toowonderfulforme

Baptism Day for Grady and Happy Birthday Beau!

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

By the way, Happy Birthday to Beau!!! Love you!

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Today we had the sweet pleasure of traveling to see little Grady be baptized! We didn't get a good picture in the church, so here is mama and daddy with Grady! Grady did a great job until the preacher actually took him in his arms, then he protested just a little.

They had so many family and friends in attendance! After church, we went to their home for lunch and to spend some time with them. It was a wonderful lunch and great fellowship! Below are some pictures from the day.

Grady was happy to get out of his Sunday Clothes and get to playing!

I don't know why I couldn't flip this cake picture, but it's a precious cake!

My mama thinks I'm tired and want a nap, but I'm just getting started! I think I'll get a little treat out of the pantry!

It was a wonderful day and we're so thankful to have been included!

Three out of four!

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:03:00 +0000

Russell and I have four sons and last Sunday three of them were in church with us....I couldn't have been happier.....well, I would have been happier if all four were there with us.

And no, before you ask, I'm not pregnant.....however, I didn't realize how fat I have gotten. I'll be taking care of that soon......right after I finish the ice cream I bought today.....oh, and of course after Thanksgiving....it's mandatory that you eat a lot that day. *sigh* Well, one day!

It's been a busy week around here, trying to get things ready for Thanksgiving....as busy as it seems, there's still a lot to do! I'll think about that tomorrow.

One more week of physical therapy and I'll be finished with that, and I'll be happy! I think my arm is doing well.

And now, I think I'll go make a casserole!
Or two!

How blessed we are!

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:53:00 +0000

Seventeen and a half years ago, when this sweet girl was born, I thought my heart would burst with love! Having had boys, I really never expected a girl....and what a girl! She is everything a grandmother would desire! She's beautiful outside and more importantly inside!

Ashley has been such a light in our lives and we are so thankful to be a part of hers! My constant prayer is that she use her multiple talents to the glory of God!

Four year later, here comes Adam! The happiest, sweetest baby you would ever want to meet! He was born smiling and laughing! He does have a little bit of a temper, but he's learned how to control it over the years! I'm sure God has something special in mind for Adam!

He has an incredible insight into people and situations and can fix anything!

He's helpful at home and I love him to the moon and back! He loves anything reptile!

I am fortunate enough to have many bonus children and grandchildren in my life! This is Angelina, the half sister of Ashley and Adam. Can't you just look at her and see how she could be a bit mischievous?

Before she was born, Ashley asked me in one of our rare "just the two of us" moments if I would be her baby sister's Nana too. I answered of course! Ashley's answer melted my heart....... Nana, I knew you would say that! She has a Nana, so she calls me Nana Nancy.

Another bonus is Zoe, their step sister. She's a sweet and precocious little girl!

Frank, the son we sponsor in Uganda

AND...............HERE IS OUR NEWEST BLESSING!!!

We're getting a new grandchild! We're so excited! Tommy and Claudia are having a baby! This sweet child is due right in between Ashley and Adam's birthdays! Maybe we'll have a double birthday.

Can you see that perfect baby God is knitting together in her womb? The baby He knew before the foundation of the world?

It's been a while since we have had a baby grandchild and we are getting our rocking arms in shape!

When Ashley was born, I was sure I could never love another child like I love her. Then Adam was born.....and I knew that God provides all the love we need! Each one that comes along I love as much as the one that came before!

Life has thrown it's share of curves, God has allowed us joys and sorrows, but the blessings far, far outweigh the sorrows.

Welcome our new little love! We can't wait to meet you!

Update Day

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:28:00 +0000

A funny thing happened on the way to this update.....

Try to remember that this is completely random!

Phone rings.....I answer......man asks for my husband.....I hand the phone to husband as he mouths who is it? I mouth back the guys name.....husband mouths back a name that was actually similar but the wrong name. All of a sudden I'm thinking....WHY DON'T YOU JUST SAY HELLO AND YOU'LL KNOW WHO'S CALLING??? I guess he read my mind because he said hello. Or maybe it was me laughing....just not sure!

