Where have I been???

I'll be the first to admit when a long absence occurs on my blog it's because of laziness on my part. This time has been a little different.

So, where was I?

Well, on Friday, February 4 I celebrated a good friend's birthday at lunch and headed out to Mobile. I had a couple things I needed to do while there. My main goal for the trip was to visit the Disney Store and pick up some things for our upcoming Disney trip. After a few more errands in the mall, I was going to head over to the hospital to visit a friend who had surgery.

I never made it to any of my stops because this happened:




I had made up my mind when it started raining hard again that I was going to turn around and try the trip again the next day. However, before I could make it to the next exit I hydroplaned going 70mph and landed with the back of my car in a tree.

Everyone keeps asking how scared I was. Yes, it unnerved me, but I wasn't just scared out of my mind. I was praying so hard I didn't have time to be very afraid I don't think. I think it had a lot to do with the Lord protecting me and keeping me calm. Mostly, I just wanted it to be over. It's one of those things that happened so fast and yet felt like it just wouldn't end. I think my biggest problem was that I wasn't in control of the situation. Have I mentioned before that I'm a control freak?? I am.

When it was over I called my mom and these were my exact words, "Hey. I just had a wreck and it's really bad. My legs are hurt. I gotta go. I need to call 911."

Yeah. Not my finest moment of word composure. I left my poor mother thinking I was paralyzed or my legs were missing or something.

I was in a ditch with water up over my ankles. I remember thinking when I opened my door what a dumb decision it had been not to wear my rain boots that day. Who thinks about what shoes they're wearing at a moment like that? Me.

I had a brief moment where I thought I had lost some of my vision but then finally realized I had lost my glasses in the crash. When I finally made it to dry ground I remember just standing there looking at my car and turning around and having a moment with God. I knew I was so very blessed to have walked out of that car. I was grateful to be alive and well and even more grateful that no one else was involved.

A lot of the details after that are a little foggy. I'm not sure if I've tried to block them out or if I went into some mild shock.

The next day and every day that has followed since I've just been overwhelmingly grateful.

I've been told that where I left the road it doesn't seem possible that I didn't hit the tree head on. I've been told that I was within an inch of hitting the gas tank (which was full) and my car exploding. I've been told that it's unbelievable I didn't have any very serious injuries or that my neck didn't snap.

I've told all of these people that it's not so unbelievable when you realize what an awesome God I serve. I don't know why He chose to bless me and why everyone is not so fortunate. I do know that He has a plan for me and that He's not finished with me yet or He wouldn't have spared me. As long as there is breath in us, we have an opportunity to serve Him.

I can also honestly say that I'm grateful it all happened as strange as that sounds. I can't even count how many people it's opened a door to tell about God's goodness to. It's opened doors with people that I had never had an opportunity with before and they listened.

I heard someone say several weeks back that the reason we aren't truly willing to give ourselves completely to God and His service is because we're not willing to accept all that He may require of us. I'm that person. I don't like being uncomfortable. I don't like being outside of my routine. I believe God wanted me to share Him with some people and since I was unwilling to fully cooperate, He took things in His own hands.

I hope and pray that I have learned from this and never forget to tell others of the goodness of God.

As Seen on TV

We live in constant fear that Madyson is going to discover the Home Shopping Network. I am fully convinced that she watches tv only for the commercials. On a very regular basis she informs us of a new product that will make her life complete. The latest is the foot washing thing. Um yeah, she's 82 now. I guess her 8 year old body just won't bend down far enough to allow her to adequately wash her feet. I found it in Walgreens and added it to her growing collection of "As Seen On TV" products.

We have

I would suggest skipping the Touch N Brush. It's a BIG mess waiting to happen unless you have countless hours to clean up toothpaste.....and if you do, would you just come clean the toothpaste in my bathroom sink instead?

We have three pillow pets actually. I'm still not sure what the big deal about them is. Who wants a pillow that looks like an animal???

I don't get a lot of the things sold on TV. Some are admittedly decent and useful looking products but recently the one that just makes me go into a long rant (as evidenced by this whole post) is this product:

When did we become so lazy we can't get up and put on a pair of jeans???? Seriously??? If you can't be bothered with getting dressed....just stay at home. Thank you.

Truth

6. God can't allow His people to be ashamed.

"And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed." ~ Joel 2:26

Notice anything new???

Do you notice anything new on the blog???

Here's a clue: Look up.

Several weeks ago I said I had an announcement. Well there it is.

In case you're still clueless, let me put it this way:





We're going to Disney World!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Truth

5. God can't despise a contrite heart.

def. ~ filled with a sense of guilt and the desire for atonement.

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." ~ Psalm 51:17 KJV

"My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise." ~ Psalm 51:17 Amplified

They make me smile.

Some recently discovered pics on my camera that I have not shared.

Have I mentioned before how much I love these little folks????

Recap

Well.....2 weeks later....here it is. The recap of the party.

