Hyatt Nolan

Since September 11th, 2008, Chris' 3rd cousin has been in a comatose state. She apparently had post-pardum cardiomyopothy. (Please forgive my medical terminology on this). During pregnancy apparently your heart enlarges, when you give birth, it will return to the normal size. Hers didn't causing her to convulse and then go unconscious, where her husband, Troy, found her in the middle of the night. Since then, she has been in the hospital and unconscious ever since. For more details please view her blog at http://hyatt911.blogspot.com/

Although this information is not posted on the blog, they removed her life support yesterday and just waiting. So please lift this family up in prayer this week and the weeks to follow.

JOIN THE RACE!

Its been several years since I have headed up a team for the CCFA (Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America) walk. So I've decided to do it this year, well next year really.
I KNOW that its early, but I wanted to make sure that you put it on your calendar!

For those of you that aren't aware, Chris and several of his family members suffer with Crohn's disease. So its our job to help find a cure. Although I can't donate a million dollars, I CAN head up a team to help raise money to put towards research and other educational programs. I pray so hard that my boys will never have to experience what their daddy, uncle, and cousin Casey (15 years old) have been through. A few years ago, Casey was diagnosed with Crohn's, then earlier in the spring he had to have surgery. Fortunately the doctors were able to remove all of the Crohn's, so in essence he is Crohn's free. Some of you may even wonder what Crohn's is. It is a disease that attacks the digestive track, all the way from the esophagus to the rectum. So yes its UGLY! For more information please go to www.ccfa.org

So heres the good stuff.
The CCFA Take Steps Walk Date: May 30th, 2009
Registration:4:00
Walk Starts: 5:00
And the BAD part: Its taking place on the Georgia Tech Campus... Im sure that Chris can rig up something so that we show our GEORGIA BULLDOG PRIDE!
www.cctakesteps.org

Please prayerfully consider this opportunity to make a difference. Even if you personally can't donate anything, your time is valuable to just show up and walk with our team. Please let me know if you are interested and when more information comes about, I will be sure to get it to you.

Thank you in advance for your consideration!

With your help, I hope we can be a record setter!

The Survey Says!

Okay, so Im getting bored with the long locks. At first, we cut some bangs. Chris hated them. So now Im growing them out. Which Im kinda liking the "to the side thing". Then last Friday, I found this spiral curling iron in my bathroom and thought that I would use it on my 2 day dirty hair! Yes, VERY dirty hair. I had no option of washing it and girls... you know the old baby powder trick! WA-LAH! Good as new! So heres the hair thats dirty. But Im needing some honest opinions. So leave me a comment and tell me what you think. Grow it back out and do the hum drum straight, Im a mommy look, or show me some sassyness look!

HONESTY ONLY PLEASE!

Friday Foto Fun

Friday night before I was leaving to head out to a bridal shower... Hudson and I did a little photo op! He is such a character! Then Cole and I were able to snap one! My little loves! They crack me up constantly!!!

Mmmm?? Wonder where Coley gets his big mouth from??

Laura, Me, and Lacey (the bride to be!) We've been friends since the 6th grade!

2008 CCFA Torch Gala

What an honor it is to be a part of such a wonderful foundation. In May 2009, I will be hosting my own team for the walk, let me know if you would like to join us! As you may know, Chris suffers with Crohn's disease, along with his brother, John and his son, Casey. Who had surgery earlier in the spring and the doctors were able to remove all that they saw, so in essence, he is CROHN'S FREE! Praise God! We are in the works of searching for a cure, but in the meantime, all research and findings are exciting because it is one step closer than we were. As a mother, my fear is that my babies will suffer with this chronic disease. It is just plain ugly! It effects the complete digestive tract, causing major pain, upset tummies, sensitivity to lots of foods, and so much more. Many children are being diagnosed at earlier ages because of the awareness of it now. Thankfully there are alot of doctors that are involoved with the research. So Im excited about what the future holds. But I have to play my part too and help out.

