayed friends through the years... isnt that fantastic?  Friendships like that are so special....

Erica & Joe have been such a big part of the youth in our church & all these kids have loved Emily since the day Joe & Erica announced they were pregnant... love seeing these kiddos love this baby with all their heart...

Look at this cake!!!!  Yep, my sister-friend Lynn made this specatular creation... she's becoming quite the cake decorator & designer!  It was perfect for a Princess....

Happy Birthday Beautiful Princess Emily! You are loved by so many...

Friday Fragments

Its Friday.... & I'm grumpy.... dont know why.  I've been grumpy all week actually.  Maybe some fragging will help cheer me up....

*Some of you have already heard, but we got to spend most the Monday morning (& by morning, I'm talking 12:01 AM kinda morning - not like the nice 10:00 AM kind of morning) in the emergency room again with Ricky & his chest pains.  And as usual, they didnt see anything.  They sent him home with a holter monitor on that he wore for 24 hours.  That does nothing to ease his mind though.  He can feel these things but they tell him everything is alright... so now, he's just convinced he's going to die in his sleep.  That's always fun to listen to every night this week... sigh... can you all say a prayer for Ricky - his heart - the doctors who see him - just the whole situation... please & thank you!

*I finally got to see Avatar... & loved it.  It's such a beautiful movie visually.  I can see where it would be amazing in 3D ... but I get so motion sickness or if anything weird is happening with my vision, I'm down for the count in nausea - so 3D is not smart for me.  Ricky said during one of the big battle scenes, "This reminds me of Star Wars & the Ewoks fighting"... um, ok... but the rest of the night, whenever Ricky & I would see each other in the house, we'd jump & land in a stance & hiss like they did.... if only I were blue... & had "feelers" on the end of my hair...

*So you Think you can Dance!!!!  I think its gonna be the guys year!  I love all of them - sad when some other great guys didnt make it... but I just love the adorable little Kent Boyd.  I also love Alex Wong.  I hope he makes it far only because he gave up his place in the Miami Ballet & not sure if he can get it back (Miami Ballet - you all are losers for making it hard on this guy!).... Anxious to see how it works this year with only 10 people - & bringing back some All-Stars?  Comfort? Thumbs down... Mark?  BIG thumbs up... TWITCH?  ALL THUMBS UP!!! 

*Two word... Salma Hayek!!! Have you all seen the video of her freaking out over the snake coming on the set during an interview?  I literally watched it like a dozen times & had tears coming out of my eyes.... ONLY because I know, if that were me, I'd be the exact same way!!!! I hate snakes.  But her climbing all over Maya Rudolph is the best thing EVER! 

*When I heard they were remaking "The Karate Kid" - I just rolled my eyes.  But now, I want to see it!  When the original came out, that was when I was actually IN martial arts so I loved it - even the corny kick in the end, which I think everyone did for months, or maybe even YEARS, afterwards.  But I gotta hope for one thing in the new movie - that the guy who played Johnny will make an appearance in this one!  "You're the BEST... around... nothings goona keep you down"... oh yeah, singing that in my head now as I'm wiping on, wiping off....

*I just finished reading "The Help" (you can see my book blog for the full review) - but I had to mention it here too because I just LOVED that book!  Anyone else read it?  Did you love it as much as I did?  I so love when a story has me so entranced that I cant put the book down... over 400 pages just whizz by

*I am beyond EXCITED... I just got in the mail yesterday my Bible Study... my awesome, amazing, adorable friend Dawn had the idea to do this study amongst some friends via blog world.  You do the work book & you're supposed to "meet" every other Tuesday with a group.  Well, God laid on Dawn's heart to expand it to where we can "meet" in blog-land & do this study together.  So we've got some ladies joined up ready to do this together & Dawn will be posting on her blog her thoughts & questions & we can even put things on our own blogs.  I'm just ready for God to speak through this study & these other ladies.  If you are interested in joining us, its not too late.... go visit Dawn - you should do that anyways because she's just plain awesome, amazing & adorable (cant stress that enough - haha!) & come get some studying going on!

OK, so fragging did help me with my grumpiness... Try it!  Frag away & see if it helps your day become a little brighter!  Happy Fabulous Friday!

Top 10 Glee!!!!

