Blue Suede Tractor?

Check out this article from today's Times Journal.
It happens to be about one of my favorite people and favorite 4 wheeler ridin' buddies. I can't tell you the number of things I've seen this guy work on, ....and fix. Even as a kid! If he didn't have the right parts, you can always count on him riggin' something up in a most entertaining fashion.

This also happens to include his fireworks displays and I can personally attest to the fact that Aaron, my car, and myself were very nearly almost blown up in a failed attempt at a massive fireworks display. This of course was based on my limited understanding of exactly WHAT he/we was about to attempt and exactly WHY the manufacturers packaging states that you NEVER place more than one "bomb thingy" into the "launcher thingy" at a time......and if you do put say, THREE bomb thingys into the launcher thingy, then you should most certainly put more gravels around the bottom than I did....otherwise, it WILL fall over, and it WILL shoot directly at you, and your gas filled vehicle.....on the GROUND.

I am so proud of Aaron! He graduated this past week and is beginning what I'm sure will be a very successful career. With all that said, I am very confident that Mr Presley's tractor was in most capable hands....and have no doubt that the project began with these famous words.

"Okay, now what we're gonna do is........"


"---- native Aaron Jolley recently saw the ghost of Elvis in a round-about way.

Jolley is a student at Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, Miss. and is part of the agricultural technology John Deere tech program.

Jolley and three other students in the program worked for about a month restoring a 1963-model John Deere tractor.

Jolley and the other students are part of a “special project” class and are required to work hands-on with broken equipment so they learn how to deal with a variety of problems that tractors can have.

They do one of the projects every year.

The tractor was used at Elvis Presley’s Circle G Ranch in DeSoto County and Graceland for many years.

The students and instructor, Shane Louwerens, worked on the project for nearly 400 hours.

Louwerens knew what was so special about the tractor but for security reasons couldn’t let the students in on the secret.

It wasn’t until the tractor was complete that the students found out how special it was.

Louwerens, himself, was surprised when he found out the tractor belonged to Elvis.

“I was contacted by corporate representatives from John Deere’s Atlanta brand and asked if I would be interested in preserving an old tractor with the help of students,” Louwerens said. “They came to tour the facility, make sure it was secure and made sure we had the ability to do the job to their specifications. I was baffled when they asked me not to replace any parts unless absolutely necessary, and any parts that were replaced had to be saved, bagged and returned to them.”

It was after Elvis Presley Enterprises approved Northwest for the project that Louwerens was told of the tractor’s special history.

“It was hard to keep it a secret from the guys after a while because they knew that something was up from the beginning,” Louwerens said. “They wanted to know why I was being so tedious and careful with everything.”

Louwerens said the process of restoring the tractor was meticulous.

“The students were required to keep daily journals of any work performed on the tractor and I took photographs of the entire process from the time it arrived on campus until the time it was completed,” Louwerens said.

According to Louwerens, only about 10 pieces of the tractor were replaced.

“Some dents and scratches were left on purpose in order to preserve the tractor’s historical and sentimental value,” Louwerens said.

Once complete, the tractor was moved to a prepared exhibit space on May 8 at the Elvis Presley Auto Museum in Graceland.

The students took a trip to Graceland where they were treated to a VIP tour of Elvis’ mansion and auto museum and were also treated to lunch with employees from the John Deere Corp. "

National Day Of Prayer

Our entire household is still sick with whatever this nastiness is we have. I think it's some sort of sinusy stuff but not positive. It comes with the usual nasty head and body stuff and then toss in a good dose of dizziness. Fun for all! Also, the drainage (from me & every member of my family) activates the morning sickness in a big way. If I'm not feeling better later today (currently it's 1 AM) I do plan on calling my doctor, just to be safe since I have felt like doing nothing but laying around since last Friday.

We missed church on Sunday, Bible study on Monday, and Awana last night. Thank you so much to those of you who called to check on us, texted, send a card (Judith), ect. I haven't missed a Sunday morning in I can't even remember when, so it was nice to know that our presence mattered to someone and that we were missed! Hopefully we'll be up and running before this Sunday.

