Busy Weekend

Well, here we are, week before Christmas! I can't believe how fast time seems to fly now. I just read, maybe on facebook, today where someone said "The days are long, but the years are short". How true that is.

I had a super busy weekend. Friday I was babysitting Marcy's girls all day. While Bailey took her morning nap, Elli, Karly, and I made cookies. :) We had a fun day together, but wow, is 3 little girls so much more work than one little girl! I am exhausted when I leave there.

After babysitting I headed straight to church for our Trek Christmas Party. We had a good turnout and there was lots of yummy food and fun. I stayed there till close to 8, when I headed to Mom's so I could get Bailey to bed. The two of us stayed over at Mom's on Friday night because I had to be to the church at 8:00 am to supervise detention.

So detention was from 8:00 to 1:00.... ugh. I really don't enjoy doing it too much, but it's a good way for me to make a little money, so I do it anyways! It's a good reminder of why I quit teaching! Haha. Whenever I start to miss it, I just need to hang out with some pre-teens/teenagers for a little while! :)

After detention, I headed back to Mom's to grab some lunch and get Bailey. We had a couple of down time hours at home and then Saturday evening, Mom, Ashley, James, and Zoe came over and brought pizza and the Wii. So we ate, played, and had fun!

Sunday was church of course. Then lunch at Mom's. After lunch Mom's SS class had their Christmas Party/gift exchange, which they invite anyone to, so Ashley and I went as well. Then at 5:00 we went to the Christmas get-together for the SS class which we would attend if we didn't help in youth group on Sunday mornings. We ate at Massaki.. yum!

Whew! I am tired just from talking about my busy weekend. I have a couple things planned for this week but also planning to do some baking, hopefully cleaning (if I can get motivated), and just hanging out at home with Bailey. I think I'm mostly done with my Christmas shopping, now I just need to get wrapping.

Kelly Giveaway

Just found out Kelly is giving away one of the HP Touchsmarts as well. I wish these companies would contact me to do giveaways! :) Anyways, you can enter her giveaway here.

MckMama Giveaway

If you haven't already done so, go here to enter MckMama's giveaway for an HP Touchsmart. This thing looks awesome!

Wordless Wednesday

Tyson

As many of you already know, Tyson went home to be with Jesus on Friday (November 27) after his 17 month long battle with a brain tumor.

He was diagnosed when he was only 9 months old. I remember 2 months ago, when Bailey turned 9 months old, and thinking that she was the same age as he was when they found out about the tumor. Of course, I was around when he was first diagnosed, but I just can't remember him very well at that age for some reason, and it absolutely broke my heart to think about such a little baby being handed such a hard lot in life.

So many times throughout this entire year, I have wondered "Why Tyson? Why Summer and Jeremy? Why not Bailey? Why not us?". How does God decide who these things happen to? Did He give this trial to them because He knew they could handle it so beautifully and even point others to Him in the process? Or was it just random that Summer & Jeremy were given this trial? I don't have the answer to any of these questions and I think it's probably better that way.

However, I do know that I am thankful, that today, I have a healthy, happy 11 month old. I don't know what the next months and years, or even tomorrow will hold, but I will choose to be thankful that I have today with my husband and my daughter. I will choose to love deeper, forgive easily, hug tighter, and kiss more frequently so that I will please God and honor Tyson with my life.

I also know that I am a better mother because of Tyson. In those early days of Bailey's life, when the only way she would sleep was for me to hold her, instead of getting frustrated and angry, I chose to be thankful that I had a baby to hold. Even now, when she still wakes up twice a night to nurse, I choose to be appreciative that I have a baby to comfort and nourish.

And finally, I know that God is good. Even when I cannot comprehend His ways; even when it makes no sense to me to take a child from his mother; even when so many hearts are breaking, God is still good. Good and bad are not determined to be so by my interpretation of the circumstances around me. God IS the definition of all that is good and right. Whatever HE chooses to do, THAT is the good thing, the right thing.

Tyson's celebration of life service was Saturday evening. Since then, when thinking or talking about it, several times I have started to call it a "funeral" but I just can't call it that. A funeral, to me, is a time of sadness and mourning, and Tyson's service didn't really quite fit that definition. While there was definitely sadness, it was an amazing time of worship and celebration. I really have never been to a "funeral" quite like this one before. The grace and peace of God was so amazingly evident in the family; from Tyler's (Tyson's uncle) Gospel presentation, to Jeremy's (Tyson's daddy) charge to us to honor Tyson, to Summer (Tyson's mommy) raising her hands in praise to God.

I can't understand the kind of grace that God has poured out on this family, because I have never had the need to experience it. However, I know this grace and peace straight from God do exist because of the evidence in this family's life. We sing "Amazing Grace" but I really think that most of us (including myself) don't fully understand the depths and scope of God's amazing grace, until we experience something that has the potential to be life-shattering. God, in His great love and mercy, has faithfully chosen to walk with this family through this valley and make Himself so evident to them, even in times of tribulation. I am so glad I serve this God.

Even though we do not need to pray for Tyson anymore, as he is far better than any of us now, his precious family still needs our prayers in the coming day and months. The pain of losing a child does not end when the child's life does. I'm sure Summer and Jeremy, though they are walking in God's grace, will face some dark days in the coming months. And Carson and Kaylynn, being so young, will need understanding that comes from the Lord as to why they cannot play with their little brother anymore. So I encourage you to continue to pray with me for the Woody family.

Tyson, as a 2 year old precious little boy, has made more of an impact than most people make in a lifetime.

To see all the updates and emails about Tyson, during his entire journey, click here.

And be sure to check out Thinking of Tyson, which has been set up for people to honor Tyson by sharing their stories about how he impacted their lives.

Kroger

I also went to Kroger today and here are the deals I got there...

2 cans of Grand's biscuits: 55 cents each

2 cans of Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls: $1.07 each

2 bottles of Coffeemate Creamer: $1.50 each

2 tubes of Crest Toothpaste: 38 cents each

Half Gallon of Milk: $1.50

2 packs of Tyson Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast: $7.14 (1.88/lb)

And my favorite deal... 1 package of Buitoni Rivera pasta that was on Manager's Clearance for $1.50 and I had $1.00 off coupon, so I got it for 50 cents... regular price was $4 something!

Total for everything: $17.77

That doesn't seem like it's very good, but if I take away the chicken, then I feel better about myself. :)

Martin's

Got some great deals at Martin's today....

2 boxes of Betty Crocker cake mix: $1.00 each

2 cans of Betty Crocker frosting: 39 cents each

2 jars of Ragu pasta sauce: $1.07 each

3 bottles of Wish Bone Ranch Dressing: FREE!

4 Bags of Lipton Sides: 50 cents each

2 boxes of Maruchan noodle dinners: FREE! (I actually made 10 cents on these!)

2 jars of Hellman's Light Mayo: $2.39 each

Total for all this and tax, plus $1 for Children's Miracle Network (I thought of Tyson when the girl asked, so I couldn't say no!): $14.90

I was especially proud of my free stuff. :) And speaking of Tyson, I am working on a post about him, processing my thoughts and how he has changed me. Stay tuned for that.