Alright, so I have failed at keeping up the blog. So, I'm not even going to lie and say "I'm going to write more." because we all know I won't. I'll try. But, well, life gets in the way sometimes.
As it is, I'll update you on the life and times of Audrey.
Job is going great. No one really believes it but I do care about my employees and want to make things better for them. However, my hands often times get tied. But I do what I can when I can and hope that I have somehow made a difference.
The kids are great. The dog is too. The rats need a new home. We survived the tornados and Tropical Storm Lee. The Durango didn't fare so well after Lee however. She will be getting a new windshield and hood next week.
No matter how much I dislike it, I'm single. And I'm ok with that...now.
So, that is it for now. I'll update again soon. Maybe next week, maybe tomorrow or heck, it may even be 2 years from now. Who knows? :-)

New year...new me.

Seriously, I'm going to do better this year. I really will post more frequently and I will add more pictures. (Or I'll try. But we all know how I am.)

I begin the weight loss challenge on Monday. The ladies ministry at church-THE DIVAS- are all taking part in the challenge. We are partnered into to teams of 2 to see which  team can loose the highest percentage of weight. Not sure of the time frame yet but my personal goal is 50 pounds by May and 30 more by August. I'll be keeping the blog updated with my progress.

Tonight is date night for the Bug and me. Dinner at Olive Garden (My last hoo-rah before the diet) and a movie. He is growing up so fast. It seems like just yesterday that he was my cuddly little baby. Now he's almost as tall as I am. 

I don't like it I tell ya. Not one little bit!

In the past week, I've had to realize that ALL of my babies are growing up. Ethan turned 14 last Saturday. 14-one four- almost driving... Where did the time go? He is now in that stage of "yeah mom, I love you just don't make me say it or show in front of my friends." That makes me sad. He's growing up, getting girlfriends, having voice changes and GROWING FACIAL HAIR!!!!!!!!!

His face illustrates how I feel about that whole growing up thing.


AND BELLA.......Dear Lord Baby Jesus, thank you for blessing me with a beautiful daughter but couldn't you have made her ugly?! And less curvy? Geez! By the way, the kids growing up thing doesn't stop with the boys. BELLA IS TURNING 15 ON MONDAY!!! She'll be able to drive! Worse yet, she reminded me a few days ago that I had told her that she could double date when she turned 15. Is it too late to say I was drugged when I said that?

Where can I get a tower to lock her away in until I'm ready to let her grow up?

Ok so that's a little update. Later!

Peace and love!

OUCH!

Tuesday of last week was a painful day. Followed only by an even more painful Wednesday. For the last few years, my hips have been a pain-literally. I can be walking along & one will pop and then hurt for hours or as the case was on Wednesday-sometimes, it will dislocate completely then realign itself causing unbearable pain from my waist to my toes.
When I left work Wednesday, my toes on my right foot were numb and a slow moving tingling sensation was creeping up my leg to my thigh. I finally found a chiropractor who could see me and by the time I drove to his Alabaster office from Homewood, I was in tears. 5 minutes of paperwork, a series of xrays, 10 minutes of electric therapy and a quick adjustment-I could at least walk without literally dragging my leg behind me. So it was doctor ordered "taking it easy" for the weekend. completely shot my plans for a surprise visit to my mom because I couldn't drive longer than 2 or 3 miles before I started getting numb again.
So this morning, I visited Dr Weber again and the xrays revealed that my left pelvic bone is @ an inch smaller than the right. which causes me to walk "off center" and causes my hips to hurt and dislocate. OUCH!!! after discussing options for treatment, I had a 15 minute session with the electric therapy unit and then a quick and slightly painful adjustment.
THEN IT HAPPENED!!!!!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!! I CAN TOUCH MY TOES!!!! (which was really exciting since I couldn't even bend slightly on Wednesday)

I know lots of people say that chiropractors are "quacks" and that its a waste of money. But I can promise you that its money well spent. Well, for me anyway.

