Pink Rose Award

I was given this Pink Rose Award from my friend Janna. She is a dear friend from college. I love her so much and she is one of a very few that I actually still have contact with. She is so sweet! I pray for her daily and I hope you all get a chance to meet her, so head on over!

I am going to nominate a couple people:

1. Natalie: She is a fellow minister's wife. I met her through another "blog friend" and we check on each other anytime we are online. Thank you Natalie for all your encouraging comments and the silly ones. I really do think we are two peas in a pod!

2. Angel: She was more of an "aquaintenance" in college. I found her somehow through this blog land and am never more glad that I did. She inspires me almost daily from her book clubs to her adoption stories (She is currently in China picking up her precious Lady Bug!), to her spirit of trying to make a difference. Take some time, you may need a while, to browse through her blog...you will be amazed as well!

3. Lisa: The Preacher's Wife.....you may know her....who doesn't! LOL I love how she makes me feel that I can go days with out taking a shower(LOL you must read!), that I don't have to stick to a certain schedule all the time and that I don't have to be something I am not! I love that I can go to her blog and find anything from funny girl talk to random nonsense to advise from her and many others about being "married to the ministry". If you want some down to earth, truth telling opinions then head on over to her place.


4. Sue at Praise and Coffee. I love going over to her place on Tuesdays, I don't always leave a comment (maybe only once or twice) but I love going over and being filled! You can get there from the button on the sidebar that says Two Shall Become One Tuesdays. I am reminded each week of the things that I can do to make my marriage stronger and happier. I praise God for women like you Sue that give of your time to allow God to use you in shuch a way! Thank you!


So ladies...here’s what to do if this is your thing:



1. On your blog, copy and paste the award, these rules, a link back to the person who selected you, and a link to this post: You will find the story behind the Pink Rose Award here and other graphics to choose from there. (It's really such a sweet story)



2. Select as many award recipients as you would like, link to their blogs (if they have one), and explain why you have chosen them.



3. Let them know that you have selected them for an award by commenting on one of their posts.

4. If you are selected, pass it on by giving the Pink Rose Award to others.

5. If you find that someone you want to nominate has already been selected by someone else, you can still honor them by posting a comment on their award post stating your reasons for wishing to grant them the award.

6. You do not have to wait until someone nominates you to nominate someone else.Please remember that you don't have to be listed here in order to give this "pink rose award" to someone. All of you listed on my blogroll have changed my life in one way or another. You have all supported and encouraged me, whether it's through the words you've written on your own blog or the comments you've left on mine, and I hope that you will pass this along to all the women who have made a difference in your life! Then go here and let Kymberli know that you'd like to be added to her "rose garden".

Cinderella

That is a picture of my little princess. I posted pictures like this not long ago from a tea party that Rachel was invited to attend. There were so many little princess's at that party and Cinderella made an appearance as well. It was a very exciting time for all those precious little girls.

With all that has happened in the life of the Chapmans I wanted to repost this picture as a reminder for myself as well as you to hug your little prince and princess.

Here is a link to Steven Curtis Chapman's site. If you go to this page there should be a little box to the left that says "play video". By clicking that little box you will be able to watch the video to the song "Cinderella". Immediately following the video Steven discusses how the song came about. Carlton and I heard him tell this story back in February at the Valentines concert in Houston. It will really make you stop and think about the time you spend with your children.

Hope you have the time to check it out!

What was I thinking??

WOW...I haven't done one of these in a very long time, but tonight we are having an ALL GIRLS lock-in at the church. I am not sure how many girls will show up yet....10....20....who knows! All I know is that we are going to have a blast. BUT I will be so tired tomorrow! LOL

We have movies to watch, games to play, food to eat (you gotta have snacks for a sleepover!), and I have spent part of the day gathering up discount cards to a lot of shops in our mall. Pretty good ones too! One of our mothers is also going to get a gift card to either Bath and Body or Bath Junkie. That will be a big hit!

The adults are also going to put on a "what NOT to wear" show. So pray that goes smoothly! Then I will tie that show up with a Bible study from 1 Timothy 2:9 and a discussion on how we look at ourselves vs. how guys look at us and more importantly on how God looks at us.