I did drag myself from the couch for a brief period today to restock Kyle's medicine (I can only take Tylenol. I know they say you can take a couple of things, but in the same sentence tell you to not take anything if you don't have to in the first trimester. I still have a week or so there), go to my step mom's so she could give me my weekly progesterone shot, and deliver my mother's birthday present. Today was her birthday, and she never answers her phone but I couldn't stand the thought of nobody wishing her Happy Birthday. So I did. In all my snotty glory.

This is turning into a seriously whiny post.....and I can't STAND whiny (especially when it's me). I'll wrap this up.

Today (Thursday) is National Day of Prayer. This is the first year in the history of the National Day of Prayer that the White House of the one nation under God, OURS, has sent no representation. (I'm sure they just lost the memo) I hope that we are praying for our Nation, and National leaders daily, hourly, without ceasing....but if we aren't, then today is a very good reminder that we should be.

There are probably lots of good links I could enter here, but I have held my head up entirely too long at this point. Please join me in praying today.....and every day!

2 yrs 11 months

Dear Carter,

As I type the title to this post, I have a big lump in my throat. You see, one short month from today you will be 3 years old. My goodness, does that sound like a big number when I think of my baby boy! Right now you are napping and look very much like my sleeping baby always has. When you wake up though, you are very much a big boy!

You have an unbelievably large vocabulary. I am amazed daily at the new words you say! If you hear a word that you don't know, you'll always ask what it means. I love that about you! You take nothing for granted and are always thirsty to learn. You have known your phone number for at least 6 months, and are pretty good with your address. You know how old you are and when your birthday is and how old you will be then. You know the same things about Lilah! You can say your ABCs and numbers up to 25 or so. You LOVE to sing and are so good at remembering the words! At Lilah's well baby visits Dr Jeanie always spends a long time just talking with you just because she says she loves to see just what you are going to say next! I think she was seriously impressed when you spouted off your phone number at Lilah's 6 month checkup though!

You are, hands down, the best big brother in the world. You were so young when Lilah was born, yet you fell in love with her from the moment you saw her. You are so protective of her and never want to be far away from her. She absolutely adores you. When you found out you were going to have another baby brother or sister soon, you were so very excited! I look so forward to watching you be a big brother to "your new baby" too!

Your favorite bedtime stories have fast become Bible stories. They are far more exciting to you than any other book for children your age! Your favorite story is probably Noah, although you like to hear Adam & Eve too. You decided pretty quickly that you didn't care much for Abraham. You are not shy in telling why you don't like Isaac's daddy one bit!

You love to "help" me do anything, and your newest and most often said phrase is, "I can do it BY MYSELF". You can't wait to get outside every day. You want to know all about every bug, tree, and animal in sight. You have discovered there are "good" things and "bad" things. You ask me alot lately, "Mom, are bears good? are snakes bad? are the neighbors good? and on and on. You are at such a fun age!

Carter, you are such an amazing blessing to our life. I don't know what daddy & I did before you were here. My favorite time of day is at the supper table. Our entire family gathers there every night and you are such a constant source of joy during this time. You are an active part of every conversation and continually have your dad and mom looking at each other and grinning, or just staring in amazement at the things you come up with.

I love it when you look at me and say, "Mom, I sure do love you." I am so very thankful to be your mom, Carter. I look so forward to watching you learn and grow.

I sure do love you, Carter.

Mom

Run!! Here comes the beef!!

fPhoto friday

"Kissin' Cousins"

Canon XSi
ISO 400
1/50 f1.8
Maggie's 2nd Birthday Party

For more fPhoto Friday, visit Natalie!

To Ignore or Not To Ignore?

BabyCenter sends me out these helpful little messages every month or so for Carter & Lilah and the age they are at during that month, and now for the new pregnancy each week. I actually look forward to getting them since they have lots of good info packed into each email.