I can't believe she's 8!!! I can't believe it. Does anyone know how to slow time down?

We had a Rapunzel party which thrilled my heart because I realize the princess loving days are limited and that makes me sad. The thought of her growing up is exciting, scary and sad. I can't believe she's not that little baby with the "umbrella" ponytail on top of her head with the huge bow in it.

Like her aunt, she loves a good excuse for theme dressing. A princess party required a tutu and crown on the shirt.







Bless her heart. She really needs to work on coming out of her shell a little more. She's much too introverted.


There was cake...





presents.....







and a sweet baby boy who was exhausted by it all.




On the day of her actual birthday we had a small cake for her. This is the best pic I could get of her Pop and her. They share the same birthday so Pop gets overlooked in the chaos sometimes.

Things to do in 2011

Lately, I've just been making random lists of things that I've either always wanted to do or that I haven't done in a really long time.



1) Batting Cage - When I told my brother this one a couple of days ago, he laughed. I specifically remember going to batting cages on several occasions and being really good at it. Now, I have to go and take him as a witness that I can totally hit a ball. In fact, I can hit as many as the machine throws at me. Bring it.



2) Ski Ball or Arcade games in general, but especially ski ball - I haven't played since I was probably 10. The kids ate at Pizza Planet in Hollywood Studios on our last trip to Disney and played a quick game before heading back out to the park. It took everything in me not to push them aside and play myself. I love that game.



3) Miniature Golf - I haven't played since 2009. At one time, I was pretty good at it. I'm sure I stink by now after all this time.



4) Bowling - I think the last time I went bowling was on a date. Anyone who knows me doesn't need me to fill in that blank. It's been a LONG while.



5) Whiffle Ball game - The last time I played was at Christmas or Easter a couple years ago at my grandmother's house. The whole family played and I really want to play again.



6) Play Kickball - I haven't played since I was about 13 at church. That may have also been around the time that while we were running around one Sunday after church, my nose made contact with a friend's forehead. I went home that day with blood all over my dress and a really messed up nose. Now that I think about it, that could have been the end of my running around and frolicking days.



7) This one is seriously embarrassing, but because I should give you something for reading my nonsense, I'll share. I've never been on a ferris wheel. Ever. Hello. My name is Sunni. I'm 26 years old and I've never ridden a ferris wheel. Sad, I know. (Side note: When I was typing that I seriously had to do some quick math because I could NOT remember if I was 26 or 27. It's going to keep going downhill from here isn't it?)



8) Swim - I can't swim and I really wish I could find someone I trust enough with my life to teach me to swim. Is it more sad that I can't swim or that I've never been on a ferris wheel?



9) Water skiing - I've never actually done this before because, well, see number 8. It really looks like fun though.



10) Badminton - We had a badminton set a LONG time ago and I loved it....even though I was really bad at it.



11) Tennis - My brother used to play pretty regularly with several friends of his. They offered to take me one day and teach me. After 5 minutes, one of them told me to sit down on the side and just look cute because I was unteachable. How rude. I should totally learn to play and then look those guys up and beat them. When did I become so competitive??



12) Board games - I'm a total board game NERD. Honestly, I'm probably just a total nerd. Period. I haven't played a board game that wasn't Lucky Ducks, Chutes and Ladders, Candyland, Toy Story Kerplunk, etc...in a LONG time. I would love to have a bunch of people over to play board games.



13) Go Karts - I haven't raced go karts on a track in forever.



My goal for the year is to mark off as many of these off as possible. I'm working on finding joy in little things and just enjoying life.

Truth

4. God can't forsake you.

...and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. ~Hebrews 13:5

My garbage disposal is missing

Ok, not really because I don't have "fancy" gadgets like a garbage disposal. I actually have a white stray cat who eats the scraps/leftovers that I leave for her/him.

The truth is, I have no idea if the cat is male or female. I've never looked him/her in the face. I only know the cat is white because that's all I see of it. A white streak. And of course because I'm the queen of originality, I named the it Streak Cat. I know. It doesn't seem so clever to me anymore either.

I cleaned out our refrigerator Monday night. I'm sad to say there were still some Christmas leftovers in there. Don't judge me. After I left a huge mound of food for Streak Cat I thought he/she would surely love me for life. Surely this was the most food he/she had ever seen in their life. Of course, I can only assume this since we've never discussed it or anything. You know what I found last night?

The food.

All of it.

Untouched.

Streak was nowhere to be found. I didn't see him/her dart from under the shed or porch. Of course, because I'm not really an animal lover my first thought was not "I hope Streak is ok." Honestly, my first thought was "Great, now I have all this food in my yard and no one to eat it."

Streak....please come home. I really want that food gone. Now. Actually, yesterday.

I wonder if Streak is still upset with me for leaving a pound cake for him/her that I fell asleep while baking and it baked for a total of 4 1/2 hours. Sure, it was a little "crispy" but that's no reason to boycott my leftovers all together.