Happy Birthday Daddy!

Dear Dad,

Today is your birthday. Today is the day where it is all about you. And I suppose that you do deserve this one day because you make every other day all about "your girls"!

You go to work everyday while it is still dark and usually you don't come home until it is dark. You work so hard to take care of us. I am so thankful that you didn't mind working hard so that Mom could stay at home to take care of us. You have made it so that we always have had everything we needed and wanted.

You knew my cheers at the football games by heart. You knew where I was in the dance line up so that you could video me perfectly. You yelled louder than anyone else when they would call my name out for the top ten in beauty pageants. 

There is no doubt that your love for me really does reach the sky.

I hope that I make you proud. I hope that when you see things that you love about me, that you realize they came from you. 

You are so loving and you always think the best of people. You will go above and beyond to help someone. You know how to make and fix anything! I don't know how you learned to to all that you can do.

You have set the bar very high, Dad. When it comes time for me to choose someone to spend my life with, he has A LOT to live up to. You have shown me how much love a man should have and show to his family.

I Love You!

source

Happy Birthday Dad.

"There's something like a line of gold thread running through a man's words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself." ~John Gregory Brown

Dear Daddy, I am so happy to be yours. I am so happy that God gave us to each other. Your are the perfect Dad for everything our family has been through. I love you so much. I love that you like to watch movies with me and read my US Weekly magazines and play 20 questions with me.

I remember so many wonderful things about my childhood. I remember you buidling me a spaceship out of leggos for class and making its boosters out of toilet tissue rollers. I remember you learning to love Barbie & Ken too. I remember our tea party in the kitchen. I remember loving going to White Water with you and riding all the big slides and I wasn't afraid because my Daddy was there. I remember when you randomly decided that everyone would eat dinner in my room with me when I didn't feel good.  (And lets face it, that was a big deal for you because you are so crazy abou eating at the kitchen table!) So, you went and got the card table and everyone ate pasta together in my bedroom!

Most importantly you have taught me what to look for in a husband. You have loved me so much and taught me that I am worth that love. I am worth waiting for and loving. I have seen you go to work before the sun is up and come home long after the moon as appeared in the great big sky. You selflessly give of yourself everyday and put us first everyday, all day.

You love your girls! You are the best "pageant dad" there ever was! What would I have done without you and your video gear?! You loved tutus and tap shoes. You know how to dry our hair and put curlers in it.

I love you so much. I hope you feel just a little bit of the love that I feel from you every day!

Love you so, so, so very much!  HAPPY Birthday!

Weekend Review. The Ups and the Downs. (But I like to focus on the Ups!)

Friday was my Mom's birthday. We had a really nice evening together. First we had dinner from Outback. (My Dad brought it home to eat so that I would have enough energy to go to the movies later.) By the way, Outback is a great meal to eat at home. it travels well and you save a little money because you don't buy drinks, tip, etc.

The Thomas Family

Terry, Cathy, Heather, Haley & Sophie

Then we all went to see The Blind Side. If you haven't seen the trailer for it, click here, to see it on Youtube. It is a wonderful movie; funny, heartwarming and clean! :) Very family friendly. It was just fantastic! Anyone would love it! I recommend that you go see it.  And if you are in the South, I can pretty much guarantee that your football coach (either current or former) will make an appearance. The audience stood and clapped at the end of the movie...that is how good it was! Okay, enough Blind Side plugging!

Celebrating my Mom's birthday was defintely the "up" of my weekend. We got home and settled down. My sister had to work this weekend at the hospital. So, she got into bed and then my Mom and Aunt (who lives with us) decided to decorate my aunt's Christmas tree in her bedroom. I was sitting in the chair talking to them and the next thing I know, Mom and Ginger are on either side of my talking to me and Mom is taking my blood pressure. Ugh! I had fainted sitting in the chair! How terrific is that?!

