John and Alex

I made pancakes tonight, one of John and Alex's favorites. John proceeded to tell me why you have to flip them, to fry them on both sides. I told him he was a really smart kid and he said, "yeah, I'm so smart, I should be in middle school. What is middle school, anyway?"

Alex new word for today is cookie, his pronunciation was more like dookie. I'm not surprised at all that he's adding to his food word list. That's his most favorite thing!

Beach count down...4 days...

Alex and the TV remotes..

Today I have a story about Alex. He's a smart kid, well, as far as Shon is concerned. He has won over his Dad for life. The other night we were watching TV and the show was over. The remotes were on the love seat and Shon was at the computer well Alex got both remotes and proceded to take them both over to Shon. Shon gave him a high five and a big hug. Alex of course was thrilled - he's in to being highly praised for helping. And of course he loves his Daddy right now very much. So I'd have to say I think they will be buddies now forever...it was just too cute. I guess Alex likes watching the Speed Channel verses the Food Network!

Count Down

Only 7 more working days until we leave for the beach!! I can't wait. I think this year I'm going to be as bad as John...how many more days is it?!

Boy, How things change!

I decided tonight after having dinner with Shon's dad that I needed a little break so I've been looking for a bathing suit and thought I would go to Kmart and Belk's just to take a look. Well, of course ladies you know just how difficult bathing suit shopping is... 1- hard to find the right look and 2- for me, well, I'm CHEAP. Well, I took off sending the kids home with Shon (we had met there). So, it was just me thinking this is great I'm shopping for ME all by myself...well needless to say what did I come home with?! An awesome Cars bathing suit for John and adorable short set for Alex both were 50% off at Kmart so I got a great deal and they were thrilled with Lightening McQueen and Tow Mater on their new clothes. So, even when you think it's all about you for just an hour or so you can't escape this new world...being a Mommy!! And who would want to?!

PS. Thanks to my wonderful husband for allowing me those breaks here and there...Love ya!

Vacation Bible School

This week is Vacation Bible School at church. John has been looking forward to it for a few weeks now. I know how very important Bible School is because this is where I came to accept the Lord as my Savior. Well, John was telling us about his night. He said they had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for supper with too much peanut butter. He said they got to jump on the inflatable for awhile and that was fun. He said they learned about Jesus, when he was born. I asked him if there were any other boys in his class and he said "no I was surrounded by girls." Then he said "well the only other boy in my class was Jesus, yep just me and Jesus." I just thought that was the most awesome comment. He's only 5 I know but obviously he knows who Jesus is and he felt Jesus presence enough to include him in his class last night - how cool is that. Him and Jesus the only two boys in the class. I'm in awe as I usually am by this beautiful blue eyed kid!

GROSS!

John told me yesterday that another child at daycare picks her nose. He said "Mama we tell her stop and she won't, it's grosser than kissing." At least my child does have standards...

First haircut, Cars and lightening bugs

Well, we cut Alex's hair and now he looks like a big boy!!! Sorry no pictures. I will do my best to have a picture of my big boy tomorrow. He looks so grown up now, like a little man. Just too cute. More like his Daddy now than before, if that's possible.

We took John to see Car's this weekend. Very cute movie. Of course he loved it. He told me during the movie "this is one we'll have to buy." He also had a great time catching lightening bugs. I remember how much fun that was when Ashley and I were little. We would do that at Papa and Nanny's and then put them in a jar and watch them glow all night. John caught one on Saturday night - he named him Alex and carried him around all night just like he was his little pet. He was so excited. It was the greatest thing ever. Last night he went to my parents and caught 4-5 more. Of course he has a little bug container, no jar for him. Oh, and they are easier to catch at Gan Gan and Papa's. Everything is always better and easier at the Grandparents.

Needless to say it was a great weekend. Too bad lightening bugs can't be the highlight of all our weekends, huh?!

John's Weekend

We took John on a special weekend away. We planned to do this for him before starting Kindergarten. I can't believe he will be going to kindergarten in the fall!! We took him to Atlanta for the weekend. It was awesome. We went to the Aquarium (which is GREAT if you haven't been). We took him to the Varsity for lunch, went to the Coca Cola Factory (where he drank so much Coke his stomach hurt). We swam in the hotel pool and ordered pizza delivered right to our room which was really cool to my innocent little 5 year old who's blue eyes got really big at even the suggestion of that(we don't have delivery out in Six Mile)! It was a perfect weekend for all 3 of us. I'd like to capture his innocence and bottle it up, I'm sure that it's going to disapear as quickly as school appears in the fall. Those big blue eyes full of wonder. Although he promised me while we were there that he'd always be my baby and his Daddy's, somehow I doubt that will hold true. I'll just have to hold the memory of our special weekend in my heart forever.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JENNIFER!

