Waiting on a Full House

Where's the Line to See Jesus?

2010-12-12T12:33:00.003-05:00

I was just sent this video and love the message it conveys at this time of the year. It really makes you stop and think!

May this Christmas season be a blessed one with Christ in the center!

Baby Blythe is 3 weeks old!(Adoption Update)

2010-10-29T09:00:00.002-04:00

I have been meaning to post an update, but with lack of sleep and settling in it has taken me much longer than I hoped. And, to be honest I have probably been pushing back so much of the emotion that we experienced in our goodbyes. A sweet follower from Atlanta let me know tonight that she would love to hear an update, and I think it will actually be freeing to talk about how the goodbyes went and what we are feeling today.

In the last post we were preparing to say goodbye to the birthmother. As I stated before, we knew it would be heart wrenching and had really tried to prepare, but nothing could prepare us totally. It was one of the most emotional processes my husband and I have ever gone through. For us we had joy and the birthmother had sorrow. And, when you are part of something like this you feel like you can only have but so much joy because the other side of hurting so deeply.

We spent about 3 hours saying our goodbyes with the birthmother and her family on the morning that we checked out of the hospital. It is a time that I don't think I will ever forget. I dressed Blythe in her going home outfit and wheeled her next door to the birthmother's room so she could spend some alone time with her. Reggie and I loaded up the van and I tried not to talk because I was holding back the tears that I knew would spill over at any moment.

The adoption agency's social worker came to our door and let us know it was time for all of us to sign the parental rights paperwork. I had no idea how the birthmother would be emotionally during the process, but she wanted Reggie and I there for the entire process. After the paperwork was signed we spent a wonderful time together sharing Bible verses that had spoken to us during the entire adoption process and I got to speak heart to heart with the birthmother about the connection she and I will always have through Blythe. Reggie ended our time in the hospital room with the most beautiful prayer.

We wanted the birthmother to be wheeled out holding Blythe so we followed beside her as we all left. I didn't say much except to reassure her that her decision was for Blythe and that we were going to love her so much. As we waited for the final goodbye I wanted to flee. I couldn't believe we were part of something so big and special. My heart broke as I watched what seemed like millions of tears fall from the birthmother's eyes. I kept putting myself in her shoes and wondered if I could have had such maturity at her young age. And, because I was blessed to have already been a mother God used this experience to help me understand the true sacrifice that was taking place.

The hardest and most emotional moment was when she handed Blythe to me. That was her final goodbye and she watched as I placed her in the car seat. How do you drive away with the biggest blessing ever and know that the birthmother would get into her car empty armed? Reggie and I didn't talk for the first 15 minutes of our drive home. All we could think about was what just happened. The day we had prayed for was finally here and the somehow it was so much harder than we imagined.

We had a 2 1/2 hour drive home and had lots of time to talk to one another about how we were feeling. We looked forward to Rhett meeting his baby sister and capturing that reaction on video and just being home as a family.

Throughout the entire process we had such wonderful support. My girlfriends made the process truly special with their excitement and love they had for Blythe before even meeting her. My sweet friend Danielle kept Rhett for the time we were in the hospital and met us before t-ball practice so Rhett could meet Blythe for the first time. It was a sweet time. I had the video camera ready as he hopped in the van to catch his first peek. His face lit up and he wanted to know "Where is her price tag?" Don't you just love what kiddos think up! My other sweet friend Melanie was so excited to see Blythe she to drove to the t-ball practice and hopped in the van for a peek. So, because the wind blowing and it was so chilly there was me, Blythe, Rhett, Danielle and Melanie all huddled in the van to give Blythe her welcome home!

The next several days felt unreal. Was there really a baby in our house?! We still had a 7 day waiting period that the birthmother could change her mind so I tried to not become too attached in case we received that dreaded call. Reggie feel head over heels right away and never thought twice about that happening. The seven days came and went and we officially got word on Reggie's birthday that Blythe was our daughter forever. That's the biggest birthday anyone could ask for.

The last 3 weeks have been filled with updates to the birthmother to hopefully help her healing process and just getting to know Blythe. Rhett has been going through a transition, but each day I can tell he is learning more about how to be a big brother and we are learning how to balance 2 kiddos. I have put homeschooling on the back burner for the last few weeks and we have just been hanging out together and having fun.

Here is some of what we have been up to:

A few days after we arrived home my super talented friend Nicole Rogers came to our home to take the photos I had dreamed about for years. I will cherish these forever!

Of course, there have been lots of firsts but we had the best time at Blythe's first trip to the pumpkin patch when she was only 11 days old. Rhett and his Buddy Riley made sure to pick out a pumpkin for Blythe!

This past Saturday my girlfriends hosted a Sip and See shower in honor of Blythe. It was a special time as so many who had prayed for our adoption and the special child that God had chosen for our family were there to meet her for the first time. All the hugs and kisses she received wore her out as you can see.

We are enjoying getting to know her and can't wait to make many more special memories with her!

Introducing Blythe Thatcher (Adoption Update)

2010-10-04T21:52:00.007-04:00

On late Saturday night we finally had the dream of holding our precious daughter fulfilled. After 28 hours of labor and lots of hard work our brave birthmother was taken in for a c-section. Unfortunately the labor did not progress like the doctor had hoped and she felt the baby needed to be delivered quickly before she became too distressed. So, at 9:16 pm we welcomed Blythe Thatcher into the world. She weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. and has a head full of hair. She is absolutely beautiful!Reggie was such a trooper during the 28 hour wait. He hung out in the waiting room and even made few buddies who were also waiting. It always amazes me how guys can bond over the subject fantasy football. It was one of my favorite moments when I saw Reggie holding her and feeding her first bottle only a few minutes after she was born. I can tell she already has his heart!

My experience was truly blessed. The birthmother allowed me in the labor room the entire time. It was more than I ever dreamed would be possible with an adoption and because of it I can tell Blythe every detail of the night she was born. Seeing her for the first time was overwhelming and surreal. The birthmother desired for me to be the first one to hold the baby to help solidify her decision for adoption. The feeling of finally holding her is really hard to put into words. I felt pure joy, but I also felt such sorrow knowing this young woman watched me as I began my role as mother and her's was ending. I have never been apart of something so special and sacrificial.

Since Saturday night we have been in the hospital room beside the birthmother. Reggie and I take care of Blythe at night and during the day we spend time with the birth family and also try to give them time alone with Blythe before the final goodbyes are said. Going into the adoption experience I didn't think I wanted to know the birth family, but God challenged me to open my heart to His plan. So, after lots of prayer and I trusted that God wouldn't give us something that we couldn't handle. The reward has been that we have developed a love for this family and enjoy being with them so much. I will have so many fond memories of the last several days to share with Blythe as she grows up.

Tomorrow is the day that Reggie and I have tried so desperately to prepare for. It is a day of beginnings and ending. A beginning of a new journey for us as a family of four and an ending for the birthmother of a journey that she handled with such grace. My heart is so heavy tonight as I try prepare for what tomorrow will bring. I am asking God for strength, compassion and for Him to direct my words as I try to leave the birthmother with peace in her decision in choosing us to parent her child. May it be a sweet time together that we can always treasure.

We are at the hospital!!!!!!!!!!!! (Adoption Update)

2010-10-02T14:40:00.006-04:00

It has been a long night of excitement and we are so close to holding our precious baby girl. We got the call at 9:45 pm last night that our birthmother was headed to the hospital and we should start the 2 1/2 hour drive also. So, we threw the bags in the car, dropped off the dog and woke Rhett so our friends could meet us on the road and take him to their house.

I wondered if it would be as exciting as when I went into labor with Rhett and it definitely was and this time I actually get to enjoy every moment without the pain. Reggie is as calm as a cucumber and he managed to get some sleep the whole trip up. I love that he can sleep anywhere and at anytime, wish I could! We arrived at 12:30 this morning and waited in the waiting room for about an hour before we were told her contractions were 4 minutes apart, but they needed send her home until she progressed a little further. Since she lives about an hour from the hospital we all decided it would be best to stay at a hotel so she could rest. About 3 hours later we got the call that the contractions were 2 minutes apart and very severe, so we headed back to the hospital and she was in active labor!

It has been a sweet time with her and her family. I was able to eat breakfast with her mom and sister and we talked a lot about how they were feeling about the adoption. We laughed about all kind of things and shared a good cry when we talked about the instant love the birthmother will experience the moment the baby is born and the heart ache that will follow as she gives her child to our family as she moves on with her own life. How brave, how mature and how sacrificial. Just the thought of it has God's hand print all over it.

Well, she is at 8 cm and we are probably only a few hours away from meeting our daughter. That sounds so surreal and I am trying to allow myself soak in every moment and remember it so I can tell our daughter one day what a special day it was!

Baby Countdown : Just Waiting! (Only 4 days until due date)

2010-09-26T15:54:00.002-04:00

Only 4 days until our baby's due date! I cannot believe that in just a few days we will be holding our daughter. It still doesn't seem real and probably won't until I am holding her. It is just as exciting as when I was pregnant with Rhett execpt I don't feel big as a house and uncomfortable (hee, hee).

I spoke to the birthmother Friday and she is 100% effaced and feels like her contractions have changed, becoming much stronger. So, we are expecting a call at any time.

The birthmother would like for me to be there during the birth and be the first one to hold her. I cried when she told me that and it is so much more than I had ever expected. She felt it would help solidify her decision if she could see me as her mother. What a sweet memory I can share with our daughter about the day she was born and the love her birthmother has for her.

I have said it before and it is worth saying again that birthmothers are so brave during what most likely is the toughest decision they will ever make. My heart aches for our birthmother and what she is getting ready to experience. Yes, it will be joyful as we meet our daughter but also difficult to walk through the emotions that will take place as part of her healing.

Please pray for our birthmother and birthfather over the next several days.

I will keep you posted as soon as we get the call!

What Rhett Wants To Teach His Little Sister! (Video)

2010-08-23T23:19:00.003-04:00

Tonight we decided to make a video for the birthfather since he is overseas and we probably will not get a chance to meet him face to face. I thought just a few minutes of Reggie and I telling a little about ourselves, showing him the nursery progress and asking Rhett a few simple questions. Well, you know how they say kids say the funniest things! That's exactly what happened when it was Rhett's turn to answer what he wants to teach his little sister. Over the last few weeks he has always said baseball, board games and frog catching so we were floored when we heard his response. Watch for yourself and listen to what Reggie tells me about making a video with a kid, I had to laugh!

Exciting ABBA Fund News (Adoption Update)

2010-08-20T06:48:00.007-04:00

We just received news that we qualified for the ABBA Fund interest free loan! The is a HUGE blessing and helps us tremendously towards the total cost of the adoption. If you are in the process or feel the tug of adoption on your heart and don't know how you would pay for it, please check out more information on the ABBA Fund.

And, in case you are looking for other ways to help with the finances of adoption we have also found Life Song for Orphans. They will set up a tax deductible account where your friends and family can donate money towards your adoption and it's tax deductible for them! I'll let you know more about this once we go through the approval process.

To be part of this adoption process has challenged me in several ways, but I must admit the financing has been overwhelming at times and made me depend on God even more. The thing He keeps reminding me is this is His child, His timing and His finances!

Baby Countdown : 7 Weeks to Go and Making a To Do List

2010-08-12T08:27:00.009-04:00

As of today it is only 7 weeks until the baby's due date and I have a feeling these next few weeks are going to fly by, so as any well organized wannabe would do I have made a LIST. There is something about doing this that makes me feel so in control, so much like I am headed in the right direction. Now, to only stick to the list and not find 100 other projects that I need to do along the way.

I should have added 'organize baby clothes' to the list because this week my generous friends Kristen and Melanie blessed us with enough little girl clothes to keep me busy for awhile. Look at all these goodies!

And, of course I have picked up a few things along the way because I couldn't resist. Most of them are from the Dwell Collection at Target. Don't you just love Target!

Okay, I'm off to conquer the To Do List so next week at this time the list will be a little shorter.

Baby's First Picture!

2010-08-09T16:18:00.004-04:00

We received this picture of the baby from the birthmother today and just had to share it! What a great surprise and so special that she would think of us. I can hardly wait to hold our precious little girl!

Our Meeting With the Birthmother (Adoption Update)

2010-07-28T06:38:00.005-04:00

Yesterday we met with the birthmother and her parents and the day was filled with all kinds of emotions. It's hard to explain exactly how you feel when you are about to meet the young woman who is giving you the biggest gift of your life. There were feeling of nervousness that would interchange with excitement and if you are my hubby it was just cool, calm and collected. I love how different we are because at times like yesterday he helps keep me grounded. So, while we sat waiting at the adoption agency for them to arrive Reggie enjoyed relaxing on the couch and I desperately tried to stop sweating so those little rings wouldn't show up under my arms!

Once she arrived we were able to sit and talk with them for the next 3 hours. She is cute, driven, sweet and everything we could ask for in a birthmother. Her parents were also so gracious and loving towards us. We felt so at ease with them and feel honored that they choose us when there are so many other waiting families.

We will be meeting again soon and this time they want to meet Rhett. When we picked him up from my friend's house yesterday he wanted to know, " Where is my sister?" So, when we told him not just yet, but that the birthmother wanted to meet him he was excited.

Reggie and I appreciate all of you who have been so committed to praying for us over the last 2 years of our adoption process. It has definitely been felt and we are so grateful.

These are the items that we need covered in prayer as we near the due date of this precious baby girl:

*Pray for the health of birthmother and baby.

* Pray for strength for the birthmother as she follows through with the hardest decision of her life.

*Pray for the birthfather to have a peace about the adoption plan and that he be willing to sign off on his rights quickly.

*Pray for the grandparents as they deal with all the emotions of placing their first grandchild for adoption.

*Pray we are able to secure a loan from the ABBA Fund (interest free adoption loan) and raise the remaining amount needed through God moving the hearts of others to give as they feel led.

We have been matched!!!! (Adoption Update)

2010-07-26T06:39:00.005-04:00

We are so excited to announce we have been matched with a birthmother! I received the call Friday morning from our adoption agency and could hardly believe it since our profile book has only been in their hands for 2 weeks. Remember my last post? Well, I must say that all that drama over the profile book was definitely worth it!

Now for the details:

Gender - GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (can you tell how excited I am!)

Due date - September 30th

Delivery location - NC

We travel to meet the birthmother and her family tomorrow morning and will find out many more details then. Please pray for this meeting and that she and her family will have a peace about choosing Reggie and I. More than anything we want to show her Christ's love and let her know how thankful we are that she made the choice of life for her baby. She is truly a hero!

I was thinking back over our journey to where we are today and how God has led us to this very point. It was 2 years ago on July 23rd that our hearts ached for our baby as we found out it would be a stillbirth, then last year on July 23rd we received a call that we were matched with a birthmom and were overjoyed but after months of prayer we knew we needed to step away from this adoption, and now on this July 23rd we again have the joyful news that we have been matched with another baby. A lot of growth has occured for my husband and I during this past 2 years and we have been stretched in ways we never thought possible, but the sweetest part is knowing that God has had us in His hands all along, He never left us and no matter the outcome of this adoption He will still be there.

Prayer:

Thank you Father. Thank you for loving me so much that you have allowed this sometimes difficult and sometimes joyous journey to shape and mold me into the woman you desire me to be. Help me to always see your plan as perfect even when the timing seems long and the journey seems tough. I feel honored to be choosen to adopt and I am blessed to have an even deeper understanding of your love for us through this process.

Amen.

Adversity Builds Character and Adoption Update

2010-07-13T16:39:00.010-04:00

Have you ever had a day or a week that seemed to be filled with adversity from every angle? That would describe my past week. It began with these adoption profile books (pictured below). For those of you new to the adoption process or if you just need a refresher from the last time I made these, they are the books you put together to help the birthparents choose the family they will place their baby with, so they are important and special.

