Wordless Wednesday-Calgon, take me away.

I so needed this today.

Lots going on...stress, worry, lots of prayer.

I haven't decided whether to blog about it or not.

It's hard to make that call when it's not your life you're

thinking about blogging about.

Let me just ask that you all be in prayer for my parents.

Both are having serious issues, financially, physically,

mentally, and spiritually.

Satan is hitting them HARD. And they don't have the faith

that we do to see them through-my dad is unsaved, and my

mom is so discouraged she actually told me the other day,

"You keep praying. At least He listens to you."

My heart is breaking it is so heavy. I don't know what to

do or how to help.

I may post more later if I feel more comfortable with it.

If not, I would ask you to lift them up anyway.

Thank you, in advance.

(Ok, so it's NOT wordless. I needed more it this way.)

TTFN,

Halftime bath.

{sigh}

The first 13 years of my marriage were ideal.

I had the man who didn't care a bit about

fishing, hunting, or sports.

That's all changed.

Well, not the fishing, hunting, or sports in general part.

But now he's ADDICTED to Alabama football!

UGH.

And even worse, he's got the older 3 all into it too.

Oh well. Here's hoping that Alabama football is the only

change he makes.

Being the good wife that I am, I'm totally

aware that there's no point in complaining

being supportive!

So this is what happened in our house tonight:

We were watching the game, and I asked him if he would

bathe the younger 3. He looked at me like I'd lost my mind

and waved his hand at the TV.

I sighed but right then the announcer said there was 4 minutes

left till halftime and I seized the moment, commenting that

he could bathe them during halftime.

He agreed and we watched the rest of the first half.

Then it was time for the halftime bath. And keeping in the

football spirit (I guess that's what he was doing!)
I heard:

Paul "JACOB, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A BATH IN THIS TUB??"

Jacob (rather timidly-this isn't how bath usually starts) "Yes, sir?"

Paul "I SAID, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A BATH IN THIS TUB??

Jacob (catching on) "YES SIR!!"

Paul "LET ME HEAR YOU SAY, 'ROLL TIDE!'"

Jacob "ROLL TIDE!"

Paul "NOAH, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A BATH IN THIS TUB??"

Noah (following Jacob's lead) "YESSEW!"
Paul "LET ME HEAR YOU SAY 'ROLL TIDE!'"

Noah "WOLL TIDE!"

Paul (still loudly, but trying not to scare her)

"EMMIE, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A BATH IN THIS TUB??"

Emmie "BAAAAH" (Emmiespeak for 'bath')

Paul "LET ME HEAR YOU SAY 'ROLL TIDE'"

Emmie "AHHHH BAAAAH!!"

Paul(laughing) "GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME-GET IN HERE!!"

{sigh again}

At least he's doing stuff with the kids. :)

TTFN,

Wordless Wednesday-In Honor and Memory.

Thank you.

TTFN,

'I can't complain, but sometimes I still do.'

I was listening to the radio on Friday when the song

'Life's been good to me so far'

by Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh came on.

Yeah, I was listening to old rock. It's a vice.

It's not one of my favorites, but I know it well enough

to sing along. This time though one line struck me.

Hard.

'I can't complain but sometimes I still do.'

Yep. That's me. Nice to meetcha.

I've been reading a few blogs lately, a new one in particular,

where the financial situation of the families blogged

about has brought my own life into sharp perspective.

'I can't complain but sometimes I still do.'

Even though I'm thankful Paul has a good, full-time job,

and is even in the process of a promotion,

I complain that he has to work overtime.

Even though I'm thankful we live in a beautiful, 3br, 2ba home,

I complain that there's never enough room.

Even though we drive a really nice van that's big enough

for our family (now and with room for expansion ;)

I complain that it's not the kind I wanted.

Even though I'm thankful Paul gets paid every week,

I complain because we usually live paycheck to paycheck.

(If we could stop being stupid with money this

wouldn't be an issue.)

Even though we have groceries and a beautiful home,

and nice clothes to wear,

I complain about having to cook, clean, and do laundry.

'I can't complain but sometimes I still do.'

