My Precious Kitty Bobby!!

ATTENTION SPRING HILL RESIDENTS!!

PLEASE HELP ME FIND MY KITTY!!!!

As some of you know, my precious kitty Bobby went missing a couple of weeks after we moved a few months ago. Since that time, we have looked for him but have feared that he met his Maker somewhere out in the woods around our new house. However, recently my friend Jennifer has spotted a kitty matching Bobby's description near our old neighborhood, and I am on a desperate search to find this kitty she has seen and determine if it IS indeed my precious Bobby. I have always heard that sometimes animals try to return to their old home after being moved, and I am wondering if this may be the case with my precious Bobby.

The thing that makes me think this kitty may be my Bobby is that the kitty Jennifer has seen has a bobbed tail, and my precious Bobby does too! He is a small, black, short-haired kitty with a bobbed tail (about 2 in. long), and I don't suppose there are many other cats in Spring Hill that can match that description, especially in the vicinity of our old neighborhood.


In an effort to find this kitty that Jennifer has seen, I have been sending emails to folks asking them to be on the lookout for the kitty, too. I need LOTS of eyes looking for him! He has been seen near Burtonwood and most recently at Wyngate (which is the subdivision right next to our old subdivision, Ridgeport). I figured I would post this on my blog too because it will post on Facebook as well. If you see a kitty matching the description of my Bobby, PLEASE CALL ME!! My number is 615-974-1324, and you can call ANYTIME!! If you spot the kitty I am looking for, I need to be able to get to him quickly to see if he will come to me! Bobby is a skittish little cat, so he most likely would not come to anyone other than me.

THANK YOU for helping me look for this kitty!! If you know me at all, you know how much I ADORE my pets. I have been heartbroken since Bobby went missing, and I desperately want to find this other kitty to see if it might be him! PLEASE pass this on to anyone you know who lives in Spring Hill! I need LOTS of eyes looking for this cat! THANKS AGAIN!!!

Michelle

Our New House

Well, after being in our new house for a few months, it finally feels like a "home." We have been working hard hanging curtains and pictures, and while we still have a few things to do we are feeling much more settled. Here are a few pics of the new place and feel free to stop by anytime! :)

The den.

View of den from upstairs balcony.

Master bedroom.

Sydney's room (aka the Pink Palace).

Sydney's playroom (aka the 4th bedroom).

Guest bedroom.

Kitchen.

Dining room (it's more of a terracotta color than UT orange!).

Bonus room.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

WOW! Has it really been 4 months since I have blogged?!?! Crazy!! Things have been a little nuts for us the past few months. We bought a new house (I will post pics at some point!), we had to get our old house ready to sell, and we have been crazy busy with life in general. I promise to do better with my blogging in the future! For now, I just want to share one little story about something that happened with Sydney tonight....

At bedtime, like most parents do with their children, I say prayers with Sydney. I pray a simple prayer thanking God for various things, and I always thank Him for Jesus. Sydney doesn't usually close her eyes, and she rarely even acts like she is paying attention to what I am doing (gotta love a toddler!). Well, I guess she pays closer attention to my simple prayers than I think she does because tonight when I got finished Sydney closed her eyes, put her hands together, and started to pray ON HER OWN! It was the sweetest thing I have ever heard! She said in a very, very quiet voice, "Dear God, thank you for the world, thank you for Nana and Paw Paw and Grammy and Ga Ga, thank you for Jesus." Tears welled in my eyes as I listened to this special little conversation my daughter was having with God. I could not have been more proud of my precious angel!

Thank you, God, for the beautiful gift of my daughter, and may I never forget that EVERYTHING I do impacts her life. May I be the Godly parent that You want me to be. Amen.

Somebody Call 911!!

A few weeks ago we had some family pictures made. It was a perfect day for pictures (one of the VERY FEW sunny days in May!), and the photo session went great......... until the end!

When we finished the photo shoot, I was paying Jadie, the photographer. Todd set Sydney on the front seat of the car for "just a second" and shut the door while he walked around to the other side to open another door, get her in the back of the car, and buckle her into her car seat. In the short time that it took Todd to walk around to the other side of the car, Sydney managed to push the button to lock the car doors.......... with the keys inside!! Our first thought was, "Oh, crap!!" which was quickly followed by a hurried request to Jadie to please call 911 (our cell phones were in the car, too)!!

Now, you would think that Sydney would get scared being locked in the car. NOT!!! She just started laughing, pulling things out of my purse ("Look, Mom! Gum!!"), ejecting CDs out of the CD player, and whatever else she could get in to. We were banging on the door screaming,"Push the button to unlock the doors!! Push the button to unlock the doors!!" to which she just grinned and shook her head, "NO!!" In the meantime, it was getting hot (remember, this was on one of the few sunny days we had in May!), so we knew we needed to get Sydney out of the car soon!! Jadie was so nice and remained pretty calm while on the phone with 911. I don't know what we would have done without her!

