I FINALLY Won!!!

I have entered about a hundred or so blog giveaways since I started blogging, and I NEVER have won until TODAY! My friend Amy, from Texas, did a blog giveaway for her 1 year blog anniversary, and I WON by random draw! Woo Hoo! Head on over to her blog to see what I won! :) This just made my day!

Um...Excuse Me.

I was in the Women's bathroom today at my place of employment taking care of business. I finished...came around the corner to wash my hands...and you will never guess what I saw...












...there was a male student washing his hands in the first sink. He looked at me through the mirror with a shocked look on his face and said, "Am I in the wrong bathroom?" (In my head I said, "Either that or I am.") I said, "Yeah...this is the women's bathroom." He responded with "holy crap, I just came in here to blow my nose and wash my hands. I have been sick for 4 days and can't seem to get my bearings." The whole time we are talking, we are both just washing our hands. I mean he didn't even quickly put an end to the handwashing...he just stood there having a conversation with a stranger in the female bathroom. We both finished about the same time, and he held open the door for me. I must say, that I have never had a gentleman open the door for me in a WOMEN'S BATHROOM!

It definitely gave me a laugh today...I hope you enjoyed this too.

My 2 Boys

Monday night, Timmy's t-ball team had an awards banquet to give out end of season awards. Timmy has really enjoyed playing t-ball this year. It wasn't as competitive as the team in Belton last summer, but Timmy didn't really notice the difference. He has a great arm, and did really good in the outfield. He was really hard on himself when he didn't get the ball or didn't get someone out. One game, he was playing first base, and instead of watching for someone to throw him the ball, he would watch the runner coming to first base. Well, the other teammates were throwing the ball to 1st base. Then, he had to run and get the ball and off the runner went. It took us a couple runners to get him to look for the ball. He did really good and his mommy & daddy couldn't have been more proud of him.

Here is a picture of Silas' face after eating his mini-cupcake. For some reason, when Silas' hands are dirty, he doesn't give me a chance to wipe them off...he just rubs his hands in his hair and down his face. Timmy didn't like anything on his hands, and would just shake them until I would wipe them off. Not, Silas...he just wipes them off in his hair. This kid has had more baths because of dirty hair than because of dirty body!

Here is a picture of Timmy and the medal he received at the banquet. All the kids got medals. He was so proud of himself. They also got treat bags with "baseball" candy and toys.

Timmy only has 1 more week of school left. I can NOT believe his kindergarten year is just about over. My baby is going to be in 1st Grade next year! WOW...that makes me feel old!

Mother's Day Gift and a Heaven Story

This Mother's Day, I received a precious gift from Timmy. He came home on Friday with a black scroll with a ribbon around it and told me it was for my special day. So, on Sunday morning, I opened up the scroll. On the top was a picture that Timmy drew of me, and on the bottom was this:

His teacher had asked him questions, and he "filled in the blank". Since it's hard to read, I will retype it here. (Timmy's answers are in bold)

My Mom is the most wonderful mom in the world!

Her name is Elizabeth.
She's as pretty as a rainbow.
She is 40 years old.
She has green eyes and red hair.
She weighs 55 pounds and is 10 feet tall.
Her favorite food is pizza.
In the good ole days when she was little, she used to play with baby toys.
I think my Mom is funny when she is silly.
But I know when she's really angry when I get on red.
I wouldn't trade my mom for X-men.
I love my Mom because she makes great food.

Happy Mother's Day Mom
Love, Timmy (I love that he signed his own name)

Timmy was SO proud of this gift. He gave me about a million hugs on Mother's Day! I told him that HE was the one that made me a mommy, and I that I love him very much! I was able to spend the day with my husband and my boys...it was a great day.

HEAVEN STORY - The sweet, precious baby that I have been praying for since last year, Kayleigh Anne Freeman, passed away last night. If you have been reading my blog, then you know about sweet Kayleigh. If you don't know what I am talking about, please click on the "Praying for Kayleigh" button on my sidebar. My heart goes out to this family right now. They never got to bring her home to her room. Please pray with me for peace for this family during this time.

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

This week, I did NOT explain, in detail, what a tornado was to my 6 year old son. He does NOT think that every cloud in the sky is going to be a tornado. He does NOT think that our van will get turned upside down because of a tornado. I would NEVER tell my 6 year old what a real tornado was, I always sugarcoat catastrophic events.

After MckMama's Reality TV Show Tweet, I did NOT respond with a title idea. I did NOT then dream about winning the little contest. I further then did NOT dream I was a part of said Reality TV Show and was "on the set" with MckMama.