O.K. now on to the updates.

I'm having problems uploading pictures tonight, so this will just be a short and sweet update.....or not! Sometimes I have a lot of nothing to say.

My shoulder is doing pretty good. Therapy isn't too bad. I did notice the arm I'm doing the therapy on is toning up and the other isn't....could be a problem!

David had his appointment with the cardiologist. I really liked the doctor, he seemed truly concerned and thorough. He seems to think David has PSVT . Paroxysmal supraventricular (atrial) tachycardia is a regular, fast (160 to 220 beats per minute) heart rate that begins and ends suddenly and originates in heart tissue other than that in the ventricles.

According to the doctor, this is less serious than SVT. Whew! David wore a Holter Monitor for 24 hours and will have a stress test and an echocardiogram. The doctor also thinks that David is on a much lower dose of medicine than he will need to control the heart rate, but won't determine that until all the tests come back. Unless something serious shows up, he won't go back until the first of January.

I know you know I'm not going to finish this without a complaint about the cardiologist office! :) You're right! The doctor examined David and talked about the medication. When David called the office back to tell them he would run out of medicine before his appointment, he was told he would have to call his regular doctor. I'm sorry, I just don't get that.......

BUT! I guess I really don't have to, do I?

Thinking of my veteran

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:04:00 +0000

My parents didn't take their yellow ribbon down until Paul got home. Sorry, I cut part of you out of the picture! Just a little FYI, my daddy wasn't mad, he just always looked like that! He was happy, I promise.

Paul served in the first Gulf War in the Navy, stationed on the U.S.S. New Orleans. The night the war started, my husband, younger son and I were at a little Mexican restaurant. They stopped the music and started broadcasting that the war had started. I remember starting to cry and saying we have to go home.

We didn't know the day the war started if Paul's ship was actually in the Gulf or on the way.......nonetheless, we were very concerned. I would just sit in front of the t.v. watching for any news of how things were going. I grasped for every piece of news of those Naval ships. I also prayed a lot!

As the Lord would have it, Paul came home safe and sound! Shortly after getting back to his home base, he married and he and his wife came home for a visit. We were so excited, our son was safe and we had a new daughter!

I am so thankful for all the men and women who have served our country by going to war so that we could live in safety and freedom. I also pray for their families who are left behind often taking responsibilities on that they've never done alone before.

May we always be free!

Enocks Life

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:45:00 +0000

I have another post to put up this afternoon.......but I'd love for you to run over to Mercy Uganda and read the story of this young man!

Thanks Debby!

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:20:00 +0000

Thanks so much Debby from Just Breathe for giving me this award! I do try to be friendly and I love visiting all of you often! Everyone has such interesting things going on in their lives.

I just want to pass this on to every one who leaves me a comment today! I love you all!

O.K. therapy is going well......even though ~~John Travolta~~ Stacey is working me to death. Afterwards, my shoulder is really sore, but I realize that no pain, no gain!

After therapy today, I will be taking my son to see the cardiologist. I'm really just going for moral support, but I do want to hear what the doctor has to say. I'm praying he can control this with medication!

On other fronts, we're having a storm! I can't say hurricane because I just heard it has been downgraded to a tropical storm. We almost made it through the season without a storm making landfall! Just raining here!

Meet Frank, our new son!

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:44:00 +0000

Meet our new son! His name is Frank and he lives in Uganda. When I read his story, I knew God was leading this young man into our lives. He's one of 500 children Mercy Uganda is asking people to sponsor.

Frank is 12 years old and goes to Bethel Junior school. He actually boards there and lives with his father when not in school. I don't know the details, but his mother died some time ago.

Frank is a bright and serious student. Most of the students in Uganda are serious because they are aware that education is their only way out of the poverty which is all they have ever known.

