Advent Conspiracy

All I can say is Amen!

(Pause the music to hear the video)

Merry Christmas from the Wade's!!!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

You will need to pause the Christmas music on the right hand side of the page in order to hear the video. Enjoy!

Not Me! Monday

I hope y'all had a great weekend. Ours was fine...busy but fine. So today I am doing my first installation of Not Me! Monday. This is basically where I tell you about things that I would never, ever consider doing. Ever.

I did not let Jackson eat a bowl of shredded cheese for supper Friday night when he wouldn't eat the soup I fixed. Nope. Not me! In no way did I tell Jackson all day on Saturday that Santa was his friend so that he wouldn't be freaked out by Santa later. I have no idea where Jackson picked it up that Santa was his buddy. I wasn't silently thrilled that although we didn't get a smile when we were with Santa, we also didn't get any tears, and I certainly wasn't gloating to myself that not only did my little man walk up to Santa all by himself, he also gave him a high five when he was leaving. That most certainly didn't make me so happy I could have cried!
I absolutely NEVER use reverse psychology on Jackson to get him to do what I want him to do. I never, ever tell him that he better not pick up his toys, and then silently laugh to myself as he cleans up his own mess. He thinks he is such a little rebel! And I wouldn't dare trick Jackson into smiling for the camera or doing something so silly as showing me his adorable Buddha belly. I am so above that!And last but not least, I would never dream of taking Jackson's left over spaghetti from Olive Garden as part of my lunch today. What kind of mother would do that?

For more Not Me! Monday's, visit MckMama and leave your own Not Me! stories.

Happy Birthday Miranda!

I want to wish my good friend in real-life, Miranda, a wonderful Birthday today. We have gotten really close over the last year or so, and she is always there to listen to me run my mouth about something, and even better, she "gets" me. We talk at least 2-3 times a day. I'm really lucky to have gotten to know her. She's great!

Happy Birthday Miranda!!!

I wish I was a bigger person....Really I do!!!

My sweet friend Jeni left me a comment on my post that 2009 has to be better than 2008 has been. She is an Alabama fan and said:

You crack me up. But come now. Auburn has won the last six games. Let's play fair. It was our turn. :) I will honestly say that if Auburn was undefeated as they were last year and Alabama was having a mediocre season, like they were last year, I'd want Auburn to win to keep they're undefeated streak alive. Do you feel the same? Probably not. :) I believe I'm a true-blue Alabama fan, but I guess some would say I'm not after that last statement about actually finding it okay for Auburn to win. I actually felt really bad for Auburn Saturday and was hoping they'd score a field goal or something so the Auburn fans didn't have to come sit in the rain and fog for nothing. There's always next year~! :)

Jeni, I wish I could be bigger about this than I am. Really, I do!!! And I am so proud that you, unlike me, actually have the ability to wish the other team well. I knew you were a good person, and that just goes to show how nice you are. I had a sneaky suspicion y'all were going to win, and you're right...it was your turn, but that doesn't mean that I liked it :) I was miserable on the ride home from Mississippi listening to the AU vs. UA game on the radio. Miserable. Jeremy keeps telling me that I should be happy that a team from Alabama is in line for a National Championship.

I would be if it were my team.

Jeremy says that even though it is Alabama, I should want them to win. You know what I have to say to that....phhhoooeeyyy. I wish I could say that I was okay with Alabama winning tomorrow, but I just can't. The words will just.not.come.out. I have never pulled for Alabama, and as much as I try to imagine it, I just can't. Well, that's not completely fair to say. The only scenario that I have come up with that I would actually be able to pull for Bama would be if Bama were playing a team that consisted of Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barney Frank, and other liberals democrats. Then, and only then, could I see myself pulling for Bama.

I know I'm being silly about this, and not very gracious about losing, and I'm sorry for that. I really am. I will just have to ask forgiveness later for my lack of graciousness and poor sportsmanship. God should be okay with me....after all, he is an Auburn fan. He made the sun orange and the sky blue!

War Eagle and Go Gators!

P.S. Although I can't pull for Alabama, some of my best friends, including those who I am staying with in Denver next week, are HUGE Alabama fans. I especially don't want to offend anyone to the point that I have no place to sleep next week on my trip. So, please know that this post was all in good fun!

So that's what brought you here...

I was checking out my blogpatrol stats, and I found a recurring theme in the google searches that brought people my way. 4 out of 10 searches had something to do with Rick and Bubba. Does that mean something? I promise I'm not a crazed fan or anything. It's not like I would photograph their food or anything. Wait....Never mind.

And as for that last search....I'm not sure I want to know what they were going for, although I am slightly curious as to whether or not they found what they were looking for on my site.

