A few things...

**Update 09/24/2008--read below you'll understand--about 30 minutes after I received the email from James...he called to tell me he was heading home. He couldn't stand not knowing if Fluf was okay or not.**

My work computer is still acting up and IT has yet to determine how I messed it up...so I have no new pics to post...and I have some great pics and posts to make of what's been going on in the Jackson household over the last couple of weeks--but I don't want to publish those until I have my pics...hopefully in the next day or two it will work out.

Last week was a very hard week for me, but God has proven to be gracious and this week has been leaps and bounds better.

Can I just say that I truly love the opportunities God has given me...with my family--my wonderful husband who never ceases to make me laugh outloud--like this morning--when the cat got out and he's so frustrated with her he just leaves her outside--goes to work...then an hour later emails me that he's worried about Fluf? (Sidenote: If anyone is near our house, would you drive by and see if a tabby cat--about 6 months old is wondering outside?? JUST KIDDING--I'm sure she's fine) I mean he's just the greatest--he's worried because he has to go out of town for work--he leaves tonight--and he doesn't want to go because he knows its more work for me in the evening by myself...he's so thoughtful to do the dishes and laundry before he leaves to make sure it's stuff I don't have to worry about--I know he's a keeper...and next time I complain about something he's done would someone remind me of how good I have it??
My kids...Abby wrestling with her brother--saying, "Bring it on, dude...come on Bring it on"--if you've seen my daughter then you know she's 5 years old but wears size 18 month pants as capris--she's a tiny 32 lb thing (and loves to run around without clothes on--that's a Jackson thing, I take no responsibility)
My son telling his sister, "Big brothers help little sisters with homework--that's what we do"...melts my heart.
My job at LifeWay--never in a million years would I have guessed this would be what I'm doing...it's not what I would have picked out for myself--but God did and I wish everyone had the ability to love what they do as much as I do.
My jewelry business contributing to The Common Bond--I'm still in awe that God has given me a gift and opened my eyes on how to use it for His glory...that He would chose to use me--He doesn't need me, He doesn't need any of us...but He chose me. I feel so blessed. I hope this encourages you to see the many blessings you've been given too...I hope you take time to "inventory" your life as well.

Check out The Common Bond blog if you're keeping up with that part of our life. There's a new post with prayer request on it...and I've also gotten some great response from the Challenge...please pass it along to your friends and family. I'm hoping this can be bigger than we'd ever imagined!! :)

Thanks for checking in...ya'll have a good day!

Challenge!!!!

***Update on 9/20/08...check out www.marrow.org to find out why bone marrow donors are so important and how to go about becoming a donor--from what I hear it's pretty easy. I'm so excited about the Jewelry Set giveaway...I've started creating the pieces and I think they'll ROCK (as Hayden would say)***

Okay, so I'm going to sign up to be a bone marrow donor. I figure if I have something that can save someone's life...why not give it??
So, I'm doing it...my goal is to do whatever it is I have to do to be tested, accepted, etc. by October 15th.

Who else is on board to do this with me? (By the way, I have to give credit where credit is due--Joni, my very wise mother-in-law, gave me the idea and she's going to sign up too!)

I may even do a drawing...ohhhh this would be good...(can you tell I'm making this up as I go along?!)
The drawing would include a Necklace, Bracelet and Earring Set (Average Value: $130) from my new collection line which is not set to launch until November.

To be eligible for the give away you must do one of the following by October 15th:

• Become a BONE MARROW DONOR
• Make a donation to The Common Bond Project
• Buy a Faith, Hope and Love Bracelet

**Bonus Points**

• If you tell a friend about this...and you both do something from the list above then I'll put your name in the drawing twice. **Note--the person you tell needs to be someone not familiar with this blog**

Get the idea? Tell me what you think? I'm excited...

Also, for those in the Middle Tennessee area...I'm tossing around the idea of doing a few parent's night out fundraisers to make money for my 501(c)3...would any of you be interested? (I'm not ready to commit at this point, I'm just throwing it out there--I may need to contact Dr. Brian for some valium first) :)

Childhood Cancer Awareness

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. There's a bit of information that I learned today about childhood cancer advancements...and that is there is very little progress. In the last 20 years only 1 new drug has been created and approved. Only 3% of funding goes to pediatric cancer research...3%

Are you outraged? Because I am...Everyone of us should care about this because it affects all of us. Not any one person reading this blog is immune to the effects of cancer...we all know of someone who has battled it. And the fact that at any given time it could strike one of our children, grandkids, neices--nephews...we should all be outraged.

