Our Move to OK

As most of you know we just moved to Tulsa, OK. We've been here almost a month now. We absolutely love it here. Our journey to today has been a long one. It started way back in March.

In March of this year we had just finished up the building process at Faith in Joplin, and we were getting ready to have our Open House and Dedication service.
It was a very high time in our life, in a course of many up and downs. Our piano player's son and his family were there, from Southwest Baptist in Tulsa, for our services. He pulled Brian aside and was asking him if he knew anybody that was looking for an associate pastor position. Brian told him no, he didn't at that time. Brian wasn't even really looking, he had his heart set on pastoring as his next position. Any way, Bro. Avery told Brian to keep his eyes and ears open and if he heard or thought of anybody to let them know. Brian assured him he would and we went on.

Between then and July some phone calls had been exchanged between our pastor and Bro. Lyndel Hix (the pastor at Southwest Baptist in Tulsa) about Brian. Bro. Hix finally called Brian the beginning of July and set up a meeting. They met on July 15; basically just to officially meet. We had met Bro. Hix during the clean up process at the church. He was there at the dedication service at Faith, but we didn't really "know" him or he us. So they talked about what we believe, what they believe, what Brian's goals/plans were. And things of that sort.

Brian and I talked a lot about the prospect of moving away from Faith. Brian was very torn. He had so much vested in the physical, building aspect of the church. He had quit his job in Aug. of 2011 to rebuild the parsonage and the church. The church paid him wages this whole time and in March 2013, the church stopped paying him full time so he had to find another job. He went looking for a job, and the first day he went out, God gave him a job, and he started the very next day. He went to work at a farm making and selling feed. It was not what he wanted to do at all, but that's life. So, the thought of being full time at a church again was very appealing.
BUT, it wasn't as a pastor, which is what he so badly wanted to be doing. But he considered it a stepping stone.

We didn't hear anything from Bro. Hix or anyone from the church until late Aug. We had really began to think they didn't want to consider us for the position. But Bro. Hix called and set up for us to come down Aug. 25, and visit, and meet some of the people. It was a very informal visit, and he made sure we knew we weren't coming in view of a call. Brian got to preach and the family sang. We had a very nice time, and thought the people were very nice and friendly. I loved the church and the people from that Sunday. We knew Bro. Hix and his wife were going to be gone for the next two weeks on vacation so we didn't figure we would hear anything before that. Late Sept. he called and Brian went to meet with the deacons for a question/answer session. After that it was a week or so, I guess, then one night Bro. Hix called and told Brian the position was his if he wanted it. Brian came home and told me. We had already talked quite a bit about it through the whole waiting period, so we were already confident with our decision. Brian called him back the very next morning and accepted the position, and I began packing.

In the process of packing, and Brian working, we would come down on Monday's to look for a house. I was very discouraged our first trip when we found nothing. UGH! Brian felt good about the trip, because he learned a lot about the lay out of the city. We came down again to look around, and still nothing, but we did find a community we would love to live in, so that's where we started looking. Our next trip down, we got to stay for a couple days. We were able to make appointments to see houses. We had an apt to see a house with a property manager and she never showed up. So, I called her and she gave me the key code to get into the house. So, we let ourselves in to look at the house. I almost cried. I just KNEW this is the house God had for us. I had been praying that we would know the house when we found it, the kids would like it, it would be in a nice neighborhood, the bedrooms would be big enough, and everything would just work out perfectly. It did. As it always does.

Now that we had a house, we had to finish packing up our house in Sarcoxie, and get moved. Brian was worried about moving expenses. Truck rental, first months rent and all the deposits. When it was all said and done, the church paid for the truck rental and our house deposit, which was a HUGE blessing.

We moved on Brice's 12th birthday, the 17th of Oct. (I'm sure it will be one he will always remember.) It took us ALL DAY to load the truck. The kids worked harder than they have probably ever worked. We stayed the night at my parents and headed to OK on Friday. We got here about 10:00 or so and the lady wasn't here with the keys to let us in. So, we had to wait till about noon. But after we got the keys we unloaded the truck, which only took about 3 hrs, compared to the 24 it took to load it. And we were settling in. Brian unloaded the whole truck in the garage and we just unpacked one box at a time, which was nice not having to wade through rooms of boxes.

Today, for the most part, we are pretty much settled in. Things are moving like "normal". (nothing is ever normal) We took a week off school, but we are back up and going with school again, and the kids are doing well.

Brian is enjoying his days at the church. He has had a lot of time to read and study, and do things he hasn't been able to do in years. This week he is working on remodeling the kitchen in the gym. He is enjoying that.

I am happier than I have been in quite some time. I am thankful for the blessings God has poured out on us. I'm thankful for him putting us right here, right now. It couldn't be better. We all love living in our little community. We love living so close to everything. We are 1 mile from the biggest Wal-Mart Supercenter in OK. We are about 2-3 miles from Tulsa Hills Shopping Center, which has all your stores like, Target, Ross, Marshalls. It's so nice to have shopping places just minutes away, instead of having to drive half hour to get anywhere.

I will try to write more soon. I want to tell you all about the town we live in and the things we have already done since we've been here, and some of the friends we have made.

Talk to you soon!

What is this world coming to?

We went to Springfield last night to pick up Courtney from a friends house and on the way home Brian was listening to the radio.  The hourly news came on and I was barely listening to it, but then something caught my attention.  They were talking about a bill out of TX that would allow physicians to make the call whether a patient should be resuscitated or not, without previous consent from the patient or a family member.  It would be the doctors call, based on whether death was eminent or whether there would be no point to revive the patient due to the quality of life being less than fulfilling.  SERIOUSLY???  When did Dr.'s become God.  Brian said, "That is nothing more than euthanasia, and that is our great "Obama-Care" at work.  As I sat there listening to this news story, I told Brian it is getting to the point you don't want to go to the hospital or the Dr.  You never know what they are going to give you or if they are even going to "allow" you to live.

Then today, I was on FB and saw this post telling about a couple losing their 5 month old baby to Child Services for wanting a second opinion on his health care.  Read the story here.  Do we not have ANY control over what goes on in our lives and the lives of our families?  It's getting very scary out there.  

Another instance of how little control we actually have.  I was talking to a friend of mine just yesterday and she was sharing with me that they will be pulling their son out of public school because he came home asking about a class they had.  Unbeknownst to the families of the children, the school held a diversification class to teach all these first grade kids about all the different kinds of families that are in our world today.  It is normal for a family to have 1 mom or dad or even 2 moms or 2 dads.  When one little girl spoke up and said her mommy says marriage is only between 1 man and 1 woman, the teacher told her, "Well, your mommy is wrong."  UGH!!!!!  When the families of these children got together and asked the teachers why they weren't given a warning of this class and a chance to opt their child out, the response was that this is not optional, the kids need to know of all the different types of families and the way the world works.  

