I remember the minute...

..the nurse said...."IT'S A GIRL" The emotions were mixed at best. B/C my husband, the father of this precious baby girl was sitting on the USS Eisenhower in the port of Norfolk, Va. The next thing I thought was, I am so sad to know that he was not here yet he was not going to see her for 6 wks. Then my next thought went back to this baby girl! I kept thinking throughout my pregnancy that I would have a boy this time around. I mean I had 2 girls so this one has to be a boy, right? Psyching out on boy clothes, boy names, boy toys didn't help. God had already chosen to give us another girly-girl! And I was very glad inside! No, overjoyed is a better word. Her name is Stephanie Jill!!!

As I was rolled out of the delivery room, the nurses station said that a call had came in for me...so right there in the hallway, my awesome godly husband was calling me! That totally made my day! I remember that the nurses all grinned when I was admitted w/labor pains of 3 mins apart, b/c most of them had seen me in the nursery area that very afternoon, visiting a friend who has just given birth. At that time I was 7 days overdue and looked every minute of those 7 days ...CAN WE SAY "ate a watermelon?"

Thanks goes out to my sister who being newly married, became my labor coach. She got to hold our baby girl right after she as born. I didn't scar her for life b/c she went on to have 2 children of her own! Thanks goes out to my parent, they were awesomely supportive to me thru the 10 wks Steve was on the ship. Thanks goes out to my brother who missed work that night to babysit Shana (age:2.5 yrs) Of course I think he secretly liked calling off of work that night!

The interesting fact about my girls, is that they were born on 2 different aunts birthdays....Shana on her late Aunt Dawn's...Jill on her Aunt Beth's!

Jill, you are a one in a million daughter. Our lives were blessed when you were breathed upon by God's design. You are everything I secretly desired 'way back then' and my expectations for your future will be everything I desired as well...b/c "for this child we prayed"....so I know your future is brighter than ever! May you breath in each and every day expecting a full portion of God's best for your life! May other see the character qualities in you and be encouraged to draw near to God.

Let your light so shine that others may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

We love you Jilly! When you were born our family became complete!

Email thing-ez...

The other day I noticed my email "in"box was alittle strange. There was a few items of interest all in a line, one right after the other. I started laughing and then wondered how many weird thing-ez come into my email. So I made a list today and here is what I got:

Burn it... (you want me to do what?)
Loose it.... (oh, I've lost lots of things!)
Find it.... (yep, then I found them all)
Please confirm....(what, why?)
Hi Debi....(do I know you?)
Make $ the easy way....(is this a oxymoron statement)
Found it-Loved it ....(good for you, but what's that got to do w/me?)
Burn Quick......(again w/the burn thing!)
Always a Southern Gal....(I am in heart)
Match dating....(is this like The Memory Game?)
Global Nutrition Specialist.....(my husband would say that this was my

title, I always try to get others to eat healthy)
Goodbye Yellow Teeth.....(auh shucks, I like yellowish/greenish teeth)
Secrets to a Sound Sleep....( easy- ear plugs and a Tylenol PM)
Booking Buddy.....(does this involve the Mafia?)
Drop 20 by April 1st....( this is either an ad for the Marines OR a weight loss promise)
Blazing White Smile.......(FINALLY! but is blazin the same as smokin?)
Can’t pay IRS?....(talk to Geightner and the Obama Staff in DC)
Massage Therapy....(I'm game)
Love and Seek Christians.....( is this a run off of Lost It-Find It?)
Susan’s Anti-aging Secrets.....(sign me up)
Someone thinks you are dumb.....(shoot, it has taken me years to overcome this one)
All Natural Body Flush.....(all natural and flush in the same

sentence, where are your manners?)
Uncle Sam JR.... (Uncle Sam had a child)
Max Colon..... (Is this a new name for a baby boy or do we name our colons these days?)

I hope this Thursday is a wonderful addition to your week! Joy to you!

They say a picture paints ...

a thousand words! Well taking a look at these 3 pictures I have to say that each one screams so much more!

One shows tranquility thru a water fall or what I call "fresh water", just the sound of it gives way to calmness.

One shows promise thru the sunlight reflections in the pond outside my house in the early morning hours, giving hope for warmer days.

One shows joy thru friendship and just the promise of God's word. (thanks Tina- I love & miss you)

My heart is torn by some prayer requests of people who are hurting tonight. One who is getting ready to face radiation/chemo for 6-7 wks....One who has not so celebrated the anniversary news of her child's cancer reality....One who is expecting a baby girl but was told the ultrasound was not what it seemed and she has already sent 2 of her children to heaven in the past 3 yrs.....One who lost her child last summer and her husband in the fall....One who is left w/3 children after her husbands battle w/cancer.