On a less painful note....one of my bestest friends came to spend the weekend with me! We had so much catching up to do. It was so great to spend time with someone who I haven't seen in over a year. She went to church with me Sunday to OMCC and thanks to Pastor Geno's message; she was able to let go of some old pains and regrets and realized that God loves her no matter what. I love you girl! And I am so proud of you!

Well, I guess its time for hugs & goodnight kisses for the kiddies, prayer time and then slumber.

Peace, love and blessings!
A

A really long and random update....

So in the last few weeks we've had some pretty eventful times in the House of Odd. (was that a really bad B movie? I can't remember but anyway...)

My Pastor opened up the door for pranks when he poured water over all of our heads on the last day of VBS. So of course, I told him to expect retribution when he least expected it. This is what happens when Jerri, Tonya and I are up to no good.

We are all waiting on his next prank on us. No worries though, we have more where this came from.

This is one of the cutest babies on the planet! Julianne helped us out at the fund raiser car wash we held at Burger King.

The car wash was a huge success as was the yard sale the next weekend.

The kids all took turns holding signs by the road.

Liz & Josh: one of the Attic's guys and his beautiful mom.

Rod was the grill master!

While we sold massive quantities of stuff, we also decided to have another car wash. Wheeler wrecker was a BIG help by sending the roll-back out to be cleaned up.

Of course, they also had a good time with the 100 foot slip & slide.

Josh even used cookie Monster to draw in customers.

Stay tuned for the Bowl a thon happenings next week. If anyone wants to donate to the Attic give me a call!

And on the home front...the kids are all excited about school starting on the 12th. I'm not so excited. Not only did I pay over $300 for school fees (that doesn't include sports fees) but my baby girl is starting HIGH SCHOOL!!! I am not ready for that. At all. She is super ecstatic about being on the color guard for the band. I'm pretty psyched about it too!

Ethan is planning on trying out for the golf team and track & field. No rest for mom...

Bug is ready to start 5th grade. He thinks he may want to play soccer. Or baseball. Or maybe just take art. He really hasn't decided.

As for me...I am getting old. No really-I am. Or at least my hips are. As I type, I am wearing a TENS unit which is sending electric shocks through my hip and lower back to lessen the pain I'm feeling from the pinched nerve I managed to get when my hip dislocated then popped back into place again. Fun times. So I'm hobbling around for the next few days. WOOHOO!!!!

I think that just about sums up the last couple of weeks. OH!! I forgot! we rescued a baby blue jay that fell from the tree in our backyard. It looked like a teeny tiny featherless blue chicken. It was really kinda gross. It is now at Oak Mountain Animal rescue center.  

I hope you are all having a great week! See you later!

Blessings,

Odd

What a busy week! I'll update soon but suffice it to say there has been praise, pictures, saran wrap and bubbles involved!

Short Sunday post

Great service this morning! Thank you brother LaDon for reminding us that we have to keep believing.

We are getting geared up for loads of find raising for our youth trip. Car wash this weekend at Burger king in Alabaster. we are asking for a $5 donation for each car washed. Thank you BK manager Valerie for supporting our youth.
Next weekend there will be a church wide yard sale at my house in Saginaw. Everyone come out  and find some really good deals on clothes, housewares, tools, etc.
And our final fund raiser will be a bowl-a-thon on August 31st at Vestavia Bowl. The kids are all asking for pledges for each pin they knock over. (10 cents per pin X 100 pins= $10) or just straight up donations will work too!

I'm uber excited about this trip!

Much love everyone!
Audrey

Today I needed this more than ever.

Thank you Amy Badalalalala. It seems that anytime I start doubting myself and my world seems to be falling in...a friend sends me an uplifting message. 


My Child, There's no way to slip through life, dodging the hard things. Trouble is as inevitable as breathing. Ever since sin came into my creation, that's how it's been. People who live their lives trying to incubate themselves from painful experiences will find themselves so busy hiding from reality that they will miss the spontaneous joy of trusting me in the moment. So when hard times come to you, hold on to the fact that I am with you in the midst of everything. And also keep Heaven in your heart. In Heaven all the struggles will finally be over. And I'll personally wipe away every tear you've ever cried. The Lord of Now and Forever. God