A funny dog and some pretty flowers

Thank you all for your prayers and kind words during this tough time. I know that we will feel them Wednesday when we need them most!

I just had a few pics I wanted to share, since I don't upload pics that often.

Layla loves to dig, I mean seriously loves it. We put her outside after a rain shower the other day, just for about an hour, and when we opened the door to let her back in, this is what we found. Her nose is normally pink, but on this day, it was caked over with mud. It was just too cute not to take a picture. (notice the little mudhole in the top right corner, thats where her nose had been)

She was posing so good wasn't she? Take a look at her feet in this one. You can blow this one up and see how dirty she was!

Last night, Hal and I came home, and I walked through the house to let her in. I noticed something all over the porch, and when I opened the door this is what I saw.


I had a big 5 gallon planter out on our back porch waiting for something to be planted in it. It already had all of the potting soil in it and everything. She decided that she wanted to play with it, so she dumped 5 gallons of potting soil out all over the back porch then ran off with the planter. We found the planter laying down in the middle of the field beside our house. I thought it was hilarious, and really wish I had a video of her in the process of doing this!

Here are just a few pics of the spring flowers I have planted so far:

This is my BEAUTIFUL variegated lantana that I bought in Charleston. I haven't found it around here anywhere.

This is one of my new favorites. I don't know what its called, but its the prettiest little white flower and it looks great planted anywhere.

This is my planter that my mother-in-law gave me. I love yellows and purples, and I added my favorite little white flower to it.

I can't wait to get the rest of my bushes and flowers planted! Unfortunately, we have so much going on, I really don't know when I will get around to it.

I hope everyone has a great weekend, and I will keep you updated on my stepdad as I know more information! Thanks again for all your words of encouragement!

The Verdict Is In...

My stepdad is having open-heart surgery next Wednesday April 16th.

He went in for his heart cath and what they found wasn't good.

We have 3 main coronary arteries running around our heart. In his heart, one of them is 100% blocked, one of them is 90% blocked, and the third one is 50% blocked. The doctor said the bottom part of his heart is not getting enough blood, and heart surgery is the only option. He has had 3 stents, and he said it would only be a waste of time to do another. The 90% blockage was around a previous stent. Luckily the doctor said that his heart is very strong and in very good shape, so this will only prolong his life.

Although we were somewhat expecting to hear this news, it was very hard to hear. I am worried sick, and very emotional. Thank goodness I have a powerful, loving God that will bring my stepdad through this.

My blogging friends, I ask that you keep my family, especially my stepdad, in your prayers this week and next as we tackle this major obstacle together.

Thank you!

Things are looking up!

My week has had somewhat of a turn for the better.

I just realized that I only have 2 more weeks of class left and my semester is over!

Please just say a prayer for my stepdad in the morning around 9:00 when he goes in for his heart cath. It would be greatly appreciated!

Happy Hump Day!

Not a great week

Its only Tuesday and I already know this has not been and will not be one of my better weeks.

Hal was on night shift all last week. I only got to spend a little bit of time with him on Sunday, and a total of about 5 hours through the week and that's all. His work schedule changed and he's on the SAME shifts this week as he was last week, so we aren't going to see each other anymore this week than last. I stayed up until midnight last night just waiting for him to come in. I just wanted to hug him and kiss him, and I didn't want to leave him to go to work this morning. I won't see him again until he comes in at midnight, and that will be when he kisses me to wake me up to let me know he's home. I cried all the way to work this morning because it just SUCKS not to see him. I can't imagine being in a long distance relationship again, because I would just be miserable. I just have to make it through the next 5 days, and he will be on day shift for the next 3 weeks.

This coming Thursday, my stepdad has to have a heart catheterization. Normally I wouldn't be worried about this, because this is a very easy procedure. This time, though, I am very worried. This is his 4th heart cath, and this time it could result in open-heart surgery. We already know that one of his arteries has a 100% blockage, but the doctor said that it was okay during the last cath. This time it might not be. He went for a stress test last Wednesday and the doctor said that he found some very abnormal results and that a heart cath was a must. I am just praying that everything goes okay, and it is just another normal procedure. I just don't have a great feeling about it right now.

I am extremely emotional about everything lately; I guess I am just worried more than anything. I have been praying relentlessly about peace, and I have found it. I know that God is in control and he is the master physician, but I still can't help but worry.

On a good note, I just looked out the window and the sun finally came out! YES!

Something Fun

Thanks Annie. Here's something fun to start off the week!

I LIVE: in an 84 year old house that I love!

I WORK: with fake arms and legs.

I THINK: I need a day off.

I SMELL: the remnants of my vanilla latte from Starbucks.

I LISTEN: selectively. I hear what I want to hear...or so I'm told.

I HIDE: a scar on my back by letting my hair down.

I WALK: to exercise.

I WRITE: down everything I need to remember.

I SEE: myself retiring early and moving to the beach.

I SING: the words to every song I know on the radio, as loud as I can.

I CAN: bake really well, and I enjoy doing it.

I WATCH: the Hills. Its my favorite show. I can't help it.

I DAYDREAM: about being in Charleston.

I WANT: to make all of the upgrades that we want to do on our house NOW!

I CRIED: when I found out my stepdad has to have a heart cath this week.

I READ: when I find time, and thats usually not often.

I LOVE: being married.

I RODE: my bike through town for the first time the other night. I really enjoyed it.

I SOMETIMES: wish that I didn't have to work, but then I would wish that I did.