What can we do? We have to take a stand, not just against cancer...but take a stand for our children. There is a petition being generated to get 1,000,000 signatures to increase funding for pediatric cancer to FIND A CURE!! That's what it's all about.

Here's the link: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/CureChildhoodCancer
Please take the time to sign the petition.

Insight...

If you know me at all...you know I love my children with all of my heart...I love both of them for their uniqueness, their character...their sillyness...I love them so much and partly for how different they are. Night and day difference. But those differences can also cause frustration if I'm not careful. They can make me wonder how two children can be from the same parents? They can make me pull my hair out...

Abby starting kindergarten has opened my eyes to all new insights. The main one being that the next 12 years are pay back for all of the pain and suffering my parents endured from me as a child. :) I wasn't a bad kid, and Abby isn't either...she is just independent, controlling, bossy, etc...what is funny though, is she's just like that at home (which I AM thankful for)...as much as I get frustrated with it, I would rather deal with that side of my kids than someone else having to endure it. I'm very proud of the fact that our children obey and are respectful...to other adults. Anyway, we started homework...
The first night of homework, Hayden was so excited to help Abby. Because, as he kept saying, "I'm her big brother and that's what brother's do..." Abby on the other hand wanted none of it because that meant Hayden would be TELLING HER what to do...and that DOES NOT happen, atleast not in her mind. At this point, I will admit, I was upset with Abby...Hayden was being so sweet and had been so excited for her to start school so he could help her with her homework...it ticked me off. Hayden was okay with it...and I was twice as hard on Abby just to show her it's better to have her brothers help. Abby questioned everything I told her to do...why, why, why. Yes, I know it's good that she has an inquisitive mind...but really? Why can't the answer, "Because I'm the mom and I said so" be enough. (Yes, I know, Mom...just like me--got it!)
At this point I'd rather do the homework for her.
On the second night of homework, after I had made Abby rewrite her J for the 3rd time because she was too stubborn to watch me do it, Hayden walked over and whispered (loud enough for me to hear)...if you'd just get out the ABCs I wrote for you--you wouldn't need Mommy's help--She looks up, "WHERE ARE MY ABCs?!"...Off Hayden runs to get them (he's just so excited he can finally help)...He returns, gives the paper to Abby...and she turns to me, (no kidding) and says, "It's okay, Mommy--I don't need your help now!" Hayden and Abby did her homework the rest of the night. (And I will say, he did a great job)
One other insight from homework is that Abby does not care a hill a beans about details. She pulled out her homework which consisted of tracing, copying and then coloring 8 different shapes and informed me she was done with the first two parts within 90 seconds. You can imagine how it looked. Yeah, I made her erase the whole thing and start over. Hayden on the other hand takes his time and does his best. He is meticulous in what he does and it has to be right by his standards.
I will say, Abby's teacher had emailed me this morning and I'd responded including in there that I hope Abby listens to her better than she does to me while doing homework. She responded back, "Abby is one of my most well behaved children!!!" I was thrilled.

Hayden is such a sweet kid...and Abby is too...just in a different manner. And as much as I kid around and tell you all of this stuff...I mean it when I say she's exactly like me. I'm hard-headed, stubborn, bossy, opinionated...the list goes on. But I also think I'm pretty loving, creative, funny (at times), giving...and those attributes I see in her as well. I think all of these characteristics in both of our kids are going to help them in the long run. Hayden will learn how not to let bossy girls walk all over him and hopefully keep his sensitive side...and Abby will be independent and head strong. It'll be interesting to see them in 20 years or so. :)

One side note, I'm going to stick this in there. If you think about it will you say a prayer for Hayden and us. Most of you know Hayden has a speech delay...and although we thought we'd pretty much conquered the worst of it, it seems to have gotten worse since school has started. We'll be having him tested for therapy towards the end of the month...and I know it's not a big deal...but sometimes kids can be mean and it breaks my heart to think of him being picked on. I know, I know...I'm a sappy overprotective mother...but when I say I love my kids more than anything...I do...like all of you moms...and the worst thing in the world (atleast for me) is to see my child hurt. So, pray for us to handle this in a way that is not detrimental to his progress and pray for God to send Hayden one good friend at school.

Thanks for sticking with this post...it was a long one huh? I'll have more to update later. Hayden has another game tomorrow night, so I"ll be posting pictures on Friday. And I have a bargain shopping story to tell too, ya'll know how I LOVE a good deal!! Have a great Wednesday...talk to you soon.

