~Friday's Friend~

~Mallory Whitlock Hall~

(June 2008)

I'm so excited about telling this story, because it's such a neat friendship story!!! Mallory and I started our friendship in Junior High. She was new to town, and our class loved getting to know her! My memory has pretty much vanished due to age and having 2 kids, but here are the memories that I have of junior high days with Mal.....going to pick her up for prayer breakfast, hanging out at her house after school, spend the night parties (sometimes on week nights!), cutting thru her neighborhood to go to Traceway park to watch our guys play baseball, laughing our heads off (Inch High Private Eye haha!!), and of course all the drama that goes along with junior high! haha!

Well, in ninth grade Mallory announced that her family was moving to Alabama! :( It's never fun "losing" a best friend....especially when they're moving to another state! I think we tried to keep in touch for a while, but then we pretty much lost all contact....until....

We found eachother on FACEBOOK!!!!!! Gosh, I love facebook. Once we found eachother, we started talking and catching up. After about a year of "facebooking" eachother, I told her that Michael and I would be in the Birmingham area and that I'd love to get together while we were there. We were both so excited about seeing eachother after all those years! Well....at the last minute, our trip got cancelled. When I told Mal, we were both really bummed. She told us to still come and we could just stay with her and her husband, Austin. I immediately agreed! When I told Michael he said...."You haven't seen this girl since 9th grade and now we're about to load up our family and drive 7 hours to stay with them??" hahaha....it did sound kinda silly when he put it like that. But we went anyway! And I'm SOOO glad we did!!!

We got to their house in Cullman, AL around midnight. It was such a neat reunion and we were both just so excited to see eachother! We introduced eachother to our husbands and to Abby. We all ended up talking for about an hour and a half and then decided it was time to crash! The rest of the weekend consisted of: a festival, fishing, eating, sight seeing, taking LOTS of pics, playing Apples to Apples, going to their church, and catching up! It was such a fun weekend, and you would've NEVER thought it had been 9 years since we had seen eachother. Mal's husband is a GREAT guy and him and Michael hit it off instantly!! And of course Abby loved them, and they loved her! I was so sad when we had to leave to go back home.

Since that reunion, they have come to Brookhaven to stay with us, we met at Ross Bridge and spent the weekend together, we've met a couple times in Jackson, we talked about moving to Cullman and all living together (hahaha!!!), and we try to keep in touch the best we can. Actually, I think Michael and Austin do a better job of keeping in touch than me and Mallory. SHAME ON US!! :) However, ever since I had Parker, I've been chasing my life in a full sprint....and still can't catch up!! It's been wayyyyyyyyyy too long since we've seen our Hall besties, and now Mal is preggie and they've moved into a new house....so we've GOT to get to Cullman AsAP!!

Mallory, I am SOOOOOOOOOooooooooooo happy for you and Austin. Yall are going to be the absolute best parents in the world!!!! (Well, besides for us! haha) I hope we can plan a trip this summer, because once baby Hall gets here....it will be even harder to plan trips! I'm glad that we have "reunited" and I hope our friendship continues to grow....even with 7 hours of distance between us! I love you, girl!

your friend,

Tina Tanya Tonya

~Ton's Thoughts on Thursday~

*HGTV
....I'm obsessed! I could watch HGTV all day...if I didn't have a job or 2 kids! And it gets better....Michael loves it too!! He'll watch it sometimes without me! :) Gotta love a man who can watch a show about redecorating and remodeling! hehe

*Nawlins
Yes, so we are making our 4th trip to New Orleans this year. Except this time we're making it an "All About Abby" trip! We're leaving Parker with my parents, and we're taking Abby to the new children's museum and to the zoo. We're just staying one night, so we've got lots to cram into 2 days....lots of eating, sightseeing, shopping, and playing! The past 9 months have been hard on Abby. She's gone from having all our attention to having....well....not all our attention. So, that's why we decided to leave Parker behind. We want and NEED some alone time with Abby! Oh, and our Esser Besties will be there, so it'll be extra fun!

*Campus visits are my favorite!
One aspect of my job is to give tours around campus. It's one of my favorite parts of my job, because I never know how it's gonna go down. But I loveeeeeeeee meeting new people, so it's like I get to meet new friends every day :) Anyway, I had a guy come in the other day for a campus visit. I asked his name and he had to repeat it twice for me to understand......"Da Hottie"....That's probably not how you spell it, but that's how it's pronounced! haha!!! So....can I just call you "Hottie"?? hehe!