After a few minutes of fun in the car, Sydney picked up the car keys off the front seat, and we started screaming, "Push the button on the alarm!! Push the button on the alarm!!" while praying she would not push the panic button on it! The last thing we needed was for her to push the panic button on the alarm and make the car start honking loudly!!

FINALLY, Sydney pressed the button to unlock the car doors! I have never moved so fast in my life to get those doors OPEN!!!!! Jadie was still on the phone with 911, so she was able to cancel the call (we assured them that Sydney was fine, and there was no need for them to come). The entire ordeal lasted about 5 minutes, but it felt like an ETERNITY! Needless to say, we will NEVER put Sydney in the car for "just a second" while the keys and cell phones are in there with her!

Before the chaos of the locked car, we did have a really great photo shoot. Here are some pictures to enjoy:












The photographer's name is Jadie Thomas, and her website is http://www.jadiethomasphotography.com/. She is AWESOME!!

TheHopeLine Excitement Continues!!

I cannot even begin to tell you how exciting (and scary!!) things are at TheHopeLine right now!! God is blessing our ministry in ways that we never dreamed possible, and He is bringing the Dawson McAllister Live radio show to HUGE markets nationwide! The latest news around the TheHopeLine is that the DM Live show will begin airing in 6 MAJOR MARKETS on June 28th- NEW YORK CITY, BOSTON, PHILADELPHIA, CHICAGO, SEATTLE, AND PORTLAND (OR)!!!! Words cannot express how absolutely INCREDIBLE this opportunity is for helping the youth of today!!

Along with the amazing news of the expansion of the DM Live show comes an ENORMOUS NEED FOR HOPECOACHES FOR THEHOPELINE!! While we currently have thousands of teens and young adults listening to the DM Live show, once the show begins airing in these new major markets (not to mention the OTHER 40-50 stations nationwide that could be adding the DM Live show in the next few months!), we will have MILLIONS of young people tuning in to the show!! Yes, I said MILLIONS!! Just think about the populations of these big cities and the impact that the DM Live show could have on the young people in these areas!!

Despite how exciting the addition of these new radio stations is, it is also daunting to think about how many more young people will be calling TheHopeLine each week. We have a wonderful, dedicated staff of HopeCoach volunteers, and they do an AMAZING job with the young people who contact TheHopeLine, but WE NEED MORE!! Potentially, we could need HUNDREDS more!!

I say all of this to ask you to please pray for two things for TheHopeLine. First, please pray for the radio show, that it will continue to be a bridge between young people and Christ. Dawson is limited in how much he can talk about God on the radio because the show airs on secular stations, BUT there is no limit to how much volunteers at TheHopeLine can talk to kids about God when they call in or chat online with us! Please pray that young people will hear the show and be drawn to contacting TheHopeLine. Second, please pray that volunteers will come forth to serve on TheHopeLine. Young people can contact TheHopeLine from 7 PM to 5 AM CST Sunday-Thursday nights and 7 PM to midnight CST on Friday and Saturday nights. As I stated before, WE NEED HOPECOACHES to talk on the phone or chat online with the young people who contact TheHopeLine!!

If you feel God calling you to volunteer with TheHopeLine, PLEASE CONTACT ME!! You can call me at (931) 489-6057 or email me at mryan@dmlive.com. You can also visit http://dmlive.com/ to find out about the Dawson McAllister Association, the Dawson McAllister Live radio show, and TheHopeLine. You can visit http://www.volunteer.thehopeline.com/ if you wish to apply to be a HopeCoach. Even if you can only volunteer for one hour a week, we need you!!

Please know that the MOST IMPORTANT THING we need at TheHopeLine is prayer! We need people praying for us daily! As our ministry continues to grow and expand, Satan will try to attack us wherever he can. We need to be covered in prayer in order to defeat him! Young people need to hear about God, about Jesus Christ, and about salvation today more than ever before. Please pray for TheHopeLine as we strive to reach teens and young adults for Christ! Thank you for your prayers!!

Exciting Things at TheHopeLine!!

As some of you know, I work for the Dawson McAllister Association as the Volunteer Program Coordinator for TheHopeLine ministry. There are some really exciting things going on with TheHopeLine that I wanted to share with you all! The following is a copy of a memo that Dawson sent out today about the happenings at DMA and the urgent need for prayers from fellow Christians:

Tomorrow (Thursday, May 28th) is an urgent day of prayer for our ministry. In my 41 years of ministry, I promise you what I am about to tell you can only be described as a God-given opportunity...

