Did someone say GIVEAWAY????

Hello, Sweet Friends!

I'm checking in this morning to tell you about a family that my friend Amie is trying to help out by having a bloggy makeover giveaway!!!! (How COOL is THAT???)


See, she has a friend named Linn (The Saunder Family) who is the Mom in a family of 12 that just lost EVERYTHING in a house fire.





Now there is a campaign that has been started to help get this family on "Extreme Home Makeover" and you can read more about it HERE. The address for this blog is, "Love Builds A House," how ADORABLE and fitting is that? (Of course it's lovebuildsahouse.blogspot.com or you can just click on the link in this paragraph) This blog has been set up for the quest that has begun to get their home rebuilt. If you have a moment hop around these links and get to know this sweet family.

I've added a button on my sidebar and we'd love for you to "grab it" if you'd like to do a post of your own about this family, or even better, add it to YOUR sidebar! (If you do, be sure to hop over to Amie's and leave a comment letting her know about it so that you'll be entered for the FREE BLOGGY Makeover!)


Thanks again, Amie for doing your part to get this campaign up and running! I'd never met this family before yesterday and I've already fallen in love with them. =-)

Now, I'd like to thank YOU, my Precious Friends, for being so pro-active yourselves! Doesn't it feel GREAT to help someone in need? Especially when all we have to do is go and leave a comment on the Extreme Home Makeover Blog! See, there's this REALLY LONG application you have to fill out to get them "officially nominated"... not to worry, the HARD part has already been done... all we have to do is leave a comment "encouraging" them to consider the Saunder family. (I know about the app because I downloaded it to nominate my friends from Habitat for Hope and BELIEVE ME... it's a LOT of paperwork! Well, at least for someone with ADHD like myself... HA!!

Alrighty friends... that's it for me today! I hope you all have a wonderful day! Thanks again for getting involved!

YIPPEE... I actually posted TWO days in a row! ;-)

Okay, seriously now... I said I wanted to share something that I learned about GOD recently and I just couldn't wait to share it. (Maybe it'll keep some of you from experiencing unnecessary guilt)



See, I'd always heard that we should "give thanks" for everything. Here's the scripture... (It's AMAZING how ONE little word can change the WHOLE meaning of a sentence)




1 Thessalonians 5:18
in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.




See, I'd been thinking I was having a rebellious attitude towards GOD for not being thankful for the path my life has taken. (Losing Brent, you know? I mean, we have been thankful for many things during this trial, but not for the very act of losing him or for the way he suffered)

Well, you may have heard me mention that I don't put a lot of faith in what other people tell me about the Bible. Not immediately anyway. See, there are SO MANY scriptures that we've found over the past 3-4 years that have been TERRIBLY misquoted... so if I hear something I go and look it up for myself.

ANYWAY... all of that to say that I was in my room folding clothes one night and the TV (itself) changed the channel from what I was watching to a pastor that I used to LOVE to listen to. (It was Tony Evans... I suppose I had set the thing to change itself when he came on)

Now, I've not heard Mr. Evans preach anything that didn't line up with scripture.. but there are MANY others that I have. (Thus my check it for yourself attitude... PLEASE, if you find a preacher on TV that tells you GOD wants NOTHING but GOOD for you.. change the channel.. that's JUST NOT SCRIPTURAL! The Bible tells us to EXPECT trials.. oh well, that's another post)

So, I don't remember the theme of what Mr. Evans was preaching but I DO remember him using 1 Thessalonians 5:18. I listened closely as he explained how we don't HAVE to be thankful FOR everything.. but we are to be thankful IN everything. See, I KNEW I was NOT thankful for losing our son and watching him suffer the way he did. HOWEVER, IN those circumstances.. (we have learned) some came to accept JESUS as LORD of their lives. Now THAT my friends is something to be THANKFUL for!


