Slow going...

Well, here it is. The first post since my surgery. It's taking me a while to type this one, so it won't be long. You can see by the picture that my fingers are quite swollen. They stay this way if I don't constantly keep my hand elevated, so I need to get back in there and put some ice on it and prop it up. The surgery went well. The worst thing is having to keep it bandaged up like this for 2 weeks. It is very inconvenient and annoying. Not to mention hot and itchy...and I've only been dealing with it now for about 3 days!! I'll get back into blogging more regularly as soon as I can type faster. Thanks for the prayers and concern!!

Soul Patrol!

I must say that I'm not surprised that Taylor won, and I do love him dearly. At the risk of getting kicked right out of the state of Alabama, I am still going to maintain that Kat is the better singer. I LOVE Taylor's voice...very original and I'm sure I'll buy his album, but I'll also buy hers...and you KNOW she'll have one! I enjoyed the finale...even if it was quite drawn out. OK...I gotta give my best and worst moments of the show. Best: The little "Clay Aiken" guy that was so pitiful...when Clay came out! OH MY WORD! I thought the poor guy was either going to have a heart attack or wet his pants! That was hilarious! The worst...BY FAR, was Meatloaf! HELLO?? What in the world!!! Kat should've won just for being able to stay on key trying to sing with him! She did great during that song, and I honestly don't know how she was able to do that well when he was so off! Anyway, there's my opinion of the show!!

Now, I wanted to post a few pictures from the UPWARD soccer banquet. We had a good time and I think it was a great community outreach. These pictures are my favorites of the ones I took.
The first one is before we left for the banquet.

The second is of Macy and her friend Abby.

And the third is of Macy with her soccer ball that all the kids received at the awards.


Now, to update you all on what's going on with my wrist surgery. I have to be at the surgery center at 10:15 in the morning. My surgery is scheduled for 11:15. Feel free to say a prayer for me during that time! I went for my pre-op yesterday, and the nurse told me that it would take longer for them to get me bandaged up after the surgery than it would take the doctor to actually do it! That's pretty nutty! It sounds like I shouldn't even be there all that long. I will have IV sedation, but it's not general anesthesia. She said that I will probably "nap" and won't have a clue what's going on, but it won't be something that it takes me half a day to wake up from. She feels like I'll only be in recovery about 45 minutes (make sure I feel OK, get something to drink, etc...). So, that's the latest on that situation. I'm glad to know that is must not be as involved as I had imagined, but I'm still not excited about the IV. At least with the actual surgery, I won't know what's going on. I HATE IV's.

That's all I've got for today! Bear with me, as it might be a little while before I post again. I will at least post a short blog to let you all know how my surgery went, but since it might take me a while to type, it won't be much! Thanks in advance for your prayers!! Have a great weekend and a good Memorial Day!!

The Countdown Begins...

This is a little bit of a busy week for me. I know that you all are frantically checking my blog, eagerly anticipating the exciting things I have to share, but please, don't get too excited! I don't have a lot to share, I just thought I would fill you all in a little on what's going on with the Wallace's this week.

Tonight, we have the UPWARD soccer awards night. (I wanted to put some kind of picture on this post...how do ya like the soccer ball trophies?!)
Anyway, it will be very neat, I'm sure. We're expecting a huge crowd. There are 170 kids playing from all over the community, so if they all come and bring their family members, we should have a pretty packed house! It will be such a good conclusion to our spring season. All the kids are going to receive a soccer ball with the UPWARD logo on it. I know they will like that. I wish that you'd say a little prayer that the banquet goes well and that we will be able to bring others to Christ through this ministry.

In more news, as you might have read in one of my first blogs, I'm having wrist surgery. Well, it is already time! It seems like it got here awfully quick!! My surgery is Friday, so that is the main reason that my week is a little busy. I have my pre-op tomorrow. I am trying to make sure that the house is in order and the laundry is done before I go "under the knife." I just don't know what to expect. He has told me that I'll have stitches for 2 weeks, as well as some sort of cast or dressing that he doesn't want me to get wet. I just figure that I'll be in enough pain and inconvenienced enough that I won't be doing housework for a few days. So, I'm going to continue to work toward the goal of getting my house ready for the next few days. I wish you'd also say a little prayer for me and my nerves about this surgery. Also, pray that my kids will be good during my recovery! Brady is doing GREAT with his potty training, but he doesn't want to use his little potty chair, he wants to sit on the big potty...that's fine, except that I'll be having to lift him up there. I need to think of a way to make the "little potty" more appealing to him!

