Here today... Back tomorrow??

Uhhh ... yeah. So, in the last two weeks, I've had my gall bladder removed, stupidly suffered pain because I didn't take the prescribed dose of pain killers (don't do that ... just ... don't), and went off to the beach for vacation. I have not checked on any of my friends lately, I've been remiss in reading blogs, and have been terrible about answering emails. I have missed a LOT. I promise I'll fix that real soon. Internet connectivity is good, but time with my boys and my nieces and nephew, and parents and sister out on the beach trumps. Sorry, friends! Family time is demanding but ever so enjoying.

I'm healing well, but having a few ... side effects ... which are ever so unpleasant, but will remedy themselves once my internal surgical "stuff" heals and takes over for the missing gall bladder -- hopefully it will be soon.

There are a lot of things going on with my cyber friends that I have totally missed out. I feel terrible, and will try to catch up with everyone this weekend. OHMYGOODNESS -- my mother is trying to talk to me in French, while I'm trying to think, type, listen to the Democratic Con[laugh]vention (ok, so I'm a Republican, sue me), and I don't even understand FRENCH! Just English and Spanish! Good grief. My brain hurts!!! Too much for me to take in right now.

I think I need to go back to the deck and absorb the sound of the waves.

And if any of you missed my post this time last year with pics from the view of my bed room at the beach house, here's another picture. It hasn't changed... At all... SIGH.



More pictures this weekend!

Owwwww....

For anyone preparing to have gall bladder surgery -- here's one thing you should know... it will hurt afterwards. A lot.

So, when your doctor prescribes 2 vicodin every 3 hours... you really shouldn't try to be a super hero and take one vicodin every 5 hours, because after all... you've just had an organ removed from your insides, and you're gonna hurt.

For real.

What was I thinking?

Where's the chocolate? Anyone? Anyone???

Surgery Went Great

Just wanted to post quickly to say that my surgery went very, very well. My surgical team was fantastic -- super nice!!

Evidently, my gall bladder was long over due in coming out.

At this point, I'm feeling only surgical pain, if that makes an sense. My insides are sore, and the vicodin seems to wear out at 2 hours. Also, my throat is really sore, scratchy and dry from the tube, and for some odd reason, my mouth is cotton dry.

All-in-all -- as of right now, I'm really glad I had this surgery.

I just want to thank everyone that has been praying for me, because your prayers were felt! Wednesday, I started getting emails rolling in to remind me that many of you were praying for me, and I felt completely at peace.

This was the first surgery where I didn't feel any anxiety or fear, and I know it's because my friends and family were standing behind me in prayer.

Thank you so much friends!

Okay -- I'm off to take another vicodin, some hot tea, and hit the pillows. I'll check my emails later.

Hugs to you all that prayed for me! THANK YOU!!

Ummm ... That' NOT how it works!

So, we have been trying to work with Hunter to potty train. Many people have said (to me personally, in emails, or on their blogs) that if the child isn't ready to potty train, then the child won't potty train.

That makes sense, right?

So in order to NOT stress Hunter out, and really ourselves too, we've just been encouraging him to use the potty whenever we "think" he needs to go. It has been working out well... plus, he hides behind my leather club chair when he "does his serious business" -- which tells us he's ready to be trained, right????

Until last night.

When I went to take off his pull-up and encouraged him to pee-pee on the potty. To which he grasped his pull-up, threw himself down, and threw an all-out temper tantrum because he wanted to "PEE-PEE IN THE DIAPER BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE IT GOES, MOMMY!!!"

Regression.

It really stinks.

Literally.

How precious is it to you?

How much does your wedding ring mean to you??? Not in a monetary sense, although now a days, that figure could be pretty high -- but rather, in a sentimental way??

Are you a DIE HARD, "wear the ring until the day you die" kind of person?

Are you a more of a "it is just a symbol... my love is in the person" kind of person?

Are you more of a "this thing cost us a fortune and it's never leaving my finger" person?

Are you more of a "wedding ring, schmeding ring... I don't need something to prove my love to someone else" kind of person?

Sunday, Kerri Walsh lost her wedding ring in the sand while playing volleyball ... and went on to win the game. She didn't stop to dig around in the sand, frantically looking for it... but she did mention that it was very precious to her.

Personally, I'm not attached to any particular piece of jewelry. I know my husband and I love each other, and frankly... I've out grown my wedding set [ehem] and moved on to a plain-ish band... as a symbol that I am taken ... because ... you know ... I would hate to fight off all those attractive men that are clamoring for an overweight, middle-aged mom of a toddler.

Where do YOU and YOUR wedding band stand? I'd love to know!

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Matthew 6:19-21

Living Proof Ministries

Y'all -- Y'ALL!!! This weekend was the Beth Moore simulcast, and let me tell you -- I have been a Christian for over 25 years... I read and study my Bible, I have a personal and intimate walk with Christ, and I love me some awesome worship ... but this weekend? It was totally amazing on so many levels.

