My babies birthday

Happy 11th birthday to Ab.

Confirmation

CeCee is getting confirmed soon and I made this for her as a surprise. :)

Found this on my old phone

It made me smile cuz I love it when my girls blow me kisses. I love this pic even more because they sent it too my phone via text when I was out of town with my hubby when his Dad was in the hospital. It was just two days before he passed away. Made me smile but was bittersweet...

Colton Dixon - You Are (Lyrics)

I simply adore this song and Colton Dixon. What an amazing talent God has blessed him with. So proud that American Idol gave him opportunities to share God's Grace with the world and is now spreading it even more.

Busy Crafting

For the past few weeks I have been working with all the classes at school on art projects that will be sold in our upcoming auction.  It has been both fun and challenging. We have done everything from Doodle Art, Yard Art and Fingerprints.  I will post completed pics of all the projects once the auction is held. I do not want to spoil it for anyone. :) LOL

CeeCe came over this weekend and spent all day Sunday snuggling up to Ugglee. She was so excited to see her Dad.  It has been over a 2 months since she has spent a whole day with him.  On March 19th he will celebrate 4 months of sobriety and in the rehab program.  I am so proud of him and hope that he can continue this path he is on.  I know that reality is only 1 in 10 will stay sober from heroin addiction... I pray he is that 1.  I really enjoy him when he is healthy.  My girls can't seem to get enough of him either.  He is just so much fun to be around.

We are expecting another snow storm tonight and all day tomorrow.  I would love another snow day.  I could really get a head start on cleaning the basement.  I have not touched it in months and things just seem to pile up quickly down there.  Sometimes I honestly feel it is a curse to have the extra space... but then reality hits me and I wouldn't have my craft area....

Sweet dreams y'all.

Lalu most...  Dege

Finally

With March quickly approaching my dear hubby finally broke down and bought us a new laptop. I say March because now I won't be able to say we have been without a computer for a year. LOL He really knows how to get around an argument. HA HA

We are currently under a severe weather watch... Expecting up to 8" of snow tonight.  What a pretty sight and praying for a snow day tomorrow to cancel school...

Hope you have a blessed night. Stay safe and warm.

Lalu more, Dege

The warmth

Spike got to the blankets fresh out of the dryer before I could fold them. A day at home with a sick little girl.. :(

Doodle art with the girls

The girls and I have found a new love in doodle art. :)

Doodle

I am working on a school class art project... Here is my first attempt at Doodle Art. :)

A Final Goodbye Faced With Trials

I received news yesterday that a good friend of my brother (prior to the thick drug use) passed away on Wednesday. N had MD and was only 33 years old.  I had to call the rehab place that Uggly is staying at to tell him the news.  He seemed a bit shaken and saddened by the news. I know that they have not talked in a long time. I know that Uggly went his own way with the ones that made the choice to party more. I wonder if there is some regret with that.  I spoke with one of the guys, J,  that used to be very close to my brother and told him that we may be attending the funeral service on Sunday.  J said that he was talking to D and they both think it would be good for Uggly to pay his respects to N's family. None of these guys talk to Uggly anymore, but are proud of his choice to write a new ending to his story. N would be proud of Uggly.

Uggly hasn't decided forsure if he wants to go.  It would be the first funeral EVER that he would attend sober.  It will be the first time in years that he is face to face with the core group of friends that tried for years to help him make healthier choices for himself.  It will be the first time that he will be around some of the not so positive friends that used right along with him since he entered rehab.  I know that there is a lot of these moments coming up for Uggly to have to face during his recovery.  It just seems like a lot all at once.I am not sure how he will handle it.  I told Uggly to just let me know if he wants to go or not.  Since he gets a day pass every Sunday, the opportunity will be there if he wants it.  Otherwise, we will go hang out at Mom's house since she hasn't seen him for a month. :)

I know that the Lord will test him for the rest of his life.  I know that he will be put into positions that are stressful and uneasy and temptation will be a constant for him.  I just feel he is so fragile and I am worried it will be easier for him to use than move forward.  I can't protect him or make the choices for him... so I will just do the few things I know I can... support, encourage and most importantly.. PRAY! For Uggly and N's family.  They both are faced with trials and have to make choices to move forward.......

Lalu More,

Dege

Puzzle time

Bean and Mad decided to put a 500 piece puzzle together 45 minutes before bed time. Lets see if we can do this.

My Cuddle Pup

This is my obsessed pup Spike. He is so needy at times, but lovely at night to cuddle with.

Life Got Crazy

So school started and so did the crazy! Abs started playing sports this year and that threw our whole family for a loop.  Forget the normal schedule... nope! Now it all revolves around her schedule for sports.  I don't mind it so much.. It just seems some days are just a bit more added stress than other.  She has really excelled in them and has had a ton of fun.

Along with that.... I finally got the call from my brother in November that I was waiting 3 years for! He called and asked me to help get him into rehab for his addiction to pain meds and heroin.  I cried all night and could not believe it was happening.  He opened up and said so many things that night in the hour conversation that I never heard him say before.  It took 3 1/2 weeks to get him into the facility that he wanted.  He has been there since November 18th and is doing really well.  It is a hard core 6 month Christian based rehab.  He can stay longer if needed.  He has entered what they call Phase 2 of his program in which he can now come home every Sunday and work a full time job again.  He does not agree with some of the things the program requires, but feels over all it is working for him right now.  I am so proud of his decision and we can already see a change in him and his behaviors.  I only pray that the Lord will continue to work within him to help him understand there is a God and what Jesus has done for him.  I prayed for months leading up to that phone call from him that the Holy Spirit would lead him to help and to the Lord.  When that call came I could not believe it.  It is amazing the power of prayer.  I was really pulled to pray that prayer over and over for the 3 or 4 months leading up to it.  I really feared that I would have to tell CeeCe that her Dad was gone and the addictions won the battle over his life.  I was so grateful the night that I took him to her house so we could tell her that he was leaving to get help.  She hugged me so tight that night when I was leaving and told me she believes this is really going to happen this time since I was the one helping.  All of his life everyone enabled him in some way.  I was the only one who would not accept the behaviors, give him money, support his habits and called it the way it was.  He told me recently that I was the only one that could help him because I was the only one who never sugar coated his addiction, nor did I blame it on others.  I always called it for what it was and told him time and time again that the bottom line was it was his choice.  I am praying that this brings us closer in the end.  I know that this is not a guarantee - nothing ever is - but at least I know the power of prayer and believe that much more in my God today than last month. :)

January is going to bring new challenges for me.  I have decided to pressure myself with goals.  I do not want to call it a resolution since I do not believe in them.  But, reality is I need to change somethings.  The biggest being my health. I am about 70 lbs overweight and really need to focus on a healthier me.  I also would like to get back into scrapbooking since my crafts have revolved so much around other projects since pinterest came into my life!  I printed 290 pictures and the first goal is to finish the Disney album from our trip in 2011!!!!! We have hobby night at church on Jan. 18th and I will be planning some layouts prior to that night and gathering everything up.  :)

I would also like to try and post more often.... even if it is just a daily grateful moment.  But, reality is... that probably will not happen.  Maybe I can figure out how to do it from my phone and then at least a pic post will account for something.

Well, onto the finishing of today.  It will end with dinner and a PTL meeting tonight at 7 pm.  Life is GOOD and always blessed.

Until next time.... LALU more,

Dege