Just with these 3 instances, it is coming to the point we are losing our freedoms. 
1. To feel safe in a hospital.  We don't know whether the doctor is going to decide were not worth keeping.
2. If we take our kids to the doctor and decide we want a second opinion, will our child get taken away from us, because the doctors "know better than we do".
3. We don't have the freedom to teach our kids what we believe, and what the Bible says, without someone coming in and telling them differently and trying to tell them what we have told them is wrong.  
(Prime example why I keep my kids at home)    

I'm not a political person.  I do vote.  I do have my opinions.  I'm just not vocal about a lot of my opinions unless provoked.  I know what I'm willing to fight for.  I'm not foolish, or naive.  I know what is going on in the world, sometimes I just choose not to acknowledge it for my own sanity's sake.  I know we are in the end times, but the Lord doesn't tell us how much we are going to have to go through before he returns to get us.  He only tells us he will never give us more than we can bare.  So, how much more will we have to go through, and how bad will this world actually get before he comes back to get us?  

I guess this is just a "random rambling".  Thoughts that our on my heart and mind today.  

Dixie  

More Birthdays!

In my last post, I said I would be sharing Brice and Carrie's Birthdays, sooo, here they are.

 After Carrie and I got back from our OK/TX trip we celebrated her birthday on Tuesday evening at the park.  She invited her friends, Sara, and Ashley Hall.  We had cake and ice cream, and the kids played while the parents visited. 

 Carrie enjoying her party!

All she asked for was clothes for her Ken doll.

Girls Being Silly!

 

I think everyone had a good time!

******************************************************

 Brice's birthday was on a Wednesday, so we had his "shin-dig" on Friday evening.  He got his present on Wed. night after church though.  He got a Lego, Star Wars, Yoda watch.  He Loves It!

Me and my little birthday boy.  I can't believe he is 11 already.

 The Birthday boy, and  his dad.

He LOVES Star Wars!

 

♪♫Happy Birthday to You!  Happy Birthday to You!♫♪

 Brice, Courtney, Manny, Ashley, Carrie, & Bret

Birthdays!

Well, it is the first of Oct. and we are half way through our big "birthday" season.  Courtney's b-day is Sept. 25.  Carrie's is Sept. 29.  Brian's is Oct. 1, and Brice's is Oct. 17th.  We never really have huge birthday parties or anything like that, but we usually have family over and have a cook out and cake and ice cream, but that's about it.

Courtney turned 13 this year.  For her birthday, her friend, Ashley, got to come spend a whole week with her.  She does the same schooling that we do, so she came and they did school together for the week.  Courtney loved it.  We weren't originally expecting her to stay the week, she was only going to be here for the week end.  So on Saturday, before Courtney's birthday she got cup cakes to "celebrate" before Ashley went home.  Then on Sunday when it came time for her to go home, she called her mom and begged her to let her stay.  That's how she ended up with us all week.  Ashley bought her a lava lamp, and she loved that.  We got her a curling iron, which she has been asking for forever.

Carrie turned 8 this year.  Her birthday fell on a very busy Saturday.  I was in TX for a ladies retreat.  I took her to OK with me to see her cousins and to stay with them and Nana while I was gone. 

When I got back, We had cup cakes with the cousins before we left, and on our way back home Nana and I took her to McD's for a birthday supper.  We didn't get home till almost midnight that night. She slept in the car on the way home.  She didn't get her birthday "party".  We will be having it tonight with some of her friends.  

My Sleeping, Birthday Princess

 Brian's Birthday was yesterday.  He came in from work, showered and went back to town for a preachers fellowship.  I baked him a cake earlier in the day, so when he got home we had cake and ice cream with him.  Our birthday's aren't really as fun anymore as the kids'.  :o)

Carrie wants to give Dad a big hug to wish him a
Happy Birthday!

 I'll post more later about Carrie's party tonight and then Brice's in a couple weeks.  Until then...













    

The Last Year

I can honestly say, the last year has NOT been the greatest of my life.  One of the most memorable?  Maybe, but definitely not the best.    

About 2 weeks after my last post, May 22, 2011, our pastor, my family and I went through an EF5 tornado in Joplin.  It was a horrible experience.  Please bare with me as I take you through the events of the day.  

It was a Sunday, and any normal Sunday at that.  We went to church that morning, had guests and stood around and talked till almost 2:00 before heading home.  We came home, I napped (as always) then when I got up, I was in the bathroom freshening up before leaving and one of the kids came in and said, "Dad wants you to come outside."  I said, "Can it not wait, I'll be there in a min."  Brian came in and said, "You've got to come see this now."  When I went outside the clouds were like I had never seen before.  They looked like lava lamp bubbles.  If that makes any sense.  They were just very odd, and mysterious.  I didn't think anything of it really, but Brian (being the science geek he is) thought it was strange, and he became concerned.  He called out pastor in Joplin and asked if it was storming or anything over there and asked what it was looking like.  Bro. Allen said it wasn't storming and was just cloudy out.  He told us we didn't have to come to church that night because we were expecting bad storms to roll through, and we drive farther than anyone in the church, so he would understand if we didn't want to get out.  Brian told him we would be headed that way to be ahead of the storm, besides we needed to practice a song for that night any way.  So, they hung up the phone, we finished getting around and headed that way.

By the time we left it had started raining, and it was not looking to friendly out.  Once we got on the interstate we turned on the radio and they were saying we were under tornado warnings.  The tornado had been spotted between mile marker 17 and something.  We were AT mile marker 17.  I started to panic.  The rain was hard and the wind was harder.  They said Green County (Springfield) was under tornado warnings.  So, I called to check on my mom, no answer.  I called my sister, no answer.  I got worried.  So, I finally called my dad and he answered and I asked how the weather was and he said they were calling for storms but it wasn't anything bad.  I told him we were under tornado warnings, and so were they.  He said ok.  I told them to be careful and I would talk to him later.  We hung up.

