Review

These things happened this weekend.  Yes, I'm serious:

We saw a dead body on the ground in downtown Birmingham as we drove through there.  Squad cars everywhere.  Jordan said "Oh, they've got a guy on the ground.  He's on the ground. Oh, they are putting a sheet on him.  Dead body. Dead body. Dead body."

That kind of went away when she found out the college football all star game players were staying in the same hotel we were in.

So she went from "Dead body. Dead body. Dead body." to "Football players. Football players. Football players."

In case you were wondering, real live college football players are huge.  I saw two guys the size of a side by side refrigerator.  And another guy in the elevator that was the size OF the elevator.

Let's see... what else....

We rode to dinner with another volleyball mom.  And, in the process of almost running out of gas, got lost and got semi accosted by a hobo.

Volleyball... played well.  Won a few.  Lost more.  First tourny of the year.  Working some kinks out.  Looking forward to a good season.  And a tournament IN TOWN next weekend.  Holla.

Other awkward weird stuff with awkward weird people in the hotel.

I may or may not have been jamming to Pitbull twice during this trip and once missed my exit and another time missed the interstate exit entirely. 

I almost got run off the road last night on the way home.  Had to swerve over in the shoulder.

Glad to finally get home last night.  Guess we drug in about 7:30 pm.

The Captain's grandmother is back in the hospital with some side effects from her chemo.

Also, Jordan's boyfriend's dad had a small stroke yesterday.  He's three months out from a bone marrow transplant for AML, and has been doing well, so there are lots of questions going on there.

Thanks for praying for Betty W. and Bruce T.

Kids out of school today.  The Captain is off work.  But he's gone coyote hunting.  I'm not really sure what that means.  But that's what he's doing.  I have to go to work.  I would think with the combo of the holiday and the inauguration, we should be off work.

Speaking of the inauguration, why does he have to be reinaugurated?  He's already President and has the keys to the House.  So why another party?  I don't get it.

Anyway, my brain and body and emotions are tired today.  But it's the first of many weary post tournament Mondays ahead.  Might as well get used to it.

Happy Monday.

Mehhhhhh.....

Feeling so meh this week. Mehhhhhhh.....

Life's sadness has brought me down.

Our current pace has worn me out.

These hormones have messed me up.

Is it wrong to just want to stay in my cozy bed with my iBaby and my kindle and my big fluffy pillows and a box of cheez-its?

Next week brings a few days of rest. Relief from the pace and the hormones.

The sadness? Not so much.

More coffee for me right now. That's a good place to start.

January 31, 2007

Daddy gone.
Five years.
Time passes.
Things change.
Stay same.
Not fair.
It's hard.
Heart hurts.
I'm sad.
Miss him.
Stupid leukemia.
Don't like.
DON'T LIKE.
Hate it.
HATE IT.
Weepy eyes.
Distracted soul.
Need him.
Miss him.
Wanna' talk.
Sad heart.
Life continues.

winning...and losing...

Home from the beach. I'll tell you about it later. Although there's really not that much to talk about, because I didn't do anything. But, later I'll fill you in on my sunburned kneecaps.

Today, though, I hope you will pray for the Brumfield family. On Sunday, Nick won his battle with cancer and went home to heaven. He was brave. And faithful. And there are many who are sad. Especially our youth group - please remember then in prayer also as they have lost one of their own. Sometimes young people just don't get it. And they really shouldn't have to.

It's just all so hard.

And sad.

Conflict.

I'm kinda' all over the place today, people.

The Captain's sister is having a baby today. Remember when she got married? The huge road trip wedding weekend of puke, panties, and precipitation? Yeah, that one. Anyway, their first baby will arrive in the world today. And my heart is full of excitement and anticipation and love for them.

And, at the same time my heart it breaking. Remember our friend Nick who was diagnosed with a brain tumor last summer? They found out yesterday that the cancer has now spread to his spine. They begin radiation today. And my heart is full of sadness and brokenness and fear.

Conflict.

Happy.

Sad.

I just wanna' cry.

Life.

"When times are good, be happy.

When times are bad, consider this:

God has made the one as well as the other.

Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future."

Ecclesiastes 7:14

Things

So I spent the weekend downtown at a volleyball tournament. What else is new, right? It was fun. But long. Jordan starts PT this afternoon so hopefully it won't be long before she is back on the court.

And apparently the weekend featured some beautiful, sunny, 60's-warm weather. Who knew. I hardly saw the light of day. {See paragraph above.}

I am discovering how challenging it is to be gone all weekend and then hit the ground running Monday morning back to work and school. Lots of things don't get done. Like laundry washing and grocery shopping and house cleaning and week planning. *sigh* Must figure out a way to remedy this situation.

