You Say Disney...I Say MICKEY SHIRTS!!!!

We are heading to Disney for Fall Break. When I say we, I mean 11 people. JuJu, Poppy Eddie, Aunt Brea, Uncle J, Anna, Isaac, Luke, Mary Elizabeth, Josh, Maggie, and I. Sheesshhh! We have a crew...It is going to be out-of-this-world FUN!

Apparently, I went as a child and Josh and Maggie have never been. We are Disney Virgins!!!

Mom and Dad booked it and Brea and Mom and Dad have planned it. Since I don't remember one thing about it, I had nothing to contribute...EXCEPT some awesome custom Mickey Shirts for the whole fam! Yep, 11 of them. All different, all made with TONS of love! Cool colors and cool fabrics! Even my Dad liked his!

I am so stinkin' excited about Disney I can't wait. I can't wait to see our crew sporting these awesome shirts!

An Awesome Giveaway Opportunity...

Lassiegirl is one of my all time favorite sellers on Etsy. I found her forever ago and she made Maggie her first pinafore that she still wears today. She contacted me about hosting a giveaway over on her blog to help us both out. Ashley always has amazing pinafores and scrap packs available, both through Etsy and her website.

This pinafore is one of my new favorites. Since I teach and all, I am obsessed with apples!!

So hop over to Ashley's Lassiegirl blog and register to win by leaving a comment. It is a super sweet write up of me and my craft. You can win a FREE scrappy lanyard made by me!!!
Check it out! and Comment AWAY!!!!

http://www.lassiegirl.typepad.com/

My Sweet Baby...

...is getting so big.

Her smile makes my world go round. Her laugh makes me laugh. Her sweet little dimples remind me of her handsome daddy.

She is the light of my world.

Change is Good for the Soul...

Lately, life has been so yummy. School is going so well. All of my students and teachers are rocking my socks off. I have loved getting up and taking Maggie to Mrs. Donna's, who she loves as much as me, and then going to teach and make a difference.

I have been struggling with my hair for a bit. It had gotten so long and heavy. If you know anything about me you know that I have super crazy thick hair. So much so that I have to use at least 3 ponytail holders to keep it up in a pony-o. It was time for a change.

I decided to help a child out and donate my hair that has recently gotten super duper long to a company that makes wigs for children who are in treatment for Cancer. My amazing stylist, Nicki at Mitzi's in Rivergate, asked me while she was shampooing it...so, what do you want to do to it today. I said, I need a cut...maybe like 3-4 inches. She said, almost jokingly, well if you cut at least 6 inches, you can donate it and help out a child who needs a wig. Say no more. I said, okay...go for it. Enough said. It is: a. just hair and it will grow back and b. if it were Maggie that was bald from being sick, I would hope that someone could help her out. So off 7.5 inches went. YAY! So, I contacted Vanderbilt Medical Center today to find out what I needed to do to get this hair out of my house (yuck!!!) and where it can help others. The awesome lady that wrote me back suggested the Pink Heart Funds. After reading about her mission on her website, I could not get that hair in a plastic bag and in the mail fast enough.

I love the new look. It is fun, short, and nice to have a change.

For Meredith and CK4...

This awesome sign has gone to bestie, Lyndsey's, camp director Meredith. Lyndsey worked this past summer (just returned home yesterday!) for Lifeway at Centri-Kid Camps. She was gone for 11 long weeks are everyone is so glad that she is home.

She asked me if I could create her an awesome sign, like Brea's, with their camp verses that they have founded the summer on. I loved this project. It was supposed to be personal from the whole CK4 team, which was 24 people. I wanted it to be a bit girlie, but different.

The verses are John 15:16-17...

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command:

Love each other.

Lynds said that Meredith loved it when it was presented to her on Friday before camp ended. That made it so worth the work. I loved the way it turned out and was a nervous wreck packaging it to mail to VA!

Welcome home Lyndsey!

What are you doing with your Saturday Morning? Encores and More North!!!

It's Consignment Time PEOPLE!!!!!!!!

This morning is one of my most excited mornings in a long time. My awesome sis, Brea, runs THE BEST CONSIGNMENT SALE in the STATE OF TENNESSEE...Encores and More North. It is held in the old Goody's building in the Rivergate area next to Dick's Sporting Goods and Best Buy, across from Sam's. Her sale has always been unbelievable...but this one is sure to rock your socks off. She has already given out over 850 Consigner numbers...SERIOUSLY! If you want to be a WORKER, you get to shop super early before the public and the consigners. Also, Brea's BF Angie V. arranges lots of yummy food and drink stops for the workers...How cool is that!

Drop-off is happening today the 8th through Wednesday the 12th. Check HERE for appointments and information on that!

New MOMMIES get to shop early. Find out about that HERE.