While doing laundry this week, I did NOT leave a washed load of clothes in the washing machine for 2 days. I did NOT re-wash that load again with more soap, they did NOT smell of mildew after the 2nd washing. I did NOT put 3 dryers sheets in the dryer to get rid of the mildew smell. They did NOT come out smelling like fabric softener.

That was my week...how was yours?

My Mother

I am blessed beyond measure when it comes to Mothers. You see, I have the best mother in the world.

When I was little, I wanted to be just like her. I remember the mornings I would walk into her room and find her sitting on her bed, with her Bible in her lap, her hands folded, praying. She instilled in my sisters and I a passion for the Lord.

As I got older, say 5th or 6th grade, I went through a TERRIBLE period of my life when I hated my mother. I don't remember every detail, because I think I've blocked it out on purpose. But, I do remember my mom giving me a journal so that I could write my feelings down...it was red with teddy bears, and the teddy bears were wearing blue overalls. It had a lock and key. I didn't write very many entries. But years later...when I was getting ready to go to college...I found that journal, opened it up and read what I wrote. It broke my heart....one particular entry said, "I HATE MY MOM! SHE DOESN'T LOVE ME LIKE SHE LOVES TINA AND NIKKI." I was literally in tears because my mother has NEVER hated me. She has NEVER loved me less than my sisters. She has ALWAYS wanted the VERY best for me...even if that meant it was hard on her.

When I was in high school, I became much closer to my mother. The adolescent years had quickly gone away, and mom became my best friend. I watched as she sacrificed for her family in so many ways. I was so proud of her for going back to college while I was in high school, and we shared graduation years. I graduated from high school in 1992, and she graduated from college in 1992.

After high school, I went to college. And it wasn't until I was away from home that I realized how much I truly did love my mother. I missed her like crazy. We had a scheduled once a week phone call, but we always ended up talking more than just once a week.

After college, I moved back home with my parents while I determined what I was going to do with my life. I remember driving home late one night from Lynchburg, VA to ask my parent's if I could move back home. I cried all the way there, because I wanted to be near them again. Without hestitation, my parents resounded emphatically with Yes, Of Course...this will always be your home.

While I was living at home, I met my husband online and got engaged and moved to Texas. Here I was, once again, moving away from her. From September to February, we had LOTS of fun planning the wedding. Since the wedding was in NC, and I was already settling into Texas life, mom had to do alot of the ground work. We spoke almost everyday. I think my love got enormously stronger during the week of my wedding. Things were really stressful for me, and the Thursday night before the wedding, I came home late after dropping the wedding party off at my aunt's house, and my mom was still up. It was the first time all day that I got to see her face to face after the craziness of the day...I walked into her room, fell on the bed and just cried, and cried. My mom, in her usual way, held me in her arms and told me everything was going to be ok. She always has the right words to say.

In 2003, I became a mother...I will never forget calling her at 5 AM on April 30th and asking her if I what I was experiencing was labor. See, she was unable to be there for the birth of my firstborn because she was a school teacher. Oh, how I wanted her to be there. I remember all the many, many times I would call her and say, "Mom, if I was anything like Timmy, God Bless You." I quickly realized that being a mother is not an easy task. But I am most proud of the fact, that I now share that title with her. After all of these years, I truly understood a Mother's Love. I understood how hard my mother prayed for us girls. I understood how a mother's love is so unconditional. I understood that no matter what my son did...I could NEVER stop loving him.

In March of 2006, I had a miscarriage. I was at home in NC visiting for Spring Break when it happened. God orchestrated the events to take place in NC...with my mom. See, she had a miscarriage after me, and before my sister...she knew the pain I was going through. No-one else in my family had experienced what I was going through..she knew exactly what to say, and when to say it...but most importantly...she held me when I cried. I know it was breaking her heart to see one of her daughters go through this, but God allowed her to be strong for me.

In September of 2006, I found out I was pregnant again. I called my mom first to tell her...I knew that she would be so happy for me. She retired in May of 2006, so I knew that she would be available to come down for the birth. It's always been a dream of mine to have my mother in the room when my children were born. Since she couldn't be there for Timmy, she promised she would be there for Silas. **I must give further details about the day Silas was born. My mom and husband came with me at 6am to get admitted in the hospital. I was being induced, but I didn't want mom to miss anything. Let me just tell you...my mother was amazing that day! She NEVER left the room unless I MADE her go get herself something to eat. She waited so long to eat meals that day, because she knew I couldn't eat, and she didn't want to eat in front of me. When my progress was slow, and my husband had fallen asleep in the recliner, and I was so frustrated that it was taking so long...my mom was there for me. She helped me get my mind off the slowness and off the renovations going on above our room. When it was time for me to push...she was right there...watching her grandson take his first breath. She stayed with me in the hospital, and even though she was tired, and had been awake as long as I had, she took care of Silas so I could sleep. She stayed with me for 3 weeks after Silas was born, and I will NEVER forget those 3 weeks. My dream had come true for my mother to be there, and it was PERFECT!

