National Championship Do-over

This past weekend, we had the pleasure of having my Dad and Jacque over to the house to watch the DVR'ed National Championship Game.  My dad is doing SO WONDERFUL!  I am so glad that he is having such great success!  Unfortunately, most of his memories have not returned.  He is probably the only person in Alabama (maybe the whole United States!) that can say that he watched Alabama beat the living daylights out of LSU in the National Championship Game TWICE FOR THE FIRST TIME!  I know it's not really funny...but let's make the best of a bad situation.  I'm so glad David wanted to record the game so now my die-hard Alabama Fan Dad got to see the game again.  Ashlyn loved getting all the attention!  We grilled steaks.  I cooked some green beans (Ashlyn's favorite) and made a yummy ranch and cheesy mashed potatoes.  Jacque brought an amazing chocolate cake that was totally not on the diet and totally worth it!  Thank you to all who have prayed for my family and especially my Dad!  God is doing a mighty work in all of our lives through this situation.

Roll Tide!!!

Valentine's Day 2012

We have not really been "Valentine's Day people" historically speaking.  David and I have let Valentine's Day come and go relatively unnoticed for at least the last 5 or 6 years.  This year we really made a day of it! :o) 

 Ashlyn's class at preschool had a Valentine's Day party.  These were her Valentine's for her friends.  I found the idea online and worked with what we already had at home to make them.

 David surprised his little Valentine with three red roses, a balloon and a stuffed bug at school!

 She held that little bug's antenna the entire time she ate lunch!

 Ashlyn LOVES her Ms. Angie!

 She LOVES her Ms. Amber too!

David also surprised his big Valentine with a dozen red roses and Ghirardelli chocolates.

I don't know that I even have the right words to describe how much I love the man I married.  I have said before and I'll say again...he is the perfect one for me.  He is so loving and patient.  He never gives up on me.  He is so supportive.  No matter how many times I change this or try that...he always gives the thumbs up and gets on board, even if he is thinking, "here we go again", he doesn't say it.  He believes that I can accomplish the goals I set...I think sometimes he believes in me more than I believe in myself...and I need that.  He is my best friend.  He is the one I can be completely honest with and not feel judged.  Oftentimes he silently endures when I'm being selfish.  He is understanding when I come to him and apologize for lashing out at him, when I realize that I was the one being selfish in the first place.  He truly forgives and forgets.  He is Godly.  He strives to stay the course when we feel God is calling us to do something.  He listens to my opinions and takes my needs into consideration before making decisions.  He is giving.  One of the things I love most about my husband is his heart for others.  He takes every opportunity he can to help others.  He is kind.  I fall more and more deeply in love with him every time I watch him with our little girl.  His heart is pure.  He doesn't do things with selfish ambition or ulterior motives.  He is probably the most amazing person I know.  I am so grateful that God picked him out for me.

Does teething ever end???

I went to pick Ashlyn up early on Thursday because she was being extra inconsolable.  She had not slept well the night before and her cough sounded so terrible on Thursday morning.  We went for a quick visit to the doc.  Just a cold...lungs sounded fine.  We went home with a prescription for steroid cream for a particularly bad spot of eczema that her diaper had irritated though.  Her school had an in-service day on Friday, so Uncle Joe babysat that morning.  That was a hoot!  She adores her Uncle Joe.  We told her that morning that Uncle Joe was going to come play with her.  She immediately started looking around the room, saying "Joe, Joe???"  So funny!  She had lots of Daddy love in the afternoon since David took the afternoon off to hang out with her so Mommy could stay at work. :o)  Saturday was a fabulous day!  We all slept a little late which was SO nice!  We got up to an absolutely beautiful day!  We took the doggies for a walk, then David made a very Yummy pancake breakfast  David had an evening job, so Ashlyn and I took the opportunity to go visit with Papaw and Mimi in Birmingham!  We didn't get any pictures, but we had such a great time!  We watched a movie about a Zebra racehorse...not sure of the name...Ashlyn had the best time picking out canned vegetables off the shelf in the kitchen and taking them into Papaw in his room.  He would collect a few and then get her to take them back to the shelf.  I love watching her learn to do things for herself.  I love seeing the excitement in her face when she knows she accomplished something.  Sunday after church we went to Mary's for my "Birthday Dinner".  Richard, Mary G. and Ella came and I got to hold Ella for SO long!  She is such a sweet little baby!  I don't think she cried for more than a total of 5 minutes for the entire 2 1/2 hours we were over there.  Ashlyn loves to hug her and rock her in the swing.  It is precious to watch.  The whole weekend bucket fulls of spit were flowing from my child's mouth.  My baby is teething again.  I think her eye teeth are coming in now...she cries when I try to brush her teeth.  It feels like the teething process will never end...I just feel bad for her...poor boogie.  I can't say I got a great deal accomplished this weekend, but we definitely got some family time in, so I say it was a successful weekend.

