Yep, I'm still here!

First of all, for reasons you might guess I had to delete the last 2 blog entries. Those of you who guessed the outcome - you were correct. I need to chill a little regarding that subject because there's not a dang thing I can do about it - other than keep praying. Blake is still in Germany and doing well. Even though he turned 19 last week, I still miss him so much. It's getting close to a year since I've been able to hug him. He calls often and e-mails but it's not the same. Callie cries at least once a week because she wants her Bubba Blake to come home. She is the child that wants everyone home and together and doesn't like it when any one family member is gone - anywhere! She doesn't grasp the concept of him being an "adult" and the fact that he will never really live at home with us again. It makes me sad for her. I wonder if she will ever even remember when we all lived together as a family. She was 4 when he left so most likely not.

Moving on.....

I have been a tad busy lately! We're almost all settled in the new house. Yes, I know it's been 2 months but I had also just started a new job and coming out of my "cloud" so it has taken a while. Plus this house is just too damn big! I remember now why I told myself I would NEVER have another 2 story house. I do love the house though and it's finally starting to feel like home.

Also, in the last 2 months Cade started baseball (4-5 times a week), Callie started cheer and power tumbling (2 days a week), Ryan is umping baseball (5 days a week - thank God he drives!), and Zach is getting ready for his first year as a Jr. Camp Counselor at church camp! Did I mention things are a little crazy around here? :)

My job is AWESOME! I love it!! It was more than a little difficult the first couple of months but now that we published our first issue, it is beyond incredible! All the positive press coverage we received was a tremendous boost for us!

Here are a few pictures and a story about our Premier Party from a local TV station. It was such an amazing night! And.... check out the digital edition of the magazine here!

Stunned

My heart is breaking right now for a family we have come to know and love. The father was given the diagnosis of Stage 4 melanoma today. The cancer has invaded numerous lymph nodes and it is to the point where there is no treatment other than palliative care, which will include an additional surgery to remove more tumors. The surgery is simply to extend his life in hopes of giving him a few extra months of life. wow. wow.

What's even more frightening to me? This all came about over the last week. He had surgery last week to remove what they thought was a cyst. Now one week later they find out he is dying.

This is a family with very little money, little education but huge hearts. Their son started playing football with Cade 2 years ago and though they weren't part of the "football in crowd" I really liked them a lot. The reason I took to them was their love for their kids and family. Both parents were at every single practice and game. Me? I rarely made a practice (that's daddy duty) but of course made every game. They are always so positive with the kids (no yelling and screaming like many Texas football parents). They are just such a great family and it's so obvious that they are true soul mates. Just heartbreaking for her and her precious kids.

They have no family close by and though I don't know the story behind it, I know they rarely speak to their family. Even more heartbreaking. So me, being me, offered to let the kids stay here while he's in the hospital (and for however long they need) so it will hopefully lighten the stress, if that's even possible right now. They are on their way home right now to talk to the kids, pack their bags and then will bring them here on their way to the hospital. The kids are 9 and 11 so they will understand. I'll sit down with my kids before they get here and briefly explain but let Justin and Jessica tell them what they are comfortable with. wow. This won't be easy for them.

Another scary part? He is my age - 39 years old and he is dying. Justin and Jessica will no longer have a father. I know this kind of thing happens everyday but this one is hitting a little too close to home.

Please keep the Moore Family in your prayers - they need Peace, Hope and His Strength to guide them through the days ahead, which will no doubt be the most difficult days in this families life.

Sean Goldman

Have you seen this?? I saw this last week on Dateline and was absolutely glued to my TV, astonished and sick.

Here is an excerpt from his website:
"June 16, 2004 David Goldman said goodbye to his son, Sean, at Newark Airport. He didn't know it at the time but his wife, Bruna, and her parents Silvana Bianchi Ribeiro and Raimundo Ribeiro were in the process of abducting Sean and taking him to Brazil with no intention of ever returning. According to the Hague Convention, to which both the United States and Brazil are signatories, this was a clear case of international child abduction, otherwise known as parental kidnapping."

