Fit 4 Life?

.......Okay, so seeing as how I am the local fitness guru..................(I'm just giving you time to stop laughing.)........................(done yet?)... Anyway, some of my girlfriends and I were talking at the Ladies Banquet at church a few weeks ago about how we need some type of free weight loss motivational program. Kind of like Weight Watchers,..only not! And since I have recently started working on my own "live better" type goals, I figured this blog might be a good way to go about it. Now, with that being said I realize there is a weight loss challenge going on right now on another blog, and have no desire to take away from that whatsoever! But! I need accountability. I need to know that if I don't post anything, that when I see you at the grocery store, you'll say....."how's it going this week, Deedra? I didn't see it on your blog!" or I'll get an email from a fellow blogger if I don't post anything.

Also, this wouldn't just be about weight loss, it would be about anything that makes your life better. ie: a great new Bible study, a girls night out,........anything you do that makes you a better "you"......

I was also thinking that maybe I could get one of those "linky" things and let everyone sign up and comment on their tips and progress for the week. (if anyone has a clue how to get this, let me know!) So, basically, this is just a "feeler" to see if anyone is 1. interested in my progress? or 2. interested in participating? or 3. has any suggestions? or 4. doesn't give a rip?


This is what I'm thinking,.....do it on Fridays, because something else is going pretty much every other day of the week, and....if you are trying to watch your figure, Friday would be a great way to motivate you to be good on the weekend!

Anyway, If you guys are game, we'll start this next Friday. All you lurkers, I need you to come out of the closet on this one, okay girls?...and boys? Tell me what you think! ....(be gentle, please!)

Thankful Thursday!

This week I am so excited to say that I am thankful for a baby shower gift that I was able to buy! This is an answered prayer of mine, (and many others!) This coming Sunday will be the shower for a sweet Mom in our church family, who has gone through a challenge in becoming a Mom...to say the least! I am so excited for this sweet, loving family! I know two of the most selfless, giving people who are about to make this baby girl some wonderful grandparents! She will also have a wonderful Aunt H and Uncle J!


Speaking of this family....The grandparents started bringing a boy from our community to church who is deaf/mute and autistic. In the few years he has been coming, we have watched him go from seriously uneducated, to now being enrolled in the Helen Keller School for the deaf and blossoming as he surely never would have had he not received the help he so desperatly needed! This young man blesses my socks off every time he comes to church! He "sings" to the top of his voice during song service, and though he's done this for a while now...its something I don't get used to. It leaves me weeping tears of joy everytime I hear him making his "joyful noise" To the world it may sound like nothing but noise, but I believe Michael's singing touches the ears of God, and the spirit of me! I am so thankful for our van ministry, and for the kids who bless me through it!

Updated to add: I am also thankful for Melissa's news, and will add her family to my prayer list! You can click HERE to read her news and share in the excitement!

If you would like to take part in Thankful Thursday, visit Sting My Heart!

Wordless Wednesday.....

I'm touching you!!

(You can click on the picture to make it bigger, and get the full effect)

Sing us a song, you're the pianoman......

Get down, Carter!

Take a bow!

My child absolutely loves to "play" the piano. This was a birthday present from his Aunt Crystal and Uncle Chris and he sure loves flexing his artistic muscles playing it! But! He wants you to sit and listen to him, if you get up to do something else before his concert is over, he gets seriously offended! This was his concert last night right after his bath.

Deedra,....just go right back to bed!

....do you ever have those days when you just know from the beginning it's not gonna be good? Today was one of those days for me! We got in bed around midnight last night due to the fact that we are irrigating right now since there has been no rain here basically all summer. And I kid you not, we laid down, closed our eyes, and 2 seconds later, my husbands fire radio went off. Brush fire, a pretty serious thing since there has been no rain. So, he leaves and I assume my usual "fire during the night worrying position" which would be watching HGTV in bed while waiting on him to come home.

At some point, I fell asleep because my clock went off this morning and he was still out fighting fire and checking the irrigation system. (Happy Father's Day, dear!) Poor Carter didn't sleep either and my first clue this was gonna be a long day came when he fell asleep in his high chair! Seriously! He was jabbering away one minute, asleep the next.








Well, today was a special day at our church because the preacher and his family have been on vacation and we had a big surprise waiting for them when they came home....and I wasn't going to let a cranky sleepy baby, or husband stop me from going to church. Now, why I picked today to sit close to the front, I'll never be able to explain except for lack of sleep, but I did. And my child was bad. I mean.....BAD! He whined and tried to escape and on and on and on....and I realize I should have taken him to the nursery but I'm trying to teach him that he has to be quiet during church and normally he's pretty good.........but not today! I know this because I saw pretty much every woman over 60 turn to see just who's child this was making all the racket! Some even had to lean around their husband to look across 2 isles of pews! Yeah, it was that bad.

