Exactly 22 years ago, a precious baby girl, Tiffany Brooke was born into the world. She weighed 8 lbs., 6 ozs. and was 20 3/4 inches long. She looked so much like her Daddy it was almost scarry. It was like I was looking at a baby Randy. I had been been waiting for this day for so long.......
As far back as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a Mommy. In my Senior year of high school, as everyone else was taking about "where" they were going to go to college, and "what they wanted to be" I would remain silent from fear of being thought of as crazy or something. All I ever wanted to be was a Mom. I played with dolls until I was too old to be playing with them. I would offer to babysit for free. I LOVED babies. I would dream of the little girl I would have one day. I named her when I was just a child myself. Her name would be Tiffany Brooke. In my dreams she always had light brown hair and curls. I never had one with light brown hair but Brooke did have the curls. I absolutely could not wait until I had a baby of my own.
Just as I knew it would be tragic for a man to be a husband when he's not ready to be a husband....I knew it would be just as tragic for a man to be a Daddy when he's not ready to be one. I was ready to have a baby the moment we got married. However, Randy was not ready to be a Daddy. So I never pushed him....I never nagged...I never said a word about it. I wanted him to be ready in his own time. After we had been married for 2 years, I heard the words I had been waiting all my life to hear, "I'm ready to have a baby." I grabbed him so quick.....I didn't want him to change his mind - ha!! Well, I thought when you were ready to have a baby, you just have one. It's that simple. I couldn't wait until the next month to find out I was pregnant. It didn't happen. It didn't happen the next month, or the next month or the next month. A year went by, and I still wasn't pregnant. I just could not understand why God was punishing me like this. All my life I had been waiting to have a baby. I wasn't asking for a bad thing - but a good thing. Why would this not be His will for me to have a baby!!! As time went on....I got a little depressed. The silence in the house became louder. I wanted to hear the sound of little feet. I would feel my stomach and think I felt movement, At times I thought I was going kind of crazy. My heart goes out to all the women in the world who long for a baby but can't have one. That's a terrible place to be in. From the time we first starting trying, Brooke was born 2 years later. Looking back though, God's plan to wait was perfect. Don't ever think He doesn't know what He's doing. He wants what is best for us just like our earthly father does - but His desire to do what is best for us is so much more. God knew that I wanted to stay at home with my children. He knew I wanted the house with the white picket fence. Once Randy graduated from college and got a job, we got in credit card debt up to our eye balls. We were having fun with the money that we never had. If we had a baby when "I" wanted, I wouldn't have been able to quit work or afford a house. Once we decided to have a baby, we started getting ourselves out of debt and saving up money for a house. It took those 2 years of wanting a baby and not being able to conceive to pay off those credit cards and do you know that right before Brooke was born I quit my job and we bought our first home? God's timing is perfect. It didn't have the white picket fence but it did have a fence. Our first home was beautiful and everything I had dreamed for. I had so much fun fixing up her room and getting ready for her arrival. We didn't find out what she would be but I was hoping and praying for a GIRL!!!! Once again, God gave me the desires of my heart. I had the most perfect little baby girl.
She really was the perfect baby. She was like a doll to me. She was so good. She hardly ever cried. She loved to eat and sleep - just like she does now - ha!!! I couldn't believe how wonderful having a baby was. It was BETTER than I imagined. I would change her clothes all the time and have fun dressing her up. I loved to show her off. I took her everywhere to just show her off. I was so proud of her. I made us a schedule and we did it every day. We had school...we had church....we had play time....we had nap time....I love those schedules!!! We did everything together. She was such a smart little girl. I would always tell her how smart she was and she would go around saying, "I fart." Her "s's" would come out like "f's". She was just the cutest thing.
I'm fixing to tell you something that I have never told anyone before. When Brooke was 6 months old, I was in our living room rocking her in my lap. I never rocked her to sleep, but I was just rocking her while she was wide awake..enjoying her. God spoke to me. It was so loud and clear as if He was sitting right next to me. He told me that He was going to use Brooke in a very special way. It was so clear it kind of scared me. I didn't tell anyone because I thought most people would say, "Yea, every mom thinks that about her child." So like Mary, I just kept this in my heart. But as I think about Brooke's life, I can share this now - because God has already used her in a very special way. His words have come to pass. Since she was 5 years old she has had a strong desire to be a missionary in China. She loved for me to tell her stories about Hudson Taylor who was a missionary in China. Her dream came true and she did get to go to China one summer as a missionary. She taught English as a 2nd language in the schools there. As you know China can only have one child per family. She told the class one day about her family. She started drawing stick figures of her siblings. First she drew one figure of Paige. Mouths started dropping when she drew a 2nd stick figure of Aaron. 2 siblings is unheard of. She drew another stick figure, then another, then another. They just kept coming. She was able to share with them that it is a blessing to have many children. Children are a gift from God. Not only did she go to China, but she has been to Ecuador many years. I'm not sure how many - maybe 8 or so? She even spent an entire summer there one year. She travelled all over teaching young girls about "Purity". Ecuador is a very immoral country - much worse than America. Not only was she able to speak about Purity but she was a living example. She saved her very first kiss when she became engaged to Chad. What a testimony to save yourself for your husband!!! She has touched so many lives and been such a witness and example to others. Yes, I can honestly say that God HAS already used her in a very special way.