So this weekend has been pretty bad. I fainted again last night. I have been having trouble remembering a few seconds leading up to the fainting episodes, so I don't really remember "knowing" that I was about to faint but apparently I did because I was able to get down on the floor before I fainted. So that was good.

I have been puzzled over the last few weeks as to why I have been fainting so much on the weekends?? I really didn't understand. What was going on from Friday to Sunday that was different? Then it hit me last night. Everyone is home on the weekend and with five people living here, our home stays pretty "busy" during that time. I finally figured out that I am up more -by up, I mean propped up on the couch or in a chair-and my body gets overly stimulated by conversation, the television, trying to eat with my family, etc. So now I know why my fainting seems to pick up on the weekends. A small mystery solved.

I have felt really bad today. A lot of nausea and headaches. I have been in the bed today listening to my iPod. (God bless the Apple company for that invention! I don't know what I would do without it!) But, even though I have had bad couple of days, I enjoyed spending a great night with my family on Friday.

My Mom and I are leaving Saturday and heading to Reston, Virginia (outside of Washington DC) to see my specialist. My uncle (my mom's brother) is coming with us to help drive and keep us company. I love Steve! He is more like a brother to me than an uncle and he has gone with us to the doctor several times before. He can get off work a little bit easier than my Dad and it works out really well. I thank you all for your prayers on the upcoming trip. I thank you all for your love and support during this time.

"For where two or three come together in My Name, I will be there with them." Matthew 18:20

as high as the sky. as deep as the ocean.

“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts."   ~Washington Irving

happy birthday mother. all my love. by *Heather Thomas on Polyvore.com

Today is my sweet Mother’s 54th Birthday. I didn’t even hesitate to put her age because I have never seen her care about aging. She seems to enjoy each year –and each new wrinkle-as they come! She doesn’t seem to care that she has wrinkles or she is starting to get gray hair. In fact, I think she only recently bought her first “wrinkle serum” for her eyes and she has never colored her hair! I can brag about my Mom because well, she is my Mom and she is pretty dang fantastic! However my sweet Mother will not be so sweet once she finds out that I wrote an entire post about her and included a photo of her!
My Mom (and Dad!) are God’s shining examples in my life of what true, absolute and unconditional love really is. My Mom is my hero in everyway and most certainly my earthly role model. My parents tried for 7 years to have a baby. Those years, while struggling with infertility, were so difficult for them. They were especially difficult on my Mom because all she ever wanted to be was a Mother. My Mother is so gracious and so wise, she praises God for the time that she waited to have a child. She realized early on that God’s time is the perfect time. She is quick to say that she would not be the Mother she is today if she had not waited and wanted a baby for so long.

The relationship with my Mother is indescribable. We know what each other are thinking, with just a look. We know one another’s hearts. When I first got sick, people didn’t believe that I was really sick. People actually believed that I was “pretending” so that I could get attention. Being the loving and wise Mother that she is, my Mother knew better and fought for me every inch of the way and has continued to fight for me everyday for over 10 years. She chose me over doubt. She chose me over the easy way out.

She is my Mother, my caregiver, my mentor, role model and my best friend. Mom, if you get a chance to read this today, I love you more than words could ever say. Everything that I want to be is what you showed me was beautiful. Thank you for loving me. I love you as high as the sky and as deep as the ocean.

I love a good party! What about you?

How about a fun, light-hearted post, huh? Yeah, I think so too. :)

I love a good party! My Mom and I love to throw them! I love planning the menu and the theme. I love getting out our crystal plates and punch bowl. I LOVE that all the people I love are gathered together in one room. The only thing that I don’t love about parties is the after party clean up job. That part isn’t much fun!

My Mom has always thrown big birthday parties for me and my sister, Haley. I love looking through photos and seeing the themes that she came up with each year. She is a pretty spectacular and creative person. So, my love for parties started pretty early. I guess my love of parties was revitalized when I was a Senior in high school and I threw a friend a surprise party. Over the last few years, we have had wedding showers and lingerie showers at our home as well as several over the top Christmas parties for my friends as well as my sister’s.

