Whew...

Hello all...It's been a busy week and weekend! Whew... Last night when I went to bed, I think I really passed out instead of drifted off. I went to the Biltmore house yesterday with Eve on her field trip and riding on an activity bus through curvy mountain roads with kids vomiting, sticking suckers in your hair, yelling, wore this mama out!!! The sucker thing... I had a little boy that insisted on sitting with me on the bus ride home. Well he was eating one of those long rainbow spiral suckers, just licking away and talking to me about everything that popped in his little 10 year old mind. As he was eating the sucker I could tell that the sugar was literally going through his veins bc he started talking faster and faster! Next thing I know, I turn my head to look out the window, you know, to try and enjoy the beautiful fall scenery in the mountains, and I feel a big tug at my hair, I turn my head, and sucker is stuck all in my hair! I had been dodging that stick for an hour bc I just knew he was going to put my eye out or something with that thing bc he used it as a pointer as he was talking to me. I was also trying to avoid him slinging spit on me from that slobbery sucker but instead I should have been avoiding him sticking that thing in my head!! I screamed at the top of my lungs and I think that the kids around us thought that someone was dieing bc everyone started jumping up and running over. Yeah...that was not fun!! That and cleaning vomit up from the kid sitting behind me was not a walk in the park! Not for a germ freak like myself! It was a beautiful house though and I did enjoy walking around with Eve when she walked with me that is! Pre-teen days! She did great at her meet this weekend! Looks like we might survive this level after all. She did good and her team got 3rd so we were happy with the outcome! Best thing though was God being her right hand and making her feet like hinds feet so she didn't fall not one time! That was the biggest blessing of all! She had some nerves get the best of her on a few things but with everything that was going on at that meet and it all being on top of you I would have passed out! Here is a cool picture of her on floor. One day I will buy some of these pictures but I'm waiting on a special occasion since I am a tight wad lately!  I am very thankful this Thanksgiving and I wish everyone a happy, healthy, blessed Thanksgiving day! Gobble Gobble!

First meet jitters...

Okay this Mama's feeling the stress of the first meet of the year approaching! Eve has her first meet tomorrow in her new level. We keep hearing that this level is the "make or break it" level for most gymnasts. Something about how the judging is way more crucial. They say gymnast either do good or do terrible. Pretty much not a in between! They have to work so much harder to score anywhere around where they scored the level before so a lot of girls get frustrated and end up quiting after this year. This is a huge meet to start with too! Lots of good gyms will be there and a lot of them. 860 Gymnasts, 45 Teams, 10 States, 2 Countries! Eve is very excited but very nervous too. She came home from practice last night and went straight in her room and proceeded to get her gym bag and supplies ready. Her grips, wrist bands, tape, warm up suit, sentimental items, etc. I think that was her way of dealing with her nerves. I finally washed her competition leotard that has been in the bottom of her hamper since her last meet-in March! I'm weird like that!

I honestly don't know what to expect tomorrow bc I never stay and watch her at practice since she is there all the time. I just know what she tells me. I did stay a few weeks ago for about an hour and I got so see a little bit but I still don't know how she will do with judging. She says she is ready and I haven't heard otherwise so we shall see. I am very happy that her meet is not on Sunday! That is a prayer answered! Please pray for her safety as she is doing harder skills this year on three events and although she is still doing the same vault, it is the event that most gymnasts injure themselves on. Something about running at a standing still apparatus and flipping over it scares me! Also please pray for focus, and self control. I know she can do it but I pray that she will have that confidence tomorrow that she needs. PRAY FOR ME THAT I WILL MAKE IT THROUGH! I am such a basket case at meets and I am thinking about going to the bathroom when it's her turn. Really!

Rainy fall day brings Christmas cheer...

