Flashback Friday

Summer 2004: Me, Kid-O, and Little Man (he's in my belly)

2004 Christmas Time: Me and Kid-O (Little Man has already escaped the womb)

2004 Christmas time

2004 Christmas time: Me sleeping with Little Man

Summer 2004: Hubby took this picture at work

Photo Contest

So I entered a photo contest with the following pictures. I thought it would be fun and if I won one of the prizes, that would be just amazing. Grandpa and Baby
Trampoline Picinic
Outer Banks

I am RARE???

Your Personality is Somewhat Rare (ISTP)

Your personality type is reserved, methodical, spirited, and intense. Only about 6% of all people have your personality, including 3% of all women and 8% of all men You are Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, and Perceiving.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

Aortic Stenosis...Praise God

Little Man, Mini-Me and I were off to the cardiologist this morning. Our appointment was for 7:45am. We got there a few minutes early, they got us right back and got Little Man hooked up to the EKG machine. Then Dr. Israel moved on to the echocardiogram; basically an ultrasound of the heart.

Through both of those tests, Little Man was fabulous again, Dr. Israel was able to determine that Little Man has Aortic Stenosis. He asked if I had been told that he has a heart murmur. I said yes, when he was an infant, but that the primary doctor has not said anything about it since.

Dr. Israel said that aortic stenosis is where the value has harded, due to calcification. He said that we would need to monitor his condition yearly. Right now he has mild stenosis, he said that it would worsen and eventually we would have to do something, but for now we are going to wait. He said with aortic stenosis that it could be two to three years or two to three decades before we have to fix his heart. They wait until the blood flow is restricted to a certain point before fixing. Because of the aortic stenosis as well, if Little Man needs any dental care (cavities, surgeries, etc) and some other procedures he will need to be on antibiotics before hand, because he will be more suceptible to heart infections.

I pulled some additional information about aortic valve stenosis from online.

Aortic valve stenosis — or aortic stenosis — is a condition in which the heart's aortic valve narrows. This narrowing prevents the valve from opening fully, obstructing blood flow from your heart into your aorta and onward to the rest of your body. This condition usually results in an abnormal heart sound (heart murmur) that your doctor can hear with a stethoscope.

When your aortic valve is obstructed, your heart needs to work harder to pump blood to your body. Eventually, your heart muscle becomes thicker because it has to pump harder due to the obstruction. In addition, your heart can pump only a limited amount of blood - and eventually can't provide the increase in blood flow you need for activities, such as exercise.

Several factors, including aging, can damage the aortic valve and lead to aortic valve stenosis. Some babies are born with a defective aortic valve.

If you have severe aortic valve stenosis, you may need surgery to replace the valve. Left untreated, aortic valve stenosis can lead to serious heart problems.

Aortic valve stenosis ranges from mild to severe. Signs and symptoms typically develop when narrowing of the valve is severe and can include:

Chest pain (angina) or tightness
Feeling faint or fainting with exertion
Dizziness
Fatigue, especially during times of increased activity
Shortness of breath, especially with exertion
Heart palpitations — sensations of a rapid, fluttering heartbeat
Heart murmur

Depending on the amount of narrowing, an infant or child with aortic valve stenosis may have no symptoms, may tire easily or may have chest pain with vigorous physical activity.

Praise God, I believe we have our answer. I also read on one site that migraine headache medicine can speed up the stenosis of the aortic valve. Praise be to God, because when we went back to the neurologist on October 13, if the cardiologist could not find anything, the neurologist was going to start Little Man on migraine medicine to see if migraines were causing his symptoms. How great is God. We, mainly Little Man, had to go through all this to get to the cardiologist; which I believe is ultimately where we needed to get to begin with. Please continue to keep us and Little Man in your prayers. He will have this for the rest of his life, and though it may not be causing major problems now, in most cases it does lead to morbidity if not known about and if it goes untreated.

Thank you for all your prayers. I will continue to keep you updated, as we know more information.

Another doctors appointment

Little Man, Mini-Me and I are off to see Dr. Isrsel this morning. Dr. Israel is the pediatric cardiologist that Little Man is going to be seeing about his abnormal EKG led, when the neurologist did his EEG.

I just ask that everyone continue to prayer for an answer. We are still clueless as to what is going on with Little Man.

Testing Again...

You are the Sense of Sight

You are a very observant, detail oriented person. You are able to take in a lot of information at once. You often see things that other people never notice. You have a good eye for design and aesthetics. You love to be surrounded by beauty - natural or not. When you imagine how something should look, you see it clearly in your mind.