So I don't have to thankful for all of the TERRIBLE things that have happened since October of 04 (the year we learned Brent had cancer), but IN those trials we were and ARE thankful for MANY things in CHRIST JESUS! (We were always looking for SOMETHING to be thankful for.. You know.. even in those last days, the CREATOR of ALL allowed us to witness "conversations" between HIMSELF and Brent as HE prepared him to go HOME! Again, THAT is something to be THANKFUL for!)


You see what I'm saying?? We're NOT thankful for sin, but in this sin-filled world, we ARE thankful that GOD'S own SON came to pay for our sins. (So in that sense we ARE thankful "IN" everything, but not necessarily FOR everything.


I can't tell you the burden that knowing this lifted from me!




Okay, now on the day to day stuff...

For our History class yesterday we watched the 44th Presidential Inauguration. I explained to the boys that THIS was history in the making for so many reasons. I also told them that we need to pray for him just as we did for President Bush. I explained that we need to PRAY that our new President will seek the HEART of GOD in EVERY decision he makes and if he's not saved, that he will be. (You know, because the Bible says we will be know by their "fruits" Matthew 7:20) I know that he was elected (by some) because he's so liberal in areas like abortion... but it's in THOSE VERY AREAS that I PRAY that he will KNOW GOD'S HEART and will not allow countless babies to be killed every day. Okay... all of that has been debated over and over BEFORE the election... I won't drag you though it again today. See, I'm ADHD like that. It only takes a second for me to get off track. LOL!!

I guess that's it for me today. It's time to wake the little people and get them ready for school. I hope you all have a WONDERFUL day!

Catching up.. (AGAIN) O:-)

Hello, Sweet Friends...


Man, you guys NEVER cease to AMAZE me! I was truly blown AWAY by your sweet thoughts and words of encouragement over the holidays. (And or course, all the comments/emails/text messages since then)


It was really hard this year... I don't know if it's the time that's passed, or just part of the grieving process, but I had A LOT more of the really HARD memories (kind of like "flashbacks") than I have the previous two Christmases. (Yes, it's only been two years, but 3 Christmases... didn't want to confuse anyone with my statement... Now that I think of it, I'm probably the only person on earth that can get turned around so quickly.. HA!!)


At any rate, GOD IS GOOD and we had a nice Christmas after all. Even WITH the virus that lingered in our home for over a week. LOL!!! Our poor Gabe had it TWICE! I was actually the ONLY person here that DIDN'T get it. ;-)


Now, to "fess up" about my absence here....

See, I'm a bit of a procrastinator.. I'm actually A LOT MORE than "just a bit" but I don't think there's a term for it. Hehehe.. O:-)


SOOOO... I kept myself busy as not to think... well, in keeping myself "busy" (which wasn't really much more than just spending LOTS of time with the hubby and boys) I just found myself avoiding the computer altogether. THEN.... as I found myself becoming MORE and MORE behind, the harder it was to jump back in and just DO IT!


All of that to say that the "dark clouds" have lifted (you know, other than those breakdowns that you don't see coming). There's been LOTS of LAUGHTER and roughhousing as well as a few sighs (when the holidays were over and we had to start back to school) HA!!


GOD has DEFINITELY been our STRENGTH AND OUR JOY! I learned a lesson about HIM along those lines during the holiday season that I can't wait to share with you! (Don't worry, I won't do it in this post.. I don't wanna keep you ALL day!) O:-)


I've truly thought about you all hundreds of times and have MISSED "hanging out" with you here. (And at YOUR places as well) I HOPE to try to jump back in tomorrow and just start blabbing again. I mean, today I felt like you guys deserved some sort of explanation about where I've been and what we've been up to. ☺


Oh, before I go, I want to say THANK YOU for the many prayers you've lifted for me and my family during the holidays. (The term, "Thank You," seems so small compared to the gratitude I feel towards you all) I truly cannot say how much your love and support has meant to us! (((HUGS)))


Alrighty, I guess that's it for me today... I'll be back to my regular rambling soon. (HOPEFULLY, tomorrow!) ;-)

Hello SWEET Friends! I'm on our couch, buried under two of my favorite little men of all time! (And sitting next to another- that'd be my hubby of course!)

