New Year Preparations!

Can anyone tell me why it is that two small children require so much stuff for a short get away? Honestly it looks like we are moving. We have play clothes, good clothes, hunting clothes(yes, Cohen is going hunting with my uncle), sleeping clothes, lots of underwear and socks, hairbows for Taegan, shoes, bath stuff, toys, books, just in case medicines, favorite snacks and juice.....you get my drift! I think I should've rented a UHAUL!

I am so tired from getting all of their stuff together that I don't want to get my stuff packed now. I will undoubtedly forget something, I always do. But I am looking so forward to spending time with the youth girls and guys, not to mention my best girl friends. I think it will actually be a bit of a break for me. At least the teenagers can bathe and wipe themselves! They always make me laugh too! Where they come up with some of the stuff they say, I'll never know.

I hope we all get something spiritual out of this trip, get to know each other better, and find common ground to spread the Holy Word when we get back! I am a little worried about all the traffic and people that will be there on New Year's Eve and Day, but I have prayed for the Lord to keep us safe and bring us back home safe. And that is my prayer for all of you out there as well. Have a safe and wonderful New Year!! Most importantly thank God for where you have been the past year (even if it has not been where you wanted to be, its a part of His plan), where you are now (no matter where you are-it could be worse), and where you are going (because you have the oppurtunity to be better)!

Love and Happiness to All In '09

Karri

Merry Christmas! In Memory!

I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! I hope you all had a wonderful day celebrating the birth of our Lord, Saviour, Jesus Christ!

And, I hope you all made it through your family gatherings with your sanity intact and your feelings unhurt!

This holiday season came to me with mixed feelings. The dread of grief and the joy of seeing my two preschoolers amazement and pure wide eyed happiness on Christmas morning. To my suprise, I had a wonderful, much anticipated, relaxed day at home with my family. In fact, I didn't get out of my pjs all day!

As my family celebrated the birth of Jesus, we, by his grace, also found peace in the death of our loved ones. Cohen said papaw sent him a hug from heaven for Christmas and that is the only time I cried all day! Oh it thrills my soul to know that mom and jr are singing in the Lord's choir now! I know that they would not come back if they could, nor would I ask them of my selfishness to. But, I so look forward to that meeting day in the air!

To all of you who have lost someone this year or anytime, my prayers are with you! These are a couple of memorial poems I though were worth sharing.


Dear Mom & Dad in Heaven

I sit here and i ponder how very much
I'd like to talk to you today

There are so many things
That we didn't get to say

I know how much you love me
And how much I love you,

And each time that I think of you
I know you'll miss me too.

An angel came and called your name
And took you by the hand and said

Your place was ready in Heaven, far above . . .
And you had to leave behind, all though you dearly loved

You had so much to live for, you had so much to do . . .
It still seemed impossible, that God was taking you.

And though your life on earth is past, in Heaven it starts anew
You'll live for all eternity, just as God has promised you.

And though you've walked through Heaven's gate
We are never far apart

For each time that we think of you,
You're right here, deep with-in our hearts.

First Christmas in Heaven
I see the countless Christmas trees
around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars,
reflecting on the snow

The sight is so spectacular,
please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with
Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs
that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can't compare
with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you,
the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description,
to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me,
I see the pain inside your heart.
But I am not so far away,
We really aren't apart.

So be happy for me, dear ones,
You know I hold you dear.
And be glad I'm spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift,
from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory
of my undying love.

After all, love is a gift more precious
than pure gold.
was always most important
the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other,
my Father said to do.
I can't count the blessing or love
has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and
Wipe away that tear
Remember, I am spending Christmas with
Jesus Christ this year


In Memory of my mom, Susie; my dad, Jr; my niece, Bridget; my cousin, Rhonda; a dear friend; Dr. John Franklin----see you on the other side of Jordan guys, I love you and miss you!

