Pray for this precious family

I posted a blog a little bit ago about my Sweet Emmie, which was inspired by reading the story of Audrey Caroline, http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/. I still check in on that blog occasionally, and today read that they lost their precious nephew Luke last night. He was born March 18, and his mother went in to check on him last night and he wasn't breathing. The paramedics were unable to do anything. It's a terrible, awful event no matter what, but given the circumstances this family has just been through, it's even worse. It's one of those things where you can't help but say, "WHY God???" I am just moved to tears for them. Please take a second and pray for Luke's family (who, incidentally, live in Georgia). I know they are in shock and disbelief.

Manna from heaven

My mom and I were at Chick-Fil-A today for lunch, and on our way out, I found a $10.00 bill in the parking lot! This is exciting in an of itself, but it is even more amazing considering I just found a $100 bill while walking down the street with Molly 2 weeks ago! Yes, a $100 bill! I asked a few neighbors if they had lost any money, and one said it was probably lost by a yard crew worker since they frequently get paid in cash. Can you believe that? I mean, if I find a quarter I get excited! Manna from heaven! (am I spelling manna right???) I know a lot of us are feeling the pinch of our financial times right now, particularly those of us who have husbands in sales. We have REALLY been feeling it, which can be pretty distressing with a new house, bigger mortgage and bills, and another baby on the way. But then the Lord drops cash right in front of my face! Thank you for your provisions (and sense of humor!) Lord!

On a totally random note, does anyone have a good way to keep your kid's white clothes WHITE? I spray and wash spots as soon as we get the clothes off, but I've got 2 new white shirts of Molly's that I just pulled out of the wash that are ruined.....HELP! I'd love to know what you do!

Molly in her once white shirt

Maternity Clothes

I've decided that someone out there needs to get smart and make maternity clothes that are created equal! There needs to be a store where you can shop for clothes based on how many babies you have had. First time mommies, here are all the cute little smalls for you, with a few mediums for your third trimester. Second time mommies, here are all the mediums with a lot of larges for that final trimester. There are a even a few extra-larges for the very VERY end. Third time plus mommies, here are the larges for the first trimester, extra-larges for the second, and a whole stock room of muu muus and tents for the third. Even though my first pregnancy wasn't full term, my body is acting as if I went down to the last second of it. I'm 28 weeks, and officially in the extra large shirts. My large shirts from last time don't cover the giant belly anymore. It's a little humiliating. I just really want to meet the person who wears the smalls!!!

Expectations

I have to say that Mother's Day this year was one of those games played with expectations...the kind where you lose! Don't get me wrong, it wasn't terrible or anything. It just wasn't what I expected. For one, I don't have a child old enough to understand it, so no cute poems or decorated flower pots. No "I love you mommy", or "Happy Mother's Day", because she can't say those things yet. In fact, poor thing had a fever (which I found out the next day was due to an ear infection) and hadn't slept well in days. My sweet husband, normally so great at surprises on days like that, just didn't have anything up his sleeve this year. No plans or gifts. It was one of those days where you didn't really think you had any expectations, but it turned out that you did, because you find yourself disappointed. Then I read a friend's blog, and she made a point that really hit home with me. The brunches, flowers, gifts, etc. are all nice, but is there really any way to thank a mom for the daily sacrifices she makes for her children? I long to feel the importance of my job sometimes. I KNOW it's important, but I don't always feel the value of it. That is where expectations come in. To expect one day to validate the daily toil of motherhood doesn't make sense. When I let the expectations and resulting disappointment go, I actually had a really nice day of rest and relaxation, 2 things I desperately needed! And the value of my job was validated at 1:30 in the morning, when my sweet child was sick and crying and mommy was the one who heard and woke up, and went in to provide comfort. So in the end, Mother's Day gave me exactly what I needed...validation that being mommy is a sweet and precious thing to be.

