One Sick Daddy!

There's alot of things I can handle, but I can't handle Pat being as sick as he has been these last few days!

Pat came in on from Mrs. Karen's funeral last Sunday and said, "I feel awful. My head is hurting so bad I can't stand it and my neck is stiff and my arms are really hurting." I thought that this didn't sound really good. Well, throughout the course of the week he got 4 antibiotic shots and saw his daddy or Karen daily. Every day instead of getting better he continued to get worse. Every day I continued to get more and more worried. Finally Friday he got to where he couldn't even swallow soup and I called his daddy and said that something had to give. I couldn't stand him like this any longer.

We went to Dr. Mooney and he said that Pat had strep and it had gotten in his lymph nodes bad, throat and had gotten in his body and caused him to become septic.

Sooooo, long story short we spent Friday through Saturday in the hospital getting lots of IV antibiotics. Slowly but surely he has gotten better and we got to come home. He has 10 more days on two different antibiotics and then hopefully we will be through and well.

You never know in life what awaits you around the corner. We are thankful for all of our friends checking on us and praying for us throughout this little trial. We are blessed richly with friendships!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun....

I am a complete 80's girl, I grew up in the land of fluorescent shirts and plastic jewelry, parachute pants, barrettes with little ribbon braided on them and watching Friday Night Videos hoping to get a glimpse of Cyndi Lauper, Madonna or the new Thriller video.

Well I have a daughter who is a girl after my own heart, she is all 80's at heart.

She has been saving her money lately and even working to make more to make a trip to Rue 21. I had put it off for a couple of days, but today was the day.

That place is a complete explosion and tribute to the 80's. It was mass chaos, but I had so much fun watching her go around mixing and matching clothes, trying them on and asking my opinion about outfits. Every so often she would say, "Momma, I am having so much fun." My baby girl is her own little person and with her own creative style. Others may not always understand it, but she seems to be comfortable in her own skin and I am grateful for it.

All in all, it was just a good trip shopping with my baby girl! I know all to well that it won't be very long before I won't be quite as cool as I am now, my opinion on clothes definitely won't be as coveted and I will be missing these little times that God has allowed me to have.

Thank you Lord for these little moments with my children and help me never to take them for granted or let one by without seizing it. :D

Additional Blog

Hey guys, started an additional blog just to vent about this new weight loss journey, it is
http://bethsbigjourney.blogspot.com
Hope this keeps me from boring my friends with all the goofy details that I am sure I will want to vent about.
Hope it last more than a week! :D

A New Chapter.....

It's been a while since I posted and what a depressing post my last one was! lol

I have been thinking alot lately about life in general. Sitting back realizing the blessings that surround me and the journey that I have traveled throughout my life.

I have had alot of trials in my life that I absolutely don't regret because they have shaped me into who I am. I have spent a large part of my adult life trying to keep everyone happy around me, many times at my own expense because of fear of losing people and having people be upset with me.

Well lately I have been thinking more about how fully I am living my life and realizing more and more daily that I only have one life and that I simply am not getting any younger, nor am I guaranteed tomorrow.

I want to write a new chapter in my life. I want to enjoy what God has blessed me with without reservations. I have a wonderful husband, two beautiful babies and an abundance of friends. I am tired of saying not now, maybe later, I wish I had..... and so on. I am realizing it is okay to say No and if I want to do something that is just for me at times, it is okay also and I don't have to have permission or approval from the world.

People who truly love me, are gonna love me, unconditionally!

In all of this thinking I have decided to try a weight reduction program that is medically monitored. It is drastic, it is strict, but I am simply to that point! I have been so excited at how supportive my friends have been. It is another weight loss endeavor, but at this point, I can't NOT try. I am going to start praying now and I ask that you do as well for my discipline and for God to change my heart about my health and how I view food. I owe this to myself and my family. I start on July 17th, so start praying now! I am sure that I will need it.

I am beginning to realize that one of the ways that I can make my husband, children, family and friends happier, is not always by what I can do for them, but simply by being happy with myself.

I know this has been alot of random blubbering, but after all, I started blogging as a way to get my thoughts out, not to prove how beautifully I can write. Anyway, anyone who knows me knows I talk randomly "or chase rabbits" all the time. That's what makes me, me!

I encourage you as well to think about how you are living the life that God has given you. Are you living it to it's fullest, or you procrastinating it away, are you living for the happiness of others and never finding yourself happy in the process. Just thoughts to ponder....

Who's That Looking Back at Me?

Well I'm having one of those nights ladies and many of you have had them.

Do you ever just feel that you have lost yourself somewhere along the way? That you are going through the motions of life, but not living it to the fullest?

