THoughts

What will your thoughts be on today? Will we focus on what is happening that is not so good, what is good, or a combination of both? Too many times I focus on the negative. I will say that my cup is half empty when really it is half full. While I may not have all that I want, I have all that I need. Isn't that what really matters? God has been speaking to me a lot about perspective, and how I should see things. Life isn't prefect and there will be bad days, but exactly how bad it is depends a lot on how we see and react to it. Philippians 4:8 calls us to think on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable - if it is praiseworthy or excellent! So, when something not so good is happening around us or to us, let's think on the positive aspects of it and what good can come from it instead of just the negative. Praying for all my friends and our thoughts and attitudes today!

Joseph Turns 12

Tuesday is Joseph's birthday and he will be 12. I can't believe that he is this old...where does the time go? To celebrate, he had some friends over to spend the night Friday. Three boys from church and a friend from school. They stayed up until at least 1AM..at least that is what time I told them they needed to be in bed when I went at 12:20!! and they were up before me the next morning! Today there was a joint party for him and his friend Meliah. We had a cookout at Douglas Dam overlook. The kids all played ball and ran around while the adults sat and talked....it was a good day for all! Now Joseph is in his room asleep :o)

Gallbladder Surgery

Well, the surgery went well, but I thought that I would be feeling alot better by now. It's not that I feel terribly bad, I just don't feel good. I feel kind of like a wimp...lol....The soreness is gone but I feel nauseous A LOT, and get tired easily. I am wondering if I was just so run down before the surgery that my body is having a harder time getting over it???? I went to work yesterday for an hour. I feel really bad about missing so much work, but the surgeon did recommend at least a week off (actually he said two or three). I really appreciate my boss who has been very generous in allowing me time off for this. I did do nothing for three days after my surgery. Dan had come up to help with the boys and I was thankful for that. We managed to get along despite our current disputes. Monday I ventured out of the house and resumed my role of taking care of pretty much everything and Tuesday I felt bad. Wednesday I thought would be better but once I got up and moving, I started feeling nauseous and sweaty/clammy so I left work to come home and go to bed. Today I plan on doing NOTHING at all, and think that I am going to venture out to work again tomorrow. My recheck with the surgeon is Wednesday. I plan on asking him about some of this then. Thanks to all my friends for their thoughts and prayers!

Friends

Lately God has been reminding me of just how many friends that I have and how very special they are to me. Maybe because I am getting better about dealing with my insecurity or that I have been praying about friensdhips, I don't know, but I am definitely surrounded by lots of people I call my friends. I have many different types of friendships. Each person in my life adds something unique and is a different type of friend. Sherri, who I've known since 6th grade, is my bff (lol)! She and I have been through so much together and I can't imagine not having her in my life. Then there's my "girlfriends", Linda, Christy, Erin, Stephanie, and Becky who have kids the same age as my kids that I have Bible study with and just hang out. They are so FUN and I love that we get together often for laughter and support. My sister chicks are Becky and Connie....I met them when I first moved here. They are such godly women who always give me biblical advice and are not afraid to call me out on my own junk....plus we have a great story about an overnight stay in a bed and breakast! There's Sonya who I call my therapist. Kris who is my new running partner...if I can keep up with her!! Tracy who is always up for Dollywood with us. Joy who graciously shares Beth Moore Bible studies with me....I am SO glad that we have become closer friends. There are so many more that it would take pages to name and tell how special they are to me. I believe God has placed every single person in my life. Not to mention my family, who are also my friends. I love how relationships grow and change, mature, as you get older. I am VERY VERY blessed and so appreciate everything that my friends bring to my life. Even if I didn't mention your name, PLEASE know that I love all of you and pray for you. Numbers 6:24-26

The Puppy

After months of ignoring my children's pleas for a dog, I finally gave in...against my better judgement, might I add. My granny had been diligently searching the newspaper for free dogs and to my delight, every time she called inquiring, all the dogs were taken. Well, Tuesday was the exception. The lady had plenty of puppies left! So we drive up a small mountain, down the other side of the small mountain and about 2 miles down a single lane road to find a gravel drive-way that seemed to go straight up. We made it to the top where we were greeted by around 7 fully grown dogs and several puppies. No wonder she had plenty to give away! The boys found a puppy they liked...he is a terrier mix (we were told two different types of terriers). We get in the car and back down the one lane road when the puppy decides that he doesn't like to ride in cars and he throws-up! not only once but twice to which Joseph declares he is going to be sick and Zach no longer wants a puppy. We finally make it back to Pigeon Forge where we stop at the car wash and clean up the car. After a trip to Wal-mart to get needed puppy supplies we made it home. Now if I can get him to go potty outside I think I might survive!

Zach and the Red Nail Polish

Not as scary as the title sounds, but.....just a few minutes ago I was sitting on the couch watching Little House on the Prairie (I know, kind of cheesey but I love it) when Zach comes in showing off his new manicure and pedicure....with, of all colors, bright red. The bright side of this is that after invesitgation, he did only manage to get it all over his fingers and toes and an unsuspecting hand towel. Based on the looks of the hand towel, I guess that he had his feet and hands on the towel while he was induldging in his spa experience. I think I have nail polish remover somewhere. If not, I guess I will be heading to Food City. What is really funny, though, is the fact that I was thinking I needed to touch up MY toes before wearing sandals all weekend but just couldn't make myself get up off the couch...lol....guess I shouldn't ignore those little thoughts, huh?

Zach's First Sleepover

Zach usually has to settle for hanging out with Joseph's friends, but Saturday he got to have his own friend over to spend the night. Our friends, Dan and Brandi, have a a son who is Zach's age. Brandi asked Ashton if he would want to spend the night with us and he said yes. Neither of us knew if he would actually stay all night or not, but he stayed with no problems. He and Zach had so much fun and he was very well behaved (wish I could say that for Zach...actually, Zach was on his best behavior all night which makes me want to let his friends sleepover more often :o)). They played in the playroom, watched Kung Fu Panda, and went "swimming" in the bathtub (with swim trunks on)! When we picked them up from their class on Sunday, their teachers said that they had heard all about the sleepover. Here are some pics from their adventure....