*Curly hair????????
So....Parker's hair is getting longer....and CURLY! He's got a few places on his head that have ringlet curls! I'm in love. Who does he get curly hair from? Well, my dad and my sister both have curly hair. There's really nothing cuter than a little boy with curly hair.....even though he'll probably hate it when he's older. I hope the curls keeping curling :)

*Didn't I just get a new car?
Yes, I did! And I really do love my Burban Bus! But I have a dream car.....a 2010 2 toned White/Tan Toyota Sequoia. Oh. My. Gosh. They are FINE! Michael told me to go get me one! (I really am blessed to have a man that is on board with any and every idea I come up with!) But we just can't afford it right now....and I'm happy with my vehicle. But...one day....I will have one!

*Birth control update
UGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! It's just another reason to hate being a woman! Can't life just be easy? And perfect? YES IT CAN! But not until we die.....sigh....so, until then we'll just be hormonal and crazy! haha!!! So, Monday night I forgot to take my pill. I woke up Tuesday as Satan. I was mean, irritable, emotional, and just blah! Well then Tuesday night I take Monday's pill AND Tuesday's pill. I woke up Wednesday nausiated! YAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!!!!! I called my OBGYN's nurse and asked her what the heck was going on. She said that when you miss a day, your body kinda freaks out. YA THINK!?!?!? She told me to keep taking it for another 2 months to see if everything will just even out. I told her that in 2 more months I may be divorced, unemployed, have no friends, and be in Whitfield. I'm thinking that I'd just rather take my chances that we'd have 200 more kids than to stay on this birth control any longer. We'll see.

*Adding a member to our family?
No....not a child. A dog. Michael and I have been tossing this idea around for about a year now. We just keep talking ourselves out of it, because we're gone so much. Who would take care of the dog while we're gone. And is it really fair to leave it all the time? I'm not the type of person to have a pet just to have it. I want to be able to play with it and make it a member of our family. So....are we ready for this yet? I'm just not sure? Yeah, it could be an outside pet....but I would feel bad leaving it out in the cold/rain/heat while we're inside enjoying the heat/dry/air. If you have any advice, then please do share!

Ok....it's 10:00 and I'm tard!!!!!!!! I hope everyone has a FABULOUS FRIDAY! And a WONDERFUL WEEKEND! And a MEMORABLE MEMORIAL day! hahaha!!!

your friend/sister/wife/daughter/co-worker,
TB ;)

~Friday's Friend~

~Brandi Barrett~

(2009 Beth Moore Conference)

Once again, this is the ONLY picture I could find of us!!!!!!!!!!! What is the deal??!?!? Have we seriously only taken ONE picture together since we've been besties?! Well, it's a good thing we're having a cookout tomorrow night. We're all having a photo shoot....all 16 of us--and all 12 kids!!!!

Anyway.....I met Brandi Barrett at a Christmas party in 2008. It was a progressive supper, so we were able to hang out and get to know eachother throughout the night. However, we REALLY became good friends because of our "Bachelor" girls group. We met every Monday night to follow Jason through his journey. And then we all ended up hating him....rightfully so!!!!!!!!!!!! So, once we started hanging out more, we realized that not only did we get along so well, but so did our kiddos and hubbys!!! We started getting the families together for cookouts, after church lunches, and play dates. I. Love. The. Barrett. Family.

Brandi and I are so alike in lots of ways. We're both have very outgoing personalities, and we both pour ourselves 100% into our friendships. I learned early on that Brandi would be a keeper! haha!! We started going to eachother for prayer, to vent, to laugh, and just to talk. It's the type of friendship that when you go one day without talking to eachother, you're like...."something's wrong!" Over the past year and a half of our friendship we have: had sleepovers, gone to the beach together, been through pregnancies together, attended church together, and hung out on a daily basis......until......

The Barrett's moved! :( It was a sadddddddddd day when Brandi told me they were going to move to Monticello, but we all knew that God was calling them to move. It's been so neat to see God work in Brandi's family over the past 9 months. Not only has God blessed them with a new home and a new job...He has also blessed them with their second child--John Henry. I just wish God would call them back to Brookhaven now :) Brandi and I don't see eachother much anymore, and we don't talk every day like we used to....but when we do talk, we just pick up where we left off.