So, keep me in your prayers tonight bloggy friends!

My heart is aching!

"The five-year-old daughter of American Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman has been struck and killed by a sport-utility vehicle driven by her brother.
Authorities in Tennessee say the girl, Maria, was hit in a driveway at the family home today south of Nashville and died later in hospital."


This was a headline just sent to me by a church member. I looked it up and sure enough.....it is true. I am in tears! What a sweet family. Pray that God gives them peace. Pray for the son that was driving the car. PRAY! Maria is the one sitting in Steven's lap.

**Go to The Preacher's Wife's site to read what she wrote. She says it so much better than I!

Thunder Thief

There is a certain young man in our youth group that poses to be a "leader" and although I do believe that he does hold some qualities that would be great for a leader, he is still severely lacking in others. You know the kind of kid I am talking about, so don't judge! You probably have some in your group right now! They are the ones that drive you insane because you KNOW they could be a great leader, if only.......


Well, last night while hubby was speaking, he asked the students, "What should you do when you see someone at school being picked on?" Well, there were your typical answers like,


"Take up for them."


"Tell someone else that could help them."


"Tell the other guy that he is wrong."


Then there was this statement from the young man mentioned above....with some hesitation... "Well..........what if they were asking for it? I mean....some kids just ask for it."


WHAT???? Some kids ask for it.....


I could see the look on some of the kids faces. THey were thinking the same thing I was, but no one was saying anything. SO, I looked at the hubby and he knew I wanted to say something. SO this is what I said.....


"NO ONE deserves to be picked on….some kids might be a little annoying to others, but does that mean others have the RIGHT to pick on them, NO!....Just because someone looks different or acts in a different way doesn't give YOU the right to pick on them!"

A few minutes later he wrote his brother a note and I saw it. This is what it said, "Why doe SHE always have to steal my thunder??"

SO I guess that makes me a Thunder Thief!

Ughh! I don't like it when I let a kid gets under my skin, but this one just keeps making his way there. I REALLY need to pray for him!

Alligator!!!!

****If you haven't already....please read my Prayer Request below this one!

***UPDATE - - - just heard from the game warden's office....and the alligator is STILL on the loose....they are calling someone from Nuisance Control to come set out some traps!!!!

Oh my.....yesterday on my way home I saw police cars at one of the entrances into my neighborhood and I thought, "I wonder what happened...." THEN I saw the GAME WARDEN's truck....then I thought, "OH NO....it must be an alligator!!!"

And I was right!

I was watching the 6 o'clock news last night and there it was.....the story of the alligator sighting. BUT, they had not caught it! I noticed when I came back from the gym around 6:30, the game warden and one other truck were still out there! I watched the 10 o'clock news and there was no news about the alligator. I have checked the website this morning and have seen nothing. I called the game warden's office for our county and this is how the conversation went....

Me - "Hi, my name is Angela Pridgen. I live in the neighborhood in Nederland where the alligator was sighted yesterday afternoon. I was wondering if they were able to catch it."

Lady on Phone - "Did YOU see the alligator?"

Me - "No, I saw the police and game warden out there yesterday. Then I saw the story on the news. The game warden said he saw the alligator, but had not been able to get to it at that time."

Lady on Phone - interrupting me, "Well it is mating season, you are going to see them popping up all around. We only relocate them if they are a nuisance."

Me - Thinking in my head....ANY alligator is a nuisance! then saying, "I understand...I was just wondering if they had relocated this one!"

Lady on Phone - "Well, I don't know."

Me - "Okay, thank you!"


A lot of help she was!!! LOL

So, now I have emailed the news station and the sheriff's department to see if they can tell me anything! I WANT TO KNOW!!!! LOL

Wouldn't you??

Prayer for a friend in Ministry!

Please pray for my dear friend. She and her hubby just moved on Sunday to a new church. Many of us have experienced this before so we know a little about where they are right now. The thing that makes this move a little more difficult for her hubby is that the church he was on staff at was his home church. He grew up in that church, served during summers while in college and once he got out of college he became full time there. He had been on staff there for 14 years! Can you believe that! WOW.......

