Why yes! Yes, I'm not at BlogHer, thanks for noticing!

Yes, I'm upset about it, but because of all the other great ladies that happen to be staying home as well, we're gonna have some fun of our own! We've got a pity party, a blog hop, a not at blog her get-together, a BlogHer@Home site with fun....hey, we're cool with this!

If this is your first time visiting my blog, then welcome! I'm Christi, the Christian 30something sole writer here! I have been happily married to my best friend Chris for the past 11 years and am proud mama to Isaac, 8, and Adam, 5. I am also in grad school to get my degree in Reading at the same college where I got my undergrad. It is hard work, but it is so worth it! I am a teacher, and teaching reading is my love. I taught first grade for 12 years, but now am going to be a Reading Specialist at two elementary schools in our county.

Education is very important in our family....I am sister to 2 teachers, sister-in-law to one, daughter of one, and daughter-in-law of one as well. The other thing that is very central in our life is our faith: my father is a retired United Methodist minister.

Chris and I are also very blessed to live in the same town/county as most of our family members. Only Chris' parents live temporarily in Southside Virginia, while everyone else lives around here, including our siblings and nieces and nephews. We enjoy getting to see them and spend time with them often.

Let's see...what else?? We have 3 cats and 1 dog, and we lost a dog we'd had for 12 years earlier in the spring. My boys are all 3 (yes, 3....hubby as well!) yellow belts in TaeKwonDo as of earlier this month. My nieces and nephews are active in sports and dance, so you'll hear me brag on them sometimes, too!

So I think I'll close out now....but please come back soon!

Boy, what a day!

Adam and I left the house before 10 thinking we'd have an easy morning/day. We had to go get his Kindergarten shots, but it didn't turn out to be nearly as easy as we thought!

Everything started fine....typical checkup, with filling out paperwork and HIPPA agreements and such. We realized that in '06 we had put off him getting his Chicken Pox vax, so we ended up having to get that in addition to the MMR, Polio, and whatever he other one was...I can't remember! Dr. F decided to go ahead and do a urine and blood workup as well, not only for a lead test for him to enter Kindergarten, but also to check for anemia, which he has had in the past. He weighed 42 pounds and was 45 inches tall.

So....we proceed to the shots...4 of 'em! Then I had Nurse V. to look at a place on his leg that was suspicious, and I'm glad I did since it WAS poison ivy! I also talked to Dr. F about the fact that Adam did not read 20/20 on his vision screening. He said that we could either wait or go ahead and get him checked out. Since we have a family history of vision problems, I opted to go ahead and get it looked at. More about that later.

So after the shots, we proceeded to the lab, where a very small amount of blood was drawn from his finger. Adam was brave through it all!

Until.....


I was signing out, and he started leaning toward me. I said,"What are you doing?" and he didn't answer me, and the receptionist tells me,"He's passed out!" So 2 nurses assisted us in getting him sitting in a chair, and he quickly came to. He was not sure what was going on, and was very pale. One nurse went ahead and laid him down in an exam room again, and laid a cool cloth on his forehead. He was also saying that his mouth hurt. So we waited for a few minutes to make sure he was okay. I stayed calm, but truly....it scared me to death!! I wanted to cry like a baby!!

I had promised Adam that we'd go get him a toy since he'd done so well at the shots and blood draw, so we went to Target to get him some anti-itch for his poison ivy and he picked out a toy. He wanted to go ahead and visit the optometrist before lunch, much to Mommy's growling stomach's dismay!

We saw a nice doctor, who told us that Adam has an astigmatism as well as being slightly far-sighted. We decided to pick out some frames since they were running a special (buy some frames and get the lenses free for anyone under 17--check out Lenscrafters!) The frames we picked out were more expensive than I normally would have allowed, but given the special, I let him get them. We're gonna go get Isaac's eyes checked, too, while they have this deal on so if he needs a pair, we'll get 'em cheaper!

Here's a pic of the frames. I'll get one of Adam IN the glasses so you can see how preciously handsome he looks in them!



We got lunch and went to do a little bit of shopping for ME while waiting for the glasses to get done. Unfortunately there was a machinery problem, so it ended up taking about an hour and a half instead of an hour, but hey--we're flexible!

However, after all this unexpected stuff in one day, I'm worn out! Adam and I took a nap when we got home, and now they're in TaeKwonDo! I realized that I can access free wifi here, so I'll be much more apt to bring my laptop and stay while they're in class from now on!