To make matters even worse. My hair looked like total crap today. I knew it when I left my house, and had no time to do anything about it. I have long hair that is naturally curly and with this heat lately, it's just basically a sad, frizzy mess. Today I just clipped it in a low ponytail and hoped for the best. Had I known I would be drawing so much attention, I might have made more effort! As I wrestled my child during church, I could feel curl after curl slipping loose and by the time I finally got to a mirror I looked like a bad mug shot.....red eyes and all!

A-N-Y-W-A-Y! The wonderful surprise for the pastor and his family was worth it all! We(the congregation) got them a shiny, new truck! I have known about this surprise for months and almost let it slip to Lisa (the preachers wife) once, (but I didn't!) so I'm glad that the cat is finally out of the bag! The excitement this past week has just been buzzing since they were gone and everyone knew today was the big day!

Lucky Me!

......Okay, so let me start this out by telling you that my husband and I have been married for 10 1/2 years. In that time my darling husband has cooked for me exactly twice. The first time was after I'd been in the hospital for a week with colitis, (he prepared a hearty meal of chicken noodle soup.....Campbell's Chicken noodle soup, that is....in the microwave.) The second was a few months after I started working at VZW. They sent me to Nashville for a week for training, and when I came home he had grilled steak with the works waiting on me! That has been more than 6 years ago...and, hold on!...here comes the point of all that!

..so, earlier in the week, I asked my beloved what he would like for Father's Day. He finally called me at home on Thursday (he was at work) to tell me that he wanted a grill for Father's Day. ........"I'm sorry,....You want what???" He said, "Yeah, I want a stainless grill for Father's Day. Just make sure you get one that's put together" (Yes, dear....we don't want to clutter the back porch with my mother's day gift that still hasn't been put together AND your Father's Day gift...well, it's not COMPLETELY put together....it's a swing, and to my husband's credit, he does have the frame standing)

Well, I still have no earthly idea what possessed him to want a grill, but I'm totally psyched about the grill thing! Last year I took our old one apart to clean it, and it hasn't worked quite right since then.

soooooooo....yesterday I go looking for a grill. Now, I am a total comparison shopper so I go online check stock and compare prices and narrow the ones I want down to 3 stores I want to check out. So, I go trade vehicles with my husband and I'm off! Well. My first mistake was to go to the local Sears. Every time I go in that place I swear I will Never go back because it's nasty and they are NEVER helpful, and yesterday was no exception. I called before I went because there are 2-3 miles of road construction to get to that store and I didn't want to bother if they didn't have what I wanted. So, when I asked if they had the grills I wanted, the chick said, "sure,....come on in and have a look at them!" Okay, so I braved the construction, drag my little man out of the truck and when I get into the store, the girl looks at me like I'm from another planet when I tell her what I want. Then she proceeds to tell me that they do have those,...in the back.....IN A BOX! And she offers to let me see them online! Hello?? Do you not remember me telling you that I saw them online already, and I'm here because I want to SEE IT IN PERSON!.....grrrrrr! (no I did not scream at the girly but man did i ever want to!) I politely told her no thank you and left.

I finally decide which one I want, make my purchase, (and by this time my child is cranky and hungry and I am the same!) So, I go to bring my truck up for my grill to be loaded and guess what happens?.....nothing. I turned the key....nothing. Okay. Unbuckle baby, walk over and ask man to bring grill across parking lot because my truck won't start and I'm thinking, he'll offer to boost me off.....(this is THE SOUTH after all) No he didn't. Neither did the 2 "men" who helped him load the very expensive grill I had just purchased from their store. (Maybe I should have just bought the grill at Sears, at least I knew right up front that they didn't give a rip!)

I go back into the store, purchase jumper cables (because my husband never carries them with him) and sit in truck, hood up...doors open (because windows won't go down with dead battery and it's 95 degrees) and wait. Finally a nice man tries to help me boost it off but that doesn't work, so I call hubby back (for about the 3rd time) to tell him that he's going to have to leave work to come get me (it's almost time for him to get off anyway) He was not happy about having to come get me (30 minutes away from his work and our house!) However, I very quickly reminded him that I was NOT happy to have to sit and wait on him for what had already been an hour and was about to be at least 30 more minutes, and that Carter was hot and hungry and we were sitting outside in a swing because I didn't want to leave the grill unattended with all these helpful people around! He finally made it 53 minutes later. (Yes, I counted) We ended up buying a new battery and finally making it home!

