Surgery Update

Hi all...I'm at home recovering nicely. I did have some nausea from the anesthesia but very little pain. Thank you for your prayers!!! More later....

Surgery is tomorrow!

My laparascopic supracervial hysterectomy is scheduled for tomorrow morning. I would love it if you'd pray for me...and for no nausea and no pain after the surgery.

I don't like to throw up.
I don't like pain.

Who does, right?

I'll update the blog when I'm all better.

I'm Now the Mother of a Teen!

We have a teenager in the house now, y'all!!!! December 29 was the day.

The folks we fellowship with each week joined with us to create a 13th birthday Rayray will always remember. On her birthday eve, we had a very special time of blessing over Rayray's life followed by a party.

Proverbs 18:21 says "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." We chose to speak life over Rayray's life. Most everyone printed out their beautiful words so she will be able to read them again and again in the years to come.

Rayray asked for a purity ring for her birthday. We found a beautiful one here that says "I will wait for" on the inside of the band and "my beloved" on the outside. We didn't have a ceremony or make her take a vow....just gave her the ring and will leave the rest up to her and Father.

She had her homeschool friends over on her birthday night. For 4 hours straight, this house full of teens ate and played Rock Band 2 and ate some more. It was lively, to say the least!

Here's a small portion of the blessing her Daddy and I wrote for Rayray:

As you enter this new season, we say goodbye to baby dolls, dress up clothes and the imaginary horse stables in the back yard. These next few years will be priceless and precious for us. It will be a time when you can begin to spread your wings in the safety of our home....a time for you to grow more and more in your personal walk with Jesus.


We bless you with the understanding to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ for you. And to be flooded with the knowledge that you are loved beyond measure by Father and by your family.

We bless you wtih the desire to love Jesus with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. We bless you with His loving eyes and that every person you meet will be seen through His eyes...

We bless you with a faith that stands firm on the solid rock, not shifting sand.

We bless you with the mind of Christ...with a mind that dwells on whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, lovely, commendable, excellent...

We bless you with a grateful heart and a desire to praise God for everything He has done, is doing, and will do in your life.....

We bless you with a heart that is protected and kept pure and safe for the future spouse Father has for you. We bless your relationship with your earthly Daddy...may you always trust him to hold on to your heart as the Holy Spirit stands guard.

We bless you with the freedom to follow Father anywhere He leads you and the wisdom to know His will........This is your journey, but always know your family will be there for you, cheering for you, encouraging you, loving you, praying for you, believing in you.

Rayray, this world is a better place because you are in it. Your life, your kind heart and your sweet countenance are a blessing to all who meet you. May you be known as one who loves her family, her friends, and her Savior with all her heart.

We love you....to the moon and back.

What You Missed....

Why is it that when there's tons of great stuff to blog about, I drop the ball and don't blog!!! Perhaps it's lack of time!!! Anyway, I'll catch you up on what you missed with a photo essay.
Our Jelly Bean becomes St. JellyBean every Christmas. He grows out his beard and has his whole head dyed white. He has an awesome "suit." Not many folks get a private photo shoot with Santa in their living room! (This pic was only after phase one of beard-dying.)

My nephew brought his fiance "home" to meet us all. She's a tiny little cute thing and we so enjoyed being with her!

Fiance had never been to a Winn Dixie but loves the book "Because of Winn Dixie." So at 9:00 one night, guess where we took the poor little deprived child!

Fiance is an avid basketball player. Had the nerve to do what no girl has every done....challenged the Hero to a little one-on-one. She let him win...

These two cousins adore each other. They are two of the sweetest, mild-mannered boys you'll ever meet.

We have an annual family reunion the Saturday before Christmas. This is my beautiful Grandmother. She keeps a tab of who is at the reunion and who is NOT. Let's just say you're on the black list for an entire year if you dare not come!

Here's all the grown up girl cousins. We had a special surprise this year. One of our long lost cousins has come back into our lives after 25 years. Can't tell you how wonderful to have her back!

This is my 14 yr old nephew, Giraffe. He is a Braves fanATIC. He used his own money to by Atlanta Braves garb for my kids so they can rootrootroot for the home team.

This is my niece KayKay. She was just accepted into the nursing program at the Medical College of Georgia and was one of the first ones notified which means she was at the top of the list. I'm literally bursting with pride for this HOMESCHOOL GRADUATE! WOOHOO!!!

This is my Doodle on Christmas Eve in her new Pinkalicious pajamas from her Aunt Debalicious.

New Years we did nothing at all exciting. But this past weekend, we visited the eastern side of Georgia where Hero's dad lives....and took in Savannah, Brunswick, and St. Simons Island while there. Here we are with some friends over there at the Japanese Steakhouse.

We took the kids out to the beach at St. Simons....Can you tell it was windy?????

Well, there you have it. A VERY scaled down photo essay of the past few weeks!!!!

Many blessings to you this new year!