I know my part in their lives is to pray! And I do, but ya know sometimes it just doesn't seem fair? All the hurting, all the pain.

I thought about my prep time today for Sunday worship w/our kids at church. It is on John 14:1:11 "Don't let your hearts be troubled, Believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Fathers house are many mansions, if it were not true I would of told you so. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away to prepare a place for you then I will come again and received you to Myself, so that where I am there you will be also." "Lord, Thomas said, "we don't know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except thru Me. If you know Me, you will also know the Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him."

"Lord, said Phillip, "show us the Father and that's enough for us." Jesus said to him. " Have I been among you all this time without you knowing Me Phillip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, show us the Father? Don't you believe that I am in the Father and He is in Me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own. The Father who lives in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Otherwise, believer because of the works themselves."

This scripture brought me back to fairness. I remember screaming UNFAIR when we were told our daughter had died. Unfair b/c a neighbor was doing drugs and yet her son was born healthy...unfair b/c this was our first, and I so wanted to be a mother. I am so glad God understood my screaming fit back then! He totally got it, b/c He lost His Son also.

Words like: believe....know.....told you....I am.....Father...comes....prepare....receive....you will be.

Promises of God! In a world of uncertainties, unfairness, pain and sorrow...we can count on a HUGE God to walk beside us, lift us up and carry us thru. I am so glad my Father is available 24/7!!

Signs, Signs ...

....every

where a sign,

blocking the scenery, chasin my mind....do this don't do that, can't you read the signs?

Well, that song from the 60's came to my mind when I started finding small post-it notes and coloring pages all around my house. I found them in the smallest and largest of spaces. So I had to capture them on film, how amazing is life when those small imprints of another being leaves you wanting more! Oh, yeah, the fingerprints are still all over my coffee table. Not b/c I am sick but b/c I love to look at them and remember the sights and sounds of their visit.

The small notes are as follows: (top-down) "I love you and I'll miss you"...feeding instructions for the fish....a picture of LB (I think?)

A Blogger-Friend Award goes to....

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these kind writers."When you pass the award along please include these guidelines.
The definition of self-aggrandizement is thus--"an act undertaken to increase your own power and influence or to draw attention to your own importance". I have got to say that most of the blogs I read totally lack self-aggrandizement.

Here are a few of my favorite bloggers who totally lack self-aggrandizement. (Don't ya just love that word?)

...5 choice Blogger-world friends of mine.

#1 Shana in Georgia - b/c she is my daughter and friend: after all blogging helps us stay connected better in an age that can take us literally all over the world.

#2 Alexis in Japan - b/c although we are new-blogger friends I feel that IF we lived close, we would be friends.

#3 Laurie in California - b/c she must be my older sister in life. OMGoodness, we have got to meet one day!

#4 Erin in Mississippi - b/c simply stated, we are old friends even if she is my daughters age. And our husbands share ministry together.

#5 Stephanie in Mississippi - b/c she is such a witness and I love her strength and smile! (and b/c her mother and I shared the births of our granddaughters just 6 days apart)

subtitles of the 3 discussions last weekend...

I tried to transition these 3 sayings into my 3 speeches. So I painted them up (my rendition) and then had free giveaways. Now granted, the 3 ladies who won them can use them as they see fit, i.e. in the kitchen, in the basement or in any garage or attic...Tina, my great friend from LifeWay, wanted to see them so here they are....

Beyond Measure....

....Today I am going to try and express my thankfulness to Yahweh for how He showed up at the Spices of Life Retreat last weekend. The Bible tells us that we are to “work as if working for the Lord.” We are also to take seriously the task of teaching others. We must pray b/c everything is depending on God. Thru this whole process of preparation for this retreat, I have grown in my faith walk! This excites me! But how do you show homage to someone who was your constant encourager? How do you say thank you to the person who pushed you forward when you told yourself you were not the right choice, not worthy?

Henry Blackaby (author of Experiencing God) says, “We must see God at work and then join Him.” I am here to say that I knew God wanted me to walk this path, even though I did not want the same. I knew I was to follow this call and I am so terribly glad I did. I have noticed that I do have the stamina and intelligence (not a pride thing but rather a humble item of life) to apply myself to something so daunting. I fought off some very old self esteem issues and gave God His due glory! I recognized once again that what I may have thought were trials in my life really broke open to new blessings! I know that because of the seasons I have been through, I can say PRAISE GOD and know it in my soul! After stretching myself these past few weeks I can say w/humbleness of heart, my God is the God of Creation, God of Peace, God of Healing, God of Salvation, God of renewed Grace! And I am thankful that He saved a wretch like me.