Encores and More North is Open to the Public:
Saturday, August 15 10am - 6pm
Sunday, August 16 12pm-6pm
Monday - Wednesday, August 17-19 10am - 6pm
Thursday, August 20 10am - 6pm -- 25% OFF DAY!
NEW MERCHANDISE ARRIVING DAILY!
Half Price Days:
Friday, August 21 10am - 6pm
Saturday, August 22 9am - 1pm

These are the pics of my car and Josh's car of all the awesome goodies I am taking to sale. I love to CLEAN OUT and make some money all at the same time.

Check out Brea's website and if you need further info...leave me a comment and I will get right back to you!

2 Years...

...this morning at roughly 1:30 am marked the 2 year mark of my life changing forever. Josh went into Cardiac Arrest on July 30th, 2007 and point in time that I will never forget. July, as I have mentioned before, is an emotional month for me. I try so hard to keep it all together for myself, Josh, and mostly Maggie...but the truth is...it is HARD. I spent today thinking about the last two years and how much my life has changed.

I remember last year when it had been a year out...I remember thinking about how we were so lucky that Josh had made it a year out and was feeling better than he had in a long time...I remember thinking how grateful we both were that Maggie was as awesome as she was...I remember thinking that life was a blessing beyond belief.

This year has been totally different in many ways. I spent today waking up to my husband laying next to me ready to start a new day. I often sleep touching him...which doesn't sound like much, but in a huge California king bed, I have to stretch. Last night I slept with my hand on his heart. I couldn't help it. It was not like it was any different than any other night that he goes to sleep, but I needed to do that for me. It was a hard night. Mr. Dick that lives at the top of the neighborhood drives a huge dualie truck that is so loud. He was the first responder that came to help when Josh got sick. I believe I heard him everytime he went up and down the road last night. That was hard. I went to go get a haircut with Josh and "my face waxed off" as I loving refer to getting my eyes waxed and this was when Maggie went up to Josh and proclaimed that he looked "pretty" after his haircut. I went to Macy's at Rivergate and was an American Heart Association volunteer for the Go Red for Women campaign.

I was lucky enough to be chosen to be a Nashville spokeswoman for the Go Red campaign and nothing could thrill my soul more. I am still in the very beginning stages of understanding what I am doing, but I know why I am doing it...so that makes it worth the while. It was an amazing day. Between myself and four other volunteers, we signed up over 60 women for the campaign in only 2 hours. I LOVED that I was surrounded by heart survivors today. It seemed ironic, yet fitting. One lady that I spoke to buried her husband of 40 years from heart disease 10 years ago. It was an amazing story. It brought tears to my eyes. And then she looked at me and said...so, what's your story. So, I told her. A total stranger. She was so touched. She had tears in her eyes and we hugged and I said that I was so glad that she was signing up for the campaign as it promotes heart health for women. She said..."Honey, I have to live each day to honor my husband. We didn't get to finish this life together so I have to make sure that I am making a difference while I can." SERIOUSLY! I was blown away. Her name was Margie. I loved her. We rubbed elbows and hugged and laughed and bonded. We had nothing in common...so I thought. I just wanted her to sign up for the campaign, she just wanted the free ice cream. I believe that we both left with a changed state of mind.

I am so thankful for today. For the feelings and emotions that always come with today. For my JuJu calling and saying...now today is the day right...so sweet, I know she didn't want to ask. I am thankful for my husband. I am thankful that we do go to dr. appts. and feel like we are on date days. I am thankful that we have each other. I would be lying if I said that I didn't miss the "old" Josh sometimes. I would be lying if I didn't say that sometimes I just want to have an Alie pitty party and invite no one. I would be lying if I haven't asked the Lord...why? I would be lying if I said that I wish all that has happened to our family had never happened and we could just be a "normal" family with normal health issues. I would just be lying. And you know what...the Lord doesn't like liars.

What I want to say to others is this...

...I miss the "old" Josh. I miss the Josh that doesn't have a counter full of prescription drugs that cause him to be in bad moods, yell alot, and shut down emotionally 99.9% of the time.

...I want to not go to bed every night scared to death that either my husband or my daughter could possibly get sick. It often freaks me out that Dexter is the healthiest one of the bunch!

...I want to be celebrating my 6 year of marriage on Sunday without saying I am SO glad Josh is still here. Who has to worry about that at 27 years of age.

...I want to STOP thinking about what happened at certain times and on certain days. I want to know that what I am feeling is okay. My therapist says it is...

...I want to STOP thinking about the time that Mom, Dad, and Brea drove me to the hospital and I was preparing myself for what life would be like without my husband. I want to stop hearing Brea say...Alie, you need to talk to him...He knows your here. (this was when he was on the breathing machine in the ER). I want to STOP hearing people say you know he is going to be okay. I want to STOP thinking about those terrible blue recliners in the ICU waiting room where poor Maggie thought she lived. I want to STOP thinking about seeing him right after his DeFib was placed and knowing that our life was going to be totally different. I want to STOP thinking about the EMS team shocking him in our bedroom on our floor at our house 3 times and shoving me out of the way from doing the CPR so it could shock. I want to STOP thinking about the time that Dad took Maggie in to see Josh right after he got transferred to a regular room at Hendersonville and him thinking it was the first time he was seeing her.