They know the move they made was one that God completely orchestrated. There were too many things that happened for it not to be from Him. SO just pray for them as they settle in to this new church. Pray for him as he adjusts to some new personalities among staff and church members. Pray for her as she finds her place there too. Pray for her a friend that can be there in person for her. Pray that they feel the peace of God in their lives right now.

Thank you friends!

The 2 Pound Challenge!!

So as you all know, I have had that little weight loss ticker on the side bar for some time now. Well, I need to go change the information, because I believe I have gained back the little bit of weight I lost, so don't be suprised if you look over there and it has moved back to it's starting point. Between all the prednisone, and stress eating I have done in the past several weeks I am sure it will be back at the start. On a positive note, I don't believe I have ADDED any weight!

Anyway, the hubby posed a challenge to me the other day. He calls it "the 2 pound challenge". (Kind of like the million pound challenge that is going on, but more tailored to the two of us!) We both need to loose weight so this will motivate us both. His deal is that we strive to loose 2 pounds a week and the first person to 10 will get to buy a new outfit!!!! To most men that wouldn't be much of a prize, but you don't know my hubby! HE LOVES TO SHOP!!! More than I do, and just about as much as most women in the US!!!! (and he won't kill me for telling you that, because it IS true!)

We both have at least 30 pounds to loose, so that could be 3 new outfits! However I did tell him that if/when I loose 30 pounds, whether I am the first or not, I will need a whole new wardrobe!!! He didn't say anything, but I bet if I loose 30 pounds he will gladly hand over his credit card!! :)

Anyway, I am off to change the ticker......kind of sad and depressing, but times are changing, and things will get better!

Brawl at the TBall Park!!

Ok, I really do hope to start posting on things a little more spiritual, but I just had to share about my "near brawl" at the ball park last night.

I am NOT a confrontational kind of gal! However, the older I get, the less likely I am to back down. (I know this doesn't coincide with the whole Proverbs 31 thing....but I am human!) Well, before the games last night, there were some pretty nasty storms. But since those storms had passed, you know the game had to go on!!!! SO, when we got to the park, the front lot was full of cars and the back lot was covered in MUD from all the rain, so EVERYONE was double parked. Cars were parked right behind cars and all crammed in to spaces. So, my dear hubby just pulled right behind another car and called it good.

Well, the game went on, and I must say my little ball player did quite well! He didn't have to use the T at all, and he hit some pretty good line drives! All that being said.....the game was coming to an end, there were probably only 3 batters left and it would be over. When out of no where comes this mother from one of the 7, 8 and 9 year old teams yelling to the top of her lungs at all of us saying,

"YOU TBALL PARENTS NEED TO MOVE YOUR VEHICLES. SOME OF US ARE
TRYING TO LEAVE!"

I looked back to notice that it was OUR truck behind hers. Then she put something on the hood of her car and walked back to where the team was meeting with the coach. I looked back at the other women sitting around me and said, "When she comes back I'll go move it."

Some of the other mothers said, "I wouldn't want to walk over there. That woman looks like she could take several of us out at once!" "She should have been more polite about it!"

While I did agree with what many of them were saying, my intentions were to watch for her, then when she headed back that direction I would go move the truck so she could get out, then pull up in that spot. (there was nowhere to move to at this point....the place was packed!) So, we are all sitting, watching, and waiting. Then I see that she is turning that direction so I start to stand....... and that is when she set the alarm off on her car!!!!!!!!!!!

LOUD, honking noise right behind our stands! Can you believe it? When the honking started....... I sat back down and said, "Well, since she did that I am not going over there now!" Then I stood up, walked over to my 6'3" hubby and said, "I need you to go move the truck. If I do, and that woman says something to me.....I just might loose my witness with some of these women!"

He asked what was going on, I told him and he walked right over to the truck. He walked over with a look of "Woman, don't say a word......or I'll sick my wife on you!" NO...... not really, but he did go to the truck and she took one look at him and walked the other way! HA!!! The grandma's of our little team thought it was hilarious. They were glad for my safety that I gave Carlton the keys and they loved the look on the woman's face when she saw him coming.

When Carlton walked back over to where we all were, the Grandma's of the group laughed and told him how much they loved the look on the woman's face. Then he told us all she said to him was "Thank you!" They all laughed.

