Happy 33 to Our Favorite #33!

As Brady and Karson would say, daddy turned "firty-free" (aka 33) on the 15th. Since the number 33 holds great significance in his football career, I thought this would be the perfect birthday to finally fulfill my vow to make him a T-shirt quilt using all of his Furman memorabilia. I have put this off for years for one reason........I couldn't sew! But, as fate would have it, I got a sewing machine for Christmas, and I met a fun, new friend, Angela, who was willing and able to teach me the tricks of the trade. She promised that, together, we could make it happen. And, so the lying and stealing began..........

Because I wanted this to be a total surprise, Angela and I had to work in secret. Oh, the fibs I told my hubby about where I was going/had been......and the fibs I made even my saintly grandmother tell (She could hardly wait until I finally gave it to him so she could confess her dishonesty.....bless her heart)! I also borrowed, okay stole, money from my own children's piggy banks so the evidence of my fabric purchases would not show up on his credit card statement! But, in the end, it was so worth it! I actually learned to sew, made something pretty darn awesome and finally got those ragged T-shirts out of our chest of drawers!

You've heard that it takes a village to raise a child......well it also took a village to make this quilt. Don't get me wrong, I did make it, but I have to give credit to all those that helped.

Angela designed the layout and taught me how to measure, cut and sew the fabric. She let me use all of her professional quilting stuff. She was very patient with me, even when I kept screwing up and had to rip out seams over and over. My dad scanned in all of the football pictures, sized them and printed them out for me on iron-on T-shirt transfers. By the way, those T-shirt transfers are super easy to use and only cost about $6 at Wal-mart.......(just so you know). My grandmother, Mema, finished the binding for me by hand. She and Grammy also spend countless hours babysitting for me while I worked on this endeavour! Grammy and G-Daady also fronted the cash for the quilting of my completed project, which I had done on a professional quilting machine.

Oh, the relief I felt when this was finally in his hands! No more surprise keeping for me for a LONG time! It was so stressful keeping this thing hush, hush. I even had to keep this from my children because they speak like miniature adults and would have so given away my surprise!

Here is Mr. #33 himself with his present. Now, the question is........what are we gonna do with it?.....I certainly don't want him using it!

(The back)

Happy Thirty-three #33, I'll love you forever!

Gifts

3 Precious Gifts........

For one ordinary girl.........

From her extraordinary God.........

(Monday's afternoon nap)

"God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It's a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God. It's a good thing when you're young to stick it out through the hard times. When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face. The "worst" is never the worst."
Lamentations 3:25-30 (The Message)

And then you get real.......

When my babies were newborns, there might as well have been no other diapers in existence except for Pampers Swaddlers........... only the BEST for my kiddos was the thinking of this first time mommy. But, when the shower gift stash and Wally World gift cards began to run low.....I decided to weigh my options -------expensive diapers + nothing vs. cheaper diapers + some extra cash for a underpaid mommy.

After much trial and many yucky, accidental errors, I got REAL and found a winner. So, listen up all you expectant/new mommies! This is for you!

Pampers Swaddler's: Let's put it this way, if you bring your kid home from the hospital in any other brand, you are definitely a not a "dropped paci washer" or a "wash all the clothes before the baby wears them" kinda gal. You have enough sense or experience to realize that babies don't break very easily and believe that as long as your own clothes are staying pee-free it's all good. This is the kinda mama I'd be if we were ever surprised with another little Osborne. However, for new moms, Pampers Swaddler's would still be my top pick for newborn diapers.......they just make you feel like you are a "good" parent......when really you are absolutely clueless! My babies may have been hanging out in a "White Cloud" all day, but, when I took them to see their pediatrician, I they always made their appearance wearing a fresh "Pamper."

Okay newbies, you do realize that the bigger the bottom--the less diapers there are in a pack=more moola for less product. So, when you get to a size three, you either need to start praying that your kid is a potty training savant or you'd better heed my advice!

Pampers Cruisers: There are only 2 types of mothers who should buy these diapers: moms who are rich (or have gullible grandparents on hand) or moms who try to be "followers" and listen to the rich moms at their playgroup who insist that Cruisers are the only way to go. Yes, these diapers are great....your baby could drink an entire one of those crazy, huge Weight Watcher's water jugs and never soak through a Cruiser.....but you'll soon be penniless..... and whose kid drinks that much anyway? Take my advice, when the grandparents are making a diaper run for you............express that this is the ONLY brand you use. But, when it's on your dollar......save a buck and listen up!