After talking with our social worker I was energized to finish them when she mentioned there was a new birthparent couple that they had just started working with and they would soon pull some profiles books to show to them. I spent most of the July 4th holiday weekend getting 4 copies redesigned (I had to add new pictures, new pages, etc.), reprinted and constructed. Yay! I thought I am done and now we can let the waiting begin. But then in rushes the adversity. I headed to the printer and decided I will put one copy together at their store. Little did I know the glue was having a chemical reaction to the paper type they printed my pages on and before I knew it the color was dissolving off the pages! So, I hurried to pull the pages off the book so I could replace them, but holding open 15 pages so they don't all glue together is harder than you think. Oh, did I mention I had my 4 year old with me at the print shop that is not so kid friendly. There were a lot of "Rhett, don't touch that", "Rhett don't hide there", "Rhett just stand here and don't breathe!" He had me right where he wanted me with my hands glued to a book and no where to go. They were so nice to try to print the pages again right away only to find that the printer was jammed for reasons they never did figure out. That meant we would have to print them to another printer and I learned something new. Did you know that different printer brands print the same file totally different?! The colors on the new pages were so different from the first pages that we had to redo the entire book , even the pages that seemed to make it through the glue process. And, as all this was going on I was getting a call on my cell phone, which was in the car, from the sweet woman that I was suppose have dropped off the profile book to 30 minutes earlier.

I know why little kids just sit down sometimes and cry when things aren't going their way. I thought about that and how good it might feel. I finally did get that book made after 2 hours in that print shop and bribing my son with candy ( I normally don't resort to such measures, but hey we all have weak moments).

Here they are, just waiting to be looked through!

The week only brought more adversity when our ice maker started sounding like it had a machine gun inside and made more ice than would fit in the ice maker, I broke part of my tooth off when I decided it would be easier to use my teeth to break a piece of string instead of scissors, my hubby called to tell me that his car would not start and then a few minutes later he called to say it finally did, I realized that eating all the M&M's out of the trail mix really will keep you from losing weight (they seemed so small!), Rhett got his first black eye when he caught a baseball with his face instead of the glove, the ATM decides not to give me the money I withdrew and ate my card and just today my sweet hubby called again to let me know this time he really was stranded at work and we would have to tow his car way more miles than AAA will cover.

I was frustrated in the beginning and it has now almost become comical. I keep waiting for that hidden camera show to pop out of my bushes and say "Surprise you're on hidden camera!" Reggie always jokes about what a great subject I would be for that show. I mention my week to hopefully encourage some of you and help you remember what I need to remember which is, adversity really does build character and it's how we act when no one else is around that shows our true character. So, I'll get back to my time of learning through adversity and try to develop the character traits of Christ during the process. And, I must not forget to be so thankful for those days that seem so uneventful!

A Special Ladies Luncheon

2010-07-02T07:00:00.008-04:00

I have always wanted to give a luncheon that would honor my very closest friends. No baby shower, bridal shower, no none of these just a day that I could show these ladies just how special they truly are in my life. So, last Saturday I was able to do just that.

These ladies are no just any ladies so I wanted to make sure every detail was in place.

A sit down lunch so I could serve them and try to show them how grateful I am for all they do for me. During the lunch I was able to read to each lady how they have made an impact in my life. Needless to say, I did not get through it without tears!

And, because I wanted them to remember the day and just how special they really are, I made some favors I though they would enjoy.

Personal Library Kits

Homemade Bubble Bath

*Side note: This is what happens when you decide to put the pots you made the bubble bath in through the dishwasher instead of hand washing. This was the beginning of the bubble madness, they eventually filled our kitchen floor!

Personalized Stationary

All my favorite ladies, aren't they beautiful! Love you girls!

Calling All Readers: Favor Needed (Adoption)

2010-05-18T18:18:00.006-04:00

We are now totally finished with all our required adoption training and only need to finish our new homestudy and then it is hurry up and wait. We've learned there can be a lot of waiting when adopting. Since I am really bad at waiting I figure God is using this time help me get better at it!

Yesterday I sent out an email to all of our friends asking for a favor and I wanted to post this favor on the blog because you just never know who may be able to help. Here's our favor:

Dear Friends,

As you may already know, Reggie and I have been on a journey to adopt a precious baby for the past year and a half. We recently switched adoption agencies to Bethany Christian Adoption Services and learned that our wait could be anywhere from 1 day to 2-3 years depending on circumstances. They mentioned a great way to shorten our wait would be to let everyone in our lives know that we would like to adopt a baby. This is where the favor part comes in! The agency has the ability to help us further with all legal aspects and provides counselng services and can help with any other needs of the birthparents if they would like to place their baby in a loving home through adoption.

We prayerfully ask if you may hear of someone who is pregnant and knows this is not the best time in her life to raise a child, please let her know we would be interested in meeting with her, talking with her or making whatever arrangements she finds comfortable.

Please feel free to mention our desire to adopt to anyone you may know! I look forward to seeing how God works through this process and we will keep you updated.

Mother's Day - "The Gift of an Ordinary Day" by Katrina Kenison

2010-05-10T08:00:00.002-04:00

Happy Belated Mother's Day!

I saw this video and had to share it. Anyone who knows me knows that I am very sentimental about my little one growing up. I always joke that for me everything is a mile stone and I want to freeze the moment to experience it just a little longer. So, when I saw this video it reminded me that it really is all the ordinary things we do each day that I will cherish and before long my little man won't be so little. Enjoy!

Adoption Update: Taking a New Path

2010-04-20T07:21:00.009-04:00

Hi Everyone! It has been awhile since I last posted and we have had a change in our adoption journey. A few weeks ago Reggie and I fervently prayed about the direction our adoption journey was going and felt led to change our path for many reasons. It was an easy and hard decision at the same time, but we have total peace about our final decision.

For the last 18 months we were pursuing a private adoption through a lawyer and now we will be going through Bethany Christian Services, which is an adoption agency. So far, we have had a wonderful experience with them and they have made us feel so comfortable and supported.

I just have to share my God story! So, about 3 weeks ago I was getting my teeth cleaned and had a conversation with the technician. Her best friend had just adopted and I asked how the process went. She went on to tell me that she too had been matched once before and it turned out that the birthmother was continuing to consume some really harmful drugs. For some reason I felt the need to pray the rest of that day about where we were in the process and if the situation with our lawyer was a good fit or not. When Reggie got home we talked about it and prayed about it even more together. He mentioned that maybe I should call Bethany Christian Services in the morning and find out more about their program. He said he would pray over me in the morning before he left for work so I would have wisdom in my converstaion with them and ask all the important questions. I got up eager to call and called as soon as the office opened. I explained that our current situation had been difficult with the lawyer for several reason and our main concerns about switching to Bethany was the money we would lose with our lawyer and the adoption tax credit running out on December 31st (which meant we would need to be placed with a baby and have the entire adoption finialzed by Dec. 31st to get the tax credit). She explained that when she got in that morning and checked her email she received word that the night before (the exact time we were praying together) the adoption tax credit bill had been extended for another year! Of course, I had her repeat it again because I could hardly believe what she said. Sometimes you pray for an answer and it takes awhile to get an answer, but in this case it was quick and just a God thing!!!! We have such peace about our decision and desire nothing more than to follow God through this journey, even when the end seems so distance at times.

We have already gotten our paperwork in and been approved, so this Friday we will attend and all day training course so we can start the homestudy process again. So many of you have asked where we are in the process and how you can pray, so here it goes:

*Pray that we remain content with where God has us today and that we never look so much to the future (or another child) that we lose sight of what He has for us today.

*Pray that we will have wisdom each step of the way.

* Pray that as we wait (we have been told it could take another 1-2 years) we will not grow weary.

* Pray we remember to pray for the birthparents of the little one that will become part of our family. The decision to give your child to another family is the hardest one anyone could ever make.

I also wanted to share with you this video and story of how it was created. Bethany shared with us during our first information meeting a few weeks ago and it touched my heart so much. Hope it does yours also!

Story behind the video

The video

Hope you were blessed!

And We Had Snow...

2010-02-15T13:34:00.006-05:00

The prep work to head out in the snow included a new use for
ziploc bags since I never did find waterproof gloves.

They built a snow man (love the hairdo!).

My 2 snowmen!

I think snow is beautiful, but being cold is not my thing.
So, I am in charge of helping suit up to go out and then serving hot cocoa when they are ready to come back in. All from the warmth of inside, ahhh!

Superbowl

2010-02-08T15:14:00.005-05:00

So, even though our Cowboys and Panthers didn't make it to the Superbowl Reggie and Rhett were still into the game. I confess I didn't even know who was playing until Sunday morning!

My favorite part of Superbowl Sunday is the commercials and this year my favorite had to be this Snickers commercial:

Anyone else have a favorite?

Our Love Story on the Air!

2010-02-02T16:25:00.007-05:00

Last week I was riding down the road listening to our local radio station and they were asking for listeners to write in about their love story. Normally I would just listen to everyone's entries and never share my own, but that day I thought, why not!

A few hours later the radio host contacted me to let me know that our story had been chosen for the air and we won 2 tickets to the upcoming Love & War Tour!! The tour is about John and Stasi Eldredge's new marriage book Love and War through Ransomed Heart Ministries. I haven't read the book, but with a title like that it sounds very interesting.

Just in case you would like to hear how God brought Reggie and I together here is our love story being aired on the radio station:

Wait, Don't Throw Away Those Christmas Cards Yet!

2010-01-05T10:06:00.003-05:00

If you haven't thrown away all those wonderful Christmas cards your friends and family sent you then I have a fun and meaningful tradition for you. Every year we take down each card and cut out the names.

Then, we fill this box up with the names and each night at dinner we draw a name or family name out and spend time praying for them.

I just love to see how God works through these prayers. Most of the time we may not know specifically what that person may be needing prayer for, but usually on just the right day we draw that name and later find that our prayers were felt. It allows us as a family to take the focus off of us and onto others!

A Look Back At Christmas 2009

2009-12-31T19:18:00.014-05:00

We welcomed lots of dear friends and family through our front door this Christmas season!

had the pleasure of hosting all the ladies on my street to a Christmas tea in our home. It was a special time and I loved learning the Christmas traditions of each sweet lady.

Rhett had a few of his friends over for a Christmas PJ party. They were adorable in their jammies. I wish I had gotten a picture of them all together so you could see!

Of course, we decorated the tree. Or maybe I should correct that and say I decorated the tree. I decided this year to get Rhett and Reggie their own tree for the bonus room upstairs to decorate however they wanted. The funny thing is it still sits with nothing but lights and a train you build into the Christmas tree. They turn it on each night and are as happy as they can be. I love how easy to please they are!

One of our family's most treasured Christmas traditions is to read this Advent Book each night startiing December 1 through Christmas day. The entire book is the true story of Christmas and is the most beautiful advent book I have ever seen. It has been so sweet to see Rhett memorize the Bible scriptures surrounding the birth of Christ because of this family tradition.

We even made a trip to the famous Grove Park Inn to see the most spectactular display of gingerbread houses around. Reggie had a business trip in Asheville so Rhett and I got to spend the day touring around and taking in all the Christmas sights. We missed having you with us Reggie!

This is only a fraction of the houses on display.

(This was my favorite. All the white details were hand drawn onto this house. Wow!)

(And, this was Rhett's favorite. Hmm, I wonder why he chose this one?!)

(We had snow and even really big icicles to enjoy.)

(In the foyer of the Grove Park Inn they have a life size sleigh where it is a tradition to get your picture taken. Not sure if you can tell, but that is the fireplace that the sleigh is sitting in and it is huge!)

Christmas morning we hide Rhett's gifts and make him use clues to find them all around the house.

Can you tell which gift was his favorite?

So from our family to yours, we hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that Jesus will be in every detail of your New Year!

Please Pray for Ellie Potvin !!!!

2009-12-29T09:03:00.003-05:00

We have a sweet little girl named Ellie at our church who has been fighting a rare pediatric stage 4 cancer and just recently the doctors have said the cancer is so aggressive that she has around 4 weeks to live unless a treatment is found. Can you imagine the hard decisions and overwhelming emotions that her parents must feel? She is also a twin and she and her sister are the best of friends so this will be very hard for her as well. I am calling on everyone to lift this family up in prayer. Only the Lord knows when He is ready to take little Ellie home, so please pray that while she is here that the family would make wonderful memories together, Ellie not be in any pain, the family continue to glorify God through the process and lean on Him for their deepest needs.

Background Story (from Ellie's Caring Bridge site)

Our Ellie was perfectly happy, energetic, tanned and appeared healthy... not a symptom but a dull leg ache for the last few months. What was dismissed for growing pains was the ugly tumor growing silently in her lower left pelvic area...pres

sing on the leg nerves. From there cancer metastasized into her lungs.

Our innocent, kind and sweet Ellie (a twin), at six years old has are rare pediatric stage 4 (Rhabdomyosarcoma) cancer in her trunk and lungs. I found a hard lump in her pelvis area on the evening of July 2, 2008 while powdering her before bedtime. Ellie's twin sister is Grace, they are best of friends and rarely leave each others side. Our family asks for your prayers for God to heal Ellie. We do need a miracle. Ellie began her cancer treatment on Saturday, July 5th. She had completed 30 straight days of radiation to her lungs and abdomen by end of October 2008. Ellie completed a total of 42 rounds of Chemo through May 2009.

Ellie was an inspiration to many and kicked cancers butt - Remission in June 2009.

Sadly, less than 3 months later, Our Ellie is back where we began with tumors in her lungs and the same tumor in her abdomen growing again.

We started a new chemotherapy treatment as our second line of therapy... it failed to work. Now we are looking for the cure.
This will be decided over the next week... we hope.

But we must hold strong to the faith and belief that God can heal our daughter... Ellie does not need medicine. Cancer does not have a chance next to God. For such a scary name, it is just a weak bully when compared to our almighty father in heaven and earth.

We wait for a miracle... Why not Our Ellie? We pray.

*If you would like to follow along and keep updated on specific prayer needs over the next few weeks please use this link:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/elliepotvin

Sometimes you just learn along the road of motherhood!

2009-12-17T15:08:00.011-05:00

I think the title of my post should be more like "Always learning along the way of motherhood!" For all you moms out there, have you ever faced a disciplining situation (usually when the hubby is at work, so really no one else around to face the challenge with) that was really important to correct right away? Well, that happened in our house today and since it has happened before I already decided on my plan of action for the next time.

Now that Rhett is 4 he of course is learning all kinds of new things from us and anyone else who is speaking. You probably know where I am going with this. In the past few weeks he has picked up a word that is not acceptable in our home (and not spoken here either!) and the first time I heard it I gently went to him and explained that we must always be honest and to tell me what he said. Okay, so I really wasn't prepared for the bad word thing and thought that just talking to him would really get through to his heart. This is after I got out my handy dandy "Wise Words for Moms" chart. I have to just stop right here and give a huge plug for this chart. It was written by Ginger Plowman and it is the best quick reference guide to aid you in Biblically disciplining your child that I have ever seen. This chart has just about every behavior that you could run up against with the heart probing questions, reproof and encouragement to go along with each so you don't feel so overwhelmed in that moment. The best part is it comes straight out of the Bible and we know that as in all things, especially raising children, it is ultimate true reference guide.

The only problem was that the chart did not have a "Bad Language" topic. So, I set out on a journey to get an answer on exactly why we shouldn't use bad language. When you become a parent you just know there are things that are not allowed, but maybe we really haven't gotten a true reason why. Well, I knew why but had no idea where that was exactly in the Bible.

