SUNDAY CITAR

I'm so glad you stopped by for Sunday Citar! This special meme was created by Tabitha at FRESH MOMMY so we could all link up and share our favorite quotes that inspire and encourage us. It is really fun! Please take a moment to check out her blog to see more wonderful quotes and photos that she and many others are sharing today. Feel free to join us if you'd like!

I hope your dreams take you to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities and to the most special places your heart has ever known.
~Author Unknown

This is dedicated to my daughter, Morgan, who will graduate from high school, with honors, this coming Friday night. We couldn't be more proud of her. If everything goes well, I plan to share more about Morgan and her upcoming graduation later on this week. I am having a really rough patch right now so we shall see.

In the meantime, I hope you all have an amazing week!

Blessings,

Teresa

THE SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK Entry #5

Would you like to linger on the simple things? Then join me and many others in taking a little look into the day plans and thoughts of those who are focusing on simplicity...beauty of the 'everyday moments'.

~ The Simple Woman - Created Spring 2008

FOR TODAY - Tuesday, May 18th

Outside my window.....it is partly cloudy, humid and a very warm 76 degrees.

I am thinking.....about how overwhelmed I feel, and have been feeling, especially over the last few weeks. There is SO much 'stuff' that needs to be done, but with all that has been going on in our lives lately, the list just continues to grow. And because I can't help with hardly any of it, it makes me feel completely useless some days.

I am (so very) thankful for....being able to attend the Band Awards Ceremony at school last night! It was very physically challenging and I am REALLY paying for it today, but I'm so glad I made it! Morgan and Rebekah each received several awards and I'm SO very proud of them! Morgan also received the Director's Award; one of the highest honors bestowed upon any band member. She truly deserved that honor and recognition. She has performed in multiple bands and ensembles (Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Honor Band, Solo & Ensemble, etc.) throughout her four years of high school. Plus, she proved to be a wonderful leader as she served as Drum Major for three of those years. She truly dedicated her entire life to band for four solid years! So, her dad and I were so very happy to see her receive the recognition she deserved for ALL the time and hard work she put into it.

From the kitchen.....our pantry and refrigerator are moaning and groaning because they are hungry. :0)

I am wearing.....shorts and a band logo t-shirt.

I am remembering.....that I need to schedule a couple of doctors appointments for me and a sports physical for Rebekah.

I am going.....to take a nap and get some rest as soon as I finish this entry. I am really hurting a lot again today.

I am (still) reading.....'When The Soul Mends' - the third book in the 'Sisters of The Quilt' series by Cindy Woodsmall. I have not been reading much lately.

I am hoping.....that David will be able to get home earlier tonight so, hopefully, we can watch Dancing With The Stars which we had to record last night.

I am praying......that the pain eases soon, that I will stay free from infection and that I will be able to make it through Morgan's graduation next Friday evening (May 28th).

I am hearing.....the garbage truck roaming through the neighborhood, squealing to each of its stops.

Around the house.....there is a big mess where my husband is still working hard on our built-ins to go on either side of the fireplace. I will be SO happy when they are complete!

A few plans for the week....thankfully, no plans for the rest of the week or weekend! That means I'll have someone with me most evenings and this weekend! YAY!

Pondering these words......'If God, like a father, denies us what we want now, it is in order to give us some far better thing later on. The will of God, we can rest assured, is invariably a better thing." ~ Elisabeth Elliot

From my picture journal.....

Morgan at one of her last competitions

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you have a wonderfully blessed day!

Teresa

If you would like to join in with 'The Simple Woman's Daybook', please feel free to visit Peggy's blog. She is a wonderful hostess and would love to have you stop by.

FLASHBACK FRIDAY, FRIDAY FOLLOW #4 and HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Jonathan and Morgan
Prom 2009

This weekend is Prom weekend for all the high schools in our county. This year, however, my girls will not be going for various reasons. Rebekah is only a sophomore, so she will have a chance her junior and senior year. It just depends on what is going on in her life at the time.

