Thankful Thursday~My Daddy

I haven't had much time to do a Thankful Thursday but I wanted to jump back in because I have so much to be thankful for! And what better time to do that then for Fathers Day. Last month I got the chance to tell you about my Mom & what she means to me! So now I am going to tell you a little about my Daddy! If you want to jump in grab my button & jump in for the fun!

<center> <a href="http://mommaneedsatimeout.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss215/dchicksdesigns/Thankful-.png" /> </a></center>

My Daddy didn't come into my life until I was about 4. I know that might sound odd, but the truth is my Daddy is actually my step dad. I don't even like to use that word, & I never do because he is my Daddy. He always has been & always will be. When he started dating my Mom he knew that if he married her he would be raising me too. All of his children were older, the youngest was 10 yrs older than me, so he would be starting all over again! He has always told me that when he married my Mom, he married me too. My Mom tells the story that a few weeks before the wedding she sat down with me to talk to about what was happening. She explained it to me (as much as you can to a 5 yr old) & asked me what I wanted to call him. She says I just looked at her like she was crazy & said "Daddy, he's my Daddy!" Without hesitation without even a thought I knew that he was my Daddy. He jumped into the role of husband & Daddy knowing that my bio father wasn't around much & he would be taking on that role. He has always introduced me as his daughter or our daughter. He has held me when the pain of my bio father turned against me, he held me when boyfriends broke my heart, he showed me the kind of man I wanted to marry. When it came time for my hubby & I to get married, there was no doubt in my mind that he is the one I wanted to walk me down the aisle! He has taught me so much over the years & put up with SO much! I know he did it because he loves me & because he is my Daddy!

Daddy, I love you so much! I will never be able to express how much you mean to me or how much respect I have for you. You became my Daddy when really you didn't have too, you could have just been a step dad. You will never ever know how much that means to me, that you loved me!

I will always be Daddy's Girl!!!
Happy Fathers Day!

I found this video through a friend & cried the ENTIRE time I was listening to the song! I hope you enjoy & cry with me! :) Don't forget to pause my music player on the very bottom!

My Mom

It's Thursday so you know what that means! Thankful Thursday! Wanna get in on the fun? Then jump right in! Copy & past my code & then away you go!

<center> <a href="http://mommaneedsatimeout.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss215/dchicksdesigns/Thankful-.png" /> </a></center>

Today's Thankful Thursday is all about my Mom & what she means to me! (This post is in connection with my giveaway so be sure to check it out here!) There really aren't enough words to express how much I love my Mom & all that she has taught me but I am going to do my best to try!

My Mom is an amazing woman of God. She inspires me all the time to be more than I am. She can drive me to the luny bin sometimes, but my life would never be the same without her. She has given up so much for me & I will never be able to thank her enough! She has always taught me that no matter the problem you take it to Jesus & lay it at His feet. He is always there to hold you & comfort you. I know this because of the example she showed me time & time again. Being an only child I was definitely spoiled & let me tell you we had a rough time during the teenage years as most Mothers & Daughters do! But when I got to be about 19 I realized maybe my Mom wasn't as stupid as I thought! Then a few years later I became a Mom myself & let me tell you I realized my Mom...she is a saint & has a wealth of knowledge!!!! And then when I wasn't watching my Mom became my best friend! She is still my Mom & will snap me back in line faster than you can blink, but she is also my friend, my supporter, & my mentor! If I can be half the Mom to my boys that my Mom has been to me, then I count myself lucky! My Mom has lived the definition of a Proverbs 31 woman & I do arise & call her blessed!

Thank you Mom for all you have done for me! I love you dearly & can never express that enough! Where ever I go & whatever I do I will ALWAYS remember that my Mommy loves me!!!

Proverbs 31
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth far more than rubies.

Her husband has full confidence in

her and lacks nothing of value.

She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.

She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her

family and portions for her servant girls.

She considers a field and buys it;

out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She sets about her work vigorously;

her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,

and her lamp does not go out at night.

In her hand she holds the distaff

and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

She opens her arms to the poor

and extends her hands to the needy.

When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

She makes coverings for her bed;

she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes

his seat among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them,

and supplies the merchants with sashes.

She is clothed with strength and dignity;

she can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom,

and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned, and let

her works bring her praise at the city gate.

This post is part of a world wide blogging tribute to Moms led by TheBlogFrog

Thankful Thursday!

I have been slacking lately with Thankful Thursday! It's not that I don't have much to be thankful for, it's that I can't seem to find the time to sit down & write a post that is worthy of these thankful things/people! So tonight because again I just don't have a lot of time it's going to be a simple list of people I am praying for specifically. Thankful that I have the privilege of being apart of their journeys...