Today I am thankful for this wonderful rain that we are getting! I love rainy days in the fall! Not summer, because then you can't go outside and swim and bask in the sunshine, but fall rain is the best! I am looking forward to some snow this year too! I hope it snows on Christmas eve! That's my Christmas wish! We have a special Christmas planned with all of my family and it would make it that more special to wake up to a white Christmas!! I am already in the Christmas spirit, playing Christmas songs all the time, Christmas shopping, and Jason doesn't kow it but next weekend the trees is going up!!! Yes, I said trees! I would like to put a tree up in every room in the house, but that gets shot down by "Mr. I hate getting stuff out of the attic"! I wanted to put it up two weeks ago but he said I was insane. I just love this time of the year! Everytime we get in the car Jasy yells, "put on the Christmas moosic (music) mom"! Love it!

Holiday tree???

This is going to make the devil really mad but since he's already on my back then it really doesn't matter to me! I read this article and I think it hit the nail right on the head! See what you think.

Apparently the White House referred to Christmas Trees as Holiday Trees for the first time this year which prompted CBS presenter, Ben Stein, to present this piece which I would like to share with you. I think it applies just as much to many countries as it does to America .

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God ? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Here's the church, here's the steeple...

Do you remember the rhyme "Here's the church here's the steeple"? I used to love that finger rhyme! You would join your fingers together , make a steeple with your two pointer fingers,  and use your thumbs as the church doors. You would say the rhyme, "Here's the church here's the steeple open the doors and here's the people" while acting it out with your hands. It amazed me! Look at all those finger people inside! Wish we had a packed out crowd every Sunday and Wednesday like that! I am so thankful for my church family! I love everyone of them!

Ch--CH-what is missing?

Thankful for biscuits and excited about my heavenly body...

Today I am thankful for buttermilk biscuits and butter!! Can't live in the South and not like biscuits and butter can you?! I miss the way my grandma used to make them from scratch. They were the bestest! ( I love the word "bestest") We would go over to her house at least twice a month on Sunday after church and she would make homemade biscuits to die for! I miss her being able to get around as good as she used to. She is getting more and more feeble and it's really sad. If only we could stay young forever!  Well...one day we will be able to-are you ready?

Top 100 things...

I don't think I am going to fit everything that I am thankful for this month. So here are 100 more things that I am thankful for today. Some are repeaters, but these are my top 100! Not in any order! If so, Jesus would be number 1!

1. My family


2. The coffee pot being ready when I wake up – thank you Jason for making it for me every night. You are the best hubby to think of me like that!

3. Weather in South Carolina-the best place to live I think!

4. The church I attend. Best Preacher around!

5. My job-Love working with these kiddos!

6. Our bills being paid

7. Not having to go without

8. Jinks buy me a coke phrase-LOVE IT!

9. The steak and cheese sub I had from Subway yesterday. Steak, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, green peppers, mayo, salt/pepper, sweet onion sauce, toasted on honey wheat! YUMMY-go try it, ok!

10. Getting my hair done- so relaxing that I about fall out of the chair. I love when she puts me under the dryer for 20 minutes bc I get so comfy that if I could get to my hair to twiddle I would be asleep in 5 flat!

11. The fact that I almost know how to trouble shoot most minor computer problems now.

12. My passports for my family and I bc that means that we are going to get them stamped real soon. Hopefully a lot more in the near future!

13. My children again and again

14. Kids with dimples

15. Our fish- Eli the 5th or 6th or whatever he is

16. My blankie that I absolutely love to be under while I am sitting on the couch

17. Cooking shows!!!

18. A night of movies, popcorn, goobers (the candy kind people), diet Pepsi, my blankie and my family! Movie nights are the bestest!