I just got back from Relay for Life tonight and I have come home with this burdened on my mind. As I carried on through the night I found myself among people, survivors who have fought for their lives and it made me think, "Why aren't you living yours? Are you living your best life?" Looking at myself it seems as if I have become someone that I don't even recognize at times. I am battling my weight, well I wouldn't call it a battle, I am actually nurturing my weight. My legs and feet can't hold me up for long periods of time, "Yes, I have a condition, but there are ways I could better help myself!" I could barely make it 7 laps and I watch senior adults walking too many laps to even count. Those that know me know that I love music and love to dance, my heart dances inside, but my body is too ashamed to let anyone see it on the outside. I had to leave because I simply couldn't stand anymore because my legs had become so swollen and red. I am 36 years old and this just ain't a' gettin it! I spend my time trying to make others smile and laugh, but I don't think I smile and laugh like I used to. I don't know, maybe I am rambling, but I just feel like I have let myself go in many ways and aren't recognizing the woman I have become at times. I know that I have a Father that loves me regardless and ladies I am not talking about my earthly father, but my Heavenly Father, but I also know that he wants me to live the best life that I can and to be as happy as I can. I have said this sooooo many times to others, "The only one who can truly make you happy is yourself. If you wait for others to do it, it will never happen.", hum, seems like good advice, maybe I should take it!

What's my plan, not sure yet, not some crazy unrealistic goal or anything, but I know just who I can take it too and we are gonna get this thing worked out together. God, can you hear me, we need to talk........

Polka Dotted Blessings....

To many women, this may look like one of the "tackiest" pieces of luggage for any grown woman to have, but to me this is a true piece of beauty. You see, this was my Mother's Day present from my baby boy.

I recently went to Savages Drug Store to get a gift for a friends birthday, while I was there my baby boy Thomas was checking everything out. He would come up to me and say, "Momma, what do you think about this?" and I would comment, but go on about my business. He continued with his critical looking and I simply went right on about my business. He told me that he needed to call his daddy and I needed to drop him off by the Vet clinic. I knew what he was up to, but told him that we didn't have time to go to the clinic and we weren't going to bother his daddy right now, that they would shop later. I must admit he seemed a little heart broke at the pace of our day and the fact that I couldn't accomodate him and was really upset at the fact that this particular store would be closed and he wouldn't be able to come back. Well I went ahead and checked out and went to the car, no Thomas. Exasperated I told Baleigh, "Go in and tell Thomas Patrick to come on. We are in a hurry." She did and he come out and made a statement to the effect that he didn't realize we left. I asked him was he mad at me and he said that he wasn't. Well last night he simply couldn't hold it anymore. He told me to go in the bedroom and come out when he told me to. I came out and there was a heap in the floor and he said, "Sit down momma, I have a big surprise for you." So I did and he ripped away the afghan covering the heap and there it was, the lime green suitcase with bright orange polka dots and there he was with the biggest smile of pride a little fella could have. I said, "Thomas, how did you get this." and he said, "Momma, I knew I wouldn't be able to make it back before the store closed, so I hid until you walked out of the store and then I gave the suitcase to the lady to put behind the counter for me." My little man!! What 9 year old has the forethought to ask a store clerk to put away that "perfect" gift for his momma! and what a beautiful gift it was!

In the picture with my new suitcase is my new purse that my baby girl got me. Once again, I saw it and had fallen in love with it and wouldn't get it for myself. You guessed it. she managed to get her daddy back there and got that too. It truly meant the world that my babies went to such great lengths to make my Mother's Day perfect and it was just that! Perfect!

We had a great Mothers Day! We went to church together, went to eat with my Momma and kids, and then Pat, the kids, me and my Momma went to the movies, got icecream and then back home. What a beautiful day!

Count Your Blessings Name them One by One...

As I wake up this morning and begin to count my blessings, I now have two more to add to them. Isn't it wonderful how God continues to bless us even when we don't deserve it. Last night my mom married a wonderful man named David Derrick. He is good to my mom and he loves my kids and husband dearly. David also has a son named Chris, so both of us are no longer technically only children. Somehow that is just nice, even though we haven't had time to establish a relationship. My mom has been through some trials with relationships and I have never understood why it has always not worked out, now I know why! He was saving the best for last. May I introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. David Derrick

Don't ya' just love that wonderful look Thomas has on his face. He wanted to give his Mawmaw away, so brother Webb had to throw that line in there. He then told David, "I'm not really giving her to you. She is still MY Mawmaw".
Here is me and mom and David and his son Chris.

Me and my momma. I love you mom and wish you all of the happiness that you truly deserve.

David and his son Chris.

Two hands joined together, praying that nothing will seperate them apart.