Brandi, you are such a precious friend to me. God not only blessed me with a friend, but he blessed my whole family with friends. I hope that once our lives get back to normal, we'll be able to make more trips to see eachother. We will NOT let 20 minutes drive us apart!!! Thank you for always being there for me. I love you so much!!!!

your friend,

Tonya

~Ton's Thoughts on Thursday~

*Spray tan
I've been taking this antibiotic that won't allow me to be in the sun. UGH!!! So, for the past week I haven't laid out or gone to the tanning bed. Well, when you have super fair skin, you have to tan consistently to keep color. Needless to say, my tan is GONE! Soooo.....I've decided to take the plunge and just get sprayed! I go tomorrow. I've been sprayed once before and I loved how it turned out. I'm excited about being tan again....but this only lasts for a week. What will I do then? Hmmmm.....

*Forever Young
Have you heard this song by Jay Z? Well, turn up your volume and you can! (I couldn't find the edited version, so you'll have to excuse some of the dirty words) :) I heard it on the way to work this morning, and now that I have this commute alone.....I jam out! Sometimes I use this time for praise & worship, sometimes I use this time to just be silent, and sometimes I use this time to get my jam on! So, this morning I got crunk about being FOREVER YOUNG! I may age year after year, but I can promise you that inside I will be young foreverrrr!

*Half day Friday
Yes, I work through the summer. Most people think I have summers off because I work at a school. Well, I don't! It's a big bummer, because it's a ghost town around Co-Lin during the summer. But we DO get off at 12:30 on Fridays, so that's a big plus! Some Fridays I'll go straight home to my kiddos so we can play....but some Fridays I'll keep the sitter til 4:00 so I can go enjoy some me time! Like tomorrow......exercise, hair appointment, and spray tan! YAY for Fridays!!!!

*Wigs
My close friends know that I get real bored with my hair!!!!!!!!!!!! I change something about my hair like every 2 months. Well, now that I've cut ALL my hair off, I can do nothing now but wait for it to grow. B-O-R-I-N-G!!! Not to mention that I have 320480298340398 layers, so it will be a hott mess while it grows out. Well, one of my co-workers gave me the brilliant idea of wearing wigs! hahahaha!!!! HECK YES! I have no idea where to even buy wigs....but I'm about to find out. The first one I will purchase will be a black bob. I've always wanted to know what I'd look like with black hair. :) How perfect is this??? Now I can change my hair without really changing it. No, I won't wear wigs every day....but I think it'll be super fun to do every now and then. And plus....I can't wait to see everyone's reaction! There's never a dull moment in my life....I'm always looking for ways to keep it interesting. (As if 2 kiddos aren't enough)

*Childlike faith
So, last night Abby was too scared to sleep in her bed, so after an hour of arguing with her about it -Michael and I decided she could sleep with us. Abby and I were cuddling, and she looked at me and said...."Mama, when I die will I go to heaven with Jesus?" Oh my goodness! What a sweet question!!! I'm not sure Abby's ready for the "how to be saved" talk yet, so I just kept this conversation as innocent and simple as possible. So, I said to her...."Yes baby, you'll go to heaven!" And then she asked, "Will Jesus make me into an angel?" I said, "Yes He will! And you will be the most beautiful angel!!" Then she said, just as concerned as can be, "But mama, I don't even have an angel costume!" haha!!! I couldn't help but kinda laugh, and then I said, "Well, Jesus will have one for you when you get to heaven." She asked, "But will He have a tiny one that will fit me?" Then with a knot in my stomach I replied, "Yes baby, but hopefully you'll be big when you get to heaven. I'm not ready for you to go just yet." And she said, "It's okay mama, I want you to go with me." I still tear up when I think about it. My sweet baby girl is so in love with Jesus at such an early age. She doesn't really know all the details about who Jesus is, but she doesn't have to....all she knows is-she loves Him! Where is my childlike faith? Why do I overanalyze everything? Jesus wants us to grow in our faith, but He also wants us to keep the childlike innocence and just love Him for who He is.

Alright, well this laptop is about to die....and I'm way too lazy to go get the charger out of my room!!! :) I hope yall have a good night....tune in tomorrow for Friday's Friend!

much love,
Tonya

Breaking FREE!!!!

