Welcome to Bulldawg Country....

It's that time again! Time to hunker down & watch some Bulldawg Football!!!

The Dawgs kick off tomorrow night at 6:45 against Oklahoma State. We'll be watching it in the comforts of our own home since we didn't get tickets this year. And, most likely we couldn't convince a sane person to watch our three children at the same time anyway! So, we'll be hanging out in front of the tube with good munchies in hand!

I'm sad that this will be the first season watching the DAWGS without our dog, Brutus. I can't believe it's already been 3 months since we had to make that horrible decision. He was our little mascot and he will be missed!

C'mon... help me out here... " I said it's great... to be..... a Georgia Bulldog! Said it's great... to be.... a Georgia Bulldog! Goooooooooo DAWGS! Sic 'Em! Woof, woof, woof, woof, woof !!!!! "

Nate's First PreT-Ball Game Weekend

Once again we had an awesome weekend.

Friday night we went out for ice cream. The boys absolutely LOVE going for ice cream. And, to be honest, we indulge them with the treat a little more than we like to admit! Also, doesn't really hurt that Mommy & Daddy love ice cream, too!

We also had pretty severe storms on Friday night. When we were sitting and eating dinner we saw lightning strike a house. I thought it was in our neighborhood, but as it turned out it was in a neighboring subdivision. But, it burned the entire house. When it hit, I told Allan, "Now that hit something"... sure enough about 1-2 mins later we saw billowing black smoke. Later on, we rode by the house & it was a total loss. It was so scary to see how everything you've worked your entire life for can be gone within a matter of minutes! Very sad.

Bright & early Saturday morning, the Cubs took the field & played the Braves. They were so cute, but so tired. In my opinion, 8 AM was a little early for 3 & 4 year olds to be playing, but they survived. Nate was yawning the whole time he was in the outfield. We found out they don't keep score with the PreT games & both teams are allowed to let every player have a bat. So, basically, Nate's team batted then the Braves batted and the game was over. That pretty much took up our hour of field time. Nate was pretty cute. I sat behind homebase. When he was running to homebase, I was cheering him on to go home & rather than run home he decided to run to me and see what I was wanting! hehe.. I think everyone thought that was pretty funny.

Enjoy the pictures. We had a great weekend!!

All the little Cubbies in the dugout

Nate hitting the ball

Nate runs to 1st Base

Other big news:: Friday Allan submitted his resume for a job with Crown Financial Ministries. Within a couple of hours, he had a phone interview set up. It went very well & he will be scheduling an in-person interview soon. This would be really great, since the job is in Gainesville and it sounds like they really encourage working from home. This would really be a great opportunity for Allan to use his abilites & talents to glorify God! Thank you all so much for all the prayers you've been praying for our family. The Lord is hearing them and we feel them everyday!

Great Weeeeekend!

The Rainey household had a great weekend. Friday night kicked off our weekend. Nate had ball practice. We took him & Alex to Sonic for corndogs before practice.

Then after practice we went to eat Mexican. The boys were especially happy because they got ice cream sundaes. They thought it was something to go straight to dessert. LOL.. they forgot they ate earlier in the night! Saturday, Allan worked on our brickwall and we just enjoyed time at home together. Sunday kicked off a new school year for the church. Allan & I will be teaching Nate's class this year. We got to meet all our new kids. It's going to be a big class. We have 34 on roll! Of course, not all will be there every Sunday, but Lord help us if they are!! Then, in our Sunday school class, we got to hear another awesome message continuing on what happens to us after death. This is such a great lesson. I am really enjoying it. Keep in mind, you are more than welcome to join us any Sunday in our class! We would love to have you as a guest! We did the park n ride yesterday and rode the shuttle in. The kids absolutely LOVED riding the "bus". Nate is still talking about it!

And, here's a couple pics of our sweet Seth. I wonder how much dinner actually made it in that tummy since all of it seems to be on his face!

Our little slugger...

Tuesday night began Nate's PreT-Ball Season. We went to practice and we thought he would be sooo thrilled to play ball. Well, practice was anything but good! He cried & screamed the whole time. Granted, he was there on no nap, it was 103 degrees, he stepped in fire ants & he was being made to wear tennis shoes rather than his comfy sandals. Sooo, I guess I would have been an unhappy camper, too. Last night, we got out & practiced with him some more and he loved it. He has been asking to 'practice baseball'. So, hopefully, while I'm at my Bible study tonight, Allan can get out with him to play. He looks so cute in the helmet though.. like a little Bobble-Head!! Cute. He'll be playing for the Cubs in Dacula.

Hmph...

"What's the world coming to when you can't even trust your crack dealer?"
LOL... that was Allan's comment about this article!
Some people I just wonder about....

ROCHELLE, Ga. -- A woman was arrested after she called local police to help "get her money back" after she was unhappy with the crack cocaine she purchased.
Police reports say that Juanita Marie Jones, 53, called Rochelle Police late Thursday night after she purchased what she thought was a $20 piece of crack cocaine.
She told officers she broke the rock into three pieces and smoked one, only to discover the drugs were "fake."
She took Officer Joel Quinn and Deputy John Shedd of the Wilcox County Sheriff's Office into her kitchen and showed them the drugs.
She was promptly arrested on charges of possession of cocaine.

Four Things

Four things about me you may not have known...

A. Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Ingles Markets Bookkeeper
2. Chiropractic Assistant
3. Dental Assistant
4. Dental Office Appointment Coordinator

B. Four place I have lived
1. Winder, GA
2. Auburn, GA
3. Dacula, GA
4.

C. Four TV shows I like to watch:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. ER
3. Desperate Housewives
4. Supernanny

D. Four Places I have been on Vacation:
1. Bahamas
2. Pensacola Beach
3. Jamaica
4. Japan

E. Four of my favorite foods:
1. Sushi/Thai
2. Buffalo Wings from Ray's in Dacula
3. Mellow Mushroom Greek Salads
4. Sonic.. anything

F. Four places I would like to be right now:
#1-4 Vacation!

G. Four friends I think will respond.
Well, since I'm putting it on my Blog... none!
Most never respond to these anywho!

Varsity Hats

The Varsity was at the church last night for the Community Movie Night. Picked up a few hats. Nate & Alex love theirs... Seth, not so much! ;)

Mentally Exhausting-Spiritually Refreshing Week

Well, as most know we've had an eventful week.
Monday Allan's work was filled with rumors of the company closing its doors.
Tuesday came the bad news that the rumor was true. Immediately, I dispatched all of our praying friends to join us in praying for our family & situation as Allan is the sole provider of our house. Within two hours of the first news, Allan contacts me that he was one of the approximate 100 out of nearly 1500 that still had a job.. for now anyway. And praise God for Allan's previous employers to be so willing to help us out with temporary jobs in the mean time. We believe God doesn't close one door without opening another. We believe God to do great things in our family!
On Monday, my devotion was on God stretching us to develop perseverance. Ironic.. I think not. I believe He was telling me that He was going to stretch us a little. And, we welcome the stretching! God is refining us to deepen our dependence upon Him. We know He will provide for our family. We serve a mighty and awesome God.

Last night we were able to enjoy a movie on the church lawn.. Charlotte's Web. The kids had a great time even though it was unbelievably hot! I believe the van said it was 88... at 9PM! It's always nice to be able to fellowship with friends.

And, we got Nate's PreT-Ball team name today! Nate will be playing for the Cubs. We're so exicted about this. So, stay tuned for pics!! He's gonna be so cute... we can't wait!!

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!
And, our Sunday school teacher is going to be doing a lesson (2-3 Sundays) on 'End Times'.. what happens when we leave this planet. Topics we will discuss and explain are words/events/happenings like: Rapture, Tribulation, Great Tribulation, Abomination of Desolation, The Bema Seat, The Great White Throne Judgment. If you would like to go with us, please let us know. We would LovE to have you in our Sunday school.

More Encouragment for Us Moms..

I get a email newsletter from MOPS. They are always encouraging & helpful.
I really liked this one.

There are times when parenthood seems nothing more than feeding the hand that bites you.(Peter De Vries)

You Want a Piece of Me?

"You want a Piece of Me?!?" is a common expression from two men getting ready to fight. Their fists are upraised; each guy ready to punch the other and give him a knuckle sandwich.
As a mom, however, those words have a different meaning. Some days I feel like everyone wants a piece of me - the baby that needs to nurse, again! The toddler that can't find his blanket. The first grader that needs help with her reading. Then there's dinner to fix, errands to run, baths, reading, prayers, one more potty stop, one more drink of water, one more nursing and honey, don't even look at me with those bedroom eyes!
So where do I go to find strength to get it all done?
Exercise classes these days talk a lot about strengthening your core. The core, your midsection, helps give strength for all the movement you do throughout the day. When everyone "wants a piece of me," I need to think about strengthening my core. I don't mean going to a Pilates class. I need to find ways to strengthen my mental, emotional and spiritual core. I call a friend, go to MOPS or listen to inspirational music. I pray and ask for help. I read the Bible. These sources of strength help me through those hard days. They help me grow strong because as my children get older, I'm finding they never stop "wanting a piece of me."

Prayer From a Mother's HeartDear God, help my child learn to cast his cares on you, knowing that you will sustain him. (Psalm 55:22)

Here we go again....

Here's another story. In an interview, the coroner stated that family members weren't suprised because she (the mom) had made comments about doing something like this. HELLO?!?!!? Why do people not ever take suicidal people seriously?? The other lady in Boston reportedly made similar comments. So, note to anyone reading this blog... if I hear you make a comment that even makes me think for one second that you will take your or someone else's life... you better bet I'm turning you in! People, we have got to start listening to the cries of those who are mentally sick... Ugh, just saddens me.

CINCINNATI -- A Delhi Township, Ohio, woman marked her children for death before killing them Tuesday morning in a murder-suicide, police said.
Hamilton County coroner O'dell Owens said Wednesday that it appeared that Jacob Wittich, 10, and Sydney Wittich, 7, were drugged with Benadryl or a similar substance, then shot twice in the heart at point-blank range by their mother, Mary Ann Wittich, reported WLWT-TV in Cincinnati.
Owens said each child had an X written with a black marker over the heart.
Owens said Mary Ann Wittich then shot herself in the heart.
Neighbors said Wittich was distraught because her husband had left the family, but they said they never expected anything like this.
"My wife said it was our neighbor, and I said, 'No it can't be.' I'm kind of still in shock," said Robert Satzger. "It would be the last thing I would think anybody would do, much less them."
Court records show John Scott filed for divorce Jan. 24 from Mary Ann Wittich.
One of the couple's older daughters came home to find the children and her mother dead, and Scott, who had moved to Highland Park, arrived shortly after at about 3:30 p.m. to pick up the children, authorities said.
The couple also has two adult children, Kathryn Wittich, 24, and Lindsey Wittich, 20, and had recently agreed to share custody of the two younger children.
Neighbors said they heard gunfire Tuesday afternoon, but Owens said it appeared the three died sometime Tuesday morning.
"This is probably one of the worst scenes I've seen. This is a very sad situation," he said.