Always and Forever

You know you're a nerd when you can't sleep and you're up watching Napoleon Dynamite clips on YouTube.

This song brought a tear to my eye....

Kip + LaFawnda = True Love Fo-eva

(If you've never seen Napoleon Dynamite, you won't get any of this. But you really should watch it. It's the funniest, oddest movie you'll ever watch. You're guaranteed to either love it or hate it.)

Stayin Alive & doin the iPod shuffle.....

I saw this on Rebecca Jo's Blog last week and thought it was just the cutest thing ever. I've been waiting to give it a go, so here goes!!

1. Put your music on shuffle
2. For each question - press the next button to get your answer
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!!
4. Feel free to play along! :)

Here goes nuttin!

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
"Bad Day" - Alvin and the Chipmunks (my kids listen to my iPod too, okay?)

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
"Ain't No Rock" - Mercy Me (boy that's true!)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY?
"Walk Softly On This Heart of Mine" - Dixie Chicks and Ricky Scaggs

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
"When God Dips His Pen of Love in my Heart" - Allison Krauss

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
"Quiet My Heart" - Brooke Barrettsmith

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
"Duelin Banjos" - the Dillards (uh oh...wasn't that also the theme song for Deliverance? )

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
"Great is Thy Faithfulness" - Avalon (awwwww)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
"Nobody's Perfect" - Hannah Montana (again, this one's Brooke's)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"Pocketful of Sunshine" - Natasha Bedingfield

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
"Peace in the Valley" - Roy Rogers (I think this was one of the hub's songs although I like the way it fits this question!)

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
"Shout to the Lord" - Hillsong

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LOVE?
"Step by Step" - New Kids on the Block - oh, I'm dying here

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
2000 Years - Travis Cottrell (that doesn't really fit here, but, man, do I love that song!!!!)

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
"King of the Road" - Roger Miller (okay, now I'm falling out of my seat - anyone know this one?)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
"Once You've Loved Somebody" - Dixie Chicks

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
"Hangin' Tough" - NKOTB (I promise there aren't any more NKOTB songs on my iPod....I know I'm just a big dork!)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Bubbly - Colbie Caillat (love this song too)

WHATS THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
"Sinner's Prayer" - Ray Charles and BB King (well, I'd have to listen to the words of this song, but from the title, it might be the best thing that could happen!)

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
"Best of Both Worlds" - Hannah Montana (uh, don't think so Hannah....I've only got one destination, and it's the best!!!)

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
"I Can't Make You Love Me" - Bonnie Raitt

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
"Dooley" - Andy Griffith & the Dillards

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
"Save the Last Dance for Me" - Michael Buble'

WHAT SCARES YOU MOST?
"You Are the Best Thing" - Ray LaMontagne (thanks for this rec Mimi - even the hubs loves him!)

DOES ANYONE LOVE YOU?
"Call My Name" - Third Day (praise the Lord, He does!!)

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME - WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
"Already Gone" - Sugarland

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
"Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone" - Chris Tomlin

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
"Stayin Alive" - Bee Gees

Now everyone can see that I have a very diverse taste for music, although I'll admit I usually skip the Hannah Montana and Alvin & the Chipmunks songs when I've got it on shuffle. Feel free to play this too....it was really fun!! Thanks Rebecca Jo!!!

My First Bloggy Baby Shower!!

Congratulations to Scott and Kelly, and congratulations to little Harper who's going to have the best parents, the coolest room, and the most clothes of any little girl ever!!

Kelly - I started reading your blog after I found it through my friend Faith's about a year ago, I guess. I loved reading tales of your life (and seeing pictures of all those cute petit fours!). After I learned you were dealing with infertility, I began praying for you, for God to bless you with the desires of your heart. And I cried like I knew you personally when you announced on your blog that you were pregnant! I am so thankful He has given you this little blessing, and I'm also thankful that you continue to pray for and encourage others as they try to conceive. I don't think you'll ever know just how many women you've touched through this blog!

I'll continue to pray that God will bless you with a safe delivery and tons of fun once that little gal gets home!! :)

I'll close with one of my favorite quotes:
"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." ~Elizabeth Stone

Congratulations Scott & Kelly!!