Morgan has definitely never been much for getting all dressed up in 'girlie-girl' stuff. She has always been my tomboy and has loved every single minute of it! Give her a football and a yard full of boys to mow down while she is running with it and she is happy - and pretty darn good at it, too! :0) Originally, she swore she would NEVER, EVER go to the prom but somehow down deep I think she really did want to go....or she at least wanted to appease her mother by doing so.



Last year, Morgan's best friend, Jonathan, was a senior and knew he was going to enlist in the Marines the very day he turned 18. It was something he had always dreamed of doing. That meant he would be heading off for basic training as soon as he graduated. So, after much debate, he and Morgan decided they would go to his senior prom since he wouldn't be here this year to take her to hers. I was SO excited when they announced they would be going!

They looked so amazing. It made me so happy to see the two of them all dressed up and I think they really did have a great time after all.

Silly, as always! :0)

Now Jonathan is almost finished with his training. He is coming home next week for a short visit. He will be here for Morgan graduation and graduation party and then he's off to Camp LeJeune, N.C. for a short time. After that, it is quite possible he will be deployed to Afghanistan in July. We would truly appreciate your prayers for this incredible young man as he goes off to serve our country.

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FRIDAY FOLLOW #4

If you're stopping by from Friday Follow, I'm SO glad you are here! If you like what you see here, I'd be extremely honored if you'd 'Follow Me', 'Subscribe', and/or hit me up on 'Twitter'. I will be sure to return the favor.

If you're not familiar with Friday Follow, it is a blog hop, hosted by One 2 Try and Midday Escapades. It is a way to get more blog 'Followers' and to find and follow other amazing blogs. It is all about sharing and having fun! Just click on the icon below and check it out!

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Last but certainly not least, I would like to take a moment and wish my mom a very, very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I love you so much, Mama, and hope your day is extra, extra special!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Blessings,

Teresa

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I have SO much to be thankful for but today I want to give thanks to the Lord for the most incredible Mother's Day weekend I've had in quite some time. It was full of lots of good stuff. Not only was I able to spend a wonderful evening with my amazing mom, but I also spent another evening with my three daughters, ALL at the same time! That hasn't happened for Mother's Day in a very, very long time. I received a ton of wonderful goodies, but better yet, we simply had a great time together. I was truly thrilled to be with all three of my girls again. I was also blessed to have my youngest grandson, Mason, here. I wish both of my grandsons could have made it, but, unfortunately, Connor had a bad day at school, so his mommy decided he needed to stay at home with dad. That was a little disappointing because I don't get to see them that often but I still had a wonderful time visiting with Mason. He was a complete mess and kept us laughing the entire time. We took a few pictures that evening and I wanted to share them with you. I hope you enjoy them.....

My girls......Whitney, Morgan and Rebekah

Whitney, Mason, Morgan and Rebekah

Whitney and Mason

Mason checking things out....

Bekah stealin' kisses...

Mason peeking out the window,
Casper making sure he doesn't miss anything.

Time to go home.

If you haven't already, please take a moment to read some of the other Mother's Day posts I've done over the last few days. You can find them here:

THE INVISIBLE WOMAN

SUNDAY CITAR: ~ MOTHER'S DAY EDITION ~

FLASHBACK FRIDAY and FRIDAY FOLLOW #3

Thanks so much for stopping by. I'd love for you to join us in Thankful Thursday and take a moment to share what YOU are thankful for. Visit Sonya at Becoming a Strong Woman of God as a Wife, Mother and Friend to link up.

Blessings,

Teresa

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMO!