<center> <a href="http://mommaneedsatimeout.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss215/dchicksdesigns/Thankful-.png" /> </a></center>

*Stellan & MckMama-What a world wind few weeks this poor family has had! I can't even imagine! And now that it looks like they still have weeks ahead of them of hospitals! Keep praying for them!
*The LeBlanc triplets-Oh how small these precious babies are! One baby, Kuylen, is not doing as well as the others. Please keep this sweet family in your prayers!
*Sheila-My BFF who found out she is prego & finally everything looks really good!!!! So excited for her especially after the ectopic pregnancy she had back in Dec! Can't wait to meet my new little niece or nephew!
*Tim & Joy-Longtime friends of the GD who just had a baby this morning! Abby Hannah is doing really good, but is having a hard time keeping her blood sugar up. Keep them in your prayers! Joy is still trying to recover from a preeclamsia induced labor & they have waited many years for Abby to finally be here!
*Lesley-A friend of mine from church that is only about 2 weeks away from delivery & let me tell you this poor girl is miserable!!!! All you Mommy's know how rough it can be at the end! Will you remember her, for the end of the pregnancy & for an easy labor! Precious Gracen is going to make her parents dreams come true after 13 yrs of trying to get pregnant!

God is good...All the time...All the time...God is good!!

I know there are SO many more that I could go into but the lions seem to be getting rough & need to be coralled!!! Have a great weekend everyone!!!!

Thankful Thursday

I don't know about you guys but we are so busy around here! It seems like there is so much going on & always something to do...like the never ending laundry that I should be doing now! Oh well, it will get done...eventually. Anyway, I have been trying to take a few minutes to write my Thankful Thursday for the week, but between doc appt & S-Man's Easter party at school, there has been no time! But finally I found a few quite minutes to sit down & get started!

<center> <a href="http://mommaneedsatimeout.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss215/dchicksdesigns/Thankful-.png" /> </a></center>

Today it is an easy choice for who to be thankful for...My husband! Today is my wonderful husband's birthday! He is turning 34 oh I mean 28! The GD really doesn't like his birthday, never has. Although I don't think it's the birthday so much as just getting older in general! I always tell him that he should be thankful to have a wife that's 7 yrs younger & will keep him young! It doesn't work though.

I am a very blessed woman in so many ways & especially in the husband department! He is always there to lend a helping hand no matter what. He always puts my needs & the kids needs above himself. He is so thoughtful & loving! From the very beginning he has always been a very hands on Dad! When the boys were newborns he would always swap off feedings with me so I could get some rest too! He was so tired but never batted an eye when it was his turn! With all my many health issues he has had MANY nights were he has come home from work, cooked dinner, cleaned up the house, done bath time & bedtime & never complained! He is my rock & when I am in his arms the world always makes sense again. There is no place in the world I feel safer than in his arms! He is my best friend, my lover, my confidant, my shoulder, my supporter, & my cheerleader. He has taught me to be a better person & shown me what true love means! I could never explain how much I love this man & what he means to me! I know beyond a shadow of doubt that God created him specifically for me! I put together a small slideshow of pics with one of "our songs" to it! Be sure to mute the other music & then enjoy!

I love you baby!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Thankful Thursday

Hi there! I know I have disappeared again! What a week this has been! Let me tell you...Monday night I started having chills & fever. Of course my doc had told us to call if my fever was over 101, which it was. The doc on call asked about symptoms, told me I could go to the ER if I needed too, but thought I would be okay to wait until the next day & go in to see my normal doc. Mon night was HORRIBLE! We couldn't get my fever to break until about midnight & the rest of the night I spent going from chills to fever constantly. The next morning we had to take D-D for his 3 yr check up, & thankfully my wonderful husband took a sick day to help take care of us! The GD took him in while I drifted between nauseousness & sleep. The only way I wasn't feeling nauseous was laying down, so that's how I spent most of the morning. Finally we get to my doc & find out I have a bladder/kidney infection. Great just great! The good think is I am on antibiotics & am finally feeling somewhat better. I still don't have much energy back but slowly but surely I pray I will get there! My back is really hurting now, but I know that's part of the Kidney infection! I know you are tired of hearing me complain, so anyway I was wallowing in my feel bad for me, & I realized I really do have so much to be thankful for...They are a lot of the same from last week but there still true!