Last February, Frank was abducted by local witch doctors while he was on his way to his grandfather's house. He was to be used as a child sacrifice. I have tried to imagine how terrified Frank must have been and I can't. I can't imagine being in the presence of a witch doctor and I can't imagine any human sacrifice.

But Frank probably knew what was going on and he is 12.

I don't know what happened to Frank, but he had a scar on his stomach. When the witch doctors saw the scar, he was immediately rejected as a sacrifice. Thank God for that scar!

So welcome Frank, our new son. We promise to pray for you, write to you and love you. May the gospel shine forth in your life!

I have probably said this before but one thing that really touched me about these Ugandan children is what I heard a Ugandan pastor say.....if Christians don't help our children, m*uslims will be glad to build schools and educate them.....and they may then be future terrorists.

Happy Anniversary to the World's Greatest Husband!

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:55:00 +0000

Happy Anniversary Russell! Today is our 14th anniversary.......time has really flown! When we married, we had Russell's two boys at home....my oldest had long been out of the nest and had given me my first grandchild. My youngest was just turning 18, graduating from high school.

What an adventure this has been! Our sweet Savior is very wise in not giving us an outline of our lives when we're born or none of us would even think of growing up! :)

I will say that even though we have had lots of surprises in our marriage and lots of joy and sorrow.....our marriage is a true gift from God.

This is one of my favorite pictures from our wedding. Although, it always reminds me why we shouldn't get transitions lenses in our glasses! Poor daddy, his just never changed! I love this picture because our parents were all there and it was such a happy day. We were married in a simple ceremony in the church where we both grew from our births.

Six months later my daddy died very suddenly and unexpectedly. A year and a half ago, Russell's dad died from a long battle with lung cancer. My mama can no longer stand alone or walk without help. Russell's mom had a bout with breast cancer while his dad had lung cancer.

On either side of us were two marriages that stood the test of time and trouble. Two excellent examples of love, tried and true! Thank you parents!

Our children have had various and serious trials. But through it all, it gave me a great picture of why God chose to give Adam a helpmate. We need each other!

Genesis 2:18 - 24 gives the story of the first wife. My favorite part is when Adam says of Eve........This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh!

This I know.....no matter what the future holds for us.....as long as God leaves us together on this earth......we will hold on tight through good times and bad!

So, as always......you have AML/AML All my love, all my life!

Just checking in.....

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:29:00 +0000

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Update.....

Russell did a great job on my hair! It's clean and that's the main thing! I thought I took a picture, but I can't find it now. :)

Just checking in with a little update! Things are going better than I expected! Here's a little fashion statement for all you girls looking for a little something extra this fall! Lucky for Russell, I had already had a little don't care juice because there he is drinking coffee while I was so thirsty I couldn't even make myself swallow!

Notice also I'm in the left room ..........the doctor also signed my left shoulder. I guess these days you can't be too careful. Shortly after this I drifted off into that dreamless sleep that is anesthesia to wake with it all done.

Later that afternoon, when Russell ~~could escape~~ was sure I was o.k., he went home and I spent the night with my sister and husband. The next day, she drove me home and stayed the night with us...Thanks Cathy!

The little ball hanging down from my sling below is numbing medicine......a catheter goes into the ulnar nerve with medicine to keep you numb for a few days. It was uncomfortable, but after it was out, I realized how much it was helping!

Then starts the Physical Therapy or as some in our family call it, physical terrorism!

My physical therapist looks like a young John Travolta....I AM NOT KIDDING! Of course, he quickly found out what a dork I am. The first day of therapy, when he called my name, I stood up and scraped my arm on something and his first order of the day was to bandage my bleeding good arm! So embarrassed!

I'm getting better fast and ~~hope and pray~~ expect to be driving soon!

Tonight should be a real adventure! I'm washing my hair and Russell is blowing it dry! I'm sure I'll be gorgeous tomorrow! :)

A little break.....

