Are you Louise?

Hi Everyone.  Was it a good weekend for ya'll?  I hope it was.  I've had so many new people leave comments lately and I'm still working my way around Neil to have computer time to answer everyone back.  I really am going to have to try to sell something on etsy to get $35.00 to get my computer running again!

Yesterday (Sunday) was a painful day emotionally.  I know this is getting old for so many of you.  There was an email on my post about my ugly side from last week.  I was surprised to get a response on that post now.  The point is just when I was hurting yesterday,  I took my cell phone and retreated to the closet.  It's a nice size closet and made a pallet on the floor and took refuge and a nap there.  I took my baby Mattie (the dog) with me.  Having her sleep with me is comfort.  After crying and sleeping, I woke up to find a comment  from someone new. (I like to read my emails and comments on the phone when I can't get to the computer but hate typing on it).  It really did bring tears back to my eyes for much better reasons.  I don't know who Louise is or how to contact her but I would like to personally thank her.  If you are Louise please let me know how to reach you via email.  If you prefer to not be reach please accept my most heartfelt thanks.  God really does find the most unique ways to comfort us.  I think he knew how alone I felt or much, words had hurt.

There are so many emails I read last week that touched me in the most deep and profound way.  I'm sure you know who you are.  I would read them and cry (what a baby I am).  I didn't write back at the time because I wanted to really be able to sit and address each one with the attention and love it was sent with.  Between that and the giveaway and roller coaster here everything just got so mixed up and away from me.  I hope no one's feelings have been hurt because your words still resonate in my heart.  I'm determined to catch up and I thank  you from the bottom of my  heart.  

I just wish I could hug each one of you and send you a token of my appreciation.  Words just aren't enough.  I pray each of you feel as blessed as you make me feel.

With bushels of love....Tracy :)

Bright and Colorful, Sweet and Kind - Smiling Ear To Ear

Is this not the cutest card you've ever seen?  I've been wanting to show this off for over a week now, but the giveaway really kept me hopping. 


I've been following Pam's blog Expressions With Heart for a good while now.  I look forward to seeing her name pop up on my email because I know I'm going to see a brand new card that she has created.  I have so much blog envy going on from all the creative souls I know here and Pam is right up there at the top.  She was so sweet to send me this one.  I just love the primary colors.  I was telling her how much it reminded me of a childhood memory and bold and behold she sent it to me.  EEEKKKK!!!!  I was so excited and so proud to own someones work that I admire so much.  I can't quit looking at it and smiling.  Tell the truth.  You are too, right?  And her work is so neat and clean.  Why can't I do that????  Her cards are so better than professional/retail.  So much love and heart in each one.  And as for me, everyday I say this is my favorite and she's knows that tomorrow she'll hear the same thing from me.  Truly, this is my favorite.  This one is MINE....


I hope you stop by and say hi to Pam and enjoy all her beautiful works of love.  Just click here or on her name.


Thank you Pam for being so thoughtful.  It certainly  turn an upside down week, right side up.


Hugs and Kisses..............Tracy :)

We Have A Winner!

I bet you thought the day would never get here.  This has been a whole lot of fun for me.  I have never had so many comments and entries as I have for this.  Before I announce the winner I would like to take a moment to thank all of you who have left comments lately.  Not only entries here but comments on all my post the last 2 weeks.  You've left me with tears and smiles.  I've laughed and cried.  I've felt uplifted, warmed, hugged and appreciate.  Well, ya'll've (I know, not a real word just the Southern shortening) all just plain out made me feel special and to be honest a little spoiled.  I sure hope you don't go away and not come back.  And I really hope when time allows that you'll leave a word to just let me know you've been by.  

For those who haven't heard from me yet, I really am trying to get to you.  I've gotten a little mixed up between, all the post and kindness but it's all touched my heart so much.

I know, who's the winner Tracy.    

The winner is Jan @ The Polka Dot Barn!!!!!   

Congratulations Jan,  email me your address and I will get it headed your way.

Heart Felt Hugs To You Friends.............Tracy :)

Last Day To Enter My Giveaway

Pincushion and More Giveaway

Just a little reminder.  This is the last day to enter my 1 year blogiversary giveaway.  Just click here or on the picture above to enter at that post (not here, Sweeties).

Good Luck to everyone.  And thank you for blessing me with so many kind comments.  I've had the time of my life reading them!

Hugs...Tracy :)

What Goes Together Better Than Makeover and Review

You've all heard me talk about CSN Stores and there unbelievable selection of items.  You can find everything from lights to rugs to porch furniture.  Just click on lights to take a peek.

Lucky for me I've been offered the opportunity to do a review of  my choice of CSN Stores' products.  Oh' how will I ever decide which to choose?  Well since I was in the middle of a porch makeover when everything went haywire this summer I will be using it to continue that project.  By the time my summer makeover is done it will be fall but that works fine in Florida since we'll still be in the high 80's till December unless we get lucky.

So I hope you stay tuned to see what wonderful product I review and see if I hit or miss on the makeover.  Remember this is a limited, up-cycle for the most part makeover.  Thank goodness for CSN, I have something shiny and new too.

