For some time now, I have realized that my little boy is a one man wrecking crew destined to end up in the ER with frequent bumps, breaks, bruises, and gashes. Little did I know -- that would start a little sooner than I expected.

Tuesday around 10:30, I get a call from MDO (daycare, for those of you unfamiliar) saying he has tripped and fallen on a stove knob and gashed his head. They thought he needed stitches. I was a little frantic, not because I thought Coy was hurt, but because I didn't know how we'd get him. I was at work and couldn't leave, and I thought Derrick was probably in the same position. I called him, and like the superdad he is, left his store and went to get him. (NOTE: He is also a superhusband because he makes so many sacrifices for me. I am so lucky!!!)

I was convinced that he'd get there, realize they were just overreacting, and he'd get some neosporin, a band-aid, and then get mad at me because it was a complete waste of time.

NOT to be!!!

He called back and said, "Yep. He needs stitches."

"Of course he does," I thought, "because him being okay would be TOO easy!"

So, Derrick set out for SAHRA, but unfortunately, Dr. Bish thought he should go to the ER. She thought it was really too deep and in too bad of an area for them to handle. So, Derrick goes to the ER, where they wrap Coy in a papoose (yeah, he was he happy! Can't you imagine a 2 1/2 year old who is used to be being free and running wild being tied up?), screaming ensues, and they proceed to stitch him up. Derrick tells me Coy wrestled one arm free, and was well on his way to getting out altogether if they had him in there much longer. He also said the nurse holding his head had to take a break after--she was worn out. I bet!

So, 11 stitches later, he's fine and dandy. Doesn't like having his band-aid taken off, but other than that, no problems. He went through it amazingly. I'm pretty proud of the way I handled the whole thing (i.e. I didn't panic or freak out like usual), too.

So, it begins. I wonder just how many more trips like that we'll make over the next 17 - 18 years? I don't even want to think about it. Glad we have the AFLAC accident policy. It will come in pretty handy. Bet they'll wish I didn't have it after we're all done. Oh, well, like they say,

Chicks dig scars!

Recently, I took note of the pictures on the wall at my mom and dad's house. There are a lot of "baby" pictures, especially of Kacie. You know how it is--the first child gets the most pictures taken. But I looked at that little face and couldn't help but get a little sad. She looked so small and sweet. Now she's bigger and has a very smart mouth. She knows way too much for a five year old, and I want to know what happened to my baby. Now, I look at Coy, who's almost two-and-a-half, and I wish I could freeze time. This is such a great age. He's still TOO cute and not so much of a smarty pants, but he's getting close. I look at his pictures and see time passing away again. UGGH! I don't want my babies to grow up. Now I know what my parents felt like. I watched them playing in the backyard this afternoon and I couldn't help but smile. At least for this afternoon--time slowed a bit!

Our beloved family pet, our dog Eeyore passed away last night. We aren't sure what happened, but we think he got caught up around a tree and choked himself on the leash. We are all very sad, especially Derrick and I. He has been with us for 7 and 1/2 years...longer than our kids. He was our first child and we will miss him terribly.

:(

I have no patience. I am so short tempered, even with my own kids, that I started to wonder if I was really cut out to be a mom. I thought I was the worst mom in the world, but, after praying hard for God to guide me in a direction of service, an opportunity presented itself. We needed Sunday School teachers. I prayed, God answered, I volunteered. Then, the question was, where would I teach? I'd been in Kacie's four-year-old class a lot and I'd helped in the two-year-olds, but I just wasn't sure where to go. Neither was Ms Betty, so we both prayed about it. Then I was approached about helping Donna with a three-year-old class next year. All the kids I'd helped with in the two's this year would be in my class next year. All of a sudden--God began to show me His workings. I thought, "Perfect. This works." Then Bible School this week.
I have been a big ole' stress ball. Things at work have been very hectic, I felt so unprepared for VBS, I was just stressing big time!! Then, what I thought would be a total NIGHTMARE--seven boys 3 years old--has been a true blessing. God has shown me my area of service. I'm loving these kids. I have had such a blessing and found a new patience I didn't know I had. God is so good!!! Thank you, Lord, for showing me your greatness!!

