Madison Murphy Willums

Today I received some sad news from Dr. Mike. The lump I found on Madison Murphy is cancer. We've had sweet little Madison for 4 years now- my Valentine's Day Present from Luke and Mrs. Nancy- has turned out to be our greatest family addition. She has wiggled her way into our hearts for sure. Right now, she is happy, full of life, and still eating and drinking. We'll decide what to do when that changes later on.

I can say one thing I've learned from having Madison in my life- live life with no regrets. Right now, if something were to happy to my little angel, I have absolutely no regrets. Does that mean it doesn't hurt something awful....NO...it just means I can let her go knowing I wouldn't change a thing.

For now, I want to love on her more, spend more time with her, and maybe give her an extra "little something" or "cookie" every day. She sure is our pride and joy and I'm so thankful she came into our lives.

MiMi's with Scrapbook Corner

Me & the hubby

Cindy and Janet

Nancy and Cindy

Dave, Randy, & Luke... the picture of Ann and I didn't turn out 8(

Last night Luke and I got together with some of the gang from Scrapbook Corner. It was wonderful to visit with the people I used to work with. The food at Mimi's was wonderful, but the fellowship was even better!!!

Bubble Pizza

I made this the other night and it was wonderful. Thought I would share the recipe:

Bubble Pizza
2 cans biscuits quartered
1 jar Ragu
1 lb. Hamburger Meat browned
Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Quarter biscuits and place in greased 9x13 dish. Mix browned hamburger meat and Ragu together and pour over biscuits. Bake for 20-30 minutes. Top with cheese and bake another 5 minutes. Yummy!!!

Baby Henry is Free

I got up at 5:30 this morning to go check on Henry. Last night he would barely eat and had started sounding more grown up...in fact he almost flew out of the cage when I opened it. I tried feeding him a little this morning and he wasn't crazy about the syringe anymore. I figured it was time. Luke and I loaded him up and drove to PineCrest Cemetery. The cemetery was still closed, so we snuck in and walked to a patch of trees near a pond. I fed him one last time from the syringe and opened the cage. We waited maybe a minute and he flew out. He landed on some grass near the pond and started pecking at the ground. I was so relieved and sad all at the same time. I went and got the cage and mixed up one last batch of food, placed it on the ground, and we walked away. When I turned back he had flown over by the food and was free and happy. I knew I had done the right thing, but that didn't make it any easier. I cried all the way home. Sweet little Henry is free at last and where he needs to be.

Baby Henry

I want to document my experience with sweet little Henry so I can scrapbook it later. Enjoy the pics- but don't feel like you have to read it all!

Day 1: Friday, July 2nd, 2010
Today we found you in Beetle Juice's Pen. I couldn't believe it. We listened and listened for your Momma, but never found or heard her. Luke went into the attic to get Gingers Old Cage, so we would have something to put you in. I immediately soaked dog food for you to have something to eat. You did fine the first part of the morning- eating periodically. By Noon, you weren't happy and were not eating at all. I was panicked. I called Ann, Judy, Game and Fish, went to Walmart and Paradise Pets. A man at Paradise Pets suggested baby food. So I headed to Walmart to get some. I decided to try Turkey Baby Food. I came home, grabbed a syringe and you ate a whole 3ml! I was ecstatic! Thank you Lord. I was able to feed you every hour until 8 pm. when we covered your cage and you went to bed.

Day 2: Saturday, July 3rd, 2010
Today is was every hour on the hour you wanted something to eat. You were eating almost 1.5 syringes full of turkey baby food. We placed a stick in your cage to give you something to perch on. Your legs were wobbly when I placed you on it. You had trouble figuring out how to get down, but it didn't take you long. We put you to bed around 8.

Day 3, Sunday, July 4th,2010
What a day for me. We had to be at church at 8:30 am for practice. I came home at 9:15 and was back at church at 9:30. Had to come home again and feed you at 10:30 and went back to church for the second service. After church we headed home for another feeding. Luke went and found you a worm in the yard-which you were not interested in at all. You aren't eating as much- about a syringe full. We decided to start you on mushy dog food- to see if you can peck. I mixed dog food, water, and turkey baby food together. You weren't happy at first. After about 2 feedings, you still ate almost a whole syringe full of baby food and a few pecks of dog food off my fingers.

Day 4, Monday, July 5th,2010
This morning we let you sit outside in your cage. You were terrified at first. Finally you got brave and rested on your perch. Still feeding you every hour or hour and 15. You eat about 1/2 a syringe full of baby food now and the rest in several peck fulls of the dog food mixture. You still don't know what to do with water. You like to fly around your cage- it won't be long I'm sure!

Sweet Baby Bird

This morning I noticed a baby bird in BJ's pen. I immediately hollered for Luke...who took the dogs and put them in other pens. We got Gingers Cage (our guinea pig that went to heaven) out of the attic. I was teary eyed at first when I saw it- makes me miss her. Anyhow, we rangled the bird and put it in the cage. At first, I just wanted to wait for the Momma, but didn't see any signs of a Mockingbird Mom, nor did I hear any signs. Plus, if we left it in the yard, it would have ended back up in the pens and gotten eaten- or eaten by the neighbors cat. This is probably the best thing for the little guy- being raised by me.

This isn't the first time I've had to help raise a baby bird- we used to do this a lot when we lived in Shiloh....only those were Starlings- and my PaPa really did NOT like those birds...but he helped feed them anyhow. I think we'll release him at PineCrest Cemetery. There are neighborhood cats here and he wouldn't survive- and I don't think the people at PineCrest would care! LOL!

I'm going to try NOT to name him- although I think Henry fits him. We raised a Harvey when I was a teenager. You could call his name and he would chirp at you from the trees- and even tried to land on a few neighbors- eventually he went back into the wild.

So Henry or no Henry, I'll do my best with what the Lord has given me. Sweet little birdy!

A Box of Blocks

I was asked to come check out some stamps a lady at our church was going to get rid of. I went to her house this afternoon and found 3 whole tubs full of stamping up stamps- this was the deal of all deals. I didn't know how much to pay her for them....I came to her house thinking $30 dollars would be all that I would spend. As she was calculating about how many stamps she had, I began to have a little conversation with God in my head- "Please help me to be able to walk away from these stamps and be able to say No, if her offer is too high." Right after I prayed that little prayer the lady calculated about $130 bucks worth- which would still have been a major steal. I was a little devastated as there was no way I would pay that much....so I just lovingly looked at the stamps again- and I realized something....there were no rubber impressions on these stamps- they had all been removed. So in other words, they weren't really stamps, but a box of blocks- I smiled to myself, because I realized God made these stamps really unappealing- as they were worthless. I was able to walk away without spending a dime! You have to find humor in the small things- cause you know He sure does!!!