Victims in Pink Kimonos

So, for those of you who might not know, last week was a little stressful around here. I had a general yearly girly checkup with my Doc on Tuesday... when we found another suspicious bit of lumpiness in the outer corner of the left breast. Now, this isn't new territory for me. In fact, two years ago this May, I had a benign tumor removed from the same area. I actually noticed the second said lump over the weekend, but I had told myself not to panic.. I would see what the doc thought. Well, she thought I needed an ultrasound, which was scheduled for Friday. So..four looonng days ensued. I fretted, worried, cried, stressed, and generally forgot that God really is on my side.  Fast forward to Friday, afternoon, 3pm. I am shown to this really small waiting room, after changing into a lovely, pink kimono-type top. It was here I had to wait for MY turn.  3 hours, 6 women, one small room. 47 magazines. I was the youngest by far. We all had some lumpy reason to be there.  We all had fear and stress written across our faces.  Little by little, each of us shared a bit of ourselves..  I was last in line, naturally.  Towards the end, it was one older buxom woman, and me. She was pacing. At first I thought she was nervous, but then I saw her lips move. I realized she was praying. I guess she saw me watching her, because she stopped and said, I don't know what is in my future, but I KNOW Who holds it. He is bigger than us, and bigger than this.... My name was called then, and the nurse explained gently that the doctor wanted to see my fellow waiting room friend. I received a clean bill of "everything is ok, just some scar tissue. See us in 6 months" It dawned on me that my friend, my fellow faithful believer was most likely not getting the same great news.. I offered up a prayer, remembering the One who would hold her hand as well as her future.  And I believe that she will take it in stride and give it up to HIM. 

"Coincidentally" at church on Sunday, our pastor spoke about the so-called victim mentality. How we take these circumstances thrown at us, and act like we don't have a risen Savior.  We have freedom from death, but we live like we are dying. I lived in fear last week, but this week, I have freedom in the knowledge that HE is bigger than anything that might come my way!

Thank you guys for all your love and prayers last week! 

Lacey

Go on up to the mountain of mercy...

So, we just got back from an awesome weekend with some of our "Asylum" group in the North Georgia Mountains.  First, yes, it was freezing cold. It snowed on Saturday, and we were afraid we might not make it down the mountain this morning, but here we are, safe and sound!  Over and over, I am blown away by these "kids." I am honored at how real they are with us. I always go, hoping to show them love, and come away having learned so much from them.  From hugging trees, to playing some weird version of Cranium, to washing each others faces with snow, to sitting in a hot tub, outside in the 10 degree weather, this weekend was truly one of the best I have ever had! I can see amazing and miraculous works from God in each of them.

So, here are some pictures .... More to come!

These hand warmers came in really handy! First they helped us unfreeze the door to the cabin so that we could get in on Friday. They were also very useful at helping thaw out cheeks, noses and ears! This is my girly Becca helping me thaw out my face!
This is Ariel, hugging a tree. We were really happy that she found it!

We blindfolded some of them, and made them find their way back to the cabin, sort of. No worries, they had help. They were attached to someone who could see, but couldn't talk. Ok, maybe it wasn't fun for them, but it was entertaining for US!
Sam and I, Ping Pong, take 2!! I think we are better than we used to be, but we still STINK! Note, we play with a two-paddle method.

Bathroom Makeover

So, one of the projects on our "list" if you will, has been to repaint our bathroom. We painted our bedroom almost a year ago, and the bathroom has really been sticking out like a sore thumb.

Here is our before picture... ( NOTE, Mike took this one, I most definately would have straigtened the towel and removed certain objects...) What you can't see is a LOVELY grape leaf border. Seriously, WHO puts grapes in a bathroom?  Ahem, I digress... 

And, now for some afters...

I also added some new pictures that I got from Linen's and Things... Major markdowns, since they are closing and all.   I swear the wall color isn't pink! It is actually "French Castle" Ok, ok, it MAY have some pinkish red undertones... but it works and I love it!

