6 Years Ago Today...

...she came in and changed my life completely...

You see, 6 years ago today (at 1:50 pm to be precise) a miracle happened.

After 4 years of trying and 3 miscarriages, this seeming barren body (1st diagnosis) then defective body (2nd diagnosis) birthed my beautiful best friend and daughter, Isabella Faith Overstreet.

And her entrance into my life still astounds me!

In the past 6 years I have watched her go from a tiny, squiggling newborn completely dependent on me to the stunning, witty and independent Child of God that she is today.

Do we have our issues? Sure we do! Do we drive each other nuts? Sure we do! Are we just alike? Sure we are!

Do I love her like mad? Would I lay everything down for her? Do I go crazy when I'm apart from her for any length of time?

You bet!

Because, you see...she took an extra special dose of FAITH to get her here. Because of that I cherished EVERY moment that she squiggled around inside of me and EVERY moment in those first few weeks that I just sat in the living room and stared at her! I needed that reminder today. So I found this letter that I wrote for her when I was about 5 months pregnant...

Wednesday, June 5, 2002

My Dearest Isabella,

Where do I begin…? Well, I guess at the very beginning would be a great start, huh? When I found out you were coming around 4 months ago, my heart jumped for joy while breaking at the same time. Your Daddy and I had already pretty much figured out you were coming, but I was too scared to know for sure. My heart was overjoyed just at the thought that we were going to have you, but it broke in fear that we might lose you. I literally took your being inside of me minute-by-minute. I cherished everything, though. And here’s why…

I just first have to tell you, your ultrasounds astound me still! To see you grow from that tiny little speck in the top left corner of the picture to a beautiful little girl with arms, legs, 10 fingers, 10 toes, her daddy’s nose and ears and her mommy’s hips (I’m sorry) still makes me cry. When I see you on that screen or in the picture I just want to hold so close to my heart and never let you go. I will be able to soon enough.

I thank God FOR you, but there are a few things I need to thank you for, Isabelle. These are things that I have only ever gotten to experience because of you. I thank you for the bond you have created with me. I thank you for the tingly feel of my stretching belly. I thank you the sight of my almost-gone bellybutton. I thank you for the stretch marks (a.k.a. badges of honor). I thank you for the glow that everyone sees in me since you came onto the scene. I thank you for the heart-stopping movements in my tummy. They still continue to take my breath away! I thank you for making me the most beautiful pregnant woman I have ever seen. I thank you for the closeness you bring to me and your daddy when you kick him and when you show off your strong heartbeat on the fetal monitors. I thank you for the most cherished video I will ever posses (second only to the one of the day I married your daddy).

I thank you for the feeling of elation and fear that mix together and make a real funny feeling inside. (By the way, you just kicked….thank you.) I thank you for your strange eating habits. I had hoped you would take after me instead of Daddy on that one ;-) I thank you for depending on me and loving me unconditionally. I thank you for the excitement that I get when I wake up in the morning and realize all over again that I’m having you. It makes the mornings so much better. I thank you for allowing me to stare at you (behind my belly) in amazement all the time…in the shower, in the car, at work, etc. I thank you for letting me have this beautiful belly to hold and protect. I thank you for bringing us closer to your family and adopted aunts/uncles. I thank you for the miracle you represent and the testimony you have allowed me to give. I thank you for helping strengthen my prayer life. Oh, baby girl!! I thank you for so much, and you aren’t even here yet. Just wait!

I also wanted to thank you for the vivid images you give me every day. I can actually picture holding you for the first time and I have never even seen you. I can see you staring at your daddy in awe and him back at you in love. I see family and friends with tears falling that have waited so long for you. I see the sweet moments you’ll share with me, and I see the crazy ones you’ll share with Daddy…your first fish, your first deer, your first father-daughter banquet, your first boo-boo when you and he wrestle a little too hard, and your last kiss as a single woman. I can’t wait to see you get on the school bus for the first time. I can’t wait to see your first report card. I can’t wait to see you graduate kindergarten, junior high, high school and college. But right now, my darling Belle, I just can’t wait to see you!