So, there's the story of my week. I usually say at least SOMETHING about American Idol on my Tuesday post, but this week is a little different. I am usually looking forward to shipping the kids off to the in-laws so that I can park in front of the TV for the evening and watch, but not tonight. We have that banquet, so the in-laws are only taking Brady. Then, we'll be at the banquet during American Idol, so I'll have to watch it when I get home. I don't know what to expect tomorrow night! I think Taylor will win, but it won't totally shock me if Kat gets it! They'll both do great from this point!!

Have a great Tuesday!!

"for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose."Phil. 2:13

How Fitting!

If I emailed any of you this picture already, just ignore this blog. I tried not to send it to anyone that I thought might see it here. I took this picture of Brady while ago, and I didn't realize how funny it was until I loaded it on the computer. Now, I thought it was funny to begin with, because the whole reason I was taking the picture was to show his shirt. It makes me laugh everytime I look at it...mostly because if I had designed the shirt myself, it couldn't have been any more perfect for him! In case you can't read the whole sentence, it says, "I do all my own stunts." Now, to me, that alone is HILARIOUS! Well, to make it even funnier, take a look at the big red knot on his forehead! HAHA He does his own stunts, that's for sure! More than once, they've landed us in the ER. Luckily, not this time. He only fell off the arm of the recliner and cracked his head on the base of the floor lamp. Oh the joys of having a boy!

Random Thoughts...

Shall we start with a proper farewell to Elliot Yamin? He is a great singer and a seemingly great guy...very humble and emotional. I really like him...but I do think, personally, that America made the right choice. I still can't believe that there was less that 1 percentage point seperating all 3 of them! Wow! I do believe he'll make an album, and I think it'll be good! Not to mention...I'll be seeing him, along with the the other top 9 in Birmingham on August 8th! WOOOHOOO!! I'm SO excited!

Now, in other news...Potty training is going well at my house! HA! It is amazing to me, really, how well Brady has done. It's true what they say about when the child is ready, they'll do it. He just decided one day, after weeks of me trying to get him interested, that he would start using the potty. I had to share this picture of him with his new haircut...in his training pants. He looks like SUCH a big boy!!

The funniest thing that has happened in the process happened last night. I went over to a girlfriends house for a little birthday party and to watch American Idol, and my cell phone rang. It was Brady. He was calling to tell me that he had poo pooed in the potty! Well, that in itself was exciting news, because that is one area of the potty training that hasn't been going so well. So, then, I got the better news. Not only had he done it in the potty, he had told his daddy that he needed too!! Yeah! We usually have to "catch him in the act." So, things are looking up around here! I know you are all thrilled to be reading a blog about poop. Hey, if you're a person that has ever potty trained, you'll appreciate this blog!

Now, I couldn't close this blog without also posting a picture of the the elder Wallace child...the future nurse.

What's funny about this is that it's a recent development. She's always told me that when she grows up, she wants to be a mommy. I think that is so sweet. Sometimes, she'll say she wants to be a mommy and a teacher or something like that. Well, at her preschool graduation last week, after they called out their name, the would say, "When Macy grows up, she wants to be a ....." Well, I was so excited and looking forward to when it was Macy's turn, because I thought it would be so sweet to hear, "When Macy grows up, she wants to be a mommy." I could just hear the audience saying, "awwwww." Well, to my surprise, the booming voice said, "When Macy grows up, she wants to be a nurse." Well, that was the first time I had ever heard that! It was pretty funny!! So, now, that seems to be the career she's hung up on! Fine with me!! We'll see what she says next week!

Well, I'm off for my stroll around the block. Have a great Thursday!!

O Happy Day!!

Well, I just couldn't wait to share the news! My sister-in-law, her husband and my nephew are moving to Tuscaloosa! YIPPIE!!!!! He is getting out of the Army! For anyone that might not know, they've been in Fort Bragg, North Carolina for a while now (that is, when Justin wasn't in Iraq)! Anyway, he was in Iraq for a long time last year (they found out Etta was pregnant the day before he left and he came home for his R&R when Justin Michael was born...but due to some delays, missed the birth by a few hours). They (Etta & Justin Michael) lived here the whole time Justin was gone, so we got quite used to having them around...especially my kids. Needless to say, none of us had a real easy time sending them back to NC after Christmas. The grandparents have been out to see them a couple of times, but we aren't able to do so. Now, Tuscaloosa...that's a different story! That's a weekend trip, easy!! Especially during football season!

I know that this is the best thing for their family. They are a prayerful family and have been seeking God's guidance through their entire job search. I know they will be a light wherever they are planted...I'm just so thankful that it is in Alabama!!