All over some parking!

Here's where things are.....

We, I went back to the Allergist/Immunologist this morning. He tells me, after studying my case history from my family doctor and all the lab results that he doesn't think that I had a "true" angioedema. He told me my glucose levels were high and that he thinks that it is all related to kidneys!

I can't help but feel that I am on some wild goose chase here!

I asked for copies of the test results and have spent the last hour or so looking up information. I am going to ask that the blood tests be repeated in a week. That way all the medications (mainly the steroids) are out of my system. The steroids didn't affect the glucose tests, but they could have affected all the others. My white blood cell count was 18.5 and normal is 3.8 - 10.8. There were other parts to the white blood cell count that were VERY high as well. But even the doctor said that could have been related to the steroids. The other set of tests that were elevated were related to the kidney. They were not extremely high, but high enough to concern him. However after looking online, they could have been high because of the steroids as well.

The only number that concerns me is the glucose. The number was not high enough to diagnose diabetes, but was high enough to definitely diagnose pre-diabetes. And since I am currently 25 - 30 pounds overweight, and I had two children that were over 10 pounds (yes I know....OMG!!) then that does put me at a higher risk for developing diabetes. And not to mention that I have had to go to the bathroom A LOT in the past couple of weeks......I have even been waking up at night to go......

The kidney thing does concern me a little since I did read online today that those who have a horseshoe kidney (like myself) do have a higher risk for renal cell carcinoma and hydronphrosis.....however I do not have ANY symptoms of these things.....except for the elevated levels.....that could be a result of all the steroids.

So, still a matter of prayer.

My posts from this point on will not be related to all my AILMENTS!!!! Until I know more from doctors. But I WILL keep you all posted if something comes up! I am just so tired of dealing with it all, and I need to find BETTER, more uplifting things to post about!!! :)

Love you all!

WOW Quote!

Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, satan shudders & says..."Oh no....she's awake!!"

This was one of those things that when you saw it you just had to copy and paste it right into a post. I stole it from Angel's site!

Spoke TOO soon!!!

Ok, many of you had been asking how I was feeling and as of Monday morning I was feeling much better. A little bloated from all the Prednisone, but better. Then came my drive home.....

On the way home I called and talked to my mother for a few minutes. After I got off the phone, I started noticing a tight feeling in the muscle under my chin. Then within seconds there was a numbness in my face. Do you remember going to the dentist and having that mask with the "laughing gas" put on your face? Do you remember the way your nose and mouth started feeling a little numb? Well, that is exactly how my face felt! My gums even felt like they had rubbed some of that cherry flavored numbing gel on them. VERY WEIRD!!!!

SO, I called my hubby (yes I called him first...I was a little freaked out by it all) then called the doctor's office. After explaining to 3 or 4 different people what was going on, they told me to come on in to the office. (little did they know I was parked outside about to come in ANYWAY!)

I got in, explained what was going on to the doctor, and he was completely dumbfounded! He actually told me he had no idea what was going on. He looked in my mouth and could see where the floor muscles were swollen. He ordered a lot of blood tests (of which he said would take a few days to come back), made me give a urine sample (of which came back fine) and gave me ANOTHER steriod shot in the hip! (That's the 3rd one in less than two weeks now mind you!) Then he had his nurse call the Allergist/Immunologist's office and tell them that I needed in there to see them the next day.

Finally, at noon on Tuesday, they called and wanted me there at 1:00. SO I headed on over. ALL they did was take more blood and told me to come back in a week to go over the results! I was not pleased with this doctor nor his nurse practicioner. Maybe because I am so tired and worn out, but they were not very informative. All he really said was that it didn't sound like a true "angioedema" but that it sounded like it could be something "metabolic". He didn't seem to want to expand on that, and I was too tired, physically and emotionally, to ask anymore questions.

I figured I will have to go in to see him next Tuesday and I will have a list of questions for him when I do!

Just continue to pray for me!

