Laney's Day of Fun - Part 1

As if we could have any more fun, on Friday we started out for "Laney's Day of Birthday Fun." The Vines' family, sans Daddy James, met us at Chuck E. Cheese and the fun began.

We had a blast. The kids ran and played, and the grownups played a bit too. Mom, Aunt Jodie and Grandmama came by on their way to their fun Black Friday fun. That was sweet, and Laney was glad to see them. While she was there, I talked Mom into getting on a new game. It's simulates a roller coaster, and very well indeed. There is a huge screen that shows the ride, and these reclining chairs shake, move and vibrate! Mom did well for a moment, and then after closing her eyes for a bit, jumped off the ride mid way through. I laughed so hard, I was crying. The kids loved it too, and Jennifer was so sad that her pregnant self wasn't allowed on!

We ate pizza, and played some more. The girls danced themselves silly, the boys ran all over the place, and Zane had a big time too. Allen came by after work, and got in on the fun before we had to leave. We had more fun on the agenda, believe it or not. Whew!

Laney's birthday party

After our Thanksgiving dinner, it was party time. Laney had chosen to have a Tinkerbell birthday, and the decorations and cake were just precious. She did a great job choosing them!!!

The cake was yummy, and a perfect sweet treat for after dinner. We were sad that our 8 months pregnant, amazing, professional cake maker, Jennifer, was out of commission. I'm joking, but I've always said that she spoils us to death, and it's true! We missed her sweet treat, but are more glad that she's put that business on hold indefinitely. She needs the rest!

Laney got great presents from her sweet family. She got art supplies, which are her very favorite, from Aunt Cathy. She got a bag full of treats from Grandmother and Papa, and her favorites from them included a sparkly Hello Kitty necklace, some Princess school supplies and two inflatable chairs. Mimi got her the mermaid costume they had spied together on a shopping trip. Emily and Anna got her more art supplies, and let me tell you, she has already used them all!!! Aunt Sandy stole the show with a ballerina music box that Laney had been dreaming about for months. Her face was just priceless when she opened it up. It was a great moment! Mommy and Daddy had already gotten her the Mulan costume she wore on Halloween and her Ratatouille movie. She also had a "Birthday Day" coming on Friday that was part of her present.

To quote one of my Dad's favorite sayings, "Laney racked up"!!!! She had played with her new things, and had such a sweet time! Everyone was exhausted after all the fun, as evidenced below. Off to write thank you notes... :)

Thanksgiving!

Whew. After a week's worth of preparation, menu planning and recipe gathering, countless trips to the grocery store, rearranging-aka taking out to the garage-furniture and "essential stuff" that was in the way, cleaning, baking, driving Allen crazy, wrestling with a frozen turkey and sleepless nights thanks to Zane, Thanksgiving finally arrived. Since it was Laney's birthday, I wanted to have most of our family here this year, together. It was the first time both sides had celebrated a holiday together. Things were remarkable smooth, with only a few minor bumps. I know, without a doubt, that this was largely due to prayer, by myself and my precious friends. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

We ate ourselves silly, but it always amazes me that it takes so much time to prepare the feast, and only a few minutes to eat it. I like how they did it in Jesus' day. They sat around for hours and ate and talked. I know that made the hostess feel good!! We should do that now too...

My favorite thing about Thanksgiving is LEFTOVERS!!! Last night, Allen and I got on our jammies, and ate leftovers until we thought we would pop, and watched football. Comfortable, no stress and SO much fun!!! Not that the actually holiday isn't fun-I love it. But our after party is so great too. We love to eat leftovers all weekend, which is why we had two turkeys. One for just us for we weekend!!!

So a good time was had by all. I was sad to see it come and go, my favorite holiday. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to her for another year!!! I didn't get to watch the parade this year, with all the running around we did that morning, and that's Laney's and my favorite thing to do. But next year we'll be at my mom's sister's house, and all we have to do is bring a dish or two, and show up. As I think about it, maybe I like that kind of Thanksgiving better.... Just kidding (kinda)!!!! Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful too. I thought about you all!

Happy Birthday, Laney

I'll have pictures later, but I didn't want her birthday to get away without me posting some thoughts. My friends have posted such eloquent tributes to their children on their birthdays, and I wanted to do the same for Laney. Honestly, I can't put into words how I feel about her. Does that make me a bad Mommy? Or a bad Blogger?? Oh well.

6 years ago, at 5:37 p.m. Laney came into the world. Today is her "real" birthday, since she was born on Thanksgiving. I love that she was born that day, because Thanksgiving has always been one my favorite holidays. It was amazing. She wasn't due for 5 more days, and Allen and I had plans, of course. We messed up everyones' Thanksgiving!! 12 people waited for her to be born for 7 hours all smushed into one tiny waiting room. It was crazy.

