D-Day and My Happy List

D-Day (decision day) is approaching on Friday. Please keep us in your prayers as we are quickly approaching a very life changing day.

I've been thinking about what a new post could include (especially since someone told me that my blog is bringing them down...shut up, John). I've decided that I am going to post all the things that are positive in my life right now. In addition, I have reshuffled my playlist to play "Stronger" (the edited instrumental part). I think it's my theme song for the year...What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger!!

My Happy List (in no particular order)

Greg and my Dad...It's impossible to look at this picture and not smile! :)

Misti is getting married this Saturday.

Bailey has her first soccer game of the Spring this Saturday. Go Ladybugs!

My friend Melissa is having a baby!!!! (see her link under Mel Hicks)

God is with me no matter where I live.

Olivia's headstone has been ordered. I love what we've decided upon.

Our church family continues to amaze me (more on that in future posts).

The ability to do something in Olivia's name at Camp Tahkodah is becoming a reality.

Bailey makes me laugh everyday.

True friendships can survive regardless of the miles put between them.

Some of Bailey's Buddies

Stephanie (aka Beyonce) and me (aka Queen Latifah) jamming to some Playstation Karaoke.

More Playstation Karaoke (from the guys)...Cyndi Lauper style...

My Midge

I have found some really amazing people through blogging.

I am eating pizza with my buddies tonight.

Jen's baby girl will be here next week!!!(see blog link under Jenn Floyd)

I love my new computer.

Bailey is a very encouraging child (see the note below that she typed for Greg)

Dear dad’ I was thinking that we should probably move if that is what’s best for are family… at lest that’s what’s on my mind! I thought that was a great house I mean like the great flooring and the great … well I mean like … everything! It jist looks like a great house. I bet it has vary good neighborhood people in it. Do you think it doe’s?… yes… I think so to! I think mom is pretty emotional because she does cry sometimes. Its good to get things off your chest for once in a while… don’t you think? Well I think it is time for me to go now. But wait jist a minite I need some etintion here… I for got wate I was going to say……. Oh yhai I now know good by for now love; Bailey

Beckham's personality is so funny! He thinks his name is "Tookie Paul Hurst King"

Rocking out with Miss JJ!

Just doing his thing!

I haven't cried today!

This world is not my home!

Parish, Vera and my nephew Zeus.

Vera teaching Bailey to knit.

Zeus on his 1st birthday. Love the shirt!

My bro Parish

I have the best parents that could possibly exist. The most Godly people I will ever know.

Greg is an amazing provider for our family.

I'm out of time to post and could add so much more...I want to continue to daily focus on God's blessings!!!!

Have you ever seen an angel?

My heart is heavy tonight. I've spent many hours reflecting on the past months and the many hours of prayers and tears that so many of you have shared with me, Greg, and the kids. My heart hurts with the very real possibility that we may soon be leaving. Leaving friends who have become our true brothers and sisters. I really have no words right now. I just needed to let you all know how much I love you and how thankful I am that you are in my life. Thank you for loving my family and for being with us during some very dark days.

Tonight while blog surfing I found words to a song that really struck a chord with me. Maybe it might encourage some of you out there also.

OPEN THE SEA

(Written and sung by Amy Henning)

The Israelites faced a sea before them

A mountain on each side

Pharaoh's army was in pursuit

There was nowhere for them to hide

Then God opened the sea;

did away with the enemy

In a mighty display

If He did it for them so long ago

Will He do it for me today?

I Pray

Open the sea, make a way for me

I'm holding to Your hand

Whatever pathway You should choose

I will see it as dry land

Wherever You lead me, I will go

Holding to this truth I know that You can open the sea

Sometimes my sea, it overwhelms me

I want to see dry land

Waves of doubt and fear rush in

And I struggle to understand

Then You take me right back to the edge of the water

Reminding me of before

And in that moment I know Your heart

And I cry out with faith once more.

This is a very jumbled up blog entry, but that's pretty much indicative of my mindset right now. I sat down to share these pictures of Miss Livvy Loo Loo (sometimes also lovingly called Livers by her very strange mom) and all of the previous thoughts just stumbled out. So back to my original thought of my littlest angel. I have just been having a good 'ole cry here at the computer and wanted to share them -

Here's a chance to see an angel...

FYI-that's not a scar on her chest, she's wearing a heart necklace given to her by a dear friend! :)

Hands, feet, and a wee lock of hair!

I love all of you!
Shannon

A Gut Punch

I don't even know how to begin this post. I guess I'll just put it out there.

Greg's company is closing down the Little Rock office. He was offered either a severance package (i.e. no more job) or an opportunity to stay on with his company via the Jacksonville, Florida office. They've given him 10 days to let them know.