Going Home

 My Grandmother, Mary has always been a giver. Whether food or money, clothes or a car, she has always stepped in where others couldn't. She would do without, so that we would have more than enough.  Even once I was out of college, and making more money than she got from the government monthly, she would sneak money into my car, or my purse... That has always been her way of taking care of me. I think most of you know that my Gram hasn't been doing very well the last few months. She is increasingly confused and agitated. We moved her from my Dad's to a nursing home in Macon. She promptly escaped ( thankfully not far) and was moved again to the Alzheimer's unit or what I call "lockdown"  The past few visits have been really really hard.  She has lost alot of weight and I think she isn't eating anymore or drinking. Friday, the 2nd was her 84th birthday. Instead of the party we had planned, she was admitted, again to the hospital.  Mike and I drove down to see her yesterday..The visit had its ups and downs. When reminded of her birthday, she says "that's right, I am 60 years old, today!" She is quite sassy with the nurses, and really likes to pull out her IVs. She also seemed quite put out that I didn't bring her anything...You might say her love language is gifts, haha!  I think she wanted something sweet, or a present. My Gram has always been a smart woman, and has never really had a "filter"  I think, somewhere deep in her mind she knows her time is ending. She also knows how hard this is for us....  The hardest part of yesterday, was her looking at me with those eyes, the ones that match mine, and saying "Do you love me? Of course Gram. How much, she asked?  More than you know, Gram. Well then, I am ready. Ready for what, Gram? I am ready to go, I am ready to go...My time is done." After I swallowed the gigantic lump in my throat, I think I squeeked out an "ok" As I think back on it, I think this is just one more way of her taking care of me. Making sure I know that she really is ok... She has lived this amazing life... Has a family that adores her. I think this is her last gift to us.. To wash away any guilt that we might have, to help us know we are doing the right thing by letting her give up the fight... I was looking back over a myspace post, from 2006. I had written it after a visit with her, after we took her independence and her car, and moved her in with my Dad, and I had written down the lyrics to this song by Sara Groves... Once again, they are running through my head... I know she is ready to go, and I think we are finally ready to let her go... I also think, like I wrote a couple of years ago, there is a table waiting for her... a celebration. And if my Gram has anything to do with it, she will cook everyone some chicken.  

"Theres a feeling I can't capture
Its always just a prayer away
I want to know the ending
Things hoped for but not seen
But I guess thats the point of hoping anyway

Of going home, Ill meet you at the table
Going home, Ill meet you in the air
And you are never too young to think about it
Oh, I cannot wait to be home

Im confined by my senses
To really know what you are like
You are more than I can fathom
And more than I can guess
And more than I can see with you in sight

But I have felt you with my spirit
I have felt you fill this room
And this is just an invitation
Just a sample of the whole
And I cannot wait to be going home

Going home, Ill meet you at the table
Going home, Ill meet you in the air
And you are never too young to think about it
Oh, I cannot wait to be going, to be going home"

Amen. :)

Christmas has come and gone!

So Christmas and New Years came and went pretty stinkin' fast! Here are some photos from our last week or so... Of course, I left my camera in Woodstock when we traveled to Perry to see MY family... So no funny pictures of the chubby blow up Santa the neighbors left in my parents yard as a joke, no picture of my cranky papa telling ME I need to be sweeter, no pictures of Kelly Johnson, and the 5 minute drive by reunion, no pictures of the happy santa apron my Mom wore for two days, and then, of course, gave matching ones to each of us girls. NOPE, you won't see any of that! 

Mike, Me, Tim and Kimmie at Fantasy in Lights at Calloway...

( Tim, is that your phone, to the left? hmmm.. Maybe this is where you lost it?)

Me, Jenny and Sam... Celebrating Christmas Adam...

:) The Happy Turners, Christmas Eve, Eve.. After sweet singing and the story

of the birth of Christ.

Tracy, me and Sammy... We sort of lead the singing, but you don't really have to push 

this group to sing. Funny thing is, Tracy warned me ( a soprano) not to start toooo high.

So, she started (she is an alto) , and it was so low for me, I sang harmony :) We had a hard time not laughing during the song.

Me, again, Kristin and Sarah at Christ Church's "Holy Presents"

I am sooo glad we went, the music is amazing, they do a great job reminding

all of what why we really celebrate Christmas. It is certainly not about the present we get, 

but the one we already got!!

Hope everyone had an awesome Christmas!