Excuse me, Dr. Tickle?

I went for my 6 month cleaning last week and my dentist noticed a spot on my tooth that was starting to stain and he wanted to go ahead and cap it before it turned into a cavity so they scheduled me for an appt today. 

{did anyone notice that run-on?}

it's been forever since I've had a tooth filled and completely forgot what it was like

Took the baby with me because I had no one else to watch her

BIG mistake

She wasn't allowed to sit in my lap so I put her in the corner and gave her some toys

simultaneously telling the hygienist "no one puts baby in a corner"

laid down and got they started my NOS

and then a wave of the most sickening feeling EVER came over me...

I started to give in the drugs and I didn't like it one bit! 

Maddie started calling for me and there was nothing I could do about it... I was telling my body to move and it wouldn't.. talk about scary

The doc came in and made his injections and then left to give it a little time to kick in

while he was gone I started to make small talk with the lady and apparently I was too "awake"

and I swear to you, I saw her turn up my NOS and that sickening feeling came back

All I could think of was

"I really gotta pee"

"Oh, Man! I could go for a CFA spicy sandwich"

"Does that mean I'm pregnant?"

"If I'm pregnant, I really hope this drug doesn't hurt the baby"

"I don't want another summer baby!!!!"

"Can they even tell how incapacitated I am?"

"I'm gonna have to blog about this later"

my mind was racing..........

Maddie was good the WHOLE time

she walked around the little office we were in and did so well.. but it FREAKED me out that I was telling my arm to move and it wouldn't

Then I started to get a little mad... if they knew how this medicine would effect me then why would they let me bring the baby?

and then I started praying "Please keep that baby still... Lord, keep her safe"

and I wanted to cry

but once again, I can't make myself do it

Yes, the medicine made me feel so sick

 {and apparently it takes a lot to knock me out}

but if my child wasn't there I could have delt with it a little better...

I could completely focus on myself

but when my children are with me, I'm no longer responsible for just myself...

I have never felt so helpless in my life and if anything can come of this, I beg you PLEASE don't take your babies if you have to have ANYTHING done...

it will tear your heart to pieces! 

Happy Homemaker Monday #10

Hey y'all! Hope everyone had a great weekend! I know we did! 

Joining up with Sandra today for another edition of Happy Homemaker! 

The Weather:::

The high today is 82... Where did my cool weather go?!?!? :(

Right now I am: 

watching Dateline on ID, trying to make myself finish up the last load of laundry for the day, but it's not gonna happen

Thinking:

I want, I NEED to know how to make a spicy Chik fil A sandwich at HOME! I feel like my life

 depends on it

Something Fun to Share:::

Family grill night was Saturday. Daddy made steaks on the grill and I did asparagus and baked taters in the oven... the babies played in the sand box and then I finally caught them justa' swingin'

Love my babies :)

Favorite Blog Post of the Week:::

Mommies Need Friends Too by The Mrs.

On my tv:::

There's so much on my DVR it's nutzo!! 

On the menu for this week:::

Monday - spaghetti salad and rolls

Tuesday - pancakes, patty sausage and eggs

Wednesday - meatloaf, mashed taters, and broccoli

Thursday - leftovers

Friday - potato soup and something else... hmmm??

Saturday - chicken enchiladas, rice

Sunday - cheesy mac and greenbeans

On my to do list:::

Laundry

Make Beds

Dishes

Bathrooms
dentist appt (post to come soon.. it was HORRIBLE)

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::

finally finished all the octagons and squares in light blue now its on to the cream color :)

Homemaking Tips:::

1. When you need to griddle/pan fry/ fry something messy do it outside. That way your kitchen floor doesnt get all icky from the grease poppin. It also keeps the house from smelling like bacon/sausage/ whatever! 

2. Yummy baked taters: Preheat oven to 425 and place taters in cast iron skillet. rub with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. bake for 1 hour !! YUMMY!  Turn after 30 minutes :)

Looking around the house:::

need to finish up some laundry but I need to rest from my appt more

hubby said to take it easy.. so easy I shall

From the camera:::

baby got mad and yelled at big sissy
what wonderful memories at the Punkin Patch haha

On my prayer list:::

Awaken

my hubby's safety

Bible verse, Devotional:::

Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home, and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Dueteronomy 11:19

If you don't teach them... how will they know?

