Shout out~

To Staci for getting me out of the house this weekend!!! We went to Kohl's because I had to return some shirts & ended up trying on clothes & laughing at each other. It was nice to gab without interuptions. And take our time looking around the store. After Kohls we headed to the mall since Staci had some Bath & Body Works bucks that were about to expire. Their semi-annual sale starts on Monday.....I usually grab two or three things to stick back since the prices are SO reasonable then. Next we jumped in the car & headed to Chic-Fil-A where we TRIED to redeem coupons that Staci had. The girl must have been new because the coupons threw here for a loop. In fact the lady at B & B had a bit of a hard time as well. Anyways, THANK you Staci! I had an awesome couple of hours! Oh yeah, then today we went yard sale-ing with her sister & Mom. I bought a few things & Stack/mom bought the whole town. JK! They always find good deals. I had a great time breaking my routine of Home, Walmart, church, Home again. Yea!

Sam has another softball game tonight.....another Friday I will sit at home minus daddy. I wish I had my liscense so we could go watch. It's at 9pm. I'm bored already! I've gotta do something, get out of the house someway! IT's been a long week. Memorial Day, my birthday (sick) , then Zeke & Sam got sick, then a softball game & now another one. Grr. I need a break for just a minute or two. Did I mention I need my liscense?

Pardon Me~

So I'm at the YMCA tonight up on the track. This is my favorite place because there are only a few people there. I'm walking on the treadmill and this couple starts walking on the track. At first they are walking hand in hand. Cute but not really why we're here. Then the guy puts his arm around his girlfriend. Not so cute and they are taking up almost the entire track & people have to walk sideways to get by. It was annoying but didn't last very long. Am I just anti-romance or what???? There is a track outside, I think that would have been a great place for a couple to walk.

Sum, Sum, Summertime

Today isn't much of a summer day but the weather is certainly getting warmer! I've been on ebay looking for some clothes for Sam & I. Specifically a bathing suit for me.

The summer calendar is already starting to fill up. Graduates Sunday, Father's Day, Youth Camp, beach trip, birthdays ( we have three so during the summer) Forth of July........

I want to do a special birhtday party for Sam because he turn 30 this year. He wants a 70's, 80's & 90's party. He's such a nut. I know the place & the time but we've got to get money together for deposits. It should be fun!

Zeke is almost two!!!!! It's so sad!!! This age is my favorite though! They learn so quickly and are starting to communicate with you. Their little personalities step it up a notch!

As with the beginning of any season I'm glad that there is a change in the air. It gives me something to look forward to. And lots to be thankful for!

Zeke and Sam are sick now. Poor fellas!

It's my birthday & I'm sick! But we did have a good Memorial weekend. We did the usual cookout thing, homeade ice cream, games & stuff. We had some of our youth kids over. IT was fun, today---not so much!

Memorial Day

Well, the entire world will be here today. Not really but my brother did envite some friends over for our family cookout. They will be here soon so I gotta get ready. We're doing the normal stuff. Hamburgers, hotdogs, watermelon, baked beans, potato salad, and whatever desserts we can scrounge up. My dad will make homemade ice cream-yummy!!!!! There will be twenty six people here instead of the 'normal' 14, pray for me! And for our poor bathroom, with that many people here it's sure to get a workout!

Sunday's are such long days! I guess it's because I'm used to being here all day long that going to church makes it seem like the day lasts forever! Our Pastor is out of town this weekend. They went to see their daughter graduate from Fort Myer MC. SO we had a guest speaker today, they are evangelist so I was just hoping that it would be extra long. Is that bad???? I mean if GOD's spirit is moving I'm not gonna be watching the clock or anything. But sometimes guests take all the time in the world to say it. Anyways, today was great, the message was great, and God was there. ALL those silly thoughts for nothing!

Woo-hoo

Sam is home early!!!!! The weather didn't turn out great for a car wash! Sorry kids aka youth....we're outta here. Going for dinner & a movie with Josh & Aubrey! Normally we only get to do one or the other but since it's so early in the day we will do both. Now to figure out what to watch & where to eat. And clean up real quick before the babysitter gets here! Gotta go! Hope you're having a great weekend!