I hope and pray so much for you. I pray you will be born completely healthy. I pray you will immediately know how much we all love you. I pray you come to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior at an early age. I pray you have the fullest and happiest life imaginable. I pray you grow to respect your elders. I have SO much to pray for you. Most of all, I pray you will follow the will of God. As long as you do that, all of my other prayers will work out according to HIS riches in glory!

One more thing…Daddy and I have no clue what we are doing. We do not have all of the answers and we do not expect to. Please bear with us. I cannot promise you that we will not mess up, and mess up, and mess up. I cannot promise that everything will be perfect here for you. But I CAN promise that we will love you immensely and try to do what we will pray is in your best interest. Always remember that.

I’ll write again later. Until then I love you, and I will see you in about 4 months. I can’t wait.

Love,
Mommy

Baby girl...I still promise to always love you! I couldn't have imagined when I wrote this letter everything that God would make you for Him...for me. You are His! You are loving and tenderhearted when someone is hurt. You cry with them. No matter who they are. You teach me so often things about God from the back seat of the car. And they come from out of the blue! I hear you, LORD. Continue to use her. You can s-a-n-g! Whew my heart melts when I hear you sing! And I love sneaking a peek when you get to worshipping God. And I get my heart ripped out when I watch you take care of your little brother even when he just hit you.

Thank you for being you! Thank you for loving me!

Now and always, I love you!

Family Night/Day Edition #13

This one made me laugh more than the others.

It was Belle's birthday party and it was for the "Fashionistas" only.



Since there were so many photos this time, I had to put them in a slide show.

First of all, for all of you who think I'm crazy out there, this IS my gift to her. Every year since both of my kiddos 1st birthdays, I don't really get them a gift. I throw parties that they will remember for the REST of their lives.

And this one won't fail in that department either. I loved it and so did they!

We started with hair, nails and make-up. I mean, what runway show have YOU ever seen where the runway girls look unkept?!?! It wasn't to be that way here either! Once the girls got all of that done, they moved on to decorate their photo frame. They had flowers and jewels and a glittery tag to put on their frame that said, "Their Name" and then "Belle's 6th Birthday 2008". I think they turned out SUPER cute!

Then they headed over to the fashion table to get their scarves, shades and jewelry on for their walk. Yes, yes...I got involved too. I mean, they can't have all the fun. So, Alison queued up the karaoke version of "Vogue" and we took off.

Next, presents! She got so much fun stuff. And a guy I work with gave us this great idea of taking a picture of the guest who gave the present with the girl opening the present. Well, we got almost everyone. After that was cake, icecream and punch. Now, yes that is real cake. And yes, me and Alison made it. Can you believe it? I was throughly proud of it!

Last but not least, the girls needed their goody bags. So, I (in true Billie style) sent them on a treasure hunt. There were clues hidden all over that lead them to their little goodie "purses" full of lipgloss, nail polish, a bracelet and (of course) a ring pop!

We ended the festivities by printing off their photos with the Birthday girl so they could take them home in their new frames.

We were all worn out by the end of the day, but every single little girl came and told me how much they loved this party! And the best part was my own little girl telling me that "this was the bestest party yet".

And that, my friends, is why I do this!

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You can check out other ideas here.

Learning From Dad

This girl can sing. Let me rephrase that... S-A-N-G!!! And I'm not just a partial Momma, I promise. She astounds me!

So, it's only appropriate that she desires to learn to play like Daddy and her Papa. Now, she has been getting really frustrated b'c she can't just pick it up and play like them. But last Thursday night, she finally listened to her Daddy.



And made up so many different songs all in the key of G or A...



...and all on the same note.

Mad skillz!

R-E-S-P-E-C-T...Find Out What It Means to Belle

Ida Burns: A School of Character

That's what Belle's school is called. And every month they serve up a new positive character quality.

August-September was "respect".