I've been meaning to update before now.. I'm terribly sorry that I haven't! We made it through the holidays and it seems that we're falling back into our new "norm". There's a lot to yack about, and YACK I WILL.. It just won't be tonight.

I didn't want to keep putting it off. Some of you, my AMAZING & PRECIOUS friends, have started worrying & I didn't want to let that keep going. I PROMISE I'll do a "real update" soon... Until then, I want you all to know we're okay. The holidays were hard, but it does seem that getting the first of the year behind us has really helped.

Oh, I've been checking my email from my phone and I'm SURE I've overlooked a lot.. However, it's still all online and I'll read it all soon. (I actually got online the other night for the first time since I don't know when... I had a total of 1000 emails! Granted, most of it's junk.. I've got a lot to sift through. All of that to say that I know some of you have emailed and I've failed you mail you back. Again, I'm sorry! I hope to get back in my "groove" again really soon! I hate that I worried you, but love that you care enough to!

Thanks again (SO MUCH) for keeping up with us.. We CERTAINLY APPRECIATE your prayers more than I could ever say!!!!

I hope to "see" you soon...
Love,
Tonya
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone

Merry Christmas!

Hello, Sweet Friends!

I want to start by apologizing for not checking in before now. I've had good intentions... I've just not got it done.

As I'm sure you know, the holidays are incredibly hard for us. I know that for me personally, I've had a lot of "flashbacks" recently... remembering Brent's last days... UGH.... it's just so hard to allow myself to think about it.

It's weird how memories can rush over you all at once.. with no warning at all. As we started singing Christmas hymns Sunday at church I suddenly remembered the sound of Christmas carolers outside our hospital room. We knew it would be the last Christmas we'd have with Brent and EVERY moment was bittersweet. With that memory alone, I started sobbing. It's weird how songs/music can do that to you. Afterwards, I went back to being "okay" again.

Anyway.. we've been trying to keep busy and attempting to make every day the BEST it can be for Zach & Gabe. Don't get me wrong... we're not THAT bad off. GOD IS TRULY our STRENGTH and our ROCK. Things are "good" when we're with loved ones, or keeping busy. It's those quiet times that can stir up those terrible memories. Anyway.. I've just been trying to keep my head in the sand until after the holidays. Things always seem to get "better" again with them behind us.

I hate for this update to be one negative thought after another.. but it looks as though we'll be spending Christmas alone tomorrow. Our boys are passing around a VIRUS of ALL things. I know that "all things work for good, to those that know the LORD and are called according to HIS purpose"... I'm sure I messed that up a bit, but you know what I'm talking about.. right? Heheheh....

SOOOOOOOOOOOO......

On a more positive note.... we're looking forward to tomorrow morning. The boys have been counting down the days (LITERALLY) and they'll probably not sleep a wink tonight. We USUALLY make "Daddy-Clause" some cookies and Coke before bed, but with Zach coming down with whatever this is, we just didn't get it done. (Oh, if you're wondering.. we set out "Coke" instead of milk because Link is NOT a milk person.. LOL)

Of COURSE we'll be reading the REAL Christmas story in the morning (the birth of our LORD and SAVIOR) and will then open gifts. I'd attempt to make pictures, but I usually get so caught up in watching the boys that I COMPLETELY FORGET! O:-)

Now, I'll TRY to be more consistent with posting in the upcoming days. However, we won't be past all of "dates" until we've made it through January 2. (That's the day Brent went HOME to be with JESUS)

Oh, almost forgot... I also wanted to say THANKS for wishing Gabe a happy birthday!!! He turned 8 on the 21st, and unfortunately it was on a Sunday... this past one to be exact. We had a mini party for him BEFORE church, then our Christmas party with our church group... so Gabe basically "partied all day". LOL!!

Alrighty, I'm gonna go for now. I'm camping out in the living room with Zach and it looks like it may be a LONG night. Before I go.. I want to THANK YOU ALL for your thoughts, prayers, and of course for checking in on us here. We LOVE YOU more than we can say!

