Justin got up here last night. It was great to see him. There's a lot to do to get ready to bring Dad home. We're packing some things up and moving furniture so we're ready when Hospice delivers the hospital bed and equipment tomorrow morning. Well, I'm exhausted. I stayed at the hospital for two straight days and through the night. I think sleep should come easy tonight. Looking forward to seeing Dad back in the comforts of his own home. I miss my little boys.

I can't sleep. I tried to go to bed really early tonight because I wasn't feeling well today, but I just can't sleep. My pillow is all wet and cold. The tears won't stop today. This is happening sooner and faster than we tried to prepare ourselves for. Not that we'll ever be prepared or ready. But we did hope to get Dad strong enough to get up to the lake or we even talked about the family going to Italy, but now it looks as if he will be confined to his bed. Unreal. Unthinkable. Unimaginable. Unfair. I got to talk to him a little today. He mentioned an encounter with a Catholic priest during one of his previous stays in the hospital. We began talking about what we believe. I specifically asked him if he knew that God loves him, and he quickly responded that he was sure he believed that. I asked him how he felt about him having to be sick like this. He was quiet and thinking, and I said "are you mad?". He said "not at all". That's my Dad.

My Dad's back in the hospital. He needed help getting to the bathroom today and once he got there he couldn't move, let alone get back to the living room. Thankfully my sister was there with him and called an ambulance. He's waiting to get transferred to a better hospital. And here I am in North Carolina, helpless and unable to do shit. Life just stopped. I quickly realize that all that matters is each of you and all my family. I feel quilty for wanting a new bedspread. Why do I care about the landscaping. I can be such a materialistic brat sometimes. I am determined to break that off of myself. I can't let my Dad's suffering go by without it being a cause of change for the better. He's worth more that that; he's worth everything. He's so smart and funny and giving. Please pray. Mercy for a good man. Heal him and make him whole again. He doesn't deserve this; if anything, someone like me does.

Lord have mercy, Buzzy's 30!!!

...almost. Justin's real birthday is Thursday and he turns 30! We had a surprise party for his over the weekend at his mom & dad's house. Unfortunately, he suspected something when he saw some decorations near the window when he traded cars with his dad that morning. Oh well, we still had a great time! Here are a few shots from the party. I'll try to figure out how to upload the video on the new camera. And let me just say something... could he be any cuter? It feels like such an honor to get to spend the rest of my life with him, because he just gets better every day.

Sleepover

Isaiah and Gabe's 2nd cousin Conner spent the night with us last night. I thought it was so cute how they snuggled together this morning to watch cartoons!

A great time...

My parents came down and stayed with us for a few days while my Dad got started on a new chemo, which he is tolerating very well so far. The kids had a ball!!! Here are a few pictures from their wonderful-but-much-too-short-visit...

Gabe said "Gama, come on... fight...ya!" as he kicked his leg like a power ranger. They love to wrestle with my Mom and she loves watching their "moves"!

Life is a rollercoaster

Well, I just got back sunday evening from a very nice visit with my parents. I stayed for 3 days and got to enjoy their company and love on them, which felt really good. It's hard being so far away. When I returned, everyone was great, Justin did a great job. Then at about midnight Isaiah threw up. It turns out he has either the flu or a stomach virus combined with a cold. Poor thing. It's so painful when he looks into my eyes. He doesn't need to say a thing. I can almost feel his pain. He's been such a trooper. Here are a few pictures. We hope to recover quick enough to see my parents when they come down to Duke, but it doesn't look likely. All I can say is this roller coaster has to be heading up sometime soon! Make it a great day... "life IS good", be brave, have faith, feel God's embrace.

My baby's 2!

We celebrated Gabe's birthday last night. It was a small party due to several being sick, but we Gabe enjoyed the spotlight. He got some neat gifts and ate chocolate pie. Here are a few pictures from last night.

While Gabe took his nap, Isaiah & I wrapped presents and Isaiah decorated the house with streamers. It was so cute to watch him enjoy surprising his brother. This pisture shows Isaiah's reaction when Gabe woke up from his nap and saw us decorating.
This Gabe's reaction to seeing the decorations

I told Shannon it looked a bit like a crime scene, but Isaiah was really proud of it!