19. Six Mile Mountain ( or hill as Eve would say) I love that we have a view of it from our front porch

20. Watching kids have fun

21. Reading a good book on the beach

22. A nice pair of new socks (fuzzy preferably)

23. Nothing to do on a Saturday

24. A no makeup kind of day out of the blue!

25. My friends

26. Lazy afternoons on Sunday! Love them!

27. The seat warmers in my car! Love some warm buns!

28. A day on the beach

29. Looking at the stamp on my passports and thinking about the places I am going to go- (yes again)

30. Not having to travel to Las Vegas ever again- I hated that sinful place!

31. The fact that I have never won anything ever- I really want to though!

32. The first night on a new pillow

33. The comments and emails my readers provide, I think I’m over 30 regular’s now-whoo hoo.

34. The closeness that social media provides with my extended network of friends that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with other wise

35. Looking at my girls in aww…

36. That logic mostly wins

37. When I have more that two beverage choices in my refrigerator

38. Onion and it’s great flavor

39. Amazon

40. Etsy.com

41. When my kids smile

42. The day that Jason said I should shave more– good advice for everyone I think

43. The day I decided to give this whole blog thing another chance

44. 102.5 playing Christmas music for over 1 month! LOVE IT!

45. Water-I am an advocate drinker!

46. That I don’t watch the news and I never know anything about nothing!

47. My favorite stinky shoes

48. My favorite tweety bird pj’s

49. Everyday I have the opportunity to learn something new

50. Google-what a time saver!

51. A nice day on bikes in Edisto

52. Any day I can find my keys

53. A day that I can’t find my keys and I can break in the garage door with my credit card

54. Our girls trip to Memphis- one of the best times of my life!

55. Smores from the microwave

56. When we get good deals on Clemson tickets!

57. When I don’t forget my families birthday

58. Not having to travel for holidays since all my family is local

59. That I still have my senior shirt in my closet from high school

60. All the great friends I have

61. That I have in-law’s that are sweet

62. Salty, salty, McDonalds French fries with tons of ketchup

63. When my kids brush their teeth without me reminding them

64. When Jason knows what I am thinking before I say anything

65. The Clemson Tigers going to National Championships- yes they are!

66. Shrek 1, 2 and third

67. Watching Eve on balance beam-so graceful!

68. Watching Jasy rub her blankie the way she does –so sweet

69. Watching Jason fuss at the tv while watching sports- sometimes I want to slap him though-just saying…

70. When I drink a cold drink in the morning and it hits the spot

71. That most people are thoughtful and kind

72. Chips and salsa from Chili’s

73. Having very athletic kids

74. Teamwork makes the dream work- I love that saying!

75. Sometimes a cliché just works – I mean there has to be a reason they exist

76. Getting out of bed on the day you leave for vacation! So exciting!

77. The day I realized that I needed Jesus!

78. Any day I run

79. Quiet time just spent remembering past experiences-especially while relaxing in a hot bath or shower

80. When the batteries die in an annoying toy at Christmas or Birthdays

81. Clearing security on our trip to Mexico. That really bothers me for some reason –even though I know that we aren’t bringing anything bad.

82. Moments when I have the clarity of thought to acknowledge that I can’t control what happens – only how I react

83. That I almost have the right tools for nearly every job

84. People who have warm hearts

85. When dinner is actually delivered quickly at a restaurant

86. Every time I type a message on my computer and it automatically spell checks it correctly

87. Big sisters being patient with their little sisters

88. When my friends/family are willing to help me on stuff and are willing to let me help them on stuff

89. A short line

90. Having nothing left on my itinerary on Saturday (again)

91. Grilling outside in the summer

92. An unplanned weekend in the mountains – you decide at noon and your in a cabin at 6PM. (never done this but I really want to)

93. That it all works out in the end

94. The burn that happens in your throat when chugging a Pepsi on a hot day

95. No traffic when late

96. A hot fudge sundae with nuts!

97. A perfect steak

98. That a Little Caesar’s has $5 hot and ready pizzas!

99. The feeling you get when you can’t wait for something!

100. Any opportunity to share, listen and be with people I care about

Thankful cont...

"Worry is the dark room in which negatives are developed". I read this on a church sign today. That is so true! Anytime we allow worry, or negative feelings to seep in, they take over. Before we know it, we are seeing negative where we once saw positive and seeing negative where we really shouldn't be. So today I am thankful that I am still able to see the positive in things even when others might not be able to. I can only do that because I have faith in my Saviour Jesus Christ.