So, today I was finally able to finish the FIRST session of the "Breaking Free" bible study by Beth Moore. I hope each session does not take me a week to complete, but if it does, then so be it. I don't want to rush through this study....but I don't want to drag it out either. I am SO excited about what God is going to do in my life, and I want to share a little with yall along the way.

*When you live in fear of the spirit, you live in defeat!*
Wow! When she said that, I was like...."NOOOO!! I don't want to be defeated!!!" Well, I'm going to be, unless I stop living in fear! I never realized that living in fear of the spirit was giving Satan total victory in my life. That's my motivation to break free!

*The people of God can be very OPPRESSED by the enemy.
-The definition of oppressed is...to overwhelm or crush.
-Do you feel overwhelmed or crushed? Oh, I do!
-4 reasons why we can become crushed by the enemy:
1)Testing-God will allow it, in order to grow us.
2)Chastisement (or punishment) for rebellion against God
3)Lack of submission to God's authority
4)Weakness in warfare
.....Ok, I think I can pretty much relate to all 4 reasons!

*For the Christian.....
-Our prison doors are locked from the INSIDE!
-Satan does not not not hold the key!!! He has no authority in our life, so STOP giving him permission!

*In order to be free, you must recognize and forsake all other "gods" or idols.

*God recognizes our fears and insecurities....
-This was neat for me to understand, because I always feel bad when I feel fearful or insecure. But God recognizes this in me...and He wants me to know that if I will stick with Him, He will make me a "mighty warrior."

I am very encouraged as I start this journey of breaking free. God doesn't promise that this will be an easy, painfree journey. But He sees the potential in His children , and He appoints the experiences necessary for us to fulfill our destiny and march to victory.

Thank you, Jesus, for recognizing my sinful filthy self and still loving me. Help me to understand that in order to break free, I've got to stop allowing satan a foothold in my life. Help me, Jesus, to surrender my whole self to you, so that I can be the wife, mommy, friend, sister, child, and Christian that I am called to be.


marching towards victory,
Tonya

~Friday's Friend~

Hellooooo.....almost forgot about this today! Usually I'm counting down the days til Friday's Friend, but this week has been ca-freakin-razy!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Michael's been outta town (BOO!), my birth control has made me a maniac (super BOO!), I started an antibiotic that makes me drowsy all day (super duper BOO!), and my kiddos started a new routine!! But....enough about me....let's get to today's friend:

Sandy Cunningham

So, me and Sandy have been besties for a little over a year now. However, I've known her for almost 2 years. The first thing I really remember about Sandy is meeting her in Sunday School. Michael and I had just joined Easthaven Baptist Church, and we started going to the young married adult class. Sandy was pregnant at the time. I remember that, because one of our first Sundays in the class, they were having a baby shower for her. I didn't bring a gift. I'm sorry, Sandy...and Carson! Geez, I started off as a terrible friend, didn't I!?! Anyway, she had Carson in November. That's when I started to hear the name "Sandy Cunningham" ALOT more!!!

She had a veryyyyyyyyyyyy rough delivery with Carson. I won't go into details, but she was in and out of the hospital for about 2 months. She finally had to have surgery, and the doctors told her there was a 50/50 chance that she'd make it through. I still did not know Sandy very well at this point, but everytime we'd get an update at church-I would pray for her! I just couldn't imagine just having a baby and then not getting to be with it for almost 2 months!!!!!! But she got through it.

So....I guess it was a couple months later that The Cunningham's invited us over for dinner. That was the first night that we really got to know them more. You know, sometimes it's a little nerve-racking when you go to someone's house that you really don't know. You ask yourself, "Do they eat the same things we do?", "Will we have things to talk about?", "Will our kids play good together?", "Will our personalities clash?", "Are they weird???" hahaha!!! Well, to answer all those questions....The Cunninghams and The Bishops are pretty much the same people! We have the same interests, we eat the same type of food, we enjoy the same hobbies, we watch the same shows, and our kids love eachother! It was just a match made in heaven!!! :)

Over the past year, Sandy and I have gone on trips together, laughed together, cried together, shared secrets, started a Bunko group, hosted lots of dinner dates, and just do things that best friends do. I treasure everything about my friendship with Sandy. I know without a doubt that if I need her, any time of the day, she will be there. And I hope she knows the same about me! But I do have to tell you one thing that Sandy and I are not allowed to talk about....our worries. Sandy and I are both worry warts, and we have learned that if we call eachother to talk about these worries...it only makes us worry more!! Example: Tonya-OMG, Sandy! I've been having real bad pain and I'm afraid it might be cancer. Sandy-OH GOSH TONYA! I'm so sorry to hear that! You should go to the doctor right away and start chemo! hahahaha! That's not an actual conversation, but it defly could be! I love you, Sandy. :)

I have been so incredibly blessed, since we've lived in Brookhaven, to have the best friends EVER! The Cunninghams have been such good friends to our family. Once again, God has blessed us beyond our wildest dreams with friends that care about me, my husband, and my kids as much as we do!