Travis Cottrell (click to read his blog) led worship, and did such an amazing job. One of my favorite songs ... In Christ Alone ... almost brought me to my knees numerous times -- and I would have gone, had it not been for the nagging pain in my gall bladder, hallelujah!! Travis has an amazing voice, but better than that, he is in tune with the Master, and the Holy Spirit was not only present, but was leading, directing, producing and choreographing every move he and his worship team made that weekend. Simply amazing. YOU MUST GET ONE OF HIS CDs. That's all there is to it.

Beth Moore (click to read her blog) has a phenomenal way of presenting scripture ... it doesn't matter if you have been a Christian for the greater part of your life, or for one single nano-second -- she has a talent -- a God-given, Spirit-breathed gift -- for delivering scripture and life lessons in a way that leaves you so ON FIRE for God, his Word, and the blessings he has in store for you, that you can't help but want to shout it from the mountaintops!

Oh, my...

I have goosebumps just THINKING about this weekend, let alone typing about it.

Over 700 churches across the world (over 70,000 people) tuned in to hear from this dynamic duo and their teams. God has truly blessed them.

I just can't wait for our women's retreat this fall ... we are using Beth's "Retreat in a Box" and it is gonna rock!

Praise God that he uses ordinary, humble, spirit-filled men and women to deliver his fire, and the message of His love, compassion, mercy, and grace!

On another note... my sweet Associate Pastorman's wife pointed out something that I had observed during worship, but thought it was just the font the people at LP Ministries chose to use for the worship words... tell me if you noticed it too... they had every single word typed out in lowercase letters with the exception of all words that were names for Jesus... only those were capitalized.

Did you notice that?

So, if you attended the simulcast, what were your thoughts? Let's chat it up a bit... and please ... I know I get over 100 people visiting my blog each day, so I'm asking you to leave a comment when you normally wouldn't!

Some things you just can't change...

There are some things that just ... are. I don't have the power to change them -- at all.

For instance, I can't change the fact that I was born with thick, coarse, semi-curly hair, and when it is humid (which, by the way ... is pretty much ALL SUMMER LONG), it will frizz, and pretty much "freak out." It doesn't "curl" -- no -- that would be way too wonderful. It looks something like a dead, fuzzy perm, in fact. Yes, I can use styling serums, and I do, but mostly, I don't buck it -- I just throw it up in a french twist with a clip. Done. It's just the way things are.

Then, there's the fact that I'm 5'9". Now, many of you are saying... "5'9"? I'd LOVE to be 5'9"!" And yes, I do love the fact that I'm 5'9" tall. But... if I were, say, 6'5, then the rest of my body would be in total proportion (weight-wise) with my height, and this delicious Mint Mocha Chip Frappuccino that I'm currently enjoying would not be a source of guilt. But sadly, I can't make my body grow another 8". But even 5'9" girls have their own cross to bear... for instance, capris, pants, skirts and dresses are usually way too short. I love flood pants (just above the ankle) but can't find them long enough for me, so they usually look like capris. Let me just say that when I find a pair of pants with the right length to match the waist, I rejoice jubilantly, and treat them as if they were spun from gold! Short people can have longer pants altered to fit properly ... but tall people aren't so lucky.

Oh, and then there's the whole large foot issue... my bones in my foot actually grew while I was pregnant. Not wider from swelling, as is common with most pregnancies, but rather -- longer, as in one whole size longer, but still narrow. My doctor said it is quite common for that to happen, and let me just say, it hurt like crazy! But now I'm a "dainty" size 10 instead of a much more manageable 9. I'm not bitter, honest. But it sure is hard to find shoes in stock at most department stores.

And let's not forget the fact that we all (unless surgically removed) have numerous parts in our body that we don't really need, and can actually do without -- such as our spleen, gall bladder, tonsils... you get my point. And when one of them becomes "sick," you can have it removed, and still function like a champ without it! About 6 years ago, I had my tonsils removed --a painful, nasty surgery for an adult, but I'm so glad I did it because I don't get sick nearly as much as I did before.

Which leads me to my gall bladder.

It must come out.

I have no choice.

And I can't change that.

And I actually WANT that.

I have a stone lodged in the neck of the gall bladder completely blocking it and shutting off its proper function, causing it to contract and go into spasms -- really quite pleasant if you enjoy constant, throbbing pain on a level of a 7 or 8. Nice. And I can't take anything for it, because they want me to be able to "feel the pain" so I can monitor it and if it gets bad enough, go to the emergency room.

So, on Thursday, August 14th, I will loose yet another not-so-necessary-in-the-grand-scheme-of-things body part... and I'm actually happy about it -- praise God!!! This gall bladder is giving me a constant fit of pain, and I can't wait to be rid of it.

Have I mentioned before that I have a pretty LOW tolerance for pain? I haven't? Well, let me mention it now -- HATE PAIN. But I'll welcome the surgery.

Yup. That's what's going on in my life right now. That, and... a rather FABULOUS weekend with Beth Moore.

So ... What's up with you???