I have been tagged for a meme!

This is something new to me! Sarah at www.wakingsophie.blogspot.com, one of my FIAR friends, tagged me to do a "meme".

The rules are: You have to link the tagger, list the rules, share 7 weird tidbits about yourself, and tag 7 other bloggers. So here goes:

7 weird things about myself:

1--I have never been out of my timezone (Eastern) and until this past May, I had never been on an airplane.

2--I tried very hard to learn to knit a couple of years ago, but I failed miserably. Just ask my friend Kindra who tried to teach me. LOL!

3--I have no idea how to work an ipod, a Wii, or a nintendo ds. I probably couldn't even tell them apart if I tried.

4--I have the coolest tattoo. Ok, that may not be really weird, but I had to throw that in there!

5--I have an irrational fear of spiders. If I see one in my house, and Patrick isn't home, I have to ask my 7 year old to come get it. Stop laughing!!

6--I love old buildings and history. I get a weird, spiritual feeling when I am in a historical place like a building or a battlefield.

7--I practice extended breastfeeding, love our family bed, homeschool my kids, and absolutely adore my husband. May not sound weird to some of you, but most of my family thinks I am nuts!! HeeHee!!

I am tagging:
www.luv2praisehim.blogspot.com
www.knit3purl1.blogspot.com
www.shaunarumbling.blogspot.com
www.wordygirl-itsawonderfullife.blogspot.com
www.deleise.blogspot.com
www.stephanie-thingsfallapart.blogspot.com
www.heatherpreckel.typepad.com

Letters to my daughters:

I am feeling sentimental...

Anna, 

To my independent, strong willed, no-nonsense daughter.  You amaze me every day as I watch you grow.  I am in awe of your spunk, your zest for life, and your love for all creatures great and small.  Our late night talks and early morning snuggles are some of my greatest moments.  Thank you for making me a mommy.  I love you more than the sun shines.

Emma,

To my love bug.  How can anyone be in your presence and not smile??  You always have a song in your heart and a dance in your step.  I have never met a more loving child.  Your life is a joy to watch and a treasure to my heart.  Thank you for always being quick to forgive and forget.  You have taught me so much.  I love you more than the stars twinkle.

Cora,

To my baby.  You keep me on my toes.  I watch you follow your sisters and then make your own path.  You see something you want and go for it.  I hope you never stop doing that.  You don't know it now, but when you were born, a hole in my heart was filled.  Thank you for being my cuddly baby.  I love you more than the moon glows.  

A visitor!

This little guy was on our porch this evening. The girls loved him. Actually Anna assured me it was a female because it had a light colored throat. Anyway, it was so adorable!!

Oh, rats!

For the past several weeks Anna and Emma have been begging for a pet rat.  So on Tuesday we headed over to Petsmart and adopted 2 baby girl rats.  Their names are Marly and Carly and they are AdOrAbLe!!  I am amazed at their sweet and friendly personalities.  Now we are up to 3 dogs, 2 cats, 2 rats, and a saltwater fish aquarium.  Plus 3 daughters and a husband.  Now wonder I am tired.  LOL! ;)

Here they are:

Carly

Marly

Field Trip!!

We just took another field trip to Balsam Mountain Preserve in beautiful Jackson County, NC for a wildflower walk. We saw about 13 different wildflowers.

The kids had a great time with Miss Blair as always.

Trillium

Wild geranium

I feel so blessed to live in an area where we can see sights like this everyday! You can see more about Balsam Mountain Preserve here

I stink at blogging!

I was never good at keeping a journal.  I remember I had a diary in the 7th grade.  The only thing I ever wrote about was the cute guys and then my first kiss, which completely horrified me, BTW.   I am going to be better about keeping this blog up to date.  And I promise not to write about cute guys or kisses.   Just cute little girls and my days as a chickymomma.  

I thought I would post a picture of us from Easter.  It was such a beautiful day to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord!  And I think we look pretty darn good too!  I think my sweetie was especially handsome.  I know I promised not to write about cute guys.  :) 

Legacy 2008

Very soon it will 2008 here in Maggie Valley, NC. I am looking forward to a new year, as I do every year. But this year I am starting a little different. Instead of making a resolution to lose weight, eat more veggies, or keep in touch with old friends better, I am going to take some advice from a friend on the Five in a Boards that I frequent. Jackie suggested we each choose a word for 2008. My word is legacy. I am going to focus on the legacy I am leaving to my daughters. I have been thinking about this for a while now, ever since the precious Ruth Graham passed away and I heard the speeches her children gave at her memorial. Oh, how they adored their mother. She taught them so much about motherly love and grace. I have been thinking what people, particularly my daughters, will say when I die. I know it may sounds morbid, but I am not trying to be morbid. Of course, I don't want to die right now, but I am certainly not afraid of dying. I am afraid of not leaving my loved ones with the absolute certainty that I love Jesus and them. That people are more important than things. That I am who I am because God chose to sacrifice his son for me. That I am nothing without Jesus. And I want them to know that my life has meaning because God has been so good to me and given me so many people to love. That is what I want my legacy to be. And I want them to know a few more things.

I want to be like Jesus in everything I do. I want to love the unlovable. I want to take up my cross every day and honor God in my every word and action. I want people to see me and know that I love Jesus. I want there never to be a doubt as to who I serve.

I want my husband to know how much he means to me. I want him to be left every day with the knowledge that I recognize and appreciate every hour he puts in at work, every bath he gives the girls, every burger he grills. I want him to know that after all these years, his smile and his touch still warm my heart. I want him to never doubt he is the love of my life.

I want my daughters to know they are my heart. I want them to know they are more important than my cell phone, my computer, and whatever book I am reading. I want to read to them and laugh with them every day. I want them to know I love playing with them. I want them to know that all I ever dreamed about when I was a child was being a mother. That they have made my dream come true.

I want my parents and my brothers and 2 sisters-in-law to know they are so very important to me. That when I spend time with them, they bring me such joy. I also want the members of my family who don't always bring me joy, to know that I love them. I want to know that I love them and that God made us all different for a reason. I want to appreciate the differences.

I want my best girlfriends to know that I am thankful for them. They have been there for me through good and bad, and I never want them to doubt my gratefulness for the part they play in my life.

I want the patients I take care of to know that I get so much joy from being their nurse. I want them to never doubt I truly care about them and their baby.

I want to treat every stranger that I encounter as a beloved child of a King. Even if they don't know it, God loves them. I can help them know how important they are.


It sounds like a cliche, but the truth is, we never know if our next breath will be at the foot of God. I want to leave a legacy that brings glory to God. I want the people I love to know how much. I want no regrets. That may sounds like too much, but I have never done things the easy way, so why start now?!?! Like my favorite song "Legacy" by Nicole C Nordeman says "I want to leave a legacy, how will they remember me? A child of mercy and grace, who blessed Your name, unapologetically. I want to leave a legacy."