SNOW SNOW BEAUTIFUL SNOW!

Day 4 in the frozen parts of Texas....which happens to be many! It's snowing again today, but this time it's good snow....build a snowman or snow princess snow.....not walk outside and bust your bum on the ice. NPayne was able to stay home again today, and he even had the pleasure of helping the kids (actually mainly Drew) make a snow princess! We all slept really late and laid in bed even after we woke up. Elliot fell yesterday and slightly chipped her two front teeth. It bled some, and she cried a lot. I haven't worn make up of any kind, since Monday. Our clean house is a wreck again, and our washer and dryer are running constantly. I'm hoping for no more rolling blackouts....our house gets really cold really fast when the temps are so low....OLD HOUSES ARE COLD HOUSES! I've been reading a lot of blogs and doing a ton of online browsing! I am officially addicted to Matilda Jane, and since I can't afford half their stuff; I shop on ebay for used items. I love getting something that's been worn once for 1/3 of the price! I let my hair dry naturally, so I wasn't using any unnecessary electricity....it's out of control....but my girls love it. I've gotten a lot accomplished, but I will be glad when I can move my piles of "garage sale stuff" to my shop and get them out of our living room and playroom. I have tons of trash from cleaning out our attic. Our trash hasn't been picked up in days, so it sits on our curb and on our porch....waiting. I guess the roads are too hazardous for them to drive on. The mailman, however, stands true and firm to the oath he took....and he comes every single day! The Super Bowl will played nearby on Sunday! The daddy/daughter dance, that was suppose to be tomorrow, has officially been postponed. Tomorrow is my sweet Drew's birthday....10 years old....double digits. It would have been my dad's birthday too...he would have been 68 years old. He loved sharing a birthday with Drew.... he use to say "she was the best birthday gift he ever got". She is a lot like him, because she is a lot like me; and I'm discovering that I'm a lot like my dad! I'm loving being home, and I'm loving more that NPayne will run out and pick up a few things for me; so I don't have to! I look at this time as a wonderful time of blessings....we are so fortunate to have these few days to stop, breathe, sit around in our pjs, and enjoy each other.

SNOW and ICE

So we are having a record number of cold days here in North Texas. My kids have been out of school for 3 days so far....I cannot ever remember missing 3 straight days of school due to snow and ice. I have to admit that I LOVE it....not the cold....but the being home and not having to step foot out of the house. I'm sure I'll get stir crazy soon enough, but as for now; I'm appreciating this down time. I've watched a few movies, read a lot, cleaned out closets and am organizing our attic....not to mention baked (okay I haven't actually baked a thing, but I've eaten everything that has been baked). It's been good. Thank you God for this time together!

Super D Duper Bridals!

Want to see more, click here!

Moo Moved

Drum Roll please.........my mom has officially moved right down the street! YEA! NPayne has been killing himself moving all her heavy stuff, but it's almost all moved. He's tired, cranky, and sore; but....he's mine! ;) Besides a lot of junk to sort through and unpack, a few other things she needs, and settling some financial disagreements with the plumber who completely overcharged her....she's there and happy. By the way, why can't folks just do honest work and not try to take advantage of people? Seriously......that is on my last nerve! Back to topic at hand, the kids are thrilled to have Moo (my mom) so close. They will be heading over there tonight to say hello, give a hug, and help out.

Of course I still would like to move too....I'm tired of city living! SIGH!

Days I Enjoy

I'm sort of on a role with posting, so here goes another. Can I just say that as fortunate and grateful that I am for our wonderful schools that my children attend, I am ready for summer. As you know, I am not a person who likes to be busy. I like waking up when we naturally awaken minus an alarm clock, hanging out in pjs half the day, eating late breakfasts, playing around the house together, maybe venturing out for some fun, not having a deadline for bedtime....just being together. I love having my kids home, and although I value their education and sometimes do need for them to be out of the house a while.....I cannot imagine being an empty nester. Okay, now I'm sad; and I must go do something to cheer myself up.....like hold baby Maggie. :)