Awww, thanks!

One of my favorite blogs to read, Life in Progress, shared this bloggy award with me. She has an awesome blog that I just love reading, and her family adventures remind me a lot about my own life. There is always something fun going on! So thanks for the fun award!

So now that I have gotten this fabulous bloggy award, I'm supposed to list ten things that make me happy, and pass then I get to pass the bloggy love on. So here's my 10!

1. My husband. Jeremy is wonderful! He loves Jackson and I so much, and we are so lucky to have him in our lives. Jackson adores him, and unlike some men who think it's not manly to love on their sons, Jeremy is very good about telling Jackson (and showing him) how much he loves him. He is an amazing husband who loves me and all my antics unconditionally, and he is always willing to go the extra mile and help out around the house. In a couple of weeks we will celebrate our 7th anniversary, and it has been great. I love you Jer!

2. My little man, Jackson. I love my son. I would do anything for him. It is the best thing ever to be able to watch what a great kid he is turning into. He is growing up so quickly, and he is always giving me something new to love! It's amazing to me that I can carry on full grown up like conversations with him. He told Jeremy "Merry Christmas" this morning and it was just about the sweetest thing ever. I love him, and he makes me so very happy, even when he is a little stinker!

3. Family: We have both got amazing families and we are so lucky that we grew up in Christian homes with wonderful parents and siblings. I know it sounds cheesy, but I love our families!

4. Friends: I love my friends...my real-life friends and bloggy friends. It's amazing to think that there are people out there that I count as a friend, and we have never even met. I even share prayer requests from my bloggy friends in my Sunday School class. I love y'all that much!

5. My faith: I am so glad that I truly believe in something bigger than me, and that is God. I may not understand everything that God allows to happen, but I know that it is happening for a reason. I take that to heart!

6. Bring the Rain. I heart this blog. She is amazing, and just blesses me with her words of inspiration.

7. Christmas. The music. The traditions. The food. The Christmas story (both the movie and the birth of Jesus). It's all great. I haven't done hardly any shopping (and by that I mean that I have only bought 1 present), but I'll get around to it. Eventually. Like the 24th...

8. I'm going to Denver in only 8 days. Whoooo-hooooo! Can you tell how excited I am? Seeing great friends again, my first trip anywhere by myself, and I'm even excited about the little bag of peanuts that I'm gonna get on the airplane. I.Can't.Wait.

9. OnStar. I told you yesterday how much I love their commercials. I meant it. OnStar makes me very happy. It is practially the best invention ever.

10. Orville Redenbacher's new Lime and Salt popcorn. It is heavenly. Imagine a tasty blend of Mexican restaurant meets just perfectly salty popcorn. I don't know why I think of a Mexican restaurant when I think of limes. It must be that I'm thinking of a margarita. Who cares? You MUST try this popcorn.

So those are 10 random things that make me happy. I am now going to share this award with a few of my favorite bloggers. Drum roll please......

Grits With Cheese

Sweet Home Alabama

Life With Gracelynn

Keeping Up With the Jones'

Graham Shenanigans

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom! I hope you have an amazing day. I love you!!

12 Days of Christmas

This is amazing! I heard it on Rick and Bubba yesterday morning, and I happened to find a video of it today. The Christmas in Africa part is my favorite. Just pause the music on the right side of the page and then you can hear it. I hope you enjoy!

So here's what I'm thinking...

• When a toddler insists that you let him brush YOUR teeth all by his little self, your teeth will not feel minty fresh for very long.
• When one spouse is having a hard time sleeping, then neither spouse will be able to sleep for all the tossing and turning that is a result.
• Am I the only person that loves the OnStar commercials? I get choked up just thinking about the one where the 8 month pregnant lady gets in a car crash and the sweet OnStar Angel Advisor connects the pregnant lady's husband to her immediately because her cellphone is now out of reach and then the pregnant lady and her husband both start crying because they are so relieved that she is okay. I get teary eyed just thinking about it. They are kinda like those sappy Hallmark commericals, only Hallmark can't deploy an ambulance to me if I have a crash. I love my OnStar.
• I have about eleventy billion Christmas presents to buy and I have currently bought exactly ONE. I'm a little behind the curve here.
• I'm counting down the days until my Denver trip. Only 9 more days!!!

I guess that's about it. What are you thinking about today?

2009 has got to be better than this...

This has been a hard year for me. First I had to deal with this: and now I have had to deal with this: Obama and then Alabama.

Sheesh. How much more can a girl take?

2009 has got to be better than this...

Today's the Day...