Hugs.....Tracy :)

The Happiest Day of My Life

Out to dinner with reserve friends. Ty is in the red plaid.

I remember the day so well.  As far as I'm concerned it could have been yesterday.  (dreamy music, blurry dream like fading)...........................

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TY

My one and only child is a grown man of 31 today.  Like any mother he means the world to me.  I only wish I could celebrate with him today.  I love you, Ty with all my heart!

Now back to that dreamy state........................................

 My obstetricians were a group of 3 older Doctors.  The oldest being my main Doctor but I saw each one at a different visit so that I would be accustom to whomever might deliver my child.  It was the early years of being able to discover if you were having a boy or a girl.  Pampers even were fairly new.  Don't tell me, I want to be surprised.  Now remember this is 31 years ago, I was 18, 19 when Ty was born.  All the talk was natural childbirth.  Me and my silly young self, opened my mouth and said "I'd like to have my child naturally.  Yep, natural childbirth, no drugs".   It's taken nearly 31 years to laugh at that one.  

Months later.............My husband driving me to the hospital.  No contractions just back labor.  Already I think I'm dying.  After having the nurses do their part to clean me out I was stuck in a bathroom screaming for my life -  Can I Go Lay Down Yet?  Where Is My Husband?   Yes, that was the days of Dads being allowed into the delivery room and when I say Dad's, that's what I mean.  Just one person.  No family gatherings in a lovely birthing room back then.  Just a stark delivery room.  I don't remember a whole lot after that.  I kept blacking out, only waking up long enough to pull myself out of the bed by squeezing the life out of my husbands hand while screaming (ever so attractively, I'm sure) from the top of my lungs.  Within an hour I was saying drugs, make them give me drugs, I can't do this.  The drugs came and my memories of childbirth didn't return until 2 days later.  

I remember at delivery time telling the nurses, doctors and whoever would listen that I've got to pee.  Let me up to go to the bathroom - push, scream, push, scream, pass out.  

Here it is!  It's coming, the babies coming.  Loud savage screams from me.  The heads out, push Tracy push.  With dead seriousness from me (remember I was totally drugged at the time), I tell them leave it right there, I changed my mind, it's okay.  Just stop, leave it there!  A few more pushes, passing out for awhile.  I awaken when the Doctor says Tracy, Tracy.......It's a boy.  You have a son.  I remember this so clearly.  I looked at the Doctor ifand said Un-Un.  He said, yes you've had a son.  Again Un-Un, where?  Show me.  He points to the nurse who I assume was standing next to me holding my son and thinking, why in the heck is she standing why over there in the corner and I can't see with all those people around him.  I then promptly passed out again.

Yep, it's all true.  But I also remember my dad standing there when I was rolled out to recovery saying, he's got the Whittemore nose Tracy, he's got our nose.  A standing joke between my dad and me. Well any Whittemore really.  There were lots of family and friends there but I was too out of it to appreciate them.  The next day I called my Daddy and told him  I couldn't believe it I have a son.  We only had girls in our family for so long, no one really thought I'd have a son, including me.  I told my Daddy I couldn't believe it, I loved him so much.  I don't think I could have loved a daughter this much, I can't believe how much I love him.  I'm must have called Daddy back three times, saying the same thing before they could get back to the hospital.  I was a new Mother and I was in love!!!

As for that Doctor that never bothered to tell me there was such a thing as an epidural.  Well I learned that little secret while in the hospital AFTER delivery.  I asked his nurse why my Doctor never offered me that option.  She said he was very old fashioned and didn't believe in natural child birth and if a woman wanted to have natural child birth then it was natural all the way.  Great policy Pops.

The truth of the matter is I wouldn't have missed giving birth to Ty for anything in the world.  Thank you God for blessing me with the most wonderful, handsome, surfing, cowboy, soldier, truck driver Son in the world.  You are the reason I live and you fill my heart with love.

First Party Link Up Ever - Giveaway Reminder

****UPDATE 4/28/11****

I've linked this apron post up with Delightfully Inspiring Thursdays with DaNita @ Delightful Order.

You can see more of my aprons for sell here in my Etsy shop "Cotton Pickin Cute".  I also make custom orders too.  I'm getting close to a new milestone so that means a new giveaway for y'all.  Keep watching.  Thanks y'all!

It's true.....You never stop learning.  Well I learned how to link up to another site tonight.  This is my first link up ever.  

I've linked up with A Frugal Friend.  Every Saturday she lets people link up their giveaway to her blog.  Well you know me.  I never disappoint (ha-ha), late as usual. I just linked up which means I'm late (surprise) and that puts me at #219.  Yes you read that right, there are #219 giveaways just waiting for ya'll to check them out. 

I hope ya'll will go by and visit Debra.  She has other link ups too.  As she describes her blog "Helping families save money through coupons, rebates, freebies and deals".  So whether you like giveaways or saving money, you'll find both on this busy gals blog.  Good Luck!!!

Don't forget my giveaway ends August 25th.  If you haven't enter yet, just go to that post by clicking here.

Have a blessed week friends.  Hugs...Tracy :)