AI's David Cook

I could simply put this on 'repeat' and listen to it all night long.

The smallest of hands still hold on to life...

This is the picture of a 21-week-old unborn baby named Samuel Alexander Armas, who is being operated on by surgeon named Joseph Bruner. The baby was diagnosed with spina bifida and would not survive if removed from his mother's womb. Little Samuel's mother, Julie Armas, is an obstetrics nurse in Atlanta . She knew of Dr. Bruner's remarkable Surgical procedure. Practicing at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, he performs these special operations while the baby is still in the womb.During the procedure, the doctor removes the uterus via C-section and makes a small incision to operate on the baby. As Dr.Bruner completed the surgery on Samuel, the little guy reached his tiny, but fully developed Hand through the incision and firmly grasped the surgeon's finger. Dr.Bruner was reported as saying that when his finger was grasped, it was the most emotional moment of his life, and that for an instant during the procedure he was just frozen, totally immobile.

The photograph captures this amazing event with perfect clarity. The editors titled the picture, 'Hand of Hope.' The text explaining the picture begins, 'The tiny hand of 21-week- old fetus Samuel Alexander Armas emerges from the mother's uterus to grasp the finger of Dr Joseph Bruner as if thanking the doctor for the gift of life.' Little Samuel's mother said they 'wept for days' when they saw the picture. She said, 'The photo reminds us pregnancy isn't about disability or an illness, it's about a little person.' Samuel was born in perfect health, the operation 100 percent successful.

All I could think of when I read this is of all the women (young and old) who call our office wanting to know if we perform abortions. We don't. But there are those that will perform abortions up to 18 - 21 weeks.

I looked at Planned Parenthood's site and saw this:

Surgical Abortion:
10 days to 4.6 weeks - $550 Fannin, $550 Bryan
5 weeks to 9.6 weeks - $425 Fannin, $480 Bryan
10 weeks to 11.6 weeks - $480 Fannin, $540 Bryan
12 weeks to 13.6 weeks - $625 Fannin, $680 Bryan
14 weeks to 15.6 weeks - $880 Fannin ultrasound only - $100
Price includes everything, no additional charges.
We have limited financial assistance available.
Payment may be made by MasterCard/VISA, Discover, American Express, cash, check, or money order.

I'm not a political person and I don't mean to get into such here. Simply that this is what I'm thinking about today. What I'm praying about today. What I've cried about today.

Please take a moment to lift up all those who are facing unwanted pregnancies today and considering abortion. Pray that their hearts will be open to alternative choices and that God will send someone into their lives that will give them hope.

*To see the actual slide show of little Samuel squeezing the Dr's finger, please visit the photographer's website here.

Good Friday

I can't imagine giving up my boys period, but to do so for people who hated, insulted and ridiculed me...well, as I said, I can't begin to imagine. Thank God, He was able to do so with His Son. And, since Deb put it so much better than I could, please pay her a visit.

Giving God all my heart, soul and thanks for His Son, and wishing a HAPPY EASTER TO YOU ALL.

Playing Catch Up...Again.

All is good here. Things have been a tad more rushed than usual, but it's all good. I'm thankful for all of you who have been concerned about me, y'all are so sweet.

Work is good, still lovin' it. It gets crazy busy sometimes, and still I'm so thankful to have this job! The people I work with are awesome and every patient is an adventure.

I'm in physical therapy for my knee at least twice a week and sometimes three. They say my kneecap is turned to the right and have it bandaged/taped up trying to force it back to the left. I see my Otho surgeon again tomorrow and I'm sure I'll get a great report.

Casey is home for a week! Having my family all together again is always pure joy for me. I love watching my kids together. There is always a lot of laughter in my home, but you put the boys together and it's doubled. Always a smile on my face. God is so good to me. If I were to pass on tomorrow, I've been blessed beyond belief with what I've been given so far. So both the boys are off all week with spring break and they are working for the company their dad works for trying to make some money. Casey, of course, needs it for school and Charlie, of course, needs it for a new amp (lol). I'm proud of them both.

The dating scene...for me...not happening. The man I went out with that I told y'all about did not appreciate that I felt uncomfortable with his hug and kisses in an IHOP parking lot, and I did not appreciate that my feelings were not considered valid. So, there you go. My friends tell me that when I meet someone I'm attracted to, that what happened in the IHOP parking lot will not feel awkward...so I'm waiting for that to happen. Actually, I'm looking forward to that happening, lol. :)

Hope and pray all is well in your worlds.

Love my email from work

Got this in an email that made it's way around my office yesterday. Had to share. :)
**********************************************************

We all know those cute little computer symbols called 'emoticons,' where:

:) means a smile and

:( is a frown.

Sometimes these are represented by

:-)

:-(

Well, how about some 'ASSICONS?'
Here goes:

(_!_) a regular ass

(__!__) a fat ass

(!) a tight ass

(_*_) a sore ass

{_!_} a swishy ass

(_x_) kiss my ass

(_X_) leave my ass alone

(_zzz_) a tired ass

(_E=mc2_) a smart ass

(_$_) Money coming out of his ass

(_?_) Dumb Ass

And...our darlin' little ~deb added this:

(__/__) (__l__) (__\__) <----shaking my ass!

Where's my rule book?

First I want to give y'all a couple of pictures. The first one is from when Casey was home last weekend. Love this picture of Casey.

This next one is of Charlie today. I took him to get his hair cut, and he got it cut in a way that is perfect for the his new color! The picture doesn't really do him justice, he looks so good!

Me...I went on a 'breakfast date' this morning. Nice guy....soft lips. :) The only thing is that I wasn't expecting to find out anything about his lips on a first date and that made me take a step back. Am I old fashioned or what? I called Casey and talked to him about it on the way home. Casey is of the opinion that it was much too forward to kiss me on a first date, even if it was a good bye kiss (okay, a good bye kiss and a half). I've raised a decent kid, huh? Anyway, he doesn't think I should go out with him again. Me...I dunno. I know it's time for me to get out there, and I've met some men that I am interested in getting to know...as friends first. However, when you're kissing first, the friend part is sort of side lined. I think Casey is right, that's moving too fast for me. Can you go backward, rewind time a little? Again...I dunno.