Weekend wrap up....

Going backwards on my wrap up today. I'm going to start with today. It is my daughter and son-in-law's anniversary. I want to take a moment to wish her a very happy anniversary and many, many more. 

Yesterday I was so exhausted from my busy week and weekend that I just didn't feel like posting. I kept thinking I should write my blog but I kept finding a million reasons why I would wait, when really the simple fact was I just didn't want to do anything yesterday. 

Sunday was good day at church followed by taking myself to Shoney's for lunch and enjoying the breakfast bar before going on to work. 

Saturday I went to a baby shower that my daughter-in-law was giving for her niece. I was blown away by all the decorations my daughter-in-law had come up with. She has such a talent that it just amazes me. The little baby is being born into a family that loves their hunting and fishing. They are truly nature lovers. I am so in love with the theme. Everything turned out adorable. What a wonderful setting for the new mom-to-be to sit and open gifts.

The table was amazing as well.

She had someone make the cake but then designed this display for it. How cute is that little deer and baby on the top.

And each table had a centerpiece using mostly things she found around the families lake house or her own home. It was all amazing.

I especially loved the chocolate covered pretzel fishing poles and the little acorns.

On Friday night, we had a big blow out at VBS to end the week with family night....food, bouncy houses and our train rides which we had every night. The Grands that went with me had a blast. Colby found a couple of the bigger kids and just joined in with them on the train ride.

Alexis and Shelby enjoying some popcorn while they rode the train.

Thursday night was the last night of classes. All the kids loved coming into the main sanctuary and singing the VBS songs. Colby (center) and Shelby (left) really concentrated on learning the motions.

You can tell by her big smile that Alexis was having a blast.

Now that you see how busy I have been, I guess you can understand why I was not in the mood to blog yesterday. I didn't have to be at work Monday until 3:00 and I laid down after lunch and took a two hour nap before going to work. 

Have a great Tuesday!

Happy birthday to my beautiful Mommy.

I am so blessed to still have my mom with us. She is 87 today. She is a colon cancer survivor and a breast cancer survivor. Both cancers were caught early enough that she had immediate surgery and was cured using no chemo and no radiation. Both times they got it all out first try with the surgeries. She has been there for me my entire life and I still enjoy every time I get to talk to her or go visit her. These pictures were taken in the last month or so. I just love how good she looks to be 87. I love you Mommy and hope you have a wonderful birthday.

New Breath For Steph

Allow me to introduce you to my friend, Stephanie. Stephanie suffers from Cystic Fybrosis. Her disease has progressed to the point that she has been approved for a double lung transplant. The expenses our phenomenal. I am working with a group who is holding a fundraiser on July 15th for Steph to help off set these expenses. We are looking for donations for the silent auction and craft booths. Donations can be made using Go Fund Me at Stephanie Goodall Lung Transplant. If you wish to donate crafts or items for the silent auction, please leave a comment or email us at newbreathforsteph@gmail.com.

The following story is told in Stephanie's own words as she embarked on this journey. Since she wrote this, she has been through the process and met approval to be eligible for a transplant. I hope you will read her story. She has unshakable for faith that God is going to get her through this and looks forward to the day when she can take a breath and not be in so much pain. Breathing is something we just do. We don't think about it and we don't plan for it. But for Stephanie it is a minute to minute challenge. She wears an oxygen tank everywhere she goes and takes an army of meds just to do what we do automatically....BREATH. Any donations or assistance for New Breath for Steph is greatly appreciated. If you can't donate, prayers for the success of the fundraiser and the double lung transplant are desperately needed as well. Stephanie, her husband Andrew, and her 8 year old daughter, Lily, thank you for taking the time to read this post.

