Jack in the "band aid" box

I woke up Wednesday morning to blood everywhere! 

All over the ground, in the garage...puppy shaped blood prints! 

Alarming, to say the least. 

I found Jack in his spot in the garage crying. 

Bless him. 

As I finally convinced him to let me check him, he limped toward me, as I discovered he had cut his paw. 

What seemed like gallons of blood later, and the vet stitched his paw, and back home we go. 

Yes...with prescription pain meds. I kid not. 

This little guy will be fine, after lots of snuggles and TLC. 

The Westin - Birmingham, Alabama

Just a few weeks ago, we were "local tourists". 

Kind of a neat spin on things. 

We were attending our LIFE retreat for the weekend, and we decided to be "all in" to the process. 

So we decided we would stay at the Westin, in Birmingham, AL just next to the BJCC where the retreat would be. 

We thought it best to not drive home, do laundry, give in to the "real world" just for the entire 36 hours. 

So, I arrived a bit begged check in, but much to my surprise, they were able to secure a room for me, early. 

So, up to the pool on the rooftop I went. 

It's a small pool, with a little patio bar adjacent. A nice break for a small getaway. 

And the patio would be a great spot at night. 

Our room was lovely. Nothing over the top. But pleasantly  quaint. And quiet. 

We've stayed in a few cities at the Westin and in always pleased. 

Birmingham is no exception. 

We will be back. 

Selfie Stick Ban

Let's call this "the gasp heard 'round the world" :)

Yes, when you say to a teenager.....or adult, for that matter.......Disney just banned selfie sticks....the reaction is quite amusing!

So, no! DO NOT panic. I repeat! Do not panic!

You may still bring your selfie stick into the parks! You may still have them in your Walt Disney World resort! And yes, you may selfie until your little heart is content!

Welllllll, the last part isn't completely true!

The Selfie Stick is banned from rides / attractions! And, it's for the safety of all guests. Not just you, but the guest in front of you, or behind you on the ride.

Imagine with me for a minute....you go up with the Selfie Stick, in the dark on Space Mountain, with a low-lying track just ahead, and BAM! The stick flies from your hand, and hits the guest behind you!

I know, I know, you have it secured with that little safety strap on your wrist, right?
Ok...things happen. Accidents happen!

And for the safety of all guests, they are banned from the attractions.

You may still take selfies in the parks, during the parades and in all common areas.
But, where it is not safe, you will be asked to refrain.

And....in an effort to help, the Memory Maker photographs are now available on many of the attractions, so maybe you won't miss that perfect photo opp after all :)

For more up-to-date info, follow Main Street Memories on facebook!

Too busy

Don't be too busy to be kind! 

So thankful for a sweet friend that took time out to feed my loves this week when I couldn't. 

Just a dish full of spaghetti changed my heart for the moment. 

Surgery is scary...but the Lord...

It's not a secret that I've been battling some unknown health issues since July 2013. 

But I don't talk about it much, because quite honestly, I don't like to be a Debbie Downer. 

I don't talk about it, because I don't know what "it" is. 

I don't share because I don't want it to interfere with work "I didn't want to email you because you said you weren't feeling good." 

Please. Email me. Make me talk abut magic :)

What I do know, is that I haven't eaten a solid meal in 22 months. 

I know that I can't process food. 

<insert thankful for coffee and protein shakes here>

And I know the pain that has now become what some might call "chronic". 

So, after months and months of tests, doctors, medical bills that I have nothing to show for them, and of course the consistent "we can't figure it out"....they've decide Exploratory surgery is the best option. 

For today. 

Both my doctor and my surgeon don't have huge expectations. And there's a great chance that this will not yield results either. 

However. It must be done. 

Meanwhile, yesterday, one of my best friends gets the answer they weren't looking for. 

Kayla has a brain tumor. 

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kaylaperry/journal/view/id/55540b324db921333c2beb15

She will also have surgery at 10am. 

I don't want to minimize my surgery, however I am more concerned about her. And their family. 