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:26:00 +0000

Let's just call this a forced break! Unless I can type one handed, I'll be out for a little while.

I'm having shoulder surgery tomorrow ~~so of course I'm freaking out today!~~ doing all those last minute things today that I should have already done!

Maybe my sister will do an update. ....I'll have to teach her to blog! :)

Say a little prayer for me tomorrow. Thanks!

It Is MONDAY!

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:17:00 +0000

That was to remind myself of how much I have to do before Wednesday when I'm having shoulder surgery! So I'm blogging. I wonder if that means I'm a procrastinator?? I do have laundry going and I DID buy a few groceries and blew the leaves off the back deck ~~right into the pool!~~ Started the pool cleaner going and now I'm going to dust and vacumn. Whew, I'm tired!

Friday night and Saturday morning, we had a women's retreat and it was fun!

There were door prizes.

Lots of eating!

If you ever thought Christian women don't have fun........just check out our fashion show!

There were four teams and four fashions....I wish I had gotten close up pictures of all four! They were just a hoot! There was lots of laughter! Good medicine!

Our friend Veronica says we are really a peculiar people!

Veronica needed to get her picture with a model to show her friends!

Some of the ladies spent the night, but I splept at home. Saturday we started with a great breakfast, devotion, took care of a little business and then got back to the games!

We had a great time and got to know each other better at the same time!

Now I'd better get busy!

Guest Blogging at Mercy Uganda

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:14:00 +0000

I hope you'll go over to Mercy Uganda's blog and read about the banquet held last night. The picture above is Veronica Nakyewe, director of Comforter Pregnancy Center in Uganda. Her story is incredible and you will be glad you visited!

For some reason, again Mercy Uganda's not updating on my sidebar. To keep up with what's going on there, just click on their link several times a week! :) You know you want to!

Odd stuff Tuesday....

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:01:00 +0000

Very random stuff!

We had a very exciting weekend! A new mailbox! We were in L*wes looking at door hardware and I saw this mailbox. Our old mailbox was really ready for the mailbox cemetery, so here we are with a brand new one. The only problem was that Sunday morning we didn't have a newspaper. Apparently, the carrier puts a sticker on the boxes of people who get the paper. It makes me wonder how my brother ever remembered who got the paper when he was a paper boy on a bicycle years ago, when it came on parchment paper!

Not only did he have to remember who got the paper, but he had to go each week and collect the money for the paper! My how things have changed.

Sunday afternoon was a baby shower for my good friend, Sharon's daughter. This will be son #2 and as you can see son #1 wasn't so keen on having his picture taken. I think he was sick in general of the whole these aren't my presents thing.

I've been busy getting things ready for Thanksgiving. I bought all my paper products (yes, we use paper on Thanksgiving!) and did a little extra fall decorating. I'll have to post pictures of that later. I've also been cleaning because I'm not sure how much I'll be able to do after next Wednesday when I have shoulder surgery.

It was a nice weekend and I can't believe it is Tuesday night already!

Go on over....

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:52:00 +0000

For some reason on my sidebar Mercy Uganda isn't updating.....but there IS a new post on that site. So run over to see what is going on in Uganda!

This is such an exciting ministry, involving lots of areas of service. These are people so in need, and yet so happy and excited about the gospel of Jesus Christ!

I hope you will become followers of this site as exciting things are coming in the future. We look forward to what God is doing in Uganda and across the world!

I hope some of you will follow Mercy Uganda or put this site on your sidebar. We are working on a button for the site. Well, actually, a sweet young woman who is a former member of our church is working on the button. She is a web designer and really good. I would encourage you to visit her blog too!

There will soon be a post up on this little girl on Mercy Uganda.

Learning to trust.......the hard way.

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:07:00 +0000

UPDATE! My son finally got a call yesterday from cardiology. They said they will see him, but their earliest appointment is Nov. 9. He asked if it was his lack of insurance was the reason this was taking so long and she said oh, no! I still believe that was the driving issue and we just kept on being the squeaky wheel long enough until they finally got the grease can out!