Well, the next day I overheard the same word again! And just when you think you got through and a lesson has been learned a week later (today) we are back to sqaure one. So after this was all said and done, God placed the sweetest reminder on my heart:

Jessica, you are just like Rhett. No, you may not sin with bad words, but you do sin and sin is sin whether from a child or an adult. I have placed Rhett in your life to help you grow closer to me through seeing that his realtionship to you is similar to that of you to me. It may seem that you have been placed in his life to shape and mold him, and you have been, but I also have big plans to shape and mold you through this precious little boy. When Rhett disobeys, is defiant, discontent, complaining, whining, being selfish, etc. I need you to see his sin for what it is, but always remember you too have the same struggles and just because your mom and dad are no longer there to instruct doesn't mean you should ever gloss over a sin. I am always here to help you make the right choice and I want nothing to hinder our relationship or drive us apart. So, when you are playing your role as mother and it seems like Rhett is making the same mistake over and over, I feel the same way about you at times but it is in my loving correction that I teach you to be more like me so we can grow closer. Give him love and grace along with true instruction just as I have done for you.

Thank you God for such a precious reminder and intrusting me to be a mommy to Rhett.

"She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue." Proverbs 31:26

Time for Tea!

2009-12-09T17:09:00.006-05:00

I love an afternoon with girlfriends and tea (must be the southern girl in me!). This past weekend I had the chance to be part of the biggest ladies tea I've ever been to with over 600 women. Each year our church holds this Christmas Tea and if you want to use your decorating skills you can sign up to decorate one of 70 or more tables. It is exciting to see how each table is decorated differently representing the style and taste of each individual decorator.

This year I went with the theme "Jesus is the Gift." And, because I figured I should use girly colors when I can, (don't think Reggie would want this color scheme in our house for Christmas!) I went with lots of pink, aqua, red and green.

Here's the finished product:

Here are a few other tables that caught my eye. Every decorator did a beautiful job!

All the tables were great, but the best part of all was when my sweet friend Kim (one of our pastor's wives) spoke to us all about being women of integrity, honesty and transparency. It was a message that spoke to my heart and so many others!

Christmas Card Designs

2009-12-02T15:17:00.014-05:00

It's that time of year again, time to send out Christmas cards! With encouragement from my sweet friends I have designed a few Christmas card templates. Take a peek below.

(front)

(back)

If you have any questions or would like a custom design, please contact me at waitingonafullhouse@yahoo.com .

All photos were taken by Nicole Rogers Photography

My Little Man Turns 4!

2009-12-01T06:55:00.008-05:00

A few weeks ago my little man turned 4 and since he can be found on most days running around the house in his superhero cape and mask, what better theme for his party! I must say I had a blast putting this party together and I think even my hubby enjoyed helping come up with all the details (it must have brought him back to his own superhero days).

To make it more fun we had a Superhero Training Camp where all the kiddos went through an obstacle course to earn their cape, mask and official certificate stating they had completed the training camp and were now real Superheros. They were all so adorable!

Back to Blogging

2009-11-24T15:20:00.003-05:00

So, I have been away from blogging for about a month now and I thought it was time to catch up. Have you ever had a To Do list that seemed to grow and grow and before you knew it you realized there is no way you could ever get it all done in a life time? Well, about a month ago I came to that realization and felt the need to get back on track with how I spend my time.

After much prayer and conviction here's what my To Do list looked like now:

1)Spend more time with GOD! -make Him my first and foremost priority no matter how busy life gets. And, allow Him to show me the sin in my life that is keeping me from Him.

2)Date my hubby -make him my second priority and find ways to encourage him each day.

3)Undivided attention for my little one- Since Rhett's love language is quality time, make him feel like he has some undivided attention from mommy even if it is playing Candyland for the 500th time!

4)Seeing the needs of others -I really want to spend more time seeking ways to serve others.

5)All the fun duties of housewife- Notice I put this one at the end. No really, I desire to prepare meals, housekeep, grocery shop, tackle the laundry, pay bills, etc. with a glad heart and remember that I am blessed in my role.

And, that's my new To Do list!

The Cards You've Been Dealt

2009-10-27T20:07:00.004-04:00

I stumbled upon this video a few days ago and it was a great reminder to work with what God has given me.

Like everyone I have sometimes wondered, why me? or have caught myself looking at someone else's life and feeling as if they don't have any hurdles to overcome instead of focusing on the cards that I do have and allowing God to shape and mold me through each one.

I also know that at times I have hidden behind the cards that may seem to be exciting, noble and glamorous while trying to conceal the cards that are full of hurt, disappointment and pain. I am constantly learning to praise God in the midst of whatever hand I may presently be holding and even praise Him for the past cards I have been dealt.

This video speaks to the reality of playing the hand of cards that God has dealt you. No, it may not seem fair (but my mom always said life was not fair!) and we may not ever understand why on this side of heaven, but I do know for certian that God has a purpose for every circumstance (Romans 8:28).

I hope the video gets you thinking about who God wants you to be and how He can use the cards you've been dealt to help make that happen.

Video link: (*Remember to go down to the bottom of the righthand side of the screen and turn off the music on my blog before watching!*)

Cards You've Been Dealt « Videos « The Skit Guys

Adoption Update and Praying for Baby

2009-10-26T06:59:00.002-04:00

We would like to thank so many of you that have loved and supported us through our entire adoption journey so far. It has not always been easy and to know you are praying and loving us makes the hard times easier and the exciting times even more exciting.

It has been almost 2 months since we had to discontinue the adoption of the baby we had been matched with and we continue to wait for another call that would allow us to bring a sweet little life into our family. Waiting is really tough and today is especially hard as it is the due date of the precious baby girl we were first matched with. We don't know if she has been born yet or not, but would you please pray for her?

Specific prayers:

*Pray for her little body to be healthy

*Pray for her birthmother to feel confident in her decision

*Pray for the birthfather during this time also

*Pray for the new adopted family as they bring the baby home

*Pray for us to be content with the family God has given us as we await another match.

Update on Preston Loyd

2009-10-23T07:07:00.003-04:00

Many of you remember the sweet little boy who was run over by a lawn mower this past April and has been on my prayer list ever since. I received an update last night on his current prayer needs and invite you to lift up this precious family.

Preston meets one of the paramedics who saved him

This is from Preston's dad :

Psalm 27:4
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Six months. Today is the six month anniversary of Preston’s accident. As I look back, I have waited on the Lord almost continuously. In the beginning, we waited for the Lord to allow Preston to live. Then, we waited to see if Preston would recover. Then, we started the waiting that comes with rehabilitation. That waiting and prayer continues to this day.

We may never understand why we were chosen to endure this trial, but we do understand the matchless grace of God. God has revealed himself to me in so many ways throughout the past six months. From the outreach and support of total strangers, to the love and caring of friends and family.

Preston continues to make small improvements. With the help of physical and occupational therapy, he is using his left arm and hand now. Cognitively, he is at 99%. There are some things he has to relearn, but most everything has returned to him.

His vision is still a concern for all of us. He moves well, even in strange places, but his central focus has still not returned. He definitely has peripheral vision, as he is able to center aisles and doorways. He remains a positive spirit, even though he has become a bit more restless in the past couple days.

Recently, Preston and I have been having an ‘adventure’ in the evening. Yesterday, we went to the YMCA and he chased me in the big field. He could see me well enough to find me, even at dusk. Then, we went to Starbuck’s for a hot chocolate. Tonight, he told me he wanted another hot chocolate. He drank the whole thing (I had to take him to the bathroom to empty his fistula bag twice.) Then, the girls who were working gave Preston a cake donut. He ate the whole thing. His appetite is certainly intact.

With Dr. Bambini’s advice, we have brought on a Pediatric Nutritionist. She is great. We have adjusted Preston’s feeds and concentration, so he can be off the feeding pump up to seven hours daily. This added freedom really excites Preston.

Taylor continues to be a wonderful big sister. She plays with Preston and helps him as much as possible. Their interaction makes me proud to be Dad.

Please pray for the following:

*Preston has a scheduled surgery on Oct 28 to lengthen his esophagus. Dr. Bambini plans to do this on an outpatient basis.

*Please pray the surgery is a seamless operation, and able to be done as outpatient. Pray no infection enters and the healing is as quick as his previous wounds.

*Continue in prayer for Dr. Bambini and God will continue to use him in the miracle that is our son’s life.

*Please continue to pray for Preston’s vision. It improves, but is still not where we hope for him to progress. It is the hardest part of waiting on the Lord. I pray everyday and believe that Preston will one day be the little boy he was on April 21. Sometimes that process is easier than other times.

*Pray that Preston’s internal healing continues to progress, so his esophagus may be reattached early next year. That will allow Preston to be totally free of the feeding tube.

*Pray that Preston’s elbow and left arm continue to heal and no other surgery is necessary. As a side note, Dr. Virginia Casey called me today, just to check on Preston. That love and caring is the standard that we have become accustomed to with Dr. Casey, Dr. Bambini, Dr. Primus and many others on our journey.

*Pray for our family. There is no way to explain the emotions that one goes through in a trial such as this. We need you to continue in prayer for us daily.

A Movie That Makes You Understand Your Role As a Mother

2009-10-20T13:45:00.003-04:00

This weekend we watched a movie that reminded me how very important my role as a mother is in the life of my son. I love a story that has the ability to inspire and leaves me energized to keep what is truly important as my focus.

This true life story based on Dr. Ben Carson did just that. I encourage you to rent "Gifted Hands" and see how one mother and faith helped a problemed boy become a world-renowned neurosurgeon.

This is one to add to the family library!

Modern Chic Baby Shower

2009-10-16T15:11:00.012-04:00

This past weekend we celebrated my friend Courtney's baby shower and had a great time! I thought I would share a few details from the afternoon.

I just love planning baby showers and try to make each one unique to the special lady that is being honored. So, when I sat down to plan Courtney's I immediately was drawn to the idea of incorporating photography into the details since her hubby is a very talented photographer (check him out here) and she shares her talents on the business side of things. I also wanted to use the fabric that inspired the color scheme and the modern chic style of the shower.

We started out in an area of the restaurant where everyone got to meet and greet, and decorated a few mini table tops so the event would flow from the meet and greet area into the dining area. Take a look at these beautiful flower arrangements, compliments of Courtney's sister-in-law, Sherri!

It was fun for the guests to look at Courtney and Andrew's baby photos in the votive centerpieces. Look at those cheeks!

To tie in the photography component in another way I had this guest book created so guests could write their prayers/blessings for the new family, any words of advice for the soon-to-be parents and included a space for a photograph of Courtney with each guest.

As a little ice breaker we played Who's That Baby? game, where each guest brought their baby photo and placed it on the board so everyone could guess which photo went with which guest.

Here are the guessing cards.

Next, we moved into the dining area. I had so much fun bringing this room to life.

To make the place setting just a little more special I made custom menus to coordinate with the shower design.

The shower favors were personalized stationary for each guest in the shower colors, of course!

And, the mommy-to-be and her mom. You ladies look beautiful!

Happy Birthday to My Hubby!

2009-10-13T15:10:00.002-04:00

Wishing you a blessed birthday.

We love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How to Keep Your House Clean All Week Long : Wednesday and Thursday Cleaning Routines

2009-10-08T17:51:00.003-04:00

Sorry I am a day behind on posting the FlyLady.net cleaning routine for Wednesday, but life took over. I would like to think I was working hard on my Wednesday routine!

Wednesday: Zone Clean and Partial Desk Time

1. Finish Zone Cleaning Chores.
2. Remainder Weekly Cleaning.
3. Make sure refrigerator is clean.
4. Write thank-you notes.
5. Work on menus and grocery list for next week.
6. Balance check book before going shopping.

Now for today's routine. This one keeps me on the go, but it feels so good to plan and get all my errands done in a day.

Thursday: Grocery and Errand Day

Make sure menus are planned before you go shopping.
Check grocery list one last time before you walk out the door. Take your list with you.

Grocery Day. (this is a good day of the week because most grocery stores start their new sales each Wednesday so you will be hitting new sales each week)

Errand Day:

a. Library

b. Post Office

c. Buy gifts and cards

d. Misc. errands for the week

I also promised I would share Fly Lady's Weekly Checklist.

Weekly Checklist

"This is my list. I keep it accessable all week and use it to cross off the tasks that are done." - FlyLady

Kitchen:

Scrub floor.
Wash area rugs.
Clean out refrigerator.
Sweep decks (all).

Bathrooms:

Polish mirror.
Empty trash.
Mop floor.
Change vacuum bag.

Bedrooms:

Clean Mirror.
Vacuum carpet.
Dust.
Change sheets.

Livingroom, Dining Room, and Family Room

Dust furniture.
Vacuum carpet.
Clean mirrors.
Cull/toss old magazines.

Paperwork and Misc. Duties

Plan menu for next week.
Write letters and cards.
Clean out purse.
Water and fertilize plants.
Polish shoes and mend clothes.
Pet care (flea and heart meds)
Clean out van.
Straighten out laundry room.

Errands:

Grocery.
Library.
Post Office.

This list will get you started and on your way to a clean house everyday!

Wordless Wednesday: Best Buds

2009-10-07T13:21:00.002-04:00

How to Keep Your House Clean All Week Long (Daytime Routine and Tuesday Routine)

2009-10-06T14:49:00.003-04:00

Yesterday we learned that a bedtime routine is an important part of getting ready for the next day and today let's look at a daytime routine. We're sticking to the FlyLady.net program and since she did such a wonderful job including all the things that need to get done I use her routine below.

"I realize this may seem like a lot, but if you do your "Before Bed Routine", this part is a piece of cake. All you are really doing is getting dressed, sprucing up the bathroom, going to the kitchen, and taking care of yourself. " - FlyLady

The morning routine is broken down into four parts:

Rise and Shine
Kitchen
Think About Your Day
Now Think About Yourself

It looks like a lot, but she's right when she says if you do your bedtime routine most of it is already done!

Tuesday's routine: Free Day

Water and fertilize plants.
Spend 15 minutes in the current zone. (we will talk more about zones later this week)

Tuesday is my favorite cleaning day or should I say free day!!!

Tomorrow: Weekly Checklist and Wednesday Routine

How to Keep Your House Clean All Week Long (Bedtime Routine and Monday Cleaning)

2009-10-05T09:15:00.003-04:00

Do any of you struggle with keeping your house clean? I know every time I think I have it conquered it seems to only get right back needing cleaning again. But, a few years ago I was introduced to a great weekly cleaning system by FlyLady.net and I have used it ever since. Because I know I am not alone in the constant battle to keep a house clean I want to share with you over the next several days exactly how the system works.

So, let's get ready to clean!

The first thing you need is a routine. In the Fly Lady system she has a bedtime, morning and weekly routine. At first this may be a big change for you, but I promise it takes off so much stress later.

The Bedtime Routine:

This routine was the biggest change for me because there were so many nights that I would just go straight to bed and never think about the next day and usually end up forgetting something along the way.

"The Before Bed Routine is the most important routine of the whole day. Set a regular time to do your Before Bed Routine. Then do it - starting tonight. I start mine as soon as dinner is complete. Others start theirs in the afternoon while they are getting supper ready. It is up to you." - FlyLady

There are three parts to the Before Bed Routine:

Clean up the house before you go to bed. (20 minutes - tops)
Think about tomorrow before you go to bed.
Focus on yourself before going to bed.
Cool down time:
Reflect on today's accomplishments:

Now, if you are unable to do the entire three parts Before Bedtime Routine, that is fine. Start small - just these three items:

Clean kitchen sink.
Lay out clothes/put clothes away.
Brush teeth

Monday Cleaning Routine:

What I love about this system is it breaks down all the areas of your house that need cleaning into different days of the week. That way you don't become too overwhelmed and just give up!