Tonight Sam has a church event & since there is no childcare I won't be going. SO we must entertain ourselves on a Friday night. What to do??? I think we will work some on Sam's Father's Day card. IT is a BLue's Clue's color by numbers and it has bunches of coloring to do. I got two, one for each of the boys to do because if Zeke 'messes it up' Justus will be extremely upset. SO they each have their own.

Sam will be busy again tommorrow as well doing a car wash to raise money for youth camp. Then I hope we can sneak in dinner and a movie. We'll see how tired he is, it all depends on the weather as to how long they will be out there and how fried crispy he will be. Fun in the sun!

So very sad~

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The 5-year-old daughter of Grammy-winning Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman was struck and killed Wednesday by a sport utility vehicle driven by her brother, authorities said.

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The girl, Maria, was hit in the driveway of the family's home Wednesday afternoon by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by her teenage brother, said Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The brother, whose name and exact age weren't available, apparently did not see the girl, McPherson said. No charges are expected.

"It looks like a tragic accident," she said.

Several family members witnessed the accident, which happened in Williamson County just south of Nashville. The girl died later at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, hospital spokeswoman Laurie Holloway said.

A publicist for Chapman's charity organization said the family was expected to release a statement later Wednesday night.

Chapman, who is originally from Paducah, Ky., and his wife have promoted international adoption and have three daughters from China, including Maria. They have three biological children.

The singer's Web site says the couple was persuaded by their oldest daughter to adopt a girl from China. The experience led the family to adopt two more children and create Shaohannah's Hope, a foundation and ministry to financially assist thousands of couples in adoption.

The Chapmans did missionary work at Chinese orphanages in 2006 and 2007, according to the Web site.

"After our first trip to China, my wife and I knew our lives were changing — our eyes and hearts were opening to how big God really is, and we have wanted to experience more of that," Chapman says on the Web site.

"We've really wondered whether or not we should just go to China and stay there. But I don't think so. I believe God is saying, 'I want you to go, get your heart broken, your eyes opened, and then take this story back to the church in America and around the world.'"

The 45-year-old singer also has released a book about being a father entitled "Cinderella: The Love of Daddy and his Princess." He has won five Grammy awards and 51 Dove awards from the Gospel Music Association.

(This version CORRECTS 2nd graf to 'spokeswoman')

Email Story

Emergency Phone

For the next week & a half Sam has the church's new emergency cell phone. Everyone in the church has the number. So basically he is on call for a while. I'm not thrilled with this idea! Most people already have his cell phone number because it's in the church directory. So we get calls of all kinds consistently. I guess we don't really have a choice in the matter but I am hoping that people will use common sense and only call in case of emergency. Only time will tell. I also think there should be some compensation for this but that is just wishful thinking. Ministry is a 24/7 life, you can't really turn it off. It's not a 9-5 job. You all can relate. Life doesn't stop just because you need some quiet time or hubby time, or anything else.

Where will it go from here??

Justus has been asking a lot of questions lately. Today is was "do daddies have babies?' I'm thinking 'You're 4, could we save these questions for a few years down the road or at least when daddy is around. I guess it's a result of talking about Aubrey's baby. She got a new due date......the day after Christmas! December could be interesting around here. And apparently my conversations with Justus have been kicked up a notch as well!

Growing up

AWE~ My little guy is growing up. We were trying to do a 'trim' which obviously turned into a full fledged hair cut, I was disappointed because we were going to wait until he turned two. He looks so grow up to me now. It's crazy what a haircut will do. From behind he looks alot like Justus did at that age so I automatically get a trip down memory lane. Bittersweet!
Before


After

No softball tonight!!! We'll be going to the YMCA all together! Justus loves it when daddy comes because Sam makes an extra effort to do something with him. Usually I just drop them off & go do my thing but Sam is there for fun so he takes Justus swimming or they play basketball together or pretend to play raquetball. Justus is hilarious at that!!! Zeke is even worse. But it's all fun when we're all together!!!! The other thing they like to do is play in the game room where there is a pool table, fuseball table & video games! I like it better too when daddy is around, I just feel more secure with hubby in tow!

It's Sunday again....and my week in the nursery this month. I love the nursery!!! I never did before having kids but now I love it!!!!! Babies are such a treasure!!! Such a gift from GOD.

Tonight is also the Daughters Banquet, basically since its Mother's Day month we celebrate moms/daughters and get together for some food and fun. The Men of Honor cook, clean and serve. A special treat for everyone!

