Today has been a hard day for the Warnocks. We had to put our sweet baby girl, Georgia, to sleep this morning. She stayed at the vet on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, and I got to bring her home on Thursday afternoon. She was doing much better, but by Friday morning, she was worse. She basically had kidney failure, and there was nothing else we could do for her. She was our first dog that we got together.

Georgia doing her favorite thing - playing outside!

Georgia, our sweet angel.

Please say a prayer for Brad - this was his first dog that was all his, and he is having a terrible time dealing with her death. We have just had a rough couple of weeks, and it doesn't seem like we are ever going to get ahead.

Okay, so as you can see, I got a new blog makeover! Sweet Ashley at Great Grabbie Designs did a fabulous job and made exactly what I wanted! Thanks, Caroline for the tip about your friend!

Anyways, I am for real in job-search mode! I have sent my resume off to several different places, and now I'm just waiting to see the outcome. I am trying to really pick and choose where I want to work because I have so many different things running through my head. For those of you who really know me, you know that I have always wanted to be a teacher. I started out as an elementary education major, but then I changed mid-way through. Anyways, I have always kind of kicked myself for not doing what my true heart desires. So, there are some options there. I have also considered going back to school to get my Master's. There are just too many things I want to do! Part of me is really nervous about going back to work in the marketing/special event field - it can be really dirty, never-ending work. Plus, I am hesitant to work for anyone that I do not know, because I don't want to get hurt like I did at my previous job. Oh goodness, so many things to think about!

So, for the meantime, I am putting my feelers out (as well as telling everyone I know) about my job hunt. I am completely trusting God right now that He will point me in the right direction. I am trying to find some small odd jobs around town (i.e., babysitting) so if you're in my area and know of someone who needs a good babysitter, send them my way!


All of your prayers are greatly appreciated, things are still rocky right now, so please continue to keep my family in your thoughts!

Have a blessed Thursday!

So, when it rains, it pours, right?

Anyways, about 10 days ago (before the big termination), our sweet dog, Georgia, got really sick. We had to take her to the animal hospital, and she had to stay there for over 24 hours. It ended up costing us close to $600, but she seemed much better.

Last night, she fell ill again. I took her to our permanent veternarian, and they said she has some kidney problems. They are keeping her for the next two nights to keep her fluids up. There is a possibility that it could be something really horrible, or it may be something that we can fight with medication.

Could you all please say a prayer for our precious baby? She is our first dog, and we rescued her from the pound almost 2 years ago! I know some of you may think I'm crazy, but she's our baby! I'm in a hurry, but I'll try to post more later!

The past two days have been bittersweet for my precious family. We lost our dear Granny Willeford, and we will miss her so, but we are comforted by the fact that she is suffering no more. I am a very emotional person (as is my mother and grandmother), and we all get that from my Granny Willeford. So, at the visitation, when I saw how beautiful my Granny Willeford looked, I wept. I wept because she has suffered for so many years, and she looked so magnificient. She wore her favorite periwinkle suit that she wore to her 60th Wedding Anniversary party. Granny Willeford always like to look good, and she especially like to have her nails painted. She always scoffed at women with clear nail polish - so of course she had her nails painted bright red.

At the visitation, they had a slideshow playing of various pictures from Granny Willeford's life. I have been told my whole life that I look like my grandmother, but I never thought that I looked like Granny Willeford. Anyways, the very first picture they showed was a picture of Granny Willeford in her teenage years. When I first saw the picture, I gasped. Everyone started saying, "Lena! That looks JUST like you." I wish I had a copy of the picture so I could show y'all how much it looked like me! Hopefully, I'll have my own copy soon.

Even though most people never get the chance to know their great-grandmothers, I am extremely blessed to know that I spent almost 24 years of my life with my sweet Granny Willeford. I know that those who have gone before her - especially my PawPaw Willeford, Aunt Peggie and Uncle Dean - were waiting on her in heaven, and I am thankful that I will one day see them all again.

Here are some pictures from the past couple of days - even though we were all mourning the loss of Granny Willeford, we managed to celebrate her life and have a few laughs - that's what she would have wanted us to do.