We have been having an awesome time with Jeremy's family here in Mississippi. The food has been awesome, but more important than that, we have had a great time with his family. After I made Jeremy go shopping with me yesterday, the whole family went bowling (I stunk it up big time), and then last night we attempted our annual family picture. It was pouring outside, so we ended up in front of the Christmas tree. Jackson wasn't the most cooperative thing ever, but I think we ended up with something we were all happy with. Today we will be heading over to Jeremy's grandparents house (Mamaw and Papaw) for the big family lunch before we head home after a great visit.

And today is the day....the Iron Bowl. If you are not from the South, then you probably don't know what I'm talking about, but the rivalry between Auburn and Alabama is huge! In fact, it has been a sore spot in the Wade family for a few months now. Anyways, today is practically the ONLY game that matters for either team for the entire year. Auburn has won the last 6 years, and we are pushing to make it a 7 year streak. And I hate to say it, but since Alabama may be slightly good this year and Auburn may be just about terrible, Auburn has nothing to lose by going all out and giving it their best. So WARRRRRR Eagle!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just wanted to stop and say Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. As Americans we have so much to be thankful for, and it is great to just stop and reflect on the blessings of life. God, family, friends, homes, jobs, church, food, and living in the best country in the world! Our list could go on and on. We are so richly blessed! So enjoy every thing that today is about: family, good food, traditions, parades, and yes, even football!

As you contemplate the things in life you have to be thankful for, don't pay me any attention. I'm just unbuttoning my pants because I ate too much!

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!

One major crisis averted, only to turn around and walk right into a mini-crisis of sorts

For me trying to get into my house around 5:00 after work with a squirmy preschooler in tow, the mail, his backpack, lunch box, my purse, and whatever else I happen to have with me is very similar to how it would be if you were trying to herd cats. It is always an adventure, and you are never really sure if you aren't going to get your eyes scratched out in the process. By that time of the evening I am tired, I have to potty really bad, and my feet are killing me. It's always a mad dash to get out of my work clothes, and into something that is actually comfortable.

I made it into our house yesterday with no real problems, and I headed back to my bedroom to get changed from my work clothes. Jackson was hanging out in my room and from my bathroom and closet I hear him rustling around getting into something. I decided to poke my head into my room to see what he was up to, and I spotted him standing on this giraffe thingy in my room and checking out stuff on my dresser. It didn't concern me much, and I headed back into my bathroom to finish getting changed. As I walked away, I heard Jackson mumbling something. Not being able to hear him, I called back him and said, "What did you say?" Jackson said, "I found my lotion." Y'all, we don't usually keep Jackson's lotion on my dresser so I immediately turned tail and walked back into my room to find out what he had gotten his hands on. Imagine my shock when I spotted Jackson holding this...

That would be super glue. Can't you just hear my acceptance speech as "Mother of the Year" award had he gotten the lid off the tube. I can also hear me trying to explain the situation to Jeremy. It would have been priceless!

Once I got the superglue out of his hands I convinced him to come into the bathroom area with me. Jackson scaled the side of my garden tub and started to play with some of his tub toys. Imagine my delight when Jackson picked up a watering can that just happened to be completely full of ice cold water from the night before and proceeded to dump it all over himself. You should have seen his face! I couldn't help but laugh as I did what any blogging mama would do: run to get my camera. I just couldn't pass it up! Y'all, the kid was saturated from his chest down. By the time I made it back with the camera, he had already gotten one of his water logged shoes off, but he was willing to ham it up for a minute so I could get his picture. I literally had to pour water out of his shoes and wring his jeans out.

Jackson is such a mess! I was telling Miranda about it last night and she was shocked that he could think of so many things to get into. I swear it's a boy thing! He is always looking for his next adventure, and I can only imagine what he's gonna come up with next. At least I know that he will always keep me entertained and on my toes. Stay tuned!!

The Gift of $5

$5 is practically nothing these days. It's one fast food meal out. 2 drinks at Starbucks. The cost of a movie rental. A gallon of milk. A few months ago it was almost the cost of 1 gallon of gas. $5 doesn't go as far as it used to, but for some people, $5 could make all the difference in the world. $5 could buy 2 pairs of shoes for people who don't have any.

Soles4Souls is having a campaign to raise 50,000 pairs of shoes in 50 days to be given to people all over the world who don't have something as simple as a pair of shoes. They are given to people who are victims of disaster, or are simply not able to afford shoes. Children. Adults. Anyone who needs a pair of shoes. I headed up a shoe drive in our church this past April and we got together 627 pairs of shoes to donate to this amazing organization, so I fully support this worthwhile organization.

I don't know about you, but I can waste $5 on tons of stuff that isn't nearly as tangible as a pair of shoes for someone that doesn't have any. I made a simple decision that I can skip a few fast food meals in order to give someone something as important as shoes. I would be ashamed if I didn't.

