The Saturday Blog :)

Every saturday, I am going introduce my readers to a new blog that I enjoy reading. It may be a family member, friend, church, business, or just something I stumbled across. I will give you the general idea of the blog and then the link. You all can start doing this also if you want to! If you would like to be part of the "saturday blog", just leave a comment and I will take a look at your blog.

So my first blog is .......

http://followtheaunes.com/

I may be just a little biased about this blog since they are my cousins, but I find what they write about Christianity refreshing. I also love the way that Kristin is able to balance parenthood, being a wife, and also volunteering in the church. They currently live in Smyrna and Kristin is a stay at home mom to two children, Kyndal age four and Emmett who was just born last month! The picture above was stolen (oops!) off of Kristin's facebook page. Her last few posts have been about Kyndal starting a mother's day out program and also how God's timing with Emmett filled them with overwhelming joy - so check, check, check it out! :)

And since I never do anything like this, I have decided to do TWO blogs to start the saturday blogroll off right....

The second blog I have chosen is...........

http://jennwade.blogspot.com/

I went to high school with the author of this blog, Jennifer Wade. I have no idea if she even knows I'm a reader! :)

She mixes country charm and city humor with recipes and running tips. I find her blog to be a little bit of what growing up and living alone is all about. As a young mom and wife, I never got the chance to go to some big city and make a life for myself. Although I feel so blessed with my life, I like to read her blog and think about what it would be like if I would have ended up living in a big city and following my career dreams instead of choosing to be mommy and wife.

It's a must read! Read both of them!!!

Come back next saturday for two more fun blogs to follow! :)

Negative.

Although I was sure this was going to be the month, God had a different plan...

I got three negatives which means no baby for us in nine months.

This is month number THREE we have been trying - HARD.

Sometimes I feel so discouraged, but then I look around at everything I have and I am filled with joy!

There's always next month - and it's fun to keep trying! :)

Please pray that God will send us a baby if/when he sees fit and that we will understand the plan he has for our life. Prayers and Hugs to my readers!!

The Others.

This is my family I like to call, "the others." They are going to love that, ha! These are my in-laws. They are super sweet and a big part of who DJ and I are as a couple. The little girl on the end is my neice, Alisha, and she comes to stay with us from time to time. Her mother, my sister in law, just had her fifth child! Bless her heart!! I had to share this picture because I am always showing pictures of my side of the family, but I have a whole other side that I feel very blessed to have. We haven't always seen eye to eye that is for sure, but they have always been a positive influence in my life. When DJ and I met, fell in love, got pregnant, and got married all while being teenagers and in a matter of ten months total, I'm sure they had their reservations that it would work and looking back now - I have to say I understand. I must also say that Darrell and Sherry are not DJ's actual parents. They took care of him when he moved from Florida and they are actually his aunt and uncle. I also have a mother in law named Pamela that I get to be close to too. She lives in Florida, but we keep in touch by phone, email, and the regular card. She will be here to visit next month so you my readers will get to meet her too.

The next post is going to be a hard one so bare with me. Prayers and Hugs to All!

It's starting to look like FALL :)

...or at least in my house it is! I love to decorate for all seasons, but since Fall is my favorite season, I love decorating for it the most - even more than Christmas ya'll! I have started to put out the majority of my decor so here it is... these are being posted in honor of my friend Brittany because we always share pictures of our homes and ask for advice! :)

The front door wreath .. I change it every season.
My new scarecrow I picked up at Big Lots for $2! Go me!!

I love to buy a candy holder for every season. This was a pot for a plant, but
I wanted to use it for a candy bowl.

My scarecrow people

And I love my scarecrow girl the most!

The boys got a package!!!

My boys are very big WWE fans (as i'm sure most of you have read by now!) and they kept seeing a commercial about some cups at Seven Eleven. Well, my father and I drove all the way to Knoxville only to learn that the closest one was 730 miles away!! So, my dad did the wonderful job of calling up a family member who lives in Texas and asked him to buy the cups and send them in the mail - and he did! Thank you to Uncle Jim Aune for making the boys the happiest little things in Crossville this year!! Below are the pictures of Ace getting the wonderful suprise and then sharing it with his big brother!!

