NUMBER THREE

I am really late on this post.

This is normal.

Meet our number three

Molly Grace.

One of her distinctions in our home is that she was our tiniest baby.

She loves it when I tell her that.

Molly is quite the personality in our home.

You could probably say she is THE personality in our home.

She even sleeps with personality--can you see her? No? Me either.

I often have to go poking in her bed at night during the final "mom check" to see *where* she is in comparison to all her stuffed animals and Barbie Dolls that she has to sleep with because, as she puts it,

"I can't pick just one, Mom"

It's her bed, what can I say?

Oh yeah, and she often sleeps in a dress.

That's just Molly.

Molly has taken up sports which was quite a surprise to us because she's always been more of a girlie girl. Now we just describe her as a girlie girl tomboy.

She's loves to dig in dirt so much that Memaw and Papa always gave her a special place in the backyard to dig. Needless to say, she LOVED the beach sand and even digging in our backyard in Florida was heaven to Molly.

She's always been a tactile child and literally washed her hands in her food everytime she ate until the age of around three, when I finally put a stop to it.

From time to time, however, she is still known to do it when I'm not looking.

Molly views sports as alot of fun, as shown below, because she believes it to be a very important time in her social development.

Chatting over bottled water while sitting on the bench is as important for Molly as playing the sport itself.

She he has pink soccer shoes & basketball shoes with pink in them.

Molly is very photogenic. As a matter of fact, I cannot remember a bad picture of Molly.

She takes after her Aunt Erin, who she emulates.

She LOVES to be compared to Aunt Erin.

I love, and at times absolutely loathe, that she is so much like my sister.

They both can have SUCH a *Diva* personality.

This is Molly with some of her fellow third graders in a limo ride at the annual

"Third Grade Manners Luncheon"

The person she has wrapped around her little pinky.

Her "Escort for the Day"

This is such a "mom picture".

Happy Belated Ninth Birthday Blog, (March 24th) Molly Grace.

She now wants to be known as Molly Grace, by the way.

A result of living in the south.

She does southern so well.

This next picture is just revenge.

My sister, Molly Grace's Aunt Erin.

I threatened to post it on my blog because she kept making gestures for the camera that I cannot rightly post, as I try to keep my blog PG.

See how photogenic she is?

Gotcha', Erin.

Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,pppbbbththth!!!

NUMB

Numb: lacking or deficient in emotion or feeling; indifferent

The past couple of days have been emotionally up and down for me and today I have digressed to just being numb.

Some things are happening in our life and they are bringing back memories of previous times in our life and feelings of uneasiness and general distrust.

Hubby has been at the school a year now, evaluated things and has this week started putting into action some tough changes.

Changes are never easy, especially when you've been burned; taking the first step towards a fire brings up all sorts of emotions.

Everything seems fine.

But are they really?

There are questions and reservations.

Questioning of everyone's motives.

Reservations about who you can really trust; do I let them know the deep-down, real me?

Over-analyzation of every comment, email, and meeting.

We've learned that when changes are made and all is quiet and everything seems fine, we need to start ducking and looking over our shoulder for the tidal wave.

We've learned that once you walk through the fire and come out the other side, there is usually another fire to walk through, and another and another.

I firmly believe that the road to heaven is engulfed in fire. It's not only straight and narrow but filled with fiery trials to walk through.

I'm not saying that you have to walk through fire to get to heaven but it's there nonetheless. Those willing to walk through the fire become stronger and are then able to carry those that cannot walk through the fires; those not willing, will step around the fire and will not experience the adventure of walking through and the strength to carry on and the courage to ask for more. Refined is the one word I can think to describe how you feel coming out the other side.

Refined through Satan's fire, by the hand of God.

Our greatest discovery about our life-destiny has become our greatest act of submission--our life has been, is and always will be all about walking through fires.

We're wholly content with this and fully inspired by it because we feel that the end result is worth the scars and the burns...

And always smelling smoke behind every door.

There's a song we should probably claim as "our song" at this point in our lives. I don't remember the name of it right now.

It's written and sung by a girl that is blind. She's definitely walked through some fires and the song speaks of what she has learned about the trials.

She says that it's not the fire (trial) that makes us strong, it's walking through the fire that makes us strong. Coincidentally, we heard the song for the first time when starting the walk through our most recent fire, a year and a half ago, and it changed our whole outlook on the trial.

We became focused on what we were going to learn through it, instead of wondering why we were allowed to go through the trial. In a way, we viewed ourselves as being blessed for having the priviledge of walking through the fire.

No, we did not enjoy the burn. At times, it was unbearably painful and, to this day, the scars are the hardest part with which to deal, but we learned immensely from the experience and gained knowledge far beyond our 37 years.

Further even, we learned that we become strongest when we are willing to walk forward, not knowing but suspecting there is fire around the next corner and being fully ready and willing to walk through it, if there is.

I don't feel numb anymore.

I'M HIGH

So, I have to hurry because my hubby just went to get some more gauze and some hydrocodone to deal w/the pain I'm sure to have soon from having all four molars out today.

I thought I wouldn't be able to blog but I thought I'd try before the laughing gas wore off...and to see if I could still type. It's a little hard but I think I'm typing okay.

Maybe I'm really slow, like the drunk people you see on T.V. pulled over by the cops.

Am I rambling?

