Alabama...

Don't get me started.

Those of you that know me, know how I feel about "A.L.A.BAMA" (imagine Forrest Gump saying that).

****if you like Alabama, now's the time to STOP reading****

To get from Point A: Tennesessee to Point B: Florida, driving through the entire state is a requirement. It's painful. I have nicknames for every town. I'd share, but I truly might offend my friends that live in Alabama and have continued reading my blog. I've long since stopped worrying about offending my husband who was born in the great state of Alabama.

Let me be clear...some good things have come from Alabama: My husband, his families, some great friends, Bear Bryant, Bobby Bowden, my dog's name and some great football games. But that's about it.

Worst fear (ok, maybe not the worse, but close)...living in Alabama. Second closest worst fear...getting stranded in the middle of nowhere in Alabama with no cell phone service. IT. ALMOST. HAPPENED. TODAY.

In an effort to find a shorter route to get home, my MIL gave me a shortcut to take from Destin to I-65. My MIL was kind enought to draw me a map even though she was exhausted from putting up with us for a week at her house -- of course, now that I just wrote that, it hit me...maybe her true intentions were for us to actually get lost in Alabama. Another story for another day. Anyway, at 4:30 IN THE MORNING, I missed the turn. MISSED. THE. TURN. Not something one wants to do in Alabama. at 4:30 AM. With two small children.

Did my beating heart wake anyone up this morning?! Kids, in the backseat with drool running down their mouths, while they are in safely in dreamland (not Alabama). I'm seven miles past the sign where I thought to myself..."should I turn? I don't remember MK saying anything about turning!" It's getting darker and my cell phone now reads "No Service" It's been at least 10 years since I last saw a message like that on my phone. Next...I see were entereing a National forest. GREAT! Then, I see it...the deliverance sign that made me decide to turn around. 60 mph to 0 mph in 1.2 seconds. 180 degree turn on a two-lane road done with perfect precision. Hand on chest, prayers being said...I'm going back to make the turn I probably should have taken.

Now, I promised my MIL I wouldn't call her at 4:30 AM to ask her any questions. I called. and called. and called. NO ANSWER. I'm pretty sure she said, "Call me if you get lost." (Again, I'm starting to think that maybe she planned all of this.) 45 minutes later I get to a sign that looks like maybe I made the right decision to turn away from deliverance! Halleleujah! A lot of prayers were sent up and Jesus delivered...He didn't want us to be stuck in Alabama either.

EVERY name I have for every town in Alabama was used on the way home. Don't worry, the kids didn't hear me. They were too busy fighting (ha ha...actually they were really good the entire way home).

So, 8 instead of 7 hours later, we arrived home. I don't think I've ever done the "entering Tennessee" dance, but I dang sure did today. Thank goodness for Tennessee and Florida rescuing us from Alabama.

Tonight, when Brent asked me if I wanted to watch "Sweet Home Alabama," I not-so-nicely replied, NO! Had about all of Alabama I can take for one day. He laughed and agreed with me (and he was born there)!

Beautifully Blessed and Truly Thankful to be home (or at least, out of Alabama),
Chasity

Waterguns...

and me, do not mix.

It could be the history of getting shot in the eye and the mascara getting all messed up. It could be the curly hair that was painstakingling straightened and then became a frizzy, curly mess. It could be the fact that my peach margarita was spilled.

Today, it was the peach margarita that took the hit.

Picture the scene...on the beach (with two little boys -- what?! Did the "with the two little boys" give it away). Enjoying an awesome sunset while roasting hot dogs and making s'mores beachside and watching the waves roll in (I know, the perfect scene, right?!). Then whack, a watergun fight is declared and there goes the sanity that was encased in my margarita. Forget that it took out a hotdog too.

First instinct -- grabbed. the. drink. Didn't think to save Palmer's dinner. Poor little guy, he looked like he could miss a few meals and he'd still be ok (seriously, I'm kidding about this).

I guess it's a good thing I hardly drink. Else, I might have been REALLY upset. But, still, stupid waterguns. Nothing good ever comes from those things...except maybe when I get a hold of one and take down one of the boys...ok, that's funny (of course...it's all fun and games until someone get's hurt and cries. and cries. geez)!