Emotional.

Without sharing too much (because I know i'm bad for that), I just had to come say how blessed I am. This year has been one of the best and worst years of my life, if that makes sense. I have learned alot about the true meaning of love, friendship, forgiveness, marriage, trust, christianity, and self worth. I still have alot to learn, but I'm finally opening up and that feels good.



Everyone probably knows that my husband and I have been trying to have a baby for a long time now. We unfortunately lost a baby at the first of the year. It was very hard on both of us, but also on our kids. They did not seem to understand that one day we are having a baby and the next day we are not. They also had a hard time dealing with the next two months that followed, as did I. After I lost the baby, I had horrible bleeding. I bled for sixty days straight and ended up having to have a blood transfusion. The whole ordeal was horrible. I have always been told that I could possibly have endometriosis, but it was finally diagnosed for sure. I also have a tilted cervix, polyps, and some cancer cells that have spread, left scars, and caused irritation. This may sound like a horrible ordeal, but something really good came out of it. My family got closer than they have ever been. My marriage got a fresh new start and DJ and I found a newfound love for each other even when we didn't think it was possible. God carried me through everything and he still continues to carry us today as we are still trying to conceive. We have full faith that we are on God's timing and he will give us a baby if/when we're ready.



I am so thankful for all the family and friends who have stood by us through the whole ordeal. I cannot express how much you all mean to me. Other things including the loss of my nana have also happened this year and my friends and family were there - no questions asked. I know that every single one of you are in my life for a reason and I am so very thankful for that - really!



Sometimes I see people whining or ranting (and sometimes I even do it myself), but you don't really hear people talking about the good things that God is doing. I guess that is why i'm so emotional. My heart may mourn the loss of my nana and my heart ache to be holding a baby, but I am also joyful that I was saved by grace. That I have been given this chance even though I fall so short of the glory. I don't say things on my facebook to offend anyone, I am just a person with alot of heart and it gets me in trouble sometimes. I have a sincere love for people and I truly care about all of the people that are in my life. It takes me a long time to let people in, but once I do, you are my family for life.



I know I have made mistakes. I have said things I had no business talking about, hurt people's feelings, or did something out of anger, but I really just desire a brand new start with a few people. I want a chance to let all of that go and let God heal those wounds. If I have ever done any of those things to you, please know that I have tossed and turned over the mistakes i've made in the past and I truly am a new person. Made new through Jesus!



I just want to tell my daddy how much I truly love him. How I know that the past is the past and that I could not be more proud of him. My children adore him and he is their hero - and he was mine when I was a little girl. I have always tried to make my daddy proud. I hope he reads this knowing without a shadow of a doubt that my love for him grows everyday and that I appreciate every sacrifice he made and every little thing he did because it made me who I am today.



I want to tell my amazing husband how he has healed so much of my past and been the biggest inspiration in my life! I cannot put into words all of the things this man has done for my heart and soul. When I met him, I was angry and hard to love. I was ready but scared. He showed me the true meaning of commitment and love, even when things were not pretty. We started out with nothing and we worked so very hard to be where we are today. Never has he complained that he has to work for provide for us. He always comes home telling me thank you for anything and everything I have done that day. The one who really needs the thank you is him. Thank you for being my dream come true. Thank you for allowing me to live that fairy tale life. Thank you for making me fall in love with you everyday... and thank you for choosing me to spend the rest of your life with. I live to be a help to you. I try to be everything to you that you are to me! I love you!!