When I was a child and picked out her name, I had no idea what it meant. I just fell in love with the name and knew that was what I was going to name my baby girl one day. I have now learned that the name Tiffany means Godliness. Brooke means Peaceful Dweller or Giver of Love. Names are so important and God knows us by name long before we are even born. Brooke has always been very strong in her faith and not ashamed to let people know what she thinks. She is very much like her Daddy in this way. She has shown God's love "to the ends of the earth." God knew the perfect name for her. My prayer for you Brooke, is that you will continue to be an example of God's love and share your faith with others. I know He is still going to use you in a very special way.
You are very special to me and I am so thankful that you have been my daughter for 22 years. Every day is a gift and I'm thankful that God has given me 22 years of being your mother. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROOKE!!!!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
HAPPY 26TH ANNIVERSARY TO MY PRINCE CHARMING
Today I get to celebrate our 26th anniversary with my Prince Charming. At first I thought he was my frong so I thought you would be interested in how it all began.
My first impression: When I first started High School as a freshman ( I was 14 years old) I was eating my lunch in the cafeteria way in the back of the room. I saw a boy come through the lunch line clear across the room that had the whitest hair I had ever seen. His bangs were hanging down in his eyes. I thought to myself, "That is one ugly boy."
His first impression: At the time I was "in love" with a boy named Randall White. He was the tallest, biggest, strongest, boy in the 9th grade. He was a football player!!! Every day during 5th period I would walk by his study hall class where he sat right in front of the door on the front row. The door would always be open. I would walk by....smile real big....bat my eyelashes....and wave at him with that little flirty hello like us girls do you know!!! Little did I know that that ugly blonde headed boy sat behind him thinking, "I'm going to marry that girl one day" as I walked by the room every day.
As time went on, me and Randall broke up. Shortly after I started liking another boy named Jerome Ray. He had all sorts of family problems and ended up living with his best friend. Jerome would always talk about his best friend. How wonderful he was and he wanted me to meet him. One day during lunch, Jerome came and got me and said that his best friend was in the lunch line and he wanted me to meet him. It was that ugly blonde headed boy!!!! Well, to make the story shorter, as time went on I got to know that ugly blonde headed boy very well - his name was Randy White. Jerome didn't have a car so Randy would have to drive him every where which meant he would take him to my house. Randy would just sit in the car wishing that it was him with me and not Jerome. The more I got to know Randy, I started "liking" him. He was so much fun to be around, everyone liked him, and he was a great person to talk too. He wasn't ugly to me anymore. I started falling in love with him. Eventually, Jerome and I broke up and it also ended a very good friendship between Randy and Jerome.
We were the best of friends. We did everything together. He was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. We dated all through high school. In my Junior year, my family moved to Texas. I was leaving the love of my live and my heart was broken. We continued to talk to each other by phone and we wrote letters to each other. My parents let me get on a plane and fly down for his Junior Prom. The next year he got on a plane and flew down to my Senior Prom.
After we both graduated from High School, we wanted to be together. My parents told me I could not move back to Mississippi unless we had plans on getting married. So Randy proposed to me, gave me a beautiful ring, and I moved to Mississippi. I didn't have a car, a place to live, or a job. But I found a job....a ride to work....and lived with another girl in an apartment. I was so happy that we were finally together. Everything was all wonderful at first until he started to slowly change. He would much rather be with his "buds" partying and having a good time than be with me. He was a wild little thing!!!! As much as I loved him, I knew this wasn't the kind of guy I wanted to spend the rest of my life with and he couldn't be the kind of husband that I wanted. So I broke up with him and gave him the ring back. I was really hoping that he would see that he was wrong, ask for forgiveness, and tell me he would change. But he didn't. He said that I was right and it was best that I move back to Texas. Ah....that crushed me!!!! My parents came to get me and helped pack me up and I moved back to Texas.
I was determined to get Randy out of my thoughts and my life. I got my old job back....moved into an apartment....and bought me a fancy sports car. It was a yellow convertible Triumph Spitfire. Oh....I LOVED that car!!! Everything was going fine until about 5 months later I received a phone call at my work from Randy. He apologized and told me how he had changed. He wanted to see me again. I told him "NO!!" Several days went by and I couldn't quit thinking about him. I realized that I did still love him and I would give him a second chance. So I called him and told him he could come see me. He was right. He had changed. We kept in touch through phone calls and letters again and got to know each other all over again. He was living with a rowdy group of guys in college and he moved out and lived with a widowed elderly lady. He concentrated on his studies and removed all the negative influences that were in his life. Eventually, we got engaged for the 2nd time but this time it was for good. My Prince Charming had turned into the kind of man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
We got married in the summer between his Junior and Senior year of college. He was going to USM in Hattiesburg. We moved into the married dorms on the college campus. They were so tiny and made of concrete block walls. I bought our furniture from a garage sale. The springs were sticking up and it was so uncomfortable. But at the time, I thought we lived in the most beautiful place in the world. It was my home and I was living with my Prinice Charming. We didn't have any money and living off love!!!
Here we are 26 years later with 7 children, and he is still my Prince Charming. Don't get me wrong, he can still be a frog at times but I learned that when I said "I do" and "until death do us part' that is exactly what I meant. Being married to somebody is probably the hardest thing a person will ever do. It takes a lot of give and take, a lot of sacraficing, a lot of forgiving, a lot of putting yourself last, and a lot and lot of commitment.
So here is to you - My Prince Charming - Happy Anniversary!!!
My first impression: When I first started High School as a freshman ( I was 14 years old) I was eating my lunch in the cafeteria way in the back of the room. I saw a boy come through the lunch line clear across the room that had the whitest hair I had ever seen. His bangs were hanging down in his eyes. I thought to myself, "That is one ugly boy."
