Party of Five

11 years ago today, I sat at my doctor's office when he told me that I was probably going to lose the baby that I was carrying at that time. I remember very little about that day other than having to leave his office and go to my mother-in-law's for some reason or another, and try to keep my emotions in check while we were there. He didn't want to say anything because there was nothing to be said (yet), and I didn't want to say anything, because I couldn't even think about what was going on without bursting into tears, I couldn't imagine having to put it into words and tell someone. I remember thinking at the time "This is it...this is the time when God is going to work a miracle, and I'm going to be living proof of it! This baby will survive, despite what the doctor has told me, and despite what I saw on the ultrasound screen." I didn't get that miracle. At least not the one I thought I wanted. Not right then. My miracle is upstairs righ...

If ever there was a perfect example of this lesson, this was it. To Lead - travel in front of; go in advance of others or to take somebody somewhere. To Follow - to travel behind, go after, come after If you're not going to do either of these two things, then please...just stay out of the way - The OSU drum major was doing his job leading, the OSU Sousaphone player was doing his job and following...The cameraman? Not sure what he was doing, but he paid the price for it. So like I said "Lead, follow, or get out of the way" - or you're bound to get clocked on the head!

I sat here this morning and looked over at my bookshelf. It caught my eye for the first time in weeks. Shame on me, right? Oh immediately I started coming up with any number of excuses, such as - "I haven't needed my bible at church, I work in the preschool dept. every week, so I miss the sermon anyway, and don't need to take my bible to church." or "But I've been reading Christian books! Brennan Manning has really grabbed ahold of my attention lately, so I've been busy reading everything he has to say!" Blah, blah, blah...I could go on, but let's face it - it's just embarassing trying to justify why my Bible has been collecting dust on the shelf. So I pulled it out, and just held it for a moment. A scripture from Hebrews came to mind, 4:12 - "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword..." But since I love The Message Bible - I read it like this, "His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon...

Okay, I'm really not one to toot my own horn...but I love my birthday! It ranks right up there with Christmas quite honestly!! I look forward to it, I celebrate it all week long (because I can), and when it's over, I'm thoroughly disappointed. The fact that today I am 37 years old doesn't hurt or make me cringe...let's celebrate!! Today is also my cousin's birthday, my aunt & uncle's anniversary, and my Jr. High science teacher's birthday. So let's celebrate them too! Diane, you're beautiful! Jim & Jeanine...Congratulations on 43 years! And Mr. Johnson...never liked science, but you were always one of my favorite teachers - So have a wonderful day!! And for the rest of you...just because it isn't your birthday doesn't mean that it's not a day to celebrate! It's another day we've been given to love one another, laugh together, and live the life that God has given us to it's absolute fullest. Psalm 118:24 - T...

Once again, another "getting to know you" doo-hicky is making its way around my Facebook friend list. And since I refuse to follow the crowd, I've decided to post mine here (similar to the " 25 Things about Me " list). So the following is my version of the list of additional things you should know about me... I am not, nor have I ever been, a morning person. My children wake me up way too early every stinking morning. I am a "meat & potatoes" kind-of a woman. Seafood should stay in the water. I like red meat!! I am a closet "Big Brother" fan. Always have been. In general, I don't like reality tv, but darn it, I get hooked on this every year!! Wanted to be the first pregnant woman to be in the Big Brother house, but Paul wouldn't let me apply to be on the show. (party pooper!) I don't care where I live, as long as those I love are close by. I was born in Montpelier, Ohio - it's a little town, you've probably never hear...

Forgive me if I have nothing insightful or genealogy related today. I'm having a proud "mommy moment"... The 3 monkey children are in a "knock-knock" joke kick right now. Oddly enough, it's my 3 year old who apparently has the most talent in this area as he's the only one who can tell a joke that's actually funny. Well the other day, the 4 of us were driving home, and as they've been doing lately, the monkies started rattling off their repertoire of knock-knock jokes. Only this time, there was a new one thrown in the mix by the princess herself... "Knock-knock!" (Who's there?) "Jesus" (Jesus-who?) - now it was right about here, my ears really perked up and I started thinking I was going to have to intervene. But then I heard her sweet little voice just start laugh as she said, "I don't know, I just love Him so much!" Good job little girl! We don't have to know everything there is to know about Him...we on...

What would summertime be without making mention of one of my most favorite summertime memories. Many, MANY years ago - when I was just a wee young thing, I ventured off into the world of ... CHURCH CAMP I don't know, maybe everyone thinks their camp is the best ever. But I loved Lake James Christian Assembly (LJCA). It was the greatest time of our summer, and we would spend weeks afterward talking about this new friend, or that activity, or what crazy thing Frank did this year, or which girl sat with which boy during campfire...oh my, the memories come flooding back! First thing to know is that at first there were only 2 girls dorms. Dorm 1 - which NO girl wanted to be in...it was located right in the hub of the camp. Ahhh...but Dorm 7 - that was the coveted dorm. You see, away from the administration building, the snack shack, and the chapel...just a short little hike away, hidden among the trees...there was Dorm 7. It was located just a stones throw away from {GASP!} the boys dor...