The further we went the more and more nervous I became.  When we got in to Joplin it was getting dark and it was still raining.  By the time we came to the stop light the sky was as black as night.  The drops of rain were huge, and the lightning was close.  I began to cry, because I didn't think we were going to make it to the church.  I told Brian just to run the light, but he wouldn't, but I think he knew I was getting scared.  We pulled up to the church, the Pastor was standing at the door when Brian dropped us off under the awning.  He said, "We have no power."  The kids and I walked in the church, and I sat my purse on the floor and then I heard the loudest pop of thunder I have ever heard.  The kids all screamed, I think I did too.  I grabbed my purse back up and the kids and I headed to the basement.  We weathered many storms down there in the basement while the men stood upstairs watching the storm.  The kids and I went and sat up some chairs in the corner and were just sitting there.  You could kinda see out the kitchen window and it just looked like it kept getting more yellow.  Well, I got more scared, so I got up to go see where Brian was, and about that time my ears started popping.  Before I got to the bottom of the stairs Brian and Bro. Allen were barreling down those stairs.  Brian told me to go sit back down, it was looking bad.  Before I got sat down in the chair we started hearing glass breaking.  Brian and I immediately ducked over the kids to protect them.  The wind started whipping around our heads.  You couldn't even tell where it was coming from because it was blowing in every direction and all the way around your head.  I looked up at one point, but had to immediately look back down because the debris was flying around so badly.  You could feel dirt, water and debris hitting you from every direction as well.  I couldn't even form a prayer all I could muster up to say was, "God protect us."  over and over and over again.  The kids were all screaming and crying all at the same time, it was the most horrifying feeling I have ever had.  I didn't know if any of us were going to walk away from this storm alive.  At one point I thought, "this might be the last time I get to hold my kids in my arms, or ever see them" 

The storm lasted for what seemed like hours, but once it was all over we were told it was like 45 seconds.  LONGEST 45 seconds OF MY LIFE!!!  It was gone as quickly as it came, and we were left standing in ankle deep water, mud, and debris.  The kids were shaking, as was I.  Brian told me to stay while Bro. Allen and he went to check it out.  They walked to the foot of the steps and could see nothing but sky where our building use to stand.  They went upstairs to see what had happened and it looked like a war zone.  Brian came back down and said everything was gone.  We were all in shock.  We went upstairs to look out and see, but it was still raining and I didn't want the kids getting wet and cold.  Eventually the basement filled with natural gas, so Brian made us leave.  In a situation like this we weren't sure if it might just ignite.  So, we went out between where the church stood and where Bro. Allen's house once stood.  We found a beam from the church auditorium and stood on it, up out of the mud.
  

I have never felt such a sense of helplessness and hopelessness.  The town, from where I stood, was gone.  There were no houses.  You could see the Wal-Mart was destroyed.  There were people roaming to and fro hollering for their loved ones they couldn't find.  I stood there with no where to go, no way to go, no phone service.  Nothing!  It was starting to get dark and I wasn't sure what or how we were even going to get home.  IF I even had a home.  Everyone around me had lost theirs.  

As we stood there in the rain a total stranger came through and asked if we needed help.  Brian told him we had lost our van, Bro. Allen had lost both his cars and we had no phone to contact any one.  He told us he had his whole family with him and he was in a pick up, but if we needed a ride somewhere he would be happy to take us wherever we needed to go, but we would have to ride in the back of the truck.  We had no idea where to go.  Brian hated to ask the guy to drive us plum to Sarcoxie.  So, we asked him to take us out to another church members house.  They lived far enough out of town that we thought they might still be ok.

The gentleman drove us through the war zone.  I looked around in shock and awe.  People were every where.  Out on the streets, with no homes left.  I have an image indelibly placed in my head of a woman sitting on a curb, clothes tattered and torn, blood on her shirt and she was crying.  My heart broke for her.  I'm sure she had lost her home, but what else?  A husband?  A child?  Other family or a friend? And there were thousands more in town in her shoes.  I still wasn't even sure if I had a home yet.  We finally made it to the Mooney's house, and when we came around the corner and I saw my friend Sarah I was so happy and relieved.  I didn't know if I would ever see anyone I knew again.  We made arrangements.  The Mooneys volunteered to take us home, and Sarah and Stephen took Bro. Allen to Springfield to his daughters house.  

We went in to the Mooneys for a bit.  To warm up and use the restroom.  By this time it was getting dark out.  The ride back to Sarcoxie was a very long one.  It was pitch black too.  There were no street lights anywhere.  It was very eerie.  You couldn't really see any damage because of the darkness.

We finally made it home.  And our house was still there.  The tornado had only hit Joplin, and had not come out this far.  I was so thankful, but when I went to bed that night I felt guilty.  Even without electricity, and everything we had been through that night, I came home, put my pajamas on, got my kids ready for bed and climbed in to my own warm bed.  Bro. Allen walked away with the clothes he had on his back and that was it.  As well as many other people in town that night that would be sleeping at the local university on cots because they had no where else to go.  We didn't sleep much that night.  The sounds of the storm ran through my head all night.  Early the next morning, Brian's parents showed up.  While Brian went to the church to sift through the rubble his parents sat with me and the kids in the dark.  All I remember is staring out the window for most of the day.  It was still raining.

I didn't go back in to town until Wed. Even then we didn't take the two little ones.  The oldest 2 went cause they wanted to, but Brice didn't want to go, and Carrie didn't need to go.  Things were already beginning to take shape.  They had already torn down the Walgreen's store and started rebuilding it, only three days later.  People were already cleaning up their places and getting things done.  No one was sitting around wonder who was going to help them or what the state was going to do for them.  They jumped in and all the towns people helped each other.  

Our first service wasn't till the next Sunday.  We couldn't find a place to meet on Wed night.  Sunday it was like a grand reunion.  Each person that came into the church tears were shed because I was just so happy to see them alive.  We had gotten word from each family in the church, and we knew every one was fine and alive, but we hadn't yet seen any one.  Other than our pastor 2 other families lost homes, but no lives were lost from our congregation and we are so thankful for that.  That service was a great celebration and praise service.  We were all so thankful to be alive and that God spared us all.  

A lot has happened since then.  In August of last year, Brian quit his job to head up the rebuilding of the parsonage.  His employer decided to be a real pain about him quitting and would not give him his unemployment.  Brian appealed the decision with no more luck than the first time.  He never got any unemployment from H.E. Williams after he had worked there for almost 3 years.  But that's ok, it just allowed God to prove himself to us anew each and everyday.  We are thankful to him for his provision.

After the parsonage was built, it took 3 weeks to get an occupancy permit for our pastor to move in.  So, while we had some time to wait, we took the kids to Disney World in FL.  We had the time of our lives, and made memories I don't think the kids will soon forget. (Neither will Brian or I)

Back in April of this year, after a long drawn out process with the city, we finally got our building permit for the church to start rebuilding.  Brian has been overseeing that project as well, and it is coming along nicely.  We're hoping to have our first service the first of 2013 sometime.

That brings you up to date on the surface things.  I hope now that I have caught up with the big things, I can post more of the little things that have gone on over the last year.  

Thanks for reading.  
Dixie

 

WHEW!!!