His first impression: At the time I was "in love" with a boy named Randall White. He was the tallest, biggest, strongest, boy in the 9th grade. He was a football player!!! Every day during 5th period I would walk by his study hall class where he sat right in front of the door on the front row. The door would always be open. I would walk by....smile real big....bat my eyelashes....and wave at him with that little flirty hello like us girls do you know!!! Little did I know that that ugly blonde headed boy sat behind him thinking, "I'm going to marry that girl one day" as I walked by the room every day.
As time went on, me and Randall broke up. Shortly after I started liking another boy named Jerome Ray. He had all sorts of family problems and ended up living with his best friend. Jerome would always talk about his best friend. How wonderful he was and he wanted me to meet him. One day during lunch, Jerome came and got me and said that his best friend was in the lunch line and he wanted me to meet him. It was that ugly blonde headed boy!!!! Well, to make the story shorter, as time went on I got to know that ugly blonde headed boy very well - his name was Randy White. Jerome didn't have a car so Randy would have to drive him every where which meant he would take him to my house. Randy would just sit in the car wishing that it was him with me and not Jerome. The more I got to know Randy, I started "liking" him. He was so much fun to be around, everyone liked him, and he was a great person to talk too. He wasn't ugly to me anymore. I started falling in love with him. Eventually, Jerome and I broke up and it also ended a very good friendship between Randy and Jerome.
We were the best of friends. We did everything together. He was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. We dated all through high school. In my Junior year, my family moved to Texas. I was leaving the love of my live and my heart was broken. We continued to talk to each other by phone and we wrote letters to each other. My parents let me get on a plane and fly down for his Junior Prom. The next year he got on a plane and flew down to my Senior Prom.
After we both graduated from High School, we wanted to be together. My parents told me I could not move back to Mississippi unless we had plans on getting married. So Randy proposed to me, gave me a beautiful ring, and I moved to Mississippi. I didn't have a car, a place to live, or a job. But I found a job....a ride to work....and lived with another girl in an apartment. I was so happy that we were finally together. Everything was all wonderful at first until he started to slowly change. He would much rather be with his "buds" partying and having a good time than be with me. He was a wild little thing!!!! As much as I loved him, I knew this wasn't the kind of guy I wanted to spend the rest of my life with and he couldn't be the kind of husband that I wanted. So I broke up with him and gave him the ring back. I was really hoping that he would see that he was wrong, ask for forgiveness, and tell me he would change. But he didn't. He said that I was right and it was best that I move back to Texas. Ah....that crushed me!!!! My parents came to get me and helped pack me up and I moved back to Texas.
I was determined to get Randy out of my thoughts and my life. I got my old job back....moved into an apartment....and bought me a fancy sports car. It was a yellow convertible Triumph Spitfire. Oh....I LOVED that car!!! Everything was going fine until about 5 months later I received a phone call at my work from Randy. He apologized and told me how he had changed. He wanted to see me again. I told him "NO!!" Several days went by and I couldn't quit thinking about him. I realized that I did still love him and I would give him a second chance. So I called him and told him he could come see me. He was right. He had changed. We kept in touch through phone calls and letters again and got to know each other all over again. He was living with a rowdy group of guys in college and he moved out and lived with a widowed elderly lady. He concentrated on his studies and removed all the negative influences that were in his life. Eventually, we got engaged for the 2nd time but this time it was for good. My Prince Charming had turned into the kind of man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
We got married in the summer between his Junior and Senior year of college. He was going to USM in Hattiesburg. We moved into the married dorms on the college campus. They were so tiny and made of concrete block walls. I bought our furniture from a garage sale. The springs were sticking up and it was so uncomfortable. But at the time, I thought we lived in the most beautiful place in the world. It was my home and I was living with my Prinice Charming. We didn't have any money and living off love!!!
Here we are 26 years later with 7 children, and he is still my Prince Charming. Don't get me wrong, he can still be a frog at times but I learned that when I said "I do" and "until death do us part' that is exactly what I meant. Being married to somebody is probably the hardest thing a person will ever do. It takes a lot of give and take, a lot of sacraficing, a lot of forgiving, a lot of putting yourself last, and a lot and lot of commitment.
So here is to you - My Prince Charming - Happy Anniversary!!!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
A TRIBUTE TO MY GRANDMOTHER ON MOTHER'S DAY
This is a tribute to my grandmother, Frances Lorene Page, who passed away last week on May 5th, 2009. She died at the age of 99. She would have been 100 on September 5, 2009. I wish all of you could have known her like I did because your life would have been touched and possibly changed because of her. If you want to know what she was like, just open your Bible to Proverbs 31 and that is my grandmother. She was all of this and more. She was an amazing woman.
I have such fond memories of going to her house as a child. She had the neatest back yard. We called it the "jungle". We would almost get lost out there and just play for hours. We would use our imaginations and get lost into our own little different world out there. She was so sweet and loving and loved her grandchildren. She was the best cook ever. She made everything from scratch and just had that special grandmother touch that went into all of her food which made it taste even better if that is even possible.
As a teenager, she was the one person I felt comfortable talking to about all my teenager problems. She was so full of good advice and was never condeming. She understood all my feelings and would always say, "I will pray for you, Jolyne." And you know what? I knew she really would. She would even write me letters. They were so precious to me. She would always end them with, "You know Granny is praying for you."