So....here we are! *insert pic of me with my tongue hanging out!*

Pray for Me, Pray for Others

We participate in "Pray for Me... Pray for Others" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check out their blog to add your prayer request. Join a community of friends who care about you, and hope you will care about them.

Hi, all....I found this great way of linking together our prayer requests by the creator of the great new blogger tool, MckLinky! I love the idea of working together on the web to lift each other up in prayer! Please check it out, and don't forget to pray for the folks listed!

Remember....where two or three are gathered, there He is also! That includes here on the blogosphere!

It just gets old

It gets frustrating to have plans, and then be hit out of the blue by some physical symptom that leaves you not feeling like doing what you'd planned. I HAVE to go on during the school year, but when I didn't HAVE to go work at one of my schools today, I had to change the plans I'd shared with my 5 year old. He was disappointed, but with stomach cramps and runs to the restroom, I just didn't feel as though it was the most opportune of times to go try to get some work done. Then in comes Isaac from a day filled with fun at day camp, upset because I now say that we might not make it to the local slushie seller.

Yes, it makes me feel like crap to let them down. But you know what? I never asked for this crap called fibromyalgia. I didn't ask to fight anxiety, depression, pain, irritable bowel, and insomnia. I didn't want to feel like I'm 80 some days at 36.

Some days the logic in me flies away and I want to scream, "Why me?? What did I do to deserve this??" It was hard enough dealing with the depression from the age of 15 or 16. Add the rest of the crud to it and it is just NOT fun. Today, it is my elbows. Who has ELBOWS that hurt?? What in the world?? I cannot imagine how I might have strained my freakin' ELBOWS! It is insane.

When I've stood on my feet all day and they hurt, I get it. When I have pain due to lack of movement or stress, I get it. But what has brought this on today? Worrying about something? Nothing? The air being cooler than normal? Who freakin' knows?!

I try not to fuss. I am trying to improve my health by getting rid of bad habits and eating better and exercise, and by stopping when I feel my limits being reached. It is when I am doing those things and I STILL hurt that I start to get frustrated. It just stinks!

Love Chris' heart, his solution is to send me to the doctor. I went yesterday for a med check. There is nothing more they can do. I have to break down and take more meds even though they sometimes make me feel loopy, and otherwise I just have to tough it out. There's nothing more to do. I guess for a man, who just wants to fix his wife's problems, that is very frustrating too. I am so blessed to have him. I folded and sorted several loads of clothes today--yes, I'll readily admit I've been putting it off--and he put them away so I could play with (read: entertain) Adam since Isaac was gone to camp today. He's a sweetheart!

This isn't even what I was blogging about earlier today. But maybe that is what has contributed, me fighting that struggle. I don't know. Whatever it is, I just wish it would GO AWAY!

Until a better day and a better mood.....

I need your prayers

I'm not sick, no one in my family or circle of friends are sick, we all have jobs, no one has been lost or hurt....but I'm feeling very attacked by the Enemy lately. I hate to be vague, but I also don't want to verbalize this to give him any more fodder in his fight against me. The Lord knows the need, and just know that I need prayers to gird me up right now. The Lord is my strength and my shield, and HE will give me the strength to fight in this battle!!

Thank you in advance for your prayers!

You know you're a sister when...

I am very blessed with two real-life sisters. I am also blessed with several friends who I consider my "sisters of another mother." But most recently, I have discovered that I belong to another sisterhood....a sisterhood that didn't exist a mere 10 years ago. You see, I'm a blogging sister, and therefore have a digital kinship with other women who choose to share their lives 'out there' with the world online.

How do I know that these people are my sisters??

I know they are my sisters....because they GET me.
They understand why I put myself--all the ugly, secret, hurting, happy, silly, crazy things that make up ME--out there for all the world to read.

I know they are my sisters....because the SUPPORT me.
On those days when I'm not quite sure how I'm going to put one foot in front of the other...on the days when I am distressed because of a real life situation....on the days that I request prayer, but can't even verbalize why....they are there. My blogging sisters let me know that they, too, have been there, and that they'll be here for me no matter what.

I know they are my sisters....because they KNOW me.
And I mean it in this way: they know the deep inside me. They don't know the me who weighs more than I did in college, the one who teaches, the one who is kin to so-and-so, the one who goes to that church, or the one who I've heard did that. They know me from the inside out. They might not recognize me right off if they saw me on the street, but if I wore a t-shirt sporting the front page of my blog, they'd be the first to run up and hug me! They know me by my words, and that is to know me in a profound way!