It's been over a month ago, my mom called me one Monday morning wanting the number for her cardiologists office. I asked her why and she said she thought she might have had a slight heart attack over the week end. I asked her all her symptoms and why she thought this, and from everything she told me, I had no reason to think any differently. I looked up the number for her and gave it to her, and she said she was going to call and see if she could get in. She hasn't been to her heart dr in years (she's not one of those good patients who goes every year like she's supposed to) so when she called they couldn't find her records anywhere. They looked for three days, and finally on Thursday they called and told her they could see her on Tuesday. She was relieved, but still not feeling well at all. She was having anxiety attacks, because she didn't want to be left alone, thinking something might happen to her while she was alone. So, on Sunday her and Dad came down to stay with us, so I would be with her. She was having a lot of pain in her arms, and her chest felt funny.

Tuesday I took her to the dr, and he told her she was going to have to have a heart cath on Friday to check and see if she had blockages. We left the office that day with two pages of prescriptions for her to take. So, we went to Wal-Mart to get those filled.

Wed. morning she got up and took her medicine and one of the pills she took made her very sick. She didn't get out of bed all day, and the pains in her arm and chest kept getting worse. I stayed home with her that night because she didn't feel like going to church, and I didn't want to leave her alone. While Brian, Dad, and the kids were gone to church, her pains kept getting more severe. I was kind of at a loss of what to do for her, because she wouldn't just let me take her to the hospital. The pains got so bad she finally took a nitroglycerin tablet. (Which she never takes, because she says she can handle the chest pain, better that the migraine it gives her.) After the nitro, she took an aspirin. Still no relief. FINALLY at about 10:00 I talked her in to going to the hospital.

I called Brian and Dad (they were still in town) and told them we were headed that way, and to meet us at the hospital. We got to the hospital, and since she was having chest pains they took her straight back. They got her hooked up to IV's and started running all kinds of test. They admitted her, and were going to go ahead and do her heart cath. on Thursday instead of Friday. I had called Cassie on the way to the hospital to let her know what was going on, so they headed this way. They got there before she was admitted. We stayed around until they admitted her, and got her settled in her room, and then we came home. It was about 2:00 or so.

I called a friend of mine on the way home and she told me to bring the kids over and she would watch them until I didn't need her any more. She was such a huge blessing to me during this time.

Brian had to get up and go to work, as usual. So, after I got him off to work, I stayed up and got my shower and got ready to go back to the hospital. Jack and Cassie had were staying the night with us, so we all went to the hospital together.

When we got there that morning, Mom was kinda out of it. She didn't look good at all. Dad said that the pain had gotten so severe in the night that they had to give her morphine. When she woke up she was still in a lot of pain, and they had to give her morphine a couple more times during the day. They set her heart cath. up for 3:00 that afternoon. So, we sat up at the hospital all day, just waiting.

My Aunt Peggy and Uncle Joe had come to be there for my dad. It was really good to get to see them and visit with them while we were waiting. We also got to go down to the cafeteria and have lunch with them.

About 2:00 that day, they came in and took her to surgery. We waited for what seemed like hours, but it was only about 20-30 min, and the nurse came out and told us that her stint had collapsed and he was putting in a new one, and she had another 80% blockage that they were going to dilate, and she should be out in just a bit. She wasn't back there for a full hour before he was done with the procedure. They called us back to the "consultation" room to tell us what all he had done. He showed us before and after pictures of her arteries. It was pretty cool! We got to walk back to her room with her, and they got her all settled back in. She had to lie flat on her back for hours before she could move her right leg where they had ran those wires up through her.

The men all went to eat, and Cassie and I stayed with mom. She slept most of the rest of the afternoon, and evening.

Brian got off work at 4:30, and ran to get the kids. He came home, showered, and then headed back up to the hospital. The kids got to see Nana and know that she was all bettered, and would be home the next day.

Mom got out of the hospital about 11:30 the next day, and they finally made it home about 4:00. She was exhausted. She was feeling great, with no pains, but just extremely tired. They stayed with us a little while after her surgery, because Dad didn't want to take her home and have to leave her by herself. In the next several days to follow they have been in and out of residence here, with post-op blood work, paper work, and finally yesterday a post-op visit. But with her post-op dr visit, I feel like we have finally come to the end of the journey. She is healthy again. If she continues to eat right she should stay that way for quite some time. All her paper work is done. (that I know of) And she's not worried to stay by herself, because she knows she's ok.

After the last several weeks, I think today was the first time I have sat down and took a sigh of relief, but when I looked around it looked like my house had imploded. We have been going, and going so much lately, I hadn't even stopped to realize what a disaster things had become. OH MY, and what a disaster it was. So today I spend the day trying to find my kitchen table and counter tops. I FOUND THEM. I was so happy to see them again. I cooked supper for the first time, in what seemed like months. So, I will go to bed tonight with a great sense of accomplishment. Not only for the house work I got done, but Courtney is done with her school work now, and I've got Bret on target to be done by next Wed. Brice and Carrie will both be done this week. WOO HOO!!!! Can't wait for summer break.

WHEW!!!

Catch up from the Thanksgiving Holiday

A lot has happened since I last posted. I have been on here several times and started writing, but never got to finish.

Thanksgiving came and went. We had Thanksgiving here at my house this year. Every one was in attendance, but my oldest sister, Bridget. We had a good time. The guys didn't want to do anything, but play on the lap tops, which was kind of annoying, but they finally put those away later in the evening, long enough for us to play a game and watch a couple home videos, and of course, what would Thanksgiving be without a football game or two. While they were watching football I was putting my black Friday shopping list together. Brian and I left about 10:30 p.m. to head to Joplin. Wal-Mart's sale started at midnight. I had a few things in particular I wanted to get at Wal-Mart so I wanted to be there early to make sure I got what I wanted. All Brice has asked for for Christmas is Buzz and Woody from Toy Story. Well, they had them at WM on the BF sale for less than half price. So, that is what I went for, mainly. When we got to the store, there was already people lined up everywhere. All the "door buster" items were on pallets covered in black plastic. The black plastic had been ripped so people could peak in and see what was in them. Brian and I walked around the store for a while to see where everything was at and see where we needed to be come midnight to find Woody and Buzz. We finally ended up back in the dog food dept, waiting beside a pallet, of what one girl told us was what we were looking for. A few minutes before midnight, around the corner down through the house wears dept, you could hear people getting riled up and plastic being ripped to shreds. It didn't take but a second for the people in front of us to be ripping plastic in shreds too. I stepped back, because my idea of a fun black Friday shopping trip would not include getting trampled. After the women had their frenzy at the Buzz rack, I went to grab a Buzz and Woody as well. It was only Buzz and Jessie. No Woody's ANY WHERE. I was very disappointed. :o( I told Brian to stay there and I would go look back in another area where they had more toys and I would see if "he" was back there. I walked into the garden dept and sitting in the middle of the aisle, facing me with his arm up like he was waving at me sat 1 lone Woody doll. I just about cried. There was NO ONE around, so I grabbed him immediately. We were in WM for a couple more hrs, and in the whole store I only saw 1 other woman with a Woody doll. I don't know where they all went, but I know that God had that 1 Woody doll sitting in that aisle just for my Brice, and I know come Christmas morning he is going to be SOOOO excited!!! I can't wait.

