Tuesday, June 28, 2011

It is Well....

This is one of my favorite songs of all time.
If you don't know the story behind the song, 
you definitely need to read about it here. 
Such a precious story and such a great reminder for me.



I made up this little printable as a reminder to myself.
When I think things are difficult or painful or not fair or stinky....
it is well. 
it is well

Monday, June 27, 2011

Monday Morning Question of the Day

What do you call this?
I call it a spatula.



What do you call this?
I call it a spatula. 

I did not realize until yesterday that I call them the exact 
same thing but they are totally different items. 

Do you call them the same thing? 

Had you ever realized that before? 


Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Make Today Ridiculously Amazing.

A sweet friend posted this on Facebook today saying she 
wished she had it in brighter colors- so I made it for her! 
Make Today Ridiculously Amazing
{click the arrow button to see another version}

If you'd like a copy in a different color combination just let me know and I'll be happy to change it for you. 
I plan to print and post it in my classroom!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Monday Morning Question of the Day

It's been super hot and super dry here in Texas 
for the past many, many, many months. 
It's also been super windy 
{30+ mph winds}
Which leads to some dangerous conditions- 
perfect for fires.
Last night there were several HUGE fires nearby
 that covered many, many thousands of miles.
The fires were so terrible that a major interstate was closed
and many people were evacuated from their homes. 


As of this morning over 30 homes have been destroyed 
and the fire is not even close to being contained.
We've been praying heavily for those poor people 
and for the firefighters fighting those fires. 


So my question for today is....

If you only had 15 minutes to leave your home,
 other than people and pets, 
what things would you take with you?

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Comparison is......

Comparison


{click the arrow to see the other color combination of this printable}



Saturday, June 18, 2011

My Heart Breaks A Little

There are times I've probably said all of the old cliched sayings many times before.

Things like:
-Time heals all wounds.
-It's so wonderful that she's no longer in pain and now she's in a better place.
-I know just how you feel.
-It'll get easier as time goes by.
-Don't be sad, you'll see her again one day.

Although I've said them all before, know without a doubt that they are said in love and kindness, and know in my heart that many are true, there are times on days like today- the 9th anniversary of my sweet mother's death- they are simply empty words that do nothing to soothe my aching and breaking heart.

It's been nine years since I stood by my precious mother's bedside, held her hand, and told her that it was okay for her to leave us.

I so vividly remember standing there, with my heart absolutely, positively breaking and lying to her over and over and over again saying...........
"It's okay Mommy- we are going to be fine. You've loved us enough for a lifetime and I know you're tired of fighting and it's okay. We will miss you but I know how tired you are it's okay to stop fighting now. I promise that Madison will grow up knowing you and knowing how much you loved her. She will not forget her amazing Nana- I promise. So it's okay- you go and be with Jesus and we will see you soon."

I stood there lying to her while every fiber of my being wanted to scream at the top of my lungs.........
"Please, please, please don't go Mommy, please don't leave me. Don't leave us. We need you. I need you and I love you and I don't know how to live my life without you. I can't do this. I need you. Please, please, please don't go."

It's only through the strength God gave me that day that I was able to stand there and say what she needed to hear. It was ONLY because of Him I said the words that I believe she needed to hear.

She was my best friend, my biggest cheerleader, my safe place when things were bad, my protector, my comforter, my precious Mommy.

I miss her as much today as I did 9 years ago- and sometimes even more so.

There are times when I have to stop myself from thinking about her-and literally make myself think of something or someone else because I am fearful that if I do think about her that the grief will overwhelm me. I'm afraid that I will start crying, and never be able to stop.

There are times when I allow myself to cry and remember and I feel the pain of her absence so strongly that I feel that it will overtake me. I think of all the stories I never got to hear her tell, the conversations we never got to have, the holidays we never got to share, all the lessons she never got to teach me, all the laughs and tears we never got to share and I feel so cheated. And my heart breaks a little.

There are times when I start remembering all the amazing things about her and all that was lost when she died. The world was a better place with her in it. And it stinks that the world no longer has her. And it makes me angry. And my heart breaks a little.

