Safe in HIS Hands

On Monday morning (12/01), Dawson and I will be taking Smiles to have outpatient surgery. We will arrive at the surgery center at 6:30 am and his surgery will take place at 7:30 am. He was born with a cyst behind his left ear and it has grown in size over the past eleven months. It is not huge and no one notices it - but since it has grown, the doctor believes that it should be removed.

The surgery should not last long, and we will be able to take him home as soon as they release us!

Please pray for peace for Smiles - he has been struggling with separation anxiety. I have been praying for God's peace to rest upon him. Please pray that the doctor's hands will be guided by the Lord and that everything would go perfectly, without any problems. Please also pray that Smiles will be fine without being breastfed first thing in the morning! I am going to sneak another feeding in at around 11:30 pm tonight, but after, he is not able to have anything until after the surgery!

Grammie will come over to stay with Brady while we are with Smiles.

Thank you for all of you prayers! Although this is a simple surgery, it is not easy to see your baby being carried away by the nurses to be "put under" for surgery. Brady had surgery when he was 8 months old, and now Smiles will have surgery at almost 11 months old. This is just another time when I have to place my children into the safest place that I know if...in His hands.

Some May Call It "Crazy" - but, We Had Fun!

As some of you know, I do enjoy "shopping" at CVS. They had special deals that started on Thanksgiving Day and ends Saturday - so, you can still try and get some of them, if you are up to it! Click here to see a scan of the add, courtesy of hot coupon world.

I was really excited to go out and grab up the deals that were free after ECBs, and I wanted to be sure that I was able to get all of the items on my list, so I decided that I was going to go to the 24 hour CVS, so that I would be able to make my purchases right after midnight on Thanksgiving Day - yes, I was hosting Thanksgiving...so, I just made sure that everything was ready before I left! My mom decided to go with me, and we had a lot of fun (my sis would have come to, but she was at her in-laws for the holiday).

So, here was my plan - mom and I left her house at 11:00pm, and drove to the 24 hour CVS. I figured that we could collect all of the items that were on our list and organize them into the different transactions that we were going to do. Then, once it was after midnight, we could begin checking out and receive out ECBs for the items! There were no other shoppers there when we arrived - but at least 5 or more came in after midnight! So, we were glad that we got there when we did, so that we got first pick of everything!

We did not get home until after 1am, but we had a great time, and then I did not have to think about being ready to leave my house around 8:00am so that I could go to my local CVS to do my "shopping".

This is all of the after Thanksgiving shopping that I did (well, I guess that it really was before Thanksgiving!). I thought about going on Black Friday, but decided to get some sleep instead!

I don't want to take the time to write out all of the transactions that I did, but below is a list of the items that I purchased- which was worth about $200 before the sale price and the Extra care bucks that I received back! I spent about $2.00 of cash (actually it was paid with a $25 gift card that I received when I had a prescription filled there), and ended up with $35 more ECBs than I started with (due to the coupons that I used). The coupons that I used are listed after below the product (thanks to slickdeals). "SS" = Smart Source coupon insert "V" = Valassis

CVS 3-Day FREE after ECB items:
Colgate Total Advanced, Clean, Advanced Fresh or Whitening $2.99 get $2.99 (Limit 2)
$1/1 (12-6-08) SS 11/16/08

Aussie hair product $2.99 (Limit 2)
$1/1 SS10/12/08

Johnson's Soft Lotion $5.69 (Limit 1)

Gatorade G2 20 oz $1.49 (Limit 3)
buy 4, use 2 coupons Gatorade G2 from Beauty Book (found at CVS)$1/2

Hershey's King Size Bars $1.00 (Limit 1)

Bic Soliel $5.99 (Limit 2)
Bic Soleil System Razor, any $3/1 SS 11/2/08 $2 on any Razor Purchase of $10 or more CRT (a coupon that is printed on some Customer Receipt Tape - I did not get one, but my mom did)

Garnier Nutritioniste cleansing towelettes(25 ct.) $5.99 (Limit 1)
Garnier Nutritioniste Cleanser or Moisturizer, any $1 (11-30-08) V 8/24/08

Maybelline Foundation $8.99 (Limit 1) - Recycled from 11/23 ad
$3 Maybelline Foundation RP 10/26, Exp 1/26/09

5 hr Energy 2pk $3.99 (Limit 1)

Magnovox Remote or Phillilps IPOD Headphones $6.99 (Limit 2)