Also while we were at WM we picked up a new bike for Carrie, hers was getting very small, a coffee maker for our church, some hoodys for the kids, and a few movies. We left WM about 2:00 and was going to head over to Toys R Us. We went by there, but it was very busy, so we decided to go to the mall. The only 2 stores in the mall opened at this hr was Old Navy (which was so full you couldn't stir them with a stick) and Bath and Body Works. There was a couple food places open in the food court. Sbarro's Pizza, the great cookie company and a Mexican place. Believe it or not, there was people at the mall eating pizza and Mexican food at 2:30 in the morning. We walked around the mall for a little bit, used the restrooms, and then went back to Toys R US. We got ONE of Bret's nerf guns he wanted. I like places that have their lines down to a science. We weren't in line very long at all, even with 100's of people in line. After our Toys R Us stop, we ventured to Sears for a pair of boots for Courtney, and some house shoes. We didn't find the house shoes, but I got her the boots and I think she will LOVE them. After Sears we went to Kohls. It is a little after 3:00 a.m. now. I only had 1 thing I was going in there to look for, but they didn't have it, so we exited as quick as we entered. We walked up to Target (they are in the same shopping center) but the line was so long waiting for the doors to open I wasn't willing to wait. We came back after it opened and every body got in. I had quite a bit of stuff I wanted at Target, and God blessed me once again, with everything on my kids' list. I got Carrie a doll, Courtney the new Tinker Bell movie and some house shoes, and Bret another Nerf gun.

It was about 7:30 a.m. and we ended up at Academy Sports. UGH!!! Brian went in to buy a gun that they had on sale. I was very excited for him, but my excitement dwindled quickly. We waited in line for an hour, but after that my back was hurting so bad, I couldn't stand any longer, I told him I was going to go wait in the van. I waited in the van for another 2 hours, before he ever came out. Needless to say I had cat napped a bit on and off waiting for him, and when he finally came back to the van I was zonked. I didn't want to do any more shopping. I was starving, cold, and extremely tired. We went to Chick-Fil-A for a chicken biscuit (my fave for breakfast) and then headed home. My parents were home with the kids, they were eating lunch when we got home. (it was a little after 11:00) When we got home, Brian had to get his gun out and play with it a while, I laid down about noon to take a nap. I slept about 2 hours. After I got up, I took a shower, and gave my mom a facial before we drove them back over to Springfield. It was so nice, because we were very tired, but we still had a whole other day to recoup from our Thursday night wondering around. LOL!!! We stayed in Saturday and just had a peaceful day at home. It was really nice.

Since Thanksgiving, it has been business as usual. School, church, work for Brian. We had our church holiday party (Thanksgiving and Christmas party together) the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We took my parents to Silver Dollar City for the Christmas festival of lights. They loved it.

Last Tuesday Bret went to feed our dog, Roxie. He called me on his walkie talkie and said there was something wrong with her, so I put some shoes and a coat on and went out to check on her. She was very sick. While I was outside with the sick dog, Brian was inside sick on the couch. So, he couldn't help me with her at all. So, Bret and I carried her up to the garage, and tried to make her comfortable, something inside me said she wasn't going to make it. Bret and I took turns going out and checking on her every little bit. When Brian left for work the next morning, I went out to check on her and her breathing was very labored and heavy. I didn't know how much longer she would make it. I felt horrible for her, but I didn't know what to do. I went back to bed, as I usually do after Brian leaves, and when I got up later that morning, and went out to check on her she had crawled out to our back porch and died. It was awful. I had to come in and tell all the kids. Brian text me on his break and asked how she was, I had to tell him via text she was dead. Then with it being Wed, he had to devise a plan to get her buried. He usually has very little time to get home, get showered and leave for church to be there on time as it is, so I figured he would have to do it after church that night. But he called me on his way home and said he was going to do it as soon as he got home so he could do it in what little day light was left. I was out there to help him with what I could. Let me tell you, the burial was harder than finding her on the back porch. It was awful! I just bawled. But here we are a week later, and we have all mended. I think it will be harder for the kids come this summer, when she is not out there for them to play with.

Now, here we are with a little over a week left till Christmas. I have actually gotten all my wrapping done already, which I can not believe. I usually stay up till 2 or 3 on Christmas Eve wrapping everything. Brian and I went Tuesday night and got all the stocking stuffers. So, I think we are pretty much set. I'm looking very forward to having Christmas here at home with my family. My parents, and oldest sister will be here to spend Christmas with us, so that will be nice. We will be heading to IL the Thursday after Christmas to Brian's parents for Christmas up there. I am so excited and blessed this holiday season. And since I have told you pretty much everything we're getting our kids you have to keep it a secret. ;o)

I'm going to get off here now. I'm not sure with the busy week ahead and the holidays coming up, when I will be on here again. So...

From Our House to Your's
Here's wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Random Ramblings

I was laying in bed the other night trying to go to sleep, and I was thinking. The Thanksgiving season is upon us, I have already posted my "25 Things I'm Thankful For", and it has just really got me thinking of the so many things we take for granted. The main thing is, life/time. Sure we take our spouses for granted every once in a while, but then we wake up one day and realize how much they do for us and how much we appreciate them. We take our kids, health, homes, and so many other things for granted, but at some point we realize how much we really appreciate and are thankful for these things. But how many times do we go to bed at night, planning our day tomorrow, and never even think we might not be here tomorrow.

I really thought about that for a long time. I looked back on the day we had just finished to see if that is how I would want to leave things if something were to happen to me before morning. Had I treated my kids, and husband kindly. Did I make sure I told them all that I loved them, and made sure that I showed them and they knew that I did. Had I done my best to serve God to the best of my ability.

My kids aren't very kind to one another some time. So, the next day when two of them were fighting, I asked them the same question. How would you feel if these hateful words were the last words you ever spoke to your brother or sister. We talked for a while, I shared scriptures with them about how we are to treat people and make sure the special people in our life know that they are special and how we feel about them.

I hope that this thought process continues in my life, and I don't grow complacent again. Like a Ricky Atkinson and Compassion song says, "Live today like it's the only day you have. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery, and only what we do for Christ will last. So, live today like it's the only day you have."

It's Official!