But no party even comes close to the last one we had in October of 2007. It was an amazing party for a pretty amazing feat! Okay, so I am going to try and explain this amazing party as lady-like as possible because I know that a couple of gentlemen read this and well…it is the Internet! Two years ago, after years and years of being completely frustrated, embarrassed and uncomfortable I decided to finally have a breast reduction. It was by far, one of the BEST decisions that I have ever made. Because I was now ridden of these “burdens” I decided to have a party and celebrate the magnificent milestone. So, I had a “Burn the Bra Party”. And I have to say, it was pretty fantastic!

My friends, family, family friends…everyone came! It was very much, “out with big, old grannies and in with the new, pretty and feminine!” ha!

Here are some photos from the party.

The table with all the goodies! We love good party food!

How lucky am I? Look at those girls! I am so blessed to have so many people love me!

Grammy, Aunt Ginger, Mom, Cindy, Leslie, & Gwen

See, I told you! Here is the burning of the old, ugly & granny and in with the new pretty and feminine! Great memories!

What about you guys? Are there any parties that stand out in your memory as being really spectacular?

-Temporary-

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

I enjoy this verse. I know I say that about most all of the verses I share, though. This one is the first one in my journal with verses. It reminds me to be patient (which I am not very good at) and to trust God (which I don't always do) However, I love this verse because it sums up God's promise to us once we accept salvation. It is a reminder of that big, GOLD medal at the end of the race, even if during that race I face hardship and heartbreak...these things are just seconds really, when compared to the world and glory God has prepared for me that will last forever and ever and ever.
But a particular part of this verse also resonates with me on another level. "So we fix our eyes no on what is seen but what is unseen". When people see me out, they see a happy, smiling girl with make-up on and my hair fixed. What is unseen is that my mother had to wash and dry my hair. My sister rolled my hair and put on my make-up. I meet for dinner and everyone sees me laughing and shaking my head as they tell me about their lives. What they don't see is my shame and embarrassment. I feel like an outsider. They don't see me trying to grasp for any part of their conversation to join. I feel like I am immature and I can't relate. When I say goodbye to my friends after leaving a small party or dinner, they don't see me sneak a pill for a headache or for nausea because I have been sitting up too long. They don't see my tears in the car as I leave because at 26, I still just want to be like "everyone else." People see my cute clothes that I have on while I am out but what is unseen is my Dad waiting on me when I get home. He meets me at the car and gets my purse. He has my pajamas laying on my bed. My Mom helps me undress and my Dad gathers up my clothes and puts them away.

People don't believe that I am sick because they see me happy and laughing, dressed, hair and make-up done. What is unseen is the effort to get me that way and the price that is paid for enjoying those few hours out of bed....but then I remember that...

"Though outwardly I am wasting away, yet inwardly I am being renewed inwardly day by day. For what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal!"

So, this post is meant to say two things. One is that if you are suffering a hardship or heartache of any kind, remember that pain is only temporary! The gift of the Cross is that one day we will be taken to Heaven and there will be no pain or grief. Secondly, remember as Kelly said, looks can be deceiving. We don't always know a person's whole story and we mustn't jump to conclusions! (I'm speaking to myself here, too!)

My sister, Haley, Me & our hostess, Darrah.
Haley, Beth, Me & Darrah

PS: Speaking of friends, here are some photos from an evening with GREAT friends on Friday.

Hello. Will be back soon.

Hello Friends.

I know that I have a lot of blogs to check, emails & Facebook messages to return and a few phone calls to make. I appreciate your love and prayers and your emails of encouragement so much! Every email you send to me, I save in a folder called "Pick Me Ups". I go back and read them when I am feeling blue. I haven't felt very good this week. (But no fainting!) Last night my sister and I went over to a friends house to have dinner and play games. It was fun but so exhausting. I have been in bed all day today and plan on being here a few more days but my time with the girls was wonderful and I don't mind that I feel bad because of the fun that I had.