(This was written in January and praise God since then she has met the criteria and is the final appointment this week to have her name placed on the transplant list)

Hi, my name is Stephanie and I have Cystic Fibrosis. I am to the point of my life with this horrible disease that I am in need of a Double lung transplant, at the point I am at I cannot stay well for more than a week without IV antibiotics. I am currently at 31% and they like to transplant patients at 30 and below so right now I am at the higher end but it could change fast. I have already been In contact with Vanderbilt we have already went once for a consult and some tests but we have to go back in January possibly February for a second visit, this time it will be meeting with the transplant team, a therapist, and a financial consultant. Then we will have one more visit after that before they decide if I am a candidate or not as it stand right now from the tests I have had, it looks like that I am so far. The hardest part on me right now is the whole not making it thing! I do believe in God and I fully believe he will have me the whole way and I will get through this with flying colors! The second is funds, this is going to be very expensive, not just the transplant surgery but all the co-pays and the visits back and forth to vandy we don't even have a reliable car to get us back and forth, furthermore after the surgery my husband Andrew and I will have to live within 10 miles of Vanderbilt for 3 months after my surgery. My husband is probably not going to be able to work so with that we will have to pay for the place we stay there with power and water, and all of our current bills now! This is going to be very difficult on us, anything you could donate no matter how big or small with make a difference! Thank you all so much and I will update as often as I can!!

Thank you again for taking the time to pray for Steph and her upcoming transplant. Please also pray for her fundraiser that it is a success to meet the needs of her process. Any donation whether it is financial or for the auction or craft fair at the fundraiser is greatly appreciated.

Playing catch up....

Last night was the last night of VBS with the teaching and crafts. Tonight is for fun. We are going to have bouncy houses and food. There will be hotdogs which makes me very happy. I love hotdogs.

We've had some great moments but I have over 400 pictures to post so I have to go through them before I can figure out if I even got any good ones. Today I am heading to Target and Walmart to do some shopping for a baby shower. While I'm there, I am going to look for a few things to price that I want to get sometime in the next few months. I have done any "wishful" shopping in awhile. I'm always so much on the go that when I have been to a store, I just look for things I need right then. Time to look at other stuff just to get ideas. 

I know the #1 item on my list right now is a griddle. Mine was too big and so old that it had so many scrapes and scratches it wasn't cooking as non-stick as it should.

I am also needing a toaster oven. I want something small because I don't have much space. However, if I moved my toaster one could fit there. So I think I have found a compromise and get rid of my old toaster. Plus this has the wide slots and my toaster doesn't.

I also need a new camera. I want this before I go to the beach. I really want a red camera. I have always wanted a red one.

And I want to get rid of the TV in my bedroom and get an LED one for in there. I like this 24" one.

As you can see, I have quite a few things to check out today to start a comparison list for pricing. But for now, a little house cleaning. I'm afraid to walk in my living room because the two youngest have just came in and grabbed the Little Pet Shop hospital and houses and are now playing in the living room. Alexis said I may not want to see my living room. You just got love children that still entertain themselves using their imaginations.

Stress

A positive attitude...

There is a lot to be said about a positive attitude. And I'm positive I'm not in the mood to adult today. Sometimes life just stinks and I get moody no matter how much I try to stay positive. But I do love this bible verse and it does help when I get this way.

....for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. -Philippians 4:11

I am getting older. My bones creak and my body aches. My mind wanders and my hands and feet hurt at night. But I don't give up and I don't give in. I trust in God to get me through whatever comes my way. I need all the positive thoughts I can get today because I'm tired and aggravated.

M.I.A.

I have so much to update you on and so little time. My days are so full with work and VBS. But I wanted to stop by so you didn't think I would be M.I.A. all week. We have 2 of the 5 days of VBS under our belts and I am already exhausted. We normally have about 30 kids out of 3 classes that comes through our Pre-K craft. We allow for 48 just in case. 

Imagine my dismay Sunday night when I find out after the 3rd class that we have 25 more kids coming through. We were scrambling to get some things ready for their craft. Fortunately what we made was door knockers with star stickers. I had lots of stars and left over card stock and ribbon so we were able to cut out some more door knockers. So 55 on night one. What a blessing to have 55 kids ages 3 thru 5. 

Last night we had 60. But I went out yesterday morning and bought more craft supplies so now we have more than enough just in case we have more each night. I'm not sure of the whole total for Sunday, but we had 338 I believe it was last night, including the teachers and helpers in all ages.

I'm sure I'll have some pics to share later. But I'm too exhausted to go through them right now. And I have three more nights and Family Night to go. I really love VBS but I need the beach.