Thank you, Sandy, for being my best friend. I love you with all my heart!!! And today I dedicate this post to you....and to many more years of watching our friendship grow, watching our children grow up together, and watching our husbands get old! haha!!

TGIF,

Tonya

~Ton's Thoughts on Thursday~

*Birth Control
...is of the devil! Ugh!!! I haven't been on BC in like 3 years, so I don't even remember what it's like. Until now. I got on the pill this past Sunday. My doctor recommended that I get on "seasonique" (sp???) which means I'll only have a period 3 times a year. I thought that was a fabulous idea. Not so much. It has made me a crazy person. I cry for no reason. I want to scream at everyone I come in contact with. I feel S-I-C-K all the time. No. Thank. You!!!!!!!!!!

*To work or not to work
(sidenote: this probably isn't a good day to have thoughts, because with my hormones out of whack, most of my thoughts have been negative) So anyway, I left my daughter crying this morning. Her first year of "school" has just ended and now she's staying with a sitter. She's not used to this one bit. She misses her teacher and her friends at school. So, this morning when I had to leave for work, she cried and asked me not to leave her! UgHhHHhhhhHHHhhH!!!!!! That is the absolute HARDEST thing for a mother to do. The whole way to Crystal Springs Awards Program, I cried. I felt so guilty. "Why am I working?"...."Why did I just leave my child at home crying?????"....."Why don't I just quit my job and stay at home?" Well, first of all...we can't financially afford for me NOT to work. And my job requires me to be full-time, so part-time is not an option right now. Secondly, my children are being taken care of. They just need to get used to this new routine. Thirdly, this is where God wants me. He has blessed me with an amazing job. So, if I must work then at least it's doing something I love to do with people I love to be around. Fourthly (is that a word?), I'm hormonal. Usually I wouldn't have been bothered so much by this, but today I was.

*Tired
I'm on an antibiotic that I have to take in the morning and at night. Here's the kicker....it makes me drowsy! Work+drowsiness+queeziness+hormones=ughhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

*Shout out to a couple co-workers
Susann-thanks for putting up with my ill mood today. Hopefully tomorrow I'll make our walk around campus a little more pleasant :)
DJ Brew-thanks for putting my ill mood into perspective.

*Breaking Free
So, I finally started the first session of this bible study on Tuesday. And that's as far as I've gotten. Go figure.


Ok, that's all I can come up with today. I'm not in the mood to think....especially not happy thoughts!


ill,
Tonya

Happy EVERYTHING!!!

Soooooo many reasons to celebrate today! #1)It's Mother's Day #2)It was baby dedication for Parker #3) Parker is 8 months (and 1 day) old!!!!

Today I am celebrating my 3rd mother's day. But today was DOUBLE the pleasure :) Having 2 kids has been an adjustment, but it is such a blessing! People ask me if we will have more kids, and I'm just not sure I can answer that question right now. I am so happy with having 2 kids, because we're not outnumbered as parents! And....we have a girl and a boy. PERFECT! So, who knows? I guess the best way to answer that question is....we're not PLANNING for another one...we're just letting God do His thang! So, anyways....my mother's day has consisted of: breakfast in bed, family pictures, dedicating my son to the Lord, more family pictures, lunch with BOTH families (I'm so blessed to have families that like to hang out together), nap time, a stroll with the kids around the block, a stir fry dinner made by my hubby, posted some long overdue pics, and now I'm sitting on the couch relaxing. Sometimes I think to myself, "Self, remember how fun it was being single, doing whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted?!" and then I remind myself, "Self, that stage of life is gone, and being a mom is much more rewarding!!!" But I have to say this...every day is like Mother's Day for me, thanks to my wonderful husband. Yes, he treated me like a princess today....but he treats me like that everyday! I am so incredibly blessed to have Michael Bishop as my husband. I love you, baby!

