Wow! Where did this come from?

Do you know how sometimes we pray for certain things and we know that God is gonna answer that prayer either with a yes or no? And sometimes we are suprised that the answer is yes. Or that we pray for something and then you watch him work in mysterious ways. Well I have been praying and watching for somethings in my life. A new change. Well let me tell you it is really amazing to watch God work and use my life to glorify him. There isnt anything more that I would want my life to do. He is answering prayers right and left. Yes, some are no's, but I also know he has something better in mind. Its just a wonderful feeling knowing that I can wake up in the morning and know that I have a purpose. Some search all their lives to find the "meaning of life". The only meaning of life is to glorify God and let him use you to reach others. I cant really express how I feel about all of this. Its just something that has to be felt. I know that he is ordering my steps and I'm at ease knowing that he will provide for me in any aspect of my life. He is a wonderful God.

I guess what I am saying is that he is filling my cup and letting it overflow and I am just so amazed that he wants me. I've prayed for someone to just want me, to love me for who I am, to feel as though he is the luckiest to have me. Well I've found him! He is Christ my Savior and in him I have strength..

My Birthday told in pics

Flowers from Bobby with a $50 gift card
My bowl from Sue
Flowers from Felicia
My homemade brithday cake
Wow that took alot of air!


Well yesterday was a great birthday. My friends and family are the greatest in the world.. My family made homemade icecream to go with the cake, we had a party and got lots of gifts. The gifts included a membership to a gym, a spa day, tanning visits and the pictures you see above. After that, I went to the church softball game and had a blast with all of my church family. I still have other birthday events later on in the week. Thanks to all who participated in giving me a great birthday. I love you all! You are amazing!

23 and counting.....

Well 23 years ago today I was born. No not really a milestone, but important to me. Today has been a great day so far. I am assuming my dad will be calling in roughly 3 mins to tell me that I was born at that exact minute.. LOL! I look back on the last 23 years of my life and realize I've been through alot, but it has all been well worth the trouble. I have a great family depsite the craziness in which we live in and most of all in my 23 years of life, I have managed to come away with two beautiful accomplishments. McKinley and Amberly.

Last night, as we got ready for bed, McKinley told me about all she had planned to celebrate my birthday. Just knowing she wants to is much more than I could ask for. The celebration in her mind includes: Chocolate cake and candles... Well that sounds PERFECT with me! She said she would have to go to Walmart to get me some candles.

My grandmother proceeds to tell her she has to have the firestation on standby. Not really sure how to take that.. LOL!

I imagine that the rest of the day will go great also...

God has molded and made me through these years and is still working on me. He has blessed me with a great job, great church, great friends, and a wonderful family. Geez! I've got it made!

Outrigger Island 2008

This past week the girls attended Vacation Bible School at our church. It was called Outrigger Island. Here some pictures from the program tonight. I am so very proud of my girls. Both of them were big girls tonight! I praise God for a wonderful church to raise them up in. Them, along with their friends, are our church of the future. They are our future. Keep praying for them and the rest of our children that we raise them in the way of the Lord. Enjoy!

Missing the Mark

Sometimes we miss the mark on what God wants or tells us to do. Now, I don't believe we are condemned for missing the mark, but I do believe he has called us to make the mark. We live in a world where everything is instant. We try to make our spiritual life instant too. We are so eager to get it right we don't slow down to think that maybe we are going about it the wrong way.

My challenge for all of us Christians is to slow down and make sure we are making the mark. In whatever life decision it is. Whether its our jobs, family, money, spiritual, or physical. Just slow down and listen.!

Mother's Day

I wrote this poem early one morning. I dont write but I believe that God gave me these words to share.... Hope you are blessed!



Mom- by Bonita Cotting

Mom-You are my source of light and
My warm summer night

Mom-You are the love I’ve dreamt of finding

The days that went by and you received nothing,
Those are the days you just gave more.

Mom-You truly are God’s gift to me.

He made you with just the right voice and
just the right touch.

He made you just strong enough to take on Life’s complications.
There isn’t another who loves me as perfect as you.
You know all the right things to say and do
when I run to you.

Is it possible that God made you just like he made Christ?

With the way you love,
The way you teach,
And the way you lead?