Thanks for being so supportive!

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I'm warning you, if you don't want to hear some serious venting, stop reading now!

It has been a week since David spent the day in the ER finally being diagnosed with having SVT. If you remember, I said at the time, this will work out.

I know it will, but it is very frustrating! Not having insurance was a major hold up, but in addition to that the ER staff didn't fill out the discharge papers correctly and didn't refer him to the cardiologist. So all week, we have been trying to get an appointment to no avail!

With a lot of prayer, I have kept my cool under circumstances that make me want to scream! Yesterday, we decided just to take his paperwork and go back to the ER. The nurse there was so nice and helpful. She called and explained the situation to cardiology, they still tried to say no, but she finally filled out the paperwork correctly, faxed it to them and asked them to make him an appointment.

Well, by this time the office staff is not real happy with us and isn't rushing around to make us an appointment. Oh, and let me say, I told them we would pay cash for the office visit.

But the final straw for me was when my husband mentioned that he had had an echocardiogram there in June and that they made him pay the entire part allowable by our insurance. We then found out that we only were supposed to pay $89.00......so do you think they have sent us a check????? That would be NO.

This is what I call the business of medicine. Where money is more important that help. Especially when they could probably just use the money we've already paid! No, I understand that won't happen. I also am not sure the doctors ever hear this kind of thing.

Can you tell yet that I'm frustrated???

Since, I am trusting God with this, I know whatever His will is will happen. But it's hard to wait, especially when it's the well being of someone you love, your child.

Oh, yes, and he can't return to work until he has a note from a cardiologist.

Whirlwinds

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Do you ever just feel like putting a cereal box over your head and pretending life isn't a whirlwind??? Oh, by the way, that's my dear friend Mary Grace who will kill me for using this picture, but it best describes how I feel! Anyway, don't you think she looks cute with a cereal box on her head???

The past few days have been like a movie in fast forward. Mama's sick, so Friday I was off to take her to get a chest x ray so we'd be sure she didn't have pneumonia with the weekend coming. As we were driving, I got a phone call from my son's dad saying he had been taken to the ER from his job and they thought he was having a stroke!

That was the longest x ray appointment! I got mama back home and flew off to the hospital across town (we live in a small town). Thankfully by the time I arrived, they had him stable. They actually had the crash cart and were fixing to shock his heart to get it back in to normal rhythmn. The doctor in the ER said he has SVT (Supraventricular tachacardia) or episodes of the heart beating way to fast. Any of you who read MckMama's blog will know that's what her baby Stellan has. I don't think David's is anywhere near that bad.

They found a medication that reverted his heart into a normal rhythmn.
As he was being discharged, the hospital doctor said he has to see a cardiologist sooner rather than later.
He doesn't have insurance! But that will all work out.

Oh, yea, he can't go back to work until he gets clearance from a cardiologist, so he'll have no money and no insurance. What a combination! But that will all work out.

The weekend went by so fast I can't recall much of it except we did have a wonderful church service.

There was a funny little thing that happened at church....without explaining or getting into theology, our denomination baptizes infants. We were having the baptism of a 2 and 4 year old. After the questions had all been asked and answered by the parents and the preacher was actually baptizing them, the little girl,2, was fine with it.....but when he poured water on the 4 year old boy's head, the little boy said Hey you got water on my clothes. To which without a pause, the preacher said You oughta see what the Baptists do! I thought I would roll out of my pew.

Before I knew it the days were blowing by and it is already Tuesday! So today my younger brother had his second complete hip replacement. He did fine, but tonight he is in a LOT of pain.

It's good to catch up with you all and please pray David gets the right doctor and gets this under control!
Thanks guys!

Let's take a trip down guilt memory lane....

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:33:00 +0000

Lately, I've been taking several trips down memory lane. I do that ~~daily~~ every once in a while thinking maybe I should have done something differently while parenting my children.