I have some photos and other things to share but I am just too tired right now. So thank you for being patient. Hopefully, I will get back here in a couple days.



Wanted to share this photo. My sweet Mama decorated my room for Christmas earlier this week. This is my view from my bed. And since this is where I am I these days, I just don't think my view could get any better! Do you? I think it is gorgeous! (I know that I am a little biased!)

A new look! What do you think?

Hello! Notice anything different? haha! My blog has been totally made-over and I am head over heels, in love with it! As we would say in the south, "Ain't it purdy?"

Emily, aka, The Blog Fairy, came to my rescue and created this new and wonderful place for me to share my thoughts and for you all to come and visit. I find it much more pleasing to the eyes than the old blog! Dont you?
So, Emily, thank you from the bottom of my heart! You have made my day! (Actually, with this amazing job, I think you "made" the next several days too!)

I am fixing to go to bed but I couldn't go to bed without first saying thank you to Mrs. Emily and thank you to my parents. This was an early Christmas present from them. So, thank you very much Mom and Dad!

PS: Look to the top left and see will see my blog button. Feel free to add the button to your blog so others will know that you are getting a daily dose of Hope!

My dreamy room...

It is a dream come true. About 3 years ago, my dad turned our entire basement upside down and inside out to give me this delightful haven to spend my time when I am feeling bad. Here is what I like to call...heaven! :)

The frames above my bed are really 25 cent postcards that Mom and I framed. We are real bargain hunters! My bed frame came from the flea market!

My cute dog Sophie but don't let her fool you! She thinks she is Queen Bee!

My dresser with my pretty little teacups from Anthropologie.

Chair & Ottoman.

My beautiful chair and ottoman. I love the story behind my chair. My mother quit her full-time job so that she could be home to take care of me. My Mom as always said that it may not be a glamorous gift, but God gave her the gift of cleaning and organization. Several years ago, she began cleaning homes for a little extra money but it still gave her the option to be at home when she needed to be. When she began, she said, "Wouldn't it be neat, if I cleaned elderly people's homes, who just can't do it themselves and need help?" Guess what? All of her homes are elderly, who are unhealthy and can't do it themselves anymore. God is amazing isn't He?! Anyway, back to the chair...one of her little ladies is terrible at keeping old junk. Mom saw this old, terribly ugly chair in her spare room and asked her is she wanted to keep it. Mrs. Coshatt explained that she didn't want it anymore but had no way to get it out of her house. So, Mom cleaned her house for free in exchange for the chair! Dad went and picked it up and Mom had it re-upholstered and it was a Christmas present! Neat, huh?




Yes, I have a fireplace in my bedroom! I am a lucky girl!! And there is my good and faithful Teddy. We have been through a lot together.

The view from my bed. I painted the picture in the window.

My window up close.

My favorite spot is my corner book shelf.

I was standing beside my bed when I took the photo to the left. It is a little foyer, type, thing.

My dressing table. It is so nice. It is also a bargain. It came from Big Lots and we

spruced it up with some cute knobs from Anthropologie.

This is what it looks like when you come into my room. Maybe I should I have put this photo first, haha! You can't see them very well but in this photo above the armoire and above my bed, I have two crystal chandeliers. They were my great grandmothers. She got them when they used to collect books of stamps and could purchase items.

My Bathroom!! My favorite!! I took more photos but as you can tell, I am certainly, no photographer and the photos weren't very attractive but that is an actual sink from the 1940's!! I was so happy when we found it! We found it at an estate sale and the nice lady just gave it to me for free! :)

Very bad photo!! But I wanted you to see my shower curtain! It is from Anthropologie...can you tell that I love that store? The basket of toiletries is actually a planter. Like I said, terrible photo but I hope you get the idea!

Do you see the re-occurring theme of Anthropologie? ha! It is my favorite store!

And this is where I daydream and spend my days when I not feeling very well. As you can see, if I am going to be sick, I am doing it in grand style!

Love, Heather