So, today was special for another reason. We were able to dedicate Parker to the Lord. For those of you who don't understand what I mean.....dedicating a baby to the Lord doesn't "save" them....it's just a commitment to "Train up a child in the way he should go, so when he gets old he will not depart from it." It meant so much to have our entire family (except Matthew and Kristen) there to celebrate this dedication. Abby and Parker are so blessed to have grandparents, aunts, and uncles that care about them so much!!

Ok, let's talk about my little man turning 8 months old!!! I can hardly believe that we'll be celebrating his FIRST birthday in 4 months! Yes, I have already started planning his birthday party! The them will be "TRAIN up a child in the way they should go..." So, trains will be the theme. But anyway, here's what the past month has consisted of:

-Parker is eating like crazy!!!

-He's weening himself off one of his bottles

-He's "army crawling" everywhere!

-He fell off our bed for the first time. He was fine...it just scared him....and me!

-He growls at you when he gets mad at you. (ex: if you take a toy away from him, or tell him no)

-His last day at "school" will be Tuesday.

-He's starting to go to bed earlier. Around 8, instead of 9. Abby, however, is still our night owl.

-When someone says hey to him, he sticks his hand in the air and waves.

-He loves playing with his sissie. They will sit in her room and play by themselves. It is so nice, because I'm able to get things done.

-His next checkup will be in June, so stay tuned.

Here are some other pics from today:

a super happy mommy,

Tonya

~Friday's Friend~

Today I will dedicate this post to my MOM!

(2008)

Diane Lynn Hossie (maiden) Odom (first marriage)Barnes (current marriage)

My mom has been my mom for almost 26 years. Not only has she been my mom, but I can honestly say that she has been my very best friend for 25 years, 11 months, and 7 days!! Now, let me clarify what "very best friend" is NOT.....she was never the best friend mom that bought me and my friends alcohol, or let me have guys spend the night, or let me spend the night with guys, she never let me roam around town without her knowing where I was, or let me go off on co-ed trips. Yes, it was frustrating to me when I was younger because alot of my friends had parents that let them do those things. Now that I'm a mom myself, I can totally see that the boundaries she set for me were more than necessary! So, what DID my mom do? Well....first of all, she was a single mom until I was in 10th grade. Growing up without a dad was hard (I'm just now starting to see how much it unknowingly affected me), but my mom did a FABULOUS job of raising me and my sister. She knew how to demand respect, but she also knew how to have fun while doing it! She would let me and my sister skip school to take us to the fair, she would take me and my friends rolling, she would come dance with us at some of the Methodist dances, she was all about a slumber party, she would turn our (hideous) minivan into a "limo" (haha!!), she would take us on picnics, trips to the beach, go on field trips with my class, and despite our 1 income family....we NEVER did without! We may not have had a closet full of designer clothes, but she worked hard to make us happy. It makes me tear up just to think about all the sacrifices she made for us. My mom starting cleaning houses when I was very young, and she still does. For those of you who are homeowners, you know that cleaning your house is hardwork! She would clean 4 or 5 houses a day in order to pay our bills, put food on our table, and make sure we never did without. She didn't just work to "get by".....she worked her butt of so that we could have nice things. Some of my favorite memories are when she would let me go clean houses with her, and I would pretend like that was my house. It was so fun, because it was like I had lots of houses :)

My mom dated several guys throughout my childhood, but I knew none of them were "the right one." Until my 9th grade year. She met this guy at a body shop where our car was being fixed. I remember when she told us about him, I knew. I knew he was the one. Just by the way she talked about him. It was kinda bittersweet. I wanted my mom to be happy, but I didn't want to share her with anyone. So, Billy proposed to my mom about 3 months into their relationship. I don't remember alot about the engagement, and it was probably because I wasn't willing to open up. I mean, I had gone like 9 years without a dad. I didn't know how to act. I finally started to warm up to him after the marriage, and I grew to love him like my own dad. He was everything I could've ever imagined for a step dad....no, for a DAD....to be! But enough about Billy...I'll save that for Father's Day :)

So, back to my mom. It really was an adjustment for me when she got married. I didn't like sharing her. I was used to having her full attention, so I didn't like her giving attention to someone else. But I adjusted to it, and after a while I finally realized that Billy wasn't just someone taking up my mom's attention....he was someone that completed our family.