I started the whole parenting process very young and although I loved my babies dearly and did the best I knew how, I can look back and see lots of mistakes!

No, I didn't break his arm! :)

I feel like I've talked about this picture before, but I went back a long way and couldn't find it, so if you've heard this story, just hop on to the next blog! NOT REALLY.....stay!

In this particular picture, it was the first day of spring break. Paul had just gone to the doctor, was on antibiotics and was supposed to be resting! Instead, he was outside climbing a tree and fell.

I was inside covered in flour with my hair in pigtails and short overalls on, making ~~a mess~~ biscuits when David, who must have been in kindergarten ran in saying Paul's hurt real bad. When Paul came in it was evident he was indeed hurt. His arm was at an odd angle and he was obviously in pain.

His dad was working the evening shift and his ride picked him up about then....so I called my MIL and off we went to the emergency room. There must have been a passle of broken bones that day, we waited hours for the orthopedic doctor with Paul sitting in a wheelchair in agony for all those hours. I was so frantic and his daddy kept calling telling me what to tell the doctors. I finally told him I would find a nurse if he wanted to tell someone what to do, but I needed to stay with Paul. Looking back, I know he was sick with worry and that was his only thing to do since he couldn't get away from work and to the hospital.

My mom ran to my house and got me some presentable clothing and I washed the flour off as best I could and changed clothes in the bathroom.

After what seemed forever, a nurse came in and said the doctor was in the hospital. They took Paul for x rays and when the doctor came in he said Paul's shoulder blade was separated from something else and that he would have to take him to the operating room to fix the arm.

The nurse came to give some shots and suddenly Paul felt fine and was o.k. and wanted to go home. That boy never did like a shot! My MIL, myself and a couple of nurses held him down to get the shot and after that he was in la la land.

It all worked out fine......he was in that cast a few weeks and healed up nicely.

But did I feel guilty that he was hurt??? Oh, yea.

Over the years, they had many more bumps, bruises and all the drama that comes with childhood.....and then of course, came the teen years.

I don't think I have the time or energy to go into those years right now....but if you've had a teen, you probably know anyway.

Anyhow, just remember when you start down memory lane, there could be a bump or two, along with the guilt trip detour!

Mercy Uganda

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:06:00 +0000

For many years, our church has had a close relationship to the people of Uganda. Our local church is Covenant Presbyterian Church.....a member of the Presbyterian Church in America. One of our pastors, Bob Hayes, began going to Uganda in 1992....this is a link to his website .......with Dr. Henry Krabbendam of the ACTI ...African Christian Training Institute... They work to train pastor's in Uganda to spread the gospel in the local churches. Be sure to click on the ACTI link on this website to see and hear Ugandan preachers and learn more about the people.

But the work is so much more than training pastors. Even though I've never been to Uganda, I have listened with fascination and seen many pictures of the work being done there. Many people from our church have gone as teams to minister to the people there, doing things like.....helping to build schools...working with the women to form a pregnancy resource center....meeting phsycal needs......even helping pool their own money together to help send people to a doctor or hospital.

The needs are so many in Uganda. The schools would shock you, they are so primitive, yet children are thirsting for education and the people of Uganda are thirsting for the gospel.

There are many needs there and one particular woman in our church Laura Knetzer, has been led to start a ministry for women and children called Mercy Uganda . Here is just a bit I copied off of the website so you can see what their prayer need are.......

Areas of focus are: improving conditions for safe drinking water and nutrition, providing for needs of basic hygiene, sponsorships for children in education, identify and assist with medical needs,teaching and training in issues related to pregnancy, childcare, HIV/AIDs, and literacy.

Please visit both these websites to get an idea of what a great need there is in Uganda. As one of the visiting Ugandan preachers pointed out....if Christians don't help, Muslims will gladly step in and train them.

This is a picture our pastor took on the most recent trip (two weeks ago).....

Please click on the picture to see how one man transported his cow!