To Confirm or Wait

I have a dilemma....not a real earth shattering dilemma....but a dilemma nonetheless. Callahan, my son, seen in previous post is in 6th grade. If any of you have children who have gone through confirmation, you know....6th grade is the typical year kids become confirmed in Christ. I bet you can figure out what my dilemma is....can't ya? My sweet special needs boy....going through confirmation....and all that entails. Is that possible? Honestly I don't know. I am not sure what Cal really understands about Jesus, The Holy Trinity, The Cross, ETC., ETC., ETC. Of course I find many times that I don't really understand it all either, but I digress. Anyway....NPayne and I are on the fence....we aren't sure if we should go ahead and let Cal go through 6 weeks of confirmation or wait until he's a little older. Will he understand it in a few years any better than he does today? What does he need to really understand to be considered confirmed? I know that the end result is that the child being confirmed fully accepts Jesus Christ in his/her life. Does Cal get that? Will he? Has he already? Sometimes I wonder, because he seems to have a supernatural connection to many things....including Jesus....that most "typical" people don't. Maybe because they ignore it, don't have time for it, just don't listen, are scared of it....I don't know. But Cal in his very simple and very complex mind seem to relate to so many simple yet complex things much easier than typical folks do. Maybe because he doesn't question or over analyze, he just listens. So sits my dilemma....should he or shouldn't he? Mainly he needs to know who Jesus is, what He did, and how much He loves Cal. I don't know if Cal already knows this, has no clue, will ever have a clue, will get it someday....I'M SO CONFUSED!

I do believe that Cal was fearfull and wonderfully made Psalm 139:14. I know that he was made in God's own image....Genesis 1:27...

So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.

I know that Cal was made perfect. I know that he will go to heaven....whether he understands or doesn't the sacrifice and love Christ gives us. I fully believe this with all of my heart.....thanks to God's grace. As for my dilemma....it still remains....I'll keep you posted.

Callahan

Me and my prince on photo booth! Good Grief do I love this boy. He completely exhausts, frustrates, and wears me out; BUT....he also gives me more than I could have ever imagined. I'm so blessed by his specialness and by all he brings to my life! Thank God for Callahan Leigh Payne!

They Must Be Felt With The Heart

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched- they must be felt with the heart."

~Helen Keller

Can you imagine being blind, deaf and mute? Pastor Ken read this today in his sermon. All I could think about, as my sweet little Elli was sitting in my lap and I was rubbing her arm, was how much I would miss if I couldn't see her. I was thinking about how it would be if I was not able to hear my girls sing this morning in the church choir, or what it would be like if they never heard my voice say "I LOVE YOU!" There are so many things to be grateful for, and there are so many situations.....so many people.....that I know personally and that I've just read about where God is glorified in the midst of struggles, hard times, heartbreaks, even devastation. Helen Keller's words are a true example of this....although she would never see her sweet daughter's sparkling blue eyes or precious tiny feet or hear her girls' sing in the church choir or even be able to vocalize her love for them....she knows....she really knows that if you don't feel the emotions in your heart, then it doesn't matter what you see, hear or speak. That's hard for me to grasp, since I spend most of my time soaking in my children's expressions and conversations; but I also know that I feel them in my heart.....sometimes so much it's truly overwhelming. Would I feel them in my heart if I couldn't see, hear or tell them.....I know without a doubt that I would....but if I'm going to be really honest.....I'm so very thankful that I don't have to.

NPAYNE

Yesterday was NPayne's birthday, but we celebrated it today. In honor of my husband's day late birthday celebration, I wanted to share some things about him....things that make him who he is!

He loves unconditionally.

He never knew his dad, he died when he was a baby.

He grew up in a house full of estrogen....2 sisters, 2 female cousins, a grandmother, an aunt, and a mother.

He worked in high school....not to pay for gas, dates, clothes....but to help pay the water bill, electric bill, and buy food.

He is a talented musician.

He is super duper smart about lots of things.

He is quite handy.....he wasn't always....but he watched, learned and listened a lot from my dad when he was alive. Now he is quite handy.

He thinks I'm beautiful.

He is not a planner, and he is not organized.

He is a last minute kinda man, and he flies by the seat of his pants.

He is a do it yourselfer.

He sacrifices most of his wants for his kids' wants and needs.

He loves to play guitar.

He works harder than about anyone I know.

He has a huge heart for serving others.

He is a romantic and quite a gentleman.

He is the best daddy to our special needs son than I could have ever hoped for.

He doesn't hold grudges.

He forgives.

He is a fantastic dancer.

He makes me laugh all the time.

He adores his girls, and he loves to sing them Stevie Wonder songs at night.

He will cry at each of his kids' weddings.

He is 3 years younger than I.

He is the only person I've ever been truly in love with.

He has a strong faith and reliance on God.

He doesn't complain.

He didn't get to go to college but would like to go now.

He is pretty easy to convince when I really want something. ;)

He is my rock.

He keeps me grounded.

He is the love of my life!

He is the most wonderful, kind, loving, rational, reasonable, honest, giving father I know.

Happy Birthday NPayne....even though it's a day late....you know I love to celebrate birthdays all month long! I adore you!

Happy....

This makes me so happy.......