However, the one I got today for Carter's age I'm not so sure I agree with. Here's a portion of it:

"You're so proud of your angel's burgeoning vocabulary — until words like "poopie head," " stupid," "dummy," and worse creep in. "Bad" words are all around your child: They hear grownups cursing at traffic, pick up foul language from TV, and trade exciting words (the ones that seem to get a rise out of Mom or Dad) with playmates and siblings. Alliterative silly words ("poopy doopy") are favorites because they are so fun to say and hear. The quickest way to make this kind of language disappear is to ignore it. If you make a fuss, you're only showing them how powerful certain words are, which makes them want to say them all the more."

I'm just not sure if this technique will work with my little guy. He, and frankly most every kid I know, will just continue to repeat the "words" more and more loudly until they get a reaction of some kind.

Or maybe I just hang out with and birth "that" kind of kid.....

Today we were driving up the mountain and this pokey car just kept hanging out in the lane that was ending. I slowed down to let them merge but they were basically about to drive their Buick off the side of the mountain and land smack on top of the city of Trenton.

Anyway, I had pretty much come to a complete stop by this point to see what this Buick was going to do when she finally swerved like there was no tomorrow over into my lane.

I said, "You Big Dummy, watch where you're going." I said it really calmly, because I wasn't surprised. I knew she was either gonna swerve or go airborn.

Anyway, turns out I'm the big dummy, because I spent the rest of the drive home, 15 minutes or so explaining to my son what a "big dummy" is.

Which is kinda hard.

Thanks a lot Fred Sanford!

To ignore or not to ignore?.....that is the question!

Top 100

"This list of 100 Christian family blogs will provide parenting tips, support and fellowship to those seeking support and friends from other followers of Jesus Christ."

Here is a LINK. This is a great way to make some new friends facing the same challenges you are, or maybe reconnect with some familiar old ones!

I didn't know this list was being compiled, but I'm excited to be included at number 54!

I look forward to checking out some of the other blogs on the list!

Surgery!

Stellan is undergoing a delicate heart surgery at Children's Hospital in Boston this morning. Surgery is scheduled to begin at 8:30 AM EST. Please join me in praying for this sweet miracle baby, his family, and the doctors in that operating room today.

I was so thankful when he was moved to this hospital in Boston. This hospital will always hold a special place in the hearts of my family. My first cousin's sweet miracle baby, Kyla, was flown there only days after her birth and has since been back for two more heart surgeries. Today Kyla is a beautiful thriving five year old!

God is good and has already worked such miracles in Stellan's life. I know HE knows the future, but I feel like I "know" this family and I'm praying for another one today! My heart aches for this mother as I know she must be missing her other 3 babies terribly as well as worried sick about Stellan.

MckMama is updating via Twitter pretty regular so you can check there for updates!

Wearing Orange for Stellan today!

The Picture of Disgust

Our President has been quoted as saying relations with Venezuela are "promising". This picture makes me want to vomit profusely. Chavez is an evil evil man. Don't know who Chavez is? Visit my friend, Rita who knows firsthand. She was one of the many missionaries driven from Venezuela by this evil man.

This image should remind us all that the only "promising" way to approach any relations with this man and what he represents is on our face in prayer before the Almighty God.

I sincerely hope our president has done just that.

If you aren't already praying daily for God's guidance, wisdom, and salvation for our president and national leaders, today is a great day to start.

One, Three, Five.....

I had a Dr's appointment today.

....and we HEARD and SAW a beautiful, sweet, STRONG little heartbeat!!


Our little ONE, which if you are keeping track will be number THREE, is due on December FIVE. (5th actually, but that didn't work out nearly as well in the title....One, Three, Fifth....not quite as good. no?)

However, when I informed Dr. H that I would like to give birth on December 3, (you know, since he was taking requests and all) then went on to explain that Carter was born on the 1st, Lilah on the 2nd, and how cool would it be if THREE were born on the 3rd? He laughed ....kinda loud, and said, "yeah, we're looking at a November baby". My other two were 2 weeks early so this one will probably be about the same.