Glee is done with its first season... what are we going to do over the summer?  I kept all the shows on my DVR, so I can replay all I want... But I saw on Entertainment Weekly the other day, they had their top 10 favorite Glee performances.  There was like 2 I agreed with - but most of my favs & my ALL TIME fav was left off... so I'm doing my own Top 10 Glee Performances... see if you agree...& if you havent ever watched Glee, maybe this will get you interested, or you can click on some of the links & take a listen.. & fall in love too!

10. - Home - Performed by Kristin Chenoweth - I love EVERY song she sings & was torn between this one & the one where she did the version of "A house is not a home" with Will... but I just loved this one because here is a lady who played Glenda on Broadway & was singing a song from "The Wiz"... & this song brought tears to my eyes... most of these songs that made my top 10 made me cry - that's how I know they were awesome! ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4NbPkYQtJc&feature=related

9. Imagine ... When they had the School of the Deaf signing the song, that was enough for me, but add in the Glee crew & their voices AND the signing - Oh yeah, that was a moment that stands out.  And the pride on Mr. Shue's face when he sees his kids connect the hearing & unhearing worlds together... a top fav! ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cIviLZ8-TM

8. I'll Stand by You - by Finn... when he was singing that to his unborn daughter, which actually WASNT his daughter (gotta love a little bit of drama), who wasnt a little teary eyed when he was looking at the ultrasound picture. ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--lw9yST1g0

7. Like a Virgin - I actually cant stand this song, but loved the way they did it with 3 different couples singing it.  I loved that Santana got a break & we actually heard her voice too, & girl can SING!  And who didnt love that Rachel & Emma had on basically the same night gowns from the 70's - Rachel's complete with a capelet!  ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvcLV7ha_LI

6. Total Eclipse of the Heart ... Rachel along with all her men...Oh, the pain in Finn's eyes.. Puck feeling a little played... & Jessee & his dancing with Rachel in the ballet studio... all wrapped up with "turn around, bright eyes"... how could this 80's song NOT be on my top 10 list?  ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xzodrj18TA&feature=related

5. Dont Stand so Close to Me/Young Girl... Oh yes, this mesh up was awesome!  Mr. Shue had to sing this to Rachel who developed the crush of all crushes on her teacher.  Thinking he would sing this song showing her how he really felt was awesome.  With Emma sitting there swooning just as much as Rachel, I think I coulda pulled up a chair & swooned right along.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XNA9Pri9Nk&feature=related (The actual clip from the show... LOVE IT!!!)

4. Smile (Charlie Chaplin version)... this song just tugs at my heart anyways, but add in the clip of the kids getting ready for their hard earned year book picture... & then to see all the football players making fun & marking up the pages... "just smile"... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4bp3RYHFEA

3.  Keep Holding On ... Who doesnt remember the long hard sigh of Quinn - who doesnt remember the look on Kurt's face as he spins her around, looking like he wants to cry right along with her.  The gang was letting Quinn know they were behind her with this pregnancy & the looks on all their faces was so awesome.  Finn taking his hands & holding both Rachel's & Quinn's hands was so moving too... A definite top 3 on my list! ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALQi34kLpo8&feature=related

2.  Defying Gravity... Rachel had been singing this song since she was a child - her signature song so she was prepared to take it on, but had to step back as Kurt too could knock it out.  Trouble was, Kurt's dad was just learning of the sexuality of his son & Kurt didnt want to make it harder on his dad then it had to be. So what does a Glee member who loves his dad do?  Throw the note that we know he can hit.... oh, the agony on Kurt's face... What a song to remember...& when Kurt looks at Rachel on the line "you wont bring me down" & looking at Mr. Shue on "I'm done excepting limits, cause someone says their so"... who wasnt rooting for Kurt then?  ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUdvtfecTIA

1.  I Dreamed a Dream... Yes, my #1... I cant imagine anything ever topping that.  Idina Menzel - enough said!  The words of this song & with the story of a mother giving up her daughter for adoption & the two of them singing it - holding each other on the floor ... I have yet to watch the scene from the show & not tear up.  I think every week should have a Idina song on it... Bring in Kristin Chenoweth & do a "Wicked" show... maybe THAT would be the only things that tops this song for me. ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7fWz4WBNs4

So you have any favorites that didnt make my list?  Are you a Gleek?  If not, WHY NOT? :)  Are you counting down until the next season starts?  I know I am...

