Happy Birthday Mrs. Troop or Why Mrs. Troop Rocks

Mrs. Troop rocks because its her birthday.
And everyone rocks on their birthday.


Mrs. Troop rocks because she has
been married to the same man for 13 years.
That rocks.
I've only made it 11 years so far myself!
Ha!


Mrs. Troop rocks because she has 8 kids.
That seriously rocks.


Mrs. Troop rocks because she is an awesome cook.
I mean like Martha caliber.
Seriously.
I've personally had her cooking on several
occasions and she knows
what she is doing in the kitchen.


Mrs. Troop rocks because she is well read.
I do not have many friends who are avid readers.
All the women in my life who I look up to and have considered to be
my mentors have been readers. And Mrs. Troop is a reader.
And my hero.


Mrs. Troop rocks because she can sew.
With patterns.
And make fancy stitches.
She totally rocks


Mrs. Troop rocks because she is generous.
The first time I met her was at a double baby shower
for me and another girl in Sunday School.
She didn't even know me and still brought me a gift!
She is always taking meals to friends and relatives with new babies.
She is always able to find a moment to chat and
impart an encouraging word. And she is always happy to share her
wisdom in child raising and training.
She is generous with what she has,
what she makes and what she knows.
That rocks!


Mrs. Troop rocks because she sticks with her convictions.
And she is who she says she is.


Mrs. Troop rocks because she can host a get
together IN HER HOME for 120 something relatives
and NOT BREAK A SWEAT.
That rocks.


Mrs. Troop rocks because she has been my faithful friend
even though I moved half-way across the country and have
spent half my time in Georgia on the brink of Insanity.
And she is still my friend.
That rocks.


Mrs. Troop rocks because she is funny and witty.
And she appreciates my humor which is marginal at best.


Mrs. Troop rocks because she has left a comment on
EVERY SINGLE POST I have ever written.
Go look and see for yourself.
That really rocks.
Who can beat a devoted friend who loves you enough
to leave a comment on every post?
THAT is true friend love.


Mrs. Troop rocks because she loves our Savior
with all her heart and is passionate about serving Him.
Her heart's desire in the midst of the chaos is to continually
grow closer to Him and encourage others to do the same.


Mrs. Troop rocks because she encourages me to run faster towards
the prize and work harder towards the goal.
She encouarges me to be a better mom and a better wife.
And she accepts me for who I am.
That rocks.

Happy Birthday Dear Friend!

YOU ROCK!

(go on over to Mrs. Troop and leave her a Happy Birthday comment or two or three)
(even if you don't know her)
(it would totally make her day)

Michael Buble Sings

This is dedicated to MY everything... my hubby.... and yes.. I would be singing this to you with my Bath and Body Works tube of lotion as a microphone using all the gusto and drama I could muster.......

Thankful Thursday

I am dedicating this Thankful Thursday to my friends and fellow mothers who are in the trenches every day....

Thanks for all the sleepless nights, when you got up to feed babies, change diapers, take care of fevers, hold a coughing child, administer medicine, administer dry sheets, calm a bad dream, or just rub the back of a sleepless child, when you put your children's needs above your own .....

Thank you for all the endless laundry you wash and fold and put away... no one appreciates you more than a fellow laundress.....

Thank you for all the meals you fix for your family.... 3 times a day.... 7 days a week.......

Thank you for all the times that you didn't leave your child when they have been whining and screaming and crying all day and driving you to the brink of insanity.......

Thank you for every diaper you have changed, every bodily mess you have cleaned up ,every backside you have wiped, every fingernail and tonenail you have clipped, every nose you have cleaned.........because that is really just true love.....

Thank you for all the toys you have picked up, organized, put away, thrown away, given away and stepped on......

For all the days you have been overworked, overwhelmed, overtalked to (you know, when every sentence all day long in the house starts and ends with mom) , stressed out, tired out, put out, strung out (from all those sleepless nights), and wigged out,.... I appreciate you,.... because you are still in the battle, still fighting the good fight, and still hanging in there............

Thank you especially for all the times you have taken a minute from your busy, crazy schedule to stop and encourage a fellow mother in the trenches to keep on keepin on, to persevere through another long day, to live more, to love more and to laugh more, to find God's love, peace, kindness, gentleness, self-control, patience, goodness and joy in every day and in every situation......

I am thankful for YOU this Thursday!

Ode to Petit St. Vincent

I am leaving.

For Petit St. Vincent Island.

Tomorrow.

I'm sure the kids can fend for themselves.
I'm sure they can.

They know where the cereal is.
They know how to get water to drink.

They know how to work the dvd player.

They know what time bedtime is.

I'm leaving the country.

At this island...

there are no children....

there are no pagers...........

there are no phones.......

there is no tv........
there are no peanut butter sandwiches............

did I mention no kids........

You can do hiking, swimming, reading, relaxing, napping.....
A soothing massage or facial can be arranged in your cottage or on your patio on request.......Room service, lunch on the beach, whatever you want........

I could rest and relax here just fine.....
I'm sure I could.....

I would at least like to give it a try....

Okay, so maybe not this week.

But a girl can always dream...............