Car Convo with My Girl

G: Mommy, I want you to go back to work. {stated very matter of fact}
Me: Why do you want me to go back to work?
G: So I can stay all day at my Mema and Papa's house. That's what Tatum does. She stays with her Grandma and Grandpa while Ms. Rene' and Mr. Jason work.
Me: Mommy does work. I take care of you and Dawson. I like staying home with you and baby brother. Won't you miss me if I am gone at work?
G: Uh, no. {once again stated as a matter of fact}
Me: Honey, Mema works too. Remember?
G: Oh yeah! That's OK. I will stay with Papa. He will play silly with me all day.
Me: Well, we will have to talk to Papa about that one.
G: I know Mama ... you can just go to work with Daddy.
... sudden abrupt end to the conversation ...

What is new {and not so new}

*Dawson is walking 99% of the time with minimal bumps and bruises. He has become somewhat of a Daddy's boy over the past several days in the evening hours. Travis spoils him by holding him endlessly and showering him with kisses.
*Gabrielle is preparing for her preschool Holiday Music Program and has been in the full swing of the holiday spirit. I have taken the opportunity to have great conversations with her regarding the reason for the season. She has enjoyed the spirit of giving by putting money in the Salvation Army bucket outside WalMart, helping me purchase and prepare the Operation Christmas Child shoebox & helping someone else out who is gathering items for an angel tree family.
*We have a new president elect ... America's first African American to hold office. History has been made!
*Gas is now under $1.80 per gallon.
Can I hear an AMEN to that one?!
*The days {hours of daylight} are now shorter which automatically throws me into a season of laziness. I want to stay curled up in bed in the mornings where it is warm and comfortable and then am quickly ready to take a nap in the afternoon when the kids are down. It seems to take more effort to get myself and the kids cleaned up the days we do leave the house & I have zero to little motivation to do the deep cleaning that is so overdue in this house. I have made myself commit to doing something little everyday. Yesterday it was the bathrooms and seven loads of laundry, today I cut three weeks worth of coupons & tomorrow I plan to dust the kids bedrooms (which are covered in an inch of dust - no joking!).
*Uncle Yuck paid us a visit this past week. Gabrielle was up through the night Friday vomitting, Dawson has had a nasty nose for what seems like days now & Travis has been dealing with a terrible sinus infection.
I promise to update soon with recent pictures for those out of town family & friends. As Emily stated in a previous post "get off your google reader and leave me a comment" so I know you peeps are out there.

Election Day 2008

History is about to be made folks.
Regardless of WHO wins.
If McCain wins we will have our 1st female vice president.
If Obama wins we will have our 1st African American president.
Regardless of WHO wins history IS about to be made.

I received the following forward from my SIL this morning and thought it was SPOT ON.
TEN PREDICTIONS NO MATTER WHO WINS THE ELECTION:
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost.
ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS STILL IN CONTROL?

I'm a Little Pumpkin

The Up Side

Quotes from today's positive thinkers - Guideposts August 2008
"Your attitude will take you up or take you down. So the question is, what are you thinking?"
"Happiness is often the result of being too busy to be miserable."
"Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent."
And my two personal favorites:
"There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist or to accept the responsibility for changing them."
"A day hemmed with prayer rarely unravels."

Fun with Black & White

I wish my two precious peanuts would stay young forever. I simply love where they are at right now. Dawson is walking and exploring his world more and more each day. He adores his sister, is giddy over his Daddy and remains my little man. Gabrielle's personality continues to develop into the young woman she will one day become. She is strong and independent, creative, & imaginative. Her love for Jesus is displayed in what she says and does. Her daily prayer as of the past month or more is "Dear Jesus, please help my grandpa to get better. Make his legs strong so he can walk again. Praise our food {I don't know why she asks to praise the food instead of bless it}. Amen. We are working through a 31 day devotional book on patience (something both mother and child need to improve on). She lives for her Tuesday and Thursday morning sessions at the Britain Center. She loves all her friends she has made in class. The short time she is there allows me to run errands or spend one on one time with Dawson. I am always excited to pick her up and hear about her morning. So my present wish list for Christmas is a device to freeze time. Anyone know where to locate one?

Ride On

Dawson received this Mator ride on toy for his birthday and he and Gabrielle both have spent countless hours already enjoying it.

You will have to excuse the fact that Gabi is bottomless

It is par for the course for her

Ride on little man!!