And finally, I lost my Daddy to leukemia four years ago today. It remains one of the saddest days of my life. And the most difficult things I have ever gone through. It seems like forever ago. And it seems like yesterday. And sometimes it's hard to even think about it because it makes me feel like I've been socked in the stomach and just can't breathe. I miss him. The end.

Alrighty then....I'm off to tackle the day they call Monday.

Blink

Warning - this is a deep and sappy kind of post....Come back another day if you don't want to hear my "life is too short" blah blah blah...

So much always going on.

Life. It moves so fast.

The beginning of a new school year makes me all weepy. My kids are another year older. And sometimes it's hard to bear. Seriously. Time has marched on. I have an 8th grader and a 3rd grader. Stop. It.

My heart is all wigged out right now.

My heart still aches for my physician whose 20 year old daughter was killed in a car accident.
The Captain's grandmother was diagnosed with cancer and started chemo this week.
My 96 year old great aunt is dying. Literally. Dying. As I type this. Is in the last days of her life.
Nick B. continues to daily fight his brain tumor and have radiation and chemo.

Life. It's heavy.

And sometimes I get caught up in all the stuff that we are doing. Cooking dinner, driving kids around, buying school stuff, driving kids around, laundry, driving kids around. Did I mention driving kids around? I do a lot of that. Just so much stuff to do. Lots of it. And we're about to factor homework and school routine back into all this.

And I whine. And get all stressed out about it. And I chew on my lip. And get all splotchy. And fret. Cause it's just what I do...

And right now a lot of these things are causing my heart to experience some "inner turmoil".

And I realized -- AGAIN -- {head slap} -- that I am so hung up in the DOING the stuff that I sometimes am not just enjoying the STUFF. I have my to-do list and concentrate and focus on checking things off. But I wonder if I'm missing the THINGS.

Then yesterday - when I was driving Jordan to get her some of her braces put on - I heard this song. And yes, I've heard it before. Many times. But wow - it just smacked me in my Type A head. It's "Blink" by Revive. It's good stuff people.

And it goes something like this....


Teach me to number my days
And count every moment before it slips away
Taking all the colors before they fade to gray
I don't want to miss even just a second more of this

It happens in a blink
It happens in a flash
It happens in the time it takes to look back
I try to hold on tight, but there's no stopping time
What is it I've done with my life
It happens in a blink

Teach me to number my days
And count every moment before it slips away
Taking all the colors before they fade to gray
I don't want to miss even just a second more of this

It happens in a blink
It happens in a flash
It happens in the time it takes to look back
I try to hold on tight, but there's no stopping time
What is it I've done with my life
It happens in a blink

Slow down, slow down
Before today becomes our yesterday
Slow down, slow down
Before you turn around and it's too late

It happens in a blink
it happens in a flash
it happens in the time it takes to look back
I try to hold on tight but there's no stopping time
What is it I've done with my life
It happens in a blink

It happens in a blink
it happens in a flash
it happens in the time it takes to look back
I try to hold on tight but there's no stopping time
What is it I've done with my life
It happens in a blink.


Wanna' listen to it? Here ya' go...



Maybe I can't change life. And its pace. And its never ending to-do list. Or the laundry. Or carting kids all over the place. But I can slow MYSELF down. And live with a little more purpose and enjoyment right now. In the NOW. It's hard people. Because my to-do list chokes me at times.

OK, I think I'm done now. For the two of you who stuck with me and are still reading this post, thanks.

I'll be back tomorrow.

Enjoy your day my people.

Friday Post - Long Holiday Weekend Edition

1. Nick's surgery went well yesterday. As his mom said, "Round 1 went to Nick. Cancer took a beating." He still has a long road ahead. But good steps were made yesterday. Thanks for praying for him.

2. The Adventure-Having Daughter and Captain come home home tonight. And yes, she leaves AGAIN next week on another trip. She's a vagabond.

3. Cooper and I have had an exceptional week. Camp Cozy Bed has been a most excellent place. And one night, we may or may not have been in bed at 5:45. Maybe. We've watched our share of America's Funniest Home Videos and have laughed our heads off.

4. I'm off today. And we get Monday as the holiday since it falls on a Sunday. Soooo, I'm off work until Tuesday. Say amen people.

