For New Readers

Since yesterday's post regarding Channing's back problems was the first in a few months, I thought I'd give new readers some background. First, check out this post. Then read this one.

Thank you, again, for praying for Channing!

Rock 'N Roll!

Here is another one of Shelby's great faces. Most of you have seen this picture before, but I didn't share the story behind the tongue sticking out.

When we were with my family at Thanksgiving, my sister taught Shelby to say, "Rock 'N Roll!" Hearing Shelby say this perfectly is very adorable. That's not all Nunda taught Shelby that night. If you tell Shelby to "do Gene Simmons" or if you simply say the rocker's name, she'll stick out her tongue. Sometimes when she says "Rock 'N Roll!" Shelby will stick out her tongue right after.

Oh, how we will embarrass her with this one day, I'm sure.

Love Each Other

I read a pretty incredible post on Terry Rush's blog on Friday. He is a minister in Oklahoma. When I was young he spoke at a gospel meeting held at my home congregation. If you've been to Tulsa Workshop, then you've probably heard Terry. I hope that you will go read his thoughts here.

Latest on Justin

Justin will be coming home for some much needed R&R in a couple weeks. He is counting the days!

So here is how you can pray right now. Please join us (and Justin too) in praying that God will keep him safe between now and March 11, the day he's supposed to leave. Pray that he'll be protected as he travels, as he'll be in danger especially before he boards the plane that will bring him to the States.

Channing, Shelby, and I are really looking forward to seeing Justin. Shelby grins and kisses every new picture she sees of him. It's pretty cute!

Pray for Channing's back

The physical therapy that the doctor prescribed for Channing's back did not help. Last week, Channing went to see a pain management specialist to discuss the next step. Friday we'll return to Dr. Krishnan's office so that Channing can get a steroid injection. Please pray that this will take Channing's pain away. More importantly, we would like you all to pray that God will heal Channing's back. This procedure is really only to block the pain that goes down his leg. It will take some of the back pain away. More than likely, surgery will be necessary at some point. So, our desire is for God to heal Channing. Please join us in that prayer.

Update on Mike

My cousin Mike will be leaving the hospital this week. His family is moving to Mississippi to be closer to family. Please pray for Mike and Denise as they travel to Aunt Pat's this week. Their sons are already there. Please pray for each of them as they will be adjusting to a new way of life as a family. Also, their house needs to sell in Wyoming. To get more information, see the link for his website on the left side of this blog.

It's About Time!

Now that we're both feeling better, Shelby and I took advantage of the beautiful day we had yesterday! Shelby and her friend Lily had a great time playing together at a nearby park. This little slide was a big hit!

Today, the two of us went to Little Rock with Sarah. We had fun roaming around Target, and saw a lot of things that we wanted to buy. Later on, after lunch and a nap for Shelby, we made a much needed trip to Wal-mart.

It sure has been nice being back in the land of the living! Thanks to all of you that have been praying for us.

The Queen of Great Facial Expressions

Shelby picked the sad face up after seeing Mommy and Daddy do it when she wouldn't give hugs and kisses.

After seeing Shelby's sad face, Aunt Nunda taught her this cheesy happy face!

Takin' It Easy

We did a lot of this over the last two weeks!

Shelby loves her new bed!

You've Got Mail!

Valentine's Day was a very exciting day for Shelby. There was something in the mailbox just for her! She was so happy to get a card and wouldn't put it down. Thanks to Nona and Papa for making Shelby's day so special.

Not Your Typical Night Out

Tonight I went to Midnight Oil with my friend Sarah. We had a good time together, until we left. A young man standing on the porch smoking ended up following us to my car. Just after I locked the doors, he tried to open the back passenger-side door to the car. Talk about a scary situation! I leaned over, looked at him, and yelled, "No!" Then I got the heck out of there! Sarah's father told us to call the police. So tonight I've spent some time on the phone with a very nice member of the Searcy Police Department. He offered to come by our house on his way home if it would make me feel better. I told him that wasn't necessary, but certainly appreciated the offer.

I am very thankful tonight that I wasn't alone, and that Shelby wasn't with me. I'm also thankful for the gift of having that feeling that someone isn't okay. If you ever get a feeling like that, trust it. Who knows, it might be God's way of protecting you.

What Happens When I'm Bored

Cabin fever set in yesterday. I was just about to go crazy after being inside for the last two weeks. So, I decided to rearrange our living room. I had to give it several tries since nothing seemed to look right. All of a sudden I realized that it was 6:00 and I had not started supper yet! Channing had a late session and the time had gotten away from me. After eating yummy sloppy joe sandwiches, we decided the armoire had to be moved in order to get the look/feel I was going for. We had help from our buddy Sean since it was a bad idea for Channing to try to move the armoire. It only took an hour or so and now I love the set up of my living room! Yea!

It's That Time Again!