This is the first time I have posted a video - I am going to try and make an effort to video tape things more often - you can hear my southern accent singing "Happy Birthday" - HA!

Thank you again for all the prayers and sweet words - I am forever grateful to you all.

In memory of Mattie Kathleen Alexander Willeford - mother to 5 children, grandmother to 14 grandchildren, great-grandmother to 29 children, and great-great-grandmother to 1 child.

September 18, 1910 - February 19, 2008

So, those are a few of my newest purchases! Are y'all in love with monograms as much as I am? I think it is definitely a southern thing, but I love 'em!

Oh, I have another prayer request - could y'all please say a prayer for my sweet husband? He is interviewing for a new position at the bank today, and if he got this job, it would be his "in" to loan operations - which is what he wants to do! So, if you could, say a prayer for Brad (his interview is at 10:30 this morning)! Thanks, y'all!

Blessings!

As I write this post from my warm bed, the snow is coming down - it is so beautiful, and it means even more to me right now than it has any other day. Today has been a hard day for me, and it is not even 8 o'clock yet. I awoke last night not feeling so well, and I have been up all morning with some sort of stomach virus. A co-worker was sick this weekend with a stomach virus, and I have the worst immune system, so I probably caught something.

I received the phone call this morning that I have been waiting for - the call that my dear great-grandmother has gone on to be with her Father. When I heard my mother say that grandmother had died last night, I immediately started crying. But they were not tears of sadness - my grandmother has gone home.

She died last night around midnight - my granny and her siblings were by her side until around 10:30 p.m., and they left to go home. Grandmother was very stubborn, and I think she did not want to breathe her last breath in front of the children she loved so very much. When my granny got to the nursing home, she said Grandmother looked so very peaceful. The last couple of days have been so rough for her, but there was no struggle last night.

I can just imagine how happy she is to be with her beloved husband. After she became ill with alzheimer's is when my great aunt and uncle were murdered, and no one had the heart to tell her because she simply would not understand. My heart is bursting with happiness to know that they were all waiting for her.

So, on tomorrow night and Thursday, we will celebrate Mattie Kathleen's life, and we will rejoice that she is no longer suffering. I thought this passage from 2 Timothy in the Message was perfect to describe how I feel this snowy morning.

Oh blogging friends - what a weekend we have! Tonight, Brad and I are meeting with good friends, Brandon and April at my favorite restaurant (and April's) - BLUE COAST BURRITO!!! Yum, I can already taste the pineapple salsa!

Blessings, y'all!

Last night, Brad and I visited my parents for dinner and some American Idol. For some reason, we always watch American Idol at their house. Well, our show kept getting interrupted with weather alerts, and I was getting very annoyed. I didn't get to see if some people made it or not! Anyways, back to my point...my dad is such a weather freak. He always has been - when we were kids, he would just wait for a big storm and then go into "storm mode." We would all huddle in the hallway with our blankets and pillows, and my dad would stand guard. He would roam around outside - which always freaked me out. He said his dream job would be a "storm chaser."

A what? Why in the world would anyone want to do that?????????

So, last night he was just eating up all the bad weather, and I knew he probably wasn't going to get any sleep because he would be staying up all night watching the weather. Well, I'm glad he did.

Around 2 a.m., I got a phone call from my dad, and his voice was quite frantic. "Lena, there is a bad storm coming RIGHT towards you. You need to take cover right now."

Well, being asleep and all, I JUMPED out of the bed and turned the television on. Sure enough, there was our little community of Christiana on the television.

And the freaking out began.

I grabbed the cats, dogs, pillows, flashlights, anything I could get my hands on and ran in the bathroom. You know what Brad was doing? Walking around outside and throughout the house like a FOOL!!! I thought I was going to pass out I was so scared.

Needless to say, the storm weakened considerably before I got there, but it reminded me a lot of my days when I lived in Texas - when everything would get extremely calm and still before the storm came. And because in 2003, a tornado went right past my parents' home, and they suffered lots of damage, I was even more frightened. I am so very thankful that I did not have to experience destruction again.