Saturday, the 8th was the annual CCFA Torch Gala. This is the very first year that it wasn't black tie! Thank goodness! We were able to wear cocktail dresses and the men suits. Very comfy! Well, kinda!

John, Cindy, Mama Anne, Guy, Me, and the Hubbs!

Who knows what on earth was so funny! What are FAAARRR from a normal family.

John, Cindy, CRAZY Ronnie, Mama Anne, Guy, Auntie Nancy, Me, and Chris.But does anyone know what on earth Ronnie is taking a picture of??

Right before the boredom began.....

Here is where are we are not normal and a very comfortable family!

Fat Girl #1 and Fat Girl #2! We love each other! Can you tell? Earlier, Cindy had leaned over while we were walking through a crowd and I spanked her! Little did I know that we were being watched in this very crowded area! As we walked on, this guy leaned over and tapped my shoulder and said, "I saw that!" Talk about emabarrased! I told him it was cool, she was my sister in law! You can tell we don't get out much!

Eating one of my favorite foods... served via my silly sister in law!

Hudson, This Breaks My Heart!

I never understood when a parent would say when they had to discipline their child or their child acted out, that it broke their heart.

This week has been a rough one!

Last year in Hudson's 3 year old pre-school, he went on "yellow" one time. (they have a red light system; green=good, yellow=been warned, get it together, and red=down right bad!) After that one time, he never acted out again. And I think that he was talking in the bathroom or something like that?!?! Anyhow, so here we are, not EVEN to Thanksgiving break yet, and he has gone on yellow 3 times already! AND TWICE THIS WEEK. Actually, 2 days in a ROW! UGH! Yesterday he apparently scratched a friend and then he was punching (playing) a friend... in the face! I know, you are never gonna let your children play with mine.. That's okay! I understand! And today, he "grabbed" at another girls face, who he absolutely loves. All of this is in done in a playful manor and out of love. After school today, we were to go meet another girlfriend at the new Dacula McDonald's (we are movin' on uuuup!) I explained to Hudson that if he did not keep his hands to himself today and if he moved to yellow, then we would NOT go. So when hes getting in the car, the teacher tells me that he went on yellow. My heart literally sunk into my tummy! I couldn't believe it! After all we had talked about and it happened again. I know that I shouldn't expect so much at such a young age, but I wanted him to stay on green all day! And please hear me on this.... hes not acting "out" or being mean, he has just come out of his shell. And apparently.... he is never gonna go back in!

So we are buckling up and I explained to him that him that we weren't going to Micky D's. He wasn't happy. And the words just fell out of my mouth. "Hudson, this just breaks my heart." And in his emotional tearful sobbing cry, "Mommy, it breaks my heart too!"

Next week is a new one! And boy have these boys tested me this week! Thank goodness JoJo is coming tomorrow!

Papa's 70th Birthday Weekend Bash

We had such a fantastic time this past weekend for my father in laws 70th birthday. All 18 people loaded up and headed to Brevard, NC. We stayed in a cozy... and I MEAN cozy, 4 bedroom/ 3 bathroom cabin. It was AWESOME! We had the best time! The kids had a great time staying up late and doing whatever!!!

Don't be jealous, but this was the view from our back porch... and pretty much all the way around the house. Each side had sliding glass doors all across the walls. But how awesome is that picture?!?!?

GOOD MORNING DADDY! Cole was completely naked. He had a major blow out first thing!

Crunching the leaves on the driveway...

On the back porch, about to watch the sunset.

Please excuse us... we weren't trying to impress a soul that weekend!

Poor little Coley, had to sleep in the closet!

Papa going in for his big surprise!
He doesn't understand whats going on. Cindy put together a huge slide show of him growing up and all of the boys and grandbabies. Talk about emotional! And major brownie points! I've gotta top her now!

And yes, this part especially!

Jon & Diana announced on the slide show that they are expecting a

baby girl, "Sofia Marie"!!! The first girl in over 20 years! YAHHHOOOOO!