The older I get, the more I have to appreciate who my mother is, what my mother has done, and how blessed I am to be able to call her MY Mother. Life for me since I moved to GA has been the hardest road I have ever walked in my life. But the one constant, encouraging thing through it all is my mother. She ALWAYS knows exactly what I need to hear. She ALWAYS thinks about me. And I feel honored that she talks to God about me, because I consider my mother one of the biggest prayer warriors on this planet. From the first memory I have of walking into her room and seeing her praying, she has been consistently walking with the Lord and serving Him. I pray the Lord comes back to earth and takes us ALL home before my mother passes away...because... I don't know if I can live without her.

So Mom, as I sit her sobbing, I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I can't say it enough. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being such a godly mother, Nana, daughter, and friend. I pray that I can raise my boys the way you have raised me and my sisters. Please remember whenever you are having a bad day...that you are TRULY the GREATEST MOTHER I could have EVER dreamed of having.

I miss you and can't wait til you come to GA for a visit! I need some Mama loving! :)

One For the Record Book

This morning on the way to school, Timmy and I engaged in a conversation that went something like this....

Mommy: "What special do you have on Wednesday?"

Timmy: "Art. I don't like art."

Mommy: "Why don't you like art? Are you not an artist?

Timmy: "No, I am a PE-tist."

I about had to pull the car over I was laughing so hard. Timmy's favorite subject, other than Math, is PE! I couldn't believe that he came up with PE-tist on his own. After I asked him about not being an artist, I was afraid I was going to have to explain that word, and he pulls out PE-tist!

He is TOO funny sometimes.

My Baby is 2

In March of 2006, I had my first miscarriage. At that time, I didn't think that I would ever have another baby...but GOD had other plans. I found out in September of 2006 that I was going to have a baby in May of 2007. I was THRILLED! I did not let a day go by that I didn't praise our Father in heaven for allowing me to carry this child another day.

On May 5, 2007, Silas Alexander Lockwood was born. He had the most beautiful head of dark hair that I had ever seen on a baby. He had the chubbiest little cheeks that I could have kissed all night. He looked like an angel sent from Heaven...and he was. All I wanted to do was hold Silas and look at his precious little face. God had given us a beautiful, healthy baby boy! I will never forget the moment that Timmy walked in the room to meet his baby brother. Papa had been watching him at our house while I was in labor. I am so glad that we were able to catch that moment on camera. Timmy was so enthralled with Silas' feet. Everytime someone came into the room to see us, Timmy would say, "Look at this feet. They are so little". A dream had come true for me that day...not only did God give us a healthy baby, but my mom was in the delivery room with me. She got to watch her new grandson come into this world and breathe his first breath. It makes me tear up just writing that because I wouldn't have wanted it ANY other way!

Silas was the BEST baby. He was so laid back and hardly ever cried at all. I had read the book Babywise, and was determined to get Silas on a better schedule than when I had Timmy. And you know what...I didn't even have to try that hard. Silas (on his own) would eat, be alert, sleep, then eat, be alert, sleep. It was like magic. I will never forget that first night holding him in my arms, and being so extremely thankful that God had blessed us with another son. After the pain of the miscarriage, it was like God replaced the feeling of "empty arms" with a perfect baby.

Ed and I have been so blessed with 2 amazing sons that were BOTH born in May. With Silas turning 2 today, I decided to post some pics of Silas' life since he was born.



Happy Birthday Sweet Boy! You truly are a GIFT from GOD!

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week. MckMama has been on a Not Me Monday hiatus while caring for her baby, so I have had PLENTY of opportunities to have NOT ME MONDAY. But these take the cake, and they all happened in the last 4 days.

This week, I did NOT use public bathroom paper towels as a diaper changing pad while I was changing my little one. They did NOT stick to his bum, and I did NOT make more of a mess than if I were to just use the new diaper underneath instead of paper towels.

My little one did NOT fall 4 times in 4 days and he did NOT hit his head all 4 times. He did NOT do this while I was supposed to be watching him, and holding his hand. I did NOT feel bad, and my darling hubby did NOT give me a hard time. One of those times was NOT in Target and I was NOT embarrassed that my little one was screaming bloody murder at the registers while I was trying to make a purchase, and couldn't hear the cashier talking to me. Didn't he know that I was deaf at that point and couldn't hear him trying to make jokes, nor was I in the mood for his unfunny satire.