<center> <a href="http://mommaneedsatimeout.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss215/dchicksdesigns/Thankful-.png" /> </a></center>

*My husband that without him I don't think I could have survived. He has been there to help me get around, to take care of the boys, & to be that shoulder to cry on whenever I needed it! He is an amazing husband & I am to thankful to God for him!

*My Mom who like I said before did all my laundry & vacuumed my house! It's such a blessing she did because my family would have been living in a dirty house with nothing to wear! Thank goodness she loves me!

*Our SS class who continued to bring us meals because goodness knows I wasn't up to cookin'!

*My friends who called daily to check on me & offer up all kinds of help! I have some of the best friends in the world!

*And while this has nothing to do with me, I am so VERY thankful that Stellan has had a turn around & I am diligently praying that it says that way!

So that's what I am thankful for. I know it's pretty redundant from last week, but trust me when I say they still hold very true to me for this week too! So what are you thankful for?

Thankful Saturday Thursday

Yes I am still here! This recovery has been much harder than I thought it would be! I had been told it was not a bad recovery & for some people I am sure it wasn't. I, however, had other things going on too. Considering how bad the endometriosis is & the 4 different procedures he had to do, I know it's no wonder I have been so sore & in bed. But if you know me at all then you know I hate, HATE being down. I am an on the go person, constantly doing something. It has been so hard for me to be stuck at home & having to rely on other people to help me. Don't get me wrong I am so, so, SO thankful for the friends & family I have that are here to help! I don't know what I would do with out them. So even though it's several days late, here's my Thankful Thursday (Saturday edition)...

<center> <a href="http://mommaneedsatimeout.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss215/dchicksdesigns/Thankful-.png" /> </a></center>

*My parents that came up to spend time with us & be there to take care of me at the same time! My Mom did all my laundry & cleaned (white glove lady style) my whole house before she left so that I didn't have to be worried about it for a few days!
*Our Sunday school class has brought us meals every night since surgery continuing on through Tuesday night! How awesome is that, that I don't have to be worried about feeding my family or spending a ton of money on take-out!
*My great friend,Angie, was so sweet & picked up S-Man from school on Wed & Thurs just so I didn't have to get out & get him! What a blessing!
*Then on Friday my bff, Sheila, came at 7:30 in the morning to spend the whole day taking care of us! And let me tell you taking care of me & then her son & D-D...she's a true friend! She even picked S-Man up from school for me!
*Then of course there is my husband, without whom I couldn't make it! (Okay I might could, but not nearly as well!) He has been there to answer the phone, take care of the boys, bring me drinks or snacks, doing anything he can to make this easier on me! He is my rock & I am so thankful to have him!

When I say I am blessed I truly mean I am SO BLESSED! Thank you all so much for your thoughts, prayers, & comments! Hopefully a few more days & I will be back to "normal" again! I know Target & Wal-Mart have to be missing me by now! LOL!

Thankful Thursday

Yes I am running behind today on my Thankful Thursday! So much to do so little time to do it! I usually do my Thankful Thursday on Wednesday night & schedule it for first thing Thursday morning, yesterday it just never got done! But better late than never. What are you thankful for this week? Grab my button & be sure to let me know so I can check it out! And now this week's Thankful Thursday...

<center> <a href="http://mommaneedsatimeout.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss215/dchicksdesigns/Thankful-.png" /> </a></center>

This week I am being thankful for my Mommy friends! The ones who know my everyday struggles & are there for me through it all! God has blessed me with some amazing christian women, who I seek out for advice, strength, or just a listening ear! I was so excited this past year to help start a Mommy group with, Lesley, a good friend of mine from church. We started last summer meeting twice a month for playgroups & then during the school year we met once a month for playgroup & once a month for our "momMEtime" meeting at church! We have snacks, & childcare for 2 hrs & are able to meet together for learning & fellowship. Lesley has been teaching from Lisa Whelchel's book "Taking Care of the ME in Mommy". Hence the name, momMEtime, all about stopping & remembering to take care of ourselves. It's a great read & reminder to really remember ourselves even when taking care of everyone else! I have learned so much from these ladies, & have made some new friends that I didn't really know otherwise! I love being a SAHM, but let's face it, it can be a very lonely job. It has helped me so much to have some adult conversation & fellowship with other Mom's every now & then! So this week I am so thankful for all of them! I won't name them all here, but they know who they are!

I love you girls & am so thankful for all of you!!

Thankful Thursday

Here we are again, for Thankful Thursday! If your new here or your first time joining in, I started this a few weeks back to remind myself to stop & be thankful for all that God has blessed me with. Some weeks it might be a person, or people in my life, sometimes it might be a thing, or anything really. Whatever God has laid on my heart to be Thankful for. So if you would like to join in the fun, grab my button & let me know you did so I can check it out too!