But...the reality is...I CAN'T. So what do I do.

I have to recognize that this is part of my life now and whether I love it or not, I have to respect it and give the glory to God for being alive to have these feelings.
I lean on my awesome family that loves me and my family unconditionally, even if it is hard at times.
I lean on my best friends that surround me and lift me up when I am at my weakest.
I lean on Maggie for her strength and love for life.

Most of all, I lean on God. He is why my day is worth living. It could always be worse and I am so thankful that it is not. I just think that God loves us the most when we are real with ourselves. You are of no help to others in your life, without helping yourself first.

Two years...these two years do not limit me or define who I am. They only make me stronger.

Maggie Moo Turned Two...

...in a big way. Maggie's big day was actually Friday, the 24th. Josh and I just ran some errands and he had a photo shoot that evening. I had been suffering from a Migraine since Tuesday and had to get a shot to get back to somewhat of a normal in time for Maggie big bash on Saturday.

We decided to do a morning party for lots of reasons. Maggie is her best in the morning. She always plays hard in the morning and sleeps after lunch. We didn't want to do a huge meal or even cake so we did the next best thing, Krispy Kreme donuts. Who doesn't love donuts? It was perfect. We bought a ton of donuts, had a spread of fresh fruits, and chocolate milk. It was perfect. All the kiddos loved it and it wasn't a huge ordeal, which I loved.

Of course, I had to purchase some fresh beautiful sunflowers to decorate with and some funky Martha Stewart star things, but other than that, we just sat back and enjoyed those that came.

Maggie loved her birthday. She totally understood what was going on and when asked she would answer - I'm TWO!!! (and hold up 5 fingers) - our little genius!

Many family members and friends that we love like family filled our house with lots of love, laughter, and joy. That is what I always want Maggie to remember about her birthday's...not the gifts she received, etc. She did love opening presents so Christmas will for sure be a blast. I would open the card and read it to her...she was stop and then say YAY!!! and clap for my reading. After the card, she would open the package. She got some awesome stuff. Kerri Jo and Kaitlin and Baby Boy Dillard got her the cutest cow bowling set. My mom and dad got her her first pair of Toms...they are adorable. She also got some yummy PJ's from JuJu and Poppy Ernie! Grammy and Poppy got her an adorable Dressy Bessy that she has already played with so much one of the buttons fell off! Aunt Patti and Uncle Cutie-Putie-in-his-plaid-shorts Ronnie got her some sweet Princess Crocs. They are precious. Brea and J and crew contributed money towards Maggie's new swingset, which was awesome. Gram and Papa Sam also sent some money. They had other plans already, but wanted to send their love. So sweet! Rachel and Owen got her some coloring items that are the bomb.com. She loves them and they don't color all over our walls!! YAY!!!

The West family got her a super sweet embroidered Maggie beach towel that has such fun striped colors and some sweet books perfect for the car. Grandma Norma and Papa got her a sweet book all about nursery rhymes. Lyndsey couldn't be here because she is still at Camp, but she was sooo thoughtful she sent her an adorable elephant shirt from the Elephant Sanctuary. Maggie loves elephants and that is a sweet little bond for them. It was super sweet. Overall, we had the best day with the best people.

It was so wonderful to look around the room and see people that have been in our lives and supported us through it all. I loved everyone in this house and I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to help fill the love in Maggie's heart. Enjoy the pics that daddy Josh captured from her special day.

So Much to Say...

...so here goes. Hang on to your bananas.

I want to start this post with some random thoughts I have had recently. They might not amount to much to others, but I wanted to share them regardless.

What drives me crazy...

When you go to see a Cardiologist and the waiting room smells like smoke. Seriously people. Your at the Cardiologist. If you have to smoke, take a 2 hour break and a bath and come smelling fresh and clean, not like a cigarette is on fire in your be hind. That just got all under my skin. I moved two times today in the waiting room at Vanderbilt because I felt like I was gonna go home and smell like I had been in a bar. I would have rather not smelled like a cancer stick.

When my Postmaster/Postman just doesn't pick up our outgoing mail because we don't have any incoming mail. You see we bought this house from my dear sister and our lovely brick mailbox doesn't have a flag so there is no way to know when we have outgoing mail or not. So, in my mind, I would think that the Postmaster would check everyday...not true! Not true indeed!

Okay, I am sure there is many more topics, but we will save those for another day.