I just clicked on the picture and it doesn't really get bigger.....this man is transporting his cow on a motorcycle. Nobody is sure how he got him on the bike and it would have been interesting to see him get OFF the bike!

Please check out these websites, especially Mercy Unganda. The site is new and I'm sure there will be more pictures soon!

In Real Life!

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:28:00 +0000

Well, what an exciting day I had yesterday! First, I clogged up my healing lungs with dust, then decided I had to have a break. I ~~wanted~~ needed some new fall decorations so I wandered around in a few stores.

I needed to run to the drugstore and I drive by a car wash on the way...I happened to glance over and there was a car coming through the car wash on a tow truck....no, I'm not kidding...I wonder if you pay extra for the wash and vacumn!

On a whim, otherwise known as a God thing, I pulled in the parking lot of T.J. M*xx, parked and was walking to the store when another car pulled up to let someone out....I thought to my self, she looks so familiar. But living in the same town all your life, you think you know everybody.

So I continued walking when another lady joined the first lady and suddenly I said Tonja? That's right folks, right there in front of T. J. M*xx, I met in real life one of my blogger friends!

You would have thought I was meeting a celebrity, which in a sense she is, I mean she being a blogger and all.

You know a blogger doesn't go out without a camera, so we got pictures.

Tonja and I in the first picture.

Tonja's shopping buddies.....it was actually the lady on the left that I thought looked familiar because I've seen pictures of these two friends on Tonja's blog. Ahem....they shop a lot!

I didn't find much in the way of decorations, but I met a real treasure!

Have fun shopping girls.

Did somebody say it is October?

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:53:00 +0000

Ah, we had a chill in the air this morning! Of course, it doesn't look like that picture around here, but the mountains have such pretty autumns! We actually don't have autumn. We just skip in and out of summer.

We have a cute little elderly couple in our neighborhood and if it goes below 70 they have a fire in their fireplace. Sure enough, this morning when I took the dogs out, I could smell that fire going.

The thing is, it's only cool for 10 minutes then we're right back to summer! I did open my doors for a little while to get the fresh air.

That's when I was dusting. Oh, by the way, if you're missing any dust, it's here. I frankly think dust should be a household decoration.

It might be fall.....

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000

There was even a hint of cool in the air today! I am looking at the coolness from inside because I'm still just not 100% over this bronchitis. Really, I can't remember when something has just knocked me for a loop, but I am starting to see the other side! Now I just have coughing fits when my throat gets a "tickle", you know the kind where it starts and you can't seem to stop! Aggravating! Plus now with the swine flu everyone looks at you like you're the swine. I have to say in a choking voice....I promise I don't have the flu, no...I've been to the doctor and I have an antibiotic and cough medicine. Then I imagine in their silent looks that they are saying to themselves, really, then why don't you take a slug about now? Then they quickly do a u turn in the aisle and get away to safe air!

Really though, anybody notice I got a new header up??? AND I don't think I destroyed the rest of my blog! Super exciting for me!

Weekend before last, we went over to Ocala to both visit and for Russell, Tommy and Matt to go to the Florida football game. Here are the boys ready to go.....they just couldn't get there fast enough for Matt, he's our football fanatic!

Although, Claudia had on a great gator shirt, she had to stay home with mama in law! It was hard, we were forced to shop. We got home, just in time ~~for me to sleep on the couch~~ to watch the big game! I woke up feeling kind of guilty until I realized DIL was playing far*mtown! SHHHHHH! Don't tell the guys!

Half of our children are gators and the other half seminoles so I try to remain neutral at all times. Which isn't all that hard since I don't really like football :)!

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Several years ago when Russell's aunt died, we inherited this beautiful china cabinet....oh, I wish I had a before picture so you could get the full effect! It was painted antique green......you all remember when we antiqued everything don't you...oh, of course you do! But this was a real antique, so I'm just not sure who thought it needed more of anything, much less green!