"I want you to think about the things you need to do every week. Select which days you want to do these things, put it on your calendar for next week, and stick to it. Make an appointment with yourself LOL! Try it for one week. It may surprise you that your week can revolve around these appointments. This is what I do. With the Basic Weekly Plan, we decide on a day to do things and stick to it. I never knew how much this would help my lack of organization. Knowing that I do my shopping on Thursday, my cleaning on Monday and my desk day on Friday allows me the freedom to schedule things according to the day. When you know what the day is, you know what has to be done. It is another way to be on autopilot." - FlyLady

Monday: Weekly Home Blessing

Get Up and Dress to Shoes (we will talk more about this later this week)
Laundry
Weekly Home Blessing Hour

Tomorrow: Morning Routine and Tuesday Cleaning Routine

Frugal Friday: Disney

2009-10-02T14:12:00.004-04:00

We have been contemplating taking Rhett to Disney this year, but the big bucks it takes to to get into the park is a little hard to swallow. That's why when I heard about 2 promotions that get you in for free my ears perked up!

The first promotion is Free Admission on Your Birthday. It runs through December 31st 2009 and you will need to register on the Disney site here. You will receive admission to your choice of Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios.

I know some of you may already have Passholder Passes or Multi-Day Tickets, but you can still get in on the promotion by choosing from the following options:

*FASTPASS
*Disney Fun Card (up to the value of a 1 day pass)
*1 Day Magic Your Way base ticket to be used until your next birthday

In case your birthday has already passed or you want to plan at trip in 2010 they are having another promotion called Give A Day, Get A Disney Day. On January 1st 2010 you can start signing up here to volunteer a day of service with a participating organization and you'll get a free 1 day admission ticket to Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme park. It sounds like a great way to give back to your community and help make a little one's dream of going to Disney come true!

Wordless Wednesday: Rhett's First Soccer Game

2009-09-30T15:38:00.006-04:00

Sneek Peek: Modern Chic Baby Shower

2009-09-25T18:36:00.009-04:00

I was so excited when one of my nearest and dearest friends, Courtney, announced she was pregnant because not only do I get to be an 'Aunt' for the first time (we are not sisters, but she's the sister I never had and she's Aunt Courtney to Rhett!) but I have had the fun of designing her baby shower.

When I think of Courtney I think modern and chic. Have you ever had a friend that could shop at any store at any time and come out looking hip and fashionable? She's that friend and on top of it I have never seen her have a bad hair day! But, above all the fashion and hair is a woman who desires to walk for the Lord and I am blessed most by this.

Every great event starts with an invitation and I had fun trying to make this one special. Once she found out she was having a little boy I knew brown, orange and blue was the perfect color scheme. I found 2 fabrics that were exactly what I was going for and used them as inspiration.

Here's the final product:

I found a really neat company (Stamps.com) that will take your design and print postage stamps to match your invitations!

The fabric inspiration:

7 Years Ago ...

2009-09-22T19:41:00.000-04:00

I walked down the aisle with my best friend and became his wife...

we celebrated ...

began our lives together ...and 7 years later I am still blessed to have Reggie

by my side as we journey through life!

Before we were married I was given an illustration of what marriage would be like and it has always stayed with me. Here's how it went:

A Marriage

You are holding up a ceiling with both arms. It is very heavy, but you must hold it up, or else it will fall down on you. Your arms are tired, terribly tired, and as the day goes on it feels as if your arms or the ceiling will soon collapse.

But then, unexpectedly, something wonderful happens: someone walks into the room and holds their arms up to the ceiling beside you.

So you finally get to take down your arms. You feel the relief of respite, the blood flowing back to your fingers and arms. And when your partner's arms tire, you hold up your own to relieve him again.

And it can go like this for years without the house falling.

To my husband:

Reggie, thank you for 'holding the ceiling up' when I couldn't and giving me the honor of doing the same for you. I thank God everyday that He choose you to be my partner. No one else could love me as perectly as you do. I look forward to what God has in store for our lives together and I love you!

Frugal Friday - Magazine Subscriptions

2009-09-18T13:26:00.004-04:00

I love to sit and go through a great magazine to look for ideas, recipes and other interesting info. But, I don't like to pay the cover price! Instead I use the internet to find a great deal on my favorite magaizines and sometimes I even get some of them free.

My favorite place to go to get a great deal is Amazon .com. They have great discounts on the most popular magazines and there's always a Steal of the Week. And, this month they are offering an extra $5 or $10 instant discount on new or renewal subscriptions. A few weeks ago I got a Real Simple magazine 1 year subscription for only $5! It usually goes for $54 per year.

Here are a few other current deals:

American Baby is now offering 6 free issues along with a free 1 year subscription to Baby Talk magazine (Babies Online)

Seventeen - get 2 free isuues (Mercury Magazines)

Shape- get a 2 year subscription for free just for answering a few questions(Reward Gold)

Golf - Only $5 this week at Amazon.com, it's the Steal of the Week.

Now you can get all your favorite magazines and never pay the newstand price again!

Today Our Hearts Are Heavy

2009-09-11T11:54:00.002-04:00

Over the last few days we have had to make a very difficult decision. As our adoption process starting to unfold we were faced with several issues that were not given to us during our initial placement.

We have surrendered the entire adoption to God, laying down our deepest desires and asked Him to give us clear direction on how to to proceed. Reggie and I both poured over the scriptures during this time and continued to ask for wisdom. We kept coming back to James 1:2-8

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, nad it will be given to hm. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

Desperate not to be double-minded and always wondering if we were making the right decision we asked for wisdom not doubting that whatever the answer was or how painful it may be God brought us into this situation for His purposes. Some of His purposes we don't know, but others He has shown us along the way. I think Reggie put is best when he said, "Jessica this baby may not have had anyone to pray over her if we had not been led down this path." And, as I was able to develop a realtionship with the birth mother there were many opportunities to talk to her about the love of Jesus and how He has changed my life.

Even in the midst of our heartache we know God has a wonderful plan for our famiy that is much more wonderful than anything we could ever imagine.

If you would like to pray with us, these are the areas of prayer we need covered:

Items for Prayer

Baby- *Pray for her little body as she only has a few weeks before delivery. She is measuring smaller than the doctors would like and with all the exposure to alcohol and other substances she needs us to lift her up.

Birth mother - *Pray that as she is told about our decision today that she not be filled with rejection or bitterness.

*Pray she continues to realize that adoption is the best choice for the baby.

Birth father - *Pray that the situation of contacting him about the baby is resolved so he can also make the best choice for the baby.

New Adoptive Family - * Pray that our lawyer is able to find a couple who is capable of providing a home for a child with possible lifelong health impairments. And, that the birth mother will be upfront and honest with this couple as the adoption moves forward.

Our Family - *Pray as we tell Rhett that we will not be bringing a baby sister home. He prays for and asks about the baby each day and continues to as,"Mommy are we bringing the baby home today?"

*Pray for our hearts as they are heavy.

*Pray that we have clear direction on where to go from here and if He has another child for us that we wait patiently and stay content.

First Day of Preschool

2009-09-09T06:52:00.004-04:00

Rhett started preschool yesterday and he was

all smiles as we were getting ready...

out the door and still smiling...

leaving me in the dust as he practically ran to his classroom.

So, I normally cry on his first day back and this year was no different. There is just something about seeing him another year older and thinking about how precious each stage has been. It really is true that the time that they are little goes by so fast!

Oh, A Camping They Would Go!

2009-09-08T06:55:00.003-04:00

Reggie and Rhett decided they would go on their first camping trip together this weekend and traveled all the way to the backyard. My son was so excited as he gathered up his little flashlight and sleeping bag and Reggie enjoys any opportunity to go camping (this was another one of those special things that Reggie has always looked forward to since having a son).

In the tent for the night, expect for a few quick trips to the kitchen!

The next morning this is what I saw as I looked out the window. Rhett ready to go as the first ray of sunshine peeked through and Reggie worn out after a night of someone stealing all the covers.

I asked Rhett what he and daddy talked about in the tent and he said, "Boy stuff mommy!" It is so precious to see how much they love each other and I hope as times goes on their will be plenty more camping trips together!

Birthday Fun in the Mountains

2009-09-06T20:38:00.012-04:00

This weekend my sweet hubby decided that he wanted to take me to the mountains for my birthday. We drove up to Ashville, NC and had the best time listening to Rhett as he saw mountains for the first time. I realized it's easy to forget the wonder of God's creations as we get older and I am so blessed when my little one reminds me!

Since we had never been to Grandfather Mountain, that's where we decided to spend the day. I didn't mention to Reggie the Mile High Swinging Bridge (he is not too fond of heights!) until we got to the top.

It really is a whole mile above ground level!

Look mom no hands!! About then, I was rethinking the idea I had of taking a really cool shot of Rhett on one of the highest peaks of the mountain. Not a good place to be practicing his super hero moves.

We all made it and the views were breathtaking from so high up.

We got up close and personal with a black bear and Rhett wanted to take him home. Is this kid afraid of anything?
After all that mountain climbing and bear hunting it was time for some birthday cake. I love sweet little bakeries where everything is made fresh and we found one downtown. It is owned by two sisters who get up at 3:30 each morning to bake these little beauties.

I went for a vanilla buttercream with sprinkles!

And, I had to share with my little man after he gave me the sweetest rendition of the Happy Birthday Song.

Out With The Old, In With The New (Designing the Baby Nursery)

2009-08-29T17:09:00.007-04:00

The New

I find it so amazing how I can help others design their nurseries and when it comes to my own I draw a complete blank. For the last 2 weeks I have been drawing, designing and searching for just the right fabric for our baby girl's nursery and somehow I just couldn't get it right. But, then I found it, my inspiration! After 5 fabric stores I found the most interesting fabric and finally had a sringboard for the nursery design.

Then, it was a matter of finding other fabrics to bring the room to life. I knew I absolutely loved the colors: raspberry, aqua, pink and black (of course!). Since I had been to most every fabric store in the area I decided it was time to turn to the internet. And, would you believe I found a fabric with all the colors I was hoping for. Since fabrics are really hard to gauge by a picture, my sweet and talented friend, Jennifer (you have to check out her site on Etsy: Bundle Baby), just so happened to have the exact fabric I saw online in her stash. Then she pulled out a raspberry and pink polka dot, because everyroom needs a polka dot somewhere! That only left the idea I had for a black and white patterned fabric to edge the bumper and the crib skirt. Voila, here's the swatches together:

I am going to be brave and try to sew the crib bumper, crib skirt, sheet and curtains myself. I will probably go bonkers in the process, but I am up for a challenge!

The Old

To get the nursery ready for a baby girl meant it was time to take down Rhett's baby boy nursery decor. I must confess it was really emotional for me. I thought about how exciting it was to decorate as I anticipated his arrival almost 4 years ago and how fast the baby stage goes by.

These are some of my favorite things that were part of his nursery:

I love this rocking zebra. I thought it was a great spin off of a traditional rocking horse.

After we had my maternity photos done, I found this frame for one of our photos. Rhett would look at that photo and always want to hear the story of how he grew in mommy's belly.

This dresser was one of my deal finds. I gave it a little TLC and and painted it to coordinate with the crib bedding.

This clock was the first item I bought for his nursery. I loved it because if you look close the bears are boy scouts and my hubby was an Eagle Scout so I thought it would be a sweet touch.

And, when you can't find the perfect lamp sahde to match the decor? Well, you just paint one of course! Since every room needs a few polka dots, this is where I brought them in.

Frugal Friday - Birthday Freebies

2009-08-28T12:04:00.007-04:00

This morning I checked my email and would you believe that I received over 15 birthday freebies! My birthday is not until next week but if you sign up at the restaurants and other places you can start getting your freebies a week before your birthday and usually have a few weeks afterwards to redeem the certificates. It like celebrating for a whole month!

I have compiled a list of the places I know about that help make your birthday a little sweeter. Some of the places on the list you will need to register on their website to have them send your certificate and the others are places you can just show up on your birthday and enjoy.

APPLEBEES - free dessert
AUTO ZONE - free Oil Change
BASKIN ROBBINS - free ice cream treat
BENIHANA'S JAPANESE RESTAURANT - free dinner WITH 3 other paying guests
BENNIGANS - free dessert + song
BUFFALO WILD WINGS (BW3) - free dozen hot wings
BURGER KING - register first -free kids meal to all kids club members
BRUSTER'S - register first- free ice cream cone
CAFE CAROLINA - register first -free sandwich
CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN - free kids meal during the month of their birthday
CHILI'S -free song and dessert
COLD STONE Creamery - register first -free waffle ice cream cone
DAVE AND BUSTERS - $5 game card credit
DENNY'S - free meal (said to be only kids under 10 now)
FUDDRUCKERS - free burger
GOLDEN CORRAL - free meal to birthday Club members (not just kids!)
GREAT AMERICAN COOKIE CO. - register first -free slice of cookie cake
HARD ROCK CAFE - free dessert
HOLLYWOOD VIDEO - one free video rental
IHOP- free meal
JOE'S CRAB SHACK - free cake
MACARONI GRILL - free dessert + OPERA-style "Happy birthday" song
MAGGIANOS - register first -$10 Off purchase of $30
MOE'S SOUTHWEST GRILL - register first- free entree
OLD SPAGHETTI WAREHOUSE - free meal
OLIVE GARDEN - cake
OUTBACK - free dessert + song
PERKIN'S - free stack of pancakes
PF CHANGS - free cake or cheesecake
RED LOBSTER - free slice of cake + song
RED ROBIN - register first - free burger coupon / discount coupon
RUBY TUESDAY -free handcrafted burger
TACO BELL - free combo meal of your choice
TGI FRIDAYS - free birthday Dessert
TONY ROMA'S - free dessert
WENDY'S - register first -free kids meal to all kids club members

Have fun celebrating your birthday with all your freebies!

Are you Poor?

2009-08-20T07:18:00.003-04:00

This is the question I had to ask myself after reading my Bible devotion over the past three days. Have you ever thought of being 'poor in spirit'? It seems like such a foreign concept since we are always hearing about the strength of will, beauty and character. If you really get down to it these things are all areas you can see outwardly, but to be 'poor in spirit' is an inwardly matter.

This pharse 'poor in spirit' comes from Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit." I have read that so many times, but never taken the time to dig deeper to better understand what it means. Here's what I found: The 'poor in spirit' are those who consciously depend on God and not on themselves. I love what Oswald Chambers says about consciousness, " When I am consciously conscious, there is something wrong. It is the sick man who knows what health is. The child of God is not conscious of the will of God because he is the will of God." Doesn't that make you stop and think! It made me really question my self-consciousness vs. my Christ-consciousness.

Who has influenced you most in life? That was the question that my devotion posed to me this morning to help me grasp this whole concept. When I sat and thought about it I always seemed to come up with those who didn't have any idea that they were influcing me. What a great example of those who are Christ-conscious or 'poor in spirit'. They had no notion they were influcing so they had no self-consciousness. I love this quote again from Oswald Chambers, "We always know when Jesus is at work because He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring."

Prayer: Lord, help me be Christ-conscious so you can use my life, the commonplace, to be inspiring without my knowledge so I will never lose sight that it is you who is doing the influencing and not myself.

Frugal Friday - FREE Baby's First Circus Ticket!

2009-08-14T07:39:00.005-04:00

If you have a baby under 1 year old or know someone who does, this is a great deal. Register on Ringling.com and you can get a FREE ticket for Baby's First Circus. The best part is the ticket has NO expiration!! So you can even stash the ticket away for a few years down the road.

Wordless Wednesday: Fun on the Farm

2009-08-12T08:37:00.004-04:00

Panthers Fan Fest

2009-08-10T07:17:00.008-04:00

This weekend we joined 15,000 other Carolina Panthers fans (we are really Dallas Cowboy fans, but we support the local NFL too) to support the team as they start a new season.