Today is my best friend Jennifer's birthday. She likes to remind me that she is 3 months younger than me...well you are officially 31 now. We have been friends for a long time now. We met when we were in the 8th grade. I think we're going on about 17 years of friendship now. WOW!! That is an accomplishment. Lots of ups and downs along the way but what stands out in my mind is that we have always managed to find our way back to one another, no matter what - good or bad we've always found our way back! We've had so many fun times! Trips (Ridgecrest, Centrifuge, New Orleans, Senior Week 1 and 2, Atlanta, New York, Charleston) and I hope more trips to come. Concerts - especially BON JOVI! We've shared the hard times, too and they've always made us stronger and closer which is most important. We've shared so many good times the Lord has blessed us in many ways! We were able to share in each others wedding days and you've shared in the lives of my boys which means so much to me! I look forward to sharing with you in your children's lives. There is much to look forward to. And much to thank you for.
I can't really put in to words what you mean to me, what all the good times have meant, what having you there has meant. All I can say is I love you very much and I am blessed to know you and have you in my life. I think back to the Michael W. Smith song "Friends are Friends forever if the Lord's the Lord of them" We are forever friends no doubt. Have a wonderful birthday, you're the best!!!!!

Busy, Busy!

Where does the time go? I haven't posted in a week and the time has just flown by!! In a span of a week I have attended a funeral for a precious friend. Celebrated Mother's Day by attending a picnic with my grandmother, taking my mother-in-law and mother out to dinner and celebrated another friend's completion of a master's degree. Last night my ladies prayer group met at my house for our monthly meeting. We always have a great time of fellowship. We had voiced goals last time of things we were going to work on for the month until our next meeting and I think all of us had met some of our goals. In this past week I think the Lord has really emphasized to me how blessed I am to have such special people in my life. How blessed I was to know Mrs. Becker and the wonderful example she lived -- how she adored her family. How blessed I am to have the example of a Godly Grandmother and Mother in my life. And the list goes on and on. Thank you Lord for all your many blessings.

Bagpipes, caps, gowns...

It's that time of year again...Graduation... And wow is my building quiet. It's amazing how quiet it is when all those freshman leave the building!! I have to admit this year I got a little teary eyed. Of course every year when the Bagpipes lead the graduates in it brings tears to my eyes. But this year I started seeing graduates that I had established relationships with. One after another. It's amazing to see how they've changed in just 4 short years. And to know I had some small part in their lives. Hopefully, for the better. It was a little more difficult not getting emotional. The service was really nice. I enjoyed being a part of it in a small way. CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES -- GOD BLESS!

In Loving Memory

John Frank Ellenburg
March 2, 1922 - May 5, 2003
Love and miss you, Papa!!

Martha Voyles Craig
February 26, 1926 - May 5, 2004

These 2 people both were very special in my life and had profound influence on my life. I miss them dearly.

"There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and time to uproot, a time to kill and time to heal, a time to tear down and time to build, a time to weep and time to laugh, a time to mourn and time to dance, a time to scatter stones and time to gather them, a time to embrace and time to refrain, a time to search and time to give up, a time to keep and time to throw away, a time to tear and time to mend, a time be silent and time to speak, a time to love and time to hate, a time for war and time for peace." Ecclesiastes 3: 1 - 8

Floating turd

Ok, so the title of my blog is Mommy's World so from time to time you have to expect 'gross' Mommy stories. So...here you go. Some of you won't find this all that gross. Last night, my wonderful husband had already fed Alex and had him in the tub (I had to work late). So, I was sitting in the bathroom with him letting him play with his toys well, I wasn't paying real close attention but I did notice that he stood up, turned around facing the tub and started well, grunting...next thing I know there is a rather large turd coming from his bottom. There just wasn't enough time to get him over the toilet. Needless to say, we had a floating turd in the tub. Yep, Alex's first floating turd. I remember that happening at least once with John. Props again to my AWESOME husband, who's just the best Daddy every - he disposed of the floating turd and cleaned the tub while I cleaned up and put a diaper on Alex. John thought the whole event was quite comical. And honestly it was.

Think on these things...

