Grinch

“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow,
stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons.
It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags.
And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.
What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.
What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

WhOViLle

Last Saturday we crashed another wards Christmas Party; It was AMAZING!!! They made it into the town of Whoville, they had Cindy's Candy Shop and the Whoville Bakery but the best part was the GRINCH. The Grinch is one of my Mother in Law's friends, he was great I wish I would of videoed it!

Be Gratefull 4s

I had a Be Grateful 4 party a few weeks before Thanksgiving. We had Costco pot pie (Oh so Good) and Jeanie made her pies. Jeanie... Mrs. Norma Jean you make some classy pies. Pecan Pie oh how I love you.
I had everyone make a list of things we were grateful for... I wanted to know everything.... Michelle and I are grateful for DIET COKE.
I was sad because my Mr. Johnson forgot me.... really the months before I nursed you back to health.... I showered you... I have birthed your babies... All the TDY's I DON"T MAKE YOUR LIST!!!
This ended suddenly... Dave Fell... What... oh it's Dave... I know no one stronger... HE WILL BE FINE... he is doing what needs to be done... Healing... But my Michelle she is waiting. I instantly felt panic... panic for her... cuz I had been there or so I thought... weeks later our Dave died... what? so wrong??? I just don't understand... Nothing will be the same... not even a card game. I mourn him; I wish to have back all the opportunities we had to be together that we said no to... we were too busy... too hard with little ones....
Here are some of the pictures from my party:

Uncle David & Gerard's in Town!

I alway's look forward to seeing Bry's brother David! David and Gerard live in Florida so we see them once a year. During their few days here they are packed so I have never just stood still with them; I want to know what they are like together, how they spent their time together. I am curious to see if Dave is like Bry... Just so many question marks???
Anyways... on the last night they were here they gave the girls PILLOW PETS!!!! the #1's on both kids list. The next day I asked Ella if we could go see Santa..... "but he will ask me what I want.... I don't want anything..... well maybe I will just tell him I still want one and than I'd have two.... but Mom 2 won't fit on my bed"

Pray... Pray... Pray....

Pray... Pray... Pray....Pray... Pray... Pray....Pray... Pray... Pray....Pray... Pray... Pray....Pray... Pray... Pray....Pray... Pray... Pray....Pray... Pray... Pray....

Oh Brooklynn Rose

Do you know how many times Brooklynn Rose you have broken my heart and ruined my day? I drop you off at daycare and you scream and cry and yells for me... Almost every time! Today you wanted to go to school and play in the snow with your friends. You made me so happy. You were ready to go before I was ready to take you. Thank you Brookie for making me so happy today.

Thankful For Day 5

Ahhh... ThanksGiving.... The Big Day!
I have so much to write, I don't know where to start.
Family, Freedom, and food on the table!
Granny, you are a great woman. I am grateful for you!
I need to write more but I need to get ready to go make a fool of myself!!!! That's right... I Shannon Stuart is taking a Zumba class!

So, right now I am grateful for friends to laugh with or at... as this case may be!

Thankful For Day 4

Today I'm having a hard time thinking of what I am grateful for... I have worked 20 hrs today and Bryan and I have not been getting along.
So Today I am grateful for having some one not to get a long with! At least I have someone to call Husband even if he is being a Huge JERKFACE!

Quit Dancing With Your Head!!!!

Okay so I am changing Brookie's poopie pullup ("Look Mommy I did a big POOP!) and iCarly's opening theme song came on...
I know.you see
somehow the world will change to me
and be so wonderful!
Live life,breathe air
I know somehow were gonna
get there
and feel so wonder full
so while changing her stinky butt I'm singing the opening song to Brooklynn and you know what she says to me

MOMMY QUIT DANCING WITH YOUR HEAD!!!

RUDE!!

Thankful For Day 3

DIET COKE
Oh how I love thee! I love thee so much; I consume high volumes of thee! I know you are not good for me but I am addicted and I will never give thee up!

Thankful For

I am Thankful for Dave Brown. Dave you are a wonderful man who's strong both physically and spiritually. Every baby loves you and your spirit brings peace to any fussy baby. Know that you are in our prayers and in our thoughts; we are very proud of you and your fight.

ThankFul For Day 2

Today I am thankful that my kids have great cousins. I grew up with really no extended family in my life; so I am so grateful that my kids will have friends and family all rolled into one.

Thankful For Day 1

Today I was laying in bed; I was awake but heck if I was going to get out of bed until the kids were awake! A few minutes later I heard both girls, Ella was laughing and Brookie was giggling like crazy about something or another. It is the very best way to start a day.
So today I am grateful for my children's laughter.

Be Thankful For The Thorns

I found this story through my Beautiful Sister in Law Angie. I only posted the last half of the story.

Sandra sucked in her breath, as she thought about what her friend had tried to tell her. "I guess the truth is I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God."

Just then someone else walked in the shop.

"Hey, Phil!" the clerk greeted the balding, rotund man.

"My wife sent me in to get our usual Thanksgiving arrangement . . . twelve thorny, long-stemmed stems!" laughed Phil as the clerk handed him a tissue wrapped arrangement from the refrigerator.

"Those are for your wife?" asked Sandra incredulously. "Do you mind telling me why she wants a bouquet that looks like that?"