Want to meet some Super Heroes?

I told you earlier that I had to tell you more about Mighty Mac & Jordie...

Our Children's Minister at our church found a need & with her family, they set out to fill that need. 

Ever heard of Bibleman? If you have kids in a church, you probably have.  He's a super hero kinda figure that teaches about God & about the Bible & does it in a way that grabs kids attentions.  You want Bibleman to come visit your church or the kids, you can do that.  But our little church couldnt afford him.  (Not a slam to Bibleman, by the way.... I dont want any masked man showing up at my door beating me with a Bible now).  But honestly, for small churches like ours, it really is a cost we couldnt afford - as many churches, especially in these economic times.

(Mighty Mac & Jordie under over)

In steps our Children's minister, Sha & her husband Bobby... they came up with this idea for Mighty Mac.  Getting more of their family involved,, their daughter, Jordan, aka Jordie, is the partner of Mighty Mac & they are superheroes out to help kids learn about God.  The costumes are fantastic, there is a villian, which is played by Bobby's brother, there is music, laughs & a wonderful lesson that is taught when these caped crusaders come onto the stage.

(Getting help from Chas who gives them some Scripture to help them in their quest)

They really wanted to be able to expand this ministry where more people & churches, like ours, could have the same kind of experience of having someone like Bibleman come & really get to these kids....

(Here comes the villian who wants to make sure a little boy doesnt clean his room & disobeys his parents)

As an adult, you would love it too... This family has the best sense of humor & incorporate it in their skits.  Like, the downfall of Mighty Mac & Jordie is MUSIC... it makes them dance & they cant stop, which lets the villian get away... (check out the video at the bottom for a part of it)

Isnt it cool when someone sees a need in a church community & steps up & does something about it?  I know one day, Mighty Mac is going to be a name you all hear... you can say you heard it here first!

(Jordie giving scripture to the little boy & praying over him so he can now know the truth of what God says)

By the way, Jordie (not just a sidekick) is the amazing young lady in our youth group that you've seen her beautiful pictures she had painted me through the years... A talent all in of itself... but as you can see, get her on the stage & she's a performer! 

(After the skit, Mighty Mac & Jordie explain to the kids in more detail what they can do to listen to God)

If anyone is interested in having Mighty Mac & Jordie come visit your church or camp or school, let me know - I'll get you in touch with them... you wont be sorry!

I want to imagine that library...

Its no secret I love books... I am constantly talking about them, reading one, carrying one around, even have my own blog on books I have read this year.

There is just something about being in a room full of books to me - the stories they hold, the knowledge they can share, even the smell from the musty pages of old, & the crisp of the pages of new... 

Sunday, flipping through the Bible, I came across one of my favorite scriptures - the ending of the Gospels:

There are so many other things Jesus did.  If they were all written down, each of them, one by one, I cant imagine a world big enough to hold such a library of books. -John 21:25

Think of the biggest library you've ever been too... & think that it wouldnt even be a smidgen of the books that would hold NOTHING but information of miracles that Jesus did...

Doesnt that blow your mind?  I know it does my little ole brain...

And I wonder why they didnt write all of the things down that Jesus did.  Did they just get use to what he did.  Like, "oh, there's Jesus again getting ready to heal someone"... "Here comes Jesus - he'll make sure we have enough food"... "Jesus is getting ready to come & talk again, lets go listen" ... all things they just took for granted & didnt feel like they needed to make note of because it was so ordinary?

Or maybe the things that are shared in the Bible about Jesus - maybe those things should be ENOUGH for us... I mean, there are already quite a few amazing miracles in there... Hello, rising from the dead trumps everything - (holla!!!!)  But maybe if there were all these other things Jesus did, maybe it would just confuse us, make us question why he did that miracle, & why for that person....

I know my Jesus could do ANYTHING... that's enough for me...

But I'd still just like to sit in that library full of stories of His miracles.... it would be a readers dream...

Project 365-18

Its been a busy week (aren't they all) - so let's see where all the clickin' lead to this week...

Sunday - I have Super Heroes for friends!!!.... This is actually at church.  Its Mighty Mac & Jordie... I want to do a whole blog entry for them because they are just SUPER... But I had to put this picture in... wanted to show my massive guns... dont be afraid... I wont unleash my super muscles on anyone - unless provoked.