<center> <a href="http://mommaneedsatimeout.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss215/dchicksdesigns/Thankful-.png" /> </a></center>

This week like all weeks I am thankful for so much. But specifically I am thankful for my health. I know that might sound funny to some of you if you read my post yesterday, or even the post about all the other issues I have. Yes I have challenges right now, but they are nothing like things other people have to deal with. When I am wallowing in my self pity of what I have to deal with, I try to remind myself of this. We all have challenges with have to overcome, some are greater than others. It could be cancer, or organ failure, or infertility, it could be any number of things.

We have all been touched by one or even several of these issues. Most of you know I have struggled with infertility myself, & I know countless friends who have as well. I have a dear friend Lesley, who is currently 30 weeks pregnant with her little miracle. They tried for 13 yrs, adopted a beautiful little girl 3 yrs ago, & then God gave them a huge surprise! What a mighty God we serve!

My best friend Sheila, her son was born with a kidney disease. Chronic Renal Insufficiency. (You can read his story here.) They were told he would need a kidney transplant by the time he was one year old. He just had is 2nd birthday & he is the brightest, happiest, 2 yr old there is! He has had surgeries, & even had one kidney removed. But even the doctors can't explain why he is doing so well. We know why! Because we serve the Ultimate Physician! Nothing and I mean NOTHING is out of His control! What a mighty God we serve!

Thank you Father God for my health & all you have healed me from. Thank you for these dear friends whom you have blessed me with & for the healing you have done in their lives! I praise you because you are the Ultimate Physician. The beginning & the end. You are a mighty God & I praise your name for all you have done!

Thank you Jesus!

Thankful Thursday

Okay when I say today is a hard day to be Thankful, I am not kidding! I can totally see why God laid this on my heart to start, so that even in the hard times I am still reminded to be thankful in all things! So I do have much to be thankful for & I want to tell you a few of them...

<center> <a href="http://mommaneedsatimeout.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss215/dchicksdesigns/Thankful-.png" /> </a></center>

*First & foremost I am thankful for today, why you might ask? Because today is my birthday! (Yes I am shamelessly promoting myself hoping for Happy Birthday wishes!) I am thankful for God granting me another year on this earth to glorify Him, to be with my family, to be a Mommy & a wife! I am also so thankful for my Mom on this day, that she prayed for me for so long, wanted me so bad & gave me life! I love her dearly & am so thankful for her!

*I am also so thankful for all of you. I have said many times how much I love blogging, I love having my place here to vent & just be me. But more than that I am so thankful for all of you & how much you mean to me. In this place I have "met" so many amazing women that I would have never had the chance to met if not for blogging. You have cried with me, prayed with me, & been there for me in so many amazing ways through some of the hardest times of my life. Thank you so much! There are a few that I want to point out specifically, but please don't feel like if I didn't mention you that your not important, these are the first that jump out to me.

~First would have to be Mere, this amazing woman of God challenges me, lifts me up, makes me smile, & so much more. When she says she will pray about something for me, I truly know that she will be on her knees fervently praying for me. Thank you Mere for being my prayer warrior!

~Then there's LadyStyx, you will notice she's not linked up, the reason for that is, she has about 7 or so blogs & I have yet to figure out which is her "main" one! But that aside, she is definitely my voice of reason. Constantly & gently reminding me of what I already know! She has great words of wisdom in her comments that always make me think! Thank you girlie for being that constant voice of reason!

~Next up is Jessi Dawn, this lady puts me to shame! She manages to chase 4 kids under the age of 4 around all day & still keep her sanity. I am ready to loose it with my 2! Besides being supermom, she is another amazing woman of God! She has this gentle way of loving on all Mom's out there in her blog, I truly believe God has given her this gift & I am thankful to be one of those Mom's that she ministers too! Thank you Jessi for your words of wisdom & your loving heart!

While this post was mainly about the bloggy friends I have made, I have to list a few IRL friends that I couldn't make it without! Sheila, Jess, Amy, Angie, Lesley, & Heather Thank you for always being there for me & I love you girls!

Trust me when I say that there are SO many more of you that I could go on & on about! But for the sake of the pain & the pain medicine finally starting to kick in, I have to end it here! I have much to be Thankful for!

Thankful Thursday

Last week I posted this about 2 dear IRL friends of mine & how much they mean to me! I decided to keep this going as a weekly thing. Sometimes is might be a person or even something that has happened in our lives. Just pausing to be thankful for all the amazing things & people God has placed in my life! And as all of you know I am on a bloggy-design kick right now, so I even created a button for it! So if you would like to join in then grab this button & be sure to link back to me so I can come read what you are thankful for!