But from now on I'm going to try to stop complaining

and start praising God for His faithfulness instead.

Maybe then I can appreciate what we DO have.

TTFN,

Stellan's team wins the world series!! :)

Praise be to the Lord God Almighty!

Miracle baby Stellan has received another miracle

tonight!!

Wanna go see for yourself?

www.mycharmingkids.net

I can't imagine the relief their family is

experiencing tonight.

I know I'M experiencing relief!! I've been

praying so hard all day. And now it's over.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation!

Ida, Ida, go away...come again another-ok, scratch that. Just go away!

What?? A hurricane-in November?

Ugh.

This is only the 4th recorded storm in November, and

the first to ever hit the upper gulf coast.

(Since they started recording them, anyway)

Nice to be a statistic, huh?

Not so much.

At least it's supposed to fizzle and become a Tropical

Storm before it hits land. We'll likely only get alot of

wind and heavy rain.

Pray for no flooding for those directly on the coast.

(we live about 25 miles inland so our threat isn't

nearly as bad as theirs.)

Pray for no tornados-a serious threat with these

kinds of systems.

The kids are excited, though, because school is letting out

at 1:30 today, will certainly be closed tomorrow, and they

already had Wednesday off for Veteran's Day.

This is the predicted path.

Photo courtesy of the NOAA website

Hopefully we won't lose power or cell or internet

services, but if we do, I'll chat with y'all in a day or two!

TTFN,

Roll Tide!

Just for Paul...

What do Tigers and sandcastles have in common?

They both get washed away when the Tide rolls in!

Sorry, Kimber.

You know I love you more'n my luggage!! ;)

TTFN,

Not really Wordless Wednesday

Ok, so this really was too easy!

This is hilarious to me-Sydney put his shoes and because

his costume covered them up, I didn't know until the end

of the night when I took them off!

Poor baby! It's a good thing those shoes are a bit too big.

When I saw this picture, I just cracked up.

I think you all knew right away!!

(with the exception of Mel, and I laughed so

hard at her comment that I almost fell off my chair!)

So, congrats, Nan!! Let me know what kind of gift card

you'd like, with your address, and I'll get it right out to you!!

I keep thinking of things I'd like to blog about and then

never get around to them. I've gotten lazy with the blog

lately. :( Anyone else have that problem??

Hope everyone has a Wonderful Wednesday!

TTFN,

Costumed fun-and a contest!!

The kids had a blast Saturday night.

They had so much fun dressing up.

Emmie giggled all night, and REFUSED to let

anyone else touch her candy bucket-and insisted on getting

her own candy from everyone-cause, ya know, if they get

close enough to put something in, they're close enough

to take stuff out too!! It was hilarious.

Noah told everyone,

"Twick or Tweet!"

After they handed over the candy, he said,

"Happy Hawoween!!"

Soooo cute.

Now for the costumes!!

"Ride like the wind, Bullseye!"

"To Infinity...And Beyond!"

"You got a friend in me."

"Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home!"

Ladybug bum. Hehe.

Seriously though, fly away AFTER I get a decent picture!!!

My butterfly and carhop.

The roundup gang! LOL.
(Yes, we're one heavy-Syd had a friend over)


Ashton ditched us for a party, but she had a great time,
and we made do without her. :(


This turned out to be one cheap Halloween. The only
costume we had to buy was Emmie's, and it was only $15.


Jacob and Noah's were borrowed, and Sydney's was from
a program Ashton was in in 5th grade.


Ashton's wings were a reused costume from when she was
2. Totally not kidding-I'll have to see if I can find the pics.


Halloween is usually really expensive for us, so this was
REALLY nice.


Thanks to those who were willing to loan costumes-
we love you! :)

And finally, for the contest...

This is a picture of my Buzz Lightyear pondering

how to defeat Zurg.

The first commenter who can tell me what's wrong
with this picture will get a $10 gift card of their choosing-
Target, Starbucks, Michaels, wherever. As long as it's
within driving distance of my house!! :)

Good luck!!

I hope everyone had a great Halloween!!

TTFN,