Monday - Memorial Day left me puzzled... we didnt have air so I just sat in front of a window fan & finished putting this puzzle together.  I'm getting addicted to doing puzzles lately - does this mean I'm getting old?  Doesnt take a lot to entertain me...

Tuesday - oops... I guess going back to work after a long weekend & no air made my brain fry - no picture

Wednesday - What an amazing gift.... One of the girls in the youth made this for the pastor of our church.  It is made out of clay - & you can tell a little bit, but those are words written all over it - scripture actually - her favorite verses.  Isnt that just amazing!  People that have that natural artistic talent just blow my mind.

Thursday - NO!!!!!!!.... I took my daddy for knee surgery on Thursday (thanks for all the well wishes for him via Facebook, text & Twitter)  I had to laugh because before they do surgery, the doctor will come in & write NO on the leg they are not doing surgery on, & YES, along with the docs initials on the correct leg.  The nurses checked it was on there before they took him back.  I guess it makes sense because in the pre-op next to us, the doc went in & said "We're doing you're right leg?" - the man was like "UMMMM - no, its the left"... yeah, exactly why they have to do this...

Friday - I love my parents!!!... so I'm sitting at work & around the corners come flowers!  It was funny because I instantly thought, as did everyone in the office, that they were from Ricky because he's been torturing me with no air... Nope - they were from my parents... I should have know - see the blue flower.  I've told you before how blue is my mom's signature color... Do I have the best parents in the world?  The answer to that is a definite YES!

Saturday - Carly Sue Graduates!!!... Carly Sue isnt her real name - the Sue isnt the real part - but I've always called her that through the years... I love this girl!  Ricky & I sat next to her momma, my buddy & pal Lynn, & the rest of her family, & we were just beaming with pride too - pride of just knowing this young lady.  You want to know about some of the kids that holds the future in their hands?  Rest assure, young ladies like this will give you hope... good values, a heart bigger then anything, a love for God - just know that you'd love this girl too!!!  Congrats Carly!  Now onto College!!!

Hope you've had lots of click worthy moments in your week....

Six Word Saturday

STOP THE DIVORCE - WE HAVE AIR!!!!!

I know in my wedding vows, they mentioned something about for better or for worse - except when its over 90 degrees & we're sweating to death... so I had solid, valid grounds to pack my bags & head to a cool place with freezing air...

But no need for those bags to be packed now... WE HAVE AIR!!!!!! 

Ricky put a part on last night & we prayed & prayed & prayed again... & it seems to have worked.  I woke up this morning with it still being cool in the house & I thought I would cry...

Now I'm just nervous that part is going to blow - like its all too good to be true...

But peace & love & happiness & no more drooling dogs is what our home looks like today! 

I guess that means I gotta start cleaning... because there was no running around getting MORE sweat going while the AC was broke... so lots to do...

Hope you all are enjoying AC wherever you are!

Friday Fragments

It IS Friday - right?  I was off work on Monday due to the holidays & then took yesterday off to take my daddy in for a knee surgery... so I'm totally & completely lost at what day it is.  I'm sitting here at work & no one is here yet so I was getting nervous that it was really Saturday.... (Dont laugh - I can see me doing something like that!)  But looking at the calendar & it does show its Friday - so let's Frag away!!!

*I saw the weirdest thing this morning... going down my street, I looked over & saw a cat walking on top of a roof!  How in the world did it get up there?  More importantly, how is it going to get DOWN?  Hope it makes it down before the sun gets high in the sky... talk about a cat on a hot tin roof - OUCH!

*TICKS TICKS TICKS!!! Ricky has had them all over him this year - I had to pull one off that was so deep, but I got tweezers & was to the rescue.  It left a HUGE mark on his back that turned red & swelled up - its still healing up a few weeks later.  And yesterday, I literally just walked in from my car to the house & I felt something, looked down & saw a tick walking down my arm... ughghghghghghg!!!!  They are so bad this year... & I'm a nervous wreck about them down, constantly checking the dogs & Ricky & I keep checking each other's heads for them in our hair... we probably look like a pair of red headed chimps picking stuff off each other on these tick checks!  The fun of living in the country...

