I've got the.....

Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy....

.....down in my heart! Down in my heart to stay!

How long since you heard that little ditty? I know, I know....it reminds you of Vacation Bible School and weak lemonade and piggy tails and sitting on cool linoleum floors and screaming and whispering and Bud's Best butter cookies, too.

What? It doesn't remind you of those things?

Oh....

...those must be my memories!

See, I'm finding my joy. my bliss. my peace.

moment by moment by moment by moment.

We finished an awesome series at church on Sunday....I think that's what tipped it off. I am embracing the good. the joy. the wonderfulness that is my life.

The wonderfulness that is my children. and my husband. and my family. and of course....

....my Jesus.

Yay!

P.S. The gawgeous curly-headed baby in my last post is my precious niece Olivia.....in case you were wondering.

Snapshots....

....from a busy couple weeks!

I am working on pulling together a cohesive post in the next day or two. In the meantime, why don't you try to figure out what we've been up to!

Living. Loving. Breathing. Feeling. Being. Doing....

....this!

And, a whole lot more.

Surfin' Saturday....

.....it's been awhile!

I am working today (and I worked yesterday, too).....you know how those days have been lately. So, in light of my bloggy absence, I thought I'd post a couple of links to some things that are heavy on my heart right now....

Dr. Oz happened to have a segment on his show yesterday featuring a young woman with a Port Wine Stain birthmark like Greer has. While I am thrilled that the topic was featured on a major show like this, I must admit that I was a bit disappointed by the "info-mercial-ness" of it all. Oh, how I wish he had focused a bit more on the medical impact of PWS and about other "miracle" therapies like laser and support groups. Oh well, at least he's getting some info out there!

And now, on a much more serious note, a precious little patient of my dad's went to be with Jesus yesterday. He was born with a rare disorder and many challenges, but he lived for almost 2 years.....a miracle in itself. Please read little Ian's story and say a prayer for his sweet family. Taking care of Ian over the past couple of years has been so amazingly special for my daddy and his nurse, Joan.....and I know his heart (his still healing heart) is breaking for Mary and Wae. I am lifting them up in prayer as they face the coming minutes, days, weeks, and months without baby Ian. I cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like to lose a child. If you get a chance, please leave a word of encouragement for them over on their guestbook...I know they would appreciate it!

Oh, and speaking of Joan, would you please say a prayer for her? As I type this, her mom is gravely ill. Please pray for peace and comfort for her in this very difficult time. She loved Ian and her own Mama so very much...I love you Joan!

I have a theory....

....and it involves toilets.

I know, I know. (Remember, I have already warned you that the Gross Factor is HIGH around here!). If you have kiddos, you MUST read on. I need your input! But let me digress for a moment....

My friend Debbie and I spent the day together. It was simply divine.

We went shopping at the brand-spankin' new Target near our house. Today was the "soft" opening, and the store was fully stocked.....and immaculate! Did I mention that it's the biggest Target in the US? Yes. You can be jealous. It was unbelievable! And NOBODY was there. I mean NOBODY but us well pretty much....it was amazing. I spent a little bit too much money. Oops....

After that delightful adventure, we dropped our baby girls off at school and hit the road for Gadrock. We headed north to have our hair "did"....it was so much fun. 2 hours - sans children - at the hairdresser. Fun! We talked and laughed and ate a bunch of junk. Ahhh....

....and here is where our "theory" comes in.

Do your children always forget to flush the toilet at home? Are you constantly finding the job "unfinished"? Does your child go to a school with "automatic flushing toilets"? Do you visit establishments with "automatic flushing toilets"?

Our children have NO IDEA HOW TO FLUSH A TOILET.....

....think about it!!!

Decisions, decisions....

....but I'll get to those in a minute.

Let me start by saying, today was a really hard day. Well, it started out really hard, but as the minutes marched on, I felt the peace of the Holy Spirit flooding my soul. If it had been up to me, I would have climbed back under the covers the moment I got home from dropping the big kids off at school (yep, we even missed the bus)! Greer might have eaten cheese puffs and cotton candy all day had I not pulled myself together.

