The World of "Mother"

As a mom, it is hard to explain the emotion of knowing that YOUR baby girl is in labor and about to give birth. You want to do something... and there is absolutely nothing you can do. Nope, she has to walk this road... on her own.

When we arrived in VA - we were able to go back to the room and visit for just a minute. Our first born baby girl was in labor. Her hands were shaking from the meds - and I could hardly contain the emotion. But I did. As I said, I just wanted to do SOMETHING. So, I prayed. And went back to the waiting room. And continued to pray. And went to sleep curled up on a small chair. And prayed. And waited.

She did so well - of course! You can read her story here.

It is the beginning of motherhood. The beginning of being able and willing to give your life for your child. The beginning of sacrifice. The beginning of a love that is incomprehensible and unexplainable and unending.

And for the Mom of the new Mom - it is certainly another "No Greater Joy" moment..

Welcome, my Julia, to the world of "Mother".








(P.S. - there will be pics of our Baby Josiah coming soon!)

Coming Soon...

In the next few days or maybe a week or so...

... I should be getting a call from my Julia that grandbaby #3 is on the way. We will jump in the car and hurry to VA to greet our little Josiah Daniel Mayhew. I have already resolved myself to the probability that I will not be there when he arrives in this world. But I will be there soon. And I will be staying for a while.

What I have not settled in this heart of mine is how in this world I will be able to leave after a couple of weeks. I keep trying to prepare myself... but I don't think it is working.

I have been so spoiled by the first two grandbabies. They only live across town. And it takes me about 5 minutes to get to them. Or to their mom. When she calls, whether it is day or middle of the night - I can go. And I do.

Regardless, I am so excited. For Ronnie and Julia - as their world is about to be "rocked" by the arrival of their precious baby boy. I am excited for Ronnie's parents (Roger and Connie) - as this is their first grandbaby. They will join those of us who have already found out that grandbabies are as grand as we have always been told. I am excited for me and Hal - again! And then there is the excitement for the rest of the famly... we are a close knit bunch!

Life has been so busy - that the blog posts have been few lately. And I really keep thinking that I will soon be back on track - But you can know for certain that you will hear from this MommaDee when the little one joins our world!

The miracle of birth...
Coming again soon...

Updates and Prayer Request

Just a short blog to let you have a few quick updates and also to request prayer.

1. We had a wonderful two weeks with our Warrior for his R & R from Afghanistan. We were able to celebrate Christmas with him. And then last weekend - we had a birthday party for Hal, Jonathan and Ronnie with the entire family together. (All three birthdays are within approx. 3 weeks of each other.) Such fun days together. And one desire that I had for those days is that God would multiply our minutes together - and He really did. It seemed like much more than just two weeks.

2. We have our Church Couples' Retreat coming this weekend. We love it and are so excited about the opportunity - but because of the past two weeks - we are SO behind in getting the final touches together.

So, there are two requests in here - prayer for our son and his precious wife as he serves the final months of this deployment. And then prayer for us as we lead in this conference/retreat.

Thanks so much! I so appreciate all of you. It is my desire to be more consistent with my blogging and visiting your blogs next week.

Winners Announced

Congratulations to

Jacky at The Sweetest Petunia
won the Starbucks card.

and

Mary at Owlhaven
won the CD.

Congratulations Ladies!

Please send me your address so I can get your gifts in the mail to you!
halanddd@charter.net

Birthday and Two Give-aways!

A sweet blogging friend/preacher's wife just recently had a birthday -and offered a give-away on that day on her blog. I thought that was a WONDERFUL idea...

And then just a few days later, I received an email offering a free music CD to give away on my blog... I was SO thrilled. So, I have saved this until today.

The duo is TAL and ACACIA. I encourage you to go to this site and you can hear their music - and even download three songs for free: www.talandacacia.com/freemusic

THEN - I am also giving a $10.00 starbucks card...

So... here is the deal:

You know how we bloggers all LOVE comments - and we LOVE our followers :)...