I am now an authorized independent Mary Kay consultant. YEAH!!! I signed my paper work, and ordered my starter kit this morning. I can't wait to get started. I will have my own website, once I get everything figured out. For now if you want to order anything you can go to www.marykay.com and find what you want to order then either, call, text, or e-mail me. I still have my regular e-mail address, or I now have one through MK which is dixiewagahoff@marykay.com, but it links directly to my hotmail account. If you would like me to send you a book, contact me, via the above methods, and I will try to get you a book sent out as well.

Thanks ahead of time for your support and your orders.

Dixie

Decision Made

For anybody who cares, I have made my decision. I am going to sell Mary Kay. It is something I have always wanted to do. I love Mary Kay products. I have always used them when I had access to a MK consultant. God has opened the doors with the means for me to start this venture, and someone to start it with. I am very excited about being able to do this, and I am asking God to bless my endeavors and use this business to honor and glorify him.

If you are reading this and you have need of anything Mary Kay offers, give me a holler, I would be glad to be of service to you.

Your New Mary Kay Representative,
Dixie Wagahoff

What to do?

I'm praying/debating about stepping out into a new venture. It's something I've always wanted to do and thought I would be good at, but didn't have the means to begin. I have now found the means (thanks to my hubby) and since I have the means, the apprehension has set in. I hate that. So, I am asking lots of questions, weighing pros and cons, and praying about what to do for sure. I'm almost sure I know what I'm going to do, but not 100% yet. I'll let you know in the next day or so. So, check back to see what I've decided to do.

Thankful

I have been seeing several of my friends on Facebook posting their countdown to Thanksgiving with a word of thankfulness everyday. Well, as always, I am behind, two days already to be exact. So, I thought I would just put it all here. All 25 days in one sitting, then I am all done for the whole month and don't have to worry about trying to remember to do it everyday.

We as Christians have so much to be thankful for I don't think I will have trouble finding 25, so here goes.

I'm Thankful For/That... (In no particular order)
1. My Salvation. As a young adult I struggled some with doubting my salvation, but God has given me a peace beyond all understanding, and I am so thankful for that. No matter what happens nothing, or no one can pluck me out of his hand.

2. My wonderful husband. All too often I take him for granted, but I am thankful for him and appreciate him more and more each day.

3. My four wonderful children. God has given me the 4 most wonderful children. They aren't perfect by any means, but they do try to do right and they want what God wants for their lives. I love each and every one of them more than they could ever know.

4. Our health. We have a fairly large extended family (my family and in-laws) and we have no major sicknesses or diseases. No one is dealing with cancer, or serious health issues of any kind. Our parents both have high blood pressure and common stuff like that, but God has been so good to watch over ALL our family and give us exceptionally good health.

5. Our home. We live in a small 3 BR, 1 Bath house (I wish it were more than 1 bath) but we have a roof over our head that doesn't leak. The heat is running right now, so we are staying warm. We were nice and cool all summer while it was hot outside. We have a refrigerator and electricity to keep food cold and to cook the food with. We have water to be able to shower, and cook. Just little things we take for granted every day.

6. Our vehicles. We have 2 vehicles that God has given us. One, literally. Brian's parents gave us a van this past summer, which was such a blessing because we were down to 1 vehicle. It is nice to have something you can just jump in and go when you need to.

7. I have a Godly heritage. I'm so thankful for godly parents. It means so much to me to come from a Christian home and have parents who taught me how to seek God's will for my life, and taught me so much about faith.

8. Brian comes from a godly home as well. It's nice to know Brian and I come from the same background. We don't have to argue over religion or about going to church, it's just in our blood and something we've both been doing since birth. We both have the same outlook on life and have the same hopes and dreams for our kids.

9. My friends. I have so many friends old and new, far and close. (not too many close) But I know at any time I could call most of them up and say I've got a special prayer request I need you to pray with me about. Or I could call after not having talked for maybe years, and it will be like we have never parted. I love having "family" all over country.

10. I get to stay home with my kids. I have the privilege to raise my kids on my own. I don't have to go to work, and send them to day care, I get to stay right here with them every day. I love it!

11. Our church. I am thankful we have a place to go and worship freely on Sunday and Wednesday. We don't have to go underground and hide and keep quiet our love for the Lord.

12. Church families. We have been members of a few churches in our 15 yrs of marriage. This is where I get all my friends. We have had several church families and I still consider them family. Just because we aren't with them and worship with them every Sunday doesn't have to mean they are no longer my church family. So, I'm thankful for each and every family we have been able to serve along side in our yrs of ministry.

13. God's Word. I don't know where I would be without the all powerful, inspired Word of God. It grips my heart, and has made me who I am today, and continues to mold and make me each and every day.

14. God's Creation. We have been studying creation in our children's church, and I don't know about you, but I see it differently every time. Every time I read about the creation it is just more and more amazing to me; how God made everything we see today out of nothing. He clothes the world, and feeds even the smallest animal. His handiwork is just amazing. Brian and I have been talking about the vastness of God's creation and all the other galaxies and planets. It's mind boggling to say the least. (For me any way.)

15. Things. God gives us things we don't need, and don't necessarily deserve, but he still allows us to have material things. If I start listing "things", I could be here all day and I have an appointment at 8:00 so I'm not gonna go there.

16. My life. I know I have already mentioned health, but I am just thankful to be alive. Each and every morning I wake up thankful for another day. Thankful for another day to be able to be with my kids, send my husband off to work, and try, to the best of my ability, to serve the Lord however he needs me to that day.

17. My senses. Again, things we take for granted. I'm thankful I can see God's beauty I talked about previously and enjoy looking at my kids and watching them grow. I am so thankful for my hearing. I don't know what my life would be like without music. The music of every day life. The sounds of my kids playing, fighting, laughing, praying and saying "I Love You Mom". The sounds of the birds singing, rain falling, and the wind blowing. I'm thankful I have legs that work, and I can walk without the use of a wheelchair or walker. I'm thankful I have use of my hands and arms, and I am not a para or quadriplegic.

18. Brian is able to be home every night. I know a lot of husbands that have jobs that take them away from home at nights, days or even weeks at a time. I'm thankful we get to see him every day and get to spend most evenings with him.

19. My family is close. Being in the ministry, you never know where God is going to lead you. For the last few years I have been blessed to live close to my family. We have lived by Brian's family, and now we have been able to live by mine. It's nice to have family close, because you never know when God might move some of us, and we could be 100's of miles apart. So, we take what time we have and consider it precious, and make as many memories as we can with what time we have together.

20. We live in America. I'm so glad that I live in a free country, and we aren't bound by slavery and dictatorship. (yet, anyway)

21. Our soldiers. I was just reading over some of my old posts on here, and was reminded once again of our friend, and army soldier, Gary, who was killed defending our country. I don't know a lot of soldiers, but I know more today than I use to and even if I didn't know 1, I would still be grateful for our soldiers and the sacrifice that they make for our country.