Have a VERY BLESSED Christmas, my Friends!
LOVE,

And the BIG NEWS IS.......

Hey there, Friends! I'm sorry to have left you hanging like that. HEHEHEHE.. well, sorta. O:-)

Before I start all the "blah, blah, blah," about our Thanksgiving... I KNOW many of you are wanting to know what the big news is??

SOOOO... my sister (Kerry) and her hubby (Shannon) are going to adopt. If you've heard me talk of my sister before, then you KNOW I'm just CRAZY about her and her family. Our children were all born in "stair-steps." Ashley (her daughter) was born in 94, Brent (our first son) was born in 95, Clay (Kerry's son) was born in 96, then Zach in 97. We had this really neat little pattern going with our first 4 (combined) but SHE had to go and mess it up. LOL!!! (Of course Gabe came along in 2000)

Seriously though, she's diabetic and because of that, Clay was a HUGE baby! (OVER 10 POUNDS) Now, my sis isn't like me... she's a LITTLE BITTY thing! Clay got stuck during his birth and it was too late to do a section. (Sorry if that's "TMI" but it's a VERY IMPORTANT part of the story). See, her doc didn't know he was so big (not sure how they missed that, but oh well) and he was practically born dead. (Due to that, his heart was TERRIBLY ENLARGED) PRAISE GOD, he DIDN'T die (or least that he didn't stay that way)! He was airlifted to Jackson, MS and his parents were told to prepare for the worst). GOD stepped in, and Clay was brought home just a week or so later. He's been healthy since.

HOWEVER, my sister & her hubby, again due to her health.. decided that 2 would be enough. (I don't know if that was the ONLY factor, but it was DEFINITELY a MAJOR one)

Well, GOD has recently shown them that HE wants to add to their family. They felt strongly that it would be a child from Russia - and GOD has MORE THAN CONFIRMED it over and over again!

They will set out to adopt 2 babies. (Two is the limit if you're not getting siblings, and very young siblings would be VERY RARE)

If you get online and research these orphanages - oh MY! It'll just BREAK your heart! (Little beds lined RIGHT NEXT to each other.. stories of children with no one to hold and love them.. it's just SO SAD)

Needless to say, I'm EXCITED BEYOND WORDS! (See, I gave you a little hint the other day.. I said the baby wasn't coming to OUR house.. what I didn't say, was where it WOULD be going) O:-)


Now... to catch up on the holidays.....

I told you I'd be fixing a turkey for Link's family dinner. It turned out REALLY WELL, I'm happy to say! I actually remembered to take out that little bag of.. I don't even CARE to KNOW what's in it.. O:-) HA!!!

See, to tell off on myself a bit... The VERY FIRST turkey I ever made......... well, I sort of didn't know there was ANYTHING inside the bird that needed to come OUT. (Sorry if this offends anyone that doesn't eat meat) ;-)

At any rate.. I was VERY PLEASED that I didn't burn it, or under cook it, or leave something inside that wasn't suppose to be there. HA!! Dinner at Link's parents was AMAZING! (They're ALL FANTASTIC cooks!!)

After lunch, we made dough ornaments. That'll be another set of pictures I'll need to load and share. (Man, am I SERIOUSLY BEHIND on pictures, or WHAT??)


We'll be doing supper with my family tonight. (If you didn't know.. my Daddy is a truck driver) HE wasn't home for turkey day so we'll be oinkin out AGAIN tonight. (Hopefully I won't.. I've started yet ANOTHER diet)

HHHMMMM... WHAT ELSE???

Well, I COULD tell you that I'm now OBSESSED with learning how to do blog makeovers! (I LOVE my Christmas one, but I always feel terrible asking the lady that's doing the makeover to keep making changes) Jennisa was VERY PATIENT with me and I think she did a GREAT job! (You can find her at onceuponablog.org)

A VERY DEAR friend of mine has been encouraging me to learn, and well, honestly, I'd REALLY LOVE to know how! I did find a spot online that gives some REALLY GOOD instructions. My biggest problem NOW is to figure out how to work my Photoshop program. (I'm SOOOO DINGY and HATE to read instructions) I suppose if I'm going to get this figured out, I'm going to HAVE to though. =-/ (Heheheh)

If any of you know of a "step by step" visual type thingy.. could you let me know? O:-)

Okay, I KNOW I'm forgetting something.. I suppose whatever it is will wait until next time?