Which of the Five Senses Are You?

Red Shoes...Sunglasses...and Ice Cream

I don't know about the rest of you, but I find my children to be a trip sometimes. No they are not perfect, amazing children. I am not in denial, they are just fun sometimes.

Sunday, we had to go buy Kid-O some shoes. She is very picky about her shoes, so every pair I have brought home were just not right. Therefore, Sunday she went to church in her pretty pink dress with her ragged polka dotted tennis shoes on. Needless to say her daddy said we had to go get shoes. So off to the mall we go Sunday afternoon. After 2 1/2 hours, no joke, shopping for shoes, she pick out this bright red pair of Red Ecko shoes. She also came home with a pretty pair of pink plaid sandles, and brown dress shoes for church. I thought you might enjoy the bright red shoes.
Little Man and the sunglasses makes me laugh. For some reason, he needs to wear the sunglasses every where but in the car or outside. Go figure. I don't get that one either.
Then of course Mini-Me. Little Man had some ice cream one night after dinner. Well, Mini-Me did not get to have ice cream because he did not finish his dinner. So he goes to the sibling, Little Man, that will share with him. I find it funny how he has figured out that Kid-O will hug him and feel sorry for him when Little Man hits him, and the Little Man will share his food with him. I believe he has figured out how to pull their strings.

More Confirmation...God be the Glory

In several previous posts, I have been speaking of one specific subject about God. Well, this morning in my study time, yet again God reconfirms what I believe. I know to some these post may still be confusing, but too many they are not, because they know my life personally. I have starting reading through the Book of Acts, learning more about the Holy Spirit and how he moves and works. I don't even begin to claim that I know it all, because by far I do not, but on this specific subject, I am positive about what God is telling me.

Chapter 8:15-17
(NIV) "When they (Peter and John) arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit."

(KJV) "Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost."

Epipipto is the Greek word used for "fallen" in the King James version. Epipipto means to embrace (with affection) or seize (with more or less violence; literal or figurative): fall into (on, upon), lie on, press upon.

God give me the words...

Matthew 10:19b-20 "...Do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you..."

Have you ever tried to explain something to someone, but you never feel like you have the right words to explain it. Well, this has been the case for me for several months now. Well, yesterday, God gave me the words to explain what I have not been able to truly explain.

Through my persecution, God has continued to show me to this point that what I believe about His Word and what He did in my life is correct and from God. Saturday, while talking with my eldest daughter, the Missinator, I discovered others involved in the persecution. Yet again, I was overwhelmed and saddened by the lack of belief in the power of God and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, I did not want to go to church Sunday. The hubby knew that and knew he would be dragging me along. Well, while sitting there waiting for Sunday school to start watching the business of the church, I decided to leave. I just did not feel that I could handle it yesterday. That was me depending on my own strength not the Holy Spirits strength in me.

I came home and sat on my floor praying and crying out, why me, why me, why now, why this, basically having a pity party that God does not like. Well, I began to pray the Lord's prayer, pleading with God to give me the answer, I told God Christ knew why he was being persecuted, you love me and care for me why can I not know. As I was praying, God revealed to me why, "But the church body has become about filling the sits, not about Spiritual growth. This is for the spiritual growth of the church." (Our church body that is, although the same issue is probably in many church bodies.) I again asked for confirmation as to what I believe. I want to know what God says, not myself, not other people, just God.

Note: (December 8,2008)
As I was praying, God revealed to me why, "But the church body has become about filling the sits, not about Spiritual growth. This is for the spiritual growth of the church." (Our church body that is, although the same issue is probably in many church bodies.)

This statement has come to my attention as being an incorrect statement, that I was saying that God revealed to me the intentions of someone else hearts. When I went back through and read this over, that was not what I was saying. What I was saying and still believe is that God was telling "Me" was that the "Church" as a whole, not one person has become about filling sits, not spiritual growth. I do not claim to know the intentions of anyones heart, that is between them and God, just like the intentions of my heart are between me and God. I know this maybe too little too late; however, I feel the need to explain my statement farther.

After my prayer time, I get up and go back to church with a renewed Spirit. When I got in to listen to the message that God had laid out, it just recomfirmed what I believed. The message laid out the power of the Holy Spirit in us to control our actions, but not really to literally take control of us, to whelm us. Which is also what this passage was about, which yet again God used to reconfirm for me that he has whelmed me. I know to many this post may be confusing, which is okay, because when God sees fit for me to continue to explain He will.