I am proud of Greg because the company thinks enough of him to not only secure a job for him but also give him a good sized promotion. I am thankful for this at a time when hundreds of people at his office have just lost their jobs. HOWEVER, I had just started feeling like 2008 was going to be a noneventful year of healing and regrouping for our family. Nothing against Florida, but it is SUPER far away from my family and friends. Not to mention Olivia. I just can't even go to that place in my mind right now...

I am soliciting your prayers my fellow bloggers. My personal prayer is that God will provide us with a clear understanding of the direction we should go. Will you please take a moment for our family to ask for clarity in our upcoming decision? I know that God is good and is always faithful. He has walked with us this past year and I know he won't leave us now.

The crosses we bear are not supposed to be heavy enough to crush us,...but they are heavy enough to bend our knees.~Author Unknown~

Olivia's new buddy

Thank you for the prayers for Miss Paisley Diane Salza. After much prayer Mike and Shellie decided to let her go be with God. I have no doubt that little Miss Olivia is showing her around. To check on Mike and Shellie or to leave them a comment, you can click on my blog links on Shellie.

Baby Paisley

Please pray for the Salza family. Mike and Shellie went to Harding while I was there and many of you probably know them. They lost a baby boy this past summer (who was born early) and Shellie has just delivered a baby girl at 23 1/2 weeks. Baby Paisley weighs 1 lb. 7 oz. and is in Children's hospital in Denver. Mike and Shellie are making some difficult decisions right now. Please remember them right now. Our heart just aches for them. Shannon

Bailey's Date Night

This past weekend was the annual Father/Daughter Valentine Banquet at our Church. Here are a few pictures!

Bailey and Greg look forward to this night all year long!

Bailey's handsome date! He's wearing a small rose in honor of sweet Olivia.

Each year Greg gives Bailey something special before they leave for the banquet. This year it was a gold necklace with a tiny cross and a tiny heart on it.

Wearing her new necklace!

Ready for a magical evening!

What a dapper crew!

John & Avery, Greg & Bailey, Clint & Anna, Jason & Hannah

More cruise pictures

Ready for the beaches in Mexico!

Bingo fun!

Formal night

Dinner time!

We ate this dessert almost every night!

Cruise Pictures

It was so much fun to get dressed up and have adult conversation!

Sometimes I forget how cool Greg is....

Too Much TV

Do any of you feel like you spend waaayyyy too much time messing with your blog or looking at other people's blogs? Why is it so fun to get a glimpse of other people's lives and activities? I have a million other things I need to be doing but what do I do? I sit down and escape into the world of blogging. I link to a link to a link of a person I will never meet yet sit there and read about Christmas with their meemaw and peepaw. Seriously! I have other things to be doing!

When I do pry myself away from the computer, what do I watch on TV? Reality TV most of the time.

With organizational shows like Neat, Mission Organization or Clean Sweep I can justify watching because I'm sure someday I'll need to know how to turn my garage into a plant potting station/man cave.

On TLC I watch shows like Jon and Kate plus Eight and anything about the Dugger Family because I'm sure it will sharpen my parenting skills.

Of course I have to watch Intervention in case I ever need to participate in one. Celebrity Rehab is also a must see just in case I need to hold a group therapy session.

Don't forget to watch the life inside prison shows on the A&E channel. I can honestly tell you how to make a shank (weapon) out of a roll of toilet paper. How pathetic is that?

The Bravo channel gives me Project Runway. I'm sure that I can sew and design clothes from leftover candy wrappers now that I've watched every show since the first season. I also like to watch What Not to Wear except that many of the offensive fashions can be found in my own closet! Yikes! (Don't turn me in to the show because I'm not going to give up my "Hangin' with my gnomies shirt", sorry!)

Top Chef has surely made me a gourmet chef with a very descriminating palate.

All Maxed Out is also to be watched so I can get pointers on cutting out all of the none essentials in my spending.

For my excercise I watch Climbing Everest. I am really out of breath by the episode where the climbers reach the summit!

Do you see my problem? I've got to stop watching so much TV! I won't even admit to some of the VH1 shows (NO, I do not watch Rock of Love or Flavor of Love, I promise!) that I watch. Ok, it's Scott Baio is 46 and Pregnant! There, I said it! Someone help me!

I guess Paul in the book of Romans sums it up for me: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate I do. "

I do want to add in one thing here: I do not watch most of these shows with my children around. I DVR them and then watch them after the kids are in bed or when Beckham naps. I can watch about 5 shows an hour if I fastforward through the more boring segments!

All that being said, WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING? Anything you need to confess? Please post and let me know that I am not the only person watching too much TV!

On a quick side note, a reader let me know that last night my playlist had mysteriously changed over and had some 'interesting' songs on it (2 Live Crew being one of them!). Today, it is obviously back to my normal list of songs. Please let me know if you witness this happening and I'll remove this feature. Let me assure you that if it's not U2 or something in that genre, it wasn't posted by me!