We are sick.

Before we got here, everyone came down with the stomach flu, but it was all over with before we got here, so we thought we were ok. But last night Sara & I were puking up all the red frosting from Sara's Elmo cupcake cake. Totally gross and I am never eating anything with red food coloring ever again. Probably a good idea anyway.

We were supposed to leave today but I am still feeling blah. SO pray I feel well enough to travel soon. Brad doesn't need to miss any more work.

Merry Christmas!!!!

I hope all of you out in blogland have a fantabulous Christmas! Remember the important things...Jesus, family, and friends!

Merry Christmas 2008!

Oh be careful little mouth, What you eat

My children!!! What am I going to do with them!

We were getting ready to leave Owie's house yesterday, and I picked up Emily to put her in the car seat. She was choking on something. I tried to scoop it out with my fingers, but it was already half way down and she ended up swallowing it. It felt like a big piece of wire. To me, it felt like a spring from a chip clip or a hair clip or something. She acted fine once she swallowed it, but I was worried.

I panicked. I called Wendy, knowing that she has lots of mother experience and would tell me if I was just panicking for no reason (I didn't call you mom, because I knew you would panic too and I wanted a non-panicking source Ha!). I asked her if I should take her to the ER, and she said yes. I would have taken her anyway though. The end of that thing felt sharp and I was worried about things getting tore up inside of her. *shudder*

I called Bro. Sutton and Mom Riddell. Couldn't get ahold of Mom yet. Dropped Sara off with Wendy and went to Vanderbilt Children's ER. I LOVE them. They had us in to triage and getting x-rays in under 5 minutes. Emily did so good. The only time she fussed was when we had to hold her arms over her head to get the side shot.

We didn't have to wait long for the doctor (well, a "fellow" really... teaching hospital you know. This fellow really was a fellow!). He said that whatever it was, was already in her stomach, and that's a good thing. If it got stuck in her throat or something back there or in her lungs, then that would be bad. But he said that the gut is really tough, and she should pass it with no problem. He also said that they've had kids come in that have swallowed open diaper pins and had no problems. YIKES! So, he gave me a list of warning signs to watch for, but she should pass it in MAX 3 days. If I haven't seen it yet (watching for it will be fun) in 3 days, then I have to take her back.

Here's pictures of the x-ray.

See that hooked white thing in the middle near her spine? Yes, that's it. *shudders again*

I'm be so glad when I see that thing in her diaper.

Christmas!!!!!

I can't wait!!!

I am slowly but surely working on getting my Christmas shopping done. It is not going to be much but at least something for everyone. And extra for the girls of course. We're celebrating Sara's birthday too before we leave for Arkansas so I have to bring her birthday presents with me.

Brad put up blue icicle lights on the porch gable... he couldn't get it to be long enoug to reach end to end, so he went all electrician on me and spliced it with a cord from a hair dryer I had quit using because something inside was sounding funny. It's hilarious but I don't think anyone would notice if they didn't know. :-) Then I went to Dollar Tree and spent $5 on "pine" garland and red bows to wrap around the little deck. FUN! I want to get a little tree for inside, but I want the house clean first. There is always something though so I guess I shouldn't wait too long!

I finished designing our family Christmas card just a bit ago! I am SO excited! I always have grand intentions every year but I never have gotten cards out. I sent it to Wal-Mart.com to be one houred and if the single print turns out good then I'll order more and send them out! So please everyone send me your address! Unless I go to church with you, then I'll just give it to you. :-)

I want to bake! Christmas always makes me want to make things and cook things and all that but there is never any time. Tonight though, we are going to have a yummy dinner, I hope. Our dinner meals have been blah lately, so I decided to try to change that. I got tilapia filets and I'm going to bake them in tin foil with butter, lemon pepper, garlic, and dill. I have NEVER cooked fish before (well, fish sticks don't count!) so I'm hoping it turns out good! And I'm going to cook red potatoes, carrots & onions. And rolls. Need something green but the dill on the fish will have to suffice. Ha! And for dessert, I'm making a coconut oatmeal pie! YUMMY!! It's been FOREVER since I've made one. If you like chess pie (something I've discovered since being in TN!) or even pecan pie, you'd like this.

PRAY dinner doesn't flop. I really really want to surprise Brad with something different.

I was invited to a get together tonight and I think it really would be fun. But I need time with my family and that has got to come first. There will be other get togethers.

It's Been a While!

I reckon I should post!

I have been majorly stressed lately. Frustrated and angry at some things, and sad and hurt at others.

So when last Saturday rolled around, I was SOOOOO ready for Ladies' Day. Brad watched the girls for me so that I could fully enjoy it. Gina came with me and it was nice to have some female company.

Ladies' Day was SOOOOOO fantastic! Everything was wonderful. The theme was about Esther. These two scriptures were paired together and it just WOWED me.

