Oops, I almost forgot....

....to mention that Greer has a laser treatment scheduled in the morning! Will you please add this to your ever growing "Megan Needs Me to Pray for This and That" list? I would so appreciate it!

Truthfully, I have such a peace about it this time around....it's not even a worry in my heart (good thing, since I have plenty of other hearts (and shoulders) to worry about)! I thought about rescheduling it, but they are so hard to fit in....I knew that it was best just to go ahead with it. So, tomorrow we'll head to the hospital bright and early. Greer will be put to sleep for a few minutes and the good doctor will zap that beauty mark away. We are so amazed at the fading she has had....it truly is a miracle! If you're new here, or you want to catch up on her story, click here (or head over to the sidebar and click on the slideshow to watch her Port Wine Stain Birthmark fade before your very eyes)!

Daddy had a pretty good day today. He is still in the ICU and we are still unsure what the coming days will bring. I haven't had a chance to talk to my mom today....it was busy in labor and delivery and we never could catch each other. My sisters told me that he was up some more and that he enjoyed a visit from his brother, my Uncle Craig. Please know that we covet your prayers and that he is doing pretty well. I will update if I get any breaking news....for now we watch and wait.

I guess that's all for now. I am totally exhausted! I know my mom and sisters have to be, too. I miss them so, and coming back into town to work and see my kids has been good medicine for me, but I am still so torn. I plan to get back up there later in the week after Greer has had a little healing time here at home. I'll update tomorrow with some before and after photos of Greer's treatment. And I would so love some prayers for her little, sweet self....it still breaks my heart to have to put her through these procedures. I just remind myself what a miracle she is.....what a miracle these laser treatments are! It's all gonna be worth it come Prom Night, right? Right!

God Bless You, friends!

Please Pray

Daddy and Greer, May 2008

The past few days have been a blur for our family. Early Thursday afternoon, my Daddy collapsed during a meeting at work. Four of his partners (he is a pediatrician) responded immediately and began CPR. Those 4 men (along with my awesome Father in Heaven) brought my Daddy back to life. He was rushed to the hospital where he underwent surgery to repair his broken heart. His life is a living, breathing miracle, and we are so very thankful that we still have him here on Earth.

Please remember him and especially my mom in your prayers in the coming days. As you can imagine, this is a very difficult time and he is still pretty sick. He is still in ICU, but we hope he will be moved to a regular room soon. My dad is tough as nails, and I have faith that he is going to come out of this stronger. Please pray for our family and friends as they travel to be with us in this time. I can't tell you how much your prayers mean to us.

Orange...It's Brilliant!

I was asked to be a part of a new small group at our church, and this is the book we are studying. Our first formal meeting is on Sunday afternoon, and I cannot wait! I'm pretty pumped about the concept....and it's putting the recent stirrings of my heart into words. This guy totally gets it, and I can't wait to dig in deeper. I can't wait to see it's impact on our church and community.

So, what's it about? Well, I've only read the first few chapters, so I'll have to get back with you as I read more. Basically, Reggie Joiner, presents a vision of the church and the family combining their individual talents in a revolutionary way. What if we merged the light of the church (yellow) with the heart of the family (red)? Imagine the possibilities!

Wanna know what I love the most? The focus on Jesus....just Jesus. It's exactly what I have felt called to focus on over the past year, and reading the words on those pages is such affirmation that I am following God's will for myself, my marriage, and my family. When I made it about Jesus first, foremost, and absolutely....well, everything else makes sense.

But isn't it always just about Jesus? If we profess to follow Christ, isn't that what every Christ follower believes?

Sadly, for many Christians, Jesus is not always the first focus when it comes to living out our faith. Sure, we may say it's about Jesus, but is it how we live? What do we really believe?

When we judge others for the way they worship, is it about Jesus? When we worry about whether or not our best friend's son is going to believe in witchcraft because he loves the Harry Potter books, is it about Jesus? When we worry that the grungy teenager in the youth group (the one with the black makeup and the tatoo and the nose ring) is going to be a bad influence on our daughter, is it about Jesus? When we argue with our neighbor about politics, is it about Jesus? When we gossip on the phone with our girlfriends about the openly gay couple who have come to worship for the past month, is it about Jesus?

Something to think about, huh?

A Brief Update on My Life

Sorry for ye bloggy absence....it's been a busy few days!

Where to start? Well, the sickness found us me and Reeves, and we've been pushing through. I refuse to let it get me down, so I have tried to let every non-essential in my life go undone while I heal. It's the best rest we mothers can hope for.....it is true what they say! Nope, no rest for the weary.

I did have quite a motivator for getting well, though. Our bestest friends came in to town for a visit (remember the ones who moved to Raleigh), and we had some good times. I am dying for Amy to post the Flip Video she caught of Jake surprising Reeves at our front door. Priceless is all I'm gonna say. I promise to post it as soon as she does!

Tomorrow is a big day for me! It's my first workday (I work 2 days a week as a labor and delivery nurse in case you didn't know...) since the kids started back to school. And since Chris has to be up at the Rick and Bubba Studio bright and ridiculously early, it will be my sole responsibility to get the rest of us up and at 'em....and neatly deposited at said schools. I am a wee bit nervous about pulling it off. I have run the route a few dozen times, though, and if we can pull out of the driveway by precisely 6:53, then we should all make it on time. I'll be sure to keep you updated on how it all goes down.....