As a young married woman who was wanting LOTS of children, she was the one person I looked up too. She had 6 children of her own and I KNEW she was a good mother because the "proof is in the pudding." She raised 6 children who are hard working, full of good character, and wonderful Christian people who I wanted my children to be like. I was so interested in how she raised all those kids and I wanted to know her secret. I would sit and listen to everything she had to say. Her main advice to me was to get those babies on a schedule. You need to have a routine with them every day, she would say. She would go through her whole day and tell me what she did every day with those babies. So you know what? That's what I did!!! It must have worked because I had 7 of the best babies you can imagine. She had plenty more practice too because she took care of babies in her church's daycare for many, many years.
My grandmother was so prim and proper. She was so pretty and never had a hair out of place. She wore make up (even in her 90's), and she had the prettiest jewelry which she wore all the time. She always smelled so good too. She was so soft and squishy. Even when she wore sweats, she was all dolled up with her makeup and jewelry. Her house was always so clean and organized. It always made me a little nervous when I would bring my young children to her house because I was afraid they would break something. I loved all of her furniture and all of her knick-knacks. . It was old looking but so pretty and feminine just like her. I loved everything in her house but most of all, I loved her!!
The one thing about my Grandmother that stands out more than anything else is her love relationship with the Lord. I have never met anyone like this before and I probably never will. You know how when you first fall in love with somebody, you just want to talk about them ALL the time? That's how my Grandmother was about Jesus. It was part of her normal conversation. She wasn't trying to impress...or be somebody she wasn't. It just flowed out of her. It was like Jesus was right by her side and she would just talk and talk about Him. I remember being at her house many times when she would really get to talking, and family members would silently sneak off. It's not that they didn't enjoy listening to her but she could carry on for hours!!! No joke!! I remember it was my Mother who usually was the last one sitting with her. But that just tells you how much she loved Jesus. He was everything to her. She couldn't wait to meet Him face to face. And now she is. I know she is loving every minute of it up there. When I picture her up there in heaven right now, it brings a smile to my face. I can see her dancing and singing. I can see her just worshipping and praising Jesus because she did that here on earth. I miss her so much but I know she is in the place she has talked about all her life and with the ONE she has longed to be with. She is with her Lord and Saviour! - the love of her life.
I have such fond memories of going to her house as a child. She had the neatest back yard. We called it the "jungle". We would almost get lost out there and just play for hours. We would use our imaginations and get lost into our own little different world out there. She was so sweet and loving and loved her grandchildren. She was the best cook ever. She made everything from scratch and just had that special grandmother touch that went into all of her food which made it taste even better if that is even possible.
As a teenager, she was the one person I felt comfortable talking to about all my teenager problems. She was so full of good advice and was never condeming. She understood all my feelings and would always say, "I will pray for you, Jolyne." And you know what? I knew she really would. She would even write me letters. They were so precious to me. She would always end them with, "You know Granny is praying for you."
As a young married woman who was wanting LOTS of children, she was the one person I looked up too. She had 6 children of her own and I KNEW she was a good mother because the "proof is in the pudding." She raised 6 children who are hard working, full of good character, and wonderful Christian people who I wanted my children to be like. I was so interested in how she raised all those kids and I wanted to know her secret. I would sit and listen to everything she had to say. Her main advice to me was to get those babies on a schedule. You need to have a routine with them every day, she would say. She would go through her whole day and tell me what she did every day with those babies. So you know what? That's what I did!!! It must have worked because I had 7 of the best babies you can imagine. She had plenty more practice too because she took care of babies in her church's daycare for many, many years.
My grandmother was so prim and proper. She was so pretty and never had a hair out of place. She wore make up (even in her 90's), and she had the prettiest jewelry which she wore all the time. She always smelled so good too. She was so soft and squishy. Even when she wore sweats, she was all dolled up with her makeup and jewelry. Her house was always so clean and organized. It always made me a little nervous when I would bring my young children to her house because I was afraid they would break something. I loved all of her furniture and all of her knick-knacks. . It was old looking but so pretty and feminine just like her. I loved everything in her house but most of all, I loved her!!
The one thing about my Grandmother that stands out more than anything else is her love relationship with the Lord. I have never met anyone like this before and I probably never will. You know how when you first fall in love with somebody, you just want to talk about them ALL the time? That's how my Grandmother was about Jesus. It was part of her normal conversation. She wasn't trying to impress...or be somebody she wasn't. It just flowed out of her. It was like Jesus was right by her side and she would just talk and talk about Him. I remember being at her house many times when she would really get to talking, and family members would silently sneak off. It's not that they didn't enjoy listening to her but she could carry on for hours!!! No joke!! I remember it was my Mother who usually was the last one sitting with her. But that just tells you how much she loved Jesus. He was everything to her. She couldn't wait to meet Him face to face. And now she is. I know she is loving every minute of it up there. When I picture her up there in heaven right now, it brings a smile to my face. I can see her dancing and singing. I can see her just worshipping and praising Jesus because she did that here on earth. I miss her so much but I know she is in the place she has talked about all her life and with the ONE she has longed to be with. She is with her Lord and Saviour! - the love of her life.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME - A TRIBUTE TO MY PARENTS!!
Exactly....????? (use your imagination) years ago, I was born into the world. I have 2 of the best parents anyone could ask for. My Mom is one of 4 children and the only girl. Yes, she has all brothers. She had kind of a hard life. Her mother died of cancer when she was a teenager and she had to take care of her brothers. Several years later, her father was killed walking across the street by a man who was rushing to the hospital with his daughter. Her house burned down as a child and they lost everything. When she went to college she was very, very sick but still remained Valedictorian. She was a school teacher most of her life and a great mother to boot!!!!