If you aren't part of this sisterhood, you don't know what you are missing. But I also don't know how to explain how this sisterhood has enriched my life! I have laughed til I cried, I have wept for the pain of others, and I have hit the ground face down in prayer to my Jesus over words I've read from these ladies.

They ARE my sisters...and that is all I know!

If you'd like to more know about The Sister Project or the contest that inspired this post, visit the hyperlinked pages in this sentence!

Flashback Friday--Annie

<img alt="http://christis-blahblahblog.blogspot.com" src="http://tinyurl.com/5zzwl8" />

I'm late! I'm late! Sorry for that, ya'll! I'm sure you've been hanging on your seats waiting for this, and chewing your nails to the quick! LOL At least I can imagine!

Annie! I am not sure how many times I saw it in the theater, but it was several! I LOVED this movie! I wanted to BE Annie! It started before the moving even came out when my sister saw it on Broadway....I am thinking it was when Sarah Jessica Parker was playing the lead.

I remember going to see it one time (in the theater, again!) with my mom and grandmother, and my grandmother telling me about the comic strip. I distinctly remember her saying that she was surprised that there wasn't more action in the movie since Annie was always getting into some adventure in the 'funny papers'!

Then in college we did a lip sync and dance routine to "It's a Hard Knock Life, which was fun! We did some of the same dance steps from the movie. We won the contest, by the way!

So here, for your viewing pleasure, is "It's a Hard Knock Life!" Enjoy!



So what about you? What are you remembering fondly tonight? Surely you would love to share it with others! All you have to do is make up a post and come back here and use the MckLinky to share it with us!



Have a GREAT weekend!!

Three Things You Don't Know About Me

I decided earlier that I was gonna do the blog hop from my other blog, but now I wanna do it here, too! LOL Is that cheating?! So now if you go to both, you'll know 6 things you didn't know about me!

OK. Here goes.

1. My mom taught my husband in Kindergarten. We both moved away from the area, then were set up on a blind date by 2 of my friends--his aunt and cousin. We went on our first date in August, and were engaged on November 17! Hey, when you know you've got a good thing, why waste time?! We were married the following July. Here we are, 11 years and 2 kids later!!

2. My sisters and I all graduated from high schools in different states. Yes, trivial, but I'm stretching here! Since our dad was a United Methodist minister, we moved as needed. Brenda graduated in Virginia (where we all three live now), Suzy graduated in Tennessee, and I graduated in Georgia.

3. My mom and I were on a plane once with Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor! We were on our way back home from visiting my grandmother in Florida, and for some reason she rode in to Charlotte (I think!) on our little puddle jumper plane! I didn't have the nerve to go try to get her autograph, which I would have been able to get away with at 8 years old in the early 80s, and I've always wished I had.

OK, so now you know these things about me....don't you wanna leave a comment about one of them?!

New FIRST review--and I LOVE this book!

The book is Blue Like Playdough by Tricia Goyer, and it is soooo good! It isn't very long, but I have related to what she is saying in such a powerful way. I just have to share a couple of things from the book with you, and please go read the tour review as well! I promise you won't be disappointed!

This quote is SOOO me! I think I'll copy this and hand it out to people, esp. those who shall remain nameless that talk about how dirty my house is.

It's been said that a messy house is evidence of a messy heart, but it was just the opposite for me. The more I got my heart in order, the more God urged me to move beyond my safe, happy little world...The more I served God and saw Him working in lives, the less concerned I was about a dust-free existence or with how others saw me. I didn't need to impress anyone else because deep down I felt God's approval....I've come to realize that those things (referring to the house being neat) don't matter as much as people--whether it be the people in my house or those in my community and my world. Like my friend Twyla says,"You fight dirt your whole life and then they bury you in it."

Amen and Amen!!

Do you Technorati?

I'm on it finally. Yes, I'm slow to these things! I'm also getting on the Sited and Blogged technorati list as well! If you'd like to know more, check it out at Sited and Blogged!


It's time to repost our list.
If you want to join, follow these simple steps.






~Copy and paste this blog post into a new blog post on your site.
~Come back here and leave a comment with a full link address to direct us to your post.
~Your link will then be added to the list.



When the list ends in late June, come back and update your list with all of the members. We are atttempting to limit this list to 100 blog links.