Thirsty Thursday: men and {their} faith

I'm going to try and speak as honestly and as "unedited" as possible here only because these wounds are fresh and still very raw for me. 

we just had a fight.

an ugly fight.

all because I want our date night this weekend to include Awaken

if you read my testimony then you'll have a better understanding of this post... or it might confuse you.. who knows.

when I met my husband we were both "Christians". He had been baptized, but didn't follow

I had never been baptized, but had very conservative "Christ-like" beliefs

So there we were, two "Christians" trying to make it work, and it did.

I truly gave my life over to the Lord May 17, 2009 and my life has been completely changed because of that day.

But now, I've grown and my husband hasn't.

It's so confusing, and catches me off guard sometimes.

My husband supports me in every decision I make, and loves me unconditionally, but sometimes I feel like he just doesn't get it. 

He doesn't see God in anything

He supported me when I told him I wanted to be a part of Awaken

He supported me and even goes with me to teach Pre-K Sunday School

but he wants nothing to do with it

He goes to church with me, but then gets offended when I want to discuss the sermon

He throws it in my face and makes me feel so guilty when I ask him to be a part of something with me

As long as we aren't talking religion, {I hate that word, it makes me feel like a Pharisee} things are great! but it's like "religion" is the only topic that we can't talk about 

When something amazing happens to me, I can't call him and be like "honey, you won't believe what God has done for me!!"

When he got his promotion a few weeks ago, he didn't see God in that {He was going to give his two weeks notice that day and 20 minutes before end of shift they called with their promotion}

When we bought our house, he didn't see God in that {The day before we even looked at our house a guy was supposed to close on it, but his loan fell through}

it makes sense to me, so why can't he see God in anything?

Have you ever seen the movie, The Invention of Lying?

well, he's told me that that's what he believes... That heaven is just some place that people have made up to make other people feel better about their passing

and it doesn't help that we have ministerial friends tell him that they're too busy for him 

it's not fair that I see and hear about these other women who have such "amazing, "Christ like" husbands and I'm stuck with the hard headed one.

It's simply not fair.

I've tried meeting him on his terms about it

but when I say "God" in front of him, it just doesn't feel right.. like I'm giving the coordinates of my platoon to the enemy... and I start to see a cringe in his eye...

but with everything I've just explained... He wants me to grow more in my relationship

He reads to Hannah a chapter in the Bible almost every night..

Say Whaaaaaaaaaaat????!
If he wants this so badly for me and children, then why doesn't he want this for himself?

I'm not trying to say that if he would just change things would be perfect. I don't want a perfect marriage, there's no such thing as a perfect marriage. I just think that if he had a deeper relationship with God he could actually see how I've come to the conclusions and decisions I've made.

Instead I just feel like he sees me as some Jesus Freak, or that I've drunk the Kool Aid... or something
We've seen all the Sherwood movies, Fireproof, Facing the Giants, Courageous and he's enjoyed them but doesn't see how/why they should motivate him to change

He's never tried to steer me in the wrong direction, but when I leave on Friday nights for Awaken, I almost feel guilty for leaving him home alone... with the kids.. {even though they go to bed an hour after I leave and he has full reign over the PS3 for 2-3 hours}

I feel like I'm giving up precious family time

I don't want him to think I'm trying to force him into "Chrisitanity" that's not it at all! I just want him to have the same joy I have in the Lord

I love and respect my husband more than any other person in this world.
If he told me I would have to stick my tongue to a frozen flag pole in the dead of winter to prove my respect,
I'd do it. {Oh don't act like you weren't thinking of the Christmas Story... cuz I know you were}

because he truly is the best y'all! We have the same views on everything else, expect that ole time religion.
It's weird how similar we are.
but completely different all at the same time.

I know that my God is there for me and I know He would never forsake me, but I can't help but shake the feeling that I'm being ignored here......

Only by God's grace is this going to get better.....