So, this is how you enter for the give-away. (five chances) You can enter one time or you can enter 5 times...

(1). Leave a comment. Tell me if you would rather have the CD or the Starbucks card...
(2). Tell me which song you like best.
(3). Add yourself to my list of followers (and if you already follow - say so - that counts too)
(4). Add my button to your side bar.
(5). Announce this giveaway on your blog for your readers to come and enter... (make sure that you tell me that you have done so...)

So, there - you can enter this giveaway 5 times...

Happy Birthday to me! - I want you to win a prize! I will announce the winners on Monday, August 3rd.

Thank you also for your patience with me as I am having a hard time being consistent with my blog lately. Surely I will be back on track soon.

Love to you all!

WFW # 16 New Life...

The Spirit of God has made me;

the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

Job 33:4

The miracle of birth still amazes me...

the blessing of offspring...

the joy of family...

Blessed beyond measure...

Here We Go Again

I always liked riding roller coasters. But this is one ride that I would like to avoid - forever.

Our son-our soldier-our warrior-our Jonathan has received that call again. This time he is going to Afghanistan. March or April.

So... once again I am calling all prayer warriors. Prayers for him, for his beautiful new wife, for the rest of the family.

Oh, and by the way - today is his birthday. Even though he is not blogging much anymore - would you do this mom a favor and go over here and leave him a comment wishing him a happy birthday and assurance of your prayers. It would do my heart good. And I am sure it would bless him too.

Thanks so much - and just know - you will hear more.

Happy Birthday Hal (edited 6:15 p.m.)

Today is my hubby's b-day. (edits in red)

We are having the children over for supper. (Julia and Ronnie - we will miss you.)
That is his preference. He is actually going to grill out. (Remember - I do not grill)
He would rather do that than go out to eat.??? Since it is HIS day - we will do what he wants.

*** since I went to the hospital yesterday (the 15th) with chest pains - this is all wrong.
Julia came home - so Ronnie - we miss you! Jen and Andy and Aubrey are not here either.

***No grill - Thank you so much Anita for a wonderful Lasagna supper!*(that is actually one of my favorites!)

***Sorry - Hal - we will celebrate your birthday on Monday night - and let you grill some steaks for us then! :)

So... Happy Birthday, Hal! I love you!

WW # 13 The "Terrific" TWO

Julia's Coming!

Julia is coming in the morning!

I can hardly wait...

This Mom is excited.

On Friday, Ronnie will be driving here and together we will celebrate Julia's (29th) Birthday. Hal, me, Ronnie, Julia, Andy, Jen, Aubrey, and Brantley. (We will sure miss you Jonathan).

I will share more later :)

Got things to do....... YES!

My Younger Brother

Happy Birthday Paul!

Just some thoughts for today...

First of all...It was so good to have you and Susie and Matthew here with us for Easter this year. I think that may need to be a tradition!

We don't get to spend much time together - but just like I told Danny - that doesn't mean that I don't think of you - often! And I have many special memories.... that come to my heart and mind.

So again, I think I may just list a few...

I remember :

