All the Mus: October 2010

Why I “Count it all Joy” Wednesday

Welcome to Why I Count It All Joy Wednesday!! To join in on all the JOY, grab my button, make your own JOY list, it doesn’t have to be long, one thing, one hundred things, it doesn’t matter, just find your JOY and come back and link up so you can share it with us. Remember JOY is contagious!!

I usually try to keep my JOY posts short and light, but I posted this late in the day Tuesday and then decided to repost it for my JOY post!!! I can't think of too many things more joyful than miracles!!

Four years ago today, my life changed!! The Lord blessed me with a precious granddaughter!! I had no idea what I was in for, but I was so excited!! I had no idea she would steal my heart like she has!! I had no idea she would love me like she does!!

It all started out rough!! She was sick when she was born and had way too many machines hooked up to her!! It just broke my heart. I remember standing at that nursery window, praying and crying like never before!! Begging Jesus for a miracle, her little body needed healing and I knew the man for the job!! In no time, she was well and able to go home.

Lindsey could only touch her feet!! Talk about breaking your heart!!

We finally got to cuddle her!!

Finally going home!!

Little did we know that two months later, we would be taking an ambulance ride back to the hospital. The diagnosis - seizures. What caused them, no one knew!! The doctors couldn’t explain it. The ran every test imaginable, poked her over and over, and in a Nanny’s mind just plain tortured her. We spent her first Christmas in the hospital, but that didn’t stop us from having fun, loving each other, and praying and believing for another miracle. Eventually we got to take her home again, but she continued to have unexplained seizures. Month after month, doctor appointment after doctor appointment, test after test, specialist after specialist, and still seizures with no answers.

Her entire head was covered with wires!!

Too many tubes, wires, and machines!!

Ella’s first Christmas!!

After a year of this, we took her to a specialist in Dallas at the Children’s Hospital and he finally gave us a diagnosis. Not what we wanted to hear, but it sure could have been worse. He said there was no cure for what she had and that she would probably get progressively get worse as she aged. But that it could be treated and maintained, so to speak. They wanted to do more testing, but the doctor was sure the diagnosis was correct. We all agreed we would wait on another seizure episode to start the new testing, which wasn’t going to be fun.

Ella’s 1!!

We came home and prayed for another miracle. We loved on her, played with her, cuddled her every chance we got!! And we continued to pray for a miracle.

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

What JOY!!

Today Ella turned 4 years old, and she is healed!! She has been seizure free for 2 years. She never had those horrible tests because after we left Dallas, she never had another seizure episode!! You would never be able to tell she was ever sick!! Just like I said in the beginning, we knew the Man for the job and boy did He show up in a big way for Ella!!

Thank you Jesus for her precious life!!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful grandbaby girl!! Nanny loves you tons!!

Counting it all JOY!!

Why I “Count it all Joy” Wednesday

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I am filled with JOY because Dan will land in China this morning and call me on Skype!!

I am filled with JOY because when I went to bed last night, exhausted from being mom and dad, I realized I hadn’t written my JOY post, the JOY, I can do it late and still be loved!!

I am filled with JOY because Adam and Isaac’s worst allergy/asthma season is just about over!!

I am filled with JOY because I am going to sit with Loren today!! She had surgery Friday and is at home healing!!

I am filled with JOY because when I was putting my kids to bed last night, Adam said, “Mom, you are awesome!!” I said, “Why do you say that!!” He said all the normal - you take care of us stuff, then he said, “You put up with all of us and you laugh and you don’t even have to be in a straight jacket!” (You know it’s crazy around your house when your kids even know a straight jacket might not be out of the question)

I am filled with JOY because I have a beautiful daughter who has grown into a beautiful wife, mom, and friend!!

I am filled with JOY because the leaves are finally BEGINNING to turn around here!! I just love all the Fall colors!!

I am filled with JOY because even though I have been married 20 years, I still miss Dan when he travels like I did when we were young and first married, and can’t wait for him to return!!

I am filled with JOY because Jesus is my JOY and strength!!

I am filled with JOY because some of you help me spread the JOY week after week!!

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12

What’s filling you with JOY this week?

Counting it all JOY!!

A Day at the Patch!!

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Drew and I took the kids to the Pumpkin Patch last week. The Lord blessed us with a beautiful fall day and we really enjoyed it.

When we were leaving, I posed the kids for one last picture and a guy from one of our news channels walked up and talked to the kids for a minute. He wasn’t filming, so I just continued to take pictures. When we were leaving the kids told me that he took video of me taking pictures of them, I thought that was kind of weird. The next day we saw the news report and believe it or not, there I was!! A REALLY close up shot of the side of my face taking a picture, I was sad he didn’t get the kids on there.

How are you enjoying your Fall days?

Dan leaves today for the first leg of his trip to China. He will be flying all day tomorrow, please keep him in your prayers!!

Counting it all JOY!!

Friday Funnies - It's Me!!

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Today I am joining my sweet friend Kim at Homesteader’s Heart. If you like a good laugh, join her for Friday Funnies!!

Last weekend while shopping in Branson, we came across this mannequin.

She’s a pretty cool mannequin and at first glance we all agreed she resembled me. I think it was really just the hair, but the kids kind of got a laugh out of it. As with everything else in life, we took a picture of her.

Later in the week, I received this in an email from my sweet hubby!!

He highlighted her hair, lightened her eyebrows, and gave her my eyes and glasses, LOL!!

Hope you all have a FUN weekend!!

Counting it all JOY!!

Why I “Count it all Joy” Wednesday

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I am filled with JOY because Jesus loves me and lifts me up and carries me when I don’t feel like walking.

I am filled with JOY because I got to go shopping in Branson last weekend to shop and I got some really good deals, and a start on Christmas shopping.

I am filled with JOY because Dan is home this week.

I am filled with JOY because this week is Fall Break and we are playing together.

I am filled with JOY because last week in the midst of dealing with the death of Aunt Vicki, I got to be present during the ultrasound for our new grandbaby! He is so cute and he will be here soon!!

I am filled with JOY because my kids, even the grown ones, like to hang out with me.

I am filled with JOY because I have had so many wonderful women pour into my life and help me become the mom, wife, and Nanny I am supposed to be.

I am filled with JOY because the evenings are getting cooler and there will be a fire in the fireplace in no time!!

I am filled with JOY because my kids have learned to find the JOY in situations that at face value don’t seem to be too JOYful, and have learned to enJOY the little things in life.

I am filled with JOY because week after week you guys come back and help me spread the JOY!!

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Psalm 5:11

What is filling you with JOY this week?

Counting it all JOY!!

Giveaway Winner!!!

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And the winner is...I'm so excited!!!

One of my very first bloggy friends...she's cute as can be!!!

The person who would maybe like one of these...for her gorgeous daughters!!!

Congratulations to my friend Mimi from He & Me + 3!! If you don’t know Mimi, you should go visit her here, you will absolutely love her!!

Counting it all Joy!!

Why I “Count it all Joy” Wednesday

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Written on Tuesday morning:

This morning after dropping Dan off at the airport, I returned home knowing it was going to be a busy day!! We had school to do, I have Ella for the day, we were going to visit my Aunt Vicki again, the boys have basketball practice until 7, and then dinner to make so I can feed the kids!! I had also decided to do my JOY post early, schedule it, and maybe even some other posts to get ahead knowing I would be hard pressed to get them done in the next few days!!

Unfortunately, I came home, started school with the boys and received that dreaded phone call!! Aunt Vicki passed away this morning in her sleep!! As I sat here crying, I was trying to find that JOY I speak so highly of!! She is only 57 years old, way too young to die. She has two small grandkids who need a grandma, I would have been lost without mine. She hasn’t even gotten to retire yet. She’s the second YOUNGEST sister, not the oldest. They were planning a mom/daughter trip for “The Sisters” and their daughters and she was going to have to be one of the stand ins for my mom so my sister and I wouldn’t be without a mom. All these things were going through my head and as much as I wanted to see JOY in this, I was having a hard time.

I made all the necessary phone calls and heard all the normal responses, “I’m so sorry”, “I wish I had gotten over there to see her”, “She’s in a better place now”, etc...

The funny thing is that’s where I found my JOY!!

I’m so sad and sorry she’s gone - sorry for me and for her family, but I am so filled with JOY that I know where she is!! She lived a life for Jesus and was proud of it.

I don’t have to say “I wish I had gotten over there to see her” - I am filled with JOY that I was just there with her!!

I am so filled with JOY that even though she is gone at such a young age, she spent those years doing hair, being a wife, raising kids, loving her grandbabies, and all the other things us ladies do, but with one goal in mind - to end up in Heaven, loving on Jesus and making sure the people she did life with will end up there too.

I am so filled with JOY that her long and painful battle with cancer is over. Maybe we all lost her to cancer, but the truth is, she won the battle and is now looking into the face of her complete Healer!!

I am so filled with JOY that while I am sitting here crying, she is singing praises straight to the King of Kings!!

I am filled with JOY that she is walking down the streets with my mom, just like they did when they were kids, only now the streets are made of gold!!

I am so filled with JOY that even though Dan left on a business trip this morning and he is not here with me, he will be home Friday. I had a feeling he would be gone when she passed, but so glad it was this trip and not the long one to China!!

So although I am really sad, I am filled with JOY that I am still here loving Jesus, my family, and my friends, and one of these days I will be with all those I love that have gone on before me. But until then I have about a million giggling, brownie making, story telling, midnight snacking, Jesus talking, all around great time sleepovers at Aunt Vicki’s house memories that will always be mine!!

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:15

Counting it all JOY!!

Weekend Wrap-up

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The weekend was busy getting some things taken care of before Dan was to leave for Atlanta (which he did this morning). Some weren’t feeling too well on Saturday, so we didn’t do a whole lot. Sunday we had all planned to go to the fair together, and we were excited about that. We aren’t real big on rides at the fair, but we like some of the fair food, and we like to look at all the stuff in the buildings.

I knew some of the Food Network Cake Challenge (one of my favorite shows) people were going to be there and I always go look at the cakes in the cake competition. So fun to see all the new things people are doing and get new ideas. They also have some fun vendors that we don’t usually have here in Tulsa. Anyway, one of the guys who is on the challenge a lot and wins a lot was there!! I was so excited when he was walking right towards me, and like a school girl, I stopped him for this picture!!! Don’t think my kids were too crazy about it, but they have learned to smile and love me anyway!! They are probably just glad I wasn’t taking pictures of them and cupcakes again!!

He’s not like my favorite cake person in the world, but he is really good and I wouldn’t be a bit sad to learn a few things from him!! Here is some of his work (not his best in my opinion, but all I could find).

Please keep Dan in your prayers as he travels this week. He will be home on Friday evening, he’ll be here a week, and then he leaves for China again!!

Also continue praying for my Aunt Vicki!! She is really not doing well at all and they don’t expect her to last much longer!! She is way too young to die (57), but we all know God has a plan and things will happen in His timing. We just don’t want her to suffer any longer!! She’s not happy about leaving her family, but she is definitely ready to be with Jesus in paradise!!

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:43

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Believing you are all having a fabulous, JOYfilled week!!

Counting it all JOY!!