Over the last 10 years I have seen my mom happier than ever! And when Abby came into the picture (well, after the shock/disappointment wore off), her happiness went to a new level. It absolutely warms my heart to see my mom with my children. She would do ANYTHING for my kids. She's already asking when #3 will be here. (not real sure if there will be a #3??) But not only is she a great "Mimi"...she is STILL a great mom! I know that I could call her anytime and ask for anything and she would do everything in her power to meet my need!! For heavens sake, she comes to my house on a regular basis to help me clean and organize my house. Some may call that spoiled. I just call it lucky! Lucky to have a mom that cares that much about me and my happiness.

Mom, I love you with all my heart. I'm so glad that God has allowed us 25 years together, and I hope He allows us many more years to come. I don't know what I'd do without you!!! You provided me with a lifetime of good memories. When I look back on my childhood, I smile. And it's because of YOU! Given the circumstances, my childhood could've been hard and sad. But you worked hard to make life good for me. For Lauren. For you. You found the Lord. And you shared Him with us. For that, I will be forever grateful! Thank you for being the BEST mom in the world! Happy Mother's Day!

so blessed,

Tonya

~Ton's Thoughts on Thursday~

*Wrinkle Release

I do not iron. So, thank God for Downy Wrinkle Release. Who would want to iron when this spray can do the job for you????? Pick out what you want to wear. Spray some wrinkle release all over it. Jump in the shower. Put on your make up. Get kids ready. Eat breakfast. And wah-lah (i know that is NOT the correct spelling)....your clothes are hanging up, ready for you to put on. And you didn't even have to waste time ironing! Works for me! :)

*Facebook clean-up

So, yesterday I decided to delete some of my facebook friends. Why? Oh, I don't know? haha! Well, mainly because I was watching a show where this kid was kidnapped because some "stalker" found them through MySpace!!!!!!!!!! So, I decided...."I'm not really FRIENDS with 950 people"....so I went through my friends list and started deleting. If you were not deleted, then congrats....we're FRIENDS! hahahaha!!!!!

*New office/New attitude

Well, not really a NEW office. I just got bored yesterday at work (which hardly EVER happens), so I decided to rearrange and organize my office. I moved my computer closer to the window so that I could enjoy the view while I work, I cleaned out my filing cabinets, I dusted, I redid my bulletin board, rearranged my bookcases, and made a list of things I NEEEEED for my office (flowers/plants, something new to hang on my door, candy for my candy dish, curtains, a rug, maybe a couch haaaaa!!!!!!). So, when I got to work today my attitude was totally refreshed. It's just something about an organized office that makes you want to work!

*Headbands

Yes, I have joined the headband club. I went and bought several headbands yesterday. You know, the ones with the big flowers on them? SUPER CUTE! But when you're 3 year old asks you if she can borrow them, you start wondering....am I too old for this? lol!

*Mothers Day

When did I turn into such a procrastinator??????????? I have not bought a single Mother's Day gift, or bought food to cook for my entire family that I'm having over, or a new dress to wear. Yikes!!! I have several "ideas" for Mother's Day, but I haven't done anything yet! As far as the food, we may just have something simple. And as far as a new dress....I may just have to re-vamp an old one?!

*Dedication

While we're on the subject of Mother's Day, I also want to share that Parker will be dedicated this Sunday! It's the absolute best Mother's Day gift EVER!!! The Lord has blessed me with 3 pregnancies, and rewarded me with 2 beautiful children. I'm just so excited about seeing the Lord use my children in the years to come. And I look forward to the day when I can meet my baby that He took home.

*Exercise update

UGH!!!!!!!!! There is no update. Because there is no exercise. What happened to me?? I used to work out EVERY SINGLE DAY. Now I'd just rather eat. Motivation, where art thou???????

*Shout out to all my Co-Lin followers

I'm so excited to know that I have several co-workers following my blog. I love yall!

*Brookhaven Spring Carnival

Do you live in the Brookhaven area? Then you doNOT want to miss out on this!!! This will be the first time Brookhaven has ever seen a carnival to this degree. Rides. Games. Food. It's going to be like a miniature MS state fair!!! It starts tonight and goes through Sunday! Bring the kiddos. It'll be a blast!!!!!!

