4 day weekend - for Jason

Jason has the next 4 days off from work -- right now, he is asleep. Samuel is asleep. I do believe the other 3 are awake and all downstairs playing. I do hope that they will keep quiet and not wake the other 2. Stephanie just came in and was about to whine about something but I stopped her. There is no need to start that way on a Saturday morning.

I should be going to take a shower so that I can get ready to go help out with free gift wrapping this morning at 10am. We do this as a church every year. I haven't been able to the last few years but I am looking forward to doing it today. I will help out for a couple of hours but then I will have to take Stephanie to a birthday party at 2pm. Fun. Roller skating is where the party is at. It's for her friend Isabel.

We currently have no plans for this evening -- but that is ok. We probably just need to hang out at home and do nothing! This month is so busy as it is. :)

Tomorrow of course is church -- and then I have choir practice at 4pm. I need to listen to my song some more today. I just now put it on headphones so that I can listen to the whole thing. I really so pray that this will go well. We have not had a lot of practice time (the choir) and not many are being positive about it. Please pray for us. That this will minister to even just one person. It's going to be performed next week ...

Then not sure what we will do Monday and Tuesday while Jason is at home. I need to talk to him about that and see if he wants to do something. We might go do some shopping ... or something! It will be nice to have him at home. Of course, he will then have to go to work the rest of the week! :)

Draft autosaved at 8:36 AM -- and now it's 6:01pm! YIKES!

Today -- went to wrap gifts (slow) ... went to a birthday party - went to the Christian bookstore - went to Best Buy -- we are now home for the evening! I guess I will just have to post this ... and update more some other time --

I was given this award and I treasure it ... I would like to pass it on to 5 other people. Choosing just 5 people is very difficult for me -- as there are so many people in my life that are deserving of such an award ... but I will try to limit this post to just 5. If you are not mentioned, do not think it's because you don't mean that much to me! :)

1. Jason -- yes, he is my husband -- but he is also my closest friend. I love him more and more each day .. he is there for me through the good times and the bad times. He loves me for me .. and will do anything for me. He means the world to me and I don't know what I would do without him in my life. I am thankful for the blessing the Lord has given me for bringing him in my life.

2. Melanie -- a dear friend whom I miss so much. We don't get to talk as much as we would like. We have not seen each other in person in a very long time -- but when we do get in touch with each other, it's as if it was just yesterday that we saw each. We just pick up right where we left off .. she is family to me! I love her dearly. We have always been able to share everything with each other. Easy to talk to and confide in.

3. Rachael -- another friend that I miss dearly and wish so much that she lived in GA again .. but I know that she is happy where she is -- and that soon we will get together again. A person that I can talk to about anything.

4. BigSis -- Lisa -- My sister, my friend. I never truly understood the bond that we had until I moved away. Yes, we faught like crazy growing up .. but as we got older, that all changed. We have grown closer and I miss her like crazy -- wish that we lived closer to each other -- wish we could talk to each other more often -- wish we could just "hang out" (or perhaps it's the distance that has brought us so close?) LOL. I love her with all my heart ...

5. Lisa W - a person who I can always count on to make me smile even on those horrible days. We share many things with each other ... our children play so well together ... and I treasure her friendship. She has been there for me in many ways ... and I am thankful that the Lord brought her into my life. I am truly blessed.

Again, I say -- if you are not on this list of 5 people, that does not mean that you are not a wonderful and amazing friend .. you are all blessings from the Lord and I am grateful for all of you .. and all that you mean in my life ... we are all brought together for a reason -- the Lord knows what He is doing ...

Thank you ....

Christmas to-do

Jason - done
Stephanie
Joseph
Samuel
Jenna
Jason's mom
Jason's dad
My mom - done
My dad - done
Paula - done
Jacob

I think I need to do some more shopping on amazon.com .. I just wish that I could finish the last 3 on there (MIL, FIL, BIL) ... and get it over with .. but not sure what to get MIL & FIL! The kids -- well, I have a few things to get wrapped from the closet ... and then need to get a few other things and will be done.

Jason's gift -- I am working on. I can't really say anything online about it -- because he reads everything :) LOL ... I just hope that he will LOVE it! :)

Saturday will be a busy day -- but that is ok. Jason has Monday and Tuesday off next week! YAY! :) Long weekend!! Love those. He *HAD* to take the last 5 days of vacation before the end of the year ... and this will be 2 of those days. :)

Nothing else is planned this week ... AWANA at church tomorrow night ...

Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas

It's that time of the year -- The kids will have early release from school today, and will then have Wed-Fri off from school for Thanksgiving! Not sure how I feel about that -- 5 days of no school ... it can be a long time! :) I'm sure that it will be fine. Jason has Thursday and Friday off -- and we'll be spending most of the afternoon / evening on Thurs. at SIL's house. I will cook the turkey here but bring it there (since she is working from 7pm Wed night until 7am Thursday morning).

