This and that . . .

Well, I thought I'd update you all on a couple of happenings:

#1: Hubby is back from Germany safe and sound. Unfortunately, his work scheduled started the day of his return, so I've still got two more weeks until we meet again. To my hubby -- I miss you and love you!

#2: I visited my ex-father-in-law yesterday. I was surprised to walk through the door and see him there, standing, waiting to give me a hug. It was as if nothing had changed. He was feeling good -- no pain (he's on a high dose of morphine). He said Hospice came in and took care of everything. His wife, Virginia, said that she asked him why he was getting up this morning. He said, "Summer is coming over and I need to get ready for her visit." So, he got up, showered and shaved -- just for me! Virginia said that he had not been so active for a while. So, it certainly makes me feel good that he was looking forward to my visit. However, I hope that he didn't overdo it by getting up and moving around so much. We had a wonderful visit. We (my ex husband, his sister, Virginia & John) all sat around and talked for a couple of hours. I feel much better having seen him and spoken to him. I hope to get out there again to see him within the next few days.

#3: Baby Lulu is teething. She currently has 4 teeth breaking through the gum. After these four teeth make their appearance, she'll have six teeth - total.

I'll leave you with this . . .

William Tell Overture for Moms

Oh - this is hilarious! Enjoy! Thanks to Musings of a Housewife for pointing me to this.

Wordless Wednesday

Like Father, Like Daughter!

(This was a picture taken during our trip to the Pensacola Naval Aviation Museum)

For more Wordless Wednesday, go here.

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away

So, I just received some bad news tonight from my friend. Sometime around the 1st of this year, his Dad, John, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. There was a tumor. It was removed. The doctors were sure that they had gotten it all and that the cancer had not spread. It's been an uphill battle ever since. Well, this past week, John was admitted into the hospital. He was running a fever and just didn't feel good. The doctors said that he's in kidney and liver failure right now. At first, they couldn't explain why. And unfortunately, due to the frailty of his body and his condition, they were unable to run the necessary tests to find out what caused it. The family has been told that in order for him to live even a month, he needs dialysis. And unfortunately, they can't guarantee that he'll live another month even with the dialysis because his liver is in such bad condition. The doctor's conclusion: The cancer has spread to both organs. John's options: Have dialysis and maybe live a month. Or call in Hospice, go home and enjoy his last two weeks of life. They say his kidneys won't be able to function more than two weeks without the dialysis.

I guess I should tell you, for those of you who don't know, this "friend" is my ex-husband and John is his Dad. Yes, that would make my current marriage my second. But that's a whole 'nother post in itself.

I tell you all of this because for 7 years, this man was my father-in-law. I'm asking that you please be in prayer for this family. They've had some hard knocks and they need God's mercy, peace and strength. I don't think they know how great our God is --- that he'll carry them through this difficult time. Please pray that John will come to know the Lord before it's too late.

When I call on Jesus, all things are possible

Well, I climbed out of my bed this morning, still reeling from the funk of last night. It was raining out . . . hard. Downpour. I got the girls up and had resided that I was not going to church. #1 -- it's raining. I'm in a funk. I'm all alone. We attend a mega church. How on earth will I trek a mile through the parking lot with the girls and get them inside without getting wet? IT'S.JUST.NOT.POSSIBLE. And just as the words flew out of my mouth (yes, I was talking to myself. I do that alot -- ask my husband, he'll tell ya!) the rain stopped -- completely. And I stopped in my tracks. "Ok God, I get the picture. I'm getting the girls up. We're going."

So, I got the girls up and in a mad rush managed to get them both fed, both dressed and both diaper bags in order and we were out the door on time. That, my friend, is a miracle in itself. I'm never on time. IT'S.ABSOLUTELY.IMPOSSIBLE.

So, as I drove to church, I felt convicted. I don't feel like worshipping, I'm in a funk and now I have to go, try to sing and worship with this nasty attitude. So, I gave myself a good talking to. I said, "Look woman. Wake up! You've got a loving husband. Two beautiful children who are healthy and happy. You've got a beautiful home and family and friends that love you. Get a grip. There are people out there who have far worse situations and circumstances than you do. How about those people with cancer and other terminal illnesses -- you have NO RIGHT to mope! NONE! So, get yourself together and get your heart and mind ready to worship Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior. He has done great things for you. You have been so blessed!"

So, I went, I worshipped and I was filled. The spirit spoke and I listened.

"Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after thy will,
while I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Search me and try me, Savior today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
as in thy presence humbly I bow.

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me I pray!
Power, all power, surely is thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Hold o'er my being absolute sway.
Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me! "
Text: Adelaide A. Pollard, 1862-1934
Music: George C. Stebbins, 1846-1945
Tune: ADELAIDE,

Tropical Depression and Summer Depression!

Well, sorry it's been a few days since my last post. As some of you may know, Tropical Depression #10 decided to make landfall here (not as expected in the above picture -- they're wrong most of the time!). I've spent the last couple of days preparing -- just in case the storm upgraded. These storms get into the Gulf of Mexico and have been known to escalate from a little Tropical Depression into a big 'ole hurricane in a matter of 24 hours. So, I needed to run out and secure the beach condo that we own. Also, there was some preparation to be made here at the house.

In other news, Hubby left two days ago for his "guy" trip to Germany. He and several friends did this very same trip a few years ago. So, in an attempt to relive the moment (I thought only girls did that kind of stuff, heee, heee!), they are all meeting again in Germany . . . to do . . . you know -- actually, I'm not really sure. I mean, what do 5 guys (4 single and 1 married) do in a foreign country?
Anywhoo . . .

**Warning . . . pity party commences below! Proceed with caution!**
I'm hanging in there or here! I'm a bit tired. With hubby's recent surgery and now his trip, I've been filling in. I'm officially the husband, the wife, the mom, the dad, the head chef, the accountant, the property manager (for two properties, might I add), the maid/housekeeper, the family photographer, the receptionist, the marketing director (been working hard on those scrapbooks), the maintenance woman, the landscape designer/maintainer (I've mowed the lawn every Friday - except yesterday when TD #10 reared it's ugly head -- so I did it today -- oh and I did put out my Fall decorations), closet organizer for my two girls (I had to rearrange their whole closet last Tuesday so that we could assess what clothes the girls would need for the Fall), the errand runner . . . and the list goes on. So, with so much to do, how come I feel so inadequate? Why do I feel like Cinderella (before the ball)? And all of those jobs are not a result of hubby's surgery -- I do most of those on a regular basis. I mean, with a husband that is absent half of the month, you do what you have to do. Unfortunately, though, I don't think I do any of the jobs well. Most times I just feel overwhelmed and under appreciated. I can't help but feel that I'm lacking in most areas . . . the house is never clean enough, the laundry basket in NEVER empty, the scrapbooks are a never ending project, the lawn has to be mowed at least once a week and apparently the flowers need more water than I've been giving them -- we've needed some throw rugs out at the condo for weeks and I've just now got around to dropping them off out there (I had a few moments when Hubby was here and the girls were taking a nap -- I ran out there to take care of that place), no! my two year cannot count to 10 -- she knows 2 and 8. Last Tuesday, I ran around here like a chicken with my head cut off . . . cleaning, organizing closets and throwing in a little play time with my children while hubby was laid up in bed. You want to know what I accomplished . . . breakfast, lunch and dinner for four, organized the girls' closet - old/outgrown clothes in bins, cleaned both bathrooms, wrote thank you notes to those who attended and gave gifts at Maddy's birthday party, colored with Maddy, took Maddy and Baby Lulu for a walk, gave both girls a bath and watered the flowers. And to top it all off . . . my hubby said, "Well huney, if you worked like that everyday, I'd have nothing to do around here." He's referring to my #1 pet peeve -- him coming home and picking up after I've already picked up. Let me explain -- if I've cleaned everything but the kitchen sink, the first thing he sees when he comes home is the dirty kitchen sink. And he immediately commences to cleaning it. Which, instead of being a grateful wife and appreciating that he is cleaning the kitchen sink, I immediately take it as a personal attack -- like my house cleaning isn't good enough. And I know I shouldn't -- but I do. So, anyway, I guess I'm going to close my pity party now. Sometimes a girl just needs to vent. After all, my contact today consisted of an 8 month old and a 2 year old.

Who's been sleeping in my bed?

Yes, he's still alive after two weeks . . . can you believe it? And Hubby got a kick out of doing this to me!