I am watching Peppa Pig with Colin. Peppa is an English pig, accent and all, which got me thinking of grandma Irene Gifford and then Peppa was asking Grandpa what to get from the store, which got me thinking of my grandpa Lee Gifford who passed away in November. Then I got sad; but then realized I should take my own advice and be happy because gramps is spending 10,000 years and then forevermore with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Then I smiled. All is well. Goodnight!

To my Gramps

I will always love you; I think of you often and miss you so much.  I'm so glad that I became super close to you.  I'm so thankful all those times you stayed on the phone with me for hours.  I miss that.  I miss your emails.  I miss helping you with your computer.  But I'd be lying if I didn't also say I am glad God came and took you home.  You were in so much pain.  I'm so glad I came to see you in early November.  I love your smile.   I don't think it was a coincidence that you sent Grandma to the store; before drifting into our savior's arms.   God taught me something through your death.  He taught me how strong a person I really am.   I remember telling you that you were immortal and would  never die.  I certainly realize how silly that is now.   We will all die; and I'm so thankful that I have a savior who paid the price for my sins, so that I could spend eternity in heaven, where you are waiting now.  Go Blues!

2012 in Review

I can't believe the year is almost over.  So many ups and downs this year.
The Ups:
I stayed healthy
Colin stayed healthy
My dad is still with us
Baby Nick celebrated his 1st birthday
I received a pay increase in one of the worst years our economy has ever seen

The downs:
Although healthy, It took me a long time to recover from surgery
Although we are getting closer, We still haven't payed off all our debt
I haven't figured out  a way to lose some weight
I'm starting to feel old
The re-election of a Marxist to the White House
The death of my grandfather

Why does it always seem that I can name so much more of the bad than good?  I have a good life.  I have two working legs, hands, a beautiful family, a house, running water, a car to drive, food to eat, heating and air conditioning.

A recent church sermon got me thinking about all this. As if I don't over think enough!

A couple things I know -

I will continue to work hard.   I will continue to pray and read my bible.  I will continue to try and teach my boys how to be hard working and respectful.  We will continue our quest to be debt free.  It will happen!

I'm very thankful for all the opportunities I have to make a better life for my family; and all the people involved in that process.  I'm thankful that God has brought so many new people into our lives from our church.  We became members at our church and participated in our first connect group from this year. 

I don't know what 2013 holds; but I do know that no matter how much I worry; All is well.

Bumbo Seats and Hot Cars

Bumbo seats are being recalled because babies can fall out of them.  Am I the only one who thinks this is ridiculous?  Of course babies can fall out of them.  You shouldn't leave your baby unattended.  I think it is a bit over the top that we need to be told that we shouldn't leave our babies unattended.   As a mother, I can clearly get the concept of having to be everywhere all at once.  I'm changing Nick and Colin is standing on the kitchen table, is an example that comes to mind.  Sometimes things will happen that we cannot control. However, recalling millions of baby seats that are for babies learning to sit only costs the company money and probably makes the next hot item more expensive.  They make trays to go on these seats. Even with that, I should never leave my baby unattended.   The questions becomes, " At what point do we take responsibility for our own children?"

I heard of another incident of parents leaving children in hot cars.  The kids suffered from heat exhaustion.  I don't recall if they died, in this particular case, but that has happened, too.  So now, some consumer group advocates for car companies to make alarms to prevent it.    I have sympathy for anyone who this has happened to.  To my knowledge, none of them intentionally left their children in the hot car, just for the sake of it.  They estimate the time won't be that long; or just plain forget.  How often have you been in a hurry and forget to do something?  But you would never leave your kid -  I wouldn't be so quick to say that. I will never forget the day I took Colin out of his car seat. I reached in the van to get a bag, and he was already in the street. There was a car full of teenagers coming down the road.  I was running to get him; scared to death they weren't paying attention.  Thank God they were; and stopped, literally, a few feet from him.  

I don't know what the answer is other than stop leaving kids unattended.   If you see a child in a hot car, or a baby unattended, do something about it.   Step in and help.  I don't think we need to create more of a nanny state where the government poses regulations on companies for "supposed" safety violations.  At some point common sense has to come into play. 

Great and Glorious

As Colin, Nick, and I were on our way home from the carnival at the Imperial Elks Lodge; I played the new CD by Phillips, Craig, and Dean.  The fist song is called "Great and Glorious", or as Colin calls it, "Soul Sings".  He has sang bits and pieces of several songs, but never have I heard him sing like he did tonight.  I turned on the video recorder on my iPhone.   I just hung it over my shoulder as I was driving. Safety first!  So don't pay attention to my purse; just close your eyes and listen to my son worship the Lord.  This makes a mama so happy!