Last Thursday, March 12th, I had a surprise at our front door. A knock came on the door as we walked in from the garage from small group….and when Steve flipped the door wide open a chorus of “SURPRISE” was standing on the porch! ALL OF OUR KIDS! Yes, every one of them. They drove up from southern Georgia so my daughters could go w/me to the retreat! That was awesome in and of itself….but for our sons to take a Sunday off of work (both boys are in the ministry) was PRICELESS! And yes, the granddaughters were the cherry on top of this gals hot fudge sundae!!!! I gasped, and then ran to the bathroom! Thank you my dear children. I am one joy filled mother! Thank you Steve, you are my everything!

My best friend, Steve, worked all of this out….3 wks worth of work. I am told that even the room role at church was a FAKE ONE just in case I saw it on any given Sunday morning. I mean how many times have you heard, of over 50 people who knew of this surprise (most of them ladies) and no one let the preverbal “cat out of the bag?” Amazing! Thanks ladies, you are a great bunch of sista’s!

Do I want to do this kind of thing again….no! If God said that He wanted me to do this again…..yes!

BTW….There were 6 adults and 3 kids in this tiny apartment for 4-5 days (well, the guys had the grands for 2 of those 4 days) There were pallets and air mattress’s all over the floors of this place. (see pics below) Memories of FAMILY rallying together for no other reason but to say “We believe in you, we support you, we love you.” I am blessed beyond measure!

Pictures of a Weekend...

(eyes to the right) the reason
I am quarantined in the house
this week...
...PINE allergies.








My Girls! I felt like this past weekend was a Mastercard commercial.... guest speaker at a retreat-$100.00 ...amazing view w/a fireplace-$75.00....your daughters driving 14 hrs to surprise and support you - PRICELESS~!

A view at the resort! This lake was huge!

My 3 cups are back on my kitchen counter!!!! YEAH! (of course we had juice and Krispie Kreme donuts for a healthy breakfast)

A family of 9 living in a 2 bed/1bath apartment for 5 days! Boy was it all worth it!

Just move everything to a corner and pile it high! Life is good.

Today I about lost...

...my mind! As I sit here in my pajama's (it's pajama party night )waiting for Awana to begin at church, I am totally exhausted. Where has this week gone? I feel like Kate on Jon & Kate + 8. I felt that if ONE MORE THING needed to be doneI was going to crash from the pressure.

My mother's furnace is still a big issue.....I am 2 days away from the women's conference....I have practiced my speeches for a week now and still can't get the timing right.....My Hyatial hernia has really been bothering me lately....no reflux, just pain.....after the women's conference I must start on VBS decorating meetings (Night at the Museum~if you have any ideas I am open) .....new small group literature for the childrens area being introduced.....must I go on?

I want to find within the next week some peace and calmness. I know God is there, and will go before me. I want to practice Phillipians 2:
encouragement, sympathy, complete joy, being unselfish, looking toward the interest of others, having the mind of Christ, that my tongue will confess Jesus as Lord,knowing God is at work in me, doing all things w/o grumbling, trying daily to shine my light, hope in Jesus.

So I leave now heading into my sweet little 3rd grade girls and help them put to application the verses we will memorize. And knowing that as I help them I will also be helped in the reading of the Word of God. Isn't He amazing???? Our God is an Awesome God, He reigns from Heaven above, in wisdom, power and love, our God is an Awesome God.

Seeing dots...seeing ....

...girly girls all dressed up for Easter.

Walking around TJMax Monday in search of a serving tray, I bumped into these adorable/affordable dresses for "the grands." So of course I called Shana to see if she had already gotten the girls their Easter dresses...and since MawMaw bought them their fall smock dresses, I thought that it was my turn.

A dear friend of mine, Erin in MS, is telling of some fantastic frugal ideas she is applying to their family...so this is my contribution to her FFI's. I bought 3 dresses for < $50!

We (Shana, Jill & I) love to see the girls dressed as triplets! So even though these are not identical, Shana agreed that the 'theme' was the same. My momma saw the dresses yesterday and she loved the one in the middle. Her words were "It reminds me of a skirt I had when I was younger."

Shana, I hope you love them..perfect cotton dresses for hot summer southern sundays!

The eyes have it....

....my eyeball cookies were a huge success Sunday! I made 88 sets and came home w/12 sets. woohoo!


Thought you would like to see a pic from the day!

A New Pet....

...after coming in UNDER BUDGET for groceries this week, I decided to make a major purchase. And with this major purchase I wanted my grands to pick the name.

Since we have 3 grand-daughters the thought of NOT picking one of the names would not be nice and fair....so Shana and I decided to have them give me 3 names and I was to make a 4th name from the 3 which would give me my pets name. (does any of this sound corkey?) The names they gave me were: Dorothy.....Goldie....Hello Kitty

So I merged them all into: KORIE-DOT The Gentle Goldfish!