The LORD has given us astounding favor with Clear Channel radio (the largest chain of radio stations in the world). Top executives there are actively encouraging stations to begin airing Dawson McAllister Live. This push on our behalf began a couple of weeks ago and has already resulted in commitments from stations in Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburg, St. Louis, Columbus and Portland. A few days ago, one Clear Channel executive told me we could see up to 50 more stations, some from very large markets, signing on in the next few weeks. Friends, I do not say this lightly, this is a miracle. Our listening audience could multiply times three by the end of the summer. Please start your prayers with praise and thanksgiving for what God is doing for America's teenagers and young adults.

This miracle also brings us a huge challenge. When our listening audience triples, our HopeLine will need to triple its capacity to answer calls and chats. Pray that hundreds volunteers would be moved to become HopeCoaches, and that our staff will have the wisdom and energy to manage this God ordained growth.

Third, like many churches and ministries the rapid fall of the economy has hurt us financially. Gifts are down from last year, yet God has chosen this moment to grow our impact by 300%. Here's the bottom line. We need $110,000 by Friday to finish our bills and make payroll this month. Pray that God will provide at least the $110,000 we need now, and some indication of how we will fund this opportunity in the weeks and months ahead.

Finally, pray that my staff and I will rise to the occasion of what is happening. That God will give us wisdom and courage to do our best with every radio station, every dollar, and every volunteer He sends us. Up to today, God has met all of our needs. We are grateful for His faithfulness. He has already answered your powerful prayers of the past. In confident dependence, join us in trusting that God, according to His perfect plan, will provide all we need to Reach, Rescue and Restore America's young men and women to the Father who loves them so much.

I can't thank you enough for your urgent and heartfelt prayers. Let us agree together, that what God did for the children of Israel, He will also do for us. "By day the Lord went ahead of them in a cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light so that they could travel by day or night." Exodus 13:21

In the midst of opportunities and challenges like we have never seen before, may God find us faithful. Stay tuned...

Your Friend,
Dawson

I am super excited to be a part of such an awesome ministry! God is working miracles daily as we strive to reach thousands of teenagers and young adults for Christ! As I stated above, I serve as the Volunteer Program Coordinator for TheHopeLine. This means that I guide applicants through the application process to serve as HopeCoaches on TheHopeLine. If you feel God calling you to serve on TheHopeLine, please visit our volunteer website at http://www.volunteer.thehopeline.com/. You can also contact me directly at mryan@dmlive.com or (931) 489-6057. TheHopeLine is open 7 nights a week beginning at 7 PM CST, and we need volunteers whenever we can get them!

Please keep TheHopeLine and the Dawson McAllister Association in your prayers in the coming weeks and months. Our financial need is great, but God has sustained us so far in these tough economic times, and He WILL provide for our needs. Our need for volunteers is also great, but we are confident that Godly men and women will come forth and volunteer with TheHopeLine. God is truly working miracles at DMA, and I can't wait to see what other miracles await us!!

P.S. Check out http://dmlive.com/ to find out more about the Dawson McAllister Association, the Dawson McAllister Live show, and to find out if the show airs in your area (if you live in the Nashville area, it airs on 107.5 The River on Sunday nights at 10 PM)!

The Worst Mommy in the World!!

Have you ever had a day when you wished you could get a "do-over," a chance to go back and redo something you did (or in my case, something you did NOT do!)?? Well, today was one such day, and it left me feeling like the worst mommy in the world!

Sydney's last day of school is this Wednesday, the 20th. When I picked her up from school today, there were a few things that I noticed that made me realize I had goofed BIG TIME today. First, in Sydney's backpack I noticed a little goodie bag. I thought to myself, "Oh, how nice! Someone gave Peeps a goodie bag on one of her last days of school for the year!"

I didn't think much else about this little incident until we got home, and I started going through Sydney's backpack and lunchbox. I noticed that she hadn't eaten any of her lunch, even the cookie I had promised I would pack for her at breakfast this morning. I couldn't believe Sydney hadn't eaten! Then, I noticed her sippy cup was filled with juice, and I had sent her to school with milk. The pieces of the puzzle then started coming together, and I thought, "Oh, no!!"

I then looked at Sydney's activity sheet for the day. Her teachers send home a sheet every day that tells what the children did that day, what they learned, if they ate/slept, etc. The first thing I saw was, "We had a great party today!" My heart immediately sank, and I realized what I had done. I had forgotten Sydney's end of the year party!! I thought the party was going to be on Wednesday!! I immediately ran upstairs to look at one of the activity sheets from last week, and on it plain as day it said, "Our end of the year party will be on Monday, May 18th!" How could I have overlooked this?!?! How could I have forgotten Sydney's FIRST end of the year school party?!?!