Bank of America Stadium

This was really special for Reggie as he got to take Rhett to his first NFL experience. It was so cute to see them bonding over sports!

This was Rhett's first reaction to seeing the stadium. He said, " Ooh, I want to play on that field one day!"

Here they are touring the stadium...

Watching the game...

and cheering on the team!

Painting with a Purpose!

2009-08-06T13:39:00.009-04:00

Now that we are in the last few months before our adoption will become final and the fundraising phase, I thought I would blog about a great way you can help share in bringing our baby girl home and get some goodies in the process!

I have a custom children's artwork/design business, Simply Ooh La La, that I started when I decided to become a stay-at-home mommy. It has been a wonderful creative outlet and now it is a great way for us to raise the remaining amount of money ($9,300) we need to finialize the adoption process.

So, if you have a special little one in your life who would love a custom piece of artwork or maybe a mommy-to-be who needs just the right piece of artwork for the nursery then I would love to help create a design that will be cherished for years to come!

Here are a few of my latest designs and you can also visit the Simply Ooh La La website to get even more ideas. To contact me you can relpy to this post or email: waitingonafullhouse@yahoo.com

16 x 20 custom hand painted canvas ~

Price varies by design and size

Personalized hand painted canvas placemats ~$24

More Space!

2009-08-05T07:20:00.003-04:00

I have been dreaming of more freezer space for awhile now and yesterday that came true so I just had to show it off. I know you are thinking a should dream a little bigger, right?! A whole freezer I can store all my grocery deals! Remember the 13 loaves of bread I got free a month ago? Well, my sweet neighbor has been storing those in her extra freezer for us and now it's time to give her back her freezer space.

I found this steal of a deal on Craig's List for only 1/4 the price it would have been in the store. Almost everyone has heard of this site, but if not you have got to check it out. Most cities have their own site dedicated to people selling and sometimes even giving away their stuff. It's like the biggest garage sale you can imagine, and you know how much a love garage sales!

Bring on the grocery deals!

Frugal Friday - BookSwim.com

2009-07-31T13:11:00.004-04:00

If you like the Net Flix style of ordering movies you are going to love this! BookSwim.com is an online book rental library service where you can get paperbacks, hardcovers and college textbooks sent directly to your house. I especially love the idea of college textbooks, since they can run around $75-$150 a piece.

Here's how it works:

The plans start at $9.95 and go up to $39.95 depending on the number of books you would like to have out at one time. No matter the package you have Unlimited number of books each month with Free shipping and No late fees. They even have a policy that if you love the book so much you want to keep it you can log into your account and get the member's only used book price.

We should never be without a good book to read ever again!

Understanding Adoption from the Birthparent's Point of View

2009-07-30T08:10:00.000-04:00

In the last few days I have been desperately trying to understand what our birthmother must be feeling and getting ready to go through in the next few months. When I try to put myself in her shoes I am reminded of a year ago when I came home from the hospital after losing our baby, with no baby in my arms. I have asked God so many times why we had to experience that loss and we may never fully know. But, I do know I have compassion that I would have never had and will somewhat be able to understand what our birthmother will experience. I love that God took something so painful and has turned that pain into something so wonderful.

When I called my girlfriends with the news we had been matched with a baby last week two of them mentioned the show 16 and Pregnant. It was interesting to hear them both talk about how they thought of Reggie and I when they watched it and suggested I watch it also. So, today I found the episode on the internet and sat down to watch what would be an emotional view into the process of adoption.

I felt like the show was a real life window into the many aspects of adoption from the birthparents view and the adoptive parents view. I was touched by how hard it was to make the decision for adoption and all the emotions that the birthparents experienced knowing they were giving their baby a better life than they could provide.

Since we sit on the side of coming home with a baby in our arms and not the other way around this time, my heart aches for our birthmother and what she may be feeling. I have prayed for her so long not knowing who she was and now that we do I pray that we are able to show her love, compassion and mostly Christ through the entire process.

If you want to get a better understanding of what birthparents go through as they make the decision for adoption I highly recommed you take the time to watch this episode. The show is 16 and Pregnant by MTV (disclamier: I don't normally watch MTV, but feel this episode is worthy of watching), Episode 6: Catelynn

Can I Have a Do Over Please? (Day 2 Again!)

2009-07-29T14:34:00.005-04:00

I'm embarrassed to admit I only made it through 2 days of the 30 Day Shred before I got totally side tracked and and needed to start over from the beginning. But, it was for a good reason! For those who don't know we got a call last Thursday that we have been matched with a baby girl. So, with all the excitement, paperwork and traveling for the adoption process I decided to take a few days and get back into the swing of the 30 Day Shred again yesterday.

So, I'm on Day 2 and I still feel the burn and I keep telling myself during the video it's worth it! But, at this point my one word reaction is still - Ouch!

Starting Date: 7/28/09
Starting Weight: 119.5 lbs
Level on video: 1
Hand weights: 5 lbs

Our Meeting with the Birthmother (Adoption)

2009-07-25T18:42:00.003-04:00

Yesterday we had the opportunity to meet with the birthmother and many have asked what it was like. The best way I can compare the experience it is the most important job interview you have ever had. You know how you really desire the job and you so desperately want to make a great impression? That is kinda like what we felt yesterday. We desire this precious baby to be part of our lives and we wanted the birthmother to see us for who we truly are so she would feel confident in her decision. Just a little pressure!

The neat part about this so called interview was that my best friend (a.k.a. hubby) was right there along side of me. It is so special when you share such an important experience, a life changing experience, with your husband. I know that this entire adoption journey has brought Reggie and so much closer as a couple and I am so thankful.

It was a special time to get to know the birthmother and ask her all kinds of questions that we can one day share with our daughter. We even got to see the ultrasound photos for her last doctor's visit. She is already so adorable!!! The most special moment for me was when I was able to verbally tell the birthmother how much we respect her decision of adoption. Of course, we put this in the letter we wrote for our profile book, but being able to sit beside her and share my heart was very personal and something I will never forget.

For those who would like to stand in prayer with us, these are our prayer requests:

*Pray that as we move ahead into the details of the adoption that all will go smoothly and any roadblocks would be lifted.

*Pray that the birthmother would have peace about her decision.

*Pray that the baby remains healthy.

*Pray for the remaining financing of the adoption.

*Pray that Reggie and I would always put God's will first even when hard decisions need to be made.

We thank you so much for the love and support we have been shown through this process. And, we can't wait to share the rest of this adoption journey with you as it unfolds!

Today is a Special Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-07-23T13:49:00.005-04:00

Today we got the news we have been waiting for so long. We have been matched with a baby! It's a GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!This morning around 10:00 am I was going about my normal day cleaning and playing with Rhett when the phone rang and on the the other end was our adoption lawyer's office. They asked, "Are you sitting down?" and I said "No, do I need to?" She went on to tell me that a birthmom had come into their office yesterday and after looking at many profiles (the book I created a few months back) she had choosen our family for her baby. She then proceeded to tell me it was a little girl and then the tears began to flow. Of course, I would love a little boy also, but I have always dreamed of having a little girl.

To make the story even more special it was exactly a year ago that we experienced our stillbirth. He brought this verse to mind today:

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me... To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." Isaiah 61:1-3

We have the opportunity to meet face to face with the birthmom tomorrow night at the lawyer's office and we are filled with excitement and a little nervousness. I can hardly believe it is actually happening. This week has been full of prayer for our adoption from a financial standpoint and we had no idea that the call would come with news of a baby.

Would you please stand in prayer with us?

*Pray for our meeting with the birthmom tomorrow night. That we would make her feel comfortable and her decision in chossing our family was wise choice.

*Pray for the birthmom as she enters the last trimester of her pregnancy. Pray that she reamains healthly and the emotional experience of entrusting her child to us is as easy as it can be. I know it must a difficult situation and I can only begin ot imagine what she may be going through.

*Pray for this precious baby to be healthly.

*Pray that all our financial responsibilies of the adoption be met in the next 3 months.

*Most of all pray that Reggie and I glorify the Lord through the entire process!

We'll let you know how tomorrow goes. Until then, I can hardly believe in a few months we will have a little girl to call our daughter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The 30 Day Shed Challenge! (Day 1)

2009-07-22T07:29:00.004-04:00

So I started the 30 Day Shred this morning! All of my Exercise Sports Science background (for those who didn't know that was my undergrad major) is coming back to me and I have to say that I think she does a great job on this video. My little guy found the video interesting and decided to do the workout beside me. He didn't tire nearly as fast and asked, "Mommy why are you stopping?"

Rhett coaching me through the workout!

Here's what I think of day one:

*What I like about the video: It does a great job incorporating cardio, strength training and abs in only 20 minutes! If you are like me and don't like to spend hours in the gym per week this is a great alternative.

*How does the workout accomplish so much in only 20 minutes? She combines the exercises into a 3-2-1 method: 3 minutes cardio, 2 minutes strength and 1 minute abs. The compound exercises work the upper and lower body simultaneously and this cuts down on the workout time tremendously.

*Does it have different levels for beginners and the advanced? Yes. She has 2 helpers that show you the beginners version vs. the advanced.

*What do you need: 1) video (of course!) 2) weights - 3lb or 5 lb 3) mat - if you don't have a soft floor 4) ambition!

*One word to sum up the first day: Ouch!

Okay, I am really putting it all out there and sharing with you the details to see if this program can work in 30 days. We'll see.

Starting weight (7/22/09): 119.5 lbs
Level on video: 1

I want to hear if any of you are trying it also. Let us know.

Adventure Island - Vacation Bible School

2009-07-20T07:16:00.008-04:00

What would summer be without VBS? I haven't been to VBS since I was a little girl, but on Sunday night I received a call that they were in need of a teacher so the next morning Rhett and I were off to Adventure Island (this year's theme).

There were over 500 kids that attended and it made for a lot of fun!

I got to teach the 3-4 year olds and sometimes they taught me (patience that is!) My friend Erica had the other class of 3-4 year olds and it got quite amusing at times. Erica you are so much fun!

So, what did we do all week?

~We learned Bible verses

~We learned sign language

~We danced

~We sang

~We did arts and crafts

~We ate

~We played

And, I can't remember being that tired each afternoon in a really long time. So ...

~We napped!

It was precious to watch these little ones learn about Jesus and hopefully carry these truths in their hearts for the rest of their lives. What a blessing to be part of the experience!

The 30 Day Shred Challenge!

2009-07-17T12:45:00.004-04:00

Look what I got in the mail today! I decided to take the 30 Day Shred Challenge by Jillian Michaels (she was one of the trainers on the show The Biggest Loser). When I read about it on another blogger's site I normally would not pay too close attention to something like this, but it was 57% off at Amazon for only $6.49 and I would really like to get toned up. So, I went for it.

Since we discountinued my gym membership to save a little extra money I am in desperate need of a workout I can do at home in a short amount of time. The cover says there are 3 20 minute workouts with different levels of intensity. I hope slow and easy is the intensity of level 1 because I might be there for awhile.

I haven't done the first workout yet, but I will keep you updated on my progress. Now that I have been bold and shared with all of you that I am taking this challenge I guess I have even more incentive to stick it out. I hope I can make through all 30 days!

My biggest thought right now: I can't believe I will look like this in only 30 days! Won't Reggie be so excited!!

Latest Update on Preston Loyd (Exciting News on Day 86!)

2009-07-17T06:53:00.005-04:00

Preston's doctors and rehab therapists met yesterday and decided that PRESTON IS GOING HOME on July 21st!!!! His family is so excited.

This is what his Dad said about the news:

There are so many things to coordinate: Skilled nursing care, hospital bed, feeding machine, suction machine, car seat, home rehab, medicine, supplies…the list goes on. It is overwhelming to think about going home, but most of all it is so great to know Preston is well enough to make the transition. I remember back in the middle of May, we had just moved to the Progressive Care floor of the hospital and I was freaking out because we did not have two nurses over Preston at all times. I was on the phone with Dr. Schulman from Pediatric Surgical Associates. I will never forget what he told me: “Preston would not be on that floor if he wasn’t better and able to leave PICU.” So, even though this is a bit traumatic, I know we would not be going home if Preston wasn’t well enough to endure.

Items for payer:

*Pray for Preston to continue with his miraculous healing. Please remain specific in your prayers for return of full vision. Pray for return of full mobility to Preston’s left elbow and arm. Pray that his internal repairs continue to heal so we may go forward with the esophageal repair within the next year. Pray his cognition continues to improve. Pray his physical rehab progresses so he is able to walk unassisted and run and play as he did before. Pray for Preston.

*Pray for his family as they transition home. Pray the transition is seamless and they settle back into life as a family. Pray God’s grace and mercy as they learn to deal with lots of people in their home. They will have nurses, rehab specialists and family and friends. It will be a learning process.

Wordless Wednesday: Fun on the Fourth of July!

2009-07-15T18:51:00.004-04:00

Bread Anyone?

2009-07-11T21:52:00.002-04:00

I love getting good deals, but yesterday I got a great deal and just had to tell you all about it. During my Bi-Lo shopping trip I ran across a coupon tear pad in the bread section. When you are a couponer you eyes are automatically drawn to these! The coupon was for a free loaf of Earth Grains bread for every 2 lbs. of produce you purchase. Well, it so happens they are having a bunch of B1G1 deals in the produce section this week. All this to say I was able to snag 13 free loaves of bread ($3.49 each, so I saved $45.37). Some of you may be thinking what are you going to do with all that bread? Well, did you know that bread is good for upto 5 months in the freezer. I think there are a bunch of sandwiches in our future!

Pray for Kate McRae

2009-07-10T09:12:00.001-04:00

Each morning my 3 year old and I take time to pray for whoever God places on our hearts. Sometimes it's friends or family and sometimes it's someone we have never met. This morning I recieved word of a 5 year old little girl named Kate who is battling a large brain tumor and in need of a miracle. Our hearts are burdened for this family and I hope you will join us in prayer for this sweet little girl.

This is Kate's story :

Monday June 29th, 2009 began like every other day, and ended like one we could have never imagined. Our daughter Kate was taken to the Dr. for tremors in her right hand. We proceeded to Phoenix Childrens Hospital for a stat CT of her head. At 5:30 I, Holly, Kate’s mom, was taken into a room alone and told Kate had a massive tumor on the basil ganglia portion of her brain. I called her dad and our journey has begun. It’s a journey we never would have chose to be a part of, but was chosen for us, and our sweet Kate. She is now in the Phoneix Childrens ICU awaiting tests to determine what it is and how far progressed. Please, our dear daughter needs your prayers, as do we.

Aaron, Holly, Olivia and Will

To get updates on Kate you can visit her Caring Bridge website:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate

Frugal Friday - Restaurant.com

2009-07-10T07:50:00.006-04:00

Restaurant Certificates

Have you ever wanted to try a new restaurant, but didn't have a grand budget to do it? Or maybe you have a favorite restaurant where you love to eat and want to make your money go further. Well, if you haven't heard of Restaurant.com let me introduce you to how we enjoy eating out without breaking the bank.

At Restaurant.com you can purchase certificates that can save you tons of money at the restaurant of your choice. All you have to do is go to the website and type in the zip code (city or state also) that you would like to dine in and tons restaurants will come up. You will be able to purchase certificates worth $10, $25, $50, $75 and $100 depending on the restaurant. The best part is the certificates have these face values, but you don't pay these prices! So, let's say you want to buy a $25 certificate, you would only pay $10. That's like saving $15 right off the top. And, if you purchase the certificates when a special is running you can save even more.

To make it more exciting they are running one of those specials right now for 70% off. That means a $25 certificate would only cost you $3. You can't beat that! All you have to do is enter the code SEVENTY at checkout to get the discount until 7/13/09. Check out the details here.

