Blowing Rock

Many of you know, Devin has taken up rock-climbing with a good friend of his from church. They call it their "stress relieving outlet"!

These are a few pics they took this past weekend at Blowing Rock (North Carolina). I don't know about you.... but it looks like stress achieving, not stress relieving to me!!

For you rock-climbing enthusiasts, these are level 5.12b climbs.

Edited to add: They were not wearing gear or helmets at this level because they were not very far off the ground! Don't panic - they do wear harnesses, belts, clips, and more! These were nothing more than some pictures they took during some early practice climbs and they spotted eachother.

"I've got to climb THAT!?!?!"

"Too late to turn back now! How much farther?"

"Don't look down!!"

"Not Me!!!" Monday

Check out MckMama's My Charming Kids Blog if you'd like to join in the fun!

Now, for Week 2 of "Not Me!!" Monday.... things I absolutely did not, would not, have not done (hee-hee!)

I did not tell my Saturday PRN job that I had to go to my primary job first to see a patients before I went there just so I could get some extra sleep and not have to be there by 7am...

I did not bring home an extra piece of my neighbor's birthday cake and tell my husband "oops... I'll eat it"...

I did not forget to put the birthday gift I bought my neice over a month ago in the mail...

I did not mail my step-mom's birthday card on her birthday...

I did not keep my husband from watching football by guilting him into putting together the new trampoline immediately after church, and then make him go to a birthday party right afterwards this afternoon just to keep the two younger one's happy...

I did not let Andy (our Golden) sleep in our room Friday night because I was too lazy to make him go upstairs where he belongs and then tell Mike Saturday morning "I must have left the door open"...

I did not drop an entire box of spaghetti all over the floor and then let a bad word come flying out of my mouth right in front of my five year old...

And, I did not spend an hour trying to remember all things I "did not" do in the last week!!!

Happy Birthday Anna!

Happy Second Birthday Anna!

Wish we were there to give you big hugs and kisses!

Love Uncle Mike and Aunt Michelle

Finally... A Trustworthy Candidate!

What an election year it has been! I don't know about all of you - but I've been pretty disappointed at the candidates we have to choose from, what they stand for, what they've done (or not done), and what their views are on various policies.

Finally, tonight, it hit the news that there's a new candidate that I can trust!

Click HERE and see what you think! Donations are being accepted!

Happy Birthday Jill

Happy Birthday to You...

Happy Birthday to You........

Happy Birthday Dear Ji-illlll..........

Happy Birthday to You!

You should be happy you can't hear me sing! Wish I was there to celebrate with you, Kurt, and Caleb!! Miss you guys!!

Happy Birthday...

to my step-mom, Cassie.

What an awesome person you are! You have always respected my Mom's place in our family, loved us as if we were your own, and been there when we've needed you. You've made my Dad smile again and given me comfort that he is taken care of. My Mom is surely your Angel as well as ours for all you've done for us. We are very blessed to have you!

Happy Birthday!!!

One of THOSE Days!!

Yes... this really did happen to me tonight while fixing dinner. I picked up an entire large box of spaghetti from the wrong side... absolutely sums up the day I've had.

On the upside - my staff bought ME a gift for Rehab Week. I had something special planned each day this week to thank them for their hard work and they returned their thanks on me with a gift bag of a nice red wine, a herbal body wash and bubble bath, and an awesome herbal candle.

Now... of to drink that bottle of wine!!!

Our New Pet???

This spider has seemed to make his (or her??) home in our bushes out front. I have to say - it is quite beautiful for a spider, but I prefer it find another home!

We did some research on it - afraid it might be poisonous. It's actually called an Argiope Aurantia (otherwise known as a garden spider) and is very common in the state of North Carolina. Not poisonous and feeds on bats (which we have plenty of around here!).

So.... next time you come to visit, we'll have to introduce you to our new pet...

"Not me!" Monday

OK - So I've decided to join MckMama (My Charming Kids) "Not me!" Mondays idea. Jump on over to her blog to see what the average every day Mom's NEVER do wrong - tee hee! If you like it, join us! So here's what I would NEVER do.... really.... I mean it...

Here's my "Not me!" list...

I did not scratch the passenger side of my shiny silver van trying to park where I know there's lots of branches while dropping off the kids to Bible Study. And I certainly did not hide it from my husband.

I did not eat a brownie for breakfast and skip the milk & cereal because I know that it's not good for me.

I did not run in and put money under my Paige's pillow in the middle of the afternoon after Paige mentioned toothfairy "forgot" to stop by overnight.

I did not preach to the kids about cleaning their rooms this weekend and come down to my room and say "ehh... no one sees it anyhow"!

I did not tell Paige her make-up gymnastics class was cancelled on Saturday because I didn't want to rush through shopping to get her there on time.

And last, I most certainly did NOT take Devin to Bible Study Wednesday night with him wearing a "Cerveza" t-shirt with a big beer bottle acrossed it!!

So - what did you NOT do this past week?

Crazy Chase!

Crazy Chase! That's All We Have To Say!

Prayers for Margelle!

The little girl in the family picture below needs lots of prayers. Mandy and the kids evacuated for Hurricane Ike last Thursday - and now find themselves in a Children's Hospital in Dallas where Margelle was to have surgery this morning.

After a gut feeling that the first doctors were overlooking something more serious, Mandy took Margelle to see another doctor in Dallas who ran a test that said yep - Mom was right! Margelle has a bacterial infection in her hip that required prompt surgery.

Please say a prayer that she will recover quickly and the infection will clear up with the surgery and antibiotics. Also - keep them in your prayers for their return back to their home after it is safe to return.

Yikes! Ike!

This sweet family is among many who may be without power and flooded from Hurricane Ike. As of right now - Ike is projected to hit right into Galveston and Houston, TX. Mandy and her family are right in that path between the 2 cities!

Please keep the Kyle's, and all of these families in the line of Ike in your prayers!

Update Fri 9pm: Mandy and the kids have evacuated and are safe. Her husband had to stay behind for work (meteorology). Her last email just requested prayers. You bet Mandy!! For you, Brian, and all the others!!

(ps - Mandy - my kids tell me I "tagged" you! I guess when you snag a pic of someone else's site or blog it's "tagging" the picture! LOL!)

It's Just Not Fair!

I have two sets of dear friends - both sets are wonderful, happy, married couples that would be the best parents! When they are with my kids - they light up and the kids love every minute of it! Both couples have dealt with heart-breaking infertility, numerous treatments, surgeries, tests, and trials. Both couples have gotten their hopes up on more than one occasion only to be let down. Today - one of those couples was let down yet again.

I get so mad at how the world works sometimes! Teenage mothers, unborn unwanted babies, abused and neglected children, yet these two couples can't have their own very much WANTED baby. I know it's all God's will, but my heart aches for these two couples. I still yell "It's Just Not Fair!"!

Tonight I pray for comfort and strength for my dear friend who is hurting so much. I pray that I be able to say the right words of respect and be here if she needs me to.

"Thees Tho Thilly"!!!

Paige lost the other bottom tooth today - this time she pulled it all by herself! Now she has the "th" problem! It's so funny to hear her talk! Thilly Girl!

I'm Moving Up!

In the world of technology that is! I finally have an AIM screenname!! Look me up at "lilmissticklebee"!