Mr. G

Oh, how I wanted my first post back from Christmas to be filled with reliving our wonderful time with family and friends...but no, that is one post that will take a back seat to what I endured yesterday!

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BUSTED!

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Was he going for racing stripes?

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This is what I get for calling the Chief home to fix it....

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This is so wrong on soooooo many levels.


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Oh, and this is soooo much better too....

Update Reminder....

Ema is schedule for the removal and biopsy of the soft tissue mass in her neck on January 12th. Thank you for your prayers this morning. I was great in the office...not so great in the car!

Ema's appointment with Dr. Wilson is this morning at 10:45 he is a general surgeon here in Bainbridge. I will update as soon as I get home! Much Love!

HATS!!!!! WANT ONE?????

My BFF makes these hats and I LOVE them! I ordered them for gifts this year and she gave them to my Doodlebugs as gifts. If you want one please let me know...aren't they adorable?My Sweet (Chilly) Doodlebugs!

Not Me Monday...Post # 8

It is NOT me that is missing me mom and sister so terribly today that I am finding it hard to breath and carry out my tasks....

You Know What MY God Can Do?

He can turn our Sorrows into Joy...

He can give Hope to the Hopeless
He can HEAL

He can Do the Impossible

Katelyn Marie Williams was born to our friends Amy and Eric Williams. Katelyn was only 22 weeks gestation. She weighs 1 pound 7 ounces. She has a twin sister named Karalyn, who at the present time is still in her loving mommy's womb. This family needs a miracle in a BIG way. Please add them to your personal prayer list and others you may think of. My God can do this...miracles are NOT just limited to the holidays....

Expecting a Miracle,

Aimee'

I am thinking of a number...

Because I have been stalled out on my "Follow Me" and because I am totally desperate and because I get totally tickled when I realize that someone decided to "Follow Me", I thought now would be a good time for a contest. So, I am thinking of a number between 22 and 100. The chief already picked the number and when I reach 100, the lucky winner will receive a gift from me in appreciation for following me. I would like to say sorry to losers 1-22...and no you may NOT stop following me and then follow me again. On your honor? Good. So lets hope this works out...so get going all you who visit me and don't add me...you may be in for a sweet surprise!

Ema Moore (aka Doodlebug #3)

Four years ago today Ema was born into this world. She is a singing, dancing, contagious little girl. She loves her siblings so very much and is one animated spit fire! I love you my precious little girl. What joy you bring to my life each and every day! Happy Birthday!

On a side note, we are in month 8 of seeing a ENT for a severly swollen lymph node Ema has on the right side of her neck. On Tuesday we will be visiting a second ENT Dr. wilson to speak with him about the decision for a biopsy...I would appreciate from a mother's heart if you would keep Ema, Dr. Wilson, Joel and I in your prayers as decisions are made. Thank you.

Not Me Monday...Post #7

Good morning...well it's a Monday!!! Time for the Not Me's Post. Head over to MCK for more Not Me's.

• I did NOT say "Did you ever quick claim the deed to the house over to me?" when the Chief said he wasn't feeling that well and maybe he was dying or having a heart attack...no NOT me. My first concern was the safety of my beloved husband and his health.
• I did NOT hear a lady at Wally World say "Do I need to take you home with me for your own safety?" after I ran doodlebug #5 into a display case while in the buggy.
• I did NOT say to said lady, "Good thing I had him buckled in!"
• I did NOT think the lady continued to follow me throughout the store.
• I did NOT slap the Chief when he said my bangs looked like a poodle yesterday, only to NOT follow it up with drop kick when he did NOT find three grey hairs on my head and proceeded to NOT pull them out!
• I did NOT look at Doodlebug #5 and asked him, "What's wrong with you, why are you crying? No seriously, why are you crying?"
• I did NOT really want an answer from Doodlebug #5
• I did NOT realize this week that Doodlebug #1 is NOT turning into me right before my eyes! NOT scary at all....
• I did NOT find out this weekend that the ONLY thing Doodlebug #4 wants for Christmas is NOT a soccer ball. We did NOT purchase everything but a soccer ball for him either...He did NOT toddle his little hinnie up to Santa and say, "I wan a sucker ball."
• I did NOT want to eat him alive in that moment.
• I did NOT go home and pick out the toy that was going back so I could get him his Sucker Ball.

Al right ladies it's your turn....have at it!