• when you were born and they brought you home from the hospital. I was only 6, but I was so tickled to have a baby brother. You were a beautiful baby.
• Mom teaching you that your name was "Precious Paul Bishop".... and when we would ask you- and you replied in that manner - Daddy would say "No... Rotten Paul Bishop". You were such fun.
• Being able to "keep you" in the summer after I turned 12. I was so bossy! I think I really thought I was part mom...and I did love you so. I guess it was just practice for when I had my own.
• The night that Hal asked Dad and Mom if he could marry me - and you were so shocked!
• You coming to spend the night with us in Birmingham and the three of us going grocery shopping in the middle of the night.
• You and Phillip Dean coming to our home... we all had such fun together.
• Really, anytime that Hal was not going to be home, you would come and spend the night at my house. I guess I thought you would protect me huh?
• Your diving accident when we were camping at Wind Creek. You scared me to death!
• Hal and me and Julia moving to Texas to go to Seminary. That was so hard. Hard on you. Hard on us. I can still see your face the day that you all left for the long drive back to Alabama. It was so much harder than we could have ever imagined. You were my brother and Hal's brother-in-law... but you were part of our daily life and you were our friend. Maybe we should have just kept you with us. I felt like it at that time. It was hard leaving any of the family - but I think leaving you was the hardest of all. Once again, I felt like you were part mine :)
• Realizing how much I had "bossed" you when I had Jonathan and would sometimes slip and call him "Robert Paul!" That is when he was really in trouble. You know, a parent will call you by your name.. and when you get the full name - it is serious.. So Jonathan went from Jonathan to Jonathan Daniel to Jonathan Daniel Warren to ROBERT PAUL! That was really serious!! LOL
• Being there when Matthew was born. Children really are a precious gift from God. So glad that we could share in that special time with you.
• All of the fun times together at Christmas... we are such a crew! The pictures - the videos - the fun gifts - and even now the Dirty Santa! We always have such a good time!
• Us all being together at the hospital the week before Dad died. Even though it was a really hard situation... it was still so good for us all to be together.
• And then me, you, and Danny standing with Mom as we all said our final good-byes to Dad.

Life is busy - too busy most of the time. But I want you to know how much I love you and miss having time with you. Maybe we should make more effort...

Regardless...... thank you for many precious memories....

Have a wonderful birthday, Paul. I love you!

Happy Birthday Ronnie

Hope you have a wonderful day!


So glad that God put you into our lives and family.




Last year - you were making preparations to come to Alabama and meet us. It was such an exciting time.

I remember looking at your MySpace page to see your picture one more time before we left for the airport to pick you up. And the whirlwind began. Little did any of us know at that time that 4 months later you would be our son-in-law! We are so blessed!


Love you and thank God for you. And sure hope to get to see you soon!


Happy Birthday Ronnie!

Happy Birthday Jonathan

Happy Birthday my Jonathan.....

Here is the plan for those who visit with me.

I am asking that you will comment and add a birthday greeting... a special thought...fun time....memory together...etc for Jonathan to read. He should be back at Arifjan later today.....

Join me in telling him Happy Birthday...

(even those of you who never post comments.....) .

Thanks and blessings!

So... here is my comment... I added it to the blog for those who join me later and maybe do not read all the comments... :)...

Jonathan loved scaring me...and for a long time we had a small rubber snake that we passed back and forth. Of course, he was never scared when I would hide it in his pocket or drawer or wherever! However, he made me jump out of my skin MANY times! Even when Hal and I took a trip to England...Jonathan (somehow) put it in my suitcase. The really funny part is that one morning...as I got my clothes out of my suitcase... the snake fell on the floor (without me knowing it) and when I came out of the the bathroom...it was laying there...and I nearly had a heart attack! I laughed my head off and called him immediately... I did not even care that it was an international call...and that the time was not good. I told him if he was going to give me a heart attack...he at least needed to be close enough to give me a hug. We laughed and laughed at how worked just as we wanted it too. Oh, me...it has been a while since I have seen that snake. (Maybe for now, I am safe... since he is on the other side of the world)... LOL! Love you JON.

My Big Brother

Happy Birthday Danny!

Just some thoughts for today...

We don't get to see each other very often. But that does not mean that I do not think of you. I have many special memories.... that come to my heart and mind.


I think today I may just list a few...

I remember :

• sitting on the steps in Oldfield and both of us having the hiccups and trying to sing. Then laughing our heads off.

• falling on my bike (the really large scar on my knee) and you helping me to clean it up and putting bactine on it.

• going to Wind Creek every AEA (that is what we used to call Spring Break) and going swimming no matter how cold it was!

• watching you play baseball.

• you pitching a perfect game! I was so proud!

• cheering for you on the PACKERS - and going to Panama City for a "bowl" game -(or for some reason - lol!) Regardless... I was cheering you on!!!!!