Oh, and I've also STILL not made it around to commenting on your blogs. I'm SO VERY SORRY! I'm sure you understand.. the holidays are CRAZY, and WONDERFUL, and WONDERFULLY CRAZY! ;o)



I hope to see you soon..

Love,

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Morning, Sweet Friends!

I wanted to come by and wish you a VERY HAPPY Thanksgiving! I know I said I'd try to come and post pictures, but honestly, I've been so busy trying to get our house back in order that I've just not had a lot of time to "play" online. (After the BUSY week we had last week.. I CRASHED for a couple of days.. MAN, does it EVER get MESSY, FAST!)

Anyhow - I hate I've not been by to wish you all a happy turkey day in person.. HOPEFULLY I can catch up with YOU soon!

I'd also like to do a post on being thankful. I sure wish I had time today.. but I'm doing one of the turkeys for my hubby's family dinner so I REALLY NEED to go! ☺ (I'll also BE THE TURKEY at his Mom's house) LOL!!

Oh, we've got some AMAZING family news to share too! (Don't get too excited for us.. there's no baby coming to OUR house) O=-)

Okay.. I'd better run! I hope you all have an AMAZING day!

Love,

Tonya

Too Easily Amused

Hi there friends! I'm playing around with my blog and THINK I've discovered a fast, easy way to post from my cell. I guess we'll see if this works?!



I'll try to check in soon w the pictures I promised from last week. =-)



See ya soon!


(I'm *editing* this post to say that it WORKED! Everything above this was posted by my phone.. COOL, huh?) WHOO-HOO!

Now, I'm off to see about getting those pictures uploaded.

Oh, one other thing.... My sweet friend Jennisa from Once Upon A Blog has been doing some Christmas decorating for me. My 'Christmas blog' should be UP in a few days. I'm EXCITED to see something new.. and to have a way to CELEBRATE JESUS this holiday season!

Okay, I'll get back soon. I'm WAY OVERDUE in checking in with you guys. Things have FINALLY started to settle down, and I HOPE to get caught up with you all by tonight.

LOVE,

Tonya

Catching up..

Hello, Sweet Friends!

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to "catch up" with you all. This has been ONE CRAZY/BUSY week.. but it's been a LOT of FUN! Let me fill you in... =-)

Okay, so when I last posted I told you that we had out of town company coming in. They DID arrive just seconds BEFORE I clicked the "Publish Post" button. (The boys were outside EAGERLY watching and waiting for them.. I heard them scream out, "They're HERE!") LOL!!!

So, who WAS this company??? It was our dear friends from Memphis, Mark & Mylissa Horrocks.

We met them just before we learned that Brent had relapsed, back in 05. They too have had their world "rocked" by the diagnosis of cancer in their own child. However, AND PRAISE BE TO GOD, their daughter, Bella, has done BEAUTIFULLY! She's been in remission since she finished treatment in 04!

A couple of quotes from her caringbridge site..

"Bella was diagnosed with Stage IIIa Malignant Melanoma at age of 3 on 9/11/03."

"She finished on October 8, 2004!!! She had her first annual scans and redone October 18th, WHICH PROVED HER TO BE CANCER FREE FOR 1 YEAR!!! Praise the Lord!!! In November, Bella had a baseline PET which was NORMAL and a repeat MRI...NORMAL!!"

Okay, now would you like to know just how AMAZING this family is?? They saw a GREAT NEED while in treatment at St. Jude. They didn't just carry their daughter home and forget about the things they saw, felt, and experienced while at St. Jude, they did something about it!