12/12/76

32 today I am! I was awakened this morning at 6:20a.m. with the most beautiful scene. The Chief carrying waffles and pomegranate/blueberry juice and Doodlebugs #1-4 all singing happy birthday. I got two cards, candy, chocolate, did I mention breakfast in bed too!!!!

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The Chief visited Wally World at 1:00a.m. this morning and got up at 6:00a.m. He got the kids, got breakfast, got cards signed...I am a happy girl! My mom (AKA dare devil Nana) and sissy are coming here today I can't wait! It's gonna be a great day. The Chief also has already arranged a sitter for the Doodlebugs Saturday night so we can go celebrate my birthday! I LOVE MY BIRTHDAY, I DO!

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P.S. It's 7:45 and the Chief is passed out on the couch snoring....all in a days work!

Lets Start with Princess Girls Only Christmas Birthday Party!

Well on Saturday we celebrated Doodlebug #3's 4th birthday. Although her ACTUAL birthday is the 18th, over the years the poor child has only had 1 party and that was her first birthday! So I was determined to do the party early enough so everybody would be able to make the event. Another thing I decided to do was pretty much pay for a party, so I wouldn't have to do anything. We found a Princess Heaven (Polka-Dots) it's a fairly new store in Bainbridge and in the back of the store, is a transformed room just for girls.

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We had twelve little Princesses who got their make-up and nails done, played dress up and walked over to the square for a fashion show. We played games and learned the Cha-Cha and ended with the Hokie-Pokie! We filled up on cake and ice cream and Ema ended the day with the best part....PRESENTS! It was fun (I was still tired though).

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Ema's blowing out her candle!Mommy and Doodlebug #1 coming back from the fashion show (also, here are the dreaded bangs)

My three girl Doodlebugs, make-up, nails, and earrings!

There were LOTS and LOTS of babies too!

Somehow, my neice Madi got all the BLUE eyeshadow!

The wonderful cake...it was a HIT!

All the girls there wore their Christmas dresses. The were all beautiful!

Still Here!

I am I swear...I know you all have just been checking SERVERAL times a day to see if I have posted... just waiting on the edge of your seats. Well here's what you have to look forward to tomorrow!!!!

Doodlebug #3's Princess Girls Only Christmas Birthday Party

Doodlebug #5's 8 week update

Doodlebug #'s 1 and 2 Christmas program

Day #4 of the Love Dare

I have plenty to post...just trying to find the time to sit and do it!

Not Me Monday...Post #6

Alright my girlies!!! It's time! Head over to MCK for more Not Me's!

Oh, how will I top last week's not me!

• I did NOT stress 'cause I have writers block about my Not Me's!
• I most certainly did not flip the Chief the bird, 'cause he most certainly was NOT watching me in the road writing with the girls in sidewalk chalk and lifted the window and shouted "say no to crack, babe" through the screen. First, I would NEVER make such a crude jester and second, the Chief would NEVER embarrass me with such a "shout" out like that.
• The Chief did NOT toss a shot put (yes, shot put) at my bottom to see if it would NOT bounce. My butt is so very tight and firm...
• I did not feed the kiddies caramel cake for breakfast two days in a row
• I did NOT take a picture of myself with my new coffee maker...NOT me!
• I did NOT curse my new bangs five times a day since they were cut.
• I also did NOT embarrass my doodlebug girls at #4's birthday by doing the Hokie-Pokie. I did NOT really enjoy doing the Hokie-Pokie either.
• I most CERTAINLY did NOT under any circumstances deposit the Chief's Christmas bonus in my account by pure "accident"
• I also did not use said deposit to purchase a birthday present for....yup....NOT me!

Santa's Power??? What??

Doodelbug #1- Mommy, why does God have to save us all from Santa's power?

Mommy/Daddy- ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Mommy- What are you talking about baby?

Doodlebug #1- You know how it sings in the song? "To save us all from Santa's power." (she sang )

LIGHT BULB!!!!!

Mommy- You mean in the song God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman? No, baby they are saying Satan's Power, not Santa's Power!

Doodlebug #1- Oh.

Mommy/Daddy- LOTS OF LAUGHTER!

Bang Disaster Double Whammy Cow Lick!