I would really love to go shopping on Friday. WalMart will probably be the place to go -- but perhaps Best Buy as well. Only problem -- finding someone to go with me. I'm sure Jason would go -- but of course, we would have to have someone here to watch the kids. So, not sure what will happen .. I will look over the sales again and see what I need/want to get!

Jason found out that he still has 5 days of vacation time that he has to take before the end of the year .. so right now we are looking at him taking Dec 8th, 9th, 23rd, 29th and 30th ... we have already made plans for the 23rd (we are awaiting the confirmation email) ... we will be taking all the kids to Bryson City, NC to do the Polar Express (http://www.gsmr.com/reservations/excursions.php) --

The Polar Express comes to life when the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey to our "North Pole". Guests on board will enjoy hot chocolate and treats while listening and reading along with the magical story. Experience the joy of watching the children's faces when the train arrives at our "North Pole," where Santa Claus will be waiting. Santa will board The Polar Express where he will greet each child and present them with a special memento. Holiday carols will be sung on the return trip to Bryson City. Families will want to make this a holiday tradition! $38.00 per person for adults and teens 13 and older. $26.00 per child over 24 months of age. Children 24 months and younger are complimentary. Ticket price includes admission to the Smoky Mountain Trains Museum in Bryson City. Please note: During the online reservation process, you must select a date and time for each reservation. If a time is not available for selection, that time is sold-out and no longer available. Thank you.

-- I know that they are going to LOVE it ... Jason's parents, his sister and BIL are all coming as well ... I will be sure to take lots of pictures. Like I said -- just waiting to get the confirmation email. I am hoping that they are not booked on that day / time we picked. It's the last day they are doing it before Christmas ... and one of the last trips of the day (picked the 5pm train) ...

Christmas Eve we will be meeting here at the house. I really did not want to have to move everything (gifts -- as we open everything from family that night) ... and then of course, come home to get the kids to bed and settled -- so that Santa can come (we've had a discussion already with Stephanie and Joseph about this -- since Stephanie's friend mentioned that Santa wasn't real -- Stephanie and Joseph have told me that they still know that Santa is real -- so we still have time) LOL .... so we are going to do it here -- and I think Jason's parents will spend the night -- unless they decide to go back home. We'll see ... because usually we go to their house on Christmas day to eat lunch/supper ... still have a month to figure out THAT detail! :)

I still need to get some shopping done .... not sure what to get for a few people .. but I'm sure that I will think of something before the 25th of December! :) Any ideas would be great!!! LOL

Ok, enough for now. Hope that you all have a blessed day!!!!

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Update on my mom ..

Well, I talked to both my sister and my mom this evening ... my mom called me once she got home (yes, they sent her home from the hospital) ... They did the CT scan today and it showed nothing -- they had told her that if it did not show anything, that they would send her home. She should be getting calls this week to set up some more tests .. and see where that will take them. She asked the doctor how long it should be before she gets those calls and he gave her his number and said if she does not hear from them this week -- to call him! I am still upset that they did not keep her at the hospital and monitor her -- but that is the joys of medicine in Canada ...

That is about where we are right now ... they haven't really ruled out anything .. although they are not leaning towards stroke as much -- mainly because the numbness she felt was on both sides of the face and not just one side. They are going to check her heart --for blockages and things like that. Do a stress test ...

Thanks for the continued prayers!!! Will post more as I know more.

Please pray

Sent this out through email last night --

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My sister called to let me know that my mom is in the hospital!

She was not feeling well last week -- and finally on Saturday decided to go see the doctor. The doctor was unsure what was going on. Seemed to think it could be stroke related or possibly a vitamin deficiency (I know, broad spectrum there) - were going to send her in for a CT scan ... and see what that was going to show. My dad called to tell me this on Saturday evening -- he did not want me to hear it from anyone else and make me worry more than I already would.

Well, apparently what was happening last week happened again this afternoon so my dad called 911 and the ambulance brought her to the hospital. The feeling she had was starting in the chest area and went up to her face (numbness on both sides of the face) ... and she felt like her head could explode. At the hospital, they took some blood work ... and are keeping her overnight to monitor her and continue to do blood work (as the first set did not show anything) ... they are unsure if it's stroke related or possibly heart related. Tomorrow they are going to do some more blood work, a stress test and also the CT scan ... so I won't know anything else until I hear from my sister possibly tomorrow afternoon sometime ...

I would greatly appreciate any prayers ... for my my mom, my dad, my family ... the doctors.