SitedandBlogged
The Contest Hub
I am Harriet




Lifes Perfect Pictures
Diana Rambles
Insanity and Bliss
Lolas Diner
Life is Sweet
Happy Healthy Families
Five Monkeys
http://www.mftawk.com/2009/05/
http://www.ilikeitfrantic.net/2009/06/technorati-list.html http://theredheadriter.blogspot.com/2009/06/technorati-list.html http://yesiknowwhatcausesthat.blogspot.com/2009/06/technorati-list.html
http://apocketfullofbuttons.blogspot.com/
http://outnumbered3-1.blogspot.com/2009/06/technorati-list.html
http://twoprettylittleskirts.blogspot.com/2009/06/technorati-list.html
http://valeriegail.blogspot.com/2009/06/technorati-list.html
http://mainfo.blogspot.com/
http://anniekelleher.blogspot.com/
http://eclecticschooling.blogspot.com/2009/06/technorati.html
http://atticgirl.blogspot.com/2009/06/technorati-list.html
http://iheartfrutopia.blogspot.com/

http://frugalcreativity.blogspot.com/2009/06/technorati-list.html
http://supermommytotherescue.com/technorati


http://pennypinchingpenguin.blogspot.com/2009/06/technorati-list.html
http://aaensons-lifewithatoddler.blogspot.com/2009/06/technorati-list.html
http://www.ahappyhippymom.com/2009/06/technorati-linky-love.html
http://flyinggigglesandlollipops.blogspot.com/2009/06/its-time-to-repost-our-list.html

http://canwestopthis.blogspot.com/2009/06/technorati-list.html
http://happilyblended.com/2009/06/sited-and-blogged-the-technorati-list/
http://www.fairyblogmotherblog.com/2009/06/technorati-list.html
http://psychicmamaindigochild.blogspot.com/2009/06/sited-and-blogged-technorati-list.html
http://snipsandsnailsboutique.blogspot.com/2009/06/technorati-list-at-sited-and-blogged.html
http://thedivinemissmommy.com/2009/06/05/sited-and-blogged-technorati-list/


http://www.josieswindow.info
http://alittleoftheother.blogspot.com/2009/06/site-blogged-technorati-list.html
Confessions of a Moody Mommy
http://www.ageorgiaangel.com/blog/?p=1092
Penelope's Oasis

Please overlook: Technorati stuff

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How ya doin'?

Whaddaya think about the new look? I am loving it! It feels cleaner to me...and easier to see!

I haven't done a general 'wassup!' update in a while! Nothing too exceptionally exciting is going on around here, and that is WONDERFUL! It is GREAT to just get to hang around the house doing chores and playing with the boys and just BEING. I've had time to get in much more reading and Bible study, and doing more blogging focused on reviews and Bible studies, plus contributing 2 articles a week at Sited and Blogged. I have also started taking part in a FANTASTIC ministry based through Twitter called World Prayer. I get to be the moderator to re-send prayer requests sent through @worldprayr for at least 2 hours a week. This is a dynamic ministry that is still in its grassroots stages, and if you'd like to join in, just let me know, and I'll get you more info!

I am loving having a break from classes, though I keep dreaming that I'm supposed to be going to Emory and I'm not! LOL In my last class, I did get the opportunity to make some plans for working with kids other than first graders, so that has helped me get ready for my new position. I really need to go into the schools, but I've been putting it off--I'm just enjoying spending time with my boys and spending time at home!

Chris has built some shelving in the basement to store stuff, and has gotten lots of junk cleared out! That has been such a big help! This week he and Isaac are gonna take a camping trip all by themselves in a tent! I'm excited for them but Adam and I will miss them!

All three guys are loving their TaeKwonDo classes! They all did wonderfully on their rank test and have moved up to the yellow belt level. Isaac is REALLY into it, and got mad when he realized that his dad went on Thursday and he didn't! Both boys are missing their friends, so going to classes and going to some day camps over the next couple of weeks will help out with that, I'm sure.

And guess what Saturday is?! Mine and Chris' 11th anniversary! 11 years ago on the 18th, I married my best friend. I am so thankful that God led us to each other! WE are very blessed. We've already got a baby sitter (my niece) and we're planning on going out by ourselves and at the very least getting a meal together!

So there is what's going on around here....it is blissfully boring! I'm so glad that we have this time to recharge our batteries and get some time to relax and enjoy each other!