• Bright Idea: Got bangs (lots and lots of bangs) yesterday and a hair cut!
• Didn't See It Coming: Woke up looking like a Cheeha pet, they are WAY out of control.
• Wish I Could: Win the lottery so I could have my hair dresser live with me!
• Trying Not To: Scare the public or any small children!
• Should: Post a picture
• Scared: I may hear you laughing over the Internet
• Definitely: Regretting!
• Wondering: Are Bangs trainable?
• Hoping: My new bangs grow out really fast
• Popping: Loads of pre-natal vitamins
• Wanting: To cry :-(

Love Dare Day #3

Well, instead of laying out the Chief's clothes this morning I woke up mouth wide open about to say..."It's Thursday! Did you take out the garbage?" Now my hubby came in at 3:30a.m. (remember 2 jobs) so it was 6:40a.m. Normally I do get him up, well 'cause it's his job to do the trash and he nine times out of ten forgets. So, guess what (why couldn't it just be laying out the man's clothes or fixing his toothbrush) no I in 32 degrees go outside and roll the trash can to the front.

O.K. here is what I have been thinking about all day. So as I am rolling the trash can I notice that it is light as a feather. Well, see we have two trash cans (big family) when I get it to the curb I open it up and low and behold it's empty. I open the second trash can and it's full, but it's already at the curb.

See, our neighbor (the Mayor) had come over before I made it to the trash can and took it to the curb. He completed my dare. His act of kindness (taking the can to the road) was done because he loves our little family!

I shiver back inside. Wow! So I did lay the Chief's clothes out and I was extra attentive to the Chief today because guess what? Today is our 9 year anniversary. If you haven't read our testimony please do so here. See every year for Joel and I is met with such joy and great fullness.

Day three: Selfishness
When you relinquish your rights for the sake of your mate, you get the chance to lose yourself to the greater purpose of marriage.

I love that "lose yourself". We are talking about laying "self" down, forgetting "self", leaving "self" this would be an easy time to say well, when he shows me...then I will show him. When he does for me...I will do for him. The thing is that as you are doing these dares and practicing selflessness (it's not easy if you are not used to it) it you, us, me are the ones being changed and affected.

When it comes to Joel I don't feel like I have a hard time with selfishness. He pretty much comes first in my life anyway, and his needs as well. However, when Doodlebug #1 was born I practiced the life of "Joel who?" "My husband, what?" he was the last thing i even thought about.

On a side note, can I just say that serving your husband, it not DEMEANING at all. I could go on about this and it wouldn't be pretty, but make his plate, his drink, clear his plate for him. Serve him as you do your children, and do it not looking for anything in return. Regard him more important than yourself (that's biblical truth).

Dare:
Along with restraining from negative comments (what?! are you kidding me?!)buy your spouse something that says "I was thinking about you today".

So I may have to do this tomorrow, but I did surprise Joel this week with a hunting rifle he wanted, I called the man told him to tell the Chief he had sold it. I had full intentions on keeping it until Christmas, but when the Chief found out it was sold he sulked like a little baby. So I gave it to him early! I loved it and it was great! He was shocked, and I had a TON of fun teasing him about it being sold.

So tomorrow I will go get him a card and gum and a Flex magazine. That should do until day #4!

NOTE: Last night Joel was almost hit while on a traffic stop. He had stopped a car and just like you see in the reality television someone was watching the blue lights instead of observing the "move over" law. This man ran into the back of the car infront of him just missing Joel and the car he had stopped. I thank God for His protection over my Chief last night and every other night for that matter.

Chief: I dearly love you. You are my friend, lover, provider, protector, other half, help mate and confidant. I am so thankful to be knitted together with you. I am greatful for the miracle God gave us. I know in my knower, you are forever mine!

It's Too Early For This!

Was this necessary really? I mean dad-gum-it, are you kidding me? The whole bottle in his hair. Way to start the day Doodlebug #4. You should see the floor and counter tops!

Love Dare Day #2

Well, crap. This stuff is gonna be harder than I thought! So love. Well, lets just say I guess I only thought I knew all love is defined by. So yesterday's dare was to refrain from saying anything harsh or unkind and show patients of some kind.

Well, to live with my hubby the Chief you have to have patients. HE IS THE MOST FORGETFUL PERSON I HAVE EVER MET! I have to think for him on a daily basis, so I was thinking how God MUST have knitted us together 'cause I have a memory like a freakin' elephant. So I did bite my tongue once yesterday evening, I thought I would get through the whole day without even an opportunity I even at the ladies meeting commented that I hadn't even seen the Chief so I was "off the hook", well ha ha on me.