<center> <a href="http://mommaneedsatimeout.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss215/dchicksdesigns/Thankful-.png" /> </a></center>

This week I want to tell you about my husband & how thankful for him I am! But first I want to tell you how we met & fell in love. The GD & I met at church in the college & career ministry. I don't remember our first meeting, but I do remember the first time God stirred my heart for him. We had a meeting with some of the leaders of the C&C ministry & I was upset about some of the changes that were taking place. After the meeting he came up to me & simply asked me "How are you?" But there was something in his voice that told me he genuinely wanted to know how I was. I remember walking away, after talking to him for at least 30 min, thinking how he was someone special. After that he started helping me with our weekly bible study & afterwards we would go get coffee or get a snack & talk for hours. Long before we were actually dating, people started questioning if we were in fact dating. We even joked about telling people we were getting married & planned out a ceremony! Then one night (Feb 22nd to be exact) after bible study we were sitting in my car talking & actually approached the subject of having feelings for each other & what to do about it. We both expressed how we wanted the next person we dated to be the one we were going to marry, which is a little daunting to go into it with those expectations already set up. He was concerned about taking our friendship to that level & if it was worth it. Without skipping a beat, I reached over, held his hand so that our fingers were intertwined & said "I want this."

Ever since that moment when our fingers were first intertwined, I couldn't see where he stopped & I began. We became one, working together, loving together, starting a family together & growing together. We have had many challenging times in our relationship, whether is was the possibility of not being able to have children, or when we did have children, or money, or family or so many other things, one thing I know is he is still intertwined with me. He is my other half, my better half. I have learned so much about myself because of him. And I know that I am a better person for knowing & loving him. He has always told me that his heart beats in my chest & I have always said that when I am in his arms the world makes sense again. And it does! Thank you my love for loving me, for holding me, for supporting me, for all you do for me & our family! I love you, baby blue!

8 yrs & 4 days later, I still want this!

Thankful Thursday!

I am sure somewhere out in this great big bloggy world there is a Thankful Thursday, so I am going to just jump into it today! Because I am soooooo thankful for my friends! I can't tell you how much they mean to me! All of my family live in FL so my girlfriends are vital to me! I could never express how much they mean to mean but I am going to try! Trust me when I say this post could go on forever but in the hope of not keeping it too long, I am going to only do 2 today! Maybe this is what I should start doing on Thursday's, being thankful for certain friends! I see an idea brewing...oh wait I digress! Thankful Thursday...

First up is my bff She-She, as my kids call her! The first time we met, was right after the GD & I had gotten engaged & were visiting his family. After the first time we met I told the GD that I thought we would be great friends! Unbeknown-st to me, she told him the same thing a few weeks later! We got married just 3 weeks apart & became fast friends! When we moved here I knew only her & she totally took me in! She cracks me up so much, & I really don't know what I would do without her! We can get into all kinds of trouble but we have fun doing it! Goodness knows our husbands have their hands full when we are together, who knows what will happen on our 5 day cruise! She has been there for me through some of the hardest times of my life in the last 7 yrs! I know there are some friends that come & go but I know we will truly be friends forever. Causing trouble in the nursing home! She is truly like the sister I never wanted had! One of the greatest memories of my life was being able to be in the room when her son was born. It was a such a great experience & one that I know I will never forget! I love you She! Thank you for being my friend!

Next up is Angie, I can't tell you how much this woman means to me! She is always there with a listening ear & hug to give away! We have known each other a little over 4 yrs from church, but really just became friends in the last year or so. Let me tell you the strength this momma has...6 kids! Yep 6! I can't even imagine, her oldest is 19 & just got engaged & her youngest is 6! I couldn't even count the number of times I have called her & asked how something worked at the school our kids attend! I know I probably drive her crazy, but she has been through it all & I am just starting out! I wouldn't know how half the stuff about how the school works if it weren't for her! She is always there for when I call & ask her to pick up S-Man from school for me. And never bats an eye! Yesterday she was generous enough to pick him up, take him home with her, & then drop him off with his Daddy at church! Just so I didn't have to get D-D out again! What an awesome friend is she! The one thing I wish she knew is how wonderful she is, she doesn't believe it but I DO! She has such amazing strength, love, concern, selflessness, generosity & so much more! I honestly believe that if I needed it, she would give me the shirt off her back. There are very few people in this world that are like that & I know she is one! Thank you my friend for....well for just being you!!!