Needless to say, GamGam was beside herself!

This would be like the 4th time that we stopped coming home. He just had to go on the side of the road this time! The joys of boys!

ELECTION DAY

Today is election day.

And I am nervous as can be!

Nervous for my family and my business and honestly, simply my future in general.

No matter who may win the presidental race in America, God is ultimately in control and I have to continously tell myself that. I know that He will take care of His children.

So if you wavering still, PLEASE prayerfully consider your vote today. The Lord is blessing us with beautiful weather today, so people, GET OUT AND VOTE! Your VOTE COUNTS!

Maybe I Will Leave the WHOLE Kitchen This Time!

We are preparing to leave on yet another little getaway this weekend. We are leaving Friday morning heading to Brevard, NC to celebrate Papa's 70th birthday! (Chris' daddy). All of us live here in Dacula, except for Tim, but we are ALL traveling to NC to celebrate a birthday! FUN! I am really excited to get away, again! I keep thinking that I need to pack.... but what on earth!?!? What I am going to pack!??! I have clothes in the washer, dryer, in baskets in the laundry room, basket in Cole's room, all over my floor, and all over the floor in the closet! Oh, and don't forget about all of the laundry that's hanging out in the foyer that needs to be folded and its pretty much blending in with all of the product (bags, koozies, totes, luggage tags, tumblers, etc) that's in the dining room that needs to priced, put together and in The Paper Fairy store by Thursday afternoon! Wait, where was I? I totally went off on something else! Oh, those dern bamboo shelves that I told you about, we are currently up to 16 CANS NOW!!!!!!! But, I think that they are done. And those have to go to The Paper Fairy as well. I will have to check on them in the morning, when I'm not quiet so high from the paint fumes. Okay, yea, we are leaving Friday morning to go to the mountains. Now that I think about it! We might just have to stop by Wal-Mart when we get there and I will just grab a suitcase there and fill it with all the necessities since I won't have time to pack anything here! I wouldn't even know where the clean clothes are! So the sink, and the whole kitchen are staying here! Phew, I'm tired! Thinking about the BIG explosion in my house has worn me out! CAUTION WHEN ENTERING!

In His Time

As I am trying to boost our sales and income at the shop. I have taken a spin on Saturdays to help that. We offer the ability to do home shows, but in our shop. I think its a great concept, just getting people to actually hold the show is the tough part. Which one would think that people would be knocking our doors down to do one, since they don't have to cook, clean, or prepare for anything. Just show up, with all of their friends & family.

So this past Saturday, I was open from 1-4 pm. I invited a slew of people and the girl hosting the Stop ~N~ Shop did as well. As 2:00 starts to roll around, no one has shown up. I begin to think. Maybe this wasn't such a great idea after all. Maybe I should just sell all this stuff and go on with something else. As the frustration began to build up, a friend from MOPS showed up with her family and her oh so adorable son. I got in a better mood. I played with him and he just cracked me up! But from then onto 4, it was pretty steady. We were able to have some sales, which wouldn't have happened if I wasn't there.

The frustration part comes in when I have put so much time into this. Stay up late, get up early, spend all kind of hours up at the shop putting stuff together. You would think that this would be a piece of cake, and at times it is when we have the flexibility that we do, but you also have to think.... we have 4 mouths to feed, Chris actually counts for 2, so that would really be a total of 5! :)

I KNOW that God has HUGE plan for us! He has blessed us beyond measure with the resources and opportunities that He has laid before us! So I know that His plan is GRAND! So by Saturday afternoon, my mood had changed from "Frustration" to "Grateful".