Today was supposed to be Sam's only Saturday off in May. Two simple emails changed that...we now have plans for the entire day. Yippee. I love it when people make plans for us! ON the other hand we do have an opportunity to serve & help others so it won't be so bad. One saturday a month, is that to much to ask???? Evidently it is!

On vacation we will go!

We're going to the beach!!!!! YEAH!!!!! We found a place for $250/week, I think it's a good price. Is it? It has three bedrooms, two baths & a sun room. I do wish they had a swimming pool but I'm not complaining at all! We'll go in July for Sam & Ezekiel's birthday! This is our FIRST family vacation. Since we've been married Sam & I have only been on vacation twice. The first time we went to Orlando, that was when we found out for sure that I was pregnant with Justus. Then when right before Ezekiel was born we went to the Biltmore House during their festival of flowers. It's going on right now but we couldn't get away. I still would like to go again! Anyways, from now until it comes I will be watching the mail like a hawk for our stimulus check. If for some odd reason it doesn't come be will have to cut our stay short. Hopefully it will get here soon!

Food for thought...

Sorry the pic is so small but I couldn't get it to work right.

Have you seen?

The commercial where the dad is changing the kid & he pees everywhere? It's pretty funny. At least Sam & I got a good laugh out of it. The kid is peeing like a race horse all over the place on the bed & wall, and he knocks over a picture. It's a huggies commerical & anyways I thought it was funny.

How wierd

After reading this article I just kept thinking how wierd that would be to find out after five years! I think it would be somewhat disturbing as well.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- A nine-year-old girl who went to hospital suffering from stomach pains was found to be carrying her embryonic twin, doctors in central Greece said Thursday.

Doctors at Larissa General Hospital examined the girl and surgically removed a growth they later discovered was an embryo about six centimeters (more than two inches) long.

"They could see on the right side that her belly was swollen, but they couldn't suspect that this tumor would hide an embryo," hospital director Iakovos Brouskelis said.

The girl has made a full recovery, he said.

Andreas Markou, head of the hospital's pediatric department, said the embryo was a formed fetus with a head, hair and eyes, but no brain or umbilical cord.

Markou said cases where one of a set of twins absorbs the other in the womb occur in one of 500,000 live births.

The girl's family did not want to be identified, hospital officials said.

Wednesdays CAN be great days of the week. They always pass faster because we have church. SO, we do our regular routine but Zeke goes down for a nap earlier& we get up earlier, and then go to church. We go to church and eat supper and by the time we get back it's usually only an hour or so before bedtime.....I like Wednesdays. It used to be really great-when sam got to go in at noon because he's there until 9:30 or later!!!! Now it's just take it as it is. Whatcha gonna do about it?? (He now has to be in at 9:30 am). IT's a twelve hour day for him but a short day for me...how does that one add up?

Only one month until Leah turns 2!

Jon & Kate Plus 8

I love this show!!!!! Every time I watch it makes me want to be a better mom and have more children! Almost every episode makes me cry and I am always laughing! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL! And I make Sam watch with me too. They are inspiring!

Mother's Day

It's mommy's day......but I didn't get breakfast in bed or anything. IT's one of the downfalls of ministry life. Daddy still had to be at church by 8am today. Thankfully he is able to take the rest of the day off. So instead of Element (youth) all the students will have the chance to spend time to honor their mom.

The church always gives gifts for mother's day & father's day, this year they were note pads to write your 'honey do' lists on or groceries or just whatever you may need. I will definetly use this gift!!!!!

Pastor Dave

Here are two of the updates that our pastor has sent out in the past couple of days. Basically he had cancer in his thyroid so they it out. And they also found cancer in some of his lymph nodes. It's pretty scary just thinking about it so I know that it's hard to understand when your going through it. The emails sound very upbeat but that is easy to do. It's the night time & 'down time' that the enemy tries to steal, kill & destroy. Please lift up our pastor & his family!!! Pastor Dave, Katrina & thier three girls...Kristen, Jaquelyn, & Kailyn.


Email updates:
To update you, Pastor Dave is still at Rowan, resting now. His surgery was anticipated to last 2+ hours, but the surgeon found "things I didn't like"... he did biopsy after biopsy and found papillary thyroid cancer... and after taking out both sides of his thyroid, he started taking out the lymph nodes on the right side... in a 7-hour surgery. The surgeon then sewed him up and said that the next step is to wait for the pathology report... followed in 6 weeks by a full-body radioactive iodine scan, to find out if there are any "hot spots".