So....the bags are packed, the animals are fed, the clothes are laid neatly on the dining room table. That reminds me, I need to go set the coffee maker. The children are nestled all snug in their beds....drugged on cough medicine and hot cocoa. Pray that they don't fight me in the morning. Or have any major meltdowns concerning hair tangles, toothpaste flavors, or sock comfort. But mostly, pray for sweet Greer! She is going to be in for a rude awakening come 6:40....that girl hasn't woken up before 9 am in over a year! She's my happy girl, though, she'll be fine! Good thing she adores her school (have I mentioned that? Well, she does.....she calls the place "PLAY"! Hallelujah & Praise the Lord)!

Sweet dreams y'all!

Guest Posting, Randomness, Prayer Requests, and a Giveaway!

How ya like THAT for a Title? I probably could have simply titled it "Randomness", but that would have been just plain boring! This way, you know exactly what you're getting, right? Right. Here we go....

My Fabulous Friday post is up over on Danielle's blog. I was honored when she asked me to join in, but had a tough time coming up with a topic. I hope I haven't disappointed her readers with my sappy, sentimental topic {Fabulous Teachers}! Usually, her blog is all fashion and fun and I go there to keep myself feeling somewhat cool. Won't you please head over, poke around, leave a comment? You know the drill. There's even a chance to win something sort of yummy, too! You'll have to click here to see what's up for grabs!

Yesterday, another cellphone (owned by yours truly) fell prey to death by water. Yes, friends, this is the third phone I have killed in a year. My friend Lauren thinks I keep doing it to get a new phone (it has worked out pretty well for me thus far), but I promise I'm innocent. The hassle and stress it causes isn't worth all that, now! Thankfully, I keep a backup around just for this very occasion (you know, when I decide to wash my phone with my favorite jeans or drop it in the pedi-bowl....), and Chris managed to reactivate that old Razor for me to use in the meantime....

....while dear old Palm Centro dries out in a tiny tub of orzo and wild rice.

I didn't have much rice.....do you think it will do the trick? I've heard I need to leave it alone for three days (anyone else see the irony in that) before I see if it will live. I'm not counting on a second resurrection, but you never know!

On the bright side, turns out Chris is eligible for an upgrade. This very afternoon, I may be the proud owner of a slightly broken-in little Blackberry. Lauren, I promise I didn't know!!!

Speaking of great deals (that's what I was speaking of, right?)....do you Woot? We've been Wooting for a couple of years now, and Chris just loves it. I have to admit, I rarely see anything that really blows up my skirt, but they have finally gotten my attention. This week, our friends over in Wootland (hey, they have clever words to go along with their posts so I can too!) have launched a new site....

Kids Woot!

Genius I tell you! Great deals on fun toys/products for kiddos. You can bet I'll be clicking over every day! Maybe it'll inspire me to start my Christmas shopping before December!

And now for my last random thought today.....

Please say a prayer for my sweet grandmother, Bubba, as she recovers from rotator cuff surgery. My mom will be taking care of her for a few days and she could probably use some prayers, too.

And pray that my house gets rid of the sickies over the weekend....there's a suspicious tickle in my throat that is making me nervous!

Hope you have a happy, healthy weekend friends!

Wordful Wednesday....Lovin' Kindergarten

After that emotional post on Friday, I thought you might enjoy a more cheery story about how kindergarten is going for our Lucy. I am happy to report that there have been no more morning tears since that fateful day, and we are getting in our groove around here. Now if I can just keep them well....Reeves is home sick today (just a little bug I think, he's feeling much better today)!

One of my prescriptions for sanity in the morning (did I mention that the bus comes at 7:05) involves the laying out of clothes at night. I have learned the hard way that when we don't get everything together the night before, our day has the potential for disaster (and don't believe for a minute that boys don't care what they wear). We pack up our homework, pick out our snacks, and set the coffee maker. I've even started polling them to see what they might like to eat for breakfast....anything to save some time in the a.m. You wouldn't believe how the anticipation of warm cinnamon rolls will motivate a groggy child, just so ya know!

So, we have our nightly routine down to an art already. The kids have gotten pretty independent with their responsibilities, and the past few nights I have simply found their clothes in the dining room ready for the next day. Just in case you're wondering who Lucy takes after.....

Yes, she's a woman after my own heart. This is totally something I would have done at her age. Right, mom? It made me LOL, and I couldn't resist snapping a picture (or waking Chris up to show him, ha!)

And yes, she also has the greatest kindergarten teacher evah! Look at what fun she had with bubbles yesterday (thanks for sending me this picture Mrs. K)....

I miss kindergarten sometimes, don't you?

Head over to Angie's Blog for more

Wordful Wednesday

pictures and stories!

Guest Posting

I'm over here today....I hope you'll join in come Friday! Head over and check out the details!

And while you're there, take some time to look around! Danielle is a Fabulous Girl (and may I say, quite talented). I am so blessed to call her my friend!