Today my middle daughter, Morgan, officially becomes an adult. It is so very hard for me to comprehend that it has actually been 18 YEARS since she made her grand entrance into this world!! It is even more difficult for me to believe that in just a few short weeks she will be graduating from high school (with honors!) Then, in the fall, she'll be heading off to college -- the college she has been dreaming of since she was a little girl!! As her mom, I am extremely excited for her and I can't wait to see what the future holds for her in her adult life. However, I must admit that over the last few months, I have really been struggling with all that is about to happen and I am definitely less than happy about the fact that another one of my daughters has somehow transformed into a woman while I wasn't looking. It's scary how that happens! You blink and they go from a curious little toddler to an insecure, hormonal 'tween'. You blink once more and they are grown! Time sure does fly.

I found this poem today. As I read it, it made me really think of each one of my three daughters individually. I decided to post it here as a dedication to Morgan on her very special day.

My Daughter

You'll never really know, my dear,
Just how much you mean to me,
A mother's love, buried so deep,
That only my heart can see.

When I sit and really stare at you,
All I can do is grin,
Somewhere down deep inside,
I see myself within.

I'd never change a thing in you,
I thank God that you're so fine,
Even when you're at your worst,
I'm so proud that you are mine.

The roads we have traveled,
were not always that good,
I would take back ALL the pain you've felt,
If only I could.

I know that I'm not perfect,
It's the best that I can do,
But everyday, I thank the Lord,
For a daughter as special as you.

Morgan, I am truly thankful the Lord chose your dad and me to be your parents. What an awesome blessing! We are so very proud of the Godly young lady you have become. We are so excited to see where this new journey called adulthood is going to take you. We know it is going to be amazing! We love you more than you will ever know.

HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY, Momo!

Love Always,

Mama

THE SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK Entry #3

Would you like to linger on the simple things? Then join me and many others in taking a little look into the day plans and thoughts of those who are focusing on simplicity...beauty of the 'everyday moments'.

~ The Simple Woman - Created Spring 2008

FOR TODAY - Tuesday, March 9th

Outside my window.....it is very cloudy day but very warm, especially for early March. It is about 66 degrees this afternoon. We are expecting rain this evening and the next few days.

I am thinking.....about how much my head hurts right now. I took a little tumble a few minutes ago. *sigh*

I am thankful for.....some extra special time I was able to spend with my husband this past weekend. Those times are much more rare these days due to my illness and all the extra work he is having to do these days.

From the kitchen.....that's a big question mark again today.

I am wearing.....the same thing as usual. Comfy sweats, slippers and my blanket.

I am going.....to take some Ibuprofen and rest a little while.

I am reading.....and researching as much information as I can find about the two colleges Morgan has pretty much narrowed her choices to!

I am hoping.....we will hear some really good news about scholarships soon!

I am praying.....for the Lord to show His favor upon Morgan as she does her auditions and as the schools look at all her academic and music related accomplishments. I really pray that she will be given the best chance possible at achieving her goals in life. I want this for all my girls.

I am hearing.....someone down the street mowing their lawn and thinking about how yucky ours looks. My poor husband just does not have time to do everything!

Around the house.....there are SO many things that need to be done, there are too many to count!

One of my favorite things.....is a cold, rainy day, especially when we have a fire built inside and I can stay all snuggled up beside it -preferably with my hubby.

A few plans for the rest of the week: This weekend Morgan and Bekah have band festival. Then, Morgan will have her last audition for college on Monday at Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University.

From my picture journal.....my daily companions.

SADEE - our 4 y/o Lab mix

CASPER - our 11 month old Pomeranian

If you would like to join in with 'The Simple Woman's Daybook', please feel free to visit Peggy's blog. She is a wonderful hostess and would love to have you stop by.

THE SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK Entry #2

Would you like to linger on the simple things? Then join me and many others in taking a little look into the day plans and thoughts of those who are focusing on simplicity...beauty of the 'everyday moments'.

~ The Simple Woman - Created Spring 2008

FOR TODAY - Tuesday, March 2nd

Outside my window.....it is 33 degrees and SNOWING!! We are under a winter weather advisory. YAY! :0)

I am thinking.....about my girls who are still in school and wishing our school system wouldn't always be the very last one to make a decision to close school when we have inclement weather.