It seemed like this black cloud was looming over me, and everywhere I turned something was pulling me down. The gloomy weather didn't make it much better....and I am usually a fan of cloudy days. Today it just mirrored my spirit.

After a good, long cry, a desperate prayer, and a pep talk from my husband....I pulled up my bootstraps and got on with my day. That's what we mommies have to do, right? No rest for the weary.....life goes on.

I won't bore you with the gory details (have I mentioned that the Gross Factor is HIGH around these parts?). I prayed for peace and providence and forgiveness. I set about the task of living....and making big decisions. I knew that facing my giants was the only way I was going to pull myself out of the quicksand. And that's where the decision part comes in.....

We are at a major crossroads in terms of Greer's Port Wine Stain treatments. I've been half avoiding/half dreading making the next move....and frankly, I still don't know if we're doing the right thing. I just don't know what to do. I prayed specifically for God to guide my heart and my mind and my decisions today.....after that desperate prayer, some big things happened.

A little history....Greer has had 8 laser treatments since her birth. Five of those treatments were with a laser called the Perfecta. Three of them (including the last 2) were with an older V-Beam model. Greer's birthmark seems to respond better (in regards to fading) to the Perfecta, but our wonderful dermatologist here in the 'Ham doesn't have permanent access to the Perfecta in the facility where Greer can receive General Anesthesia. Greer needs General Anesthesia for her treatments.....and Greer needs the Perfecta.

Alabama can't give her that.

We don't want to waste valuable time with a laser that is not getting the job done....but we don't really want to travel and leave our wonderful doctor. But that's our reality, and I made a big leap of faith today. After a good long cry, a big ole prayer (not to mention the pep talk from Chris), I scheduled a consultation with a highly recommended doctor at Duke.

Will our insurance cover it? Will the travel time wipe us out? Can we afford it? Is it really necessary? Will our friends think we're nuts? Will it all be worth it? Are we making the right decision for our baby?

All I know is that it's in God's hands. All I know is that I have a baby girl who is counting on me....even though she doesn't even know it. I have to trust that it's in His hands.....

....and that we have a home in Raleigh that is going to welcome us with open arms.

Maybe that's my sign!

I really need to tell you this....

Chris and I make a good team. Always have. It's an especially amazing blessing now that our kiddos are going a million different directions. And lately, it seems like one of them is always sick....that's just a little bonus!

Lately, I feel like God has been trying to remind me of how awesome my husband is.

I know I take him for granted. I do. All the time. I'm trying to do better....I promise I am.

He's a dedicated father, husband, provider, child of God. He puts up with a LOT of junk from me.....I mean, really! I'm not the easiest person to live with, ahem, but he loves me and our babies ferociously.

For 3 and a half years, he took care of the kids every weekend while I worked (thank the good LORD I don't have that same schedule these days) and he tells me almost every day how much he appreciates what it takes to be with the kids all day long. Do you know how awesome it is to have a husband who has literally walked in your shoes? Amazing.

He coaches 3 little league teams, makes pink pancakes on the weekends, and makes the bed. He works 3 jobs and meets the kids at the bus stop and combs hair into ponytails. He prays for me when I'm struggling and worries about the kids when they are sick. He unloads the dishwasher and wipes down the counter and pays the bills. He stays up all night to put together a video for worship. He yearns to know God more and to be the best man he can be. He gets up at 3 am everyday so that he will have time to spend in communion and prayer with God.

He doesn't get mad when I drop my cellphone in the pedi-bowl or blow my tire out for the 4th time because I seem to always run into the curb.

No, he's not perfect.

Sometimes he gets on my nerves. He leaves the seat up and the wet towel on the floor and the milk on the top of the refrigerator.

No, I'm not perfect either.

I nag him about leaving the seat up and the wet towel on the floor and the milk on the top of the refrigerator.

We both screw up. A lot. But you know what I know I know is true?

He loves me.

He loves us.

He loves Jesus.

That's it. And that's enough.

Carnival Fun....

....with my little fashionista!

More later, I've got about a million things to do to get ready for work and school tomorrow! Check back soon!