Esther 4:11All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or women, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.
12And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.
13Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.
14For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?


Hebrews 4: 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The devotion was wonderful, the class was wonderful, the message was wonderful. I sooooo needed to hear these things. I needed to be reminded that I am chosen by God for such a time as this. I needed to be reminded that the things that I endure in this life are for a far greater purpose than I can even imagine, and I needed to be reminded to behave myself well in the King's house! The Lord is so kind to me to let me know that He loves me at the same time He is showing me things in my life that, in the words of Tammy, "ought not be!"

So I came away from Ladies' Day feeling very refreshed! And nervous too. See I'd been shown some things about my attitude and how I respond to circumstances that I don't like... And while I was thankful for the Lord's loving rebuke, and I knew that He could help me to respond the way I should, I was nervous that I wasn't going to let Him help me. Funny because I normally don't feel that way. But on the way back home, Gina and I were testifying to each other about the day... and we just encouraged each other in that area. She really encouraged me, I know that!!!

We went home by way of Lebanon, and went to the Outlet mall... I'd been wanting... ok, DYING to go to the Bath & Body Works Outlet. But we never get over that way anymore. OH OH OH!!!! I almost forgot!!!!!!!

Gina and I were talking and encouraging and rejoicing on the way to Lebanon, on 840. We calm down and I look down, and I tell Gina that she needs to start praying we make it to a gas station because we are out of gas!!! And it was on E. Not in the red at all. This car runs out of gas LONG before it makes it to E. And there it was. And no gas station for several more miles. There is NOTHING on 840. At all. We were going to get off at the exit for 109, but I missed it! AAARGH!!!! So the next is 40 and then Lebanon. I was telling Gina about the time when Brad & I were dating and we drove 45 minutes with no gas! God totally did it. And guess what??? He did it again! The car only started sputtering JUST as I was pulling into the gas station. God is good to take care of me in my stupidity sometimes, but probably only this time because I was too busy talking about Him to look at the gas gauge! Ha ha!

We got cappuccinos at the gas station and then went to the Mall. Thankfully it had stopped raining. We had so much fun!!!!! We just got a couple little things at B&BW and then went window shopping. Brad will window shop with me, but only at a few stores. He doesn't care for clothes shopping. Plus it's just different to window shop with a girl than with a guy. Ha ha! Then we went to Goodwill. Gina found a skirt and I got 2 more matching dresses for the girls, and a sweater for Brad. Plus a brand new in package album of Carolyn Arends' Parenthood album. We had the book and the single but not the whole album. We used the single for the slideshow at Sara's baby dedication.

That reminds me! Here's the corrected version of the slideshow that I figured out how to put on youtube a few months ago. It's hard to believe our first baby isn't so little anymore!




So anyway, Saturday was a fantastic day and I am very thankful for it!!!!

Tiny Bit

My throat is just a tiny bit sore. I feel fine. I'm soooo glad. This all could have landed me in the hospital or needing surgery. So much worse than it was.

We spent all day at church yesterday. I brought sandwhich stuff and I ran to Wal-Mart for the cheese I forgot to bring from home (can't have sandwhiches in our family without cheese!), a tomato, and dessert. We had so much fun. We watched Bible cartoons while we ate (LOL!) and then Brad and Sara took a nap in one of the Sunday school rooms. One of them (I think it's the teen girls?) put a couch in there with a cute slipcover. Perfect for Sunday afternoon napping! Ha! Bet they weren't thinking of that when they put it in there! Emmy, who was not interested in napping, crawled around the sanctuary while I chatted with my brother Matthew on the phone. It was a very good day. I think folks oughtta stay and hang out with us next week.

Bleh!

Tuesday night I woke up with a sore throat. It got worse throughout the day on Wednesday and that night it got bad. It hurts to even swallow my own spit. (You don't know how much you appreciate that until you can't do it!). And I was running a fever. I had chills so bad Wednesday night I actually was having muscle spasms in my back. I went to the clinic yesterday, sure it was strep. Well it's not strep. They think it's a really bad bacterial infection in my throat. My tonsils are swollen up HUGE! The dangly thing in the middle is actually resting on one. Anyway, when I told them I was glad at least that it wasn't strep, she said she'd rather I had strep! She said strep is easy to treat and get rid of. She doesn't think this junk is gonna be so easy.

The thing is too, that off and on since I was twelve, I've had trouble with my tonsils. Nothing big. Just annoying. Never been seen for it. A month or so ago I felt yucky and my tonsils were acting up and I wondered if it was my tonsils making me sick. It went away though and I didn't think about it.