Darn waterguns. I left them at my Mother-in-Laws house (no humor in that whatsoever. nope. none.) Darn things WERE NOT RETURNING to Tennessee. EVER!

Beautifully Blessed and Truly Thankful to leave those stupid things in Florida,
Chasity

Humor...

I totally have a sense of humor. I think.
I know my husband does. My children think they do...a lot (I'm sorry, but farting on someone's head does not make you funny, but alas, my kids think so).

Anyway, I've set a new goal. To find humor. Not necessarily be funny, but find humor in everything.

So, keep reading. I'm going down a very funny road. You might be the subject of my humor. You might just find the subject humorous. Whatever the case, stay tuned...for laughter (well, it might not make you laugh, but it dang sure made me laugh...ha ha ha!)

Beautifully Blessed and Truly Thankful for a family that makes me laugh and turns me gray-haired all at one time,
Chasity

Love Notes...

That's what I've been getting on a daily basis from on Mr. Palmer. It makes my day. Always. I LOVE that he called them LOVE notes before I did. I LOVE his little, BIG heart!

About three weeks ago, out of the blue, Palmer decided to write me a note. Not a word. A note. One full sentence. Subject and verb. Then, apparently, on his own, he decided to write an apology note to his brother. TOO SWEET. To make it even sweeter, he left it on Peyton's backpack for him to find the next morning:



The notes haven't stopped coming and I love it! I got one stuck to me the other night in the middle of the night. It was an apology note from him for being ugly before bed. He woke up in the middle of the night and wrote it -- even sweeter, but I hate that it bothered him so much he woke up in the middle of th enight to write me the note (I have no idea where he gets this from!!!!) We had one stuck to our bedrooom window. I'm pretty sure even Brooke, the dog, got a love note the other night! He even gave one to B.B. while we were visiting.

Every day, I put a note in the boys lunchbox. Simple messages -- I love you. Have a great day. 5 more days till your birthday. Great game. So proud. Little messages I thought they weren't reading, until the day I didn't send one. They missed not getting it. Both boys mentioned it to me. Apparently, they were reading them. Palmer was imitating them and Peyton was writing me notes back. The one stuck to the "unused" napkin the other day said "Very awesome Mom." LOVE IT!

This is why God gave me boys! He knew I needed love notes to keep going. I don't care that I don't understand what they say sometimes, it still makes my day. And my life.

Beautifully Blessed and Truly Thankful to get love notes stuck to me in the middle of the night,
Chasity

PS...This is the one I keep on my computer at work. It reminds me of what is truly important. I'm a Moey!

Other random pics of Mr. Palmer -- our little man with a BIG heart and bigger personality!

Back...

from a very long hiatus. A VERY LONG, TOO LONG hiatus!

Life is what happens in between postings.

Apparently, I haven't been managing life too well these days (or for the past year). If I had been, I would have made time to do something I enjoy...like this blog!

So, starting today, I'm going to make time to write about our lives...again! No one may ever read this blog, and that is fine by me!!! I created this blog as a way for my children to see themselves through my eyes...50 years from now. I lost sight of this fact. I'm back. With FOCUS!

Today's focus...Peyton. My 7, soon-to-be, 8-year-old Favorite Firstborn. Words escape me when I try to describe him. How is that possible? He's so many things that a few words can't capture it all. He wants to be so many things that words can't capture it all. he wants to do so many things that words can't capture it all. There are simply not enough great, fabulous, beautiful words to describe him and his little life. So...here's some pictures...I'll let the pictures speak a thousand words!

I love my little man more than words can express. We're in full swing of 2nd grade, baseball, Church and more, yet somehow, he manages to keep up and not get too much of an attitude.

We are blessed beyond measure to have him in our lives. Still trying to figure out what I did right to get him!!!

Beautifully Blessed and Truly Thankful for this "almost as tall as me" firstborn,

Chasity

It's Fall...

Ya'll.

Woo hoo. One of my favorite times of the year...of course I say that when every new season begins (except maybe Winter...love the snow, hate the snow)!

