Best. News. Ever.

I only have about 5 seconds, but my dad got the call.... a good call!! He is in the clear!

All his tests came back negative. The cancer is all removed from his back and no cancer cells appeared in any of the lymph nodes that were removed. Wahoo!

Even though it was Stage 1 cancer, it was still cancer and they will watch him. He will still indefinitely be going to the doctor every 3 months to be checked, and has to go back to get his incision checked, but he is doing great!

We are blessed and so grateful that God has lifted this burden and sickness. We pray that it does not return.

Thank you again for all your prayers!

I won.

First of all, thanks for all the sweet messages concerning my dad. It is so encouraging to know that others around me are praying for him too. I hope to share some good results really soon!

Now for some comic relief, I won. Yep. I finally got the Storage Unit to clean our sofas. If you missed my post a few days ago, entitled "Buttholes", our sofas got a little dirty from a "Mice Break-In" into our storage unit. One corner was a little chewed and I was just generally grossed out and wanted them professionally cleaned. Chad, the owner, assured me he would do that. Then, he kept getting "busy" and "didn't have time." That didn't fly well with me because let me tell you something..... I assure you I am a heck of a lot busier than Chad who works 9-5 at a storage unit, okay?!! Well, 32 phone calls later (almost every day) and he finally consented. He just was showing poor business and not sticking to his word. And I have babies crawling on these sofas!! So, just in time before we move in, he finally consented and they are clean!

That's right, I said 32 phone calls. He was on my speed dial and I called him everyday when my kids were the loudest so I could be really annoying. But I am happy. They look and smell brand new. And I won.

Cancer Removed

When tough times hit those you love..... call me old fashioned, call it southern hospitality, but we bring flowers, candy, cards, and chocolate...

we make meals

We love on eachother and spend time together...

And we ask our good Lord to heal, protect, and see us through the storm.

Today, my father had his cancer removed. And although we don't know what tomorrow will bring... we focus on today. And eachother. And family. My sister and fam came into town so it is so great to see them. Surgury went well and we will not hear anything from 1 to 2 weeks on if it has spread anywhere else in his body. Please join us in prayer that he would be cancer free as of today.

I also love the fact that my mom has decorated for Christmas. Upon arrival for dinner many puzzled faces looked upon the Christmas tree. Only for my mom's response of, "It makes me happy." That's all we needed to know. If my husband gets cancer, I'll be danged if anyone tells me I can't decorate and make the house cheery whenever I want. There is something sweet about it being up right now, and I just might be putting my own tree up as well when we move in our new house! I love you Dad, you are the strongest man in the world!

The Best is Yet to Come??

Maybe, just maybe!!

Our house is about 3 weeks away from being finished, my Dad is having his cancer removed on Wednesday, and my sister is coming in town all week... but, more than that... God has given us a happy, positive, peaceful outlook in the midst of trials.

We are ready to have some uphill swing in our life right now, so we are working hard and trusting God that he will see us through!

Thanks for all the phone calls and emails! We might just have the best friends in the world =)

Struggling...

Psalm 34:18

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

28 Turning 55, Laugh it up!

Okay, I did find one picture from my 10 year high school reunion that turned out =) I tend to forget my camera most places I go, or I bring it and just don't take any. Anyway, here is a picture of us at our dinner table! I wish I had taken more pictures with my friends. We had the greatest time and I bonded literally all night with some of my best friends that live far away! Bryan from Miami, and Kelli, Meredith, and Nicole from Birmingham! I already miss you guys so much and hope we can reunite again soon!

I'd also like to officially announce that we are gypsies. Yes, we are moving one more time before we move into our new house, the house renovation. I realize in posting this that:

A. I have no filter anymore for what is appropriate to share and not share.

B. If I were ever embarrassed or cared about what people think about our life..... well, that would have been tossed out the window a while ago!

Here's the deal. My grandmother, read the post below, just got moved into assisted living. So, we are going to have to put her house on the market and sell it. Well, her old house happens to be only 1 mile from Nellie Mae, our house renovation. So... I don't know if timing is everything, but we are going to move in and finish our house. We only have a few weeks left of work on the house...... we think it will go much quicker if we live near it. Right now, we are an hour commute one way to it. Nellie Mae is also right next to Tim's school, which means we will see eachother more. He has been going to school/ work/ working on the house... and we never see eachother. Now, we can work on the house and be 5 minutes from "home." And, with the phase we are entering...."Reconstructive and Interior" it is going to take time to paint, install cabinets, and start putting everything into the house. We will live there for a few weeks and also be packing up my grandmother's things and getting her house ready to sell for her.

There is one catch. It is a brand new house in an Active Adult Community. That's right. Laugh away. We are 28 year olds living in a 55 and up neighborhood. I didn't think our life could get much more awesome, and it just did.

On a for real note, we are sad to leave the "Party House" at the Willis' (Tims parents). They are a fun time. And we will all enter depression from here on out because they literally throw dinner parties, pool parties, tennis parties, parties for parties 24/7. They are the most gracious, sincere, amazing, giving, and all around awesome people out there. You see that instantly when you meet them, but they REALLY live that way behind closed doors. They are even better actually... just amazing people. Living with them has changed us in ways we could have never changed. Their marriage and lives have modeled before us something we'll never forget. We are forever indebted to the love you have shown us and our children. We love you Chef and Momo.