Sooo... it kind of freaked me out when she said to watch my breathing...if I have trouble breathing it could be a paratonsillar abcess, which is an emergency situation. When she told me that, I told her about my tonsil issues. She said she didn't think it was that bad YET, just to watch it. They gave me a GINORMOUS shot of antibiotics. WOW that stung. My hip is super sore now.

Ibuprofen is keeping the fever at bay. I feel better today as far as I'm not wiped out like I was yesterday. But my throat still hurts. I haven't been able to eat anything since Wednesday night. They said to just forget about eating, and to just try to drink and stay hydrated. Bleh. I hate it. I want to eat, but I can't.

They said that if I'm not significantly improved by Saturday, then I have to come back in.

I woke up this morning at 1 am all paranoid about my breathing. And then my paranoia was making me breathe weird. LOL! So I got up and made Brad's & Sara's lunch for today (torture, I tell ya!) and did some laundry. By then I was settled down enough I could go back to sleep.

I am sooooo ready to be over this. PRAY I get over this soon and PRAY the kids and Brad don't get it. I am trying to wash my hands often and keep everyone out of my face (hard to do with kiddos!).

Is Halloween Harmless?

The following is one of the devotions that my friend Charlotte from Mtn. View, AR sends out by e-mail. I don't normally post things like this, but the scriptures in this devotion really stood out to me and confirmed the way that I have always felt about Halloween. Even if you think you've heard it all before, even if right now you are rolling your eyes at yet ANOTHER attempt to show that Halloween is wrong, PLEASE read it anyway, and ask the Lord what He would have you to do. The comments in italics are from Charlotte.



The following came largely from a message preached this Sunday by our pastor, Brother Randy Farthing. It really caused me to think and I hope it will be a blessing to you as you read it. Charlotte



Is Halloween Harmless?



When the Irish came over to America in the 1800s during the potato famine, they brought their custom of celebrating Halloween with them. It is a celebration of the “Day of the Dead.” As far back as two thousand years ago, Celtics would kill animals and dress up wearing the heads of the dead animals. Other things made popular by the Irish during Halloween was the carving of turnips (pumpkins in America because they were more readily available) in which candles were lit as a symbol of roaming “spirits” or to ward off evil spirits.



Satan loves Halloween because Halloween glamorizes darkness. Deuteronomy 18:9-12, “When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire (some burned their children as sacrifice to pagan gods), or that useth divination (using satanic means to attempt to tell the future), or an observer of times (astrology, horoscopes), or an enchanter (one who is believed to heal through magic powers), or a witch (a woman who practices witchcraft), Or a charmer (someone who uses chants/spells), or a consulter with familiar spirits (someone who communicates with spirits), or a wizard (a man who practices witchcraft or magic), or a necromancer (one who calls up the dead). For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.”



God told them not to be entangled with the ways of the nations which they would inhabit.



Witches don’t ride brooms. They do cast spells and work evil (even though many call it “good” magic). This is an abomination of God. The devil glamorizes this evil through many means...one way he does this is through Halloween.



1 Corinthians 10:21, “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.”



Acts 16:16-18, “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination (ability through satanic means to attempt to tell the future…notice it is the spirit of divination…an evil spirit) met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying (like fortune telling): The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.” (This spirit of divination was trying to HIDE itself in religious ways, trying to appear good, but it was still evil! The devil tries to make evil look good…he wants to glamorize it. Halloween IS practiced as a religious day, but it is NOT of Christian religious origins).



1 Corinthians 10:20, “But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.”



Note…Brother Farthing brought out some things I had never thought about through these Scriptures…especially the ones in the Book of Acts on how evil will try to attach itself to good in an attempt to fool people into thinking it really IS good. As I was getting this devotion ready to send out, I was reminded of a “game” that has been around for years…and some continue to be innocently caught up in…some of our local school teachers have even used this “game” as a “science experiment” but it isn’t an experiment, nor is it a game. It is called “Light as Feather” and entails two to four people using two fingers each to “lift” a person that is lying flat on a table after saying a series of words over and over (chanting…). People who have come out of the practice of Wicca (witchcraft) will tell you that this is a chant that results in levitation and is evil trying to appear “good” and “fun.” Most of us would not think of using or allowing our kids to use a Ouija Board to call up an evil spirit…we must equally recognize that there are other more subtle evils lurching around every corner waiting to entrap us…and our children…Ephesians 5:11, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” In other words, don’t participate, but WARN others about them instead.

Milestones

Emily stood up in her playpen last night! She has been pulling up on pant legs and bed covers to stand up for a little while, but this is the first tie she's succeeded to climb the playpen walls to stand up. She was sooooo proud of herself! She was standing up at the bed last night, and started grooving to Jordin Sparks' "One Step at a Time". It's hilarious because the first song Sara ever stood up and grooved to, was Bebo Norman's "Stand". How do they manage this stuff?

