THE NAME GAME

Borrowed this from a friend's blog & though it looked fun. Try it out yourself!

YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) Baxter Odyssey
YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR'S NAME: ("The" + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”) "The Scrapnstamp Sunny Tour"
YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) Chocolate Chip Mint Chocolate Chip
YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)
L-BAL
YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) Purple Dog
YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) AnneMarie Salem
YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) Balli
SUPERHERO NAME: ("The" + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink) "The Pink Coffee"
NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers) Richard William
STRIPPER NAME: (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy)
Romance Twix
WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ) Lydia William
TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter) Sutherland Sacremento
SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower) Fall Daisy
CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”) Apple Bra
HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree) Coffee Spruce

TAGGED

I have been tagged by Colima

If you have been tagged, here is what is requested:

1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a post on their blog.



Here are 7 facts about me:



1. I can't set my alarm on an even time. If I need to wake up at 7:30 I will set it for 7:28. I don't know why!



2. I don't know how to 'link my tagger'. I tried so we'll see if it works!



3. I don't have cable or DSL. Cable I can live without but I HATE not having DSL. It is just one of those things I go without, mostly because my husband is a tight-wad & he doesn't think we need it.



4. I plan on getting a breast reduction after I am done having kids!



5. My first memory was of my & my sisters sitting on a sleeping bag in Amy's room giggling when we were supposed to be leaving for church.



6. I can't chew Juicy Fruit gum or drink 7 UP because that is what my mom & dad always gave me when I was sick.



7. Going by the different animal personalities, I used to be an otter all the way, not a bit of beaver in me - now I am a beaver!



I don't know too many bloggers so I will tag only those I know! Stephanie, Gina, Krissy

LIFE'S SWEET MOMENTS

I do not have cuddly babies. They would rather be on the floor roaming around, getting into everything than sitting with me. So, the other day when I handed Cassidy her cup & she looked up at me with her big brown eyes & reached up for me I snatched her up! I needed to make dinner, there were things around the house to do but I soaked up that one moment because I never know when it will happen again! Oh, & she sat there for about 3 minutes; 3 minutes of pure sweetness!




and LIFE'S FUNNY MOMENTS

Later that night at dinner Gracie was going on about Isaac - that was the name we had picked out for Cassidy if she was a boy. Gracie is convinced we are having an Isaac someday (no I am not pregnant!). I said "Gracie, we might have an Isaac but that is up to God, he is in control."

She looked at me very seriously & said "No mommy, I am in control & you are having Isaac!"



There you have it!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Just like Daddy

TODAY'S TO DO LIST

Clean the bathrooms

Couple loads of laundry
Day 4 of my Bible Study Lots of phone calls
Make Chicken Enchiladas for dinner - yum!
And of course, play with these 2 sweeties!

MEMORY LANE

I borrowed this from my friend Gina's blog & thought it looked fun!

Here are the directions: 1. As you comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember! 2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE (& UNFAVORITE) THINGS

Cassidy's likes & dislikes:

Dislikes: having diaper changed before breakfast
Likes: seeing Gracie before breakfast

Dislikes: formula
Likes: formula with Nesquik strawberry powder

Dislikes: Lexus
Likes: Lexus through the screen door

Likes: playing with Gracie
Dislikes: sharing with Gracie (or anybody)

Likes: bath time
Dislikes: well, nothing about bath time; even when she makes herself fall underwater, she just gets up & does it again!

Likes: eating
Dislikes: eating anything she doesn't feel like liking at that moment, even though she loved it yesterday!

EIGHT YEARS AGO TODAY...

Sorry friends - this blog is going to be a heavier one than usual. And sorry ahead of time Christine if I make you cry!

Eight years ago today I was in a life changing car accident. This wasn't just a fender-bender - it was a 'Dr. saying to my family & me "How did she survive this?"' kind of accident. (God, of course - although I didn't believe it at the time) I was driving in my little Geo Metro down Hazelgreen Rd. at 50 MPH - no I wasn't speeding & I wasn't drunk! My cell phone rang & reached down to get it & swerved off & hit a tree head on. God was in control of the whole situation from the beginning & everything turned out for a purpose. My ankle was dislocated so bad it actually ripped through my skin. (Sorry, if you have a weak stomach!) I hit my mouth on the steering wheel & lost 2 teeth. There were no airbags so I was pretty beat up. I was taken to my small town hospital & they were ready to amputate my foot but thought I had internal & spinal injuries so they life flighted me to OHSU in Portland, OR. It is one of the best. I got up there & didn't have the injuries they thought & was seen by one of the best orthopedic surgeons who was able to save my foot. I was in Doernbechers Children's Hospital for a week. It was a long recovery - over a year. I had 13 surgeries - some minor, some major & still have pain in my ankle daily.

After my accident I questioned often why God saved me. I wasn't walking with him & felt I had no reason for him to spare my life. It was common in my small farm town for kids to get in car accidents (a lot of the times with trees) & not make it, so why me?

I still don't have a clear answer except God wasn't done with me. He knew I would come back to him & walk with him stronger than ever. He knew the wonderful man I was going to marry & the kids I would have who would bring me so much joy. Even though it has been the hardest, most traumatic thing I have ever gone through, I am so thankful God saved me. This anniversary is one I no longer dread - it is one that reminds me how great our God is & to try to glorify him daily!

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY GRACIE!

It is hard to believe but my sweet little Gracie is 4 years old today! It seems like just yesterday I was holding her in my arms after 16 hours of labor - 3 and a half of that pushing! I remember on the 3rd around 3 p.m. I started to feel something, but being 6 days away from my due date, I didn't think much of it. I went on with my day as usual & into the evening they continued off & on. We went to bed as usual & I just lay there, pretty tired but had nice little cramps now & then. I kept getting up & walking around & they kept getting worse. Nathan had had a bad day at work & was really tired so I didn't want to wake him up. Around 1:30 a.m. I couldn't take it anymore. They were painful & I was scared! So I woke him up & asked him to time my contractions. Sure enough, they were less than 5 min. apart & lasted more than a minute - or whatever that rule is! I called & my Dr. said to come on in. I remember leaving the house thinking "we'll be back in an hour". We got to the hospital around 2:30 a.m. & my water broke - this was it! I quickly got my epidural around 5 & waited...& waited...& waited. Finally at noon I was dialated to a 10 & it was time to push. At 3:22 little Gracie came into our lives! It was one of the greatest days of my life! I am a little emotional with her turning 4. It's a big step - she moves upstairs at church to the Preschool Dept. She is no longer a toddler but a little girl - it has gone by way too fast! But it is so fun to see the little girl she has become - Amazing! Thank you God for this wonderful blessing you gave us 4 years ago today!

I FINALLY DID IT!

I have been wanting to do this since I was in high school. Probably for 7 years now. First, I wasn't old enough, then I just never got around to it, then I became a Mom & thought I could never do that being a Mom. I don't know why I thought that, I know plenty of Moms who have this done. So, for my birthday Kristin gave me $ and told me to spend it on something I would never buy for myself. So, I thought I am just going to do it! It isn't permanent so if I hate it it isn't forever. If I never did it I would always wonder about it. So I finally did it with Kristin (my biggest supporter in this), Nathan, & my mom looking on - yes, my mom - (poor lady! We sure do keep life exciting for her!)

"What is it she is talking about?" you ask yourself. Getting my nose pierced & I finally did it!