Once we got home I tried to record the whole thing.  He was only cooperative through the first verse, but still so sweet none the less.

Chick-Fil-A : My views

It is Chick-Fil-A day, today.  Here are few thoughts:

I understand supporting your local business, but don't be a hypocrite. 
Go because you want to go, not just because you want to stick it those who disagree with you. 
Same goes for the other side.  It is ridiculous to boycott.  Just don't go there, but to call for others to boycott, or if you are certain Mayor use your power to try to intervene in the free market.   I personally see nothing hateful about what Dan Cathy said.  Certain Photoshopped logos are confusing him with Westboro Baptist Church.  Just wrong.  Both sides should leave the logo alone.

Some of you may not know this, but we live in a free market economy.  So, let the free market decide. 

If you know me, you know I can get a little excited when it comes to certain issues.  Here are some things I have said:

"There is a certain picture floating around Facebook that is confusing Chick-Fil-A with Westboro Baptist Church. So boycott someone just because they don't agree with you? Where is the "tolerance" in that? Tolerance works both ways. And as Neal Boortz always says, " If we all agreed on everything, then one of us isn't necessary". Calm down. If you don't want to eat there then don't. If you do, then go. Don't try to put someone out of business because they don't agree with. Same goes for all the people who got mad that Ellen was a clothing store spokesperson (i forget which one, and you know why if you've seen my wardrobe). Everyone just take a breath...and have a good day."

"Boycotting ChickFilA is just as ridiculous as boycotting JC Penney, in my humble opinion"

"You can discuss whether you agree or disagree with gay marriage, but Some of these signs are fake. There is a website you can go to to make it look like whatever you want. The word "hate" is overused to also a way to put down people you don't agree with. 
Dan Cathy said this, "Well, guilty as charged. We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that. We intend to stay the course. We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles."


"What I am saying is "pro-hate" is all in the eye of the beholder." 

"You are right in that it may have little to do with freedom, but I am just as tired of the attacks and ridiculous manipulations of their logo because of his view on marriage. And the outright discrimination being displayed by certain mayors trying to block businesses. We all are treated equally under the law."

"I have been trying to stay out of this debate via facebook because I am very politically passionate (to put it lightly), but we are treated equally under the law. Women cannot marry women and men cannot marry men (unless you are in a state that allows it). "

" If a law does not exist in a state that allows them to be married, then both they and I are being treated equal. If a law does exist in the state that allows them to marry, then again, both they and I are being treated equal under the law."

"I don't think it is "rights" issue. Marriage isn't a right. If you don't like the law, then move to another state or change the law. Same goes for those who may live in a state that allows gay marriage, if you don't like it, either move or lobby for the law to be changed. I'm generally against Boycotts. The boycott against ChickFilA is just as silly as the boycott against JC Penney because Ellen was their rep."


I think I was respectful in those posts, or at least I tried to be.

I have also seen many posts by people of the Christian faith rebuking other Christians for speaking out on this issue.  

For the Christians rebuking Christians, where is the line between doing what Jesus wants us to do and pacifism or moral relativism?  

I find myself thinking How do I defend my faith without another Christian saying I'm offending the opposite party, and I need to walk a mile in their shoes. 

I'm being sincere when i ask this.  I'm struggling.....really struggling.  

Baby Nick is almost 1

 If you know me, you know I am an avid listener of Neal Boortz   This week at his radio station they were having their annual CareAThon for the Aflac Cancer Center.   It really made me appreciate the health of my two boys.   I can't believe how time has flown.  Nicholas will be 1 on August 19.  He has grown so quickly.  I thank God that he is a mama's boy and allows me tons of time with him.  He is almost permanently attached to my right hip when we are together.  He is such a happy little boy, being his mom seems so easy.  This week we are going to start giving him whole milk.  Little by little of course.  He is taking 2 to 3 steps at a time. I am sure he will be walking before we know it.  I feel so blessed, but am also starting to understand the heartache a mother goes through watching her kids grow up.   I'm trying to remember the point at which I stopped calling Colin, "baby Colin".  They will always be my babies, but how fun it is to watch them grow.  

It's funny to see how they react to things, like the first time they feel grass on their feet 

Or to watch brothers play   

or see them laugh as mommy makes funny faces in an attempt to get them to smile.  

 Don't judge! You know you've done the same!  Such sweet memories they will be.  

Always treasure your own and pray for those who are sick or suffering from cancer.  Some of the stories I heard today from such small kids who are so brave, and fighting cancer.  May God bless them and their families.