The certificates also make great gifts. You can give a set amount or give a Dinner of the Month Club membership. Another nice thing is you can print off the gift certificate or email it to the recipient right away. Everyone we have given them to has told us they loved using them.

Have fun eating out!

7 Months and Waiting - Adoption Update

2009-07-07T07:37:00.003-04:00

I realized today that I have not posted an update recently about our adoption journey. So many of you have been kind enough to pray for us and ask where we are in the process so an update is due.

We are now at the 7 month mark of waiting and at times it has gone by really slow and at other times it has gone by so quickly.

As our wait continues I have recently been thinking and praying more about the financial aspect of the adoption. We know that some families have had to withdraw from the adoption process due to the economy and their job situations and my heart breaks for them and the children that need to desperately be placed into loving homes. As uncertain as the economic state is, we still feel that God has lead us into adoption and we are to trust He will provide.

My hubby and I covet your prayers during this time.

Please pray :

~We remember that God's timing is perfect and our wait will be no longer than He intends for the perfect baby to be brought into our family.

~We continue to lift the birthparents up as they choose a family for their baby. I can only imagine how difficult this decision must be.

~When worry sets in over how we will financially afford the adoption pray we remember that God always provides!

~For wisdom in choosing what type of fundraising methods we will move forward with in the near future. Also pray that if others have creative ideas on how to do this that they would share those with us.

Thank you so much for your prayers and encouraging words, they mean so much!

Happy July 4th!

2009-07-04T21:05:00.001-04:00

Dominos Pizza Party

2009-07-02T12:11:00.013-04:00

Recently we won a Dominos American Legends Pizza Party and got to try all the new specialty flavors. I must say they were pretty good!

The kiddos loved the pizzas.

The adults liked them too. Here's our friend Jason's reaction. He's our church's high school youth pastor and I know exactly why the teenagers love him so much, he's hilarious!

We made ice cream sundaes for dessert and Rhett was in heaven!

A backyard game of baseball kept the kids busy outside.

Melanie and Jeff's baby, Drew, kept all of us busy inside. Celia gets a little practice before her sweet little one is due in just 3 more weeks. Isn't he the cutest thing you have ever seen.

Reggie never passes up the chance to hold a baby. I love his heart for children!

Good food, Good friends and good times.

Are you ready to win a party of your own? Head over to House Party and sign up. They have all kinds of fun parties you can host. Have fun!

Update on Preston Loyd (Day 68)

2009-06-29T07:29:00.002-04:00

Preston has been going through physical therapy and has been able to sit up. He continues to make improvements, but there is still concern over his vision. The family has asked for the following prayers:

~Return of perfect vision and visual clarity. "This will stay on the list until my precious boy looks at me and says, "Daddy, I see you”

~Continued miraculous healing of internal injuries.

~Continued healing of all plastic surgery related wounds.

~Great progress in Preston’s therapies. He is making great strides. Pray he is able to stand the work and press on to full activity again.

~Wisdom of doctors in determining when they should go home. They want to be home as soon as possible, but also want to be where Preston can make the most improvements quickly.

~Continued prayer for the entire family. They are still so in need of prayer.

Frugal Friday - Unclaimed Money

2009-06-26T06:53:00.003-04:00

Do You Have Unclaimed Money?

There is an organization called the National Association of Unclaimed Money Administrators and you may actually have money waiting for you to claim.

In 2006 it was projected that a total of at least $32.877 billion is currently being safeguarded by state treasurers and other agencies for 117 million accounts. So, maybe some of that cash is yours!

Unfortunately, neither me or my hubby had any money to claim. But, remember when you search use your current name, maiden name or any variation of your name (nickname) you have used in the past because some of the money has been sitting for over 20 years or more.

Go to Unclaimed.org click on the state or states that you or your family have lived and it will take you to the Treasurers department for that state. All you have to do is then enter your name into the database to see if there are funds waiting for you.

I hope you find something!

2 Boys, 1 Mom and Thomas the Train

2009-06-24T14:57:00.006-04:00

Yesterday I took my son and one of his buddies to see the Thomas Live Show. Being a girl, I really can't understand the fascination over Thomas the Train and all the other characters. But, I was enlightened through the day as the boys taught me all the characters names and what number they each were. I learned quickly that this is serious business to any little boy who loves trains!
I thought it would be fun to let the boys ride a train to the show, so we hopped on the light rail and rode uptown.

My little one had to wear his train conductor's cap
and a Thomas t-shirt, of course.

Here's his buddy Jack. All smiles!

And, finally the long awaited Thomas the Tank Engine and friends.

Thanks boys for teaching this mom a thing or two
about Thomas the Train!

Why Did God Make Daddy?

2009-06-21T21:07:00.005-04:00

This Father's Day I thought it would be fun to see just what our 3 year old thinks about his daddy. So, I asked him a few questions:

~Why did God make daddy? "Because He loves him!"

~How did God make daddy? "With all His soul, all His mind. I don't know, nobody knows."

~Why did daddy marry mommy? " Because you are a princess." (This one was my favorite answer of course, I always wanted to be a princess!)

~Who's the boss in our house? "Daddy, because he says funny words."

~What's the difference between daddy and mommy? "I am, I'm in the middle."

~Why did God give you your daddy and not someone else's daddy? "So my daddy could go to work and come home to buy us groceries!"

~What ingredients is daddy made of? "Of Jesus."

These are some of my favorite pictures of Rhett and his daddy. When I would dream of what it would be like for my husband to be a daddy to a boy these are the images I would imagine. A boy, his dad and a football what more could you ask for?

Thank you Reggie for being a Godly father and loving our son like only a daddy can. I love you and Happy Father's Day!

Frugal Friday: A Frugal Father's Day

2009-06-19T18:51:00.004-04:00

Frugal Father's Day Ideas

*Breakfast in Bed - This is always a treat and when the kids get up early to help it makes the day so much more special!

*Homemade Cards and Gifts - Kids love making homemade cards/gifts for special occasions and dad is sure to keep them for years to come.

*Coupon Book - These are always so fun to receive. You can use the this template from Family Fun or create your own.

*Artwork- Each year I have had our son paint or finger paint onto a plain white canvas (8 x10) so Reggie can hang his artwork up at his office at work. It is so fun to see how far his artistic skills have come!

*Photo Gifts - Dads always want to show off their little ones. You could create a photo collage or photo book through a photo website like Shutterfly.

*Dad's Dream Fund - Is there something that dad has always wanted but can't afford? Start him a dream fund jar. You can decorate the jar and have your kids be part of the saving fun.

*Freebies! - There are some fun freebies that dads can cash in on this weekend. Here are some I have found:

Chic-fil-A - is giving away free milkshakes tomorrow (Saturday only)to all fathers if you bring your child in with you.

Outback Steakhouse - you can receive a $10 voucher towards your purchase at Outback Steakhouse if you make a purchase at World Market (this started today and will last as long as the vouchers do)I got one today!. So, buy something really inexpensive and you have a great deal. On top of that you will get another $10 voucher for dining on Father's Day.

TCBY - free cup or cone for dad on Father's Day.

Borders - free 12 oz Seattle's Best beverage. My hubby redeemed a couple this week for this and he was able to get a yummy frozen coffee drink!

*Hugs and Kisses - the ultimate free gift that every daddy will love!

Surprise by Design (Sort of!)

2009-06-18T07:54:00.009-04:00

Last night we had fun when one of our friends came over to help make my design idea for a playroom bulletin board come alive. I love these projects , but every once in awhile I get stuck and need some help from the experts. The expert last night came with lots of experience and tons of talent. Have you ever heard of the Surprise by Design tv show? The one where the homeowner goes to work and their loved one has planned for the show to come in and redo a room in their house and then when they arrive home from work they are surprised with a new room design. Well, our friend was the carpenter/foreman for the 2004 season of the show.

I learned so much about the behind the scenes realities of the show. You wouldn't believe what really happens to get it all finished in less than 24 hours and how some homeowners flip. I was surprised to hear that there are tons and I mean tons of workers helping to make it all happen even though we only see the hosts, designer and one carpenter on the show. I feel so much better about how long it takes me to complete some projects, don't you?

Getting Started:

To make the bulletin board I had cork, MDF and peg board pieces cut into 12X12 squares. You can do this at Home Depot or Lowe's. Then, I made a design of how I wanted the squares to be placed, mixing up the different material types. I pulled the 3 main colors from his playroom that I wanted to highlight and started painting the boards. On the MDF squares I used magnet paint to create a fun way to hang his artwork.

I wanted the board to have a finished look so I had crown moulding cut to fit dimensions of the entire board.

Making it Happen:

Don't Make Me Count to Three!

2009-06-14T15:37:00.006-04:00

I have never really talked about parenting on my blog, but as I struggle through some of the 'terrible threes' stages what better time to be real. I know it is much more fun to read blog posts where we are all smiles, but I realized that wouldn't be giving you the whole picture of our lives.

When it comes to children they are all so different. Some are compliant and some are well, strong willed. I have watched many of my friends with their compliant children in total amazement. "How did you that?" I would often ask. And, now after being a parent for 3 1/2 years I know sometimes it's just the God-given disposition of that child. Yes, parenting does play a huge roll in many areas of how our children act and react, but we are all born with a certain disposition. I know all about the strong willed disposition seeing that I was a strong willed child and now have one of my own.

Lately I am beginning to think that God is shaping and molding me as my son's parent much more than I could ever help shape and mold him. I never thought I could experience almost every emotion all at once, but being a parent has proved that wrong. I can get so upset over disobedience and in the very next moment feel overwhelming joy when my three year old looks at me and asks for forgiveness. So, I guess I am in one of the "hard" stages of parenting and will rest in the encouragement so many of my friends have given me that it will improve!

After reading many books and studying the Bible about how to parent I must say I still have a few questions:

1) Who ever said that it is the 'terrible twos'? They must not have raised a three year old!

2) When your mother made jokes about having your own child would be payback did you ever think it would be true? I know I didn't!

3) Will I ever make it through the 'terrible threes' meltdowns without total public humiliation? I think my son should go for an Emmy Award after some of his performances!

4) Does my child have a radar device to alert him when I get on the phone? This one still baffles me. And, I know it not just me who goes through this because almost every friend I ever get on the phone with has the same issue on her end of the phone.

5)Why does my child think 10 minutes of sleep in the car on the way home is a nap? Isn't it amazing how they can be so tired that you can't keep them awake until you get home and then they fall asleep for 10 minutes and are wide awake for the rest of the day.

6) Why is there always only one toy in a room full of toys that every child in the room wants? This is amazing to watch.

7) How can everyone say your child is such an angel and the moment you walk in the door they loose it? This has been one of those things I will never understand.

**Disclaimer: I realize that most of you reading this probably have absolutely perfect children and you may be thinking I have no idea what she is talking about. But, for the few that do know what I am talking about I have found a great resource to go along with the Bible to help us through our parenting challenges.

The book is called "Don't Make Me Count to Three" by Ginger Plowman. I told a friend just the other day I have read it three times and I am still learning. I must be going through a few challenges because as I looked through the book today I realized I had either underlined or highlighted almost every other paragraph!

All this said I love, love, love my little boy more than words could ever describe and I know that all the little bumps along the way are well worth it and I am truly blessed.

Trip to the Beach

2009-06-09T07:38:00.008-04:00

Okay, so I know these are a few weeks late but to make myself download the pictures off the camera I thought I would show you the fun we had on our beach trip.

Rhett had a ball running back and forth from the ocean to the beach with his sand bucket. In fact, it was the first time in his life his begged for a nap when we got back to the beach condo! Can I get a beach in my back yard please??!!!

As we sat on the beach and watched people go by we wondered why they would smile and laugh as they saw Rhett. Well, I think we figured it out! Too funny and only a little one could get away with this and it be funny.

Rhett and I buried Reggie. I think daddy actually liked it and got a little rest while being in all that sand.

A little pool action.

Rhett got to roast a few marshmellows and we were suppose to make smores, but the marshmellows never made it long enough to make the smores. Hmm, I wonder where they could all be?

We also got to take Rhett fishing for the first time. First, mommy's style fishing - always make sure to wear your best wedge heeled sandals!

Then, daddy's style fishing.

Finally, a fish! A sweet fellow vacationer helped Rhett catch his very first fish.

We had a great time together and made some special memories!

Update on Preston Loyd (Day 47)

2009-06-08T23:20:00.008-04:00

Preston was moved to the rehabilitation floor today! The Loyd family is asking for the specific areas of prayer below.

Items for prayer:

~Pray for his vision and focus to continue its return to normal.
~Pray for his cognition to continue its return to normal.
~Pray for his internal injuries and repairs to continue to perfection.
~Pray for his elbow to heal properly, so he may have full range of motion upon final healing.
~Pray for the couple wounds on his head to continue their healing to completion.
~Pray for one another. We have a long way to go.
~Continue to pray for our family as we weather this storm together.

Please keep this family in constant prayer. It has been a long month and a half and the road to recovery may be a long one.

Frugal Friday - Summer Activities

2009-06-05T19:25:00.003-04:00

Free or Low Cost Fun Summer Activities

So school is out and the kiddos are home. Each year I try to compile a list to help get us out of the house, but without a lot out of pocket. Here are a few ideas to get your summer fun started:

*Free Movies - Regal Movie Theatres are hosting Free Family Film Festival. Each Tuesday and Wednesday(some areas also Thursday) at 10 am this summer starting next week you can choose from 2 movies for absolutely free!

*Free Bowling - Kids can bowl 2 free games of bowling each day this summer. Check out Kids Bowl Free.

* Free Apple Camp - If you have kids aged 8 or above this is an awesome idea. Apple Camp is offering movie, photo, presentation and music workshops to teach kids how use their computer and be creative.

*Vacation Bible School -What summer would be complete without VBS. Check with your church or a local church for a schedule.

*Public Library/Book Stores - The library is a great place to take little ones for story time, crafts, etc and it's all free. Book stores like Barnes and Noble also have fun summer activities for kids.

*Pool - If you are fortunate to have a pool in your neighborhood this makes for a fun in the sun. You can also check with your county for the nearest public pool or the local YMCA.

*Parks - Local parks are a great place to take a nature hike, ride bikes, picnic, ride paddle boats. etc. They also have lots of programs to teach kids about nature and a host of other subjects.

*Museums - Lots of times your local museum will offer free admission day. I like to take advantage of these because if our 3 year "melts down" I haven't spent any money out of pocket.

*Zoo - The zoo is always a family favorite. They also have special days during the summer for reduced admission prices or even free admission.

*Local Fire and Police Department - Time for a field trip! The kiddos will love a tour of the fire department or police station. Call ahead to set a tour and ask if they offer any learning materials for the kids.

I hope this list helps get your summer activities off to a fun start!

Bitter Sweet News

2009-06-03T06:51:00.004-04:00

This past week has been filled with all kinds of emotions for our family. We recently found out that I was pregnant. Yes, I said pregnant! When doctors have told us this would not be possible without the help of fertility treatments and maybe not even then, we were reminded that God is in control.

The first few days were spent excited and a little scared of what our lives would be like with two babies really in close in age. We prayed from the moment we found out we were pregnant about our adoption and still felt God had a special child for us to bring into our family forever. "Wow, not one but two babies!", I thought.

The pregnancy started as normal and I had the usual symptoms. I called my doctor and she asked if I would come in as soon as possible. After doing a few tests and some blood work we were told that I was probably experiencing a miscarriage. After more testing my hormone levels began to drop drastically and the doctors did not feel they could save the baby with hormone replacement or medication.

I walked this road before less than a year ago when we lost our baby around 20 weeks into the pregnancy and I desperately did not want to feel that hurt again. I cried out to God and asked him to save our baby and allow this pregnancy, which was such a miracle, to end with a healthy baby in our arms.