I want to tell my kids how much I am proud to be their mom! They are always telling me i'm the best mom, but the truth is that they deserve nothing less than the best. I go to bed praying every night that my children feel loved and wanted every single day for their whole life. I try to teach them morals and values, but have fun along the way. When I got pregnant at 19, I'm sure people expected me to fail, but Blaze was the reason I could not do that. Some mothers do not seem to have that same thinking, but Blaze truly changed my life forever. I cannot imagine not being here with my babies all day, everyday. I talk about being stressed sometimes, but I truly love being a stay at home mom. I have been here to see every milestone from walking to talking to writing to playing football to anything! Ace, my little wild man, you steal the show anytime you are around. You are mama's little boy and you always will be. Thank you for telling me you love me 10000 times a day. Every single one of those times, I needed to hear it. Thank you Blaze for your huge heart and giving nature. You have a bigger heart than anyone else I know and because of that, you are my inspiration. I hope you both know how much mama loves you.



To my sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, in laws, and all other family - You have blessed me with more love than I deserve. Thank you and I love you from the bottom of my heart.



To my friends, thank you for putting up with me. It isn't easy for me to let people in, but please know that I do not use the word "friend" lightly. I pray that each and every one of you knows just how much I need and want you in my life. None of your positive thoughts or prayers goes unnoticed.



So, yes, I labeled this EMOTIONAL for a reason. My emotions are running wild today. I have lost so many dear friends and family members this year and I just can't let another day go by without letting everyone know how much they are loved and appreciated. All of this love that we express, it didn't come without a price. Jesus shed his blood for us and although we experience pain and heartache in this lifetime, it is only temporary. We just have to keep our eyes on the prize. Anytime I am feeling overwhelmed, I just take it to the foot of the cross.



We were not put here to deal with things on our own. We have a loving God who has desires for us to experience love and joy and comfort. So, if at anytime you are dealing with something, please don't hesitate to share it with me so I can try to do something about it - I will pray for you, talk to you, or help you anyway that I can. That goes for anyone, all of my friends and family - no exceptions! I am an open book and I try not to place judgement. Never feel alone no matter what. If God can heal my heart, he can heal anyone. He is just waiting for you to take that step...



So I will end this with -



I Love You.

I need some advice.

I am really wanting to start a mom's group or at least join one. Both of my kids are in school full time starting one week from monday. Although I have plenty or work to do around the house and such, I like to at least get out of the house once a week to make other friends. We do not have a nearby mops so I joined a site called Meeting Moms (you can check it out at http://sahm.meetup.com/ ) and the nearest moms group listed is 73 miles away. So, my question to my readers is Have you ever joined a mom's group and was it a good or bad experience? Would you ever take on making your own group? Do you ever go to weekly bible study for moms that is during school hours? If anyone has any advice or can direct me to a mom's group nearby, I would love to hear from you!

A Decorator's Dream!

My husband bought me this beautiful, free standing waterfall fountain to go in our living room. I loved it so much, I moved it to the bedroom so the relaxing flow of water could help me sleep. I can see myself becoming a fountain collector because I love both of my fountains and they bring a piece to each room.

Speeeeeedy Recovery!

My dad is supposed to start classes on monday for his insurance license, HOWEVER, on Tuesday he had to have his gallbladder removed. The people that he is really wanting to work for are needing him to complete the class this time around. Could all my readers please send out a little prayer that he can heal quickly and be able to take the classes? He has been without a job for almost a year and it has been really hard on the family. Thank you :) Get well soon DAD!!

Life in the FAST Lane

First off, I have to say that my last post just wasn't working out. I found a video from last night's finale of SYTYCD, but it kept giving an error to my readers so I took it down. I do have to say congratulations to the winner - Lauren! She held it down for the girls!!

So, my blog is called "Life In The Fab Lane" for a reason. I really try to live a fabulous life. Maybe i'm not rich or a "housewife of OC", but I am richly blessed. I like to find time for the finer things in life .... but the next five pictures will explain why most days are spent watching wrestling, being a taxi, and sharing laughs.
Life has been going full speed for us this year. After I got healthy enough, we planned trips, the boys were out of school for summer, and DJ moved from consultant to manager. We also made the decision for me to stay at home for good, even after pursuing my nursing career. So, these faces have become my job. MOST days I love it. Other days, I come here and vent to you all. There is only so much a mom can do to keep two little boys occupied. They want to go outside but it's 100 degrees. They want to go to the park or somewhere else, but they are overcrowded and I can't handle the heat. I feel OLD. I am making every excuse in the world for us to stay home ALL THE TIME - I must work on this.

