Cadre

Maybe I'm weird, but I had never heard this word before last weekend. It was in a newsletter from my parents' church which I thought was really strange since I had never heard of that word before.

It's funny sometimes to hear words that people have never heard before. Most of the time, I am thinking "Where have they been all their life?" So I guess this is my time for people to wonder how in the world I did not know about this word.

Here is cadre's definition:
NOUN:
A nucleus of trained personnel around which a larger organization can be built and trained: a cadre of corporals who train recruits.
A tightly knit group of zealots who are active in advancing the interests of a revolutionary party.
A member of such a group.
A framework.

What's the Deal?

Last night when we got home, there were 4 messages on our recorder from Caleb's doctor's office about his lab work. Then this morning when I looked at my cell phone, I had two messages from them from last night. I was starting to get a little worried that something was wrong (even though one of the messages said that his results were normal but still said to call back). So I called this morning to see what the deal was, and they just said everything was normal.

What is the deal with leaving 6 messages on my recorder? And why can't they just leave a message saying everything was normal? Is there a law that says you have to actually reach someone on the phone before you can let it go...even if you tell them it is fine on the message?

How strange.

A Must Read

I just finished reading Francine River's An Echo in the Darkness (2nd book in the series) last night. This series (The Mark of the Lion) is a must read! It is the best story I have read in a long, long time, and this series is quickly becoming one of my very favorites. If you haven't read it, you really need to. If you would like to borrow the books from me, I would be glad to loan them to you.

Here are the books in the series:

A Voice in the Wind
An Echo in the Darkness
As Sure As The Dawn

Weekend Plans

What are your weekend plans?

Tonight we are going to a party. Tomorrow Chris has a fantasy baseball draft, and Caleb and I are going to the hospital to visit my grandaddy. Sunday, we have church and then Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. Those are our plans.

Things That Make My Mouth Water By Just Thinking About Them...

1) Pickles

2) Salad - but not all of the time

3) Olives

What makes your mouth water just by thinking about it?

Another Prayer Request

Some of you already know about this, but I would like for you to be in prayer for my grandfather, W.B. He had surgery on Tuesday to fix blockage in his neck (he had sugery a month ago on the other side of his neck also) and while in surgery, he had a small stroke and a blood clot. At first we didn't think there had been any or much damage from the stroke, but the damage was actually pretty extensive. He is unable to talk, is unable to move the right side of his face, and the whole right side of his body is weak. I went to visit him today, and I really hope think that he is understanding things...he just has no way of communicating back. At one point, I asked him a question and he did say "Yeah." That was encouraging. He will stay in ICU tonight and then will probably go to a room tomorrow and stay there for at least a few days. Then he will go to a rehab place.

Please pray that when the swelling on his brain goes down that he will regain some or all of the things he has lost. I really hope this will happen.

This week has not been a good week to be related to me or Chris. :) Pray that things will return to normal for our family soon!

A Walk Around the Block

I love the nice weather we have been having lately. With Chris recovering from his surgery and needing to sleep a lot, Caleb and I have taken lots of walks lately. Caleb absolutely loves riding in the stroller on walks. He gets so calm and still just looking around. It's nice to be able to walk around the neighborhood and it not be too hot yet. Walking is good down time. It gives me time to think about things without Caleb screaming or demanding my attention which is nice. So, good weather, stick around!

Please Keep Praying

Well, Chris went to the doctor yesterday for a post-op visit and was told that he is not allowed to travel for another week. So, we are not going to be able to go to El Paso for his grandfather's funeral this weekend. I know he is really, really bummed about it...and being sick....and being in pain, etc. Please keep Chris in your prayers over the next few days that he will heal quickly. He has felt so rotten for so long. He needs a break (a break from Spring Break!).

Also, please pray for Chris' family as they plan for the funeral, travel to El Paso, etc. This is a rough time for everyone, so pray that they will all be comforted.

Busy, Busy

Well, it's been over a week since I posted last. Chris had his tonsils out last Wednesday, so things have been kind of crazy since then. Everyone said it would be hard on an adult, and they were right. Chris has some different medicine now that hopefully will make him feel better within a day or two. I feel really bad that he has felt so crummy. I feel so helpless when he or Caleb is sick or feels bad. I wish I could do something to make it better, but I can't. I just have to try to help out the best I can.

I don't know what I would do without family to help out. Our family has been such a huge help to us this past week. Thank you mom, dad, Jeanette, grandmother and grandaddy! We love you all!

Also, please be in prayer for Chris and his family. His grandfather passed away last night. We are not sure of the details yet, but the funeral will be in El Paso. With Chris feeling the way he does right now, there is no way he can travel. Pray for speedy recovery for Chris so that he will feel up to making the trip and for all of us as we travel.

I'm Going to Have a Sister!

No, my mom is not pregnant. My brother, Casey, got engaged this weekend! We are all really excited and happy for them both! It looks like they will get married December 28 of this year which is Chris and my anniversary also. That would make it easy to remember!

The Phone That Got Away

We went to the El Chico in Rockwall on Friday night with my parents. On the way over there, I called my dad to let him know that we were running late. Then on Saturday morning at Pit Stop, I went looking for my phone, but it wasn't there. I didn't think anything about it since I thought it would be at home.

Then at around 5:30 Saturday night, I started wondering about my phone. I turned the car and house inside and out looking for it. I remembered using it on Friday night and had Chris look it up the internet to see if that was in fact the last time it was used. I called El Chico, but they said they didn't have it. I decided to drive to El Chico (35 minutes away) to look for it anyway (I thought it might have been in a dark corner under the table we were sitting at or in the parking lot). When I got there, I asked the family sitting at the table if I could look under it for my phone...not there. Then I talked to the manager again and left him my contact info. in case he found it. Then I went and bought a flash light at CVS and then came back to look for it...not there. So I went home.

By this point I was all in a tizzy (sp?) because I thought someone had found my phone and stolen it. I was bummed that I was about to have to go spend money to buy a new phone.

At 10:00 that night, Chris' cell phone rang. He went downstairs to see who it was. Almost immediately, the home phone started ringing. It was the manager at El Chico saying he had just been walking by their safe in the back and heard a phone ringing. He looked inside to find the phone, and saw that it was mine...it had been shoved in the back corner of the safe.

My brother had tried to call my cell phone, and when he couldn't get me he tried Chris' phone. Because of Casey calling me, I got my cell phone back! How cool is that! My parents also said they were calling my phone all night once an hour to see if someone would find it and answer it.

This story reminds me of the time that I lost my purse in a gas station for three days, and when I returned to pick it up, everything was still there.

God is looking out for me even though I'm a ding-dong! :)

I will be shopping for a new purse that zips over the next few days so I hopefully wont have this problem again. Yay, new purse! :)

Baby Food Meat - Blehhh!

Ok, so Caleb has been trying baby food meat for the first time this week. He has been eating chicken with chicken gravy, and he absolutely hates it. He's liked everything so far, but he just does not like this meat. I have other kinds that I will continue trying, but I was just going to ask if anyone's kids ever had this dislike of meat...at least at the beginning. I realize it probably will take some time for him to get used to it since it is weird, but I just thought I would ask.

Grocery Buggies or Carts?

What do you say? I say "Buggies", but Chris says "Carts." A thing of much debate in our house. :)

March 1st

How can it be March 1st already?! This year is going by way too fast! I'm not even used to it being 2007 yet!

3

That is how many outfits Caleb pooped, etc. in yesterday. Crazy!

I packed many more outfits today in his bag. We'll see...