I FEAR: the hereditary diseases that run in my family.

I HOPE: that Hal and I can afford to move to Charleston one day.

I EAT: at the new Japanese restaurant by my work at least 2 times a week.

I DRINK: way too much sweet tea.

I PLAY: games online when I get bored at work.

I MISS: my MaMa and PaPa every single day.

I FORGIVE: because I am forgiven.

I DRIVE: wrecklessly sometimes.

I DREAM: of having another wedding one day...to the same man of course!

I KISS: Hal goodbye 4 or 5 times before I actually leave.

I HUG: almost everyone I meet.

I HAVE: to sleep with a fan on at night, or I can't sleep at all.

I REMEMBER: the first chapter book I ever read was one of the Sweet Valley High books.

I DONT: like email forwards. I rarely ever read them.

I BELIEVE: that Jesus died on the cross to save me.

I OWE: 2 more payments on our appliances and they will be PAID OFF!

I KNOW: that we need rain, but I really want more sunshine!

I HATE: when Hal has to work night shift.

Help me understand

I received an email yesterday regarding the new Oprah "church," or better known as her online class on the book A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. I have been skeptical of this book the entire time that I have been hearing about it, and just had a strange sense that it couldn't be good.

Included in the email was a video from YouTube that showed different clips from the classes that she has held online. After watching the video I was just in shock. I sat here in disbelief as I listened to Oprah and Eckhart Tolle talk to the millions of people watching. Thats what is so scary, there were millions of people watching.

One girl called in with a question about how A New Earth does not align with Christianity. She asked Oprah how she justifies the beliefs in this book against her Christianity beliefs. (We all know and have seen where Oprah openly denies that Jesus is not the way to the cross...if you haven't I will be glad to post the video.) Oprah tells that she grew up in a Baptist church and she said that one day her pastor was talking about how God was omnicient and omnipresent and then the pastor says that God is a jealous God. Oprah says these words "Why is an omnipresent God jealous of ME?"

Does Oprah really really believe that God is jealous of HER? Is that what she really thinks?? Our marvelous God IS omnicient and omnipresent, AND yes, He is jealous. God is not jealous of me or you or any other person in this world, He is jealous of the things that we put before Him. God plainly stated in his 10 commandments that there should be no other gods before Him. That means that we should put NOTHING before Him. How could Oprah think that an all-powerful God would be jealous of HER? She said that when the pastor said this, that is when she began looking for other doctrines to believe in, because this just didn't "settle" well with her.

Also in the video it talks about how as a person, you are holy and you are your own salvation. She also goes on to say that "God is a feeling experience, not a believing experience. And if your religion is a believing experience, if God for you is still about about a belief, then its not truly God." Those are her exact words.

Can someone help me understand who this Eckhart Tolle is, and where is he getting his information? Is it some theory that he has dreamed up? Why are so many people giving this man so much credibility? What has he ever done to deserve all of the credibility that he is being given? Why is everyone so sure that Eckhart Tolle's way is the right way? Why is everyone now throwing out God, for this "stream of consiousness" idea?

I really don't know much about this book except for what I have read online. As a Christian, a devout lover of Jesus, this raised many emotions with me, and honestly broke my heart. Oprah is sharing this lie with millions of people, and people are listening. I can't stand it; I don't know what to do. I feel so helpless.

I really want to hear how other people feel about this book and its teachings. I want to know if I am the only one that feels this way. Please don't be shy about your comments, help me better understand this. Come one, come all.

**If you don't want to post a comment I will give you my email address so you can email me.

Just Passing the Time

Its a gorgeous day outside, I would rather not be working. Unfortunately I still have another hour and a half before I get off, so I am just going to kill some of the time by blogging. Nothing much has been going on with us in the last couple of days. I have actually only seen Hal for a total of about 3 hours in the last 3 days because he has been working nights. Here are some things that have been running through my mind lately.

* I have got to unpack from our trip, I just keep putting it off. Our suitcase is still exactly how it was when we brought it in the door on Sunday. I really really hate UNpacking.

* I don't like the idea of this whole Real ID that Congress has mandated. I think its just one more way for the government to control the lives of law-abiding citizens. I do not and will not ever believe in bigger government. I am becoming quite frustrated with government period.

* I am really sick and tired of the LIBERAL media making a certain LIBERAL candidate for president seem like God! All of the "change" he speaks of is nothing more than smoke blowing. How is he planning on accomplishing all of this "change" in 4 years? And what changes is he really planning on bringing anyway?

* Energy efficiency is on my mind a lot lately. I want to do the best I can do to conserve as much energy as possible. I even bought a pair of organic cotton underwear at Victoria's Secret a couple of weeks ago. Hal and I have already decided when we can afford another car, it will definitely be a hybrid.

* I am really ready to get out in my yard and get it looking like I want it. We are putting sod down in about a month, but I am ready to plant my flowers and bushes now! I got the most beautiful variegated yellow lantana while we were in Charleston. I am hoping I will get it planted this weekend!

* I just saw on a commercial where Oprah and People Magazine have teamed up for a special that will air tomorrow on Oprah. Its about the man who got pregnant because his wife couldn't. Here's the website: http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20187678,00.html I am pretty weirded out by this.

* Did anyone watch American Idol last night? I only caught Michael John's performance, and I am really sad I missed the others. I LOVE Dolly Parton! Wasn't Michael John's phenomenal?

Thats about it. Happy Hump Day!