Even though we were out of the "tornadic activity," my heart was racing because I was seeing all of the destruction that was happening across the southeast. Because I have a heart for service - especially in times of disaster (I did relief work on the Gulf Coast less than 3 weeks after Katrina and have visited 4 times since then), I immediately began praying for all the people who would wake up and see the destruction in the daylight. It breaks my heart for these people who will have to re-live all of their pain once the sun shines on their destroyed homes and families.

So, even if you think the storms didn't affect you life, they did. I encourage each of you to check within your local American Red Cross to see if you can help - give your time, your blood, your money - anything helps. Believe me, I have been in that situation before. Remember to say a prayer for all the states that have been affected - this storm has changed the lives of many citizens of our country.

When unexpected things happen in my life, I tend to freak out a little bit. As I have told you before, I am a planner. I plan special events for United Way, I plan for my family's future, I plan for our future children, I am a planner! :)

So naturally I freaked out when Brad and I decided to officially start our Total Money Makeover as our New Year's Resolution, and SEVERAL unexpected things happened. Here's how everything panned out...

We bought our Dave Ramsey book and started talking about our hopes about our plan.

The next day, my car was hit somewhere between Wal-Mart, McAlister's, and a Junior League meeting. And no one was there to take the blame....it wasn't a bad hit, but someone most likely backed into (someone with a trailer hitch!).

Brad and I were a little disheartened when we learned that we would have to pay a $500 deductible OR pay the $250 for the part, plus labor (around $90 per hour).

Next morning we wake up to a freezing cold house. I go to see what the thermostat is on, and the thermostat is completely off, and it's not coming back on. A call to "Heater Danny," and we learn that the compressor (please don't ask what a compressor does because I have no idea) is BAD. Although the compressor is under warranty (cue the angels), we still have to pay for labor - which is an ALL DAY job and will most likely cost us $500 or more (Debbie Downer music).

Well, so this may set us a little behind on our start date for the plan, but it's all the more motivation to set up an EMERGENCY fund! In two days, we are already needing close to $1,000!!!!

Does it end here???

Don't think so!

Our precious dog, Turner, who is a lab mix has had several skin problems - along with others. Well, Turner has recently had the skin issue pop up again. We took him to the vet this morning and were told that the problem has gotten worse, and he is going to need to go through a series of dips and treatments to the tune of $172!!!! We will have to have him dipped every other week, which will cost around $70 for each dip! Turner is my baby, and I just want him to get better!

So, the lesson for the week is to NOT GIVE UP. Although Brad and I are discouraged at this set-back, we WILL get through this. I think my fabulous numbers-loving husband has actually figured out a way for us to take care of everything and still start our plan on February 1!!!! We wanted to start this week, but we'll deal! Anyways, I'm trying not to freak out, and I'm doing A LOT of praying :)

Have any of you gone through things like this before??

Blessings!

Even though it's the second week of the New Year, I am still loving the feeling of a clean slate. Each New Year, I take a close look at my life, and I really think about the things I want for the next year. Although I have not figured out exactly what I want for 2008 - I thoroughly enjoy the feeling of "starting over."

At church on Sunday, Pastor Jackson spoke about new beginnings and how God can give us abundant blessings in our life. He spoke about the other side as well - about the "curses" of the Old Testament. However, Jesus redeemed us from those curses by becoming the ultimate sacrifice for us, and those abundant blessings come through Jesus Christ our Savior. Pastor Jackson outlined several inner challenges that keep us from experiencing our blessings - one being the "self talk." He shared a powerful passage in Luke regarding the self talk:

"Then he told them this story. 'The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: 'What can I do? My barn isn't big enough for this harvest.' Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods, and I'll say to myself, Self, you've done well! You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!' Just then God showed up and said, 'Fool! tonight you die. And your barnful of goods - who gets it?' - Luke 12:16-20 (MSG)

You have no idea the impact of this on me - I have been dealing with messages like this in my life for TOO LONG. I get so caught up in having the nicest house, money to travel, the cutest clothes, and you know what? IT DOESN'T MATTER, LENA! You see, in that passage, the man NEVER praised or thanked God for the rain, the sun, the land - all those things that he had no control over, but were instrumental in bringing a bountiful harvest. How many times have we done this in our own lives?