Over the weekend we lost our precious baby. "Why God?" we asked. And, I've come to understand that His will was not for our baby to die even though we asked Him to save our baby. Yes, He heard our prayers and the prayers of all our friends and family who prayed along side of us. It would be easy to blame God and say it was His fault, but I know this is not true.

Through each of our pregnancy losses I have read a book called I'll Hold You In Heaven by Jack Hayford. Along with the Bible it has been a source of comfort and true understanding. In this book the author says, " It's possible that coping with the loss of your child has led you down a path of bitterness and anger. But, your loss wasn't God's fault. We live in a broken, imperfect world, and we are members of a fallen race. The residual fallout of the Fall continually appears around us in the form of sickness, sin, natural disaster, tragedy and death. If, however, you make God the focus of your frustration, you not only fail to receive the comfort He can give, but you also are wasting emotional energy by aiming your anger at the wrong target." How true these words really are!

What I am about to write is my main reason for posting our story because I know if others who experience a similar loss would hold onto this truth God can do wonderful things through even the most painful experiences. The scripture Romans 8:28 is a very often quoted scripture, but sometimes it gets misquoted. Instead of the true wording it gets quoted like this: "All things work together for good." When you think about this way looking at the scripture you almost feel as if all you can do is hope for the best. But now look at the full scripture, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." What this says to me is that God can take pain or circumstance and redeem it to use it for our good.

Sometimes you see God perform a miracle and save a baby's life or heal the sick, but sometimes His plan doesn't include these things. He chose to give us a miracle as we became pregnant and now He will use our pain and grief for even bigger purposes than we can see. I know there are so many others who have or will feel the pain we have in our hearts and I pray that during these time you cry out to God and allow Him to be your comforter.

We thank all those who have prayed for us, written us encouraging notes, called us and loved us. It has meant so much to us and helped in our time of need. A sweet friend gave me this poem yesterday and I wanted to share it with all of you.

ALWAYS REMEMBER

Always remember,

when God made you

He did so with a

purpose and a plan.

He saw all your days before

you lived one of them

and placed over

you the covering

of His protective love.

He has allowed nothing

to come into your life

that has not first been

screened through that love.

His hand has remained

upon you to this very day.

He calls you by name.

You are His beloved child...

the apple of His eye...

the delight of His heart.

Today you are in the exact

place He wants you to be,

and tomorrow He

will be with you

as He has always been _

in goodness, in kindness,

in faithfulness.

by Roy Lessin

Update on Preston Loyd (Day 40)

2009-06-01T06:47:00.002-04:00

Preston is now out of ICU and making wonderful improvement!!

Unfortunately, there were some inappropriate emails sent to the Loyd family through the CaringBridge account and they have had to change the security settings to protect their family. Please pray that they will be safe from hurtful words. Below are the specific prayer requests at this time.

Items for prayer:
*Continued healing for Preston’s cognition. He has made miraculous strides already. We realize this will be a matter of time, and covet your continue prayers.

*Continued healing for Preston’s focus and vision. We are still not sure exactly what he can see and process. We claim God’s perfect healing.

*Continued healing for Preston’s external wounds, including his left side, his surgery incision on his belly, his elbow and shoulder, return of tone to his muscles and healing of the wound on the back of his head.

*Cinamon and I (especially me) will maintain the strength and perseverance we need to be the best support for our sweet Preston.

*Continued prayer for the doctors and nurses. They will continue to have perfect insight to diagnose and treat, so Preston can achieve his perfect healing.

*Pray for one another. This is still a long road and we need to lift up one another.

The True Meaning of Memorial Day

2009-05-24T23:59:00.002-04:00

Have you ever truly taken the time to think about what Memorial Day is all about? What makes it different than Veteran's Day?

The "Memorial" in Memorial Day has been ignored by too many of us who are beneficiaries of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Often we do not observe the day as it should be, a day where we actively remember our ancestors, our family members, our loved ones, our neighbors, and our friends who have given the ultimate sacrifice. I know for me in years past I have thought about it as a great beach weekend or 3 day holiday. For some it may be about picnics, parades or even Memorial Day sales. This Memorial Day I pray we all take time out to remember the true meaning of this holiday.

The true meaning of Memorial Day is to honor our nation's war dead, who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the very freedoms that are so easily taken for granted and are under attack today.

Here are a few ways we can actively remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice:

*by visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.

*by visiting memorials.

*by flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon.

*by flying the 'POW/MIA Flag' as well (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act).

*by participating in a "National Moment of Remembrance": at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for Taps to be played.

*by renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our fallen dead, and to aid the disabled veterans.

God bless the families of those who died to protect our freedoms and May America Bless God!!

Prayer and Praise for Preston Loyd! (Day 29)

2009-05-21T11:28:00.005-04:00

Yesterday was an exciting day for the Loyd family when Preston's Dad had this experience:

"The second experience was the one I had been waiting on for 30 DAYS. I was praying and talking to Preston right over his face. When I finished, I said, “I love you, Preston: I love you, Preston”…He then mouthed the words, “I LOVE YOU”!!! You can’t even imagine the joy that flooded my body when I heard those words. I LOVE YOU!!!"

~ from Preston's Dad Ashton

What a huge praise and prayer fulfilled. Please continue to lift up these most recent specific prayers :

*Pray that all the infection and bacteria would be gone. Right now, infection is our biggest enemy. We know that is subject to change.

*Pray that the left lung and diaphragm would heal quickly. The faster they heal the less chance for infection in that lung.

*Pray that his wounds continue their healing.

*Continue to pray for return of cognition. We have received some very promising signs, but again, do not need to be complacent.

*Pray for the Loyd family and they get set for the long haul in this convalescence.

Update on Preston Loyd (Day 24)

2009-05-16T06:00:00.002-04:00

The prayers have been overwhelming for Preston and his family, thank you. This week his parents are asking for specific prayers in the following areas:

· The awakening will be an easy process for Preston.
· Preston will regain his cognition quickly. Preston will be Preston again.
· Total cleansing of his body of the fungal infections. Claim it is gone.
· Fever will naturally go away.
· Pray for the Loyd family. Cinamon and Ashton, Taylor, Dad, Mom and Gary and
Peggy. They covet your prayers and are strengthened by each one.

There have also been prayers coming in from all kinds of people and places. Just two days ago Preston received a special prayer during a Casting Crowns concert and you can view it at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jM3DMZC_ho&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.new.facebook.com%2Fhome.php%3Fref%3Dlogo&feature=player_embedded

Then during the NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge crew member Jeff Kerr asked for prayer over Preston during a tv interview.

It is so sweet to see how many people can love one little boy and his family in their time of need.

Frugal Friday : Vacations

2009-05-15T17:28:00.010-04:00

Ways to Save on Vacation

We just got back from our family beach vacation and enjoyed every minute! I love to save money in everyday life and while on vacation too. So, I thought since summer is just around the corner and many of you will be traveling I would share how to enjoy your vacation without spending a ton of money.

Plan Ahead: Try to plan your vacation well in advance. Figure out how much you can afford and how much you are willing to spend. Once you know this you can decided where you want to go.

Research Your Destination Online or Take Advantage of Free Travel Guides: Research is an important aspect of travel planning, but it doesn't need to cost any money. Online research is so easy and free. You can also take advantage of free travel guides by signing up on your destination's website or programs like AAA give away free travel guides if you are a member.

Avoid Traveling During Peak Seasons: You can save alot of money if you choose to travel during a time that is less popular. If you have preschool aged children or homeschoolers this works a little easier. But, I must say that with the travel industry suffering you can still find some great deals at anytime of the year right now.

Get Creative on Where you Lodge: I personally have not tried all of these, but have heard great things from people who have. 1) Home Exchange - if you live in an attractive area you can contact a home exchange program like homeexchange.com and see if anyone might be interested in an exchange. 2) Campus Accommodations - if you are traveling where there is a local university you can call ahead and ask if they rent out rooms during your vacation time. 3) Hostels - I have tried this way of lodging while in Europe and it was fun. It's an inexpensive way to travel and meet some really interesting people along the way. Hostels are located all over the world and you can check them out at Hostels.com. 4) Camping and RVs - Now I know some of you don't think camping and vacation go together, but for those that are adventurous this can save some major money. The best site I have found for finding out more information is ReserveAmerica.com.

Bring You Own Food: On our vacation this week we stayed in a condo with a full kitchen and because I planned ahead our meals and brought all the groceries needed, we saved a ton of money! Since we have a little one it is much easier to have the ability to fix our meals and eat where we are staying. As most of you know, by the time you get off the beach, get showered, get dressed and get to the restaurant either a meltdown can occur or we end up way past bedtime. So, depending on you family's stage of life this may be a good option. Hotels and Resorts make a pretty penny on their customers who buy most of their food needs from them on their visit.

Eating Out: When you want to eat out try to make it to the early bird specials. Sometimes you can save up to 50% off and the best part is there is usually no wait.

Road Trip Snacks: Pack a small cooler with drinks and snacks so you don't have to stop at gas stations and pay almost double for the same drink or snack.

Bring Entertainment: For our trip I packed plenty of games and movies to watch once we reached our destination. It's a good thing because our first day was filled with rain. To make it more special I saved a few toys from my yard sale finds over the past few months and put them away until we were on our vacation. This way our son had a great time playing with something new and wasn't bored while we were in the condo.

Don't Buy Souvenirs: Have you ever ended up with a bunch of souvenirs that you wondered 'Why did I ever buy that?' once you got it home? Ask yourself if you (or whoever you are gifting it to) would ever use the item. You could bring back hand picked shells from the beach (this is what we brought back this year) or something else that represents the destination that you could enjoy long after the trip is over.

Cut Costs on Getting There and Getting Around: If you need to fly to your destination you can use the internet to search for the best flight rate available. I love to use the site SideStep.com because it lists all the airlines, hotels, cars, etc. and you can compare them all on one screen. This way you can really tell if you are getting the best deal. And, if you like to take a chance and don't have a specific flight or hotel in mind you can use a site like Priceline.com and bid for your flight or accommodation.

Use Your Credit Card For Future Vacations: If you have a credit card that rewards you airline points or something similar (we can trade ours in for cash) put everything on it and rack up your points. This way you will have a head start for your next vacation! This is a great way to go if you make sure to pay off the bill once it comes due and not carry a balance that would require you to pay any interest.

I hope you have a fun, money saving time on your next vacation!

On this Mother's Day ...

2009-05-10T01:17:00.001-04:00

(Make sure to pause the blog music all the way at the bottom of the right hand column under Music Playlist to help you hear the video)

I wanted to share this video because when I first watched it I was so touched by the lyrics and the video itself. But, most of all I wanted to encourage so many of you who have allowed me to pray for you as you walk down some of the paths represented in the video. I consider it a privilege to share in your joys and sorrows, thank you.

As I watched the video I found myself relating in several different areas and even thinking deeper about areas I haven't experienced.

Like so many of you, our struggle with infertility has been a long 2 1/2 year road for us filled with many ups and downs.Watching the lives of everyone around us as their families grow can sometimes be hard to bare. The days when everywhere you turn there stands yet another beautiful pregnant mother who will soon hold her miracle but you are only left with a yearning to become pregnant to share in that same miracle. It's only a natural part of life and it is so hard when it doesn't come naturally for you.

I can also relate to the loss of a child as we walked through this painful experience almost a year ago. On the days when you find yourself wondering what life would have been like if our baby had lived or the overwhelming longing to simply hold our baby .The pain never truly goes away and sometimes creeps up when you least expect it. The only true source of strength during these times is the truth of God's Word and His promise to never leave us.

Adoption is the journey God has for us now and I am truly grateful to the birthmom who chooses life for our baby. This is one area of the video I thought about more deeply and I can only imagine the difficulty a mother has when choosing to give her baby to another family. My heart aches for those who have to make this decision.

So, on this Mother's Day I praise God for the precious and 'perfect for us' son he has given me to love while here on Earth. I also am thankful for the blessing of becoming pregnant and carrying our second baby. I look forward to meeting our child in Heaven one day! And, on this Mother's Day I am so thankful for the child that will one day be placed in my arms through adoption. What a glorious day that will be!

Whatever your circumstance this Mother's Day may you find peace in knowing that God loves you and has a perfect plan for your life. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Update on Preston Loyd

2009-05-08T10:29:00.004-04:00

Thank you to so many of you who have sent prayers of encouragement to the Loyd family. I have forwarded on these sweet comments to his parents and his grandfather.

Preston's recovery could be a long process and I want to keep you updated on his progress. As of this morning these are the prayer needs and praises his family is asking for at this time.

Items for Prayer & Praise:

~The surgeons have decided that they want to address any possible infection by ‘washing out’ Preston’s lower body cavity. Since there is still the ‘fake’ skin on Preston’s side, this will not be a difficult procedure. Of course, we would have been happy with no more surgeries, but since the initial number of possible surgeries was 8-10, just to fix GI system and we are on 3, that’s not so bad. They plan on doing the procedure at 3pm. Please pray this goes smoothly and this procedure fixes the temperature situation.

~I have not spoken with doctors, but assume since Preston will have surgery today, they will actually increase his sedation. This will cause his awakening to moved out a couple days. Pray for Cinamon and me to have continued patience and the perseverance.

~Pray that this additional time of sedation is allowing his precious brain to continue healing.

~Pray for Cinamon. I was a mess the first couple days and she was strong. Now, her days seem to be more challenging. Pray God’s peace on her and guidance in handling a horrible situation.

Praise: One of the volunteers brought a Sheltie (yes, live dog) in Preston’s room yesterday and Preston opened his eyes on command to look at it.

Praise: Preston had 3 bowel movements yesterday.

Praise: Aside from the fever, Preston continues to improve physically. He looks great.

Big Boy Room Makeover (Part 2-Accessories)

2009-05-07T18:31:00.014-04:00

I know it's been awhile since the first post on my son's Big Boy Room Makeover, but I wanted to update you on the fun I had designing and painting his furniture. Some of you have asked about the tee pee over his bed, and unfortunately my original design didn't work as planned. So, next week I have a friend who specializes in movie set design coming over to help attach it to the wall securely just in case our son decides the swing from it like a little monkey!

Here are a few of the accessories that I have completed so far.

I made a little reading nook in the corner of his room and used this chair I found at a yard sale for only $3 as the seating. I couldn't find any fabric to match the paint color I wanted so what better to do than paint it! Then I propped this wagon wheel (found it on clearance) to bring in another element of the wild west.

I wanted to do something special for his table and chair set, so I painted a horse silhouette and distressed the wood to give it a rustic feel.

To give it an even more rustic feel I attached rope to the chair backs and legs. This is where glue is your best friend.

My favorite part of the chairs are these wrought iron stars I found at an antique store when I was pregnant with Rhett. I knew even back then that I wanted to design a cowboys and indians room for him one day!

I was able to incorporate the wrought iron stars into these bookends as well.

Look at this vintage cub scout book on cowboys and indians I was able to find to match the decor.

I can hardly wait to get the tee pee up to see what fun he has pretending as he plays cowboys and indians. Oh to be a little boy with a big imagination!

Why Babies Need Mommies!

2009-05-05T21:07:00.002-04:00

I had a friend post this to her blog and I thought it was so funny I just had to share it too!

Frugal Friday

2009-05-01T07:31:00.004-04:00

Doubling,Tripling, Stacking and

Buy 1 Get 1 Coupons

I know many of you have asked how I get so many groceries for cheap or even free, so I thought this Friday we would explore some of the most exciting reasons for using coupons.

Doubling and Tripling Coupons

Coupon doubling basically means that the store will DOUBLE the coupon that you have (usually up to .99). So, if you have a .50 off coupon and your store states that they will double it, then you will be getting $1.00 off the item that you are purchasing. Times and days when double coupons are offered vary from store to store, so check with your local store for days that they offer them.