Sweet Emmie

A sweet friend (thanks c!) sent me a link to a blog about Audrey Caroline, a baby girl that was born, lived 2 hours, and then went to heaven. She was the 4th daughter to her parents. The particular blog she sent was about the mom going to the cemetary to visit. She ended with words about the lonliness of losing your child, and how it's unlike anything anyone can imagine unless you have experienced it. I absolutely bawled my eyes out! She is so right, and I felt like I found a kindred spirit in reading her words. Loss and death are certainly a detour from the light and happy fare we like to enjoy, but there is something so deeply therpeutic about crying those tears and reading those vulnerable words. She said she will forever bear the mark of a woman who has lost a child....so will I. She also said she knew that there were many others, although we don't usually know who they are. So true! I remember in the days early after losing Emmie, I thought about how it would be if everyone wore a sign around their neck describing what they are going through. "I just lost my baby", "I just got a divorce", "I just lost my job".....the list of course could go on and on. It just made me think about how we bump into people all the time with wounded hearts, but we aren't really a society that wants to talk about it. Anyhow, I've been thinking about my sweet Emmie since I read that blog, and I just wanted to acknowledge her today! I wonder where she is in heaven, and what she is doing. I wonder if God tells her how many tears I cry for her and how much we all miss her. I wonder if she feels her mommy's love for her there. I wonder if she knows she has a sister, and if she has insight into what the next one will be. I wonder who she has met, and what friends and family she is with. I wonder what it will be like when I get there, and she is waiting for me....thank God for heaven! I miss you sweet girl!

Alright....Tag, I'm it!

This is for hheaton and cstargel!!!

What were you doing 10 years ago?
Let's see.....I was 25, single, living in Dunwoody with Becca and Misti, and wondering if I would ever get married!!!! I was also teaching first grade at Bethesda Elem. in Gwinnett.

5 Things on my to-do List:
1. Clean our toilets and vacuum
2. Take a Zantac
3. Take a nap when Molly does
4. Have some QT with God
5. Work on my grandmother's 90th b-day scrapbook that I haven't touched yet

5 Snacks I enjoy:
1. chocolate
2. Cheetos
3. Nuts
4. South Beach snack bars
5. cheese

5 Places I've Lived:
1. Suwanee, GA
2. Alpharetta, GA
3. Dunwoody, GA
4. Auburn, Al
5. Stone Mountain, GA

5 Bad Habits:
1. procrastination!!!!!!
2. eating like crap
3. wasting time on dumb stuff instead of resting or doing something meaningful
4. short temper
5. critical

5 Places I've worked:
1. State Bridge Crossing Elem.
2. Bethesda Elem.
3. Veritas Homeschooling group
4. Honey Baked Ham
5. Camp Highland crafts director

5 Things I'd do if I was a billionare:
1. Build new houses for me, my brother's family, and my parents (I guess my inlaws too...)
2. Buy a beach house for family and friends to use
3. Buy a lake/mountain house and boat for the family to enjoy
4. Invest wisely
5. Give to all the organizations that I wish I could give lots to now!

Baby Names????

Anyone have any suggestions for a girl's name that would be good with MacDonald and kind of go with Molly? I am at a dead end on girl's names! I think we are pretty settled on Jackson Scott (called Jack) if it's a boy. We came up with that years ago, and now it seems every boy on the planet is named Jack, but we still like it! As a side note, I had my FIRST dream last night about the sex of the baby....it was a boy! Of course, I dreamt that Emmie was a boy several times, and that didn't pan out, so who knows! But I am open for any girl name suggestions!

Bon Jovi is AWESOME!!!!

We went to see Bon Jovi/Daughtry in concert last night with my brother and sister-in-law. It was a Christmas gift...............AND IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had the BEST time!!!! It was really cool to see Chris Daughtry there, seeing as how I am an American Idol fan. But Bon Jovi....there just are no words! That man has more energy than anyone I have ever seen! He was basically aerobic the whole show, while singing! It was amazing! I have to say that my highlights were "Bad Medicine", "You Give Love A Bad Name", and "Living on a Prayer". I got my giant self up out of that chair and was dancing and singing like I was in high school again! The cute girls sitting next to us said I was making them nervous...how funny! I guess seeing a big ol pregnant gal bouncing around is an unsettling sight, but I had the time of my life! I started thinking about the concerts I have been to, and here is the list I can think of:

• Huey Lewis and the News
• U2 Joshua Tree
• Garth Brooks
• Love and Rockets (I know....scary!)
• Wynona (sp?) Judd and Clint Black (at Auburn)
• Backstreet Boys
• N*SYNC (one of my favorites!!!)
• The Temptations
• Neil Diamond (loved it!)
• Yanni (free tickets)
• Justin Timberlake
• Bon Jovi

And of course I've done the Christian circuit too, with Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Mercy Me, The Gaithers, Sandy Patti, Carmen, Michael Card...I think that is all.

How random is that list? I think there are more that I am not even thinking of! Out of all of them, Bon Jovi and N*SYNC are tied for the 2 most amazing, entertaining concerts I've ever been to! So if you have a chance to go....DO IT!