There are times when I think that I was robbed of such an amazing mother. I was not prepared or ready at the age of 32 to lose my mother. I wasn't done growing up, I wasn't done needing her, I wasn't done loving her and being loved by her. And my heart breaks a little.

There are times when I watch Maddie dance and I cry because my Mommy never got to see her dance and I know how much she would have absolutely loved it. She never got to truly know the girl that is my amazing and precious daughter. And my heart breaks a little.

There are times when I realize that Maddie has now been alive longer without knowing my mom than she has been alive knowing my mom. She has more memories without her than with her. And although she has memories of my mother and we try hard to tell her stories and all the wonderful things about my mother, she does not truly know the wonderful woman that was her Nana. And I hate, hate, hate that. And my heart breaks a little.

And then when there are times- like today- when I think that my grief will overwhelm me, that the tears will never stop, that thankfully and mercifully my Savior reminds me of His promises in Lamentations 3:22-23 where He says:

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence, for the LORD has laid it on him. Let him bury his face in the dust—there may yet be hope. Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace. For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.

And those promises? They comfort me. And I heal a little.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Chocolate Revel Bars {aka Michelle Cookies}

I made these cookie bars today for the first time in a sweet forever and realized I had never shared this recipe. Growing up we called them "Michelle Cookies" because my sisters good friend Michelle LOVED them.  They are super yummy and pretty easy to throw together- you might even have the ingredients in your pantry right now!


3 cups oatmeal
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups packed brown sugar
2 eggs
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
  2. In a large bowl, beat together 1 cup butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Mix in eggs and 2 teaspoons vanilla. In another bowl, combine oats, flour, baking soda, and 1 teaspoon salt; stir into butter mixture. Set aside.
  3. In a medium saucepan, heat sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons butter, and 1/2 teaspoon salt over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla.
  4. Pat 2/3 of the oat mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread chocolate mixture evenly over the top, and dot with remaining oat mixture.  {I usually wet my hands and pat out the other part of the mixture to cover the chocolate mixture}
  5. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in preheated oven. Let cool on a wire rack, then cut into bars.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Joy..........

Joy
{click the arrow button to see 4 other color combinations}

Monday Morning Question of the Day

As we turned onto our street tonight coming home from church last night we saw our neighbors son jump over their fence {they live on the corner} wearing a backpack and get into a car of 3 teenage boys. 

Tony used to work with the father but we don't really know the son at all other than the fact that he is Madison's age. 

What would you have done?

Friday, June 10, 2011

Happy 15th Birthday Sweet Girl

Happy 15th birthday my sweet girl! 
You are truly my greatest blessing and I can't imagine my life without you!
You bring me such great joy and laughter and love and fun and happiness
and silliness and smiles every single day!

You are dedicated, hard-working, funny, goofy, silly, smart,
caring, beautiful, loyal, loving, hysterical, strong, committed, kind, 
compassionate, helpful, a beautiful dancer, amazing,
talented, faithful, and fabulous!


You have brought more joy to my life than you will ever know.


You are the greatest gift God has ever given me and I thank God for
you each and every single day of your life.
 How I got so lucky as to be your mom I will never know!

I can not imagine my life without you in it. 
I love you a bushel and a peck 
and a hug around the neck my sweet Maddie May. 

xo xo xo xo ~
Mommy

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Where Would you Go If You Couldn't Go Home?

This beautiful song is now available on iTunes. 
Download "Where Would You Go (If You Couldn't Go Home)?" by The Mark Chapman Band.  100% of the profits will go to the American Red Cross, victims memorial funds, and other charities dedicated to rebuilding Joplin, Mo. 

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

The Blog Slacker Returns

It's been weeks since I posted on here on this little old blog. 
WEEKS.   Sheesh...that's a long time. 
I'm sorry y'all.
But it's been a BUSY few weeks. 
The last few weeks of school were crazy. 
Then Madison and I took a trip to see my sweet Dory and her family 
and just got home today. 

We had such a wonderful time and
 although I was glad to get home to see my sweet hubby 
this was my face as I drove home yesterday:
So sad Sad SAD to be leaving my sweetest friend. 
I love and miss her so!