L'Oreal lipgloss $6.99 (Limit 2)
L'Oreal Lipcolour, any $1 (1-25-09) V 11/2/08

Sally Hansen Max Growth $3.79 (Limit 1)
Sally Hansen Q from paper (don't know which one) Sally Hansen Nail Color or Nail Treatment, $3 on 2, Beauty book 12/31/08

Covergirl Smoothers Foundation $7.99 (Limit 1)
Cover Girl Product, any $1 (11-30-08) P & G 10/12/08

Covergirl Smoothers Powder $5.99 (Limit 1)
Cover Girl Product, any $1 (11-30-08) P & G 10/12/08

Other ECB Deals
$3 ECB wyb Playtex 16-18ct for $3.99 Limit 1
Playtex Gentle Glide $1, 10/5 SS

$6 ECB wyb Schick Quattro Razor or Trimmer for $7.99 Limit 1
Schick Titanium Trimmer $2 printable 10/19/08

B1G1 DealsPrice listed is for one
Soft & Dri Pulse or Right Guard $.99
Soft & Dri or Dry Idea Anti Perspirant & Deodorant any (excludes trial size) $1/2, SS1 10/5

So, did you do any special shopping this weekend?

He Did It Again!

Over the weekend, I noticed that Dawson had written the word "delivery" on our calendar in the square for the 25th. On Monday and Tuesday morning, I asked him what was being delivered and he smiled and said that I was going to be home, so that is all that mattered.

I tried not to think about it too much - but I did think...it is either something for me, or maybe it is that antennae that he has been wanting for the TV. Either way, I was excited to see what was going to arrive at my doorstep!

At around 1:00pm, the nice delivery man handed me a box and inside that box, this is what I found!!!

The roses are SO beautiful...and he gave me two dozen of them! The colors are pink, red, yellow and peach - just gorgeous! Now, I need to learn how to arrange them a little better! I have never been given that many roses before! Do you know why he gave them to me? Because he loves me and is thankful for me! He is wonderful and knows how to make me feel special and loved.

I am thankful for my husband, not because he has given me flowers, but because he loves and appreciates me. He shows this in so many ways from working at his job to being an excellent and fun father and husband and of course for his love for God. It is amazing that we have been married for almost 6 1/2 years - as we continue to learn more about each other and how to fill each other's "love tank," marriage is definitely something that continues to get better with age!

A Little Bit About Me

I "stole" this meme from my sister over at The Campbell Corner. It was fun to read what she has done, and I thought that it would be interesting to see what my percentage would be (of things that I have done on the list). It was fun to do this list - it brought back some fun memories!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars - it was really cool and weird and I woke up with dew on my face!
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed/hiked a mountain (and an inactive volcano!)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice - (we asked our gondolier to sing too!)
29. Witnessed a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - well, I went to the country on my mom's side!
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades - camped there for a week without hot water!
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a Bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox - in 4th grade - I was COVERED!!!
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby - twice
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

I have done about 43 of these items (about 43%). I am 34 years young, and that is the numbers in reverse, and I have no idea how that correlates, but I think that it is cool...and I know that TCC will think so too! :)

Lullaby

About a year or ago, I started to sing Brady a lullaby. I made up the words and used the tune of the basic Lullaby song.

After Dawson finishes getting Brady ready for bed, I come into the room and sit on the end of his bed. Brady climbs into my lap and then I sing two songs to him, our Lullaby and Jesus Loves Me. Then Dawson sings, I Am a Promise (while holding Brady), and then he is put into bed and we finish with prayers and lots of hugs and kisses (and sometimes some tickles too - I just can't help myself sometimes!).

The other night, I had to go out for a little while - Smiles was in bed already, but Brady was not. While Brady was getting ready for bed, Smiles woke up crying - so, Daddy went in to check on him and Brady tagged along. Smiles had a burp, but before Daddy could put Smiles back in his crib, Brady wanted to also burp him - so he did this while sitting on the glider, and then he sang the Lullaby song to his brother! Dawson told me that it was so sweet! Brady put in Smiles name where his name usually is and sang his little heart out.

Yesterday, Brady came upstairs with me while I was putting Smiles down for his nap - as we were leaving the room, Brady said, "I have to pray for him." So, he went back into the room and prayed for Smiles' nap and then, he sang the Lullaby to him while holding his hand! It was so sweet and I was so blessed that I could watch the love pour from one brother to the other - and of course it was returned with a huge smile!