Unfortuntely, it's still REALLY hot right now. Unseasonably hot according to the weathermen on TV. I'm ready for the cool weather. Ready for the leaves to change color. Ready for Halloween. Pumpkins. Thanksgiving. Turkeys. Fall pictures. READY!

Of course, when Fall hits, that's also when it feels like the start of the "Merry Chaosmas" season begins. In the meantime, we're going to enjoy every minute of Football Season, Fall Baseball, Hunting Season and so on...

Fall Break for the boys will be here soon -- trip to Florida, Florida State Football game...already counting down the days.

Beautifully Blessed and Truly Thankful to have Seasons...
Chasity

PS...Browns, Golds, Maroons...all beautiful Fall colors are about to shine through...

No more...

soccer for our family (or Palmer)!

You know, according to the title of this blog -- Discovering God's Perfect Plan and Amazing Sense of Humor Each and Everyday -- we are constantly discovering God's perfect plan. Sometimes it takes a while for us to discover his plan...

Nope. Not. this. time.

On Thursday, after a very stressful evening of soccer (with multiple breakdowns from Palmer throughout the one hour practice), homework, etc., I'd had enough. Something in our crazy, fast-paced life needed to change. Granted, I could easily give up my 4:45 workouts (to get an extra hour of sleep, but truthfully, I like my hour of quiet workout...it's peaceful at 4:45 a.m.) So, I prayed. Prayed that God would somehow put an end to the craziness and let us gain a little control. I think at that time, I knew what needed to happen, but couldn't make the call...

And then, Saturday happened...

You know those people on the TV shows that you see fighting at their kid's game -- you know, the ones...that all the parents are looking at, while shoving their kids in the opposite direction because the ones fighting have clearly lost it. That was Brent and I at Palmer's Soccer Game. I laugh about it now. But at the moment that I just got up and left the game in the middle of the game, I was not laughing.

It seems in our haste to integrate Palmer into the world of "extracurricular activities," we forgot to ask him...do you want to do this?! But, you know, children have a way of telling us things. Sometimes we listen. Sometimes we don't. This time, we did!

He clearly didn't want to be playing Soccer -- that was apparent when the coach sent him out of the game for a "break," asked him to go back in the game and a minute later when the coach asked the other kids who wanted a break, Palmer asked for his break. 1 minute of playing and he was ready. His lack of effort about drove Brent crazy, which in turn drove me crazy, which in turn led to "big ears" Peyton making a comment that sent me right over the edge. Yep, I left. Got so angry, that I left. Jumped in the car, drove home and called my Mom crying. Crying. Crying so hard my Mom couldn't understand what I was saying. That's bad. Very bad.

So, after some apologizing by Brent and a quick "Palmer do you want to play soccer?" with a resounding "No!" We made the call. No more soccer. Just like that. God showed us His plan. And the craziness ended. And, I didn't even feel bad about it.

Got also revealed his other plan -- Palmer + Wednesday night KidsLife at Church = A great evening. Since Palmer wasn't playing Soccer anymore (thankfully), and since Peyton has baseball practice on Wednesday nights, we decided I'd take Palmer to KidsLife (45 minutes of music, 30 minutes of games, 30 minutes of storytime) at Church. The first 10 minutes included our typical "I don't want to do this" breakdown, which then ended with crying, which then ended with him finally going into the room with the other 20 kids already in the class making "musical instruments" out of plastic bottles and rice. I stayed for the music portion and when they left to play games, I snuck out. Went back an hour later and this was what I heard, "Palmer, did you have fun?" "Yes!" "Do you want to go back?" Yes! Yes! At which point, he wore his artwork around his neck as a necklace and proudly showed it to Brent when he got home.

WIN. WIN. WIN.

God had a plan and it didn't include Soccer. Thankfully.

So, we're no longer those crazy parents yelling at each other. The Lord is in control and our little Palmer, well, he's learning the Lord's ways and the perfect plans He has for our lives.

No more soccer...we're all ok with that!

Beautifully Blessed and Truly Thankful to have a God that is not afraid to "make the call" for us,
Chasity

PS...the Church is crazy on Wednesday nights...WOW at the children that were there!