I get home and there lies all the Chief's hunting clothes including this 50lb. abominable snow man suit, in the floor of the bed room. O.k. I had bathed all five and took them to church in their p.j.'s thinking ahead that I would be running way past bed time when we got home. I cleaned up the house, and three out of the five had fallen asleep on the way home. I brought all 5 in ALONE, took off shoes ALONE, placed three heavy doodlebug hinnies on the top bunks (ALONE), Put DB #1 in bed and did prayers x's4 ALONE. Then nursed one screaming infant (of course) ALONE! Walk into the bedroom FINALLY to put DB #5 down and there is a HUGE pile of hunting crap on the floor...it just set me off, really it did and had the Chief been there I would have failed the dare completely I just know it.

I put all the stuff away, but it took me about 30 minutes. I went through...I am gonna call him, then, I am gonna text him, then. I am gonna put it all in the bed on HIS side...then, a little voice saying "it's only day 1" . So I cleaned it all up. I did and never said a word.

Here's where I struggle, I guarantee you he never took note. That just kills me!

Now today's dare is on love. I have two quotes that stood out to me.
1. Love in it's truest sense is not based on feelings.
2.You will never learn to love until you learn to demonstrate kindness.
Dare:In addition to not saying anything unkind to you spouse again today (what??? Again?) do at least one act of kindness.

So I was thinking that my picking up the clothes (act of kindness) and NOT saying anything (dare #1) I had just killed two birds with one stone! Yea me! I am a day ahead!

I am half way kidding. I haven't seen my Chief today except for a brief moment. I did however let him nap (he works two jobs) and didn't ask him to grill tonight (I have this thing about raw meat) and I started the grill on my own and put the chicken on and everything. I hope he comes home before I go to bed so I can fix his plate. If not I will probably lay his clothes out in the morning or something like that.

So love comes softly ( I loved those Janet Oake books) but it really does. The way Joel and I love now is so different from the way we loved before we were married and well into our marriage as well. Love is learned, it's practiced, it's really not a feeling...it's an action. So do, do, do...and you will discover love, love, love.

It's The Little Things That Make Me Happy!

When someone cleans out their closets, or old Christmas stuff and passes it along. When my mom or BFF has an old item they no longer use and give it to me. I love things like that. What's the old saying? One girls trash is another girls treasure...that is soooooo me!

So today my simple pleasure was this. I thought Santa's elves were putting the swing set together wrong so I went online to prove I knew more than them....and what? The thing was selling for $200 less than what we paid for it 9 days ago...hold the stinkin' phone. Next thing I knew I was in full "can I speak to the manager" mode.

Yup, guess what made my day? I am leaving in the morning to go to Albany to Toys R Us to get my $200. We are only two days away from being out of the 14 day policy and all that just made my day!

Hey, Ashley you free to grab lunch?? Jen and I are planning a quick lunch before I have to head back. Let me know.

Simply Satisfied!

Love Dare Day #1

Alright, so I will be honest with you. I am scared to start this challenge. I need to let you know that I am 31 (at least for a few more days) years old and I have started lots of bible studies lots...but I have yet to EVER finish a single one of them! Hope over at pinkadoodledo knows this all too well. Also my friend Ashley, who is completing her Love Dare challenge can write her thoughts so evenly and plainly getting every point to be made and wrapping it all up in a great paragraph at the end...mine will be NOTHING like that. I am fly by the seat of my feelings and talk raw and open. Please also don't ever look for my post to be without spelling errors (I am a horrible speller) the type where spell check doesn't even pick up on the error, and grammar...well you can just toss that right out the window!

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O.K. with that being said and all my disclaimers out in the open, please pray for me through this and all the ladies that are doing it. I am not taking this challenge lightly at all. So here we go.

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Right off the bat I dis-agree with a statement in the book, it states "Few of us do patients well, and none of us do it naturally." My sister is a naturally patient person, she has been this way since she was a child. It is something the Holy Spirit breathed into her spirit from day one. She is very slow to anger...very very slow. Her patients is a gift from God. Me? 360 degrees in the other direction running no less!
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In regards to my marriage, I have learned over the years, many many years that I often get a better result by keeping my BIG MOUTH SHUT! In fact, by not saying anything, Joel hears me loud and clear. I am not talking about the silent treatment, out of "teaching" him a lesson. I am talking about, shutting my mouth and letting God talk to Joel one on one. If I would say all I wanted to say in that very moment as I often do the whole thing back fires and blows up in my face! Big time. Then I am left back-peddling and have a bigger mess on my hands than I started with.