Okay, now change gears, but not too fast though! Over the last month or so, I have started a daily devotional by Joyce Meyer, "Battlefield of the Mind: Devotional. 100 Insights That Will Change the Way You Think". Its an awesome devotional book! Today's devotional is titled "Positive Belief". In the beginning it talks about Abraham and how God promised Him a son and how he waited and waited for years. 25 to be exact! In the meantime, Abraham conceived a child with his wife's (Sarah) handmaiden, Hagar. Could you imagine, telling your husband to go do it with another woman so that you could have a child! Don't think so! As Joyce Meyer stated in her book, she believes that this delayed God on giving them their promised child. All of these bells and lights were going off in my head! That's it! Not that I am having another child or anything close to it, but the plan that He has laid out for us is going to work, IN HIS TIME NOT MY TIME! And BY HIS PLAN, NOT MY PLAN! I can sit here and plan all this stuff, but it may not be His plan! We must pray first and agree with God's plan not plan and pray that our plan will work.

So she ends with a prayer and I think its too good to not to share it:
"Dear Father in heaven, forgive my lack of belief. Forgive me for allowing Satan to deceive me or make me think I'm worthless or unworthy of Your miracles. I am worthy because You made me worthy. You are the God of the impossible, and I ask You to help me wait on You and never give up..."

NEVER GIVE UP
ALWAYS BE PATIENT!

And you know me.... all of a sudden, a song pops in the head! "Everlasting God!"

After...

2 visits to church

3 Showers

6 Changes of clothes

12 Cans of spraypaint

... I am almost done with those Bamboo Racks! Grr! Going back to Wal-Mart today to buy more paint! Needless to say, last night at 11:00, I was feeling pretty high. Couldn't talk right and my words were all running together!

Richie & Kelly

Thank you to my only 2 fans! Your devotion means the world to me and I am so thankful to have you! Maybe we should get together and have OEA meeting since we haven't done so in sometime now!

Price Vacay 2008

I am so thrilled to tell you about our vacation!

But you are going to have to wait until I can find the time

to sit here and type it all up and add pictures.

So stay tuned!!

By the way... Does anyone read this or is this just a way for me to totally vent about things?

Its Our Anniversary

October 12th, 2002

Yesterday, Chris and I celebrated our 6 year anniversary! I can't believe that its been 6 years, then at times, Im like, these 6 years have gone by at a snail's pace!

I love my husband more and more each day! We have both grown to love the Lord more and more, then making our marriage and family stronger.

We spent the day staying busy though. We worked at the shop. He was there pretty much all day and I was there for a few hours. We then went to Longhorn's with Papa & Gam Gam and the boys. It was fun! Not like I had intended it to go. But I think that I enjoyed the way that it ended up being instead of what I wanted.

So six years ago, here is what we were up to!

Whoop Whoop! Anyone wants a table dance?!!?!?! I was shakin' it to: "YMCA!" Can't you see all the village people's hats? And this was totally my father in laws idea! Crazy man!

I Forgot the Kitchen Sink... On Purpose!

Today, we are preparing to leave for St. Simon's. I am vowing that I will not take the kitchen sink. I am intentionally leaving it here at home. This time, the car will not be loaded down so that we can't move, like the trip to the park. Please see blog titled: I Forgot The Kitchen Sink! As I try to pack, I want to take everything. For some reason I feel that we will be in the middle of the desert with no store a thousand miles in sight. But there is one, a few blocks up! So here is the sink.... its staying home! With the rest of the crap that we don't need!

Tribute To All Mama's

If you know me, then you know that I love music. Its extremely therapeutic for me. Not necessarily to sing... I can't carry a tune in a bucket. But to just play it, and play it LOUD! But after Coley was born, Steven Curtis Chapman's new CD had just came out. At the time, "Cinderella" was the #1 and even now, its even more emotional because of the recent tragedy that his family has had to endure. But another track that is on there is called "One Heartbeat". If you need to know what was going on during that season in my life, please refer back to my blog on "Domestic Engineer". When this song was brought to my attention, I thought, WOW! What Im doing every second is for something....... Anyhow. This is just a little tribute to all mothers, regardless of season of mothering they are currently in.