Pampers Baby Dry: These are for the mom who still wants to look good in front of her pediatrician, in-laws and playgroup peers but decided that she needed diapers+ that new decorating magazine in the checkout line. I promise ladies, your baby will stay just as fresh crawling around in a Baby Dry as she will in a Cruiser. Trust me, when you're exhausted and getting little precious ready for bed and realize that the box of Cruisers is already empty.......you'll be sorry that you didn't pay the same price for the Baby Dry that came with 10 more!

Target Brand: Now, moving on to those store brands........Unless you are one of those OCD mommies or a grandparent, who insist on changing your baby after EVERY drop of pee.........don't go there! Maybe you like washing pee-soaked sheets and clothes......if so, these are for you! Seriously people! I have fallen victim and purchased most all of the "store brands" in hopes of pocketing a few bucks for myself. But, the worst of the worst and easiest to fall prey to is Target brand. We all know that Target is the stay-at-home mama's Bloomingdale's. Pretty much everything Target is cool, hip and fun. So, who wouldn't want to try and save a few bucks on diapers so you can spend a little more on yourself in this middle class mama wonderland! The look of the diapers will even get you........they have super trendy polka dots and are oh so appealing. Again, only if you want your kid to be the one running around pantless at Sunday lunch at Chilli's cause he peed once and soaked his pants and yours these are the ones for you. Otherwise, go with something else......don't worry, you can still get those clearance pajama bottoms if you finish reading my advice.

Huggies: Not much to say about these other than they are a big hit if your kid is obsessed with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (cause he's on them :) I've just never been a huge fan. I think they are shaped kinda weird. We've used em, but they just aren't my top pick.

Luv's: Get REAL and Get Luv's! Right before bedtime, did your husband let your child drink a whole carton of juice while he was watching ESPN? Diarrhea got your little one down? Are you planning an 8 hour road trip with no stops?........Got Luv's?.........then you've got no problem. Seriously, don't try and dispute my expert findings. These are the ticket to your dreams of a brand new lipstick or just some extra change for your emergency Ziploc coin bag. I got REAL and got Luv's and you should too! They have the leak protection of Cruisers with a store-brand price. And best of all, they support my daughter's obsession with a certain blue dog! Happy diapering!

Escape to the Library

It was pouring down rain. We'd been held hostage by a nasty virus for days. Mommy suddenly felt brave......or maybe had just enough cabin fever to put her over the edge and went a little insane. Thus, we made our debut at the Colonial Heights branch of the Sullivan County Library.

Being the library professional that I am, I meticulously went over all the rules about being good shelf elves, using our quiet voices, no running, etc, etc. Unfortunately, my plans were foiled by the free senior citizen tax sessions that were being held in the middle of the children's reading room. We made it about 30 minutes before my kids became more interested in asking questions like "Why is that lady dragging that thingy (oxygen tank) around, and what is in her nose?" However, we still managed to check out our limit of 2 books.........(they sure don't have a lot of faith in their patrons). But, the librarian assured me that in a month, once I have proven myself worthy, I can check out 3 books ;)

We brought home:

When Jeremy came home, I told Brady to tell him where we had been. He said, "We went to the library. We checked out two books!!!" Then, he looked at his daddy and whispered, "But, mommy didn't pay for them!"

One of those days........

Whew! It has been a rough few days. Karson has had some kind of a virus with a yucky fever that could only be cured by a middle-of-the-night-bath with daddy and watching Winnie-the-Pooh at 4:00 am with her mommy on the couch for 2 nights in a row.......you gotta love that silly ole bear ;)

Anyway, it has been one of those days when you come to a breaking point where you have to load up the kids in the car for a drive.....not because you have somewhere to go.......but because that is the one place where you won't get in trouble for "strapping" them down......gotta buckle up you know........it's the law! This afternoon, they refused to take a much needed nap. As I was dragging them kicking and screaming downstairs to get to the car, Brady stopped his cries for a moment, looked up at me and said, "I like your blue shirt mommy, it's pretty. I like it." And, then he looked up again and said, "I'm sorry I couldn't go to sleep mommy. I'm sorry." That made my no shower, no make-up, no time for lunch, about to loose it day seem a lot better; but not better enough to forgo "strapping" them in for a much needed 30 minute cool down session.

Truly, I am so blessed to be the mommy of these two. They love each other so much! People always ask me if they always get along so well. The answer it YES! When they aren't together, they always want to know where the other one is. Karson cries, "Where's my Brady?" And, Brady is lost without his "Sissy."