I didn't get a chance to write what I was thankful for yesterday. But I will start here-

 I am so thankful for little questions from my  5 year old along the lines of "Mommy, do you think if I am a Doctor, gymnastics coach and a hairdresser that I will make enough money to buy a guitar and a surfboard?" She is so stinkin cute! Then she started talking about how she wanted to be a Doctor so she could take care of me for free! Last Friday when her field trip was cancelled and I signed them out of school for a "girls day", she pulled a wadded piece of paper out of her overall pocket as she was getting out of the car at the shopping center. I asked her what it was and she opened it up and showed it to me and said, "this is a note that you wrote me one day and put in my lunchbox, I put it in my pocket when I'm sad or when I miss you so it can be near my heart where you are Mommy". Aww...... I about broke down in tears right there! I asked her if she got it out a lot bc it was very worn, and she preceded to tell me that she got it out every day at school until recess bc she starts feeling better then. lol. She is such a sentimental child. Very in depth. She worries about people, prays for people, and then the other day she told me how when she sins she always ask God to forgive her to make it right again. She is mature beyond her years! She never seeks to amaze me and that child is a true gift from above! I am so thankful for her!

Today I am thankful for having stinky trash to go through!Yep, yesterday it hit me that I threw away Jason's sticker for his tag, so we preceded to go through the trash to find it. Past the coffee grains, yogurt, meat containers, candy wrappers, empty juice boxes, cheese wrappers, soiled french toast, cereal, used paper towels, etc I realized that we are so fortunate that we don't have to worry about food. We don't have to savage through trash bins to find our  next meal and we have plenty to eat and drink. So...I am thankful for that!

Thankful things cont...

Update on things I am thankful for. Day1-4 and day 6

• I am thankful for my salvation! No one can take that away from me. I didn't have to do anything to get it, just asked and He gave it to me.  No contract or anything! Pretty good, huh?!
• I am thankful for giggles an cuddles. One of my favorite things in the world to do. Laugh with my girls and cuddle up under a nice warm blanket with them and just chillax!
• I am thankful for sweet little nudges at my heart from my heavenly father. He is always there for me and when I need help or a little tender touch He nudges me to let me know that He is in control.
• I am thankful for the country I live in. I am so proud to be an American and to have had the privilege to be raised and born here. My life could have been so much different other wise but God allowed me to be here. Not only am I in the best country on earth I am raised in the best part of it too!
• Last thing I am thankful for today is hair to twiddle. That's right, you read it right, I think it keeps me sane. Get me comfortable, and the foot starts shaking and the hair starts twiddling. I love it! I am not one of those people that should be on "My strange addiction" or anything, I don't make my hair fall out, I don't do it while sucking my thumb, I don't do it while rubbing my blankie, I just do it when I am sleepy. That's all. :)

Blessed beyond...

Happy Saturday peeps! Time is really flying by and before we know it Christmas will be here! Jasy had a field trip yesterday to the Orchard but with the heavy am rain it got cancelled. I had already taken the day off to chaperon so I signed the girls out of school and we made it a "girls day"! We had so much fun! We went out to eat, went shopping, and went to the movies. God was really looking out for us bc we needed that time together to just mellow out and have those little girl conversations. Eve really opened up to me which she NEVER does. We got to talk about boys, life, and well just girl stuff. She is a daddy's girl and she acts a lot like her daddy. She doesn't go in depth about much, very mellow and trying to to get information out of her is like pulling teeth. I am sometime envious of Jason and Eve's relationship bc he can get her to talk when no one else can. Especially more now that she is approaching middle school, I want that line of communication to be open for us. Maybe I need to just take more girl days just to show her that I am never too busy to talk to her about anything. :)
I have wanted to start posting about things that I am thankful for since this month is November. So I am going to start today.