Black Backgrounds - my thoughts

I don't know about any of you, but white (or light colored) text on a black background on a blog makes my eyes go a little nuts! The blogs are pretty, but I cannot read it unless it is in my reader. I think that blue is fine, but black...well, I just can't do it! Please don't be offended or even change your blog! These are thoughts that were just going through my head after my eyes were bugging out after reading a friend's blog (from college).

Baking again!

Last night, I decided to lay down, in bed, for a few minutes...yea, ok...and then it was morning! I obviously needed to go to bed at 9pm, because I fell asleep so quickly and slept until morning - in my clothes! :)

Today I feel refreshed and I was ready to do some baking again! I LOVE to bake (and cook too), but time (and energy) is sometimes lacking! So, while Smiles was down for his morning nap, Brady and I go "to work" in the kitchen!

When I asked Brady if he wanted to help me bake in the kitchen, his answer was, "Let me get my stool first!" He was definitely ready to help me dump the ingredients in the bowl and then mix it up! He is a big help and it was fun spending time in the kitchen together.

What did we make? Banana muffins and two pumpkin pies! I actually did the pies by myself because Smiles was up and the two boys were gated out of the kitchen since the oven was on (that is more for Smiles' protection - Brady knows not to touch the oven).

I would like to bake some more and freeze what I have baked, but I need to tend to some other things right now. Baking will happen again soon!

Dinner is leftovers tonight, so I am done in the kitchen at the moment (well, I actually have to go and wash the dishes!). So, what are you baking or cooking today?

Brotherly Love

Brady was sitting on my lap in the family room giving me some hugs, and Smiles was standing by the train table, playing with whatever was on the table. Brady then looked at Smiles and then at me and said:

"I love Smiles too, Mommy. Smiles is my best friend. I love my best friend, Smiles."

So sweet and brought a smile to his Mommy's face. I then reinforced to him how special and important it is that he loves his brother - now and forever, and that it is wonderful that they are best friends.

My parents always reminded me that family is so important. Family is always there for you - mine always was and still is. This is something that I want to pass on to my boys.

Guess Who I Got a Phone Call From?

Do the names Kevin, Joe and Nick ring a bell with anyone? (Maybe Melissa knows who I am talking about)

Okay. Does the Jonas Brothers sound at all familiar to anyone??? You're not that old are you? (hee hee)

Anyway, my phone rang, I picked it up and there they were, talking to me. Asking me if I wanted to enter a contest to be on a cruise - with them!

Are you jealous?!?!?

Well, you shouldn't be! It was a recording, and I am sure that many people got the same exact phone call that I did. It was just strange and interesting.

And, no, I am not entering the contest. I don't listen to them...I guess I am that old! :)

My Response to the Election

After our MIA planning meeting last night, I got into my car, turned on the radio and heard John McCain giving his concession speech. I cried. I suddenly began to feel unsafe and cried some more when I thought about the unborn babies who might not enter this world here on earth because of the beliefs of our future president.

When I got home, I woke up Dawson, we talked about it and I also began to talk with God about the situation. One statement that I continued to say was, “I just don’t understand!” I don’t understand why Obama was elected into the position as president. However, I believe that Jesus began to talk to me, as I was talking to Him.

He reminded me that even though I may not agree with the person that was voted into the office of the presidency, the fact is – he is there. He has been placed in a position of authority above me (like your boss is at the place of your work – yes, I am a stay at home mom, but I have been in the working world, so this analogy worked just fine), and although I may not agree with some of his views and beliefs, I still need to respect him and pray for him.

“Pray for him?” I thought. “Are you serious?” As soon as I uttered these words, I knew that the answer was, “yes.” He has a target on his back, because of the position that he is in and he needs the divine protection of Christ over his life – he needs Christ, period! So, I began to pray for him – for his safety and for the safety of his family, for salvation, for a change in his heart and mind on the issue of abortion, and I also prayed for those that are in influential positions around him too (advisors, etc.).

Obviously, we have a free will. There are people that voted out of their free will for Obama and he is now the President-elect. I may not be happy with this outcome, but I do need to respect and pray for him and the decisions that will be made. He may be the next president of the U.S.A., but God is still God and He is still seated on the throne and is all powerful!

My sister (over at The Campbell Corner) has a great post about her take and response to the outcome of the election, and I encourage you to read it here.

Brady's Prayer For Daddy

Dear Jesus, for Daddy's day at work....(pause)....and bless it to his body...(pause)....and let him have good dreams....at work....In Jesus' name Amen.

This was the first time that Brady prayed for Daddy's day at work. Dawson and I just smiled and quietly chuckled to ourselves. It was so sincere and precious. Can you tell what other times of the day that Brady has been praying?