The Beatles Concert

Bet you didn't know The Beatles could still rock the house. Well, I tell ya they did....rock the school anyway. The Euper Lane 4 grade put on their music program Tuesday night....."Rock and Roll Forever". They took us rocking through the ages. Bradley (and his BFF, Matthew) were chosen to be in The Beatles. Bub was Paul McCartney and Matthew was John Lenon. (Two of their other class mates were also in the band) Well, it was up to the parents to get the costumes together. Where in the world were we going to find black suit jackets for 4 little boys? So, Kim came up w/an awesome idea....we paint white shirts to look like they were a jacket and tie. Only, do you know what a pain it would be to paint a white shirt, actually 4 white shirts! So, I decide starting w/a black shirt would be best......and if I do say so myself, they were super cute! I painted these in about an hour......

Cameron, John, Matthew, Bradley.....how cute are they!

The Most Amazing Woman

If you don't know my grandma Josie, then you have missed out on knowing the most Amazing woman. She is truly one of the most influential people in my life. I can't even begin to tell you all of the things that make her so Amazing, but I think at least a post is in order.

She grew up in the Muldrow bottoms during the depression. She walked to school, wore home made clothes and hand me down shoes. She worked hard all her life. She met my grandfather, who grew up just down the road from her, in her childhood years and they married young. She got her first job as a switchboard operator at Holt Krock Clinic. She would get a ride to the bottom of the Arkansas Bridge (Garrison Ave.) and walk the rest of the way to the clinic from there.

My grandfather (oh the things I could say about him!) was a watchmaker/jeweler who was starting out with a small shop. She would help him at night and on the weekends.

She had problems conceiving a child. She had a daughter who died a few days after her berth. And finally, in 1959, along came my dad. Grandma never stopped working. In fact, my grandfather took care of my dad, taking him to work w/him.

She worked her way up at Holt Krock, even putting herself through school while taking care of her family. Things around the Decker house were NEVER easy (like I said, short post!), but they were always interesting. My grandma comes from a long line of strong women. When the going gets tough you deal w/it. She worked more hours at that clinic than any doctor ever dreamed of working. She served on more boards, volunteered for more committees, raