Random Musings. . .

Hi! My name is Amy. Welcome to my fluff blog.

This is where I document our life with cute little pictures like this:

(Fluffy AND cute!)

Don’t worry, I know I have a fluff blog…it is what it is.

There was a time when I blogged a little less fluffy (years ago) and got some crazy a** comments. Not just a little crazy but like crazy-crazy. Some Russian dude once left disturbing comments about Americans and told me I needed to return Caroline to “Mother Russia” and junk. He also attempted to hack into my email account (I used to have a “contact me” button on my blog for adoption questions). I found some of his emails the other day(he sent over 150 of them) when I was going through an old account:

Why you are not posting my opinions? Am I so much of a of a threat to you. I will never harm you; I am a non violent person. I only want to see the folly of your ways, and to stay away from my country. I also would like for you to give back to my country what is hers, that poor little child, who is suffering from your immorality.

And how about this one:

I regret, you deleting not posting my comments. After all isn't America free?  So sorry it was a little joke.  I wish you would reconsider. I am getting enjoyment from reading the replies.  Don't' bother blocking me though. I will find a way to send you emails, considering I am a programmer. I am reasonable man and if you talk to me, like a human being not like your dog, I will act more polite. It doesn't mean my opinions change.

Ummmmm, yeahhhhh. He would also send me emails with one Russian word or phrase written over and over, hundreds of times. <shiver> Read this post and the comments to see more. So, I stopped blogging for a while and did not allow comments. I eventually came back from the hiatus… fluffy. I decided not to talk about anything that would bring out the trolls or give me a nasty gram in my inbox. (I hate those things.) So now you have to suffer through gazillions pictures of adorable sleeping children like these…

Awww…look at that. Savannah must have dreamt she was sleeping with someone else. Tee hee. (their sibling rivalry is fierce if you didn’t know)

I so enjoy talking about controversial things though. I kinda consider that a huge part of who I am. I feel like I have been muzzled. I mean I would soooo like to talk about the primaries going on right now. That topic is ripe for the picking. But…I will just keep my mouth shut right now. Because the hate I have seen towards conservative women is mind-blowing to me. It is like there is a conservative woman derangement syndrome out there. When I die and go meet my maker, I will not be answering to Gloria Steinem, Oprah Winfrey or Barbara Streisand for my path and morals in life. THANK GOD! Enough about that.

Anywaaaaay, how the heck are ya? I have been MIA a lot lately. I will try to catch up on the latest things that have kept me from writing.

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!!

We spent ours at home with the girls. Jackson was the only one who went out. Caroline gets tired early. So the only ones up at 12:00 were the 4 of us here. Yes, this has become our “norm”.  And you know what? I am okay with it. I have always felt New Years was forced fun anyway.

Who could forget that Alabama beat LSU to win the National Championship! Woop woop! Roll Tide!

Though I am sure Lulu felt more like the bottom photo after we dressed her up again…

Doesn’t she look like she has had one too many beers and is about to whoop up on somebody? Good gracious that tickles me, I have such cheap thrills.

Caroline has celebrated her birthday so many times she thinks every day is her birthday. Here she is celebrating at her Grandma and Papa’s house with her cousin Chloe. It was Caroline’s turn to get her beautiful James Avery cross necklace from Grandma. I am thrilled to report she has not broken it yet! (which I can not say about the necklace she got from Nene for Christmas)

Another thing that has occupied my mind the last couple of months is a friend and sorority sister of mine named Julie.

Here we were in college.

About 18 months ago Julie was diagnosed with colon and liver cancer. She was 39. Here is an excerpt from her Caring Bridge blog that she wrote herself…

 

Around 9:30 pm on June 14, 2010, my life changed. I was told that I had a mass in my colon and spots on my liver. On the morning of June 15, I had major surgery. On June 17, I was told that I had Stage 4 colon cancer that had metastasized to my liver. I was in the hospital for 8 days.

My first day out of the hospital, I asked my Mom to take me to the nail salon. I know...typical Julie! I had to get out of the house after just 6 hours! I noticed an attractive girl as she walked through the door of the salon. A few minutes later she walked up to me. When she approached me, she said "I do not know how you are going to feel about what I am about to say but as soon as I saw you, God started to talk to me. He wanted me to tell you that you need to TRUST in the Lord and do not be AFRAID. Just like Isaiah 12:2. Trust in the Lord and do not be AFRAID. The Lord is your salvation. I am not sure if he told me this or of it is just the feeling I have but you have colon and liver cancer. Well, God has had this planned for you ever since you were a baby. This is your destiny. So no matter what you go through, you must remember to TRUST him and do not be afraid. He is going to use this so you can give your testimony and witness to others. "

Julie went home to heaven on January 11th.

Left behind are her 2 beautiful children and a totally broken and devastated husband Tim.

There is no doubt in my mind where Julie is spending eternity. She was a woman of great faith with a heart for Jesus.

When Julie was first diagnosed with stage 4 cancer she said with a smile, "Cancer is not terminal when you have eternal life to look forward to."

She was amazing. She became infamous for saying, “Cherish every day.” Words to live by.

January brings about another yearly thing…Market.

My mom and sister came in town for a weekend of shopping, eating and fun. I was really looking forward to it after the heartbreak of Julie’s death.

Birds are “in” this year. Every where you turned, there were birds. You name it, it had birds on it.

So was religious relics. For instance, the virgin Mary holding Jesus or some statue of a saint or angels.

Another thing I noticed were things with obscure quotes on them.

What exactly do they mean? Why are they trying to be so deep? I just don’t get it.

Kinda like on facebook. You know those people who write status updates that leave you saying…huh? Is this some sort or cryptic message? 

(notice the bird)

Oh YES, I agree…wait, what?

I am just trying to imagine the look on my husband or dad’s face if I repeated these things to them.

Enough of that, my head is spinning. Hee hee.

We did not even touch the tip of the iceberg which is Dallas Market because it is so huge, however we did schmooze our way into dining on the best carrot cake known to mankind. :)

We found a store that had both an Alabama and a Texas cutting board. My dad retires in March and my parents are still trying to decide if they will move to TEXAS or Alabama. Let’s hope they make the right choice. ;)

My older sister Angie got to stay with us for a whole week! Caroline had to decorate a snowman for her school project which Angie helped her with. The snowman to the right was Angie’s rough draft (dork). The one to the left was their finished product.

Not sure if I have mentioned this before, but my mom is a volunteer counselor at a pro-life clinic in Memphis. When counseling clients they show them this little rubber baby. It is the exact size and weight of a 12 week old baby in the womb.

Avery saw it once at my parent’s house and asked if she could keep it. (It really is cute)

That little baby just shows up in random places all over our house. The girls must play with it and carry it around the house with them.

Makes me smile every time I see it. I love me some babies. Even pretend rubber ones. And yes, I still get that “feeling” when I see a baby. You know the feeling that I speak of, right? That warm tingly feeling and the uncanny urge to stroke the baby’s cheek and sniff their neck and hair. And the feet! Oh how I love me some baby feet. Of course hubby says no more heartbeats in the house…not even furry ones.

Which brings me to this:

My Lulu has been declared FAT by her doctor. FAT!!! She has gained 6 pounds since summer.

Her vet wants her to lose weight.

My little Fatty McFaterson.

For all the women in the world struggling with those extra 6 pounds, I declare her PHAT not fat!!!!!

That is right Lucy goosey, you are phat!

Phatty Mc Phaterson!

Sigh.

God’s Angels. . .

What I am reminded of this time of year is how blessed we are. Beyond blessed actually.

We started a tradition in our home where everyone picks a Reece’s Rainbow Angel to sponsor and pray for during the holidays.

The kids LOVE doing this. They ask every day if the ornaments have come in the mail. Once they do they carry them around the house for the rest of the month. Avery still has hers from last year and hung it on her bulletin board. What a great way to glorify God and give my children a heart for orphans.

Savannah tickles me because she will adore the ornament every day. “My baby is so adorable!” “Look at my baby’s tongue sticking out! It is so cute!” She actually had tears in her eyes this morning as she looked at her ornament. She said they were happy tears because her baby was so sweet. She has such a tender heart.

Savannah has a paper to write on Christmas traditions and she wants this tradition to be her topic. :)

Here are the orphans we have sponsored this year…

 

Melody…Avery Grace’s angel.                                                                Nana….Caroline’s angel.

Justin….Brent’s angel.                                                                             Emilie….Savannah’s angel.

Aisha….Jackson’s angel.                                                                          Langley….my angel.

 

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.  ~James 1:27 NLT

Would you like to help an orphan this Christmas?

Visit Reece’s Rainbow Angel Tree for more details.

Wise beyond her years. . .

My beautiful 16 year old niece is in India right now for her Spring Break.

Partying? Traveling?  Discovering who she “is” (like the gal from Eat, Pray, Love)?

Nope. Not even close.

  You see, those things have to do with “self” which is the opposite of why she has traveled across the world.

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” Mark 16:15

Our Alex is in India on missions and she LOVES it!  She has gone to a Leper colony, orphanages, camps to teach kids about Christ and so much more. Of course our family beams with pride as we hear all of her adventures. She even told her mama that she wants to come back and teach English to the kids.

 

Not many 16 year olds I know put Christ first in their lives. Or give up going to the beach during Spring Break. Instead choosing to glorify God in a country without all of our American comforts; purposely choosing to be with the “forgotten” over family and friends which she holds so dear .

I pray God lets her rub off on my children. What a shining light in a world of darkness. Move over Lindsey Lohan, Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears….there is a new girl in town and she is worthy of little girls emulating her.

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”  1Peter 3:15

A first for me. . .

Have you read this book?

WOW!

If you haven’t, I can not begin to tell you what an unbelievable read this is.

Never….NEVER…have I read a book that made me think and ponder my life, OUR lives, as this book.

Not in a “new age –how can I make myself happy- I need to find myself” type of way. In fact, it is just the opposite. It flies in the face of everything our society holds dear. Even things about our churches that we have just accepted as “normal”.

-“Why not begin operating under the idea that God has given us excess, not so we could have more, but so we could give more?”

-“My biggest fear, even now, is that I will hear Jesus’ words and walk away, content to settle for less than radical obedience to Him.”

-“The lesson I learned is that the war against materialism in our hearts is exactly that: a war. It is a constant battle to resist the temptation to have more luxuries, to acquire more stuff, and to live more comfortably. It requires strong and steady resolve to live out the gospel in the middle of an American dream that identifies success as moving up the ladder, getting the bigger house, purchasing the nicer car, buying the better clothes, eating the finer food, and acquiring more things.” 

-“We take Jesus’ command in Matthew 28 to make disciples of all nations, and we say, “That means other people.” But we look at Jesus’ command in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest,”and we say, “Now, that means me.” We take Jesus’ promise in Acts 1:8 that the Spirit will lead us to the ends of the earth, and we say, ‘That means some people.” But we take Jesus’ promise in John 10:10 that we will have abundant life, and we say, “That means me.” In the process we have unnecessarily (and biblically) drawn a line of distinction, assigning the obligations of Christianity to a few while keeping the privileges of Christianity for us all.”

WOW!!!!!! Head spinning yet?

I could only read this book in small portions because at times I got a little overwhelmed. But I want to know the truth….even if it stings. Even if it is hard to hear and takes a while to digest. The truth always brings the light.

I do not want to be this person…

   ²⁴ “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. ²⁵When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ ²⁶ Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ ²⁷ And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’ Luke 13 24-27

 

I thought this book so enlightening that I am going to give two of them away.

I have never done a giveaway before…. but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night. ;-) 

If you would like to win a copy of this awesome life changing book, just leave me a comment in the comment section. I will put names in a hat and randomly chose 2 people on the 23rd of February.

Go ahead, leave a comment….you won’t be sorry!

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BTW, I will answer y’alls questions from the “Questions” post sometime this week in a separate post. Thanks for asking! :-)