It was then that I realized (1) the goodie bag was from the party, (2) Sydney did not eat the lunch I had packed for her because they provided lunch for the children, and (3) there was juice in Sydney's sippy cup because they always have juice at their parties. Sydney had fallen asleep in the car on the way home from school, and as I looked at my precious angel sleeping so peacefully, I felt like the worst mommy in the world, like I had let my baby down on a very special day for her. What did her teachers think of me, what if I was the only mommy that was not at the party, what if Sydney felt left out because her mommy was not there today?? I called Todd, then my mom, and just about cried. I later apologized to Sydney for forgetting her party, to which she replied, "Mommy miss party?" I'm not sure she really realized what had happened (at least let's hope not!).

The ironic thing about this whole episode is that just last night I finished reading a book my mom gave me for Mother's Day (my mom is so sweet that she gives ME gifts for Mother's Day!). The book is called "Mommy Grace: Erasing Mommy Guilt," and it is written by Sheila Schuller Coleman, daughter of Robert Schuller (pastor of Crystal Cathedral in California). The book contains short stories of Sheila's own experiences with guilt as a mom trying to raise four boys, as well as a few stories of other moms who have dealt with guilt as they have tried their best to raise happy, healthy, children. The book is all about realizing the grace of God even when we make mistakes with our children. I remember thinking to myself several times while reading the book, "I don't think I struggle a lot with mommy guilt." Boy, was I WRONG! I think God let today's incident happen to teach me I DO suffer from mommy guilt and that I need his GRACE every day!!

Years from now I am sure that today's little incident will pale in comparision to the other mistakes I will make as a mommy. I am just happy that God's grace is sufficient to cover my mistakes and that my child will (hopefully!) love me despite my imperfections!

More Easter Fun!!

We had a busy, fun-filled Easter day! First, when Sydney woke up she got to see what the Easter Bunny had brought for her! She got lots of goodies, including candy (of course!), lip gloss, books, CDs, and a lamby. Next, we went to church to celebrate the Reason for the Season, Jesus Christ's resurrection!! After that, we traveled to my parents' house in Hendersonville for lunch with them and with my best friend, JoAnna, her husband, Will, and their precious little boy (Sydney's future hubby!), Ian. It was a yummy lunch!

After lunch, we headed over to Todd's aunt and uncle's house for an Easter egg hunt. It was loads of fun, and Sydney got a lot of loot!! Once that was over, we headed back to my parents' house to decorate Easter eggs! By this time, Sydney was exhausted. She hadn't had a nap all day! She was a trooper, though. She loves spending time with Ian, so she didn't mind missing her nap!

When everything was said and done, we headed home with one tired little Easter princess. She fell asleep as soon as we got in the car!

Here are some pictures from the day's festivities:

I think the Easter Bunny came for a visit!

Thanks, Easter Bunny!

The Easter Princess. :)

Having lots of fun at the Easter egg hunt!

Just chillin' with my beau, Ian!

LOOK at my loot, Mommy!

Whew! Hunting for eggs makes a little princess TIRED!

Decorating eggs with Ian and getting very, very tired!

Ooooooo..... stickers for the eggs! I LOVE stickers!!

Check out the chocolate-covered mouth (and a little blue on the inside from trying to drink the dye- YUCK!!)!

Soooooooooo tired, but had soooooooooo much fun!

We had a great time with friends and family, and we are thankful for a beautiful Easter day!!

Easter Fun!

Today Sydney and I had BLAST with our friends Jennifer and Emma Grace! Jennifer said she had a surprise place she wanted to take Sydney and me to, and boy was it FUN! After some yummy lunch at Chick-Fil-A, we went to Phillips Toy Mart in Belle Meade to see the live bunnies! Sydney and Emma Grace LOVED them! Here they are enjoying the bunnies!

After seeing the bunnies, we "hopped" on over to Cheekwood where there were a multitude of Easter festivities going on today! The girls had so much fun seeing all of the beautiful flowers and Easter decorations. They got to go on an Easter egg hunt which was great! Miss Emma Grace had her picture taken with the Easter bunny, but Sydney was a little afraid of him and wouldn't get close for a picture. She enjoyed looking at him from afar, though! The girls had a GRAND time (BTW, for some reason my daughter likes to look very serious in pictures. Trust me, she had a ball!). Here are some pictures of the festivities!

Thanks, Jennifer and Emma Grace, for such a FABULOUS Easter fun-filled day! We'll have to do it again next year!!