Mom-You are that beautiful deep red rose
You are that cool spring breeze

You are perhaps the most beautiful of God’s creation
He made you especially for me.

Mom-You just are.
A hundred words, you are.
You are a thousand songs I sing,
But most of all you are my mom!

Today I celebrate you, Mom.
Thank you for being more than a hundred words, more than the songs I sing, more than the laughs I laugh, and more than the tears I cry.Thank you for being exactly what God made you to be…..MY MOM!

Mothers day was event this year. I did a special this morning at church and had the girls on stage to sing with me... Well I tried to make it through without crying, but that didnt work. I am very emotional when it comes to mothers day. I'm so thankful for the mothers in my life and very thankful for my children... God changed my life when he gave me my girls. There is no telling where I would be without them..

Being a mother is something that you can only experience. I'm not gonna sit here and try to explain it or put it in to words because lets face it, there are no words..
Happy Mother's day to all you mothers who read this!

Alittle on Amberly...

Today, I was reading all my friends blogs and actually realized I forgot I had one. Its been awhile since I've done some blogging. I guess that my life has been pretty stable and haven't had the need to vent, but we will move on.

Sitting here at my desk doing absolutely nothing (yes as normal) I got bored. Decided to look through the web. Didn't find much there I cared for. I logged onto Myspace and was just looking at different peoples profile. I came across a man who had twin boys. They were preemies. I think they both weighed about 4lbs being born. I looked at those little boys and it took me back to the place of two and half years ago..

Amberly, now 2 almost 3, was born at 29 weeks. Weighing 3lbs and 5 oz, barely the length of a size 5 shoe (womens), defeated all odds of survival. That was only by Gods wonderful grace! I'll give you alittle background on this story and get to the reasoning behind this miracle.

October 31, 2005 I was hospitalized with "placenta previa". Go google that, because I really have no idea as to what that is. All I know is you bleed, bleed alot!! Back to the story. As a result of the hospitalization, I was put on permanent bed rest. The only things I could do where : sleep, lay, eat, and shower (on occasion). No church, no Walmart, no outings of any sort. I didn't really follow all of those... Sometimes I got out and went to Walmart... I rode those nifty little carts. Despite bed rest, things didn't get any better. It all just got worse. I kept bleeding.

On November 22, 2005 at approximately 6 pm, I was rushed to the ER. I had bled so much I was almost incoherent. I couldn't breathe, I was cold, and felt as though I was dying. Truth is, we both were.. I was immediatley taken to the labor and delievery floor. The doctors noticed my water had broke and there wasn't much hope left. Dr. Purvas told Justin and I that my sweet little girl would be rushed to Huntsville Hospital, where she may not survive. We also found out that without a blood transfusion, I may also die. They had some difficulties in my transfusion and that lead to the refusual of the doctor to let Justin in the surgery room. There was a good chance that I wouldn't make it,however, there was not way I could deliever the baby normal, so we had a C-section... Because of some transfusion problems, they put me to sleep. The last thing I remember from that was just pleading with God to let me survive for my babies' sake. I had little McKinley to get home to too.

It took approximately 5 mins to deliever little Amberly. I don't even remember seeing her before they sent her to Huntsville. There in Huntsville she was given an IV through her forehead, was put on oxygen, and had a feeding tube. Within 24 hours, pur prayers had been heard. Amberly was taken off the oxygen, in which that was a miracle in its self. Within the 48 hours, the IV was taken out. All she had left was her feeding tube. After 3 days, I finally got to see my beautiful baby girl. She was perfect. The doctors and nurses told me not to get too attached or even hopeful. They said she had a little chance, but that is rarely seen.... Well, God knew he had something planned for this child. She lacked 2 days being in the hospital one month. That is a miracle! We brought her hime 5 days before Chirstmas.... They didn't believe she would ever come home, but myself, family, and friends prayed and she did.

I tell you all this story because I've heard over the past few weeks of cases where these precious little babies didn't come home. I think of how lucky I am to get to watch Amberly grow. She is more beautiful than I could ever imagine. Her smile lights up my life and till the day I die, she will know that God has a plan for her. He is such a wonderful God to hear my prayers and bring my girl home... Those small little days are now gone. She is full of life and adventure, but it makes me happy to know that those days are gone because shes here. Shes experiencing life. That's what makes me happy!