5. I had the consultation yesterday for Jordan's braces. Let's just say we can fix her teeth for the same amount we paid for the new air conditioner. Plus, she has a "challenging mouth" and will have to have 4 teeth pulled AND have jaw surgery. There is some major misalignment of her top and bottom jaws -- some sort of measurement thing which should measure 1.0. Hers measures 7.8. The pulling of the teeth and the putting on of the braces will happen this summer; the jaw surgery won't happen until next summer. The DDS also teaches at the dental college here in town and said she would most definitely be a case study for the dental students. So....blah to all that. Stay tuned. And send money.

6. I'm getting my hair cut today. You're welcome.

7. I'm off work until Tuesday. What? I've already said that? Oh sorry. I'm just slightly excited.

8. I continue to remain ever thankful for our freedom and independence.

9. May hot dogs and fireworks abound for you this weekend.

10. And, finally what's Indendence Day without THIS??!!

Today...

Please pray for Nick.

His surgery is today. And is probably happening right now. As you read this.

"Do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything,

by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God. "

~ Philippians 4:6

There's nothing else to say today.

So just pray.

Thanks everybody.

There is a "Praying for Nick Brumfield" group on Facebook and a

Caring Bridge page too. Visit if you are so inclined.

Thinkin' about the past

Another day. Another heat advisory.

Blah blah blah.

I will think of cooler times. Colder days.

Six months ago.

When I was freezing my patootie off.

In other news, Jordan comes home today! Hooray!


And finally, please continue to pray for Nick. They have set up a Caring Bridge site and you can check it out right here. There is also a "Praying for Nick Brumfield" group thing on Facebook if that's more up your alley. Connie and I were talking yesterday about how so many of you - who don't even know him - and who really don't even "know" us - were praying for him. And that's just awesome.

OK people. I'm outta' here.

The Captain got up early this morning for some reason. And, instead of watching news and weather and sports recaps and such (which is what I do when I am up by myself), he has chosen to watch some scary wolf movie. Ummmm, it's a bit early for that nonsense. So I'm headed to work.

Have a happy day!

heavy heart

The 18 year old son of our youth minister has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.

Please pray for Nick.

"And the prayer offered in faith

will make the sick person well...

pray for each other so that you may be healed.

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

~ James 5:15-16

It's Tuesday

I know you are so impressed with my creative title for today's post...

First....
Rob & Kathryn found out yesterday that all of Tanner's testing came back NEGATIVE. His cancer was isolated and it had not spread. THAT, my bloggy friends, is God working. It is prayers answered. They are still trying to identify exactly what type of cancer the tumor was and determine an appropriate treatment plan. But, this is such good, good, news.

In other random news....

It's back to the Bronx for the World Series. Chase Utley is a cutie and has been tearing it up. But I still love my boyfriend, #2. Go Yankees.

The New Orleans Saints remain unbeaten. Seriously people. The SAINTS.

52 days until Christmas. Dear gravy. That is scary.

I went to the dentist yesterday to get my crown replaced. That is scary too. More on this later when I can talk about it without having to breathe in a brown paper bag. Seriously people....I have issues.

The moon has been full and bright and just gorgeous. The end.

When did November get here?

That is all.

Have a good day people.

Play nice.

By the Numbers

8 ... Number of weeks 'til Christmas

3 ... Bags of stuff I hauled out of Cooper's room after I cleaned it last weekend

722 ... Number of posts on this blog, including this one

0 ... Number of games the Tennessee Titans have won so far this season

5 ... Number of inches of rain we may get between now and Saturday morning.

6 ... Number of runs the Phillies scored last night in Game 1 of the World Series

1 ... Number of runs the Yankees scored last night in Game 1 of the World Series (Yes, it was my boyfriend that scored)

295 ... Number of times I said "Good gravy" last night in Game 1 of the World Series while I watched the Phillies whip the Yankees

142 ... Number of times I said "Seriously" last night in Game 1 of the World Series while I watched the Phillies whip the Yankees

2 ... Number of days left until the weekend (Can I get an amen!!??)



PS --
Baby Tanner reports to St. Jude today for several days of testing. His family has set up a Caring Bridge site here. There is also a Facebook page (group?) called "Praying for Tanner Stallins". I don't know exactly how to link to it. If you are a FB'r, you know how to do that. Anyhoo, there remains a huge amount of uncertainty and the doctors are still trying to find an accurate diagnosis. Keep praying.

Life

See that sweet baby?

His name is Tanner.

He is 14 months old.

He was diagnosed yesterday with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft-tissue cancer.

I don't know all the specific medical stuff ...

And I guess all of that really doesn't matter anyway.

Because what matters is his parents were told yesterday that their baby has cancer.

And that's just. not. right.

Our hearts are sad.

"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well...pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:15-16

Pray for Tanner.