We returned to Indiana this weekend to attend Josh's 10 Yr. Class Reunion. It was "interesting" and so fun to go back to his roots. I love his home town. Even though you have to drive across the country to go to Wal Mart, it still has a great warm town feel. I got to see some of his buddies that we haven't seen in about 6 yrs. so that was awesome.

We also went to the new indoor water park in French Lick on Sunday night. It was fun. It was overpriced, but fun. Maggie loves water, so it was great to see her slide over and over again.

Josh returned back to the Cardiologist today. Dr. Churchwell performed a Stress Test and Echo cardiogram on him. We went last week because Josh has had three episodes of tightness and discomfort, as well as his pacemaker portion of his defib going off twice now. We were ready to get to the bottom of why he is feeling the way he is and what we can expect in the future.

Dr. C confirmed that Josh's heart looks good. His pericardium looked as well as he could expect with all that he has been through. There was no fluid around the heart, which was awesome news. He did confirm that Josh has paracardistis again, which is an infection around the lining of his heart. He had this same condition when I delivered Maggie, and then shortly after went into Cardiac Arrest. He prescribed a steroid pack for the third time hoping to knock out the discomfort until we return to his Auto-Immune Dr. on the 23rd.

It was an emotional day for both of us. Of course, we never want Josh to feel sick or to not be 100%, but just the thought of him having Paracardistis again...heck, even just to hear the word, makes me shiver. I hate it! I hate that he is in pain. I hate that he has to deal with all of this. BUT, I am so thankful that he is ALIVE.

July is a super emotional month for me. I know that I will overcome it as I have before. I just try to be real with my emotions and continue to be who I am.

For My Sister...

Last Tuesday was my sister, Brea's, birthday. I wanted to do something awesome for her this year. It has been another big year for her. A new home and a new sweetie JT, I felt it would be appropriate to do something that meant a ton to her.

This is a blank canvas that I used tons and tons of scrapbooking paper on and layer it to death. Then I wrote out some awesome verses from the song Wonderful Maker by Chris Tomlin. The lyrics are kind of scattered so you have to look for them to make sense. I kinda liked it that way.

Then I added their last name and made it say "the freeman family."

I gave it to Brea tonight at her birthday dinner and I think she loved it. I thought it turned out pretty awesome.

I love you Breezy!

Our Second Trip...

First of all, how hilarious is this sign. This is a sign that is hanging on one of the docks down at JuJu and Poppy Eddie's houseboat. We all giggle when we go past it so I thought I needed a picture to remember it by.

Well, let me just start by saying that we LOVE JuJu and Poppy Eddie to death. Mom and Dad were at the houseboat today. I stayed home and sewed and cleaned house all day yesterday so when I heard that Josh had to go to basketball camp with his team...I thought it would be a great day to go the to boat. We HATED to go without Daddy, but we had the best time ever!

Maggie, first of all, has no fear. Period. She has loved the water since she was first born. Even last year at the houseboat, she didn't mind it. When we went to the houseboat a week or so ago, I could tell that she was growing more and more comfortable with the water. We strapped her into her lifejacket and got straight in the "WATTIEE" when we got there this morning. Maggie loved it. She never cried, she just smiled and yelled with enjoyment.

I then realized that Maggie was kicking with a purpose...OH MY!!! MAGGIE CAN SWIM!

Let me just take this opportunity to tell you that I LOVED the water. Ever since I was Maggie's age and younger, I loved the water. I could spend hours upon hours in water and never complain or get bored. That is still true for me now. I love to swim. I love how free it makes me feel. I, secretly, always wanted my children to love to swim and be in water. My wish came true. Maggie had a great time and didn't want to get out.

Once she got the hang of it, she didn't want me to hold her or even help her if she got off balance and her face got in the water. Mom and Dad loved seeing her swim. She was a stinkin' fish by the end of the day. I loved it! I loved that we got it on video for Josh to see. I love that my parents kept saying, your just like your mommy...she loved the water. It meant a lot to me.

Thanks for another awesome day at the boat JuJu and Poppy! We love you!

Check out the video of Maggie swimming below. If you look closely in the water, you will see her little feet just working up the town. She loved it!

Living Near A Farm...

I love that our house, while in a subdivision, backs up to a beautiful wood farm with tons of COOOOWWSSSS and HORRRSSSIEESSS.

Maggie loves animals. Seriously, her best friend is Dexter Bing. She loves horses and cows and will often just stare at the farm and say "Cows, Where Are YOU!" from our kitchen window. This afternoon we were outside playing and we saw the horses and cows were close to the back fence so we went back to say hello.

If you listen closely in the video you can hear her click her tongue. Ever since she was little bitty, she as always clicked her tongue when we say "What sound does a horse make?" She is sooo fun at this age, but for sure a handful. It was a great visit with the horsies...I am sure they would have loved us more if Maggie were feeding them something besides sticks!!!