I learned this afternoon that Layla Grace died. Another little girl. This little girl who in the matter of a few weeks since I learned of her…stole my heart. When she left she took a piece of it with her to heaven.
Children who change the world with every breath, every hug, kiss, tweet, radiation or chemotherapy treatment…with every ounce of their being they change the world.
It would be so easy to be bitter. It would be so easy to question why God allows this to happen.
These kids though…they teach you about God’s love…and how awesome it is. They teach you that despite your piddly problems there is always hope. They teach you to be strong…and to fight. To never, ever, ever give up.
I can’t even fight these tears now.
My heart.
It breaks.
It’s cracked…and it will never EVER be the same. Dear God…show me how to help these children. Please.
I BEG YOU.
USE ME.
TAKE ME INSTEAD.
TAKE EVERY PIECE OF ME AND USE IT FOR THEIR GOOD.
PLEASE.
To ANYONE affected by cancer:
YOU ARE MY HERO.
For little Layla, little Sammie…and all other kiddos who have fought this battle and gone to Heaven…I love you. I’m glad that you’ve been healed. You make me want to be a better person. I hope that one day we can meet …and I can give you a really big hug, but only if you’ll let me.
If there is anyone out there who has a child with ANY FORM of cancer…and you need someone to be there lean on HIM. If you need a friend to talk to/complain to/cry with please let me know. I’ll cry with you. And pray. If you need to talk I’ll give you my phone number. I don’t care if you call me at 2 in the morning. I want to do something…and until God shows me what it is that He is tugging on my heartstrings about…I’ll do what I can.
Father God…
Please show me what it is that I can do to help those affected by cancer. Please show me why this tugs on my heartstrings with a force like hurricane winds. Please use me for the greater good. Please help me to remember not to be so selfish, and to never stop fighting. Please help me to trust and rest in you. Please…help me.
This tugs at me more now than ever. I’m shaving my head in 11 days for St. Baldrick’s. All money goes to help kiddos with cancer…whether it be through grants for research, education…whatever. Please at least take a look. Thank you.
This is something I’ve been wanting to post for a while and had never gotten around to…so I found “Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays” and thought it was perfect! I want to get back into tips on Tuesdays…so a recipe is kind of a tip…right? ;-D
This is something I’m sure has been made before…but I kind of threw it together on a whim…with what I had.
You’ll need:
enough boneless/skinless chicken breasts for your family
Broccoli
Your cheese of choice ( I used plain American for kiddos’ and Pepper Jack for mine and Hubby’s)
Bacon
Salt
Pepper
Directions: (oh so easy!)
Pound chicken between a piece of cling wrap folded over the chicken (to a thickness suitable to your liking–the thinner it is the quicker it cooks!)
Fold in half, place broccoli inside
Cover broccoli with cheese of choice
Wrap with strips of uncooked bacon
Pin with toothpick to keep closed if necessary
Sprinkle with salt and pepper
Place on pan (I hope this is a given…lol)–you may want to spray pan with cooking spray of your choice
Bake until chicken juices run clear, bacon is done… and cheese is melty and ooey-gooey.
Done!
Easy Peasy….and oh so yummy. Awesome served on a bed of brown rice. Mmmmm. Even the kiddos loved it.
A while back I was able to get out of the house for a few hours without the hubby or kiddos. What else is a mom to do? I went shopping…secondhand! I was able to find a few things and just enjoy myself for a bit.
I think I got some pretty good deals, but you tell me what you think!
Thrift Store Finds--Fondue Pot (still in original box & all packaging), Skirt, Photo Frame, Pillow
Picture Frame for an upcoming project--$1.00
Cute Pillow--$1.00
Beautiful Skirt I found for $1.00
Fondue Pot--just $4.00
All in all that day I spent $7.00 for all those things! The fondue pot was still in the plastic wrap inside the cardboard inserts in the package! All the little fondue forks were still in their wrappers as well. I will show y’all the picture frame when I’m done with it…and the pillow was too adorable to pass up! I also found a bunch of patterns that day for a few cents each…and some of the envelopes had patterns for six different items! The skirt is about a size too small but hopefully I can rectify that soon as well. It was adorable and I’ve been making an effort to be more feminine lately.
