Happy Birthday to my 10 yr. old!

I know my last post was a "Walk down Memory Lane", but I have to do it again now in honor of my oldest son's birthday today. I can't believe he's 10 yrs. old! The time flew by.





I don't know why this particular birthday has me reflecting on the day he was born. Maybe it's because we had 20 inches of snow back then, and I had to get my in-laws to drive me to the hospital in their 4-wheel drive. This year, we have 10 inches of snow and it's bringing back all the memories.

The day after "J" was born, he was diagnosed with a heart condition. I remember lying in the hospital bed praying and I heard this question in my spirit, "will you still serve Me if he dies?". My very first thought was where else would I go? So of course I answered "yes, Lord". Immediately I heard that still small voice say "this is NOT unto death" and I felt a peace flood my heart. I had called my husband and told him there was something wrong and for him to hurry to the hospital. When he walked into the room he had tears in his eyes and he said "on the way here, I heard the Lord ask me if I would surrender "J" up like Abraham surrendered Isaac and I told him yes. Then I knew he wouldn't die." Total confirmation - God is so good!

After that, we had such peace to take us through the events that followed. "J" had heart surgery at 8 months old and he hasn't stopped going since. He's doing great
and has no limits.






"J", I'm so proud of what a great kid you are. I pray that you will always know how much your Mom & Dad, and family love you. Most importantly, how much your Heavenly Father loves you and has an awesome plan for your life!



Thanks to my blogging friends for allowing me to "reminisce" about my sweet boy.

A Walk Down Memory Lane: Remember These Days?

Come for a walk with me down Memory Lane!
And if you have a "Memory Lane" post, head on over to Scottsville to join in on the fun!
This walk down Memory Lane goes back to the end of 2003. It seems like forever ago. I miss a lot of things about when my boys where little, but this is one thing I'm glad is behind me!




Both my boys took forever to learn to potty, but "Little B" here knew how but didn't want to give up control. I'll never forget the day he was wearing pull-ups and a friend was over for a play date. They were changing into super hero costumes and the friend saw "Little B's" pull-up and made fun of it. That was the last day he ever wore them and from then on, he went to the bathroom in the potty like "a big boy'. That was the day I saw one positive side to peer pressure! I thought to myself, why didn't I have a kid make fun of him months ago???

Giving Up Aspartame

I'm back...has anyone missed me? I haven't written in so long and I have a lot to tell, but I would have to write a book, not a blog to fit it all in. So for now, I will let you know that I am making good on one of my New Year's resolutions. I'm giving up Diet Dr. Peppers (and all caf. drinks) once and for all!

I am now on my sixth day with NO Aspartame. I pushed through the headaches and the temptation (except for one momentary lapse on Monday when I had half of a regular Dr. Pepper, but still, no Aspartame). I am drinking water, water, and oh yeah...more water. For those of you who do this all the time, you may say "what's the big deal?" The big deal for me is that 1) I don't like water (but I'm learning to), and 2) Here is just a little sample of how many Caf. free Diet Dr. Pepper's I was drinking...

This is a recycle bin almost completely filled with Diet Dr. Pepper cans from yours truly. Seriously, no one else in my house drank them but ME! We have 5 recycle bins on our deck and almost all of them filled with my nasty habit. I would drink anywhere from 5 to 8 a day on average.

The reason for the makeover...it's a new year, and I turned another year older this month. But not just any year...a BIG ONE! I thought it was high time to lose weight and get in shape. I recruited my good friend Beth at I'm Heading Towards My Destiny to help me out. She holds me accountable, checking in on me everyday. To prove how serious I was this time about staying committed, I actually told her my weight - something my hubby doesn't even know. Keeping me on track and motivated is a tough job and she has her work cut out for her. But she's been a true friend, caring about seeing me whip this bondage. Which reminds me, thanks to all my blogging friends who have encouraged me, and I know you'll continue to do so.

I see this new year, and new season in my life as a step toward being free from every type of bondage. It's almost as if God showed me that this one area where I appear to be in control (because I would never surrender my eating habits to the Lord) is actually one area where I'm totally out of control (because I'm in total bondage to addiction of foreign substances in my body; as well as the vicious cycle that it creates. The cycle of indulging in comfort foods only to lower my self-esteem as I watch myself grow bigger & bigger). It's what I call an "Esau spirit" where you live for the momentary satisfaction, only to regret it later. I finally told the Lord, "I won't hold anything back anymore. I won't say you can be Lord of everything...except this one thing. I'll give it all to You." Now, I've confessed it to ALL those who dare to read my blog. So I have no excuse. I must walk this out to total freedom.

I encourage you all to search your heart and see if there is anything that you know deep down you hold back from giving to the Lord. If so, please consider surrendering it completely and letting Him replace it with something far greater.