22. My Heavenly Father. I mentioned my salvation, and God's Word, and this is kinda along those same lines, but different. I'm thankful I have a heavenly father that I can talk to anytime, day or night. I have talked about my husband, my family, his family, and friends, but when I am all alone and there is no one to talk to or call or if I have something I can't talk to anybody about, HE is always there for me. When I can't sleep in the middle of the night, he's there just to listen while I jabber on about everything. I'm so thankful for the relationship that I have with him, and that he is always near me.

23. Peace. Until you've known peace, you won't understand this. Like I said earlier, I struggled with doubting my salvation, and when I finally got it nailed down, I have that perfect peace. I tend to be a somewhat paranoid person. I have 3x5 cards laying on my nightstand with scripture verses written on them that I can grab at a moments notice when certain things start to bother me. I'm so thankful God always comes through with that wonderful peace I need, right when I need it. He calms my spirit, and there's nothing like laying your head down at night, with not a care/worry in the world.

24. (This one may sound silly, but it's legit.) The internet. If it weren't for the internet, I would have lost contact with so many of my friends, and family. I'm thankful I have e-mail, because I am horrible at sending letters, and I'm thankful for social networking, like facebook, where I can keep up with friends and family, who are 100's of miles away, and still see pictures of their sweet families, watch videos of their babies sweet smiles, and feel like I am still part of their lives even though I am so far away.

25. (Last, but not least.) YOU! Thanks for taking time to stop by my little blog and read my posts. I don't have many followers (2 I think) but I enjoy getting on here and writing sometimes. So, if you are reading this, thanks for your time.

Spoiled?

I have been thinking a lot lately about my life. I am thirty-mmm years old. ;o) I have been married for 15 + years, and I have never REALLY worked a job. When I was a Sr. in high school I worked at a day care during Christmas for a little extra money, and because my volleyball coach worked there and got me the job. Other than that, I have never worked! Can you believe that? I am a grown woman, with 4 children and I have never had to take care of myself. I have a roof over my head, food on my table for every meal, (more than I need most of the time) clothes on my back, shoes on my feet, and I even have some non necessity items.

I was thinking the other day about most families in America today. They drive nice, new cars. I have the vehicle I always wanted, a Suburban. (I love it, but it's falling apart.) They live in big, extravagant houses. I live in a small, 3 bedroom, 1 bath house, but it is very homey and inviting. I love my little house. Sometimes I think the world has so much more than I do. Then I look closer and take a longer look. They have nicer, newer, bigger things, but what else do they have? Bigger payments, more hours on the job, more debt, and most of all, not much of a family life. And the main thing that caught my attention, most families are two income families. I have been married for 15 years and my husband has supported me and all 4 of our kids on his own. He hasn't needed my help. We may struggle to get by sometimes, but I haven't had to go out and look for a job so I can work to help pay the house payment or make a car payment.

I guess what I am trying to say is, I have come to realize how blessed I really am. Some of you are sitting back saying, "It took you 15 years to realize that?" Yes, I'm slow! I am so blessed to be able to stay at home with my kids and not HAVE to go out in the world and work a job. I know some women have to work, because they need the money to get by, but I am thankful I am not one of those women. I think we as Christian women take it for granted sometimes that God gives our husbands good jobs so we can stay at home and do what we were "called" to do. I for one know I was one of those women. We may not live in a big, fancy house. We may not drive a brand new car right out of the factory. But God supplies ALL our needs ALL the time. Brian's job gives sufficient income to pay all our bills, and even give us a little extra on the side.

I am so thankful for Brian, and how hard he works to take care of our family, and that I don't have to go out and work a job to help make ends meet.

So, since I...
*have never worked a job
*have everything I need
*get most things I want
* get to stay home and watch my kids grow up
*have a hard working husband who takes care of me and makes all the above things possible...
Do you think I'm spoiled?

Our Weekend!

I was so proud of myself for posting two days in a row, then I missed the next two days. So goes life.

Brian's only day off now is on Sat., so we take advantage of family time on that day as much as possible. With the huge building project going on at church, it really isn't as often as the kids and I would like though.

This past Saturday, we headed to Branson to Silver Dollar City; some friends of ours was singing in a Single Mic Competition and we were hoping to get to see them. We got up early (not as early as planned, but earlier than normal) to get there before the crowds. We ended up leaving here about 10:00 or so, and got there about 11:30-12:00. We usually park in parking lot 5 or 6, but we got motioned all the way past parking lot 6. We got to parking lot 7 and drove all the way through it, crossed the highway and ended up in some hole on the side of the road. There were men in yellow vests waving to everybody to tell them where to park. We finally got parked and caught the bus back up to the park, and they told us we were in parking lot JD, like, just dirt. We rode the bus for about 5-7 min. to get back to the park. So, needless to say, we didn't get there before the crowds. :o)

We went in and checked things out. We got a map/schedule to see when the competition started. We found out where it was and started walking that way to see if we could "spot" our friends. Sure enough, when we got to the Opera House there some of them sat on the rock wall. So, we stayed and talked to them for just a few min. We found out when they were going to be singing and then we went on.

After we left there the kids were ready to ride rides. So, we headed to the rides. I'm so glad my kids are getting old enough to ride "big" rides with their dad now. Brian loves to ride roller coasters and stuff like that, but I am terrified and would not step foot on one for any amount of money. So, for almost the whole 15 years of our marriage he hasn't ridden any roller coasters. Not because I don't "let" him, because I always try to get him to ride, I tell him I don't mind waiting and I wish he would do things he likes, but because I won't, neither will he. He says, he doesn't like waiting in line and riding by himself. So, that is why I am so glad the kids are getting bigger and wanting to try bigger rides and they are loving it. Bret rode the Powder Keg with Brian, and all four of the kids, yes, all four, even Carrie, rode Thunderation. Brian did have to ride one by himself. Bret "accidentally" rode Wildfire with his dad last time, and he claims he is still sick from it. I am having my doubts, but I think it scared him pretty bad, he will not get back on it. But Brian wasn't hesitant to wait in line and ride by himself this time. I'm glad, because they all had such a good time.

You may be thinking, what do you do, since you don't ride rides. I stand on the sidelines and take pics when they come in and out of the starting gate. And Carrie is too small to ride rides by herself, so Brian takes her on the "big" rides, and when we go down to the kiddie section, she still has to ride with someone, so I ride all the kiddie rides with her. You know, the ones that don't leave the ground. I'm brave, I can handle those. tee hee. I just enjoy watching my family have such a good time, and I am happy just following along behind as they run from ride to ride.