This morning they had a character assembly to honor the students who most exemplified the character of the month. They choose a boy and a girl from each class to receive the award. Then, they call the parents and let them know that their child is one of the honorees and they can come watch, but it has to remain a secret.

Until their name gets called...

Just look at her! We were all so proud!

Sock it to me
Sock it to me
Sock it to me
Sock it to me!

Poor Tammy

She made just one mistake.

She continually "got" everyone in her path when their milestone birthdays arose.

Our pastor...pastor's wife...associate pastor-ish guy...ME...

We returned the favor last night...her first day back from Mexico


Her cake. I found this great picture of a cake like this online and Alison said she could do it. AND SHE DID! Didn't she do great?


She was turning 50. Somehow, though, everyone put "Happy 60th" on EVERYTHING. Too bad.


And see...my mother-in-law made my Lukey boy some little outfits out of John Deer tractor material. She hates 'em! And is vocal about it. So, my momma made her something special for her party. This was probably the worst part for her...really.


Isn't she cute?


This is Tammy "enjoying"...


Our eulogy. See, she is my and Chris' mentor. I read a very sad eulogy to her youth. My Chris, however, couldn't seem to quit LAUGHING!


Oh, and look how cute little "old" Kim looks~

After, we headed into the sanctuary to watch a video of Tammy thru the years. Afterwards, lots of funny stories were shared over finger foods, cake and laughs.

Have a birthday coming up? Beware...

Prepare to Laugh at Gladys

WhittakerWoman posted this and I laughed all weekend long about it.

Evan

I picked up Belle on Wednesday...same as always. During the hustle and bustle of scurrying around to get ready and off to Church on time the following conversation ensues.

Belle: Mom, I have something I need to tell you but I can't.

Me: Baby, you know you can ALWAYS tell Mommy things.

Belle: Well, there's this boy at school who asked me to be his girlfriend.

Me: (trying to keep it together) And what did you tell him?

Belle: I said "Sure!" But don't worry. We don't do boyfriend/girlfriend things.

Me: Well, what DO you do as boyfriend/girlfriend?

Belle: We eat lunch together at the lunch table.

Me: Really? Do you hold hands?

Belle: NO!!! Ewwwww!

Me: (sighing) Well, that's lovely baby. What's his name?

Belle: Evan.

Fast forward 2 whole days to Friday. I get Belle at the back door b'c I make it home a little early. While walking to the car...

Me: Oh, I should have come in and met Evan!

Belle: That's ok.

Me: Are y'all still boyfriend/girlfriend?

Belle: No, we broke up.

Me: (trying to stifle the giggles) Really? What happened?

Belle: He likes Emily, but Emily doesn't like him. He's always like, "Emily, Emily, come walk with me" but Emily doesn't pay him any attention.

Me: That's ok baby. You don't need boys in your life, especially ones like that.

Belle: That's right.

Ahhhh...I feel like its 1991...only his hame was not Evan, but Joshua Turner Wright. Man that boy was some 50 kinds of cute! (Not so much when I look back now) Even better, he was my neighbor. That's the year I had to learn real quick to like Daryl Strawberry. You know, I had to look interested in what he was interested in. It worked!

But, alas our "relationship" ended just as quickly as my offspring's "relationship" did.

I think he only liked me b'c my mom let me drive my friends around the ranch in our Dodge Omni.

Including Joshua Turner Wright!

At 13.

And Rebecca was 14 and could drive her mom's camaro.

Boys are sssoooooeeewww materialistic sometimes!

So I got in my omni and drove home...

...one driveway over.

Family Night Edition #12

Tonight was the most relaxing FN yet.

Welcome to The Overstreet. The most expensive movie theater in town!




Tonight, The Overstreet was serving dinner with the movie. It was spaghetti and garlic sticks. What else do you eat before a movie date!



Then there's the tickets. $20,000 for one stinking ticket! Gracious, inflation has hit everything! But, now showing at The Overstreet...


Rock on!