• us both going to Birmingham to spend a week with Damon and Johnny in the summer (swimming in the pool in the park behind their house)

• and then going back to Larry's/Cindy's for you and Martha's/Buddy's for me (swimming at the pool at the apartment complex down the road)

• Larry spending the entire summer "watching" us when we lived on the Old Rockhouse Road.

• Fishing at the pond behind our house - or maybe I should say - you fishing - and me watching!

• Our pony

• the family camping at Wind Creek.

• going with our youth group from the church for a day at the lake. You and I were sitting on the cable that marked the swimming area.... and there was a storm coming and the lightening flashed in the distance and we both felt the shock on the cable and took off for the shore. You waited on me.

• The "Quarry Stompers" - Danny, DeeDee, Donnie, Peggy, Sam, Mikey, Mike, Gray - remind me - who else?

• the tree house - the double decker- and you guys trying to keep Peggy and me out...it didn't work. We enjoyed your hard work :)

• camping out in the front yard - Peggy and me in the camper - You, Donnie, Sam (and probably Gray and Mike too) in a tent. You guys could build a good camp fire. And then you tried to scare us. Boys will always be boys huh?

• you coming to pick me up from a JV ballgame - and some "bully" big guys had scared me.... and when I got in the car and told you about it... You took off around the block to go back and take care of them for me. I had to BEG you to just go home.

• you shaving your beard for my wedding (that was the last time huh?). Just because it did not look like my big brother to me - yet :) Then you paid for my pictures.

• you helping us move from Birmingham back to Sylacauga. We looked like the "Beverly Hillbillies" moving on that flatbed truck. And your Dodge truck loaded down too! ha!

• helping you do all of your Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve. (Julia has continued that tradition with Jonathan - or maybe I should say - Jonathan has continued that tradition with Julia)

• cutting your hair, especially those times when we would come home from Texas - and I would trap you in that little bathroom - and cut away - and talk your ears off.

• being there with you at the hospital when Stephanie had her wreck and then watching you take such good care of her as she recovered.

• coming to the Golf Course - for Creative Memories - and loving the time to visit with you.

• the family pictures at Christmas (along with yours and Dena's videos - I still think we could win some money for some of those!)

• "Can you hear me?" - just watching you guys have such fun with your presents!

• being at the hospital for Dad's last surgery and the week that followed with us all in the waiting room.

• me, you and Paul standing with Mother as we said our final good-byes to Daddy.

And there have been many many more - So - today - as I tell you Happy Birthday - I also tell you thank you. For many special memories. For always knowing that you were there and that you still are just a phone call away. I love you more than I think I can even express. And I am so thankful for the wonderful storehouse of memories that we share. We are so blessed!

I love you Danny!

Hope you have a wonderful day!

WW # 8 Happy Birthday Brantley

Brantley

Just a few thoughts sent your way....on your birthday.


Hope you have a wonderful day. You are not yet an "official" member of our family... and yet you are. You are the precious bride that we have prayed for - for all of Jonathan's life. Jonathan calls you his perfect little puzzle piece... and I understand why. You complete him.


You love him. That is one thing that this mom has always wanted for her son. I love the way you love his happy-go-lucky personality - I love the way that you care. I love the way that you push him to be the man that God has called him to be. I love the way that you encourage him. I love the way that you build him up. I love seeing him happy. I love seeing the two of you together (and look forward to that again). I love watching him watch you. I love the way that I see him ADORE you. And I could go on and on and on....from both sides - I love that too....


The old saying goes "a daughter is a daughter for all of her life, but a son is a son till he takes a wife." Now, I remember thinking while holding him as a newborn in the hospital, "Lord, please give him a precious bride who will join our family and not take our son away from us." Don't get me wrong - I also know that he is to "leave father and mother and cleave only to his wife" and we want him to to do that. And I know that you will always be closer to your mom and rightly so... but just know that we love you like a daughter and we are so glad to have you join our family.


Regardless of all of my rambling - Happy Birthday Brantley - You are a treasure! and we are so blessed and so happy that God has put you and Jonathan together. I hope you have a wonderful day!


I love you gal!