Later that afternoon, we headed back to the Opera House to hear our friends sing in the competition. After wards we got to visit with them for a few min. and catch up a little. By this time it was after 6:00. We hadn't eaten anything ALL DAY, me and the kids were starved. So, we headed out to leave the park. We went in to Branson and ate at the Grand Country Buffet. We had such a good time eating, talking and laughing with each other. We looked around and noticed the workers back and forth working busily doing their jobs, but that there wasn't anybody else around anywhere. A guy walked by and we asked what time they closed, he said, "Oh, we're closed now, but y'all stay as long as you like." We had closed the place down.

We finally got gone from there and headed home, but not before stopping by Wal-Mart. In our Sunday School class we always have doughnuts and chocolate milk for our class, so we had to stop by and get those so we didn't have to leave extra early Sunday morning to run to Wal-Mart before church.

We ended up getting home around 11:00. I was very proud of myself. We all had baths, minus Brice, because I never could get him awake, and were in bed by midnight. A huge task with 6, make that 5, people in less than an hour.

Sunday Morning rolls around and I felt like the night was so short, and I had barely slept at all. I didn't feel good, but I got up and around to go anyway. I had to get Brice up for his shower, since he had missed it the night before. We had a great day in Sunday School, and then in Children's Church as well. We went out to lunch with Mom and Dad. We came home and I laid down to take a nap, once again, WAY to short. Went back to church, Brian preached on Jonah. Had ice cream with Mom and Dad, came home, put the kids to bed, went to bed myself.

And that was the extent of my two day week end.

2 days in a row, how 'bout that!!!

Had another bittersweet moment this morning. I sold my van. God gave us a Chrysler Town and Country mini van several years ago. We have run that thing ragged. I drove it till it about fell apart then when Brian bought me my suburban he drove it till it DID fall apart. A few months ago the transmission finally gave up the ghost. It sat at the church for quite a while, because Brian didn't have a way to get it home. He finally borrowed a trailer from a guy at work to get it home. Since then it has been sitting in the yard.

A guy came by yesterday and said he had seen it sitting there and was wondering if we wanted to sell it. I said sure. So, I tried to get a hold of Brian, and finally did. Long story short, we made a deal. I came in the house to get the lock box all our "important" papers are in, neither one of the titles were in there. So, I called Brian back and told him I couldn't find it, so he said he would have to look for it when he got home. I told the guy and he said he would be back this morning about 9:00 with a trailer.

After Brian got home we searched high and low for that title and FINALLY found it. We also found the truck title, which is now safely resting IN the lock box.

The guy showed up a little before nine this morning, I watched him load it up and haul it away. It was very sad, because we are officially a one car family. :o( But that's okay, I'm praying the Lord will give me a new (to me) van soon.

Remembering!!!

I get up every morning about 5:00 to get Brian off to work. He leaves about 5:30 or so. After he leaves I usually change the block calendar in my window sill, go to the bathroom and then head back to my room. I usually go back to bed, but I don't always (well, hardly ever) fall right back to sleep. Now it is starting to get day light, which makes it even harder for me to go back to sleep. This morning, I played yahtzee on my iPod for a while, then I got tired of doing that so I laid back down. As I was laying there thoughts started streaming through my mind, as I'm sure you all can relate to. I don't know how or why, but I began thinking about one of "my boys" from Oklahoma. His face came back to my remembrance so crystal clear, and it has been YEARS since I have seen him. I began to reminisce about the times we had gone to camp, had youth activities at church, and even had the kids over to the house. His smile was captivating, and could cheer up a room upon entrance. He was always happy. I can't really recall the last time I saw him, but like I said it has been years.

As I lay there thinking of him my eyes began to well with tears, as the thoughts of laughter, camp, and fun times turned to the thoughts of his funeral and his wailing mother hugging Brian for dear life. The thoughts of that day brought such sorrow to my heart this morning, and even now as I write this with tears in my eyes. I got up and got online and began to look up pages, and realized that his death was a year ago this week. It made me even more sad.

Army Cpl. Gary Moore was a Military Police Officer serving in Baghdad, Iraq, when the vehicle he was riding in was hit by a road side bomb. I will never forget when Brian came home and told me the news that day. I was heartbroken. I am so thankful we were able to go to the funeral. I have been to several funerals in my time, but I have never been to a funeral as sad as that one that day. The church was packed with hundreds of people coming to pay their respects for a fallen soldier. Military men and women in uniform everywhere. Police and Firemen and women as well. It was an experience I will not soon forget.

As we arrived at the church there was David Hall's Traveling Liberty Bell. It was the saddest bell I have ever heard. It rang loud and long throughout the streets of Oklahoma City. I couldn't help but start to cry before we ever walked onto the parking lot of the church. Once we reached the parking lot, the Patriot Riders' motorcycles lined the parking lot with waving flags, with the hearse and family car close behind. We finally made it into the church, my make up was already shot. There were red, white and blue flowers everywhere you looked, and right down the center aisle a flag covered coffin. I began to bawl. They had a beautiful service. If there were any lost there that day, which I'm sure there were, they can't stand before God and say they never heard, after that day. Bro. Sam Davison, and Bro. Jason Gaddis did and excellent job. As they began to let people go, row by row, we were finally released. We went up the far row and across the back to head down the middle aisle in front of the casket. When we approached Gary's mom, Mrs. Vicki, she was standing there and when she saw Brian she grabbed him for dear life, and held on tight. She cried, and I didn't think she would ever let go. I just stood back and cried. When she finally let Brian go, she hugged me then we walked to the front row and hugged the other boys, and their wives. We finally made it back out to the truck, and headed to the grave site.

The trip to the grave site was quite a way. The funeral procession was long. We were pretty close to the back. As we drove by cars, they must have been sitting there for a while. I remember one guy was sleeping in his car he had been pulled over for so long. As we got closer to the cemetery there were flags flying all along the side of the road; and the closer we got, there were people standing on the sides of the streets waving flags, and with their hands over their hearts, and men with their hats off. Women in scrubs from the doctors office. Men in uniform from the lumber/hardware store, men and women of all ages, and children all waving their flags and paying their respects to a soldier they didn't even know. As we road by all these people I couldn't imagine the pride Gary's mom must have been feeling for her son at that moment seeing all those people gathered for her son. As we came to the entrance of the cemetery the highway was blocked off by fire trucks and police cars. They were angled to make an entrance to the cemetery. As we drove through the gates the way was lined with big flags, flying in the wind. We never got to the actual grave site, we had to park and walk forever. (I didn't wear walking shoes) As we got out of the truck we could already hear the bell. The grave side was just as sad, if not more so than the actual funeral. They had the 21 gun salute, taps on the bugle, and the presentation of the flag to his mom. All very emotional.

I guess I said all that to say, I am glad to be an American. I am glad/proud to have known, personally, a U.S. Soldier who fought and died so that I can live here in America and feel safe. I have known/know many soldiers, but never one who has died for our freedoms.