*OK - I'm going to admit - when I visit my blog buddies & you all talk about summer vacation - I turn a little green with envy.  I want a summer vacation... I remember the good ole days of having 3 months off in the summer time to relax & sleep.  Why dont they incorporate that in jobs?  Wouldnt the world be a MUCH happier place if everyone got 3 months off at a time? There's my cure for world peace...

*The HOFF is out & Howie is in...America's Got Talent just seems to be better with him on it already!  I think he's one funny dude - & I love funny!  I can sorta get his germ phobia too... if I really sit & think about the germs on people's hands, I dont want to be touched either.  I love when he ran through all the people & crotched low & said "I dont want to be touched"... at least he doesnt hide it!  .... I am already in love with the little 18 yr old that sang "Somewhere over the Rainbow" while his dad just BEAMED off stage.  You watching this year?

*No...we still dont have our air conditioner fixed... I told Ricky when I file for divorce, I'm just taking a picture of our air conditioning unit & handing it over to the judge for my reason why - attach that picture to the file....Or a picture of me with sweat running down my head...

*Bridezilla... How have I never seen this show?  When I spent the night at my parents the night before dads surgery - my mom & I watched like a 3 episode run & I was sitting with my jaw dropped through most of the show!  This lady right here, Karen, was BLOWING me away... The attitude was in sane..the fits being thrown... I kept thinking, this lady CANT be real - its gotta be for show... then I realized I know someone just like her... that freaked me out more then anything!  I need to let this person know she too can become a reality tv star! 

*I taped all the shows of Vampire Diaries ove the summer... & over this past weekend I finally sat & watched them all.  Now, THATS the way to watch a show - when you got all the shows together in one place, go straight from one to the next - no waiting a week in between for the answer to the cliff hanger... loved it!  But now, I've gotta wait till next season to see how it all turns out?  I shoulda waited to watch it all the week before the season premiere...

Hope you're Friday is Fanastic!!! You can click the button at the top & join along too...

Every Little Step

I love documentaries... to me, they are the ORIGINAL reality TV...

Netflix is great about having tons of documentaries to choose from.  So the other day, I was scanning through & saw one about the Broadway show "A Chorus Line" - called "Every Little Step".  I love anything Broadway & always love the behind the scene stuff so I knew I had to take a gander at this! 

It was playing the tape that Michael Bennett recorded one night with a bunch of friends who tried to make it on Broadway - their own stories.  He took these stories & created this play - created the songs.  It was very interesting really.  And then it was great to see how the play was still going & how people were trying out for these part, kinda like art imitating life - for real!...

For you So you Think Can Dance Fans - Tyce Diorio is in it... He was a cocky little dude...& by the way, got cut in the FINAL round... so much for cockiness Tyce!  It was kinda funny though because when he got booted, he said he was OK with that because he envisioned himself in a bigger place - standing up one day receiving an award in front of the world... Uh, didnt he win an award for some of his dancing on the show?  Or if he hasnt yet, he WILL, for that Breast Cancer dance... I thought that was crazy he said that when it was videoed YEARS ago...

But one of the dancers was trying out for the lead role.  Dont even remember her name... & this process was so long & took YEARS to get chosen for each positioin.  But when it came down to her & one other lady, she went & talked to her father about going into the last round...

He was a ballet dancer in his prime.  They showed pictures of him, in black & white, & he looked majestic standing there holding up two beautiful ballerinas.  It then showed how the years of his career had blown his knees out - the thing he loved to do the most took its toll on his body.  He then said these words & they just were pretty powerful to me... I instandly grabbed a piece of paper & wrote down what he said:

Ask the Olympic athlete whose shoulder goes out if it was worth it when he won that metal.

Ask the farmer with callouses on his hands if it was worth it to have crops grow.

For me, it was totally worth the result of my knees for what I did.

You never know what tomorrow holds.  Every day was opening night....

AND CLOSING NIGHT...

Because you dont know if you'll make it back to the stage again the next evening...

I just loved that attitude....making sure you do what you love in life because you dont know what each day holds... will you get another shot tomorrow?  Who knows...

Where are you in your life?  Is what you're doing worth it?  .... I just think so many people have taken a dream, a passion, a love & pushed it aside...

Whatever you do - wherever you are in life...I think its a question we can all ask ourselves...

 Is it worth it?  ...Because we dont know when its our closing night...