Sacred Tuesday!

Well, here I am again on my blessed Tuesday. My routine is to get the kids off to the in-laws, do whatever needs to be done around the house, fix supper, and sit down to watch a little TV...namely:

Now, I must admit that this post might look a little familiar because I have a bit of the same conflict this week as I did last week...and it involves namely:

I'm very loyal to both of these competitions, so I think that I will probably record American Idol so that I'm sure not to miss anything, but I might have to at least flip over a couple of times to check on the phone numbers should I decide to vote!! It is just so rare that we're able to watch the Marlins on TV in Florence that can't not watch!! Either way, it'll be a nice, quiet evening at home. I feel like I am a little selfish with my Tuesdays. A lot of times...tonight being one of those times...there are things scheduled on Tuesday nights that I feel like I need to go to (i.e., baby showers), but I just can't bring myself to give up my Tuesday! It's not even about the TV watching...it's about being home with no kids and my husband actually here! That is SO rare! Most of my girlfriends act as if they would do the same thing, so I guess that makes me feel better. I usually buy a gift and send it to the shower...isn't that the most important thing anyway?! HA!

I wish a I had a picture to post of my sweet Brady. He got his hair cut today and didn't behave very well...that is until we spotted a rack on the wall containing packs of cashews. Yes, cashews! He LOVES them. So, I told him that he could have some if he would straighten up, and that did it. He's got a sweet, summer haircut. The poor boy has hair woes...a double crown and a cowlick. About the best thing for it is to keep it short. I'm sure there will be a picture to come soon.

Hope you all enjoy your Tuesday as much as I know I will!! Did I mention that when my in-laws bring the kids home, they've had baths! Yippie!

When It Rains...

Well, I was already a little bummed because Jarrod has to go to a fire school all week in Huntsville. They are driving back and forth, which is actually better than usual, because he's here in the evenings. The main reason I was a little bummed is because we were wanting to go to Atlanta and watch the Braves and Marlins. We would've gotten our money's worth tonight! Anyway, I don't know if I mentioned it in a previous post or not, but less than a month ago, Jarrod had strep throat. Amazingly, none of us got it. But perhaps more amazing than that...he's got it AGAIN! He started complaining about his throat again over the weekend, and today, I talked to him during his lunch break and he said that he was thinking that he might go back to Med Plus when he got home. We were sure he couldn't have it again! Wrong! He got a shot and some more antibiotics! Hopefully this will knock it out once and for all!!!

More fun stuff going on in the Wallace household...potty training. Brady is actually doing VERY well. I think he's decided that he's ready. He's done really well the past 2 days. Keep your fingers crossed! It is an experience, but a funny one, for the most part. He looked so cute running around in training pants tonight! We're going through M&M's like crazy in this house! He'll ask to go to the potty just to try to "squeeze out" enough to qualify for some chocolate!

OK...no deep thoughts or anything tonight. Just thought I'd tell a little about what's happening around here. If you've been keeping up, my funk hasn't totally lifted, and might have even started to rear it's ugly head again today. Tomorrow will be better! I hope that Brady continues to do well with the potty and that he doesn't act like a fool when we go to get his haircut! You never know about him!

"But you--keep your eye on what you're doing; accept the hard times along with the good..." II Tim. 4:5 (The Message)

What A Joy!

This inaugural season of UPWARD soccer at Cross Point has been such a blast. It has been so funny to watch the kids, most of which knew nothing about soccer when they started, learn and start to really play hard. It's been a learning experience for the coaches and referee's too! A lot of them didn't know much about the game either! Our first game, I thought, "Oh my goodness...Macy is going to stand around cheering and playing with her hair all season!" Well, she has proven me very wrong! Now, don't get me wrong...she's far from the star of the team. A lot of times, she kicks the ball toward the wrong goal. But to see the look on her face when her foot actually makes contact with the ball has been the biggest joy for me. She really likes it. For those of you that might not know a lot about UPWARD, we don't keep score, (unless we're winning!) prayer time with the team and a short devo at half time of every game, and every player is rewarded with a star after the game. There are different colored stars for different things. There are 5 different colors that they can be awarded after the game. Well, Macy had all the colors except for grey...that one is for best offense. As you read earlier, she is just happy to kick the ball in any direction! I told her this morning, when she was telling me how badly she wanted that grey star, that she was going to have to get in there and get after the ball. I explained a little about what offense was. Well, I wish you all could've seen her. She stayed right with the ball the whole time and kicked it more (usually in the right direction) than she has all season. She had such a look of determination on her face. Well, I say all that to tell you that she got the grey star! She couldn't have been more excited if Cinderella had presented it to her! She was jumping up and down and saying, "I got it! I got the grey star! Woohoo!" What a joy!!! I love the way that she has been introduced into sports through UPWARD. Everybody wins...everyone is rewarded...and all you have to do is try your best! What a lesson!