It's only $5. What are you waiting for? Go make someone's day!

Bronx Mowgli Wentz

I hate to say it, but the newborn son of Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and her husband Pete Wentz has been given just about the worst name I have ever heard of. What's up with Hollywood naming their kids such disastrous names? Coco, Kal-el Coppola, Pilot Inspektor, Fifi-Trixibelle, Peaches, Little Trixie, Honeyblossom, Apple. I could go on and on. It's not that I hate the name Bronx (by itself it is an okay name), but with their last name it is hard to say...but Mowgli? Seriously? From the Jungle Book? You have got to be kidding us....You have nine months to come up with the perfect lifelong name for your child and that's the best you can do? I can only imagine my Mom and Mother-in-law's reaction if I told them that their future grandchild's middle name was going to be Mowgli. It would have been priceless!

The whole name is just ridiculously silly, and that's all I have to say about that. For now.

The song that never ends

Last night on our way to Pri-Med I once again asked Jackson what he wanted Santa to bring him for Christmas. It seems I am a glutten for punishment.

Me: "Jackson what do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?"
Jackson: "Monster Trucks."
Me: "What else do you want?"
Jackson: "Cars."
Me: "What else?"
Jackson: "Monster Trucks."
Me: "What else?"
Jackson: "Cars."
Me: "Anything else?"
Jackson: "Monster Trucks."

Jeremy told me that we should be grateful for a child that only wants 2 things for Christmas. Shopping it would seem for Jackson at least, should be easy this year...he just better learn to like his completely gender neutral itchenkay. Santa worked hard putting that thing together.

It’s just that déjà vu thing all over again

Last night Jackson pitched the biggest fit we have seen in awhile. He was mad, and nothing was making him happy. He was saying his back was hurting, his tummy was hurting, he had a cough, and oddly enough, he was walking around with a slight limp. It really scared both of us, and I really don’t think that I have ever seen him this upset. Jeremy and I quickly got ready to take him to Pri-Med and then, just in an instant, he quit. No more tears, no fussing, nothing. The kid was fine. I decided that we should go ahead and take him to the doctor just to ease my mind. So we packed up and headed to the doctor around 6:30. We finally got back there, told the nurse about his episode, that he has had no fever, and we were basically just there to check on the cough. After a quick strep test from the nurse, we waited for the doctor.

Diagnosis: Strep Throat

It really wasn't surprising since I had strep last week. The Doctor was great, and he told us that he wanted to just cover all his bases and do a quick chest x-ray on Jackson. After waiting a few minutes the doctor came back.

New Diagnosis: Strep Pneumonia

Yes, you read that right. Our little man has strep AND the beginning stages of pneumonia , which is then appropriately called strep pneumonia. The doctor actually said that if we had come in any earlier, that the pneumonia wouldn't have even shown up on the x-ray. So, all things considered, we got really lucky with this one. Jackson didn't show ANY normal strep symptoms considering that we knew he had been exposed when I got strep last week. No strep, no fever….just a slight cough. So Jackson will have 10 days worth of antibiotics, and be just as good as new. So, Moms, just watch out for those less-than-normal symptoms. Sometimes they just sneak right up on you, even when you are watching carefully. Oh, and we got home last night at 10:00. That's fun. Anyways, I catch up with you later gaters!

The missing picture returns

I love this picture. I just thought I would share.

So.Much.Fun.

Rick Burgess, one of the co-hosts of the Rick and Bubba show was our keynote speaker at a work function last night. One of his good friends, Kevin Derryberry was the worship leader. I think it has been well noted on my blog that I LOVE Rick and Bubba. I met them here and here, and I still can't get enough of them! After my wonderful boss heard what a huge fan I was of the show, he allowed me to be one of the point persons for Rick's speaking engagement. So I got to hang out with Rick and Kevin in the green room before the event started for about an hour. It was probably the one and only time I will ever get to sit in a green room, and it was AMAZING! Rick was such a nice and normal guy, and Kevin and his backup group were so also great. I had a blast hanging out with them. I tried not to be too much of a groupie so I didn't take my camera with me into the room. I didn't want to be too much of a dork. Then the event started and it was so powerful. It was truly a worship experience, and the music and message were definitely inspiring and God led. It was a great night!

Me and Rick

The Green Room sign. I figured since it was probably the only time I would ever be privy to a green room, I had to get a picture.

And because I just had to do it....This is Rick's leftover's from supper that I snuck back in to get a picture of and NO, I did not take anything off his plate. I'm not that crazy. Yet.

P.S. The last picture is a joke. Yes, it is a picture of Rick's plate, but I only did it to make Jeremy say, "Amy, you cannot put that on your blog."