Please say a special prayer for Jason and I and the other adults going with us next week to Gatlinburg. We are taking our youth group to the Extreme Youth Conference. Jason and I are not perfect by a long shot. We not only want to teach God's word, but we want to set an example of living God's word also. Just say a prayer that the Lord's will be done through and by us and that we all have a safe trip. God Bless you all and thank you so much to all of you for your love and friendship this year!

Lots of Love
Karri

Mall Rats!

Me, Jason, and Lisa took our 5th and 6th grade Sunday School class, plus some of their friends, to the mall last Saturday. We let them get some of their holiday shopping for parents and sibs done, plus have a little fun! What am I saying? We had a ton of fun! I laughed my stinkin head off at those kids!

I have pics and videos of them bungee jumping in the mall. #3 McKay is hilarious on there. I'll try to get those on later tonight! Even my two little ones were brave enough to try it! I'm not sure if the mall or the van rides to and from there were the most funny.

On the way there, the children serenaded us with the "free credit report.com" commerical song along with a few Christmas tunes thrown in. Hey at least they can spell f to the r to the ee......... (see the video below). Then on the way home, several of the boys decided to see who had the stinkest feet and farts! Gross, I know, but still literally, stinkin hilarious!

Anyway, we all had a blast, got some Christmas shopping done, and made safely home. God is good! Jason and I had such a good time we are taking the youth group to the mall this Sat. We think we will leave our two with aunt Deanie this go around though.


Well I have to get off of here and get some more work done. Later!

So much to do, so little time!

It's a been a while since I've purged myself here, so here it goes! Life is extremely hectic right now! I have soooo much to do and absolutely no time to do it! And to be honest, I really don't want to do anything! I think I have the holiday blues. I just can't seem to get my act together. I played hookie from work today and kept my kids home from daycare just because I needed a day to enjoy the world through my kids eyes! We put all of our outside christmas decorations up and all the inside ones, except the christmas tree. That's Saturday morning before we take the sunday school class to the mall.

I have prayed more and cried out to God more this year than my whole life combined. It seems like this past year has been a rollercoaster of emotions. Losing mom and Jr. still hurts me down to my soul everyday, and the holidays just make it worse. All the estate stuff is still up in the air too. Five Points Baptist Church is having a memorial service for mom, Jr, and Paul McAdams on December 21st if anyone's interested. Work is crazy busy and stessful. The kids are......well, they are precious, but they are 3 and 4 years old, so they keep me on my toes. Jason is a wonderful husband, but just the daily work that it takes to keep a marriage strong and interesting is exhausting sometimes. By the way, we are on day 5 of 40 of THE LOVE DARE. Don't get me wrong, we have a wonderful marriage, but we can always use a little boost! Then there is always financial stuff, which seems to be the biggest stressor in our house.

On the upside of things, my relationship with God, my family, and myself have gotten so much stronger this year. I have met and reconnected with the best girl friends I have ever had in my life. Love you girls! As I said before, Jason is a wonderful husband and to hear my kids laugh makes everything seem right with the world (if only for a few minutes).

I try not to let myself get into too bad of a funk, I know I have so much to be thankful for. But, sometimes I just need to wallow! There are a couple of scriptures that help me get through my wallowing phases: I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Ps 18.1-2).
(Jesus said)Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14.27)

So, while I work my full time job, do my full time wife and motherly duties, go to most of my husband's ballgames, teach Awana Puggles, help teach 5th and 6th grade sunday school, help with the youth group, get all my holiday shopping done, host Jason's huge family Christmas, mourn my first mother and fatherless christmas, etc....I will be praying for that sweet peace that Jesus promises. My heart is not afraid, but it is very sad that my kids no longer have grandparents to share in their milestones. I do feel blessed that mom and jr got to spoil my kids for even just a little while. Jason's parents were gone before they were born. But as I mourn death, I will celebrate the birth of Christ this christmas season, HALLELUJAH, amen!

Love you all, appreciate all your thoughts and prayers

Karri