....and really, how awesome would it be to have a Thanksgivingish baby? For my husband and I to go from years....yes, years, of fertility treatments, 2 miscarriages while on said treatments in 2003 & 2004, to giving up on our dream of children after the last failed IUI in May of 2005, to miraculously finding out we were pregnant in Oct 2005, giving birth to a beautiful baby boy in June 2006, finding out we were expecting Lilah in August 2007, and giving birth in April 2008.......

.....for someone who barely dared to dream of one baby, much less two,......to even hope, pray for a third seems almost too awesome to even imagine! What better time than Thanksgivingish to have that baby enter the world?

I'd say that would be God's time.

Thank you so much to all who are praying with us for this little miracle. Please continue to pray for the health and safety of this baby and the sanity of it's mother...:)

.....Once I can feel it moving, I promise I'll chill out.

Philosophical Musings.....

...So I'm cleaning house while Carter is watching Max & Ruby this morning. Max & Ruby are brother and sister bunny rabbits. Max is the little brother and Ruby is the bossy older sister bunny.

Anyway, Max and Ruby were getting all excited about Easter and an upcoming visit from the Easter Bunny.

As they wondered what treats the Easter Bunny would be leaving in their baskets this year, I couldn't help but ponder this thought.....

If the Easter Bunny visits other bunnies, like say, Max & Ruby, wouldn't it just be like a break in?

....or would Easter be like Christmas for bunnies?.....and the Easter Bunny like their Santa?

....or maybe the progesterone shot I got last night is affecting my brain?

Something is up because as I listened to Ruby in the segment just before the Easter one, she was running around a candy store tasting every imaginable candy and I, Deedra Pike, got literally sick just thinking about all that chocolate and candy and hearing her sound effects as she enjoyed each one. MUST be the hormones! (which in a weird way makes me feel good, since I think maybe this means everything is going as it should be babywise?)

No doubt if this post disappears, you'll know the hormonal haze I am apparently drifting around in has worn off :)

Hello, Esther....

Yes, that's right! I've signed up to do the latest Beth Moore Bible Study starting soon at our church.

Esther. It's Tough Being A Woman

It's been a while since I've done one of her studies, but I told myself as soon as I heard about this one that if our church did it......I'd be in on it. Because really, It IS tough being a woman....and I need all the help I can get!

Plus, since Bethy (I can call her that now, since she reads and comments on my blog) is now my BFF, I want to be able to give her honest, educated feedback because I know she'll surely ask me for it next time we see each other.

After the clogging, of course.

SO!! Local girls, have you signed up yet? You don't have to go to our church to participate! From what I understand we'll be doing the study on Monday nights at the church. You can call Deb, Judith, or the church for more info!

See you there!

I Regretfully Inform You.....

That the Obama Chia has been banned, according to the latest press release from CNN.

SO!

You'll have to find something else for your Father's Day, Graduation, Mother's Day, and Birthday gifts if this was the gift you were planning on presenting to your loved ones this year.

I know my own dad will be devastated. I can only imagine the many uses he would have found for this festive little trinket.

Happy Birthday Lilah!

Happy birthday sweet Lilah! I can barely believe you've been with us for a year! We are so blessed to have you in our lives. We love you so very much!

Love,
Mom, Dad,
& Carter

(to make this bigger, click the second button from the right at the bottom)

Update

So, my Dr's appointment this morning revealed a "very early pregnancy". Which in my mind is wonderful and scary all at the same time. It's wonderful because I got to start on the progesterone shots that I took with both Carter and Lilah the first 12 weeks or so really early. The ultrasound today actually looked pretty much exactly like the first one with Lilah. Pretty much like a big chunk of cells. It's scary because it's still so early and I didn't get to see or hear a heartbeat or much of anything today. Hopefully by the next visit, April 15, we'll be able to see more.


So!

Please keep us in your prayers!

2 weeks is a long time sometimes.