You're up all night with a screaming baby

You run all day at the speed of life

And every day you feel a little bit less

Like the beautiful woman you are

So you fall into bed when you run out of hours

And you wonder if anything worth doing got done

Oh, maybe you just don't know

Or maybe you've forgotten

You, you are changing the world

One little heartbeat at a time

Making history with every touch and every smile

Oh, you, you may not see it now

But I believe that time will tell

How you, you are changing the world

One little heartbeat at a time

With every "I know you can do it"

Every tear that you kiss away

So many little things that seem to go unnoticed

They're just like the drops of rain over time

They become a river

And you, you are changing the world

One little heartbeat at a time

Making history with every touch and every smile

Oh, you, you may not see it now

But I believe that time will tell

How you, you are changing the world

One little heartbeat at a time

You're beautiful

You're beautiful

How you're changing the world

You're changing the world

You, you are changing the world

One little heartbeat at a time

Making history with every touch and every smile

Oh, you, you may not see it now

But I believe that time will tell

How you, you are changing the world

Oh, I believe that you

You are changing the world

One little heartbeat

At a time

And you're changing the world

Nanny's...

You've got to love them! They come in, clean your house, do your laundry, cook your meals, take care of your children... all while us moms are watching our favorite soaps, eating Bon Bon's and drinking expensive.... lemonade!

But the REAL "Nanny's" that I am talking about are my grandmothers which are the boys great grandmother. We have Nanny McDaniel, who lives in Winterville, just on the out skirts of Athens. And Nanny Stephens, who lives in Thomson, 30 miles from Augusta. Over the last 2 weekends we have taken trips to go visit both. These nanny's are better than the ones mentioned above. They can spoil to no end and give that unconditional love and memories that will last a life time.

We went to Nanny McDaniel's last weekend. It was quiet a heart breaker to go there and not have Papa there. He's there, just looking down. He passed away back in July. Talking to Hudson about heaven has been tough. Hes just like me, he needs black and white and to be shown every thing. He didn't even realize that Papa wasn't there, but a couple of days later, he did say, "Mama! We didn't see Papa McDaniel." So later that day (we were on our way to school) I had the talk with him. His Papa was the first one that introduced him to good ole Georgia Sweet Tea!

The fun love of a grandparent, they always do what a parent won't! Nanny also introduced Hudson to green onions, he loved it!

Anyhow, Im totally enjoying looking at these old pictures and loving how my grandparents love my babies! Nanny was happy to see us and it was so nice to be able to visit with her. The boys took her a few little gifts and we had such a wonderful afternoon with her.

Riding the gator around the yard and field! Hudson & Daddy... and Dixie (the dog) had a blast!

And then our trip to Nanny Stephens.....

This was a blast! We arrived around noon on Saturday. Quickly unloaded the car so that Hudson could play. He was ready to get in the sand. He was having a ball! Staying HOT and NASTY! Which is exactly the way that he should be!

Then while Coleman was taking a nap, Hudson came in and played with Nanny.... with some crazy toy that we couldn't figure out!

After nap, we headed out to Evans, where my Aunt Claire lives (and she might as well be a nanny too! Shes my "other mother" and grandmother to my babies! What a blessing! Love you Aunt Claire XOXO) We grilled out some YUMMY hamburgers (no matter what you say Tim! hee), corn on the cob, and lots of other yummy stuff. Hudson got to ride with his "Other Uncle Tim" on the John Deere lawnmower, which he enjoyed. Nanny enjoyed feeding Coleman some fruit as well. It was a great time!

Oh yes! And this.... this is the after part. Apparently Uncle Tim was watering the grass and Hudson decided (with Dad's permission) that he could run through the water sprinkler. Then, Hudson is in a mudslide! Ooops! So Daddy had to hose him off! (we were rednecks gone to town!

Cole playing with the computer. And meeting his Great Uncle David for the first time.

Here they are passed out from such a long day. It was only a few hours later that Hudson fell out of the bed and Coleman decided that he would wake up too and NOT GO BACK TO SLEEP!

Shew! We are finally on our way home! Eating an ice cream cone from McDonald's and enjoying the ride! (Hudson is actually saying, "Mommy! Don't take a picture!)