On another note....Rachel's speech evaluation went really good! She did wonderful and they told me that they saw nothing that couldn't be corrected without some good modeling at home! They bragged about how intellegent she is for a little 3 1/2 year old. I told them that I think she hides that intelligence from me sometimes! HeeHee....not really....I knew she was very smart for her age, I was just a little concerned about her language and how it was affecting her behavior. They were all in agreement that her language was well above normal and that she is just a strong-willed stubborn child! :) (all said in love of course!)

So, just pray for her and us as we continue on to learn how to raise this very strong-willed stubborn child of ours......

WFMW

***I just went to Rocks in My Dryer to add my WFMW and noticed that this was a What Doesn't Work For Me edition.....I am sorry, but I hadn't been in a while, and I HAD to share about this silver cleaner!!!***** Forgive me please!


This is my first WFMW in MONTHS!!!!! BUT I had to come tell you all about this silver polish that I just discovered. Some of you have probably had this little silver cleaning secret in your pocket already....but for me I just found it and all I can say is wow... wow... wow...!!!!

A couple years before my grandmother passed away she gave me her silver service set. Twice a year I spend hours in one day trying to get it all nice and shiny. But last night in less than an hour I had it SO clean that I could see my reflection in every piece!!! I was even able to get down in the tight spots with this stuff. I had tried all the "home" remedies for cleaning it in the past, but it still took HOURS!!!! NOT ANY MORE......

I introduce to you all......

I got it at our HEB grocery store. I am sure you can get it just about anywhere that sales Goddard's. You can also get it here at Amazon. They have it priced at the same price I paid in the store. I bought the 6 oz. size and will be able to get one more cleaning out of it I am sure. I have tried their other cleaners, but this one is THE BEST! Just take a look and see.

This was the two bigger pieces before cleaning.....I know.....they look terrible..... The picture below this one is just a closer look at how BAD it was!

But then wet the sponge that is included in the jar, dab on some of the paste, rub, rinse, and this is what you get!!!!

This last picture picked up a lot of reflection from the marble counter tops....so parts of it look a little "brassy" but I assure you, it is far from looking brassy!!!

I LOVE THIS STUFF!!!!!!!!!!!

For more WFMW go on over to Shannon's at Rocks in My Dryer

A Couple of Must Reads!!

Ok, I don't have much time to post today, but I will take time later to respond to both of these blog posts.

The first one is over at Angel's place...it is the Dangerous Surrender Chapter Two post! You must read it! There is so much I want to share about that post, but it will have to wait a day or two. I just don't have the time to type it all up in one sitting.

Then next one is over at Rachel Anne's.....it is titled The Goodest Mom. Go read it! (Am I sounding a little pushy?? Oh well!!

On another note...I am feeling much better. I still haven't heard from the doctor's office yet about the scheduling with the Allergist/Immunologist, but I am sure I will soon. And for Rachel, tomorrow is her speech/language evaluation with the school district. Please pray for her in the morning.

Thanks to you all!

An Award!!!

I feel so honored! My dear blogging friend Natalie has adorned me with this award! To Natalie I extend a ! She allows God to show compassion through her daily as she continues to come by here and encourage me, a stranger of sorts to her! Thank you for your kindness!

Now I understand it is my duty to pass this award along to someone.....hmmmmm....... this is really hard!!!

First of all I would like to extend this award to DAISY. She and I go "way back" (in blog history that is!) When I first started blogging, she was one of about 10 people on my sidebar! Honestly, I can't even remember how I got to her site......it might have been that I was just hitting the "next blog" button at the top! (of which, I DO NOT RECOMMEND YOU DO!) She is a wonderful mother and has two of the most adorable children! She has always been so kind to stop by and check up on all that is going on around here.

Thank you Daisy for being such a kind friend!

Another that I can not leave out is my friend Janna. She is a friend of mine from college! We had some rough times starting out (heehee), but God saw to it that our relationship take a turn, and I am blessed forevermore from her friendship! Janna has had some tough times in her life, but always takes time to come by and see how I am doing. She is my friend and I love her dearly! Janna, thank you for always being there! I am praying for you dear friend!

Check this out!

One of my Bloggy Friends...... Natalie......showed me how to do this!

TAKS TESTING IS OVER!!!!!!

She says she has become a nerd, but I told her that I think it is great! Now maybe I can learn somethings from her! LOL