The little boy on the left started first grade today (tear). I packed his lunch, got him ready for school, and we headed out the door. I didn't expect to cry, but of course, I did. I sat sobbing in the parking lot at the fact that Blaze is not getting any younger. Not to mention, one week from Monday I will have NO kids here monday thru friday from 7-3. Although I love my alone time, I have become used to having them attached to me 24-7. I guess I can focus on other things - like trying to have a baby. That situation is just overwhelming. It is no suprise (do the math) that I got pregnant as a teenager. It was very unexpected and we weren't trying. Fast forward to two years later when we decided to have Ace and got pregnant within a month. Now, do a little more fast forwarding and you will get here where I am at now. I have been wanting a baby for about two years now. We have been trying hard (including predicting ovulation and talking to doctors about fertility options) for about five months with no luck. The only time I got pregnant I did lose the baby and that caused my health to spiral even worse out of control.

We are also just unsure of what the future holds for this family. Although we do have plans to build (see previous posts), we are now wondering where we will find the time?! My husband works 12 hour days and I just cannot do all the planning on our own. We barely have time for each other and now we want to throw house building in the mix? Maybe not the best idea. So, were praying about it and weighing our options. In the meantime, I am just praising God for all his blessings that he has given us. These five pictures can tell alot about how blessed I am. I am so thankful to have two little boys that still have their mama wrapped around their little finger.

There is one thing I do know about our family... there is never a dull moment. We have shared so many different emotions this year, but all in all it has been great. I find myself looking back at where I came from and just wondering how in the world I was tough enough to get here today. God has been so faithful to me and to my marriage. We went into this as teenagers on a path of self destruction and we came out as two outstanding partners and parents who work hard for our family. I think I will pat us on the back! :)

So, right now I may not be living in the "fab" lane, but I am living in the FAST lane. Things and times are just zooming by me. Today, I just come here singing praises for the little things that have made life worth living. Life is good, HECTIC, but good! :)

Welcome Home (almost!)

Remember the little girl I told you about a few weeks ago named Lauren? Well, she is being moved out of ICU today. She has been through so much, but she is showing some great progress. She is even able to play with animals and toys! She is at a wonderful hospital and her parents Todd and Ashley Deal are singing all kinds of praises today!

and... Paighton Elizabeth Griffis (a little girl I told you about earlier that has been in the NICU) is coming home on THURSDAY. Look how much she has grown since the last time I posted a picture!

Nothing about Nothing

I feel really blah today. These last few days have just been so overwhelming for many reasons. I wanted to come post just to let you all know what has been going on in the house. I also wanted to share a picture of the cutest kids on the planet (see above!)

My nana left me all of her jewelry in her will. I took it to have it appraised, but beforehand, my grandmother and I went through it all. Some of the stuff she left to me is so beautiful. I feel so blessed to have had such a wonderful grandmother that loved me dearly.

The kids start school Friday and have registration tommorrow. I cannot wait to be able to have a normal routine again. So, all you stay at home moms out there, what do you do while your kids are at school? I enjoy cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, walking at the park, tanning, shopping, and doing volunteer work. I am thinking about doing some work for the DUI/drug court here in Crossville. I have always had a heart for Criminal Justice.

We still haven't found a church to call home. This is mainly my fault. I get up intending to go to church, but then satan rears his ugly head and for whatever reason, we do not get there. Not only that, but the future is unknown for us and I have no idea where we will be living. That makes it even harder to find a home church.

It is not looking like I will be having a baby after all (at least not nine months from now). We were sure this month was it and then things just didn't seem to work that way. I have full faith i'm on God's timing, I am just a little uneasy about everything because we have been trying for awhile and have had previous miscarriages.

Here's my prayer list... My friend, Brandi Pate, lost a neice and her aunt in a car accident. Her neice was just five years old I believe. Please pray this family can find peace. Mourning is never easy, but with a child it's even harder. My friend Lacey that I mentioned earlier is still pregnant. This is truly a miracle! Please continue to pray that she stays healthy and can welcome a baby into the world in 2011! My father had his gallbladder removed today so he is in alot of pain. Please pray for comfort and a speedy recovery.