My Dad is one of 6 children. He has one brother and all the rest are girls. He used to get so mad at his sisters for wearing his t-shirts because they would always come back to him with "bumps" in them - ha!!! From my grandmother's stories, he was a very obedient child and hard worker. Because of his character and hard work, he has been very successul in the business world but mostly in the parenting world.
They met on a blind date and were married 6 months later. They didn't wait too terribly long to have me because they were older and ready for a baby!!! My Dad was in the service at the time they were living in Colorado and was to go to Washington State when my Mom was very pregnant. She cried all night long begging to go with him when he finally said she could go. So I was born in Tacoma, Washington. I didn't stay there long as we moved back to Colorado which is where I spent most of my growing up years. Colorado is a wonderful place to grow up. Lots of snow...mountains...and sledding!!!
My parents had me in church whenever the doors were open which I am very grateful for. My parents were strong (and still are) in their faith. I remember my Dad having devotions with us in the evening and being sooooo embarrassed when one of my friends would call and he would tell them to call back because we were having devotions. Isn't that terrible?? I am so thankful that I had a Dad who was the spiritual leader in our home and took the time to have devotions with us and lead us to have our own personal relationship with the Lord.
So this is a tribute to my parents. I wouldn't be who I am today if it wasn't for them. Thank you for loving me, being Godly role models, being married for almost 50 years and still enjoying it, raising me, giving of yourselves for me, providing for me and just being there. I love you both very much!!
Exactly....????? (use your imagination) years ago, I was born into the world. I have 2 of the best parents anyone could ask for. My Mom is one of 4 children and the only girl. Yes, she has all brothers. She had kind of a hard life. Her mother died of cancer when she was a teenager and she had to take care of her brothers. Several years later, her father was killed walking across the street by a man who was rushing to the hospital with his daughter. Her house burned down as a child and they lost everything. When she went to college she was very, very sick but still remained Valedictorian. She was a school teacher most of her life and a great mother to boot!!!!
My Dad is one of 6 children. He has one brother and all the rest are girls. He used to get so mad at his sisters for wearing his t-shirts because they would always come back to him with "bumps" in them - ha!!! From my grandmother's stories, he was a very obedient child and hard worker. Because of his character and hard work, he has been very successul in the business world but mostly in the parenting world.
They met on a blind date and were married 6 months later. They didn't wait too terribly long to have me because they were older and ready for a baby!!! My Dad was in the service at the time they were living in Colorado and was to go to Washington State when my Mom was very pregnant. She cried all night long begging to go with him when he finally said she could go. So I was born in Tacoma, Washington. I didn't stay there long as we moved back to Colorado which is where I spent most of my growing up years. Colorado is a wonderful place to grow up. Lots of snow...mountains...and sledding!!!
My parents had me in church whenever the doors were open which I am very grateful for. My parents were strong (and still are) in their faith. I remember my Dad having devotions with us in the evening and being sooooo embarrassed when one of my friends would call and he would tell them to call back because we were having devotions. Isn't that terrible?? I am so thankful that I had a Dad who was the spiritual leader in our home and took the time to have devotions with us and lead us to have our own personal relationship with the Lord.
So this is a tribute to my parents. I wouldn't be who I am today if it wasn't for them. Thank you for loving me, being Godly role models, being married for almost 50 years and still enjoying it, raising me, giving of yourselves for me, providing for me and just being there. I love you both very much!!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The Yuks
I'm laying here in bed feeling yucky and realizing I haven't posted in a while. Somehow I got on facebook and have been doing that more and have forgotten about my blog. So I will fill you on what's been going on since my last post - Hannah's birthday.
Lots of baseball. We are undefeated so far. Benjamin has coach pitch try-outs next Monday and he is so excited. He has moved up from tee-ball. The great news is that with Aaron being a Senior next year and no more going to his ball games - we get to start all over again with Benjamin. He is a real good athlete too!!
Daniel tried out for tennis. He has never played tennis in his life - so I was surprised he was going to do this. He made the team and he is actually very good!! He is enjoying it but I'm not understanding it. I'll have to get somebody to explain it to me.
Hannah is getting ready for her ballet recital on April 18th.
Paige is very busy with nursing school. She gave her boyfriend an IV last night. She tried to do it on one of us but we all said NO WAY!!!! I guess when you are in love, you will do anything for that person. Anyways, Daniel filmed the whole thing on his cell phone. Now I need to figure out how to get it on here so you can watch it. It's hilarious. Paige forgot to take the tournaquit (sp??) off his arm so there was a lot of blood!!!
Benjuamin and Bethany only have 25 more lessons in school and then we are done for the year!!! YIPEE
Spring break we worked outside a lot and got a garden ready to plant in a few weeks. We haven't had a garden since Paige got sick several years ago so I'll have to remember how to do all this again.
Well, I think I have mentioned everyone in this blog. Randy will be going to Houston soon on business. Brooke and Chad are doing well and we got to "play" with them over Spring Break also.
I hope I get over the "yuks" soon because the wild indians are loose and my house is falling apart at the moment!!
Lots of baseball. We are undefeated so far. Benjamin has coach pitch try-outs next Monday and he is so excited. He has moved up from tee-ball. The great news is that with Aaron being a Senior next year and no more going to his ball games - we get to start all over again with Benjamin. He is a real good athlete too!!
Daniel tried out for tennis. He has never played tennis in his life - so I was surprised he was going to do this. He made the team and he is actually very good!! He is enjoying it but I'm not understanding it. I'll have to get somebody to explain it to me.