I pray that God will comfort them. 

I pray for and believe for a miracle. 

But I do also have great fear for myself. And the unknown results of an unknown surgery. 

Will I wake up to nothing? 

Will I wake up to a miracle in Kayla's life? 

Will I wake to an unexpected complete abdominal surgery? 

Will I wake up? 

I don't always share my whole heart, but today I ask for prayers on my own behalf, but I am asking that you would go to the throne of Grace on my behalf, for Kayla. 

And her family. 

While I'm sleeping, and my doctors are working, I pray for Kayla's doctors. That their hands be steady, and their minds be clear. I pray they are Christians. And they take the leading of the Holy Spirit as they operate. 

What a day. 

I pray it's a day of unexplained miracles. 

Surgery is scary....but the Lord!!! 

Living In Freedom Everyday

I am having a very hard time putting my thoughts into some clear form of a blogpost.

I am 20-year believer that a relationship with Jesus isn't a feeling.
It isn't the hype of a spectacle of lights and the wonder of fireworks.

After all, that's what Disneyland is for, right?! :)

But...................................

So, 12 weeks ago, we (#Charming and I) enrolled in the Spring semester of Small Groups at Church of the Highlands.

We joined a LIFE group.

I knew we wanted to do LIFE. Because many friends, and fellow COTH members said that we needed to.
So, we did.

We joined a group of unknowns.

Imagine us, on the COTH Small Groups website, almost like a Jesus version of Russian Roulette, if there is such a thing.

Eeenie, Meenie, Miney Moe!

Yes, that's how we chose.
Very spiritual, I know.

So, I email this chic, Natalie...and I say "hey...so...we don't know a soul, but we totally would love to join your group" and she replies "wow! That's great, y'all come on!"

So... we did!
How fabulous of her!

So, for 12 weeks, we've been engaged in this LIFE class, learning the fundamentals of the Tree of Life.
Stuff we've heard for years, but never applied it in this way!

I'm not saying it's a new version of the Bible, or anything crazy, I'm just saying, it's broken down in a way that made me literally say "hold up...read that again.....that right there will preach!"

Anyways, so it all comes to a grand finale this weekend, at the much anticipated LIFE Retreat.

Again, I can't put it into words.

Que the pageantry, lights, fireworks, spectacle... a program of excellence.

An event that ushered me straight to the heart of worship, and to the place that I could be so strong *in* the Lord, but yet so weak in His presence. 

But what I can say, is that I feel like my insides were scooped out with a watermelon scooper....and the good stuff was so sweet, and so wonderful, and the stuff that still needed to be pruned a little, was brought to light, examined, and then tossed away! To be remembered no more!

God is using ALL of me, for His good.
My good, my great, my sweet, and my trash.
Yes, even the trash...He is taking, and making a wonderful story of grace and redemption.

I almost feel bad for the BJCC.
I left a bunch of garbage there.

I left some relationships there.
Unhealthy relationships....left on the hard concrete floor of the BJCC. #SorryNotSorry

I left my anger there.
I left the mean words of some "friends" there.
I left my bitterness there.

I am so very thankful for a few friends that texted me throughout the weekend, to let me know they were praying for me.
They knew it would be hard.
They knew it would hurt my guts.

But they also knew that Jesus needed to rid me of that, so He could shine!

And, yes...at the end of the weekend....I was exhausted.
Mentally, physically, and emotionally.

I brought all of me to the weekend, and I left with all of Him.
I am so thankful for these 12 weeks, and my friends in LIFE.

I can never express enough, how wonderful it is, to walk into a home of strangers....and never once feel judgement, or condemnation.
But a room full of compassion, and kindness, and silliness, and love.

It's amazing.
I tried to think of another power word....like spectacular, or marvelous, or wonderful, or even stupendious...but none of those worked.

Amazing.
My God is amazing.
And I am so thankful to be working towards a life of Living In Freedom Everyday!

(and the Friday afternoon at the Westin, to "get my mind right" was not so bad either :)