Proud of ME!!! :)

photographer: Nathan Forbis

One of my stained glass customers homes was featured in a local magazine, "From House to Home". They even mentioned my name in the caption of the sunroom where the transom is! Unfortunately the photographer didn't take the picture with light behind the transom so you can't see how beautiful the colors are, but it's still exciting! Check it out! Go to the following link, click on more featured homes and then the one titled French Country Style. It will then show you pictures of the interior. The transom is in the navy blue sunroom.

http://www.fromhousetohome.com/

a great blog

I've been following this blog for a while now. It's called "Confessions of a Pioneer Woman". She left her high class life in California when she fell in love with Marlboro Man, her husband, and moved to his farm in the country raising wild mustangs and cattle... and four children! She's a great writer, photographer and cook. You really should check out her latest entry for Feb. 18th called "The Greatest Surprise".

www.thepioneerwoman.com

Homemade sidewalk paint

Last week it was really nice outside and I was trying to come up with something fun to do with the kids. I really wanted to go and get some sidewalk chalk and paint at the store, but I'm just slack and didn't feel like riding out so I went on the internet and found a recipe to make our own. It worked okay, not great. The kids enjoyed it and as you can see Isaiah and I worked on spelling his name. I did the "I"and the "S" and he was able to do the rest with me talking him through it. He's really doing well with his letters and sounds. He's so eager to learn, which makes it fun. He loves his preschool and his teacher "Miss Tracy". He's made lots of friends and has gained so much self confidence. I'm one proud mama indeed!

Some misc. pictures

one rockin' dude dancing to U2

Isaiah turned part of his scooter into a pretty cool gun!

Cuddling

Justin thought it was hilarious when he saw Alison and I doing "satin lips" from Mary Kay! I guess you could say it's like cleaning out a closet... it looks worse before it gets better! :)

Snow Day!

a Valentine's Day tribute to my love...

I had originally intended on posting a slideshow to honor my hubby for Valentine's Day, but Photobucket and Blogger didn't want to cooperate. ;) I went looking for photos of the two of us as a couple, and realized that I didn't have any on my computer!!! How terrible! But then I noticed something. All of the photos that I found of him were with our two precious sons, born of our love for each other. How fitting. So I found it not neccessary that I was not in the pictures, because at the same time, I sort of was! (i know that's not proper grammar, who really cares anyway?) I feel so lucky that I'm living my dreams right now. Life on earth can throw some crap at you every now and then but like my Dad said one day, if life on earth was perfect and free from suffering then what would heaven be? I'm so thankful that I'm married to a man with as much character, integrity and conviction as Justin. I feel at such peace knowing that my kids are being raised by the father they have just as I was raised by my precious, one-of-a-kind, brilliant, funny, selfless, silly father! (i love you dad) How blessed I am that he wants me forever.

More laughs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9WmKre5O2I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYxNMFbgLEM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeJPmSrHUQo

Love these guys!

I had to share this clip. I don't know if you follow these guys, but they're great. We don't have cable, but Justin and I watch clips from the Colbert Report online. He's my favorite. His comments and "insight" ;) into political news is hilarious and refreshing! Check out the show sometime, it won't let you down!

(warning moms, the word "ass" is used several times)
http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/player.jhtml?ml_video=155946&is_large=true

“A woman is like a teabag—only in hot water do you realize how strong she is.”
~Nancy Reagan

BestHomeschooling.org

I Took His Hand and Followed
~Mrs. Roy L. Peifer

My dishes went unwashed today,
I didn't make the bed,
I took his hand and followed
Where his eager footsteps led.
Oh yes, we went adventuring,
My little son and I...
Exploring all the great outdoors
Beneath the summer sky
We waded in a crystal stream,
We wandered through a wood...
My kitchen wasn't swept today
But life was gay and good.
We found a cool, sun-dappled glade
And now my small son knows
How Mother Bunny hides her nest,
Where jack-in-the-pulpit grows.
We watched a robin feed her young,
We climbed a sunlit hill...
Saw cloud-sheep scamper through the sky,
We plucked a daffodil.
That my house was neglected,
That I didn't brush the stairs,
In twenty years, no one on earth
Will know, or even care.
But that I've helped my little boy
To noble manhood grow,
In twenty years, the whole wide world
May look and see and know.

Optimus Prime & Bumblebee tatoos

more great poems by Connie Faust

"God commended His love toward us,
in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED
There are four words that bring to me
an awesome sense of peace!
Just one small phrase that tells it all --
the song of my release!
I do not know the reason why
God chose this wretched soul,
But I can thank my Father that
Christ's blood has made me whole! ---
ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED! ! !
In me there is no good thing --
no righteousness; no merit;
But Christ, the Son of Righteousness,
condescends to share it!
He -- righteousness imparts to me --
that my sin may be hidden;
And I am called a son of God!
I, who was sin-ridden! ---
ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED ! ! !
~Connie Faust



THORNS
There was no hint of beauty
in the crown of thorns He wore,
as His sacred head was bleeding
and the crowd cried out for more;
No loveliness in Jesus
as He hung on Calvary's tree,
but the cross He bore
and the thorns He wore
make Him beautiful to me.
When the thorns that I encounter
pierce my heart with grief and pain,
I will lift my eyes to Jesus;
He'll renew my strength again.
As I lean upon my Jesus
He will make my trials grow dim;
and my heartfelt plea
and my bended knee
make me beautiful to Him.
~Connie Faust