Hannah is getting ready for her ballet recital on April 18th.
Paige is very busy with nursing school. She gave her boyfriend an IV last night. She tried to do it on one of us but we all said NO WAY!!!! I guess when you are in love, you will do anything for that person. Anyways, Daniel filmed the whole thing on his cell phone. Now I need to figure out how to get it on here so you can watch it. It's hilarious. Paige forgot to take the tournaquit (sp??) off his arm so there was a lot of blood!!!
Benjuamin and Bethany only have 25 more lessons in school and then we are done for the year!!! YIPEE
Spring break we worked outside a lot and got a garden ready to plant in a few weeks. We haven't had a garden since Paige got sick several years ago so I'll have to remember how to do all this again.
Well, I think I have mentioned everyone in this blog. Randy will be going to Houston soon on business. Brooke and Chad are doing well and we got to "play" with them over Spring Break also.
I hope I get over the "yuks" soon because the wild indians are loose and my house is falling apart at the moment!!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANNAH GRACE WHITE!!!
ALMOST exactly 13 years ago today, our 5th child and 3rd daughter was born to us at 4:17 a.m. in Brookhaven, MS. She weighed 7 lbs. 6 ozs. She was my smallest baby. The reason I say "almost exactly" is because she was born on leap day, February 29th 1996!! Yes, in reality she is only 3 years old. But today we have a teenager. I had such bad experiences with the boys being born here, I decided to drive an hour to Brookhaven. I must give a plug to the Doctors in Brookhaven. They are wonderful Christian doctors who really care about you and will even pray with you!!! Because she was the first leap day baby to be born in Brookhaven, we made the front page of the newspaper with a picture that filled the whole front page!!! She came into the world as a "star" and she still is a "star".
Our beautiful daughter's name is Hannah Grace. When I found out I was pregnant with our 5th child, I can't describe the awe, the wonder, the amazement, the joy, the humbleness, the thankfulness that I felt. To think that God had blessed my womb a 5th time was beyond me. I felt so honored, so priviledged, and so grateful. God had shown his "Grace" to me. So I had no doubt what I wanted to name our child - Hannah which means Grace. What better middle name goes with Hannah than Grace itself. So her middle name is Grace. Hannah Grace White. God had shown his "Grace" to me more than I deserved and I was forever grateful.
We found out the sex of her because I needed to know which room to put her in. Brooke and Paige shared a room and Aaron and Daniel shared a room. I needed to know "whose" room the baby would be going in so I could start rearranging and getting things ready. We found out she was a girl but kept it a secret from the children until Christmas Day. I had a little stocking hanging up with the rest of the stockings. Christmas morning the children were wanting to know whose stocking that was. So I had Brooke look inside and there was a little note from "Hannah Grace White" saying that she was a girl and that she couldn't wait to be their sister. Brooke and Paige were jumping up and down with joy because they wanted a sister. The boys....well not so much....but they got over it. Then we all waited anxiously for her arrival.
The day of Feburay 28th, I was so exhausted. I don't know when I have ever been so tired. I could hardly function. It was a Wednesday and I taught Awanas. I called our leader and told her I couldn't come because I was so tired. She told me to take a nap. So I did - I layed on the couch and rested. After a while of resting on the couch, Daniel (who had just turned 2 years old a few days earlier) reached out his arms to me for me to pick him up. He wanted to lay on the couch with me. So I leaned over and lifted him up and WHOOSH!!!!! There goes my water. This was totally unexpected. Hannah wasn't due until March 3rd and all my babies are LATE!!! I was not prepared at all. I didn't have my suitcase ready.....nothing had been done because I thought I still had time. So here I am in a panic (with a towel between my legs - ha) trying to throw things in a suitcase. I called Randy at work and told him. He was just as shocked as I was. I had to call a friend to come watch the kids so Randy could take me to the hospital. As I was walking out our door, I hear Brooke holler, "Wait, Mom". She went running back in the house and came back with a Bible and an Angel. She told me to put these in my suitcase so they would take care of me. Is that sweet or what? She was so scared for me.
Everything went fine. She wasn't born until early in the morning the next day - Leap Day!! I love the Doctors in Brookhaven because they give me an epidural as soon as I get there. LOVE YOU...LOVE YOU......LOVE YOU!!!!! I was still in labor a long time which is the norm for me but my Doctor stayed in the room right next to me ALL NIGHT LONG. He didn't leave my side. Is that sweet or what?!?
Hannah's name has a double meaning as well. For those of you who know her, know what I'm talking about. Actually, you don't even have to know her but just LOOK at her!!! She is so graceful. She has such good posture. She stands and sits so straight. She "floats" when she walks. She is so prim and proper. She likes to dress up and be a girl. She likes to be all fixed up. She is like a queen. She is a ballerina who dances with such grace. Yep, "graceful" is the word to describe her. But she likes to have a good time too and is quite entertaining. She can really crack us up. She has also become my right arm. I couldn't do what all I do without her. She helps me with my 2 younger children...she helps me with all the duties in the house.....she helps me with so much.
My prayer for Hannah is that she will be "grateful" and "thankful" for all that God has done for her and given her and in turn can give back to others out of a heart of gratitude. To have a "servants heart" out of love for our Saviour.