*National Day of Prayer

Yes, it is today! If you're not able to participate in a group prayer today, then pray on your own. Pray for our country, pray for your spouse, pray for your friends, your co-workers, your children, YOURSELF!!! Here are several things that are on my prayer list for today, join me in lifting these up:

-a friend messaged me last night and said that one of her friend's TWO YEAR OLD daughter just found out she had a brain tumor. They were doing surgery today. (that really hits home with me!)

-a co-worker's son (almost 2) has been having seizures. They are running tests today.

-my mom's pap smear (sp?) came back abnormal and they're running more tests today.

-my dad is not a Christian.

-a friend of mine lost his mom to cancer a while back, and my heart has been hurting for him all week with Mother's Day coming up. Pray for those who have lost their moms. Sunday will be hard for them.

pray without ceasing,

TonTon

*TURN YOUR SPEAKERS ON*

I just have to share these lyrics with you. This song came on while I was driving home for lunch, and it was like the exact cry of my heart! I've been really encouraged by the text messages, facebook messages, and comments about my blog post last night. I'm really excited about those of you who feel the same way I do and those who are going to do this study with me! I hope this song speaks to you like it did to me. Turn the volume up....

Let The Waters Rise lyrics
by: MIKESCHAIR

Don't know where to begin
It's like my world's caving in
And I tried but i can't control my fear
Where do I go from here

Sometimes it's so hard to pray
You feel so far away
I am willing to go where You want me to
God I trust You

There's a raging sea
Right in front of me
Wants to pull me in
Bring me to my knees
So let the waters rise
If you want them to
I will follow You
I will follow You
I will follow You

I will swim in the deep
Cuz You'll be next to me
You're in the eye of the storm and the calm of the sea
You're never out of reach

God You know where I've been
You were there with me then
You were faithful before
You'll be faithful again
I'm holding Your hand

God Your love is enough
You will pull me through
I'm holding on to You

God your love is enough
I will follow You
I will follow You"


let the waters rise,
Tonya

I'M SCARED!!!!!

Ok there, I said it. I'm a scared'y cat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm scared of: bumble bees, sharks, being robbed at gunpoint, someone breaking into my house while we're sleeping, death, my kids getting a fatal disease, getting cancer, roaches, something happening to someone I love, letting someone down, a tree falling on our house, not seeing my dad in heaven, etc...etc....etc. Like I said, I'm a scared'y cat! Big time!! But the thing I'm the most scared of is....the end times.



I'm a Christian, and I know Christians shouldn't be scared of the end times. But. I. am. Antichrist. Christians fighting for their lives. War. Mother Nature going crazy. I've always been scared of this, but today was the first time that I realized just how much this fear was affecting my spiritual life. For the past year, I've been thinking that I fell into a pit. I've been trying to get out, but I've gotten no where. Well, today after hearing a sermon at church, I figured out that I'm not in a pit. I'm under bondage. A bondage of fear. A paralyzing fear. Something deep down inside of me wants to break free, but my flesh is just too scared. Just like I don't watch the news because I don't want to hear of bad things....I don't want to read the Word or deepen my spiritual walk, because I don't want to know what other bad things are going to happen. What are my kids going to do? Will they survive this crazy world after I'm gone? If it's this bad now, then what will it be like in 20 years? 10 years? NEXT YEAR, for crying out loud?!!?

So, there is no doubt that I'm in the middle of spiritual warfare. Satan knows that fear is my greatest weakness. It doesn't take much to make me afraid of something. So, he (satan) is having a HAY-DAY with this!!! Satan's goal since the beginning of time has been to lead Christians astray. Make them question their faith. Make them question God. Make them question eternity. But you know something.....satan will NOT win this battle.

Last week, I googled "Beth Moore" to see what bible study I wanted to start. Automatically I thought of the "Get Out of the Pit" book, but for some reason her "Breaking Free" study kept standing out to me. Well, now I know why. I don't need to get out of a pit....I need to BREAK FREE!!!!!!

I plan on starting the study tomorrow, and I feel led to blog about it. Maybe daily. Maybe weekly. I don't know. But I want yall to join me on this journey. You may not be under the same bondage as I am, but if you're under ANY bondage at all then break free with me!

Thank yall for allowing me to be honest with yall. It's not something I'm proud of at all, but it's real. It exists in my life. I'm ready to be free. And I'm willing to share my testimony in hopes that it will help someone else out there. I'd love some feedback throughout this journey, if you feel led.


weighed down with fear,
Tonya