Everything is really funny to me right now. Zac has tripped twice and I cracked up laughing with my chipmunk cheeks.

My mouth feels like cotton and I feel nauseous at times, mostly when Zac is running circles around the room.

Everything went well. They didn't have to use stitches after all; my teeth just gave way.

Gerald would be really mad if he knew I was sitting up instead of reclining like I'm supposed to be.

He and I had a small tif last night and it's all I could do to keep from crying while under the funny gas.

Maybe I did, who really knows.

All I really remember is they seemed to have a hard time pulling out tooth number one and I could hear the cracking and tearing of whatever it is that cracks and tears. But it was sort of like a dream and I kept thinking maybe I'm already at home asleep and I don't even know it.

Okay, I think this will turn out to be a seriously weird blog.

I remember the assistant saying something about cookies and the dentist asked if she was going to throw up. Maybe I was actually talking.

I talked to God alot when the nitrous first kicked in; glad he was there. Now I know why we all need faith. Out of body experiences are not something to go alone.

Well, I'm starting to feel really cold and a little nauseous again and I have to get back into "post-surgery position" on the recliner before Gerald gets back.

I think I'll go take a look at myself now. Maybe I'll take a pic and post it.

Ha, that's funny.

I can't feel my lower lip and I keep asking Gerald if I'm slobbering. He laughs and says, "Not yet." He says he should record this.

Ooh, I think I'm starting to feel a little pain. Me no likey.

Ha, ha again.

Tomorrow I'm sure I'll be so embarrassed I posted this but I just HAD to.

Don't hold it against me.

Tomorrow I'll surely be on hydrocodone so, seriously, don't expect a blog.

Love you all. Enjoy Easter.

WISDOM AND A GOOD CAUSE

WISDOM...

I, Amy, am 37 years old and am TOMORROW having my wisdom teeth cut out.

I am so EXCITED!

Ha.

Yes, I was a "late bloomer". My wisdom teeth didn't break through until sometime after I was off of my parent's insurance. The extra teeth never bothered me; besides, I had five children, a husband, a dog, two or three friends, a house that needed renovating, an old boat, great neighbors, and, most importantly, no dental insurance or extra cashola.

Plus, the wisdom I gained from having these four extra pieces of enamel in my mouth was priceless.

A few years ago I was told by a dentist they needed to come out b/c I have a very small mouth and I could not brush them properly as they were right up against my jaw.

They still didn't bother me, I still had no insurance or extra cashola, so why bother?

See the priceless wisdom of which I spoke?

Then, Super Bowl this year, I was eating a chip and heard the awful sound of one of my teeth cracking. The day of reckoning had arrived.

Tooth against jaw, no brushy-brushy, cavity and half a tooth.

Low and behold, the dentist was right after all.

Imagine that.

She must still have all her wisdom teeth.

So, I went about life with a half a tooth, only chewing on one side of my mouth, my jaw aching from one-sidedness. My tooth was now bothering me so much that I was popping up to three ibuprofens before bed to ward off the pain so I could sleep a little. During the day, I was able to cope...most of the time. I have a high pain threshold and I don't like taking medication.

I was petrified about being "put under" but the pain eventually won out. The dentist that is performing the "big event" tomorrow will be using laughing gas, per my request after we discussed all the options. I hope I don't do or say anything stupid. I'll let you know.

I'm slightly nervous as the event now looms on the horizon.

I am counting down hours. My stomach has butterflies and I've lost my appetite.

That's a good thing, by the way.

I'm anticipating being down and out for two days; hopefully, no more.

Don't EVEN expect a blog, people.

NOW THE GOOD CAUSE...

Anna, Jake and Molly are participating in a "Math-A-Thon" sponsored by their school and benefiting St. Jude Children's Hospital. 100% of the donations go to St. Jude, the school does not benefit monetarily from this fundraiser, just in name.

There are two kids with whom they go to school that are ongoing out-patients at St. Jude and the school does about two fundraising events a year for St. Jude Children to show their support for these kids.

My kids have set their goals based on prizes they can win from donations, of course, and would love it if anyone that reads my blog would feel impressed to leave a donation for a good cause.

Click on the following link to reach the donation page for the Math-A-Thon. You can use a credit/debit card online or send a check into the school.

The school's address is:
Whitesburg Christian Academy
c/o Math-A-Thon
6806 Whitesburg Drive
HSV, AL 35802

(Yes, you can just put HSV for Huntsville since mail gets to its destination through the ZIP code; it also saves you energy and wards off writer's cramp.)

For online donations, click on the link below then click on "Sponsor School" and find Whitesburg Academy in ALABAMA, then you click on "Sponsor Participant" and type in whichever of our three wonderful, angelic children you'd like to sponsor/donate. Follow the directions displayed.

Thank you if you decide to donate; if you don't, you're a loser.

Just kidding.

Make sure that if you send in a check, you write the name of whom you are sponsoring in the "Memo" section.

St. Jude Children's is primarily funded by public contributions. About 83% of funds donated in the past five years has gone to fund current or future needs of the program.

The link: https://www.mathathonwired.org/Mathathon/Public/Student/Page/Default.jsp?sectionStyle=subMenuTwo

New blog in a few. Wish me luck!

I AM SOOOO

TIRED!

Three sets of visitors in three weeks is killing me.

New blog tomorrow.

I apologize to all of my millions of adoring fans.

Just cannot do it today.