After the mother got him to Brazil she gets a Brazilian divorce, remarries a prominent lawyer, gets pregnant, and then passes away during childbirth. You would think the child would then be returned, right? Nope. Now the step-father has filed for David's (the father) name to be taken off his birth certificate and for him to be the legal parent. Huh?? What?? David has fought this and has not seen his son in FOUR YEARS despite numerous trips to Brazil and court ordered visitation in which the step-father has refused to abide with. From what it sounds like, the step-father's family has major influence in Brazilian courts (his father is also a prominent attorney) but in my opinion they are simply criminals.

Note that there was never any allegations of abuse by the mother. Quite the contrary actually. She repeatedly said how lucky her son was to have such a good father - this was even said after she abducted him!

Here's what gets me the most. Why aren't we, as in the USA, getting this little boy HOME where he belongs? He is a United States Citizen! He has been KIDNAPPED. He has been gone for FOUR YEARS. His only living parent is HERE in the US. What part of this is right?? If this was a MIA soldier, wouldn't we be doing everything we could to being him home? This is a helpless child. It makes me sick that our government has not done more to end this nonsense and quite frankly, it scares me.

There's a petition here that you can sign. You can also do as I have and write your Congressmen and Senators. Maybe if enough attention is brought their way they will see the importance of this issue and bring this child home where he belongs!

Knock on Wood!

Dare I say it.... things are getting back to normal.... eek, I said it and you betcha I am knockin' on some wood!

We are in our new house - YEAH!! We are not all settled in but we're tired and it's livable so we're having some down time tonight.

It's icy here today and the kids were out of school (though it wasn't really THAT icy!) They are currently DRIVING ME INSANE!!! This house is 3200 sq ft yet they must play in my office?!?!? On this level?!?!? They have a gameroom fully equipped for total kid fun upstairs yet they are right beside me every time I turn around. Hubby and I were laughing about how excited we were to have room to spread out yet here we are all within the same area every night. Oh well, it was a nice thought anyway :)

The most fun the little ones have had was playing "movers" on the stairs. They carried empty boxes, play kitchen, kids couch, and other small things up and down the stairs over. and. over. and. over. Those movers must have made quite an impression!

Work is still going OK though selling ads in this economy is a little tougher than I had expected. I knew it wouldn't be easy but wow - it's not easy.

Oh and one more thing! Do you Twitter?? If you do, follow me and I'll follow you back! My Twitter name is TxAdGirl. I'm finding that it's kinda fun and doesn't take nearly as long as a coherent post takes - wait, my post aren't so coherent, huh?

2009 is Rockin'

I have been a very bad blogger... buuutttttt there is a very good reason!! I am super BUSY!

I've officially been on my job for 2 weeks now and it's going very well! I love being able to set my own hours and work from home. It is truly a blessing! I'm out on calls quite a bit so I'm not home too much but just enough to enjoy. I'm surprised at how quickly I got right back in the workin mom mode. For example, we have already had pizza twice :)

Reason #2 I am busy is that WE GOT THE HOUSE AND CLOSE NEXT FRIDAY!! I am so excited!!!! It is the perfect house! It is a lot like our old house but even nicer and it is truly a God thing that we were able to get this home. Creative, special financing ROCKS! This is our exact home minus the second bathroom upstairs. The master is so perfect - secluded! The master bath is absolutely to die for and the closet??? OH.MY!! Plenty of room for me to convert the formal living in to my office because sorry but I am so over formal rooms! We need space to LIVE!

So yes we close next Friday and I have TWO... yep TWO boxes packed. Movers come next Saturday morning. I now a full time job. But hey, I am so excited and so grateful that my happy butt will gladly stay up late nights to get out of this house we are in!

