Try Not to Fall Out in Shock, Ok?

Yes, I am actually posting.

Shocking, I know.

Don't get too excited, though - it ain't a long one.

I'm simply here to give you your smile of the day.

Ready?

Straight-up glam, yo! Straight-up glam.

Coming Up for Air

It's officially been more than a month since I've updated this little log-o'-life.

A month.

And you know? I hadn't even noticed.

Meagan told me a story this week about how life is what happens when we're planning for the next big thing, and I think she's right.

The past weeks have been filled with changes.

This little man officially graduated from Mom's Day out:

After the program during which he sang "Wheels on the Bus" and "Jesus Loves Me", we had a little reception. Dawson loved his teacher, Mrs. Carmen, and is even spending two days a week with her this summer.

He is learning so many things so quickly - he can sing most of his ABC's, count to 12 without help, identify shapes and asks hilarious questions like, "Mama, what you doing??" and says stuff like "Hi, honey!" and "Good job, Mama, good job! Proud of you!!" He loves to "pway cars", slide, play with Play-Dough, puzzles and blocks. He's just amazing to me.

What's also amazing to me is the legacy my family has left for me. My late grandfather, Benny, was honored at Silverdale Baptist Church by having a scholarship fund established in his name. Our family and his long-time work family at East Brainerd Lumber Company founded it. The scholarship will be given every year to a deserving high school graduate at that church. My Papaw was funny, cool and generous; he called me "his little sweetheart" and instilled in me a love of Vols football, Krispy Kreme donuts, Krystals, swimming, train rides, Chinese checkers, Cadillacs, hard work and the smell of lumber.

Let's see. My grandfather has a scholarship named after him. My dad has a football field in his name. I wonder if anything will be named for me? Here are some ideas:

1) The Diet Coke aisle at any local Kroger.

2) The cosmetics section at Target.

3) Any New York and Co. store.

4) The clearance section at Gymboree. (Small, but it exists).

5) The Fudge Round/Swiss Cake Roll aisles at the Little Debbie Thrift Store.

Someone else who's also amazing to me is my littlest brother, Brandon. He graduated from Baylor School in Chattanooga, and we're really proud of all he accomplished there. I actually attended Grandparent's Day there with him (I was told I was one hot grandma! Word!), and by going to his classes with him, I learned:

- why surgical scrubs are aqua

- how the next Dalai Llama is found

- why calculus really is completely useless.

My parents hosted a graduation party for him after the ceremony, and Dawson, Zoey and the rest of us had a blast.

Dawson kept trying to blow out the tiki torches...

...and found sheer bliss in the chocolate icing on the cupcakes.

My ever-creative mother had a bouncy at the party, and the kids loved it.

Uncle Brandon and some of his cousins, niece and nephew.

We also celebrated Jason's birthday, Zoey's birthday and Father's Day in one day...

Zoey loved her cupcakes, and we decorated for two parties. One end of the table was camo for J:

The other end was Disney princess for Zo-Zo:

Dawson decorated his face with some icing. Again.

Speaking of princesses, Zoey is quite the little girly-girl (yay!) and is hilarious. The older she gets, the more she looks like my mom, and the more she acts like a combo of me and J. I LOVE IT!!!

 What I don't love is saying good-bye for an extended amount of time to my brothers. Brandon left yesterday to officially become a cadet at the Airforce Academy.

Huge honor? Check.

Big-time scholarship money given? Check.

Congressional recommendation given? Check.

No see him til THANKSGIVING? Check.

Xanax? Double-check.

Jason leaves for Afghanistan at the end of July.

Lauren leaves for Worriers Anonymous stat.

Just kidding. (?)

On the flip side, I have plenty of work to occupy my mind. More people are buying homes since mortgage rates are low and the tax credit was extended, so that's good. I also have 43 rental houses to lease between the second week of June and the first week of September. Red Bull, I shall invest in ye.

To leave you with a laugh, consider this:

That's right, ladies and gents. AQUA subway tile. Smashing.

So, What's Your Life Like?

B-to-the-Izzy.

For those of you who work and have more than one child:

I don't know how you do it.

We are rapidly approaching the end of May, and while I can say that we have a lot going on,

that also means we have a lot to be thankful for.

I will be back soon to show you:

Easter

How am I one hot grandma

The meaning of hysterical

The sweetest art collaboration you've ever seen

Money, honey

Baby love

and much more.

For now, I need your help in poll form:

My 10th high school reunion is at the end of July.

I am trying to decide whether or not to go.

Nevermind it's during the busiest month of the year as far as work goes.

Nevermind I'm really not feelin' it.

But I'm open to considering it.

My question for you:

Did you go to yours?

Did you have fun?

If you did go, why?

My former Rachel-from-Friends-hair-style-sporting, President-of-Future-Homemakers-of-America-presiding, Prom-committee-chairperson self thanks you.

Dawson and the Four-Letter Word

That's right, y'all.

It's happened.

He's said it.

A four-letter word.

If I've heard it once, I've heard it 20 times in the past week.

"Mine!"

Wait - what did you think it was going to be?

A New Beginning

I am very happy to tell you that Beckett is out of the hospital and at home.

He made amazing progress over the past week and a half...

and now, since he can breathe and eat on his own, he gets to be back in his own little bed.

This is a new beginning for Patrick and Amanda because the six-month-old baby they knew and had grown accustomed to caring for is now, once again, behaving just like a newborn.

As if they had never brought him home from the hospital before.

So now, maybe more than ever, they need prayer to deal with this new reality.

But how awesome that God's grace proved the doctors wrong: Beckett is alive.

In other news,

I got to be a grandmother this week.

Stay tuned to find out just what that means. :)

Beckett Update

Never underestimate the power of prayer.

According to the Facebook page that is updated often by Amanda and Patrick, Beckett is off the ventilator and is breathing on his own.

It was, however, a very rough night, and so I would guess there are many long days ahead.

What's amazing is how many people are praying.

Thousands - and those are just the ones that have identified themselves on Facebook.

The verse that keeps coming into my head is this one:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.

                                                                        Isaiah 55:7-9

Thank you for praying!

I Hope I Never Write a Post Like This Again

If you're reading this, I need to you to stop whatever you're doing and pray for this baby.

This is John Beckett - he is the son of a couple that we've met several times before through my best friend, Meagan. Their names are Patrick and Amanda.

Earlier last week, Beckett was put down for a nap by his sitter in a bed instead of a crib.

He became trapped between the mattress and the headboard and was without oxygen for quite some time - he was alone in the bedroom for about 45 minutes before the sitter checked on him.

He is currently at Vanderbilt, waking up from a medicine-induced coma.

He is six months old.

If he fully wakes up, this baby will never be the same.

He will never be normal; the doctors have assured Patrick and Amanda of this.

I need you to pray for a miracle.

Pray that God proves the doctors wrong.

Pray for Patrick and Amanda.

Pray for John Beckett.

And pray for that sitter.