Glory Baby

Glory baby you slipped away as fast as we could say baby...baby...
You were growing, what happened dear?
You disappeared on us baby...baby...
Heaven will hold you before we do
Heaven will keep you safe until we’re home with you…
Until we’re home with you…

Miss you everyday
Miss you in every way
But we know there’s a day when we will hold you
We will hold you
You’ll kiss our tears away
When we’re home to stay
Can’t wait for the day when we will see you
We will see you
But baby let sweet Jesus hold you
‘Till mom and dad can hold you…
You’ll just have heaven before we do
You’ll just have heaven before we do

Sweet little babies, it’s hard to understand it ‘cause we’re hurting
We are hurting
But there is healing
And we know we’re stronger people through the growing
And in knowing-
That all things work together for our good
And God works His purposes just like He said He would…
Just like He said He would…

Miss you everyday
Miss you in every way
But we know there’s a day when we will hold you
We will hold you
You’ll kiss our tears away
When we’re home to stay
Can’t wait for the day when we will see you
We will see you
But baby let sweet Jesus hold you
‘Till mom and dad can hold you…
You’ll just have heaven before we do
You’ll just have heaven before we do


I can’t imagine heaven’s lullabies and what they must sound like
But I will rest in knowing, heaven is your home
And it’s all you’ll ever know…
All you’ll ever know…

Remembering

Saturday, I decided that I needed some time to myself, to be able to think and pray and grieve in my own way.



Brad watched the kids, and I left the house. First I decided to go to the kids' consignment store and get a couple pairs of pants for Sara & Emily... Emmy has a few shirts that she needed pants to go with. Sara got some jammies too and I found a Christmas dress for Emmy to go with the one I've had in storage for Sara since last year (yay for after season sales!).



Then, I got a haircut. I got bangs cut, I think I like them. But she cut the rest of it too short. Oh well. it will grow.



Then, I went to Hallmark. Hallmark has always been the place I go when something emotional is going on in my life. I found a card for the baby, and I looked at Willow Tree figurines. I wanted to have something at the house in memory of the baby, but I didn't want something that would make me want to cry every time I looked at it. I decided on this one:

It makes me think of a little one running around heaven, having a blast. And the "hope" is just perfect. Reminds me of the scripture that says I don't have to sorrow as those who have no hope, because of Jesus I have a blessed hope that I will get to see the baby again in heaven!

I took some time to write a letter to the baby in the card I found... I bawled all through it. I know the baby will never read it, but it made me feel better. Maybe sometime I will share what I wrote.

I think I'm going to make a memory box, and put the card in it, and the pregnancy test, and maybe a photo of us now. Anything else I might think of.

Surviving

I am ok. I have good moments and bad moments.

One thing that I am thankful for, that I didn't realize for awhile, is that I'm not angry with God. I'm not asking, "How could you do this to me?!?" I know that God has a purpose and plan for every life, no matter how short. So now I am just asking the Lord to show me what He wants me to learn through this. Who He wants me to become through this.

I am so happy for our baby. He or she gets to be in heaven and escape the heartache and trouble of this world! That is more than I can say for the two that I can hold in my arms. One safe in heaven, now I just have to get these two there!

I am sad for us. A little one that I never got to hold, never got to look into their eyes, will never know who they looked like. I cry for all of the little things that I'm missing out on.

I went to the store yesterday and automatically went down the baby aisle. It took 5 seconds for me to remember... my womb is empty.

It is going to be a hard the next few months. When June 3rd rolls around (yes, June 3rd, I had calculated the due date wrong), it will be harder for awhile. Especially since I have two friends due either the day of or within days of ours. I don't begrudge them their blessings. It will just be hard knowing that it could have been us too.

Thank you to all of you that are praying for us and have left messages. My blog is bound to be sad for a while. I'll try to share what Jesus is showing me as time goes on.

I'm thankful for my blessings. No matter how long or short a time I get to enjoy them.

Pray for us.

I miscarried this morning.

So, we have a baby waiting for us in heaven.

Can't wait to get there!

Arrows

The Bible says that the children that He gives us are like arrows in the hands of a mighty man. We know the devil throws out fiery darts against us. Well, I have some arrows to send back in his direction! With the Lord's help, I'll train these arrows up to know the Lord, so that their aim will be sure. Who knows the souls that may come to know Jesus because of my children! It's a HUGE task and a tremendous responsibility, but I know that Jesus has given me everything I need to accomplish it. God's gifts are always GOOD, especially when they are in His timing. Difficult sometimes? Yes. But the trials that come from raising children only serve to draw me closer to my Guide. Why would I want to miss out on any of this? His plan is best.

And so, that being said.....













The Lord is adding to our quiver once again!

Baby Riddell #3, arriving sometime around May 27, 2009!!!

We are SOOOOOOOOO excited!!!!