I am trying to workout at least 3 times a week and it is really helping with my depression. Of course, a new job and a fabulous new home help a little too. 2009 WILL be good - YES IT WILL! Only good things, with the help of God, will happen this year and there is no doubt that it because of my Lord that I am where I am now. I am grateful, humbled and sooooooo excited!!

Happy NEW YEAR!!

I am so grateful to say ADIOS to 2008 and that's all I got to say about that! Don't let the door getcha! It sucked but I hope to learn from it and never make the same mistakes again. Yeah right, but it's a nice thought!

We are on our way to bring in the NEW YEAR with friends and drink way too much and shoot fireworks and just have way too much fun and I can not wait!

I love the New Year because it brings new hope and new dreams and I NEED IT! It's also a time for me to realize just how truly blessed I am to have 5 wonderful, healthy kids and a marriage that has overcome all obstacles and is richer than ever.

So tonight I will say good bye to a crap year with my friends, my husband, and my kids and I will welcome a new year in to our lives!

Cheers and best wishes to you all! Have a SAFE and wonderful New Year!

Merry Christmas

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! We had a great celebrating of the birth of Jesus - the true reason for the season! Callie spent the day singing Happy Birthday Jesus and it truly warmed my heart and gave me such peace knowing it is because of Him we live today.

As sad as my days have been, I know how truly blessed I am to have 5 beautiful and healthy kids and the most amazing family a girl could dream of. I'm so blessed to have a husband that loves me and "gets me" at least most of the time :) so I chose to spend most of my day soaking in the love around me and it was fabulous. A call from Blake made the day closer to just perfect.

Hubby and I didn't exchange gifts this year for obvious reasons but I think the Wii that Santa brought was more fun that anything we would have bought each other. What a fun family gift!! We have had a blast!!

The kids got lots of other stuff including a video game chair (for the 360), Cade got a phone and yes I'm afraid I'll regret it, and lots more "stuff" for all.

My VERY FAVORITE gift I got was from my sister. She gave me, Callie, Allie, and my mom all an envelope that we had to open at the same time. There was a card with a picture of us 5 girls (included her) and it said, "Guess What? It's Sundays with the Girls!" and then the inside listed 4 shows from the Dallas Summer Musicals that she bought us ALL tickets for!!! Oh my gosh, I can not tell you how excited I am!! As you might guess from the title of my blog, I'm a dancer - err - I WAS a dancer and let me tell you that I LOVE MUSICALS and want to expose Callie to as many as possible but haven't been able to as much as I would like and NOW I CAN!!! So here's our schedule:

June: Happy Days
July: A Chorus Line
August: Mary Poppins
September: Legally Blonde

The shows are all at 2pm so we will all go to early service that day then the girls will head for lunch and a show! Oh, I cried when I opened this gift. Pure tears of joy. I just can not explain how excited I am to spend these days with my daughter, my sister, my niece, and my mom. Ab.so.lute.ly PERFECT!

Tomorrow we head to Abilene for Christmas with the in-laws and that's all I will say about that. Why? Because I'm in a good place at the moment and don't feel like a meltdown :)

Oh and btw - I got the job with my former VP :)))))))))))))))) I start next Friday and guess what? I office out of my home. Yeah, seriously. Of course, I will out most of the days on calls and such but when I need to be home, I will work from my house. I will schedule my day to make sure I am home in my home office by 3:30 (when possible) so my boys aren't left alone after school. There was a reason God wanted me to wait. I truly put my faith in Him and on Christmas Eve I was given the MOST AMAZING opportunity ever. I am truly humbled.

And get this rockin' power of prayer - I have been praying and praying and faithfully tithing even though we are broke. In the last 4 days our insurance company sent us a letter that they there was a billing error and so this months premium was $200 LESS than budgeted. Then we get our water bill and it's $12.07. They had credited us our deposit back since we hadn't had any late pays. So that's $250 bucks in blessings this week plus a job. I think we may just be ok. I am humbled and I am exhausted but at least for now, I am ok.