Allen and I had watched "Legally Blonde" and ate Papa John's the night before she was born. My last night of nothing-to-do-ness. So last night, we ordered Papa John's and were going to watch Legally Blonde, but got busy and didn't. We wanted to recreate that night before she was born. Such sweet memories.

You know, Laney saved my life. I was in a period of pretty heavy self destruction when I got pregnant with her. We weren't ready to have kids. We lived in a 700 square foot rented house in Homewood. I worked between 40 and 80 hours at my job. Allen played in a band all over the Southeast. I wasn't sure if I even wanted kids. I was 28, and really had no plans to start a family.

And there was that test. "Positive." Wow. I'll never forget that feeling. "Things are never going to be the same." And they weren't. {And then intense nausea. (!) }

I honestly don't know how many ways God had tried to get my attention before I got pregnant. Probably a lot. I'm not sure how long He was going to let me go on, being so far from Him. I'm so incredibly thankful that He allowed me to get pregnant, instead of the thousands of other ways I can think of that I would personally bring a disobedient child home. Beating me to a pulp sounds much like what I deserved.

And they way He worked out my job. I was able to ask for, and receive, a demotion (!) to reduce my responsibilities and my hours, but keep my pay. I was able to quit work at 28 weeks, and get full disability. I even got full pay 6 weeks after she was born, even though it was clear that I wasn't coming back. He provided us with a huge- to us back then- house. Everything we needed was provided with ease. Man.

That is God. No time in my life, have I ever felt His provision, His love and His grace more during those 9 months. I was so NOT deserving of any of that. I had spent 8 years, completely oblivious to God, spinning and twirling through my own narcissistic little life.

So when I look at Laney, I don't just see her. I mean, she *is* amazing. I can say that. I'm her mother. She's happy, sweet, smart, devoted, caring, loving, nurturing, determined, thorough, perceptive, gracious, polite, talented, sparkly and just anointed. But when I look at her, I am reminded that she is a gift, and God used her in a way that I can't even describe. I'm sure He would have brought me around one way or another, but He chose her. That never, ever ceases to astound me.

And I don't think she'll ever understand what she did for me. By just being born. I gotta say it again. Man. That is just the coolest thing ever.

A Thankful Week

I love the Mitford Series, by Jan Karon. They touched me far more than I expected them to. In one of them, the question was raised-"What if God took away each and every thing that you have never thanked Him for?"

I thank God a lot for the important things. Allen, our children, food, our house, Allen's job and my van. But the little things? The tiny things? Wow.

Boy, I went around and thanked God for everything I could think of. Hot water, showers and toilets, garbage men, chairs, tires, fingernail clippers... The list went on and on. It was an eye opening experience, showing me how much for granted I take most of my life.

I love the Amazing Race. I ignore, for now, some of the yucky stuff because I am able to get a glimpse of the world I so desperately want to travel someday. And it's actually improving some of my geography skills! Hee!

Last night, they were in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in West Africa. They were in a tiny, filthy schoolroom that was leaking because it was raining. It reminded me how very wealthy we are. Incredible.

So this week, I'm going to stay in thankful mode. I usually am, I think, but I want to stay that was permanently. I'll use this week as practice.

Did you know that it is psychosomatically impossible to feel stress and be thankful at the same time?? Isn't that cool????

Colossians 2

6 As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him.

7 Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.

Colossians 3

15 And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].

I'm going to be more thankful.

Why fall is so cool

I just love this time of year, I think mainly because evidence of God is just everywhere. Look at the sky. It's the most captivating color of blue. Look at the trees. He is so amazing. He didn't have to make fall so beautiful. He could have just made the leaves fall off and be done with it. We learned in school that the leaves fall off because their food and water supply are cut off, since the leaves couldn't survive the harsh winter anyway. It was nice to know that scientific reasoning behind the leaves falling off, but it did nothing to diminish my admiration of those gorgeous colors.

This time of year reminds me more of this passage of scripture than spring does:

24"Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!

25"And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life's span?

26"If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?

27"Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

28"But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!

29"And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying.

30"For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.

31"But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

32Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.

33Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys.

34"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 12

Don't Laugh

I'm starting a "healthy" blog. Not a blog that is healthy, but rather a blog that talks about all things health wise. Sounds ridiculous, I know, but so many people ask about food and health info, and there is so much info out there, it's overwhelming. So I'm going to slowly and gently talk through some of the weird things we do. Cause there's LOTS of those!

Some info I'm not going to give out, for fear of judgment, but if you have questions I don't answer, please feel free to ask. I'll be very free one on one. I've just had some bad experiences with people being judgmental about things that really didn't have anything to do with them!!

So feel free to ignore if you want to. Or glance through or whatever. Take what you need and leave the rest. And if you have something you are wondering about-ask away....:)