Anyhow, hubby reluctantly took it home and started stripping it. In fact he stripped it down and then lost interest and it sat in his shop for a few years. It also needed some glass that had broken out in the doors.

We asked Tommy if he would like to take it and finish refinishing it and he did and here it is! Is it beautiful or what? This is the first time we've seen it finished with their dishes and crystal inside.

It originally belonged to Russell's Grandmother so it's a lovely family piece and I love family things. I hope they enjoy it for years to come then pass it on to one of their children. :)

Happy Birthday to two....I mean three!

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:22:00 +0000

Happy Birthday to two of these three sisters! Mary Grace on the left and Katie on the right both have birthdays one yesterday and one today. Sorry Emily, but you didn't have a birthday!! Well, you did........ oh, you get it.....Oh, my goodness, I don't think I did a birthday post for you Emily, So here's the revised version of this post.

Happy birthday to three sisters! From left, Mary Grace, Emily and Katie!

It has been such a joy watching these girls grow from teens to women.

Hope you had and have wonderful birthdays and many more to come! I love you!

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I'm on day 5 of bronchitis and I'm still not well! I've been on antibiotics for four days, so I'm guessing I have the type that doesn't respond to antibiotics.

Now, I'm not complaining....NO, I'M NOT! But this also means I've had to put off my shoulder surgery! Which puts it way nearer to Thanksgiving, when my house MUST be clean so that hordes of family members can come in and dirty it up again. :) Just kidding family members! Sounds a teeny bit like complaining doesn't it? :(

Maybe nobody else is like this, but when I'm really supposed to be resting and not just resting because I want to.........I notice every little spot of dust in the entire house, even the rooms I don't walk into every day; I know they have dust because I haven't been in them in a while....you get the picture.

I also start thinking about all the things I wanted to update in the house before Thanksgiving. I also wanted to sculp a nice piece for the foyer and paint something for the living room.....well, except that I don't sculp or paint......but that's beside the point when you're sick and delusional.

What I really miss today is going to church and worshiping with others that I love and miss when I'm not there. But I'm thankful that I AM able to go most Sundays because I know people who love much but cannot go due to ongoing medical problems. I'll get well and be there next week, they might never get to go again.

I was glad when they said unto me, let us go to the house of the Lord! Psalm 122:1

I remember that even though I might be homebound for a few days, I'm thankful for much today.

Have a great Lord's day!

Not to be petty

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:10:00 +0000

But my followers section has disappeared and I don't know what I did this time! Oh, well.....sigh.

Well, would you look at that! They're back! Twilight zone!

Update

noreply@blogger.com (nancygrayce) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:38:00 +0000

This came on our prayer chain this morning. Information from this post.

Brian has been admitted this evening to Sac*red He*art Ho*spital in Pen*sacola. Prayer is needed as tomorrow (Wednesday) he will have the medi-port put in to use for blood work and chemo. He will have to be sedated during this procedure. He will also have an MRI and a Cat Scan tomorrow to determine the extent of the effect the blood disorder has had on his organs and bones. Please pray that the damage and affect has been limited to his skin. Please also remember Freddie and Carrie and Brian's siblings: A, W& O.

There is a praise in all of this - it turns out that Brian's pediatric oncologist is Ricky & Julie Le*Fil's (a couple from our church who are now in Pen*sacola) brother-in-law and therefore Freddie and Carrie have been able to get lots of direct and extra access to him in all of this and feel good knowing the doctor is not a complete stranger.

Depending on the results of the tests tomorrow the chemo could begin as early as the end of this week. The amount and frequency will also be determined based on the results of the tests tomorrow (Wednesday) as well.

Brian is doing great in all of this but tomorrow is going to potentially be a tough day for him and Freddie & Carrie.

I always stand amazed at the way God works. This family has not been living in Pen*sacola long. But here they are not only with a doctor who has seen other cases of this very rare blood disease, but also have a friend's brother in law as one of their doctors!

Please lift this entire family whenever you think about them. Thanks!