Don't even have the words....

Well, my intention for today was to post a prayer request for my sweet college roommate Allison. She's a friend that sticks closer than a brother! She married her husband Paul eight years ago and they have struggled with infertility the majority of that time. They both love kids and had planned on having a houseful!! And believe me, if you met Alli you'd see why! She acts just like a kid too and is just a blast! Kids ALWAYS have fun when they're with Allison! Anyhow, they tried having kiddos on their own and just weren't able to get pregnant. Then she tried several fertility helps to no avail, so they decided to try IVF. They went through two IVFs without a baby. The doctors told them they probably wouldn't be able to have children, but God knew better! They tried one final time and Ava and Isabel came to be! They are now almost three years old and are just little stinkers!!

Here's a picture of Allison (prego with Ava and Isabel and holding little Brookie), our other roommate Tuyet (pronounced Thea) with her little Olivia, and me (holding Bubba and with Eva in the tummy).



And here's a picture of Allison now with her two little miracles!



Shortly after having those two cuties, she and Paul began trying to have more because they knew it might take awhile. Again, they weren't able to get pregnant on their own. And again, they've been through two cycles of IVF that were unsuccessful. But week before last, they went through it again, knowing this would be the final time they could try. I knew Alli had her appointment tomorrow at the Clinic for her serum HCG, but when I opened up my email a few minutes ago, this is what I found and I cried like a baby!!



Aunt Amy is just overjoyed!! It is exciting when anyone becomes pregnant, because God has created a new little life! But it is just overwhelming when someone who has tried for so long becomes pregnant. God is so good, and it is amazing to see how He works everything in His time!

Every time Paul and Alli have been through IVF, the doctors haven't been very optimistic. They always gave them the 'percentage chance' of their becoming pregnant. And I love what they've said through every one....."Our God is greater than any percentage". And He is!

Congratulations Allison! Praying for you, sweet friend!

Junk n Stuff

I've recently started reading Tip Junkie's blog and let me tell you.....she's hosting some great giveaways for the next 12 days!! It's called the Mom-Preneur Shopathon and she's giving away two prizes every day......and they're sure to be good ones too!

Run on over there and check it out!

If your grandma has ever burped in your ear......

you might be a redneck.

My in-laws are about as country as country can get (git). They're a husband/wife truck driving team and make East to West Coast runs in their "Brooks & Dunn" model rig. :) My mother-in-law takes great pride in how she decorates the inside of that thing....lots of flowers and lace -- exactly what you'd expect to find a tractor-trailer, right? But, honestly, they're the most kind and generous people I've ever met. They'd give up anything they have for someone else. I'm fortunate to have such sweet in-laws.

Anyhow, our neighbor sometimes takes Noah to school, along with her little boy. She called me last week to tell me about a conversation they had in the car. She said they were talking about grandparents and little Noah said, "Yeah, I have a grandma and she's really fun. She likes to pretend to whisper in my ear and then she burps really loud." My neighbor was dying laughing when she called and she was like, "He's joking, right?"

Uh, no. 'Fraid not.

If you're ever driving on the interstate and you see a Brooks & Dunn truck with an angel on the top alongside the words "Heaven Bound", just give 'em the honking signal and their truck'll play a little Amazing Grace for ya! And tell em Amy sent ya!

God Bless America, Land That I Love

Well, election day is over and I must say that my heart has been heavy. But then I just read this.
And hardly anyone can say things better than Beth Moore.

Although my vote didn't turn out the way I had hoped, it's still my duty to support and pray for our President and our great Nation and to unite with others for the cause of Christ.

To be a light for Him in this world.

To do otherwise would be just what Satan would hope for, as Beth said so well.

Today, I was thinking what a great nation we live in that we are able to vote for the candidate we choose, and for that vote to be counted fairly. Many people throughout the world do not have that opportunity.

And I'm also grateful, although I may not agree with some of the things he supports, that our nation has moved past prejudices of the past to elect an African-American leader. I pray that this Presidency will bring people of all colors together, because each of us was created in His image.

I'm continuing to pray that God will bless the United States of America as only He can...........