We are relying on the fact that we are not in control... God is always in control... and we have nothing to fear or worry about.


Oh! The doctor did say that there is a 90%+ cure rate for this type of cancer! God is in control!

Church Prayer Warriors,

The doctor just came in and told us the latest news, pathology report, and calcium report. We are passing this along to you at this time, so you can know how to pray...

The pathology report came back that the papillary thyroid cancer is aggressive and is throughout the left side of his neck, in the lymph nodes. He is planning to treat this aggressively, as well, but the current path remains the same as before... follow-up visit with him next week, radioactive iodine body scan in 6 weeks, and then they will decide what the next course of action will be.

The calcium report came back... "normal" is 9... last night his was 8.9, so they drew more blood... this morning it was 8.4, so they drew more blood... this afternoon it was 8.3. The doctor isn't so concerned abut this that he's keeping him in the hospital... but he did say that he's not pleased that the numbers are going down.

HOW TO PRAY?

Strength in body
Peace in mind
Death to cancer
Increase in production of calcium

Nothing is impossible with GOD! ALL THINGS are possible THRU Him.


Ps PD is at home now. Thanks~T

It's cancer but I don't have alot of info right now but I will update again as soon as I know. It's very scary to me! Aubrey & I went to see him today. He didnt look as bad as I had anticipated. But he was extremely exhausted. He didn't do to well with the anesthesia and is having some problems with sleep apnea. I hope they will work it out before he goes home.

We also got to order him some flowers at the flower shop from our youth and singles groups. Spending someone else's money is fun!! Especially when you don't have a set limit. We were frugal but spent a little more than usual. He is our senior pastor after all!

Sam has a softball game tonight too. Yippee!

Our pastor is scheduled for surgery today, they are going in to remove some knots on his throat. They will be checking his tyroid as well. He has had some trouble with his vocal chords & they will be checking for cancer. I hate the word cancer!!!!! It's like a cuss word only worse. People use cuss words all the time but no one wants to use the word cancer unless it's followed by HEALED, remission, or false alarm. Please pray for our pastor!

PD

Please say a prayer for our pastor, his name is David.....PD. He is going for surgery today they will be removing 6cm/mm not sure which of nodules that are located on his neck by his tyroid. This is pretty serious & could be cancer. The nodules are pushing on his vocal cords & are very painful. Several of his family memebers have died from thyroid cancer. Very scary for his family. I think that the church family are just holding their breaths to see what it actually is. The doctors didn't want to waste anymore time doing a biopsy on those nasty spots. I will keep you guys updated on any news. Thanks for praying!!!!

Cinco de Mayo

Does anyone celebrate this holiday??? If I were a partyer or drinker I would b/c the resteraunts & bars sure do have lots of specials during this day. I don't even know what the importance is of cinco de mayo. I should do a little bit of research! We didn't learn about it in school. I think that it's a hispanic holiday so why is it so important....not trying to be disrespectful but I really don't know what it's all about.

Friend Day

I'm excited about today at church, we're doing something special so that the community can get to know our church a little bit better. They're calling it friend day. Appropriately we are all supposed to invite a friend, co-worker, neighbor, etc. We will be doing a parade of ministry, slide show, & a short salvation message that is relevant to the Christian as well. Afterward each 'department' will have a booth set up outside to answer questions, and have information and sign up list for anyone interested. Oh and also gifts as well. I think ours is the best of course. We did tye dyed t-shirts, magnets & sodas/ water bottles....it's supposed to be hot!

Made of Honor

Cute but not great. Anyone else seen it?

And then there were 15

My SIL is pregnant, so there are now fifteen memebers of our house!

You have fun at the...

YMCA! Well I have finally been to the Y. We have had a membership for a year or so but this week is the first time I've been. Terrible I know! Anyways I walked a few miles & got out of the house. It was a nice change of scenery. Up until know I haven't wanted to go but this week I had to get out of the house! So I am sure I will go on a regular basis. And maybe lose some weight if I stick to it.

May first, only twenty six more day until I turn 29. So for just a few months Sam and I will be the same age. How fun. Well, it's softball season so we won't be seeing much of Sam for the next 12 weeks or so. He has a game tonight. Thankfully we'll be headed to the YMCA to release a little energy!