 I cant lose hope, I won't

sorry this was so mopy and sad

but that's what was on my mind

Until next time,

Love God Greatly :)

i just don't know

to give you a little background history my entire family has attended Troy University. I think my sister and I are either fourth or fifth generation and we often joke about how we should have gotten some kind of family discount. One of my great grandparents attended, my dad's parents attended, my mom's parents attended, my mom attended, my dad attended, I graduated last year, and my sister is still currently attending. What can I say, we like to keep it in the family!! {I hope no one takes that the wrong way, HA!}

Both sets of my grandparents went into education so I've always been strongly influenced to do the same, but even if they hadn't I still would have gone into education. My mom was cleaning out her attic a few years ago and showed me a drawing where you had to draw out what you wanted to be when you grow up and whatdyaknow? I wanted to be a teacher! 

I've always had a soft spot for children and I've always felt like I could connect with them.

If you read my testimony then you know my husband and I found out I was expecting during my first semester of college. I was determined not to let that burden me and I spent the next 6 years juggling motherhood, wifehood, work, 12 hours at school, and working in the schools when needed. That was definitely a season of my life where things were just done... They weren't enjoyed, sadly, because there just wasn't any time. 

But lately, I've been really interested in homeschooling. It has slowly but surely started to creep it's way into my every thought. Surprisingly I've found that a lot of families I know home school their kids. 

Is this a sign from God that I need to homeschool my children?
 Hannah {big girl} is in 1st grade at an awesome school and has always had amazing Christian teachers... but I still feel like something is missing. 

I know that teachers don't make a lot of money, but it will still bless our family. If I were to take a paying teaching job then my husband could stop working his side jobs and be home more. But if I were to homeschool then we'd be in the same boat financially that we're in now, which isn't bad, but like I said, it would definitely bless this family.

 As it is now the ONLY day we are together as a family of four is Sundays, and as much as I love going to church, I really cherish the time I have with those three amazing people and I don't like to share my time with others.

So then if makes so much sense for me to take a teaching job {when one becomes available} then why do I suddenly feel called to homeschool?

I haven't talked to hubby about this yet mainly because I know what his answer is going to be, but if this is God's will I know it's not gonna go away. 

Anyone know of any great websites that I could research so I could possibly, maybe, convince hubby that it's worth is weight in gold for our children to be homeschooled?

If you homeschool then what was your deciding factor? How were you able to "convince" your strong willed husband that it was best for your children?

Happy Homemaker Monday #9

Hey y'all! Hope everyone had a great weekend! I know we did! 

Joining up with Sandra today for another edition of Happy Homemaker! 

The Weather:::
it was yucky this morning. The sun has finally come out, but weatherman says it could be stormy on and off all day :(`

Right now I am: 
Sittin' on the couch cuddling with baby and watching Dina's Party 

Thinking:
How I need to get back into my routine of cleaning

Something Fun to Share:::
I'm not one for the state fair. There's too many unsavory people and there are too many {food} temptations.
But the MIL called last minute and invited us to the Alabama National Fair {I get a kick out of that every time} so we went and had a fabulous time. Maybe next year I'll remember how HOT it was. I've never seen my big girl so happy :)

On my tv:::
Looking forward to Revolution tonight and SaconneJoly's on YouTube

On the menu for this week:::
Monday - sketti, salad, and garlic bread
Tuesday - garlic lemon chicken 
Wednesday - pizza
Thursday - BBQ pork chops, yellow rice, green beans
Friday - eat out
Saturday - taco soup
Sunday - steak, taters, and salad

On my to do list:::
laundry
dishes
make bills
balance checkbook
Replace air filter
Bathrooms
Clean Oven

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::
finally finished all the octagons and squares in light blue now its on to the cream color :)

Homemaking Tips:::
Being a list maker has definitely helped me keep my sanity! I forget so many things, ALL the time. (I had a better one, but since I didn't write it down, I forgot... see my point now?)

Looking around the house:::
Kitchen lights are illuminating a messy kitchen
Toy corner needs to be tidied
light is streaming into the {faux} french doors
I really need to decorate my mantel for Halloween

From the camera:::

The girls and their Mimi at the fair! 

