Stoph's Big Day

Speaking of Brother-in-laws...

Today is my younger bro-in-law's bday.  A big Happy Birthday Shout Out to Chris (AKA Stoph)!!



I really couldn't ask for a better husband for my baby sister!!

Serve & Protect

Returning home from work, a blonde was shocked to find her house ransacked and burglarized. She telephoned the police at once and reported the crime. The police dispatcher broadcast the call on the radio and a K-9 unit patrolling nearby was the first to respond.
As the K-9 officer approached the house with his dog on a leash, the blonde ran out on the porch, shuddered at the sight of the cop and his dog, then sat down on the steps. Putting her face in her hands, she moaned, ‘I come home to find all my possessions stolen. I call the police for help, and what do they do? They send me a BLIND policeman! 

Last week I had a friend ask me what it was like to be a cop's wife. I really didn't know what to say, so I asked, "What is it like to not be a cop's wife?"

Some may think that this is crazy, but I am VERY thankful for David's job. Yes, it is dangerous. Yes, he works odd hours. Yes, it is very demanding. Being in Law Enforcement, though, is something that I believe God has called him to do. I fully believe that this profession is more of a calling than it is a job. I truly believe that God created David with this passion in his heart, and I believe that he set him apart to do this type of work.

I am not going to tell you that every day is a walk in the park, but really, is it that way for anyone in any profession?! We have definitely had some hard and scary times, but God has brought us through each one of them.

You may think that David has a tough job, but I tell ya, I'd rather do that every day than be his guardian angel!! Now that is a tough job!!

Two years ago brought some changes into our law enforcement lives. David joined the K-9 team and, after A LOT of training, was given Stryker. Now that is something that I am thankful for!! David has always wanted to be a K-9 handler, and he is so great at it! This particular division takes a lot of work and effort, but it is all worth it when you see him and Stryker work! They are an amazing duo!!

Let this just be a warning to all criminals who may for some crazy reason be reading my blog - if you see David and Strykie out, RUN! I promise, they will catch you, but it will be a much better story for me if you run! :)

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. "

- Unknown

Fall Saturdays = College Football

Today I am thankful that my parents raised me to love college football...more importantly, SEC football. Saturdays in our house always consisted of cleaning and football, which is exactly what today has been for me. They taught me to love football, but did not do well (according to them) on teaching me which team to love. Our house will forever be divided - Georgia and Auburn.

Which brings me to...I am very thankful for family friends that introduced me to Auburn Football and taught me what REAL football is!! Can I get a War Eagle?!

Today is always a fun day in our family (Georgia vs Auburn). Although we cheer for different teams, it is always a friendly competition. 3 will be cheering on the Dawgs and 3 will be screaming "War Eagle!" but in the end, we all love each other!!

Waaaar Eagle, Hey!!!!

Thank a Vet

11-11-11 : Veterans Day

From  Wikipedia   ( Yes, I know it isn’t the best source of true info, but it works sometimes. )

Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day, is an annual United States holiday honoring military veterans. It is a federal holiday that is observed on November 11. It coincides with other holidays such as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, which mark the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I.

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed an Armistice Day for November 11, 1919. In proclaiming the holiday, he said, "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations."

Today is no different. We still celebrate Veterans Day with pride in the heroism of those who have fought throughout the years of our country’s existence.
Thank a Vet today for the service and sacrifice they have given for your freedom!!

Health

A friend of mine is heading to a specialty doctor in Birmingham, AL today so that she can have brain surgery tomorrow. Lauren has epilepsy, and they are hoping that this surgery will take it away.

She and her husband have been married a little over a year. Their hearts' desire is to have children, but the medicine that Lauren has to take has a high risk of miscarriage and birth defects. Lauren and Jeremy (and both of their families) have met with lots of doctors to look at all the possibilities. She has undergone several tests and procedures to make sure that this surgery is right for her.

Today, I am thankful for my health, and that I am not facing major surgery. I don't know about you, but I really take that for granted. There are so many things that I could be facing as far as my health goes, and I am not. That is definitely something to be thankful for!

On the other hand, I am thankful for prayer. I am thankful for encouragement. I am thankful for faith. I am thankful for friends.

I know that there are a lot of people praying for Lauren and Jeremy, their families, and her physicians. Please join us. Lauren will have her pre-op today. Because this is brain surgery, her pre-op will involve shaving her head. As you can imagine, this is difficult for her. Lauren will be going in for her surgery tomorrow. During this surgery, they will remove a portion of her skull and insert monitoring strips into her brain. Lauren needs to have 2 seizures after her surgery so they can pinpoint the area of her brain that the seizures are coming from. After she has these seizures, they will remove that portion of her brain. This will, hopefully, stop the seizures all together.

Please take a moment to pray for Lauren and her family. Also, take a moment to reflect on your own health and be thankful for it.

"Did I catch a Niner in there?!"

Numero Nueve - Survivor Night!!!

I know that sounds dumb, but I am glad when Wednesday night arrives and Survivor comes on (although I liked it much better on Thursday night!!). I love to sit and just chill and enjoy the show. I won't bore you again with the details that I have already given in regard to this show (see post) just know that it is definitely one of my favs!!

Mike and Stan

Today is another day of mixed thankful emotions. I really feel like all of these posts are running on top of each other, but I guess that is the way that it works. Thankfulness in one area makes you thankful for another - it just flows.

Today, I am thankful to live in America. I am fully aware that this is not the most perfect nation in the world. I am fully aware that this is not the most godly nation in the world. I am fully aware that this is not the richest nation in the world. I am also aware, though, that we have freedoms and access to resources in this country that others only dream of. We really are a blessed nation!

"I am proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free!!!"

Freedom does not come easily. Brave men and women have fought for centuries to ensure that our nation remains a free nation. Today is no different. We have soldiers all around our world that are fighting to keep us safe and free. Freedom oftentimes takes work, time and sacrifice. This is a reality that my family is facing today.

I know I already talked about my in laws, so I won't go down that path again. I will, however, let you know that I am not just thankful for but also very proud of my brother in law, Mike. Mike is my older sister Miriam's husband (hand picked by yours truly, I might add). When they met, he was serving our country at Ft, Benning, GA. Mike joined the Army after high school, became a Ranger, and served our country overseas in Afghanistan shortly after the war began. Mike finished his term in the Army, married my sister, and got his college degree. Now, nearly 10 years later, God is calling Mike back to the action in Afghanistan. Not as a soldier this time, but as an operator of some super cool spy equipment. (The details are classified - Sorry!! Just know that it is REALLY COOL!!)

Mike will be leaving tonight for 6 months in Afghanistan. He will be stationed on a military base and will be operating the equipment that should help our troops tremendously. Please pray for him and Miriam as they are apart. Please pray that these 6 months will FLY BY for them. Please pray for his safety.

I am very thankful for men like Mike that are willing to go overseas, away from their families, to make sure that we are safe and free back here in America. I'm thankful that he and so many others are willing to put themselves in harms way to make sure that others (here and there) are protected. I am proud to be an American, but I am also proud to call him my family!

No worries! Once they see all this ^, the enemy is bound to throw their weapons down peacefully, turn, run and hide in fear!! Take a good look...these guns may just be the weapons that end the war!!

Love you, Mike!!