Reality Check!

Well, I wanted to show a picture of the lovely flowers that I received from my husband today for Mother's Day. This picture was taken from above the vase so that you could tell more about them. The thing that struck me funny about the situation was this: I had put the kids down for naps and gone straight to the kitchen to get a stew and some cornbread mixed up for supper tomorrow night (it has to cook in the crockpot all day and I'm not going to be home tonight and am leaving early in the morning...in case you wondered why I was mixing it up now). So, I've been standing in the kitchen all this time...I sit down long enough to call the fire station and thank him for the lovely flowers. He says, "Oh, did you get them? Do you like them?" Of course I do. I told him as much, to which he replies, "Are you going to do any laundry? I need my UPWARD shirt for tomorrow!" Happy Mother's Day to me...now back to reality!

Time Flies!

Should we start with a moment of silence?

OK...that's long enough! Good grief...he's going to be fine. I heard on the news tonight that the band Fuel already wants him to be their lead singer. I personally think that is what he needs to be doing.

Well, tonight was strange for me. Macy graduated from pre-school! It was really cute. Here's a blurry picture of her marching in wearing her cap and gown!

The emotional thing about it is that I know that I'll be sitting at her high school graduation before I know it! I cannot believe that she starts kindergarten this year! That blows my mind. It really does seem like such a short time ago that she was a baby! The ceremony was really neat. They said several different pledges... the pledge to the flag, of course. Also, the pledge to the Christain flag and the pledge to the Bible. They sang some songs, and did sign language with one of them. She had a really good time. She loved being at Kings Kids SO much. She made great friends and loved her teacher, Mrs. Christy, dearly. Her best friend that she made was Mackenzie. I thought it was so sweet...after the ceremony, Mackenzie's mom came over and handed me a little necklace. She said, "Mackenzie wanted to get her something SO badly." It is a little silver necklace with Tinkerbell on it. Mackenzie has one just like it...her's says "Best" on it, and Macy's says, "Friends!" Did any of you ever have the broken heart neaklace like that?? I did. Anyway, I thought that was very sweet. All the grandparents came and Macy wanted to go to Cracker Barrel for supper, so we did! We enjoyed it, and she loved having us all in the same place!

The whole evening reassured me that I've got to enjoy every minute with them because they go by very quickly! I can prove that with one last picture of my kiddos... Brady is looking like a very big boy these days!!

Just When I Think Things Are Looking Up...

Well, my day was starting off a little better. I woke up in a little less of a funk and went about my day. I dropped Macy off at school and Brady and I headed over to the Y. Then, I left there, did some Mother's Day card shopping and went to the fire station to visit Jarrod. My plan was to go home, shower, and eat lunch before picking Macy up from school. Bear in mind, I've been to the Y, so I've got on work out clothes and a cap and not a drop of make-up. While I'm sitting at the fire station at around 11:00, my cell phone rings. It's the director of the pre-school. She said, "Are you picking Macy up today?" I said, "Yes." I am assuming she meant after school. She said, "Well, we just wondered if you were coming, or if she needed to ride with her teacher." Then it hit me like a ton of bricks...her end of year party that was listed on the calendar for tomorrow had been moved to TODAY! I was supposed to have picked her up at 10:45 and taken her to another location for the party. I was also supposed to bring her a lunch. So, you can imagine how embarrassed I was...not only that I had forgotten everything, but I had to go to her party looking like a HAG (while all the other cute little stay-at-home moms sit there fully made up in their cute little outfits)!! In my defense, it's been a week since they told us about the change. They sent home a reminder on Thursday, but Macy wasn't at school Thursday! That'll teach me not to make the changes on my calendar!! So, needless to say, my fairly chipper mood was gone in about 30 seconds!

SO...fast forward. I'm getting better because my kids just left to spend the evening with my in-laws, and I can focus on three things that will make my evening happy!

Number 1: GIRLFRIENDS!! I'm having dinner with 2 of my best friends. That always brings a smile to my face!

Number 2:

Yes, I think that I've officially decided that Kat is probably my top choice (ask me if I feel the same way tomorrow). I love Taylor and Chris a lot too...I guess I just think that Kat is probably the most versatile of them all.