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"Patients is where love meets wisdom" BAM! This is a thought provoking statement. If you practice and execute patients out of love are you not wiser for it? Heck yeah, I am. I am a big fan of choice...I am taken aback by how most every situation we face is by some choice we made and then that choice leads us down road A or road B. In a heated moment it really is a split decision choice as to how I will handle the rest of my"road".

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"Patients allows your spouse permission to be human". This is something I need practiced on me more than I need to practice. The example of the keys being locked in the car has happened to me...Joel gets mad, I feel stupid...but I am just human. I will make LOTS and LOTS of mistakes over and over again. Do I allow Joel to be human? When he gets upset with me for locking my keys in the car, do I then get mad at him for getting mad at me? He is just human and made a "choice" to get mad. What would happen if I didn't break into tears, and not say "like I did it on purpose" what if I showed him patients even when he lacked his. I wonder what his reaction would be?

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Dare: Resolve to demonstrate patients and not say anything negative at all.
Well, I will need to wait for the opportunity to arise, however I mainly try not to say anything negative or anything that will squelch Joel's spirit. I do fail, and usually it's quite miserably too. So I will let you know tomorrow how I did and if an opportunity if any did or did not arise!

Please Join If You Can The Love Dare Challenge

Wanted to let you all know that a girlfriend and I are starting the 40-day Love Dare (from the movie Fireproof) challenge. I have not seen the movie yet, but have so enjoyed my friend Ashley's post as she went through it and is just about finished with her 40 days. Sooooo, if you have been thinking about it, lets do it! We should be through a little after the new year and what a better way to bring in the new year than with strengthening the foundation of your marriage!

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The book is about $15 and should be available in most christian bookstores. I would love if you would join me.

Not Me Monday...Post #5...Special Addition- Me and Mom!

Alright ladies it's "grab your extra pair of panties" time...head over to MCK for more Not Me's! I have a special addition Not Me today as it will entail some of my Mom's Not Me's over Thanksgiving! Enjoy

• Mom and I did NOT put the most gigantic pan of stuffing on the stove to get to room temperature and then Mom did NOT turn on the wrong eye of the stove and then did NOT proceed to BLOW UP THE STUFFING! Glass everywhere food ruined. I also could NOT NOT think of anything to say but "Please don't cry Mom, Please don't cry" to which mom did NOT reply and I quote "I am so gonna cry".
• Mom/Nana did NOT accept a "double dare" from her 8 year old grandson and then did most certainly NOT proceed to ride her 7 year old granddaughters bicycle down a steep hill. Then of course my mother did NOT "bottom out" and instead of standing right up, she did NOT hold on to the handle bars and let that bike ride her! Nope she didn't! She also did NOT then proceed to "bounce" off the back tire and land most gracefully in the grass. Nope not my mom!
• I did NOT catch the WHOLE thing on video...NOT ME!
• Mom has NOT forbidden me from posting the video!
• I am NOT secretly very disappointed that I cannot share said video!
• Mom and I both did NOT pee our pants with laughter after the bike riding, double daring "incident"
• I did NOT just between last two NOT ME's have to change doodlebug #5's diaper and did not sling a drop of hand sanitizer in his eye...Nope Not Me! OUCH!
• He is also NOT screaming.
• I do NOT for a minute think that I could win the $100,000 prize if I submitted my "Nana Bottoms Out On Bike" video to America's Funniest Videos. No NOT me.
• I did NOT alreay spend my $100,000 in my head. No Not Me.
• I did not take/sneak two Leapsters and put them in my buggy well before 5:00a.m. on Black Friday even though the Wal-Mart employee was watching me like a hawk. No Not Me.
• I did NOT go ballistic when on Tuesday on my way home the Chief called and told me how great the pecan pie was...yeah that meant he ate it! That pie was going to Albany for Thanksgiving. I also could not, NOT think of anything to say but, "You better run and NOT be there when I get home!" Not Me.

Alright ladies hope you enjoyed I am laughing just re-living them. Have a happy NOT ME MONDAY!