I am thankful for.....my new MP3 player I received for my birthday last week. I LOVE music, especially Praise and Worship music, but I haven't really had a way to listen to it in quite a while. This MP3 player is really going to be a blessing to me.

From the kitchen.....I smell my Hazelnut Creme coffee brewing. YUM!

I am wearing.....my comfy pajamas and I'm bundled up in my Slanket. I REALLY love my Slanket.

I am going.....to schedule a few doctors' appointments that have been put on the back burner for far too long.

I am creating.....a special blog post about my own personal experience with Dysautonomia. I have received numerous emails over the last few months from a variety of people. They are almost always inquiring about my experience with the disease. Since I have not been feeling very well, I have not been able to answer them all in detail. Therefore, I've decided to do a 'Frequently Asked Questions' post in hopes of putting all my answers in one very conspicuous place.

I am (still) reading..... 'God Needs Me - Living with Dysautonomia' by Lynn Fox Adams. It is an amazing book!

I am hoping.....that it keeps snowing all day and all night. I hope we get lots of the white stuff!

I am praying.....for my family's safety as they travel home today.

I am hearing.....complete silence. Sometimes it is deafening.

Around the house.....we have decided to hire someone to paint all of the common areas in our home (2 story family room & foyer, plus kitchen, breakfast room, halls and mudroom). We are working really hard to pick the perfect color since we have really disliked the initial color we chose when we built our home a little over 2 years ago.

One of my favorite things.....is winter! There are so many people in such a rush for spring to get here but I am truly enjoying winter! I just LOVE a cold winter's night when you can snuggle up in a blanket by the fireplace and enjoy a yummy cup of coffee and a good book....(or your hubby!)

A few plans for the rest of the week.....This weekend is Morgan's audition for Auburn University's music program and then an informational meeting afterward. I won't be able to go but my husband will. Please say a little prayer for her!

From my picture journal.....A couple more snow pics my youngest daughter, Rebekah, made the last time we had a little of the white stuff. You may click on the picture to get a better look.

This is looking off our back deck. There is a very high hilltop to the left with a house on top.

If you would like to join in with 'The Simple Woman's Daybook', please feel free to visit Peggy's blog. She is a wonderful hostess and would love to have you stop by.

THE BITTERSWEET END and A NEW BEGINNING

(at the end of a VERY long game day!)

Last weekend marked the end of our high school football team's season and, thus, the end of marching band season. Our football team went undefeated through the entire regular season and then continued all the way through the post-season to the semi-final playoff game! It was truly incredible! They fought hard and did such a tremendous job. However, in the end, it just wasn't meant for our team to make it one more week to the State Championship. We were really hoping and praying they would because we really wanted to see our team play and our band march in The Georgia Dome!

It was a very bittersweet weekend for our middle daughter, Mo - and for her parents, too! Mo is a senior this year, which means the loss last weekend marked the end of what has been a very important and exciting part of her life.

(Mo, in the middle, with her c0-drum majors this year)

When Mo started marching her freshman year, she was still very much a shy, reserved little girl still trying to find her place in the whole scheme of things. At the end of that school year, a 6 week drum major clinic was held in order to replace the current drum major who would soon be graduating. Plus, the band was growing so they were going to be choosing two.


(Mo on the left as a sophomore)

Although Mo would just be a graduating freshman, and it is highly unusual for an upcoming sophomore to be chosen, she faithfully went to the clinic and then auditioned for the highly coveted leadership position. Just a few days before school ended, Mo found out she and one other person had been selected! My, how fast things change!

She went on to lead the band the next three years. She is now a very confident and skilled, yet humble leader who is exceptional at her craft. She will be graduating in May and has plans to pursue a PhD in Music Education when she heads off to college in the fall.



We are so proud of her and we can't wait to see what the future holds!

We love you, MoMo!

Picture Source - MParker Photography

(Almost) WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: USMC

THEN - May '09

NOW - Nov '09

My middle daughter, Mo, and Jonathan at Paris Island, S.C.