Flashback Friday--I Can't Make You Love Me

<img alt="http://christis-blahblahblog.blogspot.com" src="http://tinyurl.com/5zzwl8" />

Is this not just the best unrequited love song ever?! I love it still! It takes me back to college, when I was pining after a certain guy with whom I'd had a little hookup after having a crush on him for quite some time. He didn't feel the same way, though, so it never worked out...but man, did I spend lots of time wishing it would! LOL This song is one that I LOVE to belt out in the car with the radio turned up full blast! Of course, it doesn't hurt that my vocal range is very similar to Bonnie Raitt's, so I can pretend I sound good too!



So what is running through your head today? C'mon and share it! Post it on your site and come back and MckLinky it up so we can come visit ya and see it! Stop by and see another FIRST Wild Card Tour at BlahBlahReviews, too!

Wordless Wednesday--Fun on the Slide

These were taken by my sister at our church's Freedom Celebration on Sunday. It was the first time in 7 years that we had to hold it indoors, but it still went well! As you can see, the boys definitely had fun!

Blog Hop: A favorite photo

Howdy, blog hoppers! For this week's hop, I chose to share a picture of my entire family last summer when we went on a cruise to celebrate my parents' 50th anniversary. It was definitely a trip of a lifetime! I adore my family and am so glad that we all got to be together on this trip. As my nieces and nephews get older and go to college and out on their own, I will look back at this time and remember how much fun we had!

I am very blessed in that we all live in the same town. As a United Methodist preacher's family, it is rare that the entire family settle one place. First, my oldest sister married her high school sweetheart and stayed here. Then my other sister fell in love with one of my brother-in-law's best friends, and they married and settled here as well. I joked from that point on about finding me a good Scott County boy....and I did! My husband was actually in my mom's Kindergarten class years ago! We are very blessed!

Thanks for stopping by, and hope to see ya'll again soon! Don't be a stranger!

Let's try a Blog Hop!

MckMama has started a new feature called a blog hop! Each month will have a different theme. I thought it sounded like fun, so here goes!

For those who don't know me, I'm Christi! I am the mama to Isaac, 8, and Adam, 5, and wife to Chris. I am a teacher--first grade for 12 years--and starting a new job as a Reading Specialist in the fall. I am halfway through a Master's program in Reading, which I am loving! I enjoy reading, singing, dancing, and naps when I can take 'em! I'm very proud of my boys and almost as proud of all my nieces and nephews: Kellie, 26, Ked, 18, Katie, 17, Logan, 16, Maria, 14, Wesley, 12, Keener, 12, Leigh Ann, 9, and Ian, 3. My blog is about a whole lot of nothin' much....pretty much what comes to mind! I do a weekly meme called Flashback Fridays, which you can see below this post! I have two other blogs, Blah Blah Reviews and Showered By Blessings, and contribute at Sited and Blogged as well. I'm also a moderator at My Parent Connection, my favorite message board! I hope ya'll will come back and visit more often!!

Flashback Friday--Punky Brewster

<img alt="http://christis-blahblahblog.blogspot.com" src="http://tinyurl.com/5zzwl8" />

I watched something the other day, maybe an E! True Hollywood Story, about Punky Brewster. Remember that show? I was in 6th or 7th grade when it started and thought it was the cutest show in the world! I remember going to Magic Mart one time with Roxanne looking for a magazine with a picture of her in it because we were going to try to draw her and win money from some other magazine! I don't think we ever completed that goal!



So what about you? What are you remembering today? Come share! I'm trying a new linky service today called McLinky Have a great 4th, ya'll!

I'm so frustrated!

I've been trying for 2 and a half hours to add those cute little button icons to my posts so that I can possibly get more exposure. I thought I'd finally figured it out, but when I did whatever it was I did, I lost ALL my posts...only had the buttons and my titles! So I deleted that and I'm quitting for the night. If anyone out there knows what I'm talking about and how to help me, I would be so appreciative! I have the graphics I want to use, but just can't get 'em in there to use! WAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

I'm contributing to another site!

I'm so excited! I didn't want to say anything before it was actually 'done', but I'm now a contributor at Sited and Blogged!

Go check out my first post here!

Wordless Wednesday--Adam on the beach

Adam is such a ham....he has on his Daddy's hat here! We had a great vacation last week, and the boys LOVED the ocean! I have a feeling it won't be 5 more years before we go again!