With the luck I had yesterday, I was afraid to use the grill due to the fact that I might start a massive forest fire or burn down our house. Maybe I should have just gotten him one of those free grills I posted about before!

Thankful Thursday.....

This week as Father's Day draws near, my thoughts turn to the men in my life. I have a wonderful dad who has always worked hard, but found the time to spend with us. When I was young, we were very into sports. My dad would work 12 hours a day, then still manage to play a game of basketball in our back yard with us and every other kid in the neighborhood. He was always the only dad out playing. He built us the most awesome playhouse in the whole world. It was two stories complete with a kitchen, bunkbeds, and windows! And when I had my baby, I don't think there was anyone who was more excited about it than my dad. He now plays the piano and sings the songs to Carter that he used to sing to me as a little girl. It's just the sweetest thing ever to watch! I am so very thankful for my Dad.


I have also been blessed with a wonderful Father-in-law. He is a Godly man who is one of the hardest working people I have ever known. He does much and asks for nothing in return. He has the loudest, deepest voice in the world and it startles my son so much that you'd think he'd be afraid, but he laughs when his Paw Paw talks, and listens to every single word oh so intently.


Then there is my husband. I always knew he'd be a great dad, and he is! Carter walks him to the door every morning when he leaves for work, if he's awake. If he's still asleep, he wakes up and looks for him then says, "Dada gone?" Then when Carter hears the door opening in the evening, he knows just who it is and heads straight for his daddy. I think he's almost as glad to see his dad as dad is to see him! I am very thankful that my husband is a wonderful father to my son!

Both my grandfathers have passed away, one when I was 11 (20 years ago June 7) and the other when I was 15. These were both wonderful men who helped to make me into the person I am today, for that I will be forever grateful. I can't help but think that maybe my two angel babies are up in heaven spending some time with their great grandfathers!


Last, but certainly not least....I am thankful for my Heavenly Father. I am thankful for the hope He gives us in what is becoming an increasingly dark world.

Happy Father's Day to all you men who I know are lurking out there reading my blog!


For more Thankful Thursday, or to participate.....visit Sting My Heart!

Wordless Wednesday....

Landon: "I didn't do it! I don't have a pincher grasp yet!"

In Other Words.......

"Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading."~ Oswald Chambers ~

I absolutely love this quote! It isn't always easy to live by faith, but when we remember the One who is leading us, and just how much He loves us....that makes the journey a little easier. Now that my son is a year old, people are always asking...when are you gonna have more? or, Are you going to have more? etc, etc, etc....my reply to those questions is this: If God blesses us with more, we'll have more. If not, we won't. After all the fertility shots and treatments that only led to heartbreaking miscarriages, God taught me something very important. He is in control. Things happen in His time.

My Mom isn't doing so great lately. I can't tell you how many times my phone rang today with her asking the same question each time, then forgetting she'd called and calling again. My sister called in tears because she was doing the same thing to her. I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, ....or the next day,...or the day after that. But I do know that God made her this way for a reason, and He has helped us through 15 years with this illness, and only with His help will we make it the rest of the way. However far that may be.

"Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading."~ Oswald Chambers ~

for more In Other Words, visit Sting My Heart.

Misc Ramblings....(as if I ever do anything else!)

...okay, so I feel that I have completely lost touch with the reality that is blog land. After all, I have discovered and do believe that it's true, that there is a sort of "community" that exists out there on the blog circuit, if you will. I mean, if I happen by some one's site and notice that they haven't posted in a few days or , heaven help them, a week, I wonder if everything is okay.


So, with all that being said, I have received a few emails asking where I've been, how the big 1st birthday went, and so on. So! Let me just tell you all about it!......Go ahead and grab a coke, (because I live in the south and there are no sodas here, just cokes, and Pepsi is included in that category!) because this could be a long one!


The first birthday went beautifully. We spent a quiet day at home because I wanted no grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc. etc to charge that I am never home and they never get to see the baby...We had a small party after church on Sunday at the park for immediate family and a few of Carter's church buddies. Now, it has not rained here in ages but, of course, on that day rain was in the forcast. At this particular park, you have to walk a little bit to get to the pavillions, but it's worth it for the playground. It is Fabulous! Anyway, just as the guests began arriving, the bottom fell out. Complete with thunder and lightning. No worries though, we were safe under the metal pavillion, just beneath the super large trees beside the metal chain link fence. Oh, right by the creek. Yeah,....REAL safe!


Anyway, the rain didn't last long and a good time was had by all. Now, if you happen to be waiting on messy, all over your face pictures of Carter and his cake. It didn't happen. He picked at his cake like a 3 year old girl in a princess costume. I should have given him a large plate of mashed potatoes and then maybe we'd have pictures! He did however, LOVE the mud puddles left after the rain!