Make sure that the coupon you want to use does not say “Do Not Double” on it although rare, they are out there and would not be doubled or tripled by your store. Also, some stores require you to join their store member program and you’ll have to present the program card before the coupons will doubled or tripled.

I have gotten SO many items for free by using double or triple coupon days in conjunction with sale items. Here is a list of some grocery stores around the country that have double coupon programs. (Thanks, Grocery Coupon Guide!) for this amazing list!

~Thanks to my friend Miranda at Cheap Cheap for sharing these tips

Stacking Coupons

Did you know you can stack coupons? This is where you can save some serious money, so here's how it works: If you have a store coupon (ex. Target, Food Lion, CVS) and a Manufacturers coupon you can use both! You cannot use two manufacturers coupons or two store coupons for the same product though.

An example of this would Tide detergent on sale for $3.99 at Target. The Target store coupon (most store coupons are found on the store's website or in the weekly sales paper) is for $1 off and the manufacturers coupon is for $1 off.

$3.99 - $1 (Target coupon) - $1 (Manufacturers coupon)= $1.99 final cost!

**Tip** Use your coupons on trial size products. Some coupons don't specify what size product must be purchased so you can snag some products for free with your new stacking skills!

Buy One Get One Free Coupons

I get really excited when I can get hold of a B1G1 free coupon. Why, you ask? Well, these coupons are one of the highest-savings deals you will find. If the store advertises the product B1G1 free and then you have a B1G1 free coupon it makes both items free. You can't get better than free!!

Update on Preston Loyd

2009-04-27T14:04:00.004-04:00

Thank you to everyone who has been so kind and lifted this family up in prayer over the last few days. I wanted to update you on Preston's condition and give you a link to his Caring Bridge site where his parents have been updating everyone on a daily basis.

Latest news from Preston's mom:

Preston has a bit of fever, 101.2, please pray this will go to normal, and it not related to any pneumonia or other infection.

News for today. They met with surgeons this morning. They plan on operating again at around 12:30.

Here are the items they will be addressing:

Cleanse abdominal area again to reduce risk of infection.
Possible move right femoral line up to under shoulder blade. Our Intensivist, Dr. Wilson, would like it installed in operating room conditions. The current line was installed by trauma team. Just another little item to reduce risk of infection.
Feeding tube placement into intestines (jejuncstomy). This will allow some better nutrition for now and get him off the intravenous feeding.
Start the work of closing the abdominal wall. This may happen now, or more surgery. Options are using current chest wall, using Duoderm??, or may a wound vac? A plastic surgeon will be in the room to observe and plan for subsequent surgeries.

Pray for the doctors by name. Again, our superhero who has operated on Preston each time, Dr. Bambini. Dr. Arru and Dr. Morton, who are the pediatric surgeons, to begin the work on his chest.

Please pray @ 12:30 that God will provide the best possible situation to close Preston's wounds, and press him on towards recovery.

Here is the Caring Bridge link that you can follow to get up to date information on how Preston is doing and what prayers are needed. Go to www.caringbridge.org and type prestonloyd (all one word and lower case).

Urgent Prayer Needed for Preston Lloyd!

2009-04-24T08:44:00.007-04:00

I received an email yesterday that was requesting urgent and fervent prayer for a 4 year old little boy named Preston Lloyd. Yesterday he was playing in the yard while his grandfather was mowing the lawn and after his grandfather put the mower in reverse Preston ran behind the mower and it ran over his little body. The accident cost him several of his internal organs and the next 12-24 hours are critical to his survival. If he does survive the doctors have told his parents that the recovery time could be 3-5 years.

I can only imagine what these parents, grandfather and little Preston must be going through, so would you please join me in prayer for this entire family. Below is the email Preston's father sent out this morning:

First, let me say the outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming. I am so humbled for the calls, emails, voicemails, texts and all the Facebook posts. Our family feels so loved by each of you in this excruciating time.Preston stabilized today. You need to understand that they have done no real repair to his insides. The trauma doctors primarily saved his life and stopped the bleeding. Then, they put his digestive system back inside and sent him to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) to stabilize so further operations could be performed.Today, they advised we have a very long road and Preston is no where near out of the woods. Tomorrow morning they will operate again. At that time, they will get a better picture of how they can repair his digestive system. There are multiple plans. Apparently, the majority of his esophagus has been torn away and is no longer attached to the stomach. There is damage to the pancreas, small and large intestine. The hope is that his digestive system can be repaired and in working order over the course of a couple months.Pray specifically tonight that his organs will all be usable.

We Love You All.

Ashton & Cinamon

*Please check this blog regularly for updates on Preston's prayer needs*

Living With No Regrets

2009-04-22T07:43:00.009-04:00

This past weekend my hubby and I were able to enjoy a date night out and hear an amazing testimony for the Lord. The speaker was the author of "Into the Deep", Robert Rogers. His story is one of tragedy and triumph as he and his family( wife and 4 children) were caught in a flash flood that was 6 feet high and hundreds of feet wide. Only he miraculously survived the flood and was left to bury his wife and four children.

This story is a tough one to imagine, but when we heard the overwhelming joy he has and what God has done in his life it is nothing but inspiring. I encourage you to read his testimony , read his book "Into the Deep" and check out his ministry, Mighty in the Land. Both my husband and I were even more touched when we found out about his heart for adoption and orphaned children.

I was convicted by one of the messages he tried to convey, which was to live life with no regrets. Be thankful to God for what blessings He has given and not be focused on what I want because only God truly knows what I need and when I need it (I admit I struggle with this one and waiting to expand our family has been a true test of faith). Live to bring God glory in everything I do. We don't know when our last breathe will be, just like Robert and his family that night, and I only have one life to bring God glory. It made me ask forgiveness for all the wasted time I have spent over my Christian life on my own agenda instead of God's.

Another inspiring part of his story has to do with this drawing his oldest daughter drew a year before her death and how Robert found it just days after his family's funerals were complete. I can't do justice to this by writing about it, so please click here to learn the full story.

Sometimes in life you get to witness someone who faces a tragedy with the kind of peace and strength that can only come from God. I must say that this was one of those people. May he be blessed in his ministry and as he delivers his story to others in the future.

Frugal Friday

2009-04-17T09:41:00.008-04:00

Pharmacy Prescriptions

Do you have a prescription that needs to be filled each month? Or maybe some that you fill a few times each year? If so, there is a great way to make some free money. I call it the pharmacy game and I have been playing it for years. Here's how it works:

1) You need a new or existing prescription.

2) Be willing to transfer that prescription (or fill new one) at a pharmacy other than where you have your Rx now.

3) Download valid coupons for new or transferred Rx. Here are the current ones out there right now: Target is offering a $10 gift card for a new or transferred Rx (coupons available at pharmacy counter in Target) and Rite Aid is offering up to $50 in gift certificates for 2 transferred Rx. Click here to download coupon.

4) Some pharmacies take competitor coupons, so check out this chart to see which ones might work for you.

5) Most pharmacies will price match also. So, if you are worried about paying more for your Rx just call ahead and see what their policies are for price matching.

6) Enjoy your extra spending money for filling a Rx you would have filled anyway!

Adoption Photo Book

2009-04-16T08:23:00.005-04:00

I put the finishing touches on our adoption photo book last night, hooray! As many of you remember it has been a long process due to a computer crash and losing most of my work. Yikes! But, it is officially finished and I am sending it to our lawyer today and now possible birth parents can use our book as a way to get to know our family a little better.

Red Envelope Success!

2009-04-13T14:14:00.003-04:00

Remember those red envelopes we all sent to the White House? It looks like they received over 2 million and it was the biggest White House mailing campagin in over 35 years. Way to go!!!
Read more here.

Creating Easter Memories

2009-04-12T18:43:00.006-04:00

This year has been extra special for me as I have had the privilege to teach our son the true meaning of Easter. I wanted to share with you two special traditions we have in our family to help bring the story of Easter to life.

Resurrection Eggs

Last year I found a great hands on way to teach the resurrection story with Family Life's Resurrection Eggs. For the 12 days leading up to Easter we read the book Benjamin's Box and have Rhett open the egg that corresponds with the page of the story we are reading. I must say that it has been 12 nights of not having to coax Rhett to bed because he looked forward to opening a new egg so much each night he actually looked forward to bedtime! There are so many different ways you can use the eggs, but we found that reading a new page (new egg) each night and all the previous pages (eggs) was the best way to reinforce the story. I felt such joy at our Easter brunch today when Rhett was able to explain each egg and the entire resurrection story. A big hand goes to the creators of such a great resource for learning!

Empty Tomb Cookies

This year I started a new tradition and we made empty tomb cookies. We had a great time making these together (Rhett loves any opportunity to eat!) and using each of the ingredients to symbolize different parts of the resurrection story . Here's how it works:

Begin this recipe the Saturday before Easter Sunday.

You will need:

1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon or a wooden meat hammer
duct tape or packing tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300*F.

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon or hammer to break them into small pieces.

Explain that after Jesus was arrested he was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon of vinegar into the mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life.
Explain that Jesus gave his life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste. Then put your pinch of salt in the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing! Add 1 cup sugar to the bowl.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because he loves us. He wants us to know and belong to him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 10 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks form.

Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheets.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape to seal the oven door.
Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.

Leave the kitchen. If you've been making these cookies just before bedtime, GO TO BED!

Acknowledge that the kids are probably sad that they've worked hard to make these cookies, and now have to leave them in the oven overnight. Explain that Jesus' followers were in sad when Jesus died and the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Ask the kids to notice the cracked surface. Have them bite into the cookies. The cookies are hollow!

Explain that on the first Easter morning, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.

HE HAS RISEN!

Frugal Friday

2009-04-10T07:43:00.010-04:00

Refinancing Your Mortgage

With interest rates at an all time low I thought I would touch on the subject of refinancing. When you refinance your mortgage, you take out a new home loan and use some or all of the proceeds to pay off the existing one. If you obtain a lower interest rate on your new loan than you had on your old one, you'll be saving money!

Qualifying for a new home loan

When a lender makes a decision about a mortgage application, they consider two basic factors: 1) your ability and 2) your willingness to repay the loan.

You ability to repay the mortgage is determined by making sure of your current employment and looking at your total income. Your proposed monthly payment will be compared to your monthly income and debt. Willingness to repay is determined by how you have paid on previous loans. Of course there is always the credit score check. And have you ever wondered what is a good score anyway? Below is some great information on how lenders look at scores. If you want to know what your score is and do it for free go to www.annualcreditreport.com.

*700 and above – Very good to excellent. Lenders will have no problems giving you a loan with a credit score of 700 or above.

*680 to 699 – This credit score puts you in the "Good" category. That one point between good and very good to excellent credit generally makes little difference to lenders so don't sweat it.

*620 to 679 – If your credit score falls into this range, you fall into the "Okay" category. The closer your score is to 679, the better. 620 is consider to be a "par" credit rating and you may be required to provide supporting information such as additional income statements, personal and professional references as well as documentation confirming time at your current job.

*580 to 619 – While you aren't in the "Bad" category yet, you are teetering on the edge if your credit score falls in this range. 620 is the prime rate cut-off, so plan on paying a higher interest rate or work on improving your credit score.

*500 to 580 – You can still get credit in this scoring range, but expect to pay a very high interest rate and look closely at the terms of your agreement. Closely examine how your interest rate is calculated. Some predatory lenders will charge interest rates on car loans that are calculated like credit cards, on a daily average balance. If you see these words in your disclosures for a car loan, put the pen down and walk away.

*499 and below – Yes, even with as score of 499 or below you can still be extended credit, but the interest rates will kill you financially. Take a year or two to pay off your collections or bad debt, clean up your credit and reapply at a later date.

~from Bank Rate

When to Do It

Generally, there are two good times to refinance your mortgage. If you've got an adjustable rate mortgage, one of those times is during periods of rising interest rates. If you refinance to a lower fixed rate mortgage you will avoid the higher costs that you would incur as the adjustable rate mortgage starts going up.

The other time to jump on a refinance is when you'll save money by getting a lower interest rate. You want to make sure that your monthly savings will pay back your refinancing costs while you are still in the home. If you sell the home before the refinancing costs have paid for themselves you won't be saving anything.

The Cost of Refinancing

Your refinancing cost is the total of any points, closing costs, and private mortgage insurance (PMI) premiums that you pay when you take out the new loan. There are times when lenders offer "no points, no closing costs" refinancing deals. Check the terms of the offer carefully to make sure that you understand what's involved.

Points are prepaid fees. One point equals 1 percent of the amount you're borrowing, and any points you're charged are usually deducted from the mortgage proceeds you receive. Mortgage lenders typically charge one point as a loan origination fee. Beyond that, lenders may charge additional points on loans with interest rates below the current market rate. By doing so, the lender makes a little more money up front, and you get a lower interest rate on your mortgage. So, if you're going to stay in your house for a long time and can afford to do so, paying more points in the beginning may get you a better interest rate and save you more money in the long run.

Your closing costs include a variety of fees, such as an appraisal fee, a title search fee, recording fees, and other fees associated with processing and finalizing your mortgage. If your loan-to-value ratio is greater than 80 percent of the appraised value of your property, you may also be required to carry PMI. The premiums for this insurance usually become a portion of your new monthly mortgage payment and thus reduce your savings from refinancing. In addition, you may discover hidden costs. For example, if you're paying less interest on your new mortgage, you'll have less to deduct on your income tax return. If this makes your tax payments higher, your savings will be further offset.

Once you've determined what your refinancing costs will be, you can then determine how long it will take for your refinancing to pay for itself. To do so, divide the total of the points and closing costs that you paid by the net monthly savings that the new loan provides you. Your net monthly savings will be your interest savings less any PMI premiums and tax advantage losses expressed as monthly figures.

For example, assume you refinanced $200,000. You paid two points and total closing costs of $1,800. You got a great interest rate on the loan, so you'll save $80 a month in interest charges. However, your PMI premiums are now $10 per month higher, and you've lost tax savings of $120 a year, or $10 per month. Your refinancing costs are $3,800--two points of $1,000 each and $1,800 in closing costs. Meanwhile, your net savings are $60 per month--$80 per month saved interest less $10 per month increased PMI premiums and $10 per month lost tax savings. If you divide $3,800 by $60, you'll find your refinancing will pay for itself in a little over 63 months.

Who Can Refinance

There are several routes you can take to refinance. You can contact your current lender, search the internet for rates or contact a mortgage broker. When we refinanced a few weeks ago we did all the above. I found that going through a mortgage broker worked best for us and I really liked the personal attention we received as we worked through the process. It can be hard to find someone you trust and feel comfortable with as you make this decision. Make sure you find someone who will take time with you and answer all your questions. If you like the idea of going through a mortgage broker you can call a trusted friend of mine and my mom's (my mom is a real estate broker and used Karen for many years) Karen Guinn at Met Life Home Loans (919)852-2545 or kguinn@metlifehomeloans.com.

I hope this helped shed a little light on a subject that can be overwhelming and sometimes hard to understand.

Ready, Set, Bowl!

2009-04-08T19:17:00.005-04:00

For the last few months our son has been asking us to go bowling. I knew it was time to take him when last week I found him using our drinking cups for pins and rocks as bowling balls. Isn't it funny when they get an idea in their minds and they use their imaginations ever so creatively to make it happen!

So, last night we headed down to the local bowling alley

and laced up our fashion forward bowling shoes

(Rhett's were actually kind of cute!).

How do you hold this thing?

A little help from daddy.

I think I've got it!

You know it's bad when your 3 year old gets almost the same

scoreas you do and it's his first time! We are going to have

to start bowling more often.