What have you all done today? I am always curious to see who is doing what. I wish I had something more exciting to tell you all, but this is it for now!

The next post will be special though; my friend Krystal is bringing baby Paighton home!! :)

God is so good.

ROLL CALL!

If you are reading this blog, please become a follower on the left hand side of this page. Also, please leave a comment with the url address of your own website and I will add it to my blogroll also on the left side of the page. I promise some good posts soon, but for now, I just want to keep up with everyone if I can! Now, go do it :)

What Moms Should Teach Their Sons

I came across an article at http://www.popsugar.com/ about chivalry in the growing generation. I thought it was interesting that most people are claiming chivalry is dead. Alot of women feel "helpless" or "underpowered" when a man does something nice for them ... um, yeah, I read that straight from the website. I have to completely disagree! My husband still holds the door for me, pays the bill at dinner, and walks closest to the road from the curb. He still calls me maam and says please and thank you. All of those traits we also expect in our children! So, below is the list of things they feel mom should teach their sons. Visit the website to read the whole story or join other moms!


Look the Part — First impressions mean everything and there is no better way to communicate confidence than through a young man’s overall presentation. Good posture gives the appearance of looking taller and stronger and being well-groomed displays respect for oneself. The challenge is to strike a healthy balance between caring about such things as personal hygiene and wardrobe selection without appearing too perfectly put together or looking like you made too much of an effort.

Hold the Door Open — In today’s world, young men are dealing with the delicate dance of knowing how to treat a lady without making her feel helpless. There are many ways in which he may demonstrate this behavior from opening a door for a woman, to helping carry heavy packages or assisting with putting on a coat. The understanding is that each of these gestures is made with the sole purpose of aiding the comfort level of his companion.

Walk Curbside — A gentleman makes sure his companion’s safety is attended to before his own. Walking on the curbside of the pavement is a practical measure to avoid any accidental missteps and also to protect a lady’s clothing from soiling due to mud or water erupting from drivers passing by.

Pull Out a Chair — The dining experience is crucial to the dating process as it allows the gentlemen plenty of opportunity to display chivalrous behavior. A true gentleman should let the maître’d escort his companion to the table first while he follows behind. Once at the table, he offers to seat his companion by pulling out the chair with two hands and gently pushing the lady in.

Stand for All Introductions — To show respect for others, a gentleman stands for all introductions as well as goodbyes. At a restaurant, he would stand each time his companion rises out of her chair to leave the table or returns to the table. In the workplace, he would stand to greet co-workers and clients.

Wait for a Lady to Extend Her Hand — The handshake is the most universal gesture for greeting another person. A gentleman always waits for a lady to initiate the handshake because he should never presume that the lady wishes to make any kind of physical contact.

Pay for A Meal — Whether inviting a companion to dinner or attending a dinner as a guest, a gentleman always pays and money is never a consideration. He is equally gracious and polite whether speaking to the wait staff at the restaurant or his invited guest. He is invested in the overall experience rather than scrutinizing each detail of the check with a fine tooth comb.

Make Polite Conversation — A gentleman easily makes pleasant conversation. He is cultured and well-versed to speak on a number of subjects. He shows interest in his companion by asking questions and being a good listener. He maintains excellent eye contact throughout their conversation making his companion feel like they are the only person in the room.

Show Consideration — A gentleman exhibits consideration for others by (a) using the words “please” and “thank you” liberally, (b) being respectful to women (c) being punctual and arriving on time to engagements, (d) refraining from texting, taking or making phone calls while in the company of others, (e) holding a door or elevator open for someone immediately behind them and (g) picking up and returning anything that another person has dropped.

Be a Natural — The gentleman displays the type of social confidence that is able to put others at ease while feeling completely comfortable with himself. He maintains a positive attitude and exudes a natural sense of calm and control. What makes him a natural is that he possesses a special magnetism that makes him at once exciting to be around and yet safe.