The Worstest Day in the life of a 5 year old!

Okay, I have funny story...

On Tuesday, I picked the kids up from daycare and started with my normal questions..."How was school? What did you have for lunch? Did you learn anything new? Etc"...

Abby pipes in and says the following (not kidding here)... "Mom, I had the worstest day. The worstest day of my WHOLE life" side note--all 5 years, mind you...I responded, "Abby, what happened?" As a mother, I'm thinking...Abby got in trouble, someone hurt her feelings during recess...something to constitute the worstest day of her life...

Her response, "The air conditioning wasn't working in our room, and it was awful...it was the worstest....it was hot and I was sweatin' and I couldn't take my clothes off...it was jus the worstest!!"....I should pause and explain that whenever Abby comes out stripped down to nothing but her undies her reasoning is always "I'm sweatin'"...so it was the worstest day for my 5 year old little girl because she was sweatin' and couldn't take her clothes off.

One of my coworkers pointed out that I should be glad Abby knew that she couldn't take her clothes off at schoool...could you imagine that phone call from her kindergarten teacher?
It would go something like this..."Mrs. Jackson, I'm sorry to tell you this, but Abby is in the principal's office and will be suspended from school due to indicent exposure. She streaked around the classroom and this school district does not tolerate that kind of behavior!!!" So, yes I'm thankful that she knows to leave her clothes on even if it makes for the worstest day ever.

Cincinatti...There We Went...

***FYI...the REDS won the game--7 to 6...don't have a clue who they played though!!!*** (This piece of information is primarily for our good friend Keith--thanks for keeping me on my toes!!!)

If those of you who read this blog (all 6 of you) live in the Nashville area...I highly recommend taking a trip to Cincinnati for a quick family vacation.

We met my dad and Donna there for a weekend trip and the kids had a great time. Of course, I forgot my camera everywhere we went...so I only have pics from what I took with Dad's camera.
First we celebrated my dad's 55th Birthday (ha ha...your welcome, Dad!) The kids love cake can you tell??





The boys went to a Reds game on Saturday night and they loved the new ballpark...they said it was awesome. (They didn't take a camera so I have no pictures of it!) But they did have a Build-A-Bear Workshop at the park and Grandpa Jim and Hayden made Abby a pink baseball bear with a Reds dress...it was so cute. Hayden also got to make a dog for himself because he played his puppy dog eyes on Grandpa Jim...here's a picture of Abby with her bear the next morning (she was asleep by the time the boys got back to the hotel).




The girls stayed at the hotel and swam on Saturday night. Abby jumped in, climbed out, jumped in...and on and on atleast 30 times. It was hilarious. She was entertaining all of the people around. (And she slept great that night...it was a win win!!)


On Sunday, we went to King's Island...which is a huge amuzement park.


Family Pics at the Park...Look we even got Hayden and Abby to hug eachother--they were so excited!!





It's like a Six Flags and Wet-n-Wild combined...it was great...we didn't make it over to the water side partly because I'm paranoid about my kids in water with large groups of people...it's a phobia--I know. Hayden rode his first roller coasters (for those of you from TX--you know the TX Giant at Six Flags...yeah, Hayden rode one comparable to that!!) How's that for a first timer. (He was also scared to death...it was a lot of fun)...Abby rode a small coaster, but stuck to the less heart stopping rides. She loved seeing Dora's sing along.

Here are some pics from the park...








They were exhausted after the day...

But when we got back to the hotel we had a tea party (with a tea set Ab got at King's Island--Donna insisted Abby needed it :) -- it has Dora on it)...Hayden was even a good sport and played along...although, he made sure when Abby wasn't around to tell Grandpa Jim that the "tea" he was giving them was really coke... :) He's so funny.

Abby insisted she needed to wear a dress to the tea party (and makeup--of course)...but we didn't pack any dresses for this occasion so I improvised with one of my t-shirts and a little bit of ribbon...thank goodness I brought my jewelry packaging stuff!!

How cute is that? I know I brag about Hayden being a good brother...but really, to put up with having a tea party with his sister?? I know in a few short years they probably won't be able to stand eachother...so I'm enjoying these little moments now.

Again, it was a great weekend....Cincinatti Rocks (as Hayden would say)!! Thanks again, Dad--for everything...the kids want to do it again next year and I promised them we'd go to the water park too!!