Number 3:

So, not only have I got some American Idol to watch tonight, thanks to the fact that the Marlins are playing the Braves, I've also got some baseball to watch! It really stinks that we can't watch Josh and the Marlins on a regular basis. That's one reason I'm anxious for them to play the Braves. They play a series this week and next! Yeah!

So, now that I have bored you all to tears with the mundane details of my day, I must go get ready for my dinner with the ladies!

Beware!

I probably shouldn't even be blogging today! I think I need to go back and read my previous post entitled "Lift Up Your Eyes!" I have been kind of down since the news of wrist surgery was handed to me, but I can't keep blaming that! Truth is, I've been in a little bit of a funk for a while now, and I can't really put my finger on why. I like to hope that I'm not the only one who experiences this from time to time. Many times, there is not a specific event that happens that causes this "funk," other times, you know exactly what causes it! BUT, I must say that the worst thing that can happen is when your already funky funk is made even funkier by another event that comes along!! Now do you see why I titled this blog "Beware?" It's a real "pick-me-up," huh?!

I have really gotten into the blogging world a lot lately. I read lots of blogs everyday. Some of the blogs I read are people that might not even know me, and I might not really know them, but I know of them through mutual friends or family. Without exception, when I have read my "favorite" blogs each evening, there has been at least one that has made me laugh. There has been at least one that really gave me something to think about. At least one of you has commented on my post for that day and brought a smile to my face because I knew you cared about what I had to say, or your comment was something that I needed to hear at the time. Thanks for bringing a smile to my face whether we know each other, or not!

I pray, and ask you to do the same, that I can perk up and be the happy, loving mother and wife that God wants me to be! I'll be out of this funk soon enough! I'm sorry if this was a real downer, but I guess I just needed to vent a little. I think that's the beauty of a blog, right? I guess I can write whatever I feel, and if it really depresses someone, they can quit reading! HA! I think that now, I must post a picture or two that will absolutely bring a smile to my face! Hope you all have an "unfunky" day!!!

Couldn't resist!

Well, I feel like a proud big sister, but I loved this picture of Josh having just hit a two run homer last night, and I wanted to put it out there for you all to see! He's doing great! He's been blessed with a great talent! The best thing, he's the same 'ol Josh! Go Marlins!!!!

Lift Up Your Eyes

Well, it's been one of those days! It went really well up until about 3:00. I had some wonderful company last night and our kids had a great morning together. Then, the dreaded doctor's appointment! My left wrist has been bugging me off and on for a year now. I had a couple of shots IN MY WRIST and the first one was quite helpful. It actually kept me pain free for about 10 months. Then, BOOM. Pain starts back. I went back to the doctor thinking that I would endure another horrible shot, and that would be the end of it. I was wrong. So, I broke down and went back today. To try to make this already long story shorter...I'm going under the knife on May 26! It's really depressing! It's going to be so inconvenient. I've got two small children to take care of, blah, blah, blah! So many people have much worse troubles than me! It's so easy for me to get down and feel sorry for myself, and then, I came across this page in a book I keep by my bed:

When you feel down, everything around you seems to fall apart, and you begin to lose your strength. Your head and hands and heart begin to droop. Even your eyes and your voice are lowered.

You are downcast because you are looking at your problems, and this only makes you feel worse. Sometimes you are tempted to say, "Oh, what's the use?" and just give up. But God is waiting for you to lift up your eyes and look to Him for help.

Life will always bring discouraging situations, but you don't have to let them get you down. Despite life's distressing circumstances, you can be confident in the Lord, the lifter of your head.

Lift up your eyes, hands, head, and heart, and look not at your problems, but at the one who has promised to see you through to victory. Smile...it will lift your spirit.

But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
Psalm 3:3

I pray that I can remember these words when I get down about things happening in my life...and "not look at my problems, but at the One who has promised to see me through to victory!"

No Pressure!

Sometime over the past few years, my good friend Jeanne taught a ladies class at church. She passed out this poem that I have since had posted on my medicine cabinet in my bathroom. It has been there for so long, that I don't give it the attention that I used too. Boy, did it hit me when I made a point to read it again today. For those of you who have daughters...or those of you who are in a position of influence over any young ladies, please give this a look!!

A LITTLE GIRL FOLLOWS ME
A careful teacher I want to be.
A little girl follows me.
I do not dare to go astray
For fear she'll go the self-same way.

I cannot ever escape her eyes.
Whatever she sees me do she tries.
Like me she says she's going to be,
The little girl who follows me.

She thinks that I am good and fine,
Believes in every word of mine.
The base in me she must not see,
The little girl who follows me.

I must remember as I go
Through summer's sun and winter's snow
I am building for the years that be
For that little girl who follows me.