But what is a movie without popcorn. Change in economy = $50,000 popcorn


Everyone quiet. It's time for the show!


They got the front row.


The shorter one was a little loud and distracting during the movie. We tried to alert management, but no one seemed to care. But the taller one, she kept asking the ones in the back row to "please shush!"

Then came some o' this...


They really need to rethink their management strategy. With them allowing their patrons to go all willy nilly and bust-a-moves during the show, price gouging and lack of proper management skills...this theater will never stay open.

Actually, it closed down at 8:15 tonight.

Sad.

I'm sure it will reopen tomorrow, oh...say, around 3:45 when the kids come home, uh straight there from school.

Hopefully their prices will reflect their change of heart.

For more FN ideas go here.

The Peril Continues...

THIS is the perils of having mostly girls at your daycare:



Just call him Tyra!

The Perils of Having a Big Sister

A few minutes later she was putting "makeup" on him.

...and he was letting her and loving it!

He needs a brother!

Family Night Edition #11

Tonight was "Everything Art Night"!


Check us out in our aprons and painted on moustaches


We began by making pizzas that were works of art


Here's Uncle John helping Artieste Belle


Warning: Mound o' Mozzarella is his artistic interpretation


Heee heee heee hoh hoh hoh (with a french accent)


Time to try our artistic abilities on "sushi". That would be rice krispie treats with fruit roll ups and a gummie bear.


One cute artistic impression in my book!


The finished sushi. Don't you want a bite?


Then we were off to test our drawing abilities. Sister started by tracing Bubba. MAJOR task here folks. Do you know how hard it is to get an almost 3 year old to lie still while Sister "tickles" his ribs as she goes around him with a marker? VERY HARD!


Sister wanted to add some flare to her drawing of herself.


Bubba decides to add...uh...his own...uh "flare" (aka scribbling in the same spot until a hole ate thru)


Doesn't it look JUST LIKE HER?!?!?


Then we headed outside for a little spin off of a Jon and Kate Plus 8 episode. They painted themselves (and each other) with chocolate and vanilla pudding. As you can see, they enjoyed EVERY. SINGLE. MINUTE.

Sorry some are so fuzzy. I was Laughing OUT LOUD most of the time.


I think you can almost hear it squish thru his fingers. Seriously.


Um. Brushing his teeth with the paint brush. I mean...just look at the nast!


But, as you can tell...a good time was had by all.

Until the meltdown that ensued just about right after this photo.

No photos of said event to preserve the memories.

And my sanity.

For other ideas and to meet the girl that started this craze, go here and meet Heather and her peeps.

Till next week!

I'm A Big Boy

See my Big Boy Ninja Turtle Backpack? Ms. Kim got it for me and I think it's "asum"!

Just a Saturday

Just another Saturday.

Not really.


Our Saturday involved a turtle family that Hubs found in the yard. This was Junior...or Squirt as the kids named him. He crawled around in the house for a little bit before Hubs returned him to his Momma.


Next....now....I know some of you are going to rise up at this one. But the Barbers, my family, ALWAYS sang. Even at the table. We just did. So, here we are having supper and singing a little "I'll fly away".

And Luke just praises God.

Worth breaking "rules" in my book.


Then, Belle and I headed off to watch one of my best friends give her testimony at a "Rally for Recovery" in Conway. There were some awesome testimonies while I was there, but she took the cake in my book. I was so very proud of her for doing this. You would have to know her to know how hard this was for her. But she did it and GOD got so much glory out of it all.


Then, this guy was "finger painting" while a rapper rapped....or sang...or whatever...it was cool! Anyway, its one of those types of "finger painting" that they start and then all the sudden something comes into focus.


This was AWESOME! I'm trying to get one of my other BFFs to win it at auction. Awesome!


Then, there's my girl. During the "concert" she decided to get in the fountain with all of the other little kids. It started just to the ankles.


by the time it was done we were jumping and swimming.

She rode home nekkey.

See...typical Saturday.