I LOVE YOU HANNAH WITH ALL MY HEART AND AM STILL IN TOTAL GRATITUDE THAT GOD GAVE YOU TO ME!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Our beautiful daughter's name is Hannah Grace. When I found out I was pregnant with our 5th child, I can't describe the awe, the wonder, the amazement, the joy, the humbleness, the thankfulness that I felt. To think that God had blessed my womb a 5th time was beyond me. I felt so honored, so priviledged, and so grateful. God had shown his "Grace" to me. So I had no doubt what I wanted to name our child - Hannah which means Grace. What better middle name goes with Hannah than Grace itself. So her middle name is Grace. Hannah Grace White. God had shown his "Grace" to me more than I deserved and I was forever grateful.
We found out the sex of her because I needed to know which room to put her in. Brooke and Paige shared a room and Aaron and Daniel shared a room. I needed to know "whose" room the baby would be going in so I could start rearranging and getting things ready. We found out she was a girl but kept it a secret from the children until Christmas Day. I had a little stocking hanging up with the rest of the stockings. Christmas morning the children were wanting to know whose stocking that was. So I had Brooke look inside and there was a little note from "Hannah Grace White" saying that she was a girl and that she couldn't wait to be their sister. Brooke and Paige were jumping up and down with joy because they wanted a sister. The boys....well not so much....but they got over it. Then we all waited anxiously for her arrival.
The day of Feburay 28th, I was so exhausted. I don't know when I have ever been so tired. I could hardly function. It was a Wednesday and I taught Awanas. I called our leader and told her I couldn't come because I was so tired. She told me to take a nap. So I did - I layed on the couch and rested. After a while of resting on the couch, Daniel (who had just turned 2 years old a few days earlier) reached out his arms to me for me to pick him up. He wanted to lay on the couch with me. So I leaned over and lifted him up and WHOOSH!!!!! There goes my water. This was totally unexpected. Hannah wasn't due until March 3rd and all my babies are LATE!!! I was not prepared at all. I didn't have my suitcase ready.....nothing had been done because I thought I still had time. So here I am in a panic (with a towel between my legs - ha) trying to throw things in a suitcase. I called Randy at work and told him. He was just as shocked as I was. I had to call a friend to come watch the kids so Randy could take me to the hospital. As I was walking out our door, I hear Brooke holler, "Wait, Mom". She went running back in the house and came back with a Bible and an Angel. She told me to put these in my suitcase so they would take care of me. Is that sweet or what? She was so scared for me.
Everything went fine. She wasn't born until early in the morning the next day - Leap Day!! I love the Doctors in Brookhaven because they give me an epidural as soon as I get there. LOVE YOU...LOVE YOU......LOVE YOU!!!!! I was still in labor a long time which is the norm for me but my Doctor stayed in the room right next to me ALL NIGHT LONG. He didn't leave my side. Is that sweet or what?!?
Hannah's name has a double meaning as well. For those of you who know her, know what I'm talking about. Actually, you don't even have to know her but just LOOK at her!!! She is so graceful. She has such good posture. She stands and sits so straight. She "floats" when she walks. She is so prim and proper. She likes to dress up and be a girl. She likes to be all fixed up. She is like a queen. She is a ballerina who dances with such grace. Yep, "graceful" is the word to describe her. But she likes to have a good time too and is quite entertaining. She can really crack us up. She has also become my right arm. I couldn't do what all I do without her. She helps me with my 2 younger children...she helps me with all the duties in the house.....she helps me with so much.
My prayer for Hannah is that she will be "grateful" and "thankful" for all that God has done for her and given her and in turn can give back to others out of a heart of gratitude. To have a "servants heart" out of love for our Saviour.
I LOVE YOU HANNAH WITH ALL MY HEART AND AM STILL IN TOTAL GRATITUDE THAT GOD GAVE YOU TO ME!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANIEL!!!
Exactly 15 years ago today at 10:36 p.m. , our 4th child and 2nd baby boy was born into our family. We named him Daniel Ray White and he weighed 9 pounds 2 1/2 ounces and was 22 inches long. He was my biggest baby. He also shares the same birthday as my father, so that makes this day even more special. Daniel was different from the rest in that he had coal black hair. He also is different in another way in that we felt God's presence from the very beginning with him.
Randy told me from day one that he KNEW the baby was a boy and that his name would be Daniel. I got to name the other 3 children, but Randy named Daniel. I really didn't like that name to be honest ( I love it now though) but every where we went, the name "Daniel" would be mentioned. We would be in the car listening to the radio....and a guy would be preaching on Daniel. We went to someone's house one time, and the man who prayed before our dinner mentioned the name "Daniel" in his prayer. When I would ask our 1 year old Aaron to bring me a book to read, he would bring me a book about "Daniel". Things like that happened all the time. It was really wierd but I knew God was telling me too that we would have a boy and we were to call him "Daniel". When it was time for my baby shower, I told everyone I was having a boy and to give me boy clothes. I had no idea for sure because we never found out the sex of our babies. I took a chance in saying that he was a boy because that is how sure we were that he would be a boy!! And he was!!!
His birth was quite stressful for me in that my Doctor insisted that he be taken by cesarean on his due date. Because she believed a baby should not go one day past their due date. We went round and round with her. She made my life miserable. She even went so far as to tell me that she hoped she wouldn't visit our baby in the morgue!!! All of my babies were late and we were going to trust God in his timing of birth and not man's. Brooke was 3 weeks late and Paige and Aaron were exactly 9 days late. Daniel ended up being 9 days late also. During these 9 days of lateness, the Doctor made my life even more stressed.