As for last week, it was a blur of VBS fun finished off by family night on Friday where they brought in the big blow up moonwalk and a dragon obstacle course. It also rained right before time to go outside on Friday night, so those blow ups were more like water slides and oooh so much fun for those kids, and kids at heart!


Then of course on Saturday we probably infected half the population of our town with the chicken pox, however, by Sunday morning I figured out what was going on and did have the decency not to infect the rest by going to church. (that makes me feel sooo much better, let me tell you!)


Anyway! I think that sums it up! Here are a few photos for your viewing pleasure!

Look, Mom.....a girl who can ride a John Deere! I think I'm in love!

Great.....JUST GREAT!!!

.........my sweet darling baby boy went for his one year shots last Monday. He went through the usual fussiness for a couple of days. He went to Bible school every single day last week, then to a birthday party filled with babies 7 months to kids 4 years old. He hugged on everyone he saw, and even shared his pacy and sippy cup with a few at the party. (when we saw them of course we stopped them).................today he has a fever and red blisters all over. I am pretty sure (as are 2 nurses and fellow moms) that it's chicken pox. Yeah, that's right, chicken pox.

You wanna guess what one of the vaccines they gave him last week was for?...........uh huh....... chicken pox. Yes, my child has probably just infected half the children in our town and he got it from a shot!! Another ironic thing? My grandmother had shingles earlier in the year, and we kept him away from her because we were told he could catch chicken pox from her....they said he would be immune after he got the vaccine. I guess now he'll be immune after he has the virus!

They also gave him a hepatitus vaccine. I guess chicken pox is the better of the two to become active and run rampid through his little body.

Thankful Thursday....

This has been such a crazy busy week, I almost skipped out on Thankful Thursday this week. BUT! I have so much to be thankful for, I just couldn't do it! So,.....here goes!


This week I'm thankful for:

My happy, healthy family!

A booming business! That's alot of the reason I am running so crazy this week. When I started this a few months ago, I never dreamed I'd stay this busy! God is Good!

A wonderful turnout at VBS this week! This is such an outreach opportunity. There are so many kids who might never learn about Jesus were it not for VBS!

The home that I live in. I have looked at it with disgust so many times lately. It is a disaster right now, right down to the mounds of papers on the desk I am currently typing on,....but! I am so very thankful to have a wonderful house to live in.


If you would like to participate in Thankful Thursday, visit Sting My Heart!

This is my brain on VBS........

.......BLANK! Whew! I actually sat down twice today to write a post......nothing! Both times! I am pooped! (I wonder what kind of freaky searches that word will bring?)

Our Vacation Bible School started last night at church and I have the 4 year old class. Yesterday we had 10...tonight 12! They are a great group of kids! I am really looking forward to the rest of the week, but say a prayer that I arrive at Friday with my sanity! Man....they are sure energetic! I've had youth classes for so long I forgot how fast paced the little ones are! I am loving it though, and I have great helpers!

There is a sweet little boy in my class who's Mom was killed in a car accident just over a year ago. In fact, a year ago this past Valentine's Day. This boy has touched me both nights! Tonight when we talked about what we pray for, the usual dogs, and cats, etc came up,..but he said he prayed about his Mom...I told him I prayed about that too, and I wish you could have seen that baby smile!

Our lesson tonight was about hero's. John was the hero in the lesson tonight, but as I sit here typing...two more heros come to my mind. Some of you know them, for those of you who do not.....this little boy is pretty much being raised by his oldest brother (20 years old) and his girlfriend(1 year older). These two are both in college and working and have so much on their plates yet they have the 4 year old and a 13 year old brother at SS and Church most every Sunday. And at VBS this week! They have both stepped up where they shouldn't have had to, and are doing an amazing job! So here's to my hero's tonight....Adam & Christina. I know that God will bless you two for what you are doing, and I know that there is a Mom in heaven who is so very proud of you both!

Free Bar-B-Q Grill!

As every southerner knows it's time to get ready for that all important cooking technique of the south---outdoor Grilling! I have found several stores (not just in the south) where you can get a FREE Bar-B-Q Grill! You can get a free BBQ grill from any of the following stores:





A&P,Albertson's,Costco, Dan's,Food Lion,Fry's,Kroger, Macey's,Big Lots,Brookshire's,Lowe's,Publix,Safeway,Sam's Club,Target,Von's ,Wagner Hardware,Wal-Mart,Winn-Dixie , I especially like the higher rack - which can be used for keeping things warm!

Yeah, you know it's just so stinkin redneck you had to laugh!...or at least a giggle?

Happy Birthday Baby!