We've been studying Philippians in Sunday School. On Sunday we were discussing how we shouldn't worry and how we should concentrate and think on these things: whatever is true, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-

When you think about it God gives us many, many true, lovely, admirable excellent and praiseworthy things to think about we are so blessed. All I have to do is look at my 2 beautiful children to know this. How easily we forget and slip back in to worrying about the silly things of life that we can't control. How much better it is to concentrate on our blessings and especially what is lovely and true.

Chronicles of Narnia

Have you seen this movie? Well, if not you need to!! It's awesome. Now, I'm not one to usually want to pay full price for a movie but this is one I would have paid full price in the theater to see. We watched it with John on Sunday night (thanks Ash for letting us borrow it). He loves it...we'll have to buy it for him I'm sure! It's pure fantasy of course but just goes to the heart of good verses evil but more than that the love between brothers and sisters.

If you haven't seen it I recommend that you do.

Trey's Dedication

Yesterday was my nephew Trey's dedication. This was a very special day. You see there was a time when we weren't sure if we were going to see this day. I knew deep down in my heart that we would. I made a promise to the Lord, yes I know we shouldn't make promises to God. I'm reminded of the hymn "Standing on the Promises of God our Savior." We should remember to stand on his promises and not try to bargain with him but when things are going wrong or not as we had planned we always try to bargain. Well, my promise was simply this: if he made Trey ok then I would tell anyone who would listen about this precious little miracle. How easy is that?! I love him as if he were my very own little boy. And I love his Mommy very much, too and I am awed by her courage and strength. He's adorable and such a good baby. He's our precious, little miracle and sharing that news to everyone is the easy part - having the faith that the Lord would get us through - that was well the struggle I must say. But, he did and I knew all along he would. I hope I can be a reflection of God's love for him as he grows up and never ever forget to share the miracle that he is every single chance that I get!!

I'm back...

I've been absent from the blogging world lately...busy!! First Alex was sick, then John was sick (not with the dreaded stomach virus though...thank the Lord!), and of course then I was sick...me and John are blessed with the tendency towards bronchitis, great fun for us and those around us. We sound like barking dogs...right Daddy?! Anyway...I'm back and will be more diligent in posting. Work is busy...but there is light at the end of the tunnel. 2 more weeks until graduation. WOW! YIPEE... I might actually tear up this year. This will be the first year where I will see a class graduate that I have watched for their entire 4 years, what a transformation, a HUGE transformation for some of them. Hopefully, I've planted a seed in some of their lives and hearts and made a difference to some of them in some small way.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CANDICE!!! Candice was the inspiration for this blog and is a good friend. She's also John's first love. :-) We miss you Candice and wish you a very happy day. She inspires me because even when she was betrayed beyond what anyone can imagine she turned to the Lord and found comfort and courage there, handling things with amazing grace and wisdom. I'd like to hope I'd be able to do that. Love ya, girl!!

Happy weekend!

Update on Alex

Alex is doing much better..thanks for your thoughts and prayers. He seems to be back to himself. Smiling and hungry this morning!! That's his normal. We're still hopeful and prayerful that no one else gets it!

In other news...as most of you already know...it is FRIDAY!!! YIPEE. No big plans for the weekend which is always nice.

The quote on my calendar today was this I think it's worth sharing. "Joy is the flag you fly when the Prince of Peace is in residence within your heart." Wilfred Peterson

Sick baby...

Alex woke up vomiting last night. Pitiful little thing. I feel so helpless when my babies are sick. He was just so sad. So pale and helpless. I want to fix it and make it all better of course I tried but there is not an instant fix this time. There isn't much I have problems dealing with but I DESPISE stomach viruses. But, hopefully we have survived the worst. That is my prayer anyway - that he is on the mend and that no one else in the family will get sick. I cleaned like a mad woman all morning so hopefully that will help.

Pray for healing for baby Alex and wellness for the rest of us. God teaches us to trust him even in these tiny little trying times. The very thing we despise the most is the very thing we must trust him the most to handle for us.

Accomplishments...

Wellness Week is all over...thank goodness. It was a big success. I have only heard positive comments from the students and staff. It always feels good to have accomplished/completed something you've worked on for a long period of time. I also gave blood during the blood drive we had on campus. I feel like this is important as well - I shouldn't ask my employees and students to do something I myself am not willing to do. I unit of blood potentially saves 3 lives!

We had a great weekend as well. John had a birthday party for his friend Robin. It was at a horse farm so he got to ride a horse. He seemed to enjoy this very much. It was a beautiful day. Alex is getting closer and closer to taking those first steps. I'll keep you posted on that.

Have a great week.