Today I am thankful for my family. I am so blessed to have an amazing, caring, husband, and two beautiful, smart, sweet girls. Their what I live for every day! My every thought is revolved around them in some way. I wake up with them on my mind and I go to bed with them on my mind. God knew exactly the husband and kids that I needed and He provided! I am also thankful for the rest of my family. For good parents who raised me in a good Christan home, worked hard to provide for us so we would never go without, and molded us into who we are today. I am thankful for my brother who has always had my heart! I have always looked up to him even when he teased me the way brothers do. I am thankful for my big sister. The one who took care of me growing up, rescued me when times got tough, and loved me no matter what. I am thankful for my nieces and nephews. Each have their own uniqueness about them. Mathew who is special to me bc he was like my little brother growing up. I was only in 7th grade when he was born. I worshipped him and would stand over him and stare at him for hours. He was one of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen. I know God has a special plan for him and I can't wait to see what he is possible of doing for Him.  Jacob who is genuinely one of the sweetest people that you will ever meet. He's not deceiving in any way or fashion, what you see is what you get. He is going to make someone a wonderful husband bc of his warm heart and ways. Will, who was my right hand buddy when I was a teenager! I took him with me everywhere and I spent the night with him most weekends just to be with him. He was a little stinker, hilarious and so stinkin cute! I can still picture him searching for bugs and fighting with Jacob about how it was OK to capture bugs and keep them in jars when Jacob swore it was murder. Kaitlyn, who was my first girl. I treated her like an over sized doll and I would go to her house every chance I got just to dress her and fix her up. I thought she was beautiful and she still is! I can't believe that she is a teenager now! Allison who I swore was Hispanic when she was born, lol. She had the most hair too and those dimples stole my heart. Allison is such a great student. She works hard, makes good grades, and I know that she will grow up to be the best that she can be! Kinsley, you are a sweet girl who made your Mama and Daddy complete. You are a great little pal and I love you! Kolby, I love the way you get so excited about the little things. Give you a key and you are content for hours! I can already tell that you are going to be a kind person. The world always needs more of those! I am thankful for my sister in laws- Addie and Andrea. Addie has always been my sister since I can think back really. I really don't think of her as a sister in law bc she's not. She made my brother the happiest man in the world and I love her to death! I am thankful for Shane-my brother in law. He is a good christian man and God has got to be proud of His servant. My aunts and uncles. The list goes on and on. I am blessed with such a great family!

Mexico on my mind...

I am so excited about our upcoming trip to Cancun!! Jason and the girls have never been out of the states so their ecstatic! Eve is competing at a HUGE meet there and the gym did fundraisers and we were allowed to get business sponsors to help pay for the trip for each family! Her gym is almost taking up one whole flight!! We are staying in an all inclusive resort and Jason and Jasy will be in hog heaven getting to eat all day long!!! They eat all like horses and both of them are so little! Back to our trip...I can't wait to bask in the Mexican sun, order room service and eat authentic Mexican crusine! It's the best! I haven't been to Cancun since 1997 but that's the one thing I remember other than the beautiful crystal blue water, white sandy beaches, is the awesome food! It taste nothing like the Mexican food we have here. So full of flavor it just explodes in your mouth! Y-U-M-M-Y!! Eve just competes one day so we have the other days to do whatever our hearts desire! I would like to go snorkeling again. I think Eve especially would freak out seeing all those large fish! She freaks out in the lake feeling those fish bite on her toes! Who knows we might come back with a new spring in our steps and doing a little jig !

Halloween 2011

You would not believe all the candy my girls got last night trick or treating!! I mean the good stuff too, chocolate candy bars, and tons of goody bags full of a vast variety of chocolate!!! We poured it out when we got home and checked it and it filled our entire rug in our living room almost!!!The girls looked super cute in their costumes. Jasy was a ladybug and Eve as a woodland fairy (without wings). She said wings were "too girly". What?!