Anyway, back to my title, God give me the words..., I was finally able to explain to the hubby in a manner in which he truly understood. Not that the hubby did not believe what I was telling him, it was that I just could not explain it. But in my limited knowledge of God and who He is, I know that He is caring, compassionate, all knowing, and all powerful, and that He loves me. Therefore, I trust in Him to show me if I am wrong. He loves me too much to allow Satan to led me down an incorrect path when I am truly seeking the right answer. God's answer. Up to this point, through much prayer, God continues to reconfirm that He has whelmed me.

School Routine

So it seems that since school started back that I have not been able to get back into the school routine. I guess I was enjoying the summer routine a little too much; however, I was ready for school to start back. Kid-O on the other hand was not ready to go back. She seems to like her teacher again this year. I hope that it stays that way.

I am going to get to getting my house cleaned up. I will see what God has planned for me today.

2nd Grader...

So the first day of 2nd grade was one week ago and I am a little behind, but hey, that's life.Here is Kid-O after the first day was over, getting off the school bus and still smiling. Not that smiling is unusual for her.I ask that everyone pray for our teachers and students this year.

All Hooked Up

Little Man went for his EEG yesterday. I thought you all might enjoy looking at him all hooked up. Yet again, he was a trooper through the whole thing. Sorry about the photo quality, I forgot to take my camera, so I used my cell phone. It works in a pinch.
After the EEG, we saw the neurologist again. We still know nothing, his EEG was normal however, the EKG led off of his heart was abnormal. So will are off to the cardiologist (Dr. Israel) on August 26th. The neurologist said it may be nothing, but whenever she sees anything out of the normal she refers out. She does not want to take any chances. She also referred us out to the ENT, to see if the dizziness was caused by some interior ear problem.
We saw the ENT this morning, everything looks good. He can hear well, with a little diminished hearing loss due to his tubes not functioning anymore, but nothing to be concerned with because they will come out when they are ready. So as you can tell, we still know nothing, which right now I am taking as a blessing.

Interesting

Your Brain Usage Profile:

Auditory : 64%
Visual : 35%
Left : 57%
Right : 42%

You are mildly left-hemisphere dominant while showing a slight preference for auditory processing. This overall combination seems to indicate a well-working blend of logic and judgment and organization, with sufficient intuition, perception and creativity to balance that dominance.

You will at times experience conflict between how you feel and what you think which will generally be resolved in favor of what you think. You will find yourself interested in the practical applications of whatever material you have learned or whatever situation you face and will retain the ability to refine whatever knowledge you possess or aspects of whatever position you are in.

By and large, you will orient yourself toward intellectual activities and structure. Though not rigid, you will schedule yourself, plan, and focus on routine and continuity of operations, rather than on changes and disruptions

When changes or disruptions occur, you are likely to consider first how to ensure that such disruptions do The same balance is reflected in your sensory preference. You will tend to be reflective and measured in your interaction style. For the most part, you will be considered objective without being cold and goal-oriented while retaining the capacity to listen to others.

Preferentially you learn by listening and maintaining significant internal dialogues with yourself. Nevertheless, you have sufficient visualization capabilities to benefit from using graphs, charts, doodles, or even body movement to enhance your comprehension and memory.

To the extent that you are even implicitly aware of your hemispheric dominance and sensory style, you will feel most comfortable in those arenas which emphasize verbal skills and logic. Teaching, law, and science are those that stand out among the professions, along with technical sales and management.

Resolved...

Through much tears and prayer, I came to the conclusion through God and God alone that my issue was not with myself or doubt in God or His ability to do what I know that he has done. My issue was with another. I was broken hearted for someone else and did not know that I was. I was so broken to the point that I did not realize that my Spirit was grieved for the other person. I have never experienced such brokeness and grief before. I can honestly say, I don't want it to happen again anytime soon.

I was persecuted, but God showed me I was still correct in my beliefs. He (God) also showed me that through Him, the Hubby and I have grown spiritual in many areas and this particular area is one in which we don't need to be spoon feed any more. God is using us right now as he does all of us all the time if we will willing listen. It is just one of the many ways that he is using us right now, in worldly eyes, is not good; however, as I have said many times before, it is all good in God's eyes. It is for our continued growth and the continue growth of those involved.


