GREAT NEWS FOR OUR FAMILY !

I just had to post this message my aunt Deanne sent out to our family last night regarding her condition with her eye. She has been battling this for right about a year and at one point we were all thinking that her eye should just be removed but through much prayer Deanne decided to give treatment a shot and by reading this below you will see the awesome power of God and prayer. He really does listen and he definitely answers...

Dear Loved Ones,

Roy and I just returned from my quarterly doctor visit in Memphis. The tumor has shrunk still further. Original size was 10.4 height, 21.7 width, 21.5 at base. It is now 5.6 ht, 15.6 width and 16.7 at base. After Dr. Wilson (who is a wonderful Godly man) examined by eye and did all the ultrasounds and pictures, he said the retina detachment has resolved. After a moment of considering what that meant, I came to the unlikely conclusion that the retina had returned to correct position. I asked Dr. Wilson if this was the case, and with a big smile and high five, he said "Yes, your retina has reattached!! That is medically impossible". Also, all fluid has gone from my eye and I am beginning to get partial sight back. Dr. Wilson said the pain in my eye was 'phanton pain' and he bet it would be gone in the morning. It is gone NOW!

Last year when this all began, I prayed for a miracle of complete healing. Of course, I wanted complete healing before I had to undergo any pain and suffering. But our great God wanted me to put all my faith in Him and let Him take care of every step of this process. Guess what, He knows what He is doing. I have learned over the past 12 months that I can not do anything - I have to let go and let God.

I know that so many faithful people have been praying for me and I want you all to know that God heard.

Thank you all!!
PRAISE BE TO GOD!!!

Love, Deanne

The Next Emeril Lagasse

When Philip works nights Tyler and I really don't worry too much about dinner. We don't cook a big meal, we usually just eat sandwiches, frozen pizza, etc. Saturday night we decided that it was going to be a Macaroni and Cheese night. After the water came to a boil I put the noodles into the pot and I got a step stool and Tyler 'helped' me stir the noodles. Once they were all cooked he helped me mix in the milk, butter and cheese. He ate TWO bowls and after every bite he would remind me that he made his dinner. He was so proud of himself and to be honest so was I. I was worried that he wouldn't listen to me when I was warning him about the pot and burner being very hot, I was worried that he would start stirring everything all crazy and make a mess and plus I was just worried. Of course I was holding his hands the whole time we cooked just to have control but he didn't realize that's why I was helping. Anyway, I didn't get any pictures but I had to have this occassion marked.

Now to get to why this occassion was so very special to me.... My older brother JJ and I didn't have that many good memories as children but one thing we both remember is that our mom would let us help her in the kitchen. We both loved it and out of all of our bad memories, any good ones are even that much more special. We would make something called 'Cowboy Hash'(kind of like a spaghetti), mac & cheese, spaghetti, soup, etc. Food that we could cook in a pot basically. I hope Tyler can have good fun with me in the kitchen and I hope he will pass his good memories down to his little ones one day.

My two most favorite men. We were sitting outside Saturday evening enjoying the slight breeze that was blowing. We had a great little weekend.

Balloon Glow

We went to the Pennington Hot Air Balloon Championship this weekend. Honestly, this is the one event that I absolutely HAVE to go to every year. Usually we venture out on Saturday but this year we decided to go on Friday. We were hoping that most people would be get home from work and not want to get back out in the traffic, which lucky us, we were right. Last year was crowded and really hot. Miserable actually. This year it wasn't crowded and the temperature was right at 84 degrees. 84 degrees in AUGUST ??? How lucky were we. My brother & sis-in-law and my sweet little neice met us out there for the festivities. Ashley wasn't feeling too well so she wasn't really in to the whole thing but Tyler was rockin and rolling.



The actual balloon glow


JJ will not appreciate me posting this picture but it seems that every shot I have with him in it he is making a crazy face.

Ashley trying her hardest to have a good time.

Can you tell that Tyler was amazed with the fireworks ?? This shot had me and Philip cracking up !!

I got a pretty decent video of the balloon glow.

Tyler loves making himself dizzy. It drives me crazy b/c he always falls down and then starts with the crying. He was spinning around for a while and I warned him that he would fall and of course I know nothing and he ignored me. I took it upon myself to record him b/c I knew he was about to bust it. Maybe one day he'll learn his lesson. He only cried for half a second and wasn't hurt at all but you know kids, they have to cry.