Happy Birthday Kelly

Happy Birthday Kelly - our little potato chip!! You have just had your 22nd birthday, and it seems like yesterday that I brought you home on a cold, cold, wintry Charleston day. MaMa was waiting at home for us, MeMe and Aunt Melanie had brought Kaiti home - all ready to meet you!! The years that followed have to be the most fun that I have ever had. I don't know anyone who has given me more joy and laughter. I laughed all weekend watching all of the old home videos. You and your sister made us a family. You made us parents, and taught us so much about what loving and living is all about. I know that the past 5 years have been such a challenge for all of us - but especially you. You know that I have prayed one prayer constantly through all of this for your healing physically, emotionally and spiritually. Our prayers are being answered as this is written. You have been without pain since Dec.14. Emotionally you are becoming strong, independent and confident. Spiritually, I am watching as God is using you in such powerful ways - to disciple a young woman you just met, to minister to a woman that God put in your path in the Sunglass Hut today. You have been gifted with all of the passion, compassion and skills that are needed to become a nurse. Your goals have been set for a long, long time. I know how difficult it has been to put all of those goals on hold, to miss out on the typical college experience, to have to be at home with your parents so that you had support and medical care close by. I know how rough it has been spending days on end at the hospital instead of out having fun with friends your age. We are so proud of how you have persevered when most of us would have called it quits. We are proud of the daughter, the sister, the granddaughter, the sister-in-law and the aunt that you are. Now, it is time for you to fly!!!

My Favorite!!

Look at this incredible picture of my baby with her baby!!

What a Wild Ride!!

OK - We have had one crazy few days here!! or really there... Thursday afternoon we hit the road heading north to Charleston. We left mid-afternoon to avoid the crazy, nutty afternoon traffic in and out of Tampa. We got about an hour up I-75, and were stopped due to an accident for 2 hours. So, detours and hours later - we checked into the hotel at 1AM. We had an appointment at Charleston Southern University with the head of the nursing school at 10 on Friday morning. Kelly and I had visited Jacksonville U last Friday. We were both impressed and excited with the nursing program that they had. We had mixed feelings about even doing the Charleston visit. David, Kelly and I just prayed together that God would give us a clear answer about where she should be in school next year. I always ask God for signs - signs that are the in my face kind of signs. As we parked and headed towards the new building for the nursing school - I saw a huge bright yellow banner hanging over the entrance. "100% of our students passed the NCLEX-RN. OK - thank you God for a sign - a real sign - as soon as we start this journey!! The meeting/interview was incredible-I watched as my baby girl talked about her passion for nursing, her calling to be a nurse, what she has lived through the past 5 years since the accident, how her pain and treatment is going to enable her to be a better nurse, how excited she was that in this particular nursing program faith is an integral part of the plan, and I watched as my little potato chip handled that interview as a young woman very sure of what she wanted!! God wasn't finished - after a tour and a few more questions - we asked about apartments. Dr. H looked at us and laughed - seems that her son is working to open a new complex just down from the school. We headed down the road for a tour of the complex - it was only about 3 miles from where we lived from the time Kelly was born until we moved to Florida when she was 9. She truly felt like she was going home. Kelly just kept saying that she was so excited she was about to come out of her skin. Goosebumps from God!! Off to lunch to meet up with our Kindred Spirits (remember the beach last summer). After lunch we headed over the bridge into Charleston to check in with Water Missions International www.watermissions.org David is going to Uganda in June with Kelly Green - http://www.kellygreen.org/ They are taking a medical and dental team, and are also going to set up two water purification systems!! YES!! We are just a little bit excited!! We are going to be back in Charleston March 5-6 to help with their fundraiser gala and walk for water. Then off to NC for Collin's christening. We had planned to be in Friday night and most of Saturday, but after finding out that Kaiti, Robert and Collin were at my mom's - only 90 minutes away - we hit the road again for my hometown to surprise everyone. Four generations together - how often is that going to happen for us!?! We left at noon to head back to Florida. It was a wild ride, a quick trip, a special time with family, and a time for God to really reveal Himself in Kelly's life!! Check out the new slideshow from our family time together.

Oh Really!?!?!

OK - I sit down to begin a little quiet time and prepare for the Beth Moore study this evening. Check my email first - big mistake!! There is an ad from Coldwater Creek. I have just decided in the past few months that I like their store and have added it to my list of favorites. Seems that they are advertising a new line of jeans. This catches my attention because outside of my pajamas - I would rather be in a pair of jeans any day!! But get this - the ad states - You won't believe the fit - thanks to cleverly concealed ShapeMe tummy panels - cotton with a touch of spandex for comfort all day. Alright, I really need to know to know if there is anyone out there besides me who has a 50-something body that understands what this means. First after you get into the jeans and zip up the cleverly concealed panel (which back in the 60's was referred to as a girdle that I clearly remember my mother wearing) and you start breathing again - well, doesn't your stomach start aching? Is this just my problem or is it universal? I tried one of the 10 pound slimmer swimsuits and I couldn't breathe or move in it - much less climb onto a jet ski!!!! So what I am concerned about - as much as I would love these slim-down jeans, I see this as an instant source of pain and discomfort, and the worst part - the flab that you are trying to oh so cleverly conceal really just moves right up and becomes a "muffin top"!! I am going back to Chicos where my size is a 1.5 which makes me feel wonderful, and they have those awesome stretchy travelers pants where I feel like I am in my pj's all day!! Besides, we have stock in Chicos and they are really needing some help right now!! Did this post make sense to anyone out there at all???? KB

You are Wonderful!!

Psalm 139
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
AMEN and AMEN!!!