What are some things you’ve found recently that were awesome deals? Do you get out away from your kiddos often (ha! )? When you do get out…what do you do?
I’m participating in a meme I’ve done once before…hopefully this will let y’all get to know a little bit more about me–and I’d enjoy it if you’d let me know a little fact about yourself in the comments as well!
1. Have you ever fired a gun or shot a bow and arrow?
I have fired a few guns in my day…but never shot a bow and arrow. My hubby has though–does that count?
2. Do you know where your childhood best friends are?
I have one who doesn’t really live too far from me now…and another that I have lost track of through the years but would love to see again. I think it would be interesting to see how we’ve grown and changed!
3. Do you usually arrive early, late, or on time?
That depends on if I’m with hubby or not. Usually if I don’t have hubby with me I’m early or on time…but many times when he is with me I’m late…for differing reasons.
4. Are you more of a New York or California type?
I’m an East Coaster all the way…but obviously I’m more southern than anything. I don’t think I would survive in either environment to be honest with you.
5. Do you have a special ring tone?
I only have one on my new phone (that I just got on Sunday-woohoo!), and that’s a three stooges ringtone (that I didn’t purchase–it was free) for my dad.
6. What is your favorite type of chip?
Depends on what it goes with. I like plain Lay’s with a sandwich or sub…and Fritos Honey BBQ twists if I’m just eating chips. Then again…I like other chips with other things.
7. Best comedy you’ve ever seen is ….
I’ll have to get back to you on that one.
8. Have you ever cut your own hair? To quote Dr. Phil, “How’d that work for ya?”
Once when I was a preschooler I cut my own hair…and then told my dad that my mom did it. That went about as well as the time I took lipstick and drew all over my parents’ living room…walls, furniture, lampshades. Yeah. That well.
9. If you were going to have an extreme makeover, would you rather it be about your house or your personal self?
I’d rather it be for my house. If it were for my house it would benefit my whole family…and an outside makeover for myself wouldn’t matter if what I felt on the inside didn’t match.
10. Are you allergic to anything?
I am allergic to Amoxicillin/Penicillin and Morphine. Yes, some of the most commonly used drugs for their purposes…I always have to be the difficult one!
11. Why is it so hard to change?
Humans are creatures of habit and habits are awfully hard to break. When something gets rough many times we inadvertently go back to what we know/do best.
12. One last question dedicated to February love: CS Lewis said, “To love is to be vulnerable.” Please share one example of that assertion or share any thought you’d like to about this topic.
I think Jesus showed ultimate vulnerability on the cross. He loved the world so much that he made himself vulnerable to mere men. He allowed that to happen…and he didn’t have to. God allowed it to happen…another example of vulnerability. People will make ultimate sacrifices for those they love. You will open up your heart, mind, body…everything for those you love…leaving yourself wide open…and that’s the scariest part about love!
I’m participating in a meme I’ve seen around the blogosphere recently called Friday Follow. Basically it looks to be a “you follow me, I’ll follow you” kind of thing.
First and foremost…if you don’t genuinely like what you see here…please don’t follow me. Following blogs is awesome, but only if you truly enjoy them. Expect me [...]
I was recently privileged to receive some awesome sippy cups and a bottle from a company called Tommee Tippee that rocked my socks y’all! They were awesome. Tommee Tippee is relatively new to the U.S. but they have been around the for 50 years…in fact, they are the number one brand of infant and toddler [...]
I did it.
I made the switch.
I am now rockin’ Wordpress.
I’d like to know what you think…even though I’m not quite done.
Do you like it?
Do you hate it?
Would you like some tutorials?
Would you like someone to move yours? (Once I’m confident enough I may offer to do some here and there)
It is possible to do it [...]
Please, if you haven’t already, find my blog’s new home– Hands, House, and Heart Full.
I also have a new feed address! Please update your readers! I can’t figure out this last little part…and I know I’ve lost some of y’all!!!!
It started to snow earlier…and it hasn’t quit! My kiddos are having a blast, and as much as I dislike snow…I wouldn’t mind if it hung around a little while! More pictures to come but here are a few to last you!
Now maybe I can stop using exclamation points….maybe.
)? When you do get out…what do you do?