Okay folks, it's time for another survey. And this one is way random, but the subject has been on my mind for a few days for some reason.
What are the five best decisions you've ever made? (Not necessarily in any special order)
Here are mine, hands down, in the order they happened, and pretty much the order of importance, since each thing led to the other:
1. Accepting Christ
2. Going to Harding University instead of Freed
3. Staying in Searcy after graduating from HU, even though I had no job
4. Asking Channing for another chance after we'd been broken up for a couple months
5. Being a stay-at-home mom

Birthday Wishes for an Old Friend

Today, Traci is celebrating the big 2-8. Happy Birthday, Traci!!

Traci's family attended my home congregation for a few years. She'll tell you that the first time she met me, I was hiding under the table from our Sunday School teacher with some of my other friends. I don't remember that, but am sure it happened. I think I was in the third or fourth grade when Traci's family moved away, and we wrote letters for many years after that. We visited each other during the summers. I am very thankful that we stayed in touch all those years. After college, we lost contact with one another. However, just this past summer, we got back in touch thanks to Freed-Hardeman's Alumni Association! And, on the way to Chattanooga for that family reunion in June, we met for lunch in her town. We hadn't seen each other in years! It has been a tremendous blessing to have Traci back in my life. Honestly, it's like we were never out of contact.

Traci, I hope you have a great birthday. I thank God that we're back in touch. I love you, dear friend!

Another Sister's Birthday

Today's birthday wishes go out to Channing's sister, Angela. Here she is with her daughter, Kelsie, and my mother-in-law, Lillie. I have known Angela for about five years. We met the first weekend I ever went home with Channing. That weekend I met a quite a few members of his rather large family. I was honestly a little nervous, and Angela was quick to make me feel welcome and at ease.

Angela is such a kind person; she would really do anything for anyone, especially her family. She is also a very spunky, fun-loving gal. We have a little joke between us where we say, "Bless your heart!" all the time. (Think about how and when people usually make that comment about someone...not always nicely!)

Angela, the three of us love you and hope you have a wonderful birthday. May God richly bless you this year!

*Channing is asleep right now, otherwise I'd have him put in a word or two. (Notice what time this post was written!

Looking Ahead

It has really been a frustrating couple of weeks. All three of us have been sick. Other than going to the doctor last Monday, I haven't been anywhere besides the mailbox. I'm ready to get out and about again. Here are some things we're looking forward to:

• I'm going to be able to put in my contacts on Monday.
• Channing is going to see a pain management specialist on Monday for his back. (Hopefully relief is in sight!)
• Downtown is having a men's retreat Friday and Saturday. Channing is going and will be one of the speakers.
• I'm going to try to attend a simulcast of Beth Moore on Saturday.
• Channing and I will at some point get to go out on a date. I guess you could say we'll be going out for Valentine's Day, since we haven't yet.
• Shelby only has a week left of getting those crummy eye drops.
• Justin is coming home for some R&R sometime in March.
• Hopefully we'll see both sides of our extended family in the next month or two.
  

Happy Birthday!

Today is my sister's birthday. I know that some siblings go through times when they're not as close due to an age difference, but that was never the case with us...and there are 14 years between us. Nunda is an amazing person. I am so thankful that God gave me a sister like her...and a friend too.

Of course there are many good memories. The main ones that stick out would be singing together. I thought I was big stuff when I visited her while she was at Freed. Once, I went with Nunda and Justin about an hour away to get a new puppy. That sure wasn't a fun drive back to Memphis, but it did give me something to laugh about now! (Imagine...an hour drive with a puppy yelping and doing other things in its crate right there in the backseat with you!) Nunda has always been good to get advice from, especially now that I'm a wife and a mother. I've learned a lot from her, and appreciate all that advice.

Happy Birthday, Nunda! We love you so much. It'll be good to see your family together next month. We can't wait!

*Guess what song is resonating in my head right now..."Sisters, sisters. There were never such devoted sisters..."

Two Down, One To Go

I know you got on this blog thinking, "What going on with the Channing family today?" Here you go...

I still have a cold. It seems to really hit me hard, maybe because I don't have quite the resistance I had when I was teaching. The pink eye is getting better. Thankfully, I haven't gotten it in the other eye. I'll be taking my medication (eye drops) until Sunday or Monday.

Shelby has had a cold since Tuesday. And that's only the beginning. Channing took her to Prime Care Medical Clinic tonight. She has pink eye, in both eyes. That is so frustrating, because I tried so hard to be careful! I am not looking forward to giving her two drops in each eye every three hours. She handled the first set of drops pretty well. We'll see how it goes tomorrow. She also has an ear infection, her first one. More medicine.

So right now Channing is the only one who doesn't have a cold or pink eye. Please pray that it stays that way. Pray that I don't have a relapse of pink eye. Pray that Shelby will get better soon as well. Thanks so much!

Coloring for Daddy