What did they do, you might ask?? Through the leading of the Holy Spirit they started a non-profit organization called, "Habitat for Hope."




Please, if you have a minute, go and read how this all began.

Yep, they packed up their family (they lived in Florida) and MOVED to Memphis, TN just to support families like ours day in and day out.

They helped get us housing so that we could keep ALL of our boys together after Brent relapsed. (Although St. Jude goes ABOVE AND BEYOND what you might expect from a hospital, they can only provide housing for 4 people. You are NOT ALLOWED more than 4 at any time) We DESPERATELY wanted to keep the boys under the same roof after relapse. (They told us there was NO HOPE of a cure for a child after relapse occurs)

Mark & Mylissa called and visited often, organizing meals for us while we were in the hospital. They walked the halls of St. Jude with us, praying between scans. Mark & Mylissa were there with us the day we first heard that there was nothing more that could be done for Brent. (Of course we didn't accept that, but that's a ANOTHER story)

I could go on and on telling you about how they helped meet the physical and spiritual needs of our family.. but for the sake of time, and to avoid writing a book today, I won't. LOL!

I would like to share one more quick story.. another memory that stands out. It was when they came to the hospital and threw Gabe a birthday party (at St. Jude) so that he'd HAVE one. See, we'd just brought Brent back to Memphis "to let him go" and were beyond even remembering that it was our baby boy's birthday.

They also came and got the kids and took them places during those very sad and very dark days so that they'd have a little bit of "normalcy"... so they could get their little minds on something that wasn't so tragic.

This sweet young couple doesn't just "talk the talk," my friends, they WALK THE WALK!

The very home they live in is open day and night to families in Memphis who have a child with a life-threatening illness. When I say "open" I mean people LITERALLY LIVE in their home. (I'm nagging Mylissa to build a cabin somewhere on the property so that they can have their own space.. I'm telling you, I could NOT do what they do ALL the time!) The hope/plan is to one day build cabins on the property for more families to live in while their child is hospitalized/or in treatment. As far as I know they only thing holding them back is the money. (It's a NON-PROFIT and it's running on donations)

Okay, so I could talk ALL DAY about this sweet family and what they do. I know you'd be blessed if you went over and "met" them for yourselves.



I know I promised pictures, but there are children sleeping all over the place right now. LOL!! The boys had a sleepover last night so there are some in the boys' bedroom, the living room, and one in our bed. HA!!! I'll try to get the photos uploaded sometime today and will share them in the next post. (HOPEFULLY)

Oh, I forgot to tell you what we've been doing the rest of the week... WHOOPS! Okay, so if you've not left already... I'll QUICKLY fill you in!

The Horrocks family left on Tuesday.. we were hosting church in our house Wednesday as well as having Thanksgiving supper with them afterwards. SOOO... the POWER-CLEANING/SHOPPING/COOKING began just after our sweet friends walked out the door. Then on Thursday, it was school and cleaning AGAIN. Yesterday, we went to a friends house to make dough ornaments... FUN, FUN, FUN! (I'll post pictures of those soon, too!)

Yep, it's been a really CRAZY week, but OH-SO-MUCH-FUN!

Today... I'm keeping Allie Grace! WHOO-HOO!! =-)


Okay, I've SERIOUSLY kept you long enough. THANKS SO MUCH for letting me pour my heart to you. I PROMISE to try to keep the next post REALLY SHORT-N-SWEET! O:-)

Thanks again for stopping by - I've MISSED YOU ALL!

LOVE,

Help Amie bring Owen HOME???

Hello, Friends..

I'd LOVE to stay and chat. Seriously. I would. However, we've got out of town company coming in literally ANY SECOND. I wanted to take a minute to ask you to go over to my friend Amie's blog and help her win a contest. Why, you ask? Because if she DOES.. she'll DONATE ALL of her winnings to help bring Owen HOME!

I PROMISE I'll check back soon with pictures from our visit with friends. That is if I don't forget to take any.. LOL!

THANKS SO MUCH for considering my girl, Amie and her contest!

LOVE YOU,