On my prayer list:::
There's a girl in my sister's nursing class who's husband was recently discharged from the military after being diagnosed with cancer. When my mommy told me my heart broke for them and I haven't been able to stop thinking about them. Hopefully I can add a few things to the grocery budget this week to get some freezer meals put together for them


Bible verse, Devotional:::
Matthew 6:27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? NLT

Worrying changes nothing. It's like a rocking chair... It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere. Turn your worry into prayer and action

God of Wonders

It's been a morning

a holy morning

Because the Lord spoke to me.

Well, actually He spoke to me two Sundays ago
He doesn't ALWAYS speak to me, but when He does, I listen

Every message I hear, I try to relate it to my role as a mother and encourager.

so when my pastor said "We're like children on a road trip to Disneyland. We know where we're going, but it doesn't stop us from whining and complaining along the way" it really hit home for me

That's so true. We know as Christians, as children of the Lord that we will step into eternity, we know our destination is Heaven,

and we have the nerve to complain about our lives on earth until that time comes

"Mom, are we there yet?"

"Dad, she's touching me!"

"IIIIII'm hungry!"

"IIIIII'm bored!"

You know you're on the way to Disneyland, but the trip isn't going exactly the way you want it to go and instead of being grateful that your parents are taking you to the "happiest place on earth" you're complaining.
Don't you think your parents would like a stress-free journey, too?

Well God used that little baby of mine this morning to show me another example..

baby isn't allowed in sissy's room mainly because that's where all of the girls' books are and I don't want baby ripping out those precious pages

So when she got quiet this morning, I knew exactly what had happened 

"See what had happened was" {Big Sissy left the door open}

and baby found the forbidden crayons

She was content playing on the floor and just picking them up, putting them down.

Picking them up and putting them back in the crayon box.

She was perfectly content, even though I, as her mother, knew it's not where she was meant to be

So I picked her up, picked up her crayons, with the intention of bringing her into the kitchen so she could color in her highchair with minimal damage to anything else...

What do you think happened next?

{She arched that back the only way a toddler knows how}

and about fell out of my arms

Isn't it amazing how quickly a toddler can turn into dead weight?

Granted, she thought she was in trouble

Granted, she didn't know where she was going

But I knew what I was trying to do for her

I wanted to move her so she could spend time with me while I worked on other things
{God moves you so you can be closer to Him}

I moved her so she would be safer

and that little stinker fought me the whole way.

and here she is, 5 minutes later, safely in her highchair and coloring away. 

Happy as a clam

She was never in any harm, she was never in any danger

She was ultimately getting what she wanted, just in a different way

So if it's so easy for us to understand something from a parental point of view, why is it so hard for us as Christians to understand that God wants what's best for us

and that we are never in any danger while we are under His care...?

homemade comfort meal

I had Patty Melts on the menu last night, but I didn't have any swiss cheese and I was NOT running to the store for just that so I improvised... and I give you, absolute heaven

if you knew me in real life you would know I LOVE chicken. especially dark meat.

when I found {this} recipe for perfect chicken via Pinterest I fell in love with it

But if I can avoid chicken breast, I will

so decided to put my twist on it

I'm thinking about making this a permanent spice in my cabinet

 because I've used it three times in the passed week

Cast of Characters

1/2 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

Add the seasoning to a resealable bag full of thawed chicken legs

Next, add 3-4 TBS of lemon juice 

refrigerate for at least 2 hours

 Spray or butter 9x13 dish and bake in preheated oven at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, turn legs over and bake 30 more minutes

I love to serve with broccoli and {homemade} mashed taters

Now on to your taters:::

4 Idaho taters

4 TBS butter

salt to taste

milk or cream to taste

1 clove garlic/ 1 tsp garlic powder optional

Peel and cube taters

Place in boiling water for 20-30 minutes or until a fork can pierce the tater easily

drain water

mash taters in bowl and add butter and salt to taste

mixture will be somewhat dry, so add milk/cream 1 TBS at a time until desired texture is achieved

{we like a lump here or there of tater}

if you like garlic taters add that seasoning now

Prepare your broccoli however you prefer it. We buy the frozen Winn Dixie brand and prepare it according to package directions

This meal is so simple on a night when you don't really feel like having to babysit your stove. It's simple enough that the kids won't be scared to ask "What's in this?" {even your husband-age children}

When I hear that, I know dinner's gonna be a failure! 

If you try it, leave me a comment and let me know how you and your fam jam liked it!