After the Target incident, I did NOT wake up my little one an hour after he went to sleep. I was NOT worried that he had a concussion when, after picking him up, he wouldn't wake up. I did NOT bring him to my husband worried that I had given my son a concussion. My darling husband did NOT just say my little one's name and he woke right up for him. I was NOT relieved that he didn't have a concussion.

I did NOT fall down more than one time while bowling on Saturday at my son's 6th birthday party. I did NOT get up and act like I did that on purpose. My 6 year old did NOT come and tell me that wasn't the way you were supposed to bowl. I was NOT utterly embarrassed in front of my closest friends and the other strangers who were also bowling on a busy Saturday.

I did NOT forget birthday candles for my son's birthday party, I did NOT forget wrapping paper for my son's presents, and I did NOT make 3 separate trips to the Dollar Store to make these purchases. I always make a list and have great organization about the parties that I throw for my children.

This was my week....how was yours?

My Oldest Turns 6

My oldest son, Timmy turns 6 today! I will never forget May 1, 2003 when he arrived on this earth and gave me the most beautiful name I love to hear... Mother. To honor my boy, I want to post some pics of Timmy through the years. I tried to find birthday pics for each year, but I am missing the 2nd and 4th birthday pictures, so I will just post pictures from during the years of 2 and 4.

When Timmy was little, he didn't like to get his hands dirty. He HATED touching the grass. He HATED having sticky stuff on his hands. So, when it came time for the BIG 1st birthday cake smash...he didn't go for it. I had to put his hand in the cake and then he started crying and shook his hand and got cake all over me. He ended up eating it with a fork.


When Timmy turned 2, we had his party at his Grandma & Grandpa's house in Austin, TX. They had a park on the other side of their fence. We invited all of our friends from church and their little ones. There were actually more adults than children. But Timmy didn't care, he seemed oblivious to the crowd. My cousin was living with us at the time, and she made Timmy an Elmo cake. Timmy was REALLY into Elmo...red has always been his favorite color. I wonder why?



For Timmy's 3rd birthday, we had a pool party at Grandma & Grandpa's pool. Timmy didn't like to get "wet" at first. I had to put water on his arms just so he would get in. After cake, he spent most of the party kissing on his 2 year old cousin, Makayla...they were truly "kissing cousins".


For Timmy's 4th birthday party, I was about to pop with Silas. His birthday is May 1st, and I had Silas on May 5th. So, our friends Matt & Shelly Cook graciously opened up their home and did the party for Timmy. My parents were already here for the birth of Silas, so it helped ALOT to have other hands. I mostly just sat in one place in the kitchen, and the party just happened around me. I wanted to make sure this birthday was special, because for 4 years he was the only child, and I knew with the arrival of Silas, his world was getting ready to be rocked.

For Timmy's 5th birthday, he actually had a tball game that night, so afterward, we went to Mr. Gatti's Pizza and had pizza and then cake. But later that weekend, he had a party with two of his friends from UMHB, Corban and Joshua. He sorta had 2 parties, so I decided to use two pictures.



So, now that Timmy is six...let me give a rundown of what's been happening since his last birthday....

*Spent the summer in Belton, TX playing TBall for the Belton Sea Dogs. He LOVED playing tball...it was probably the highlight of the summer.

*In September, we moved from Belton, TX to Atlanta, GA. I don't think Timmy truly understood what was happening at the time. I think now, in 2009, he is realizing how much he misses Texas.

*We moved in with my best friend, her husband and their little girl Gracyn. Timmy and Gracyn became INSTANT friends.

*He started kindergarted at Welch Elementary. He LOVES school. I never have a problem getting him in the morning. Yeah, I know...he's only 5/6 right. It will get harder as he gets older.

*We moved out of my best friend's house after Timmy's semester ended, and he started going to a different school, Carmel Elementary, in January. Timmy was a little confused why he couldn't have Mrs. Mitchell as his teacher, but he has fallen in love with his new teacher, Mrs. Parker. Now he wants to know why Mrs. Parker can't go to 1st grade.

*He started playing TBall again this spring. It's not a competitive league as the on in Texas, but Timmy still LOVES to play.

I can't wait to see what this year holds. Timmy is really smart and has become very good at conversations. He LOVES any and all superheroes. I wouldn't be able to tell you which one is his favorite. He loves to go to church and learn about God and he ADORES his baby brother to pieces. If you don't know my Timmy....I hope that one day you are blessed with the opportunity to meet him. He really does warm your heart just by being in his presence.

I love you baby boy! Your mine forever!