I have been holding onto so many things in my life lately - things from the past, and I know that I have been punishing myself for those things. Sometimes it feels like if I can make up for a horrible past with a nice car, a nice house, etc., etc., that I can "fool" everyone - including God. This is an inner struggle that has been going on in my life for the past year. It took everything for me not to break down right there and start sobbing. But then, Pastor Jackson read a passage in Romans that lifted my heart:

"With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death." - Romans 8:1-2 (MSG)

Pastor Jackson gave us a list of devotionals, if you will, to do this week. Each day this week, I have looked at this list - and I encourage each of you to look at this list as well - I truly believe that this is going to have a PHENOMENAL impact on my life, and it can on yours, too.

1. What are the messages you hear most frequently in your life?
2. Are they ENTIRELY true?
3. Is it something that has an influence over me? What are the spiritual implications?
4. Is there anything that is apart from God's best? If so, REPENT and RENOUNCE.
5. FORGIVE anyone that you need to forgive.
6. FORGIVE YOURSELF.*
7. Ask God to begin to help you see yourself from God's perspective.

*As a part of number 6, I plan to share my testimony with you all over the next couple of days. It's not going to be pretty, and I don't plan to sugar coat it, but if I can reach one person through my life story, then it will be worth it. Writing is extremely therapeutic for me, and I know this will work wonders in my life.

I would ask that each of you would pray for me during this week of self-reflection.
Blessings!

When I started in my small group this past fall, all of the women talked about this one particular book, and they talked about it A LOT - they said wonderful things about this book, talked about how it changed their life, etc. So, I HAD to have this book! What is this book, you ask? It's called The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian. One night after my small group, I went to Hastings to see if they had it, and I even found a used copy! (even better!)

To be honest, I haven't really made time to read it until last night. Now, I can't stop reading it. If there was a way that I could read while I was driving, well I'd do it! It's so amazing, and it makes me see things that I have never even thought about. To get you caught up on the book, it's main purpose is to show women the power of praying - and applying it to your relationship. She challenges you to pray for your husband in the key areas of his life including his spiritual walk, his emotions, his role as a father, leader and decision-maker, his security in work and finances, his health, his faith and finally his future.

Last night I was reading about "The Ultimate Love Language" (prayer), and I would like to share this passage with you:
"When you pray for your husband, the love of God will grow in your heart for him. Not only that, you'll find love growing in his heart for you, without him even knowing you are praying. That's because prayer is the ultimate love language. It communicates in ways we can't. I've seen women with no feelings of love for their husbands find that as they prayed, over time, those feelings came. Sometimes they felt differently even after the first heartfelt prayer...The point in all this is that as husband and wife we don't want to be taking separate roads. We want to be on the same path together. We want to be deeply compatible, lifelong companions, and have the love that last a lifetime. Prayer, as the ultimate love language, can make that happen."

I am so excited to see what else this book has to offer - I have a feeling that this book is going to take my relationship with my husband to a new level, and I cannot wait to see what awesome things God has in store for us through prayer.

Have any of you read the book? I would love to know your thoughts...do you pray for your husband? How has it changed your relationship?

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for all of your prayers and kind words! I'm officially back to work today after 3 sick days! I'm feeling much better - although, I'm not completely back to my normal self! I have so much to post about, but I just wanted to start the morning off by thanking everyone! I hope y'all have a wonderful day!

It's not often that I ask for prayers, but tonight I'm really needing them! I write this post from my warm and cozy bed, after sleeping much of the day. This weekend has been busy and full of activity - much like every other weekend. Anyways, I haven't been feeling well, and last night, as my mom helped us decorate a garland outside, I began to feel really bad. I woke up yesterday morning to not one, but TWO pink eyes, and I have had a horrible dry cough. My body was about to let out. My mother was very worried about me, so she decided that she was going to take my to a walk-in clinic this morning. And boy am I glad. A quick check-up and a chest X-ray later, it was determined that I have walking pneumonia. I can't believe that I have let myself get so bad - this has been a lesson - I need to take better care of myself! I will need several days of rest to even begin to feel better. Please pray for a quick and thorough recovery - I do not want to spend my holiday sick, or even worse, in the hospital!

I have lots more to post about, but my medicine is beginning to kick in!

Blessings!