There you go ladies... go make those boys into gentlemen! I promise to post soon!! You are not going to believe some of the things going on in this house right now!

Boys Closet Makeover

I am sooooo proud (soooooooo!!!!) that I finally tackled the boys closet and made it look fabulous! I would have taken some before pictures, but quite frankly, they are embarrassing!

A few more pictures of the "House"

I just wanted to post a few more pictures of the house design we have chosen once our land process gets done. These pictures were from a whole different place and they have a little different look including the brick that is used on the outside. It's hard to decide which best fits our family and the area we are going to live. Just keep praying that we get something - and quickly! I'm ready for a new start :)

A Very Sad Day...

My grandmother on my mother's side, Margaret West, passed away last night from unknown causes in her sleep. I just found out about 3 hours ago and it has rocked my world. She was the healthiest of all my parents and grandparents and had been playing with her grandchild Carter just a few hours before passing. It hit me harder because I talked to her on the phone last week and she was very excited because I promised I would bring the kids up soon. She had gotten some money from her mother passing away back in December and was planning to take a lot of trips and travel the world this fall. I don't know how to take it all in since this is my first grandparent who has passed, but I have an uneasy feeling in my stomach. I hope and pray that she is in Jesus' arms right now and her that her salvation was in the right place. Please pray for everyone affected by her passing and pray that I can find a way to help my children deal as well. Thank you readers!

Laughter Is The Best Medicine!

You're All That!

If anyone wants to join me in a reading group, I am starting "You're All That" By Paula White. I have never read any of her books, but this book was on sale for $4 (Buy it at www.walmart.com !) so I thought I would check it out. I will write more in a few days about my review of the book. If you are joining me in reading, please leave a message!

Also, please do me a favor and if you read my blog, become a follower on the bottom left hand side. I have heard a few people say that they are reading daily, but I only see two followers. If I continue to feel like people are reading and not following, I will have to make the blog private. Thank you!

Reality Diva Time :)

I love being a reality tv diva :)

So the million dollar question is ..... Who will Ali choose tonight???

And this is who I think she is going to pick - Roberto!
I have to admit that I read the spoilers on www.realitysteve.com , but before I read them I did choose Roberto - the minute he walked out of the limo, I KNEW that's who she was going to pick. She was smitten from day one and has always showed more affection for him than anyone else. What I also read was NOT good and I will be so upset if the spoilers are true. Head on over to the website above if you want the spoilers before tonight!



Onto the next show... SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE!!!

This is Lauren. She is the only girl left. I really think she has a chance to win the show because the judges have praised her and she has a great personality and style about her.

And this is Adechike.. and yes that is his real name. I hope I spelled it right!

He has been the underdog and sometimes the judges have been really harsh to him.

At times I have felt that they were against him or wanted him off the show so everytime I have voted, my vote has gone to him. He has a great personality that shines when he dances and he seems the most professional of all the dancers. So he has my vote! :)

I could really keep going with this post for like two more hours however my kids are driving me crazy as we speak and I have been begging them to take a nap! Those of you who watch Teen Mom will enjoy my future post because I plan to dive into that show soon too. It has been great so far this season!! Have a blessed week everyone!

The Idol Tour 2010

You will not be getting any good pictures with this post. I'm sure my dad is just rolling in the floor laughing as he reads this, but AGAINST my dad's advice I left my camera in the car because I read somewhere that cameras were not allowed! So, no pictures except for a picture of my dad at Hooter's (the best place to eat in Knoxville!) and a picture before we went in. The concert was GREAT. Didi, Crystal, Big Mike, Lee, and Siobhan were great entertainers. Siobhan actually suprised me the most! The rest were eeerrr.. not so great! We heard that less than half of the tickets available were sold and they were very upset with the outcome. I don't know what the future of Idol holds with Simon and Paula and Ellen and Kara gone, but I doubt that I will continue to watch....

The next post will be about my favorite TV shows (some of which are coming to an end in the coming weeks...)! Thanks for reading :)