I Won...I Won!!

I entered into a drawing last week for a free design for my blog. And guess what??? I WON, I WON, I WON!!

Out of all of the drawings that I've entered over the years, I honestly can't remember ever winning so this is very exciting for me. What a great thing to win too!

So, before long, you will all be able to enjoy my wonderful knew blog design. I don't know how it will look yet, but I can tell you that it's gonna look great.

It will be done by Dawn at Barefoot Blog Design, http://www.barefootblogs.blogspot.com/. Take a look at some of the one's she has done. Thanks Dawn for pickin' me!!

So, I pray that I'm on a winning streak now (smile) and I've just entered into yet another drawing for a totally freeeee Insignia® 37″ Flat-Panel LCD HDTV from Best Buy that is up for grabs. You can click on this link or the one on the left of the page to enter yourself. You can only enter once and the drawing will be on August 17th. Be sure to pass the info. along. But only if you promise to split it with me if you win!! We can either have Joint Custody or Split-Screen (haha get it???)

I'll be sure and let you know about any other good giveaways. Well, unless I wanna keep 'em for myself.

Good night!

Museum Pictures

A sweet lady took this picture of us yesterday at the museum. We were actually laying on a huge, stuffed cow inside of a barn prop. But, I had to crop the picture because it was too far off. Turned out cute though...

This was one of Emma's favorite exhibits (and mine & Kevin's too.) Tell me this doesn't look exactly like a real ice cream cone? Well, Emma acted for us like she was going to lick it. But, she knew it wasn't real. It's called Moon Sand and it was so cool. It felt just like wet sand and you could make all sorts of stuff with it. There were more adults at this station than anywhere I think.

Isn't our lil' artist as cute as can be?

We couldn't believe how clean she managed to stay because the other kids were covered. They had their hands in it and it was on their faces too. This one is just a little priss and like her mommy was, she does NOT like to get dirty.

I will post more pics tomorrow for Wordless Wednesday...

Vacation time...at last

What a joy it has already been spending the past few days with my hubby and daughter!! I'm always with her, but the 3 of us don't get a ton of family time together and her daddy is enjoying this time with her. And it has just begun. The week started off yesterday with a call at 12 a.m. from my friend, Amber, whose water FINALLY broke and was on her way to the hospital!

So, we got up yesterday morning and headed straight to the hospital to see precious little, "Clara Belle" who is absolutely adorable!! Oh my goodness...those cheeks!! I don't know how I'm gonna resist "nibbling" on them!! She is the perfect mixture of her mommy, daddy, and big brother, Trevor. Wish you could see...

Then, we headed to Atlanta for the day and were stuck in traffic on the highway. Listen, it took us LITERALLY almost an hour to go 2 MILES people! Urrggghhhh. We get to the end of the traffic to find 2 men on their knees fixing 2 small holes in the road. They looked like they were barely moving too. Are you kidding me? Time to vent: I think they do this just 'cause they can a lot of times don't you? We were expecting the highway to be all torn up or something!!

Anyway, we made it to our destination: The "Imagine-It" Children's Museum! Emma had a blast! I'll post pics later today. We had a little trouble finding our way back to the highway after leaving the museum. I was a little shaken and praying hard...we found ourselves on a One-Way road and heading straight for the not-so-good part of town. Can't turn around on a one way road ya know. We had no choice, but to keep going...But, once again, we made it.

Kevin and I were commenting how fun it is to not have anything in particular planned this week. We go somewhere for vacation every year and have a schedule to keep...things to do and see. But, this year, we decided to fly by the seat of our pants and take things day by day. I'll tell you it is really nice and less stressful.

He is still in the bed at the moment sound asleep and it is going on 10:00. What a treat for him! He deserves all the rest he can get because he is such a hard worker and wonderful provider for me and Emma.

Well, housework still exists...even on vacation. I'm off to clean house now. That's okay though. My house, although it's messy, is just another kiss from my Father above. At least we have houses to clean right?

Have a wonderful Tuesday!!

The Father's Kisses

As I was ironing today, my (2 yr. old) daughter, Emma, came running in and crying. She was rubbing her head and said, "Mommy, need you kiss it." She had been playing with her JoJo doll too close to the coffee table and it evidently defended itself and took a swing at her. I bent down and scooped her up and kissed her head where she was rubbing. Then, she gets down and says, "All better now." and ran out of the room as if it never occurred.

I cannot tell you how many times during the day she asks me to kiss her boo-boo's. Sometimes the "owie" is a mere red spot on her arm, an old bruise on her leg or even an ink mark that she thinks is one. Other times, it is a serious boo-boo that makes me want to cry because I know it has to hurt! No matter how it happened or whose fault it was, no matter the degree of the boo-boo, and no matter how many tears are coming, when Mommy or Daddy kisses it, it is suddenly HEALED!! In most cases and like today, she goes right back to whatever she was doing when it happened, or when the coffee table attacked her head...

Isn't it amazing that children truly believe this works? I believe it actually does work for them, through their child-like faith. Their faith is in the nurture of those that love them.

We have many privileges as mommie's to learn so much about the love of God through our children...if we would just let Him speak to us instead of ignoring that still, small voice as we are engulfed in our busy days. We are all guilty of that.

I feel like the Lord spoke to me as my lips kissed my angel's head today, as that one simple touch from her mother took all of her pain away..."All better now." Would I rather things go any differently? I have waited all of my life to have a child that comes running to me with the smallest or largest of pains.

How do you think our Heavenly Father feels? He is anxiously awaiting our call to Him every single day! "Father God, Daddy, Jesus...the coffee table attacked me. I messed up (again)! I was playing a little too close to it, even though you've instructed me not to. I have a boo-boo now that I need you to kiss." OR "I have this old bruise right here (this certain situation) that is taking a long time to go away. Can you tell me it's gonna be okay? Can you keep the pressure off of it so that it will heal?" OR "This dirty ink stain needs cleansing. It's my fault that it got there. I was being careless, but can you wash it away?"

We have a constant boo-boo healer in Jesus Christ. One that would love nothing more than for us to call on Him for EVERYTHING and in EVERY situation. He wants to meet all of our needs - and He is A-B-L-E! (to do exceedingly above anything we could ever ask or think!) WHY do we take matters into our own hands; WHY do we grumble and complain to others about our problems and roll around in self-pity; WHY do we not trust Him completely with our needs? When all we have to do is run to Him and ask for His supernatural kisses.

Receive all of those kisses that He wants to lavish upon you today! Then, you will say...

"All better now."

Have a blessed day!!

Will you be Johnny today?

A friend sent me this link this morning to watch and when you watch it, you will see why I say, "WOW!"

http://www.stservicemovie.com/

Check it out and please post your thoughts after you watch it. It is a very inspiring story.

I'm off to be Johnny...

Hello blogging world!!

Well folks, this is my very first blog ever! Will the well-known blog addiction begin here? Who knows. I figured I may as well catch up with the times and create my own blog. After all of the reading I've been doing of everyone else's pages, I thought this may be something I can do.

My concern is this: Most everyone's posts seem so creative and well thought out (for the most part.) Some, I wonder if they are sleep-typing or something. Is there such a thing...probably! But, I don't know how good my posts will be. I guess we will soon find out.

I'd really like for this blog to promote my candle business and help me build my "presence" online, but I know I'm not going to be able to help rambling on and on about my dear family.

Well, I've stayed up late creating this thing and I think I've done enough damage, per say, for the night.

Until tomorrow...or you never know...you just may get a "sleep-typer" post. If that's the case, I sure hope I don't embarass myself too bad.

Goodnight.