Boys have a...........

So, last night, Jeremy and I left the kids at his parents' house while we went to a Bible study group at church. Nana gave the twins a bath. She was attempting to towel dry Karson's hair, but Karson apparently wasn't having any of that. Brady kept telling her to stop crying and then yelled downstairs, "Papa, Sissy won't let Nana dry her hair!" Nana said, "Brady, don't be a tattle-tale!" Brady looked at Nana in all seriousnes and said, "I don't have a tattle-tale; I have a penis!"

He Makes All Things New

Today was warm and sunny. This afternoon, we played outside. We ran, the kids rode riding toys and we shared a lot of laughs and smiles. It was a good day.....a little piece of heaven. When we came back inside. I checked on baby Cora, a baby girl who was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer less than a month ago, and I read that she is now with Jesus. Oh, how it made me ache even more for the return of Christ. We live in a broken world where life can be ended so quickly......with such little warning. How wonderful it will be when He will make ALL things new. I know baby Cora is happy in the arms of Jesus, but I can't begin to imagine how much her parents long to be with her again.

Please pray for the McClenahans.....for a peace that passes ALL understanding........a peace that only God can give. I can't bear to grasp the strength it would take to go on when faced with these kind of circumstances. But, I am comforted by the illustration given by the father of one of my heroes, Corrie Ten Boome:

"When I was a little girl, I went to my father and said, "Daddy, I am afraid that I will never be strong enough to be a martyr for Jesus Christ." "Tell me," said Father, "When you take a train trip to Amsterdam, when do I give you the money for the ticket? Three weeks before?"
"No, Daddy, you give me the money for the ticket just before we get on the train."
"That is right," my father said, "and so it is with God's strength. Our Father in Heaven knows when you will need the strength to be a martyr for Jesus Christ. He will supply all you need – just in time…"

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea." Psalm 46:1-2

Pray for also for the family of baby Tuesday, who also went to be with Jesus last week after her short battle with cancer (She and her twin sister were born 1 day before Karson and Brady).

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

This week, let the dishes pile up. Forget the mess. Play with your children. Talk to them about Jesus.....so they'll know.......and you'll know they know......and so they can teach their children.....and their children's children.......

So one day, you can All call Heaven home.......where nothing is ever broken.......and All things are new.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:4

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." John 14:1-4

Heaven

A few nights ago, we were doing our normal bedtime routine. Jeremy had just finished reading the twins a book and said, "Ok. It is time to talk to Jesus now." Brady squinted his eyes closed for a second and then popped them open and said, "Jesus lives in Heaven." Jeremy and I both simultaneously said, "Yes, he does." Then, Brady said, "I'm going there too!" Again, Jeremy and I both agreed with him. Then Brady said, "But, not right now. I have to go to bed and sleep first." I guess we have finally gotten through to him that when it is time for bed.......it is time for bed.......no excuses!
On a side note........Here is my little prince bouncing on the bed yelling, "I'm King David! I'm King David!" He made this crown at church when they were learning about David. We told Brady that he was named after King David (among other Davids in the family, who were also named after the Psalmist). For weeks, he ran around screaming about his new claim to royalty, which is actually kinda true........since he is a prince----the son of a Heavenly King!

The Snowy Day

If you are from my hometown, I know you can remember a time when you happily drifted off to sleep with dreams of no school, sledding and snowball fights dancing in you head because Mark Reynolds or Johnny Wood promised accumulation and hazardous road conditions. However, the next morning, you were forced to stand at the freezing bus stop with your incomplete homework in hand, wishing you lived in Carter County because once again---those news guys were wrong. And, as you sleepily climbed onto the bus, you heard kids complaining for the millionth time that it is all Eastman’s fault that we never get snow!

Well, not even Eastman could stop the snow this week in the Land of Oz! And, we didn’t want to miss the chance to play in it. And play we did—even if it was just a light dusting.

I passed up lots of cute snowsuits at consignment sales this fall because, like Al Gore, I guess I was convinced of global warming. Fortunately, after sending Oz to brave the wild world of Walmart to get some toddler mittens, we were all set.Daddy did a great job of teaching the art of snowman making. There was no snow left in our yard afterwards, but we did manage to have enough to build our very own "Frosty." Here is our masterpiece. Jeremy said it was only fitting for him to have an "Osborne nose."

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:3