So for my kids, Mrs. Brenda aka Momma is great. I am perfect in God's eyes and I am a work in progress. Do not worry about me, prayer for me and my persecution that will continue until one is changed. Just know that I love you guys, and I am blessed by each of you daily.

Building 429 - No one else knows

My world is closing in
On the inside
But I’m not showing it
When all I am is crying out
I hold it in and fake a smile
Still I’m broken
I’m broken
Only one can understand
And only one can hold the hand
Of the broken
Of the broken

When no one else knows how I feel
Your love for me is proven real
When no one else cares where I’ve been
You run to me with outstretched hands
And You hold me in your arms
Again

I need no explanation of why me
I just need confirmation
Only You could understand the
emptiness inside my head
I am falling
I am falling
I’m falling down upon my knees
To find the one who gives me peace
I am flying
Lord I am flying

When no one else knows how I feel
Your love for me is proven real
When no one else cares where I’ve been
You run to me with outstretched hands
And You hold me in Your arms
Again

I have come to you in search of faith
Cause I can’t see beyond this place
Oh You are God and I am man
So I’ll leave it in Your hands

PERSECUTED...

MY BRAIN HURTS...MY HEART IS BROKEN...GOD IS IN CONTROL...HE LOVES ME...IT WILL ALL WORK TO HIS GOOD

Matthew 5:10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

What is Beauty?

So, BB and the Singer came over yesterday before reunion group so that I could take pictures of them for the sixteenth birthdays. After all the pictures were taken, they looked through them. They did not like most of the pictures of themselves; which then in turn got me to thinking about self esteem issues and how young girls and woman think they are fat, unattractive, short, whatever it may be. So I thought I would share a few pictures of these beautiful girls and share my input into the subject.

First let me say that I am talking to myself also, because I fit nicely into that category of thinking I am not what I should be. I have to be reminded often, by God and the Hubby of what I am about to say to my girls (I know you are reading).

What does God's word say: Psalm 139:13-16 "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body..."

Self deprecation is us telling God that He did not do good enough, He did not know what he was doing, that I should look that way, not this way. Do you really want to tell God that He did not do a good job?
God's word also tells us about what beauty is not: 1 Peter 3:3-5 "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful."
These young woman are beautiful because their inner worth has the Spirit of God living in them. Personally, I think these young woman are beautiful on the outside as well, and that God did an amazing job forming them "in the secret place."

No surprise to me

Introvert, Sensing, Thinking, and Judging...Same as Fifteen Years Ago

You Are An ISTJ

The Duty Fulfiller You are responsible, reliable, and hardworking - you get the job done. You prefer productive hobbies, like woodworking or knittings. Quiet and serious, you are well prepared for whatever life hands you. Conservative and down-to-earth, you hardly ever do anything crazy. In love, you are loyal and honest. If you commit yourself to someone, then you're fully committed. For you, love is something that happens naturally. And you don't need romantic gestures to feel loved. At work, you remember details well and are happy to take on any responsibility. You would make a great business executive, accountant, or lawyer. How you see yourself: Decisive, stable, and dependable When other people don't get you, they see you as: Boring, conservative, and egotistical

What's Your Personality Type?

Mixed Blessings...

First off, I am back, but only for a few days then I am back off to Tennessee to finish up my yard sale. I had a ton of baby clothes, toys and other miscellaneous stuff.

Secondly, the results for Little Man are a mixed blessing. I am struggling with that right now, but God knew I would be, so I am just trying to stay focused on Him. The fact that so far all the results have came back negative is a blessing; however, not knowing is just a difficult if not more so than knowing what is causing all of his symptoms. I am still praying for an answer, I just know God is not ready to give the answer. I suppose His answer for now is just wait some more. There in lies the mixed blessing.

Thirdly, yesterday was such a blessing of a day. My parents have a new pastor at their church. So far I am impressed with the way God is using him. He preached two sermons yesterday morning. It was wonderful, because he was being led by the Holy Spirit. After church, he had lunch with the family, I told him to never apologize for giving two sermons on a Sunday morning, if the Holy Spirit is leading, let Him led. Then last night at our own church, David Ring came to speak. He has been a minister for 35 years, with cerebral palsy. Listening to how God has used his life, just reconfirmed for me that God is using my life, my husbands life and Little Man's life to grow us and to hopeful point others to the Kingdom of God. We may not always like the path that God has us on, but it is good, because it is good to God and for God to fulfill His perfect plan for my life and hopefully the lives of others.

Side note: Hope - Elpis - the expectation of something good (Biblical definition)