"Four years ago, my wife and I nearly divorced," Phil replied. "After forty years, we were in a real mess, but with the Lord's grace and guidance, we trudged through problem after problem, the Lord rescued our marriage. Jenny here (the clerk) told me she kept a vase of rose stems to remind her of what she had learned from "thorny" times. That was good enough for me. I took home some of those stems. My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific "problem" and give thanks for what that problem taught us."

As Phil paid the clerk, he said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special!"

"I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life" Sandra said to the clerk. "It's all too . . . fresh."

"Well," the clerk replied carefully, "my experience has shown me that the thorns make the roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember that it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore so we might know His love. Don't resent
the thorns."

Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident, she loosened her grip on her resentment.

"I'll take those twelve long-stemmed thorns, please," she managed to choke out.

"I hoped you would," said the clerk gently. "I'll have them ready in a minute."

"Thank you. What do I owe you?"

"Nothing. Nothing but a promise to allow God to heal your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on me."

The clerk smiled and handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach this card to your arrangement, but maybe you would like to read it first."

It read:

"My God, I have never thanked You for my thorns. I have thanked You a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear; teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed closer to You along the path of pain. Show me that, through my tears, the colors of Your rainbow look much more brilliant."

Praise Him for the roses; thank Him for the thorns.

Worship Me!

Okay... so today my Friend wrote on her facebook that she made her son say that she was the best Mom in the world and that he worshiped her. So my 3 year old Brookie asked me to open her cearel box and as usual I said:
Mom: "Tell Me You Love Me!"
Brookie "I Wov You Mommy, cearel PLEASE!"
Mom: "Tell Me You Worship Me!"
Brookie: "Me Worship You... (pause) POOPIE HEAD!"
Her and Ella laughed at that forever... Can't blame them... it was pretty darn funny!

One Sad Mommy

Another reason I haven't blogged in a very long time... I am just sad. I want this to be a happy blog, a blog to reflect on this wonderful life I have but lately I am just plain sad. As most of you know I work nights, I work 40 or more hours a week and I feel like I miss so much. My kids hate that I work and I swear Bry wants to kill me some nights. I know most Moms that have to work outside the home feel this way but it's worse now than it is ever been. I am sure that it has to do with almost losing Bryan a couple months ago and that I spent a lot of time away from work. Ella is almost 8; I can't believe that, how fast time flies only adds to my panic.
A little over a year ago I lost my Sister in law to cancer. I have had her 2 youngest a couple of days over the last few weeks and I can't help but be sad. I wonder what they are going through; what they think, how they feel. We went to Wheeler Farm and did the Halloween thing and I had them on Halloween day and did 4 crazy girls, well 5 crazy girls (me) hair and makeup... it was out of control and fantastic but my mind kept going back to Shari and how amazing she was and this is not how it should be. I miss her and I miss her more and more during these wonderful times I get with her girls and with my girls. Last fall when Shari was battling cancer and I was trying to process that this was actually happening because it was so wrong... Not Shari she is so good, she loved everyone and everyone just fell in love with her at first sight... she gave the best hugs. Anyways, I would go for these long runs and play the same song over and over again and cry:

Pray God you can cope.
I stand outside this woman's work,
This woman's world.
Ooh, it's hard on the man,
Now his part is over.
Now starts the craft of the father.

I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.
I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.

I should be crying, but I just can't let it show.
I should be hoping, but I can't stop thinking

Of all the things I should've said,
That I never said.
All the things we should've done,
Though we never did.
All the things I should've given,
But I didn't.

Oh, darling, make it go,
Make it go away.
Give me these moments back.
Give them back to me.
Give me that little kiss.
Give me your hand.

I know I have just rambled here but I want to end on a happy note. I truly love my family so much it breaks my heart into tiny little pieces. Bryan for letting me be who I am and for not leaving me. Ella you are my light and my comfort, your peace is so wonderful. Brooklynn Rose you are my star, my comedian, my tornado. Kaden my new little monkey, you bring me new possibilities.
I know I have rambled and I am feeling so very sappy I promise next post will be happy and full of pictures!

A Long Time

It has been a very long time since I posted anything on my blog and frankly it's been so long I don't know where to began...
So I'm going to write about a journey that began in the middle of August. Bryan was going to have surgery to repair and remove some scar tissue on his small intestines. A few days in the hospital is all... Well it turned into a month in the hospital. I have come way too close to losing him. It was that evil thought that you pushed into the very back of your mind... the what ifs... When Bry himself thought that he wasn't going to make it... it through me over the edge and into the place where you beg... you make deals... you promise...
That was 2 months ago. Bryan is getting better; he still struggles and he still has his bad days but we are still a family, we are back to the normal life that I prayed for... that I begged for.

Brookie ism

MOMMY: Sorry Charlie!
BROOKIE: I not Charlie.... I Pretty!!

She thought I was calling her Charlie, Charlie is a dog, Kris and Libby's maltese. Brooklynn pouted on my bed for a good... 30 seconds.

Alice in Wonderland

Have I gone mad?
I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are.

Brooklynn's Favorite Game

Brooklynn loves to hide under her blanket, she thinks no one can see her!

Valentine's Day!

My Sister in Law Angie makes the best chocolate covered strawberries EVER!