You are not alone.

My dad had been saying for several days that he thought he had the "flu".  I told him the last couple days that I didn't think it was the flu and that he should go to the doctor.  He kept putting it off.  Last Thursday, I got a call from my step-mom.  She said my dad wasn't remembering some things that he should - like the fact that the boat he used to have is not at the house because he sold it 11 years ago.  I told her I was on my way - we finally got him the hospital and they diagnosed him with an elevated Ammonia level which caused Hepatic Encephalopathy.  They admitted him and the doctors confirmed that he has severe liver damage and the toxin had also damaged his bone marrow.
I've faced adversity from many friends and family members for years because I refuse to abandon my father.  You see, my father is an alcoholic.  I don't remember a time when he wasn't.  I remember good times and I remember bad times, but all the times, there was alcohol present.  I have been proud of my dad and I've been embarrassed by my dad, but at the end of the day, God placed me under him as a member of his family.  My sticking around was my own choice and I have no judgement to place for someone who makes a different decision.  These are very personal decisions.
According to instruction given by Paul in 1 Timothy 5:3-8 "Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.  But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.  The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and ask God for help.  But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.  Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame.  Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
This is why I choose to stay.  I feel God has called me to stay.  Now please don't misunderstand.  I mean this is no way as advise to anyone dealing with an alcoholic.  I am sharing this because Paul gave some more advise to the church.  He said: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
One of the basic principles you learn in al-anon is that you are not alone. 
As I've shared my story with friends, I've been overwhelmed by how many people have a story of struggle with someone they love consumed by the demons of alcoholism.  This last week has reminded me that through the painful trials that I've experienced over the last thirty years...there has been purpose.  I am continually opening my heart to let God sift through the filth and teach me a new way to live...a way where I walk with peace in my heart, compassion for others and joy in my step.  Everyday hasn't been peaceful, but each day I learn one more new thing, I let go of one more ugly thing, and I praise God that He hasn't given up on me yet.
We all have painful struggles.  We are all dealing with something.  We are all imperfect.  But God knows that.  He loves us anyway, and He puts people in our path to help us feel His comfort as we stumble along the paths of life.  He doesn't want us to hoard His comfort.  God comforts us, so that we can share that comfort.  He wants us to share our stories with others so that people will finally realize....You are NOT ALONE!

Happy Birthday to ME!

Monday, the 16th, I celebrated the BIG 3-0!  I've been asked several times what we did to celebrate...well...GrandMary and Papa Chuck babysat last Friday night, so we went out to dinner at Ruby Tuesday.  I ate so much at the salad bar that I didn't even have room for my dinner!  I slept late on Saturday, then we went to pick boogie up from her grandparent's house.  My step mom and step sister got here Saturday, early afternoon to visit this weekend.  Sunday we went to church, then to Jalapenos for lunch.  SO YUMMY!!!!  We went to dinner at Mary's house and Teresa was there so we got to visit with her too. :o)  We came home and Lindsey kept me company while I started going through all the stuff in the craft closet.  Monday, I got to SLEEP LATE AGAIN!!!  I woke up to a bunch of Happy Birthday texts and voicemails!  Jacque cooked me a yummy birthday breakfast, and I decided that I wanted to spend the entire day in my pajama pants and so I did.  Ashlyn must have known it was my birthday, because every time I turned around she wanted to sit in my lap.  I sat on the couch, with her in my lap, and we snuggled while we watched Little Bear, Olivia and Bubble Guppies.  We ate things that are not on the diet...like pizza for lunch...and ended the day with a Birthday Reese Cup Blizzard from Dairy Queen (that David went and picked up for us so that I could accomplish my goal of getting through the entire day whilst staying in my own house in my pajama pants).  This may not have been the busiest birthday of my life...but it surely was the most relaxing!!!

#14!!!

ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!!

I almost can't believe it...seriously...someone pinch me!  National Champions for the 14th time!!!  Roll Tide!!!!  As much as I'm NOT an Auburn fan...I am proud to say that the National Championship Title has been held in my home state of Alabama Three Years Running!  I know for the majority of the world...it's just a game...but in the South football is a BIG deal!  When I was in college, you couldn't even give away your $5 student ticket to an Alabama game.  We were so bad, people didn't even want to pay $5 to see us lose...I'm enjoying winning so much more!!!  In the last 3 or 4 years, I don't remember sitting down to watch an entire game.  I'm one of those annoying fans who watches the first quarter...sneaks away for 2nd and 3rd, then comes back to watch the 4th (if we are losing I don't even watch the 4th quarter).  Now don't get me wrong...I've stood proudly proclaiming that I bleed Crimson for my entire life, regardless of how good or bad we were.  I watched most of the championship game in 2009, but it wasn't the same as this year.  I sat glued to the television for every minute of this game!  I LOVED seeing us drill the LSU Tigers!  Thanks to Nick Saban's superior coaching skills, we are BACK BABY!!!  21 to NOTHING!  Nothing, hear me!  We didn't just beat them, we SHUT THEM OUT!  They didn't even make it over the 50 yard line until the 4th quarter. 
I was interested to see who has won the most National Championships (or it's equivalent) historically.  I was disappointed at first to find that The University of Alabama was actually third...I was convinced before I looked it up that we would, of course, be number ONE.  I started looking a little more carefully at the dates though...Alabama's first football team wasn't even formed until 1892.  I found this information quite interesting.  Comparatively...I think we pretty much ROCK!

ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!!

2012 has arrived...and is now well underway!

Wow!!! 2012!!!!  When I was a kid, we talked about 2012 with a futuristic, sci-fi, kind of reverence.  Well, it's here now.  I guess we'll be flying our individual space pods around in 2022 instead.
Just like every other New Year's Eve that has come and gone, I felt the almost mystic air of anticipation and the appreciation that comes with a "wipe the slate clean" day.  David and I spent a little more time than usual planning for our goals for 2012.  I know that the fact that my thirtieth birthday looming around the corner had a lot to do with my need to plan a little extra for this year.  I've always considered 30 old.  I know it's wrong, but it's the truth.  Now I'm about to hit "old".  Now I know it really ISN'T old...but you know I'm weird about "even" things...and 30 is one of those "even" milestones.  It is a reminder that I've made it this far...am I on track to accomplishing the goals I set for myself 5 or 10 years ago (other "even" milestones).  I already know I'm weird, I don't need anyone else to tell me that. :o) 
Well to share a few of our goals for this year...we have started a "Whole Foods Diet".  It's not really a "Diet", so much as a decision to change our lifestyle.  The main idea is to get back to eating food the way God created it.  It really is a simple concept, but in our society...it's really kind of hard way to live.  Try watching TV for an hour...they don't typically advertise for collard greens, broccoli and almonds...it's ads for cereal, sodas, and candy.  None of which are part of a whole foods diet.  Even when you walk into the grocery store...they set up a tables and displays in the very front of the store advertising all the "sale items" - few of which are things we are choosing to eat.  This diet also entails that we cook most of our meals, so we are having to prioritize cooking and planning meals.  You can't eat like this 'by the seat of your pants'.  You can't stop at McDonald's or Arby's and grab a '#3 Whole Foods Combo'.  We've eaten out a few times and of course it's impossible to eat perfectly every meal...but on the whole we've done really well so far!  It may be weird, but I feel like our second goals compliments our first.  We want to get healthy physically, but we also want to get healthy fiscally.  By that, I mean that we have renewed our goal to pay off all our debt.  A lot of people consider installment payments just part of normal life as an American, but we don't.  We recognize the freedom that we can enjoy by creating disposable income to spend on current purchases and giving, as opposed to living in a cycle of being stuck paying for what we bought years ago.  We've already paid off our credit card debt, but we still have student loans, tax loans and car loans.  We have purposed to have "budget meetings" weekly so we can stay in constant communication about our progress.  The hard part to this is that we have to stick to the decisions made each week.  As long as we've been together, we've always just kind of gone with the flow...spent money where we needed to and figured it out later.  Now we have to plan our meals out and our meals in, plan our dates and events with friends, and plan our home improvement projects and crafts and Stick To The Plan.  I know we will grow in maturity and wisdom as part of this endeavour.  Maturity and wisdom don't come without hard work and sacrifice though.  We are ready for the challenges because we have each other to lean on. 
We have spent the last month going through our stuff.  You know the stuff that gets stuck in every nook and cranny and you just have it because you have it.  You don't use it or really even look at it.  It stays tucked away in the closet or drawer...but you know you have it.  If by some chance you actually have the opportunity to use it...you can't find it because it is hidden underneath all the other stuff you've accumulated and crammed into the same closets and drawers..yes that STUFF.  It is taking forever to get through all the stuff.  I'm not a sentimental pack rat or anything, but I struggle with the fact that if I get rid of something, and then need it in the future...I will have to re-buy it and I HATE spending money on purchasing something I already had, but got rid of.  I am making progress - but I can't say it's been easy or fast.  We've tried to organize as we go so when, by chance, we need some of this STUFF, we can find it easily and quickly.  I know this isn't a one time deal...we will need to constantly evaluate..."do we really need this item" to keep our house uncluttered, but it will be worth it in the end.  We made it through cleaning out the storage unit (there's one bill off the budget!-no use paying someone for a room to cram more stuff into), the garage and the kitchen.  I've never sold anything on Ebay or Craiglist before, so I'm a little nervous...but I'm going to give it a go.  Wish me luck!  Hopefully I'll have updates on our progress throughout the year and will enjoy lots of acheivements toward these goals!  Here's to Two Thousand and Twelve!!!