After coming home from my 5 am workout (yes, yes, I know how insane I am. And that's why I'm sitting down typing now, because walking is somewhat difficult. Many more days of that and I'm sure breathing will even become a challenge. But I digress....), I decided to lie back down in the bed for a few minutes, just to get a little rest before the rest of the day began. Of course, I fell asleep, taking a short nap. Before long, Kacie comes in explaining that Coy has a "stinky diaper". I mumbled to Derrick to take care of this so I could have just "five more minutes" of rest before getting the kids ready to take to school. He agreed (God bless him!!) and got up to take care of the stinky situation. He came back to bed and asked for his five more minutes as well. By this time, the kids are running amuck in the living room and then little miss tattle-tell comes to the rescue again..."Mommy, Coy's eating chocolate!" Ok, ok, I'm up, I'm up!!! Thanks to Derrick leaving a box of Whitman's sampler in the little guy's reach and giving him a bite of one last night...Coy thinks they are fair game. So I come in to find this:


And Happy Wednesday to You!

What a wonderful Easter Day we had!! Early church, then Sunday School, then off to Mimi and Poppa's for the day. Egg hunting, fishing, and driving lessons (don't ask!) made for an awesome day. Kacie, Coy, and Bit Bit had the most fun and we enjoyed them so much! Even Kacie had to stop and say a very special prayer thanking God for such a glorious day! Thank you, God, for your glory and greatness!!!!

Third Day has this new song called "Revelation". In it, they ask God to give them revelation in their lives--to reveal "what's next". It got me thinking...if strong believers like them need revelation from God--then little ole sinful me sure does, too. So I asked...and I received. Remember that old saying about being careful what you wish for.....

So one of the "revelations" I've had is about where my head (and heart) has been these past few years. I've done a lot of changing, that is for sure. I've grown--due to rather painful testing at times, but I think God really is trying to mold me if I will let Him. It hurts, but I know it's worth it. I've come to realize a lot of the selfishness I've been trapping myself in. Mainly in my marriage, but also as a person in general. I realized that I have been so caught up in "who I am" and "who I want to be" that I've totally missed the whole point! It's not about who I am or who I want to be--it's about who God wants me to be and about who He made me to be!!

Talk about a hit on the head with a two-by-four. Whoa!!

Growing up, I was always "Mr. Ryals' daughter" or "Mary Ella's little girl". So when I got to college, I was so excited to be "me". I spent most of that time just trying to find out who "I" was. By the time I had almost gotten there, I got married. Then I became "Derrick's wife." Just when I had gotten used to that (five years later, mind you, and I still wonder am I really used to it :) ), I became "Kacie's mommy."

For the longest time when I'd see kids at daycare or even at the store, I'd hear kids tell their parents, "That's Kacie Bell's mommy." I used to scream inside my hide at them, "My name is Beth!" I wanted to spout out my list of accomplishments and triumphs all on my own so that they could see I was so much more than just "Kacie's mommy." Then along came Coy. So now, I'm "Coy and Kacie's mommy." ENOUGH ALREADY!!! What about me? What happened to Beth? I mean, come on, I am a pharmacist who co-owns her own business, I'm active in the church and my community. Why isn't that good enough for me just to be me?

Here comes the two-by-four (as you might expect)....

God reminded me who else I was. I was also His child. First, foremost, and above all, I was a child of God. And furthermore...."Beth" was a worthless shell of a sinner without God and His love and mercy. "Beth" is a no one, a no good speck of dust in the grand scheme of the universe. But because of God's love and mercy, He created me to be a child of His. And that's what mattered. Everything else I was or am or hope to be means nothing if I forget my true purpose in this life here on Earth. It is to serve God. And I serve Him as a daughter, a mother, a wife, and all those other things I want (or don't want) to be.

So after that hard realization--I prayed about it and really thought about it, and decided--I am so proud that I am not just "Beth". I am so glad that I am "Dennis and Mary's daughter", "Derrick's wife", "Coy and Kacie's mommy", "Floyd and Ouida and Bill and Doris' grandaughter", and...well you get the picture. Most of all, I am so grateful that I am "God's child"!!!

So the next time you start to feel sorry for yourself because you've "lost your identity". Pick your head up, smile, and say, "Thank you God, for losing 'me'." And then, tell you 'self' goodbye!!