Well, God has a funny sense of humor. The morning of February 22nd, I woke up and knew that I was in labor. The pains were not bad but I knew it was labor. My mother was with me and we went to the mall to walk. We even went out to eat at the Eola for lunch and people would say "How much longer do you have?" and I would say, "I'm in labor now." That really freaked them out!!! Later that evening the pain was much worst. I remember being in bed watching the Olympics with all that Nancy Kerigan and Tonya Harding stuff going on. I was in so much pain. The family would come check on me and I would send them away because when I'm in pain, I like to be left alone. Based on my painful experience with Aaron, I knew the hospital wouldn't let me have an epidural until I got to a 5 so I decided to be in pain in the comforts of my own home and not in some cold hospital. When the pain got so bad I just couldn't take it anymore, we went to the hospital. They checked me right away and I was at a 5!!!!!! Oh joy, joy, joy......that means I get my epidural!!!! They told me to go to the restroom and then they would give me the epidural. For you younger readers, you may want to leave at this time. Anyways, when I went into the bathroom, the baby's head started coming out. I started screaming for the nurse and she got me to the table where SHE delivered him. That mean doctor never even got the pleasure of delivering a beautiful, healthy baby boy. This was the first time for that nurse to ever deliver a baby so I was quite the talk of the hospital. Unfortunately because I went from a 5 to a 10 in a matter of minutes, my body wasn't ready and Daniel came out bruised from head to toe. No joke - he looked like he had been dropped on the floor he was so black and blue. You know how bruises change colors as they heal...well he was different colors for a good month after he was born. The nurses in the hospital nick-named him the "Skid Mark Baby." He came into this world in a big hurry!!
Out of all my pregnancies, we felt the hand of God on Daniel's life more than any other child. He is indeed a very special gift that was given to us.
The name Daniel means "God is my Judge." Our prayer for Daniel is that he will live his life for an audience of ONE and not live to please man. We want him to only care what God thinks about what he does and not man's opinion. Daniel is so special to us and he has such a tender and caring heart. He is so much fun to be around and I love him more than words can say
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANIEL. I AM SO BLESSED THAT GOD GAVE YOU TO ME!!!!!
Randy told me from day one that he KNEW the baby was a boy and that his name would be Daniel. I got to name the other 3 children, but Randy named Daniel. I really didn't like that name to be honest ( I love it now though) but every where we went, the name "Daniel" would be mentioned. We would be in the car listening to the radio....and a guy would be preaching on Daniel. We went to someone's house one time, and the man who prayed before our dinner mentioned the name "Daniel" in his prayer. When I would ask our 1 year old Aaron to bring me a book to read, he would bring me a book about "Daniel". Things like that happened all the time. It was really wierd but I knew God was telling me too that we would have a boy and we were to call him "Daniel". When it was time for my baby shower, I told everyone I was having a boy and to give me boy clothes. I had no idea for sure because we never found out the sex of our babies. I took a chance in saying that he was a boy because that is how sure we were that he would be a boy!! And he was!!!
His birth was quite stressful for me in that my Doctor insisted that he be taken by cesarean on his due date. Because she believed a baby should not go one day past their due date. We went round and round with her. She made my life miserable. She even went so far as to tell me that she hoped she wouldn't visit our baby in the morgue!!! All of my babies were late and we were going to trust God in his timing of birth and not man's. Brooke was 3 weeks late and Paige and Aaron were exactly 9 days late. Daniel ended up being 9 days late also. During these 9 days of lateness, the Doctor made my life even more stressed.
Well, God has a funny sense of humor. The morning of February 22nd, I woke up and knew that I was in labor. The pains were not bad but I knew it was labor. My mother was with me and we went to the mall to walk. We even went out to eat at the Eola for lunch and people would say "How much longer do you have?" and I would say, "I'm in labor now." That really freaked them out!!! Later that evening the pain was much worst. I remember being in bed watching the Olympics with all that Nancy Kerigan and Tonya Harding stuff going on. I was in so much pain. The family would come check on me and I would send them away because when I'm in pain, I like to be left alone. Based on my painful experience with Aaron, I knew the hospital wouldn't let me have an epidural until I got to a 5 so I decided to be in pain in the comforts of my own home and not in some cold hospital. When the pain got so bad I just couldn't take it anymore, we went to the hospital. They checked me right away and I was at a 5!!!!!! Oh joy, joy, joy......that means I get my epidural!!!! They told me to go to the restroom and then they would give me the epidural. For you younger readers, you may want to leave at this time. Anyways, when I went into the bathroom, the baby's head started coming out. I started screaming for the nurse and she got me to the table where SHE delivered him. That mean doctor never even got the pleasure of delivering a beautiful, healthy baby boy. This was the first time for that nurse to ever deliver a baby so I was quite the talk of the hospital. Unfortunately because I went from a 5 to a 10 in a matter of minutes, my body wasn't ready and Daniel came out bruised from head to toe. No joke - he looked like he had been dropped on the floor he was so black and blue. You know how bruises change colors as they heal...well he was different colors for a good month after he was born. The nurses in the hospital nick-named him the "Skid Mark Baby." He came into this world in a big hurry!!
Out of all my pregnancies, we felt the hand of God on Daniel's life more than any other child. He is indeed a very special gift that was given to us.
The name Daniel means "God is my Judge." Our prayer for Daniel is that he will live his life for an audience of ONE and not live to please man. We want him to only care what God thinks about what he does and not man's opinion. Daniel is so special to us and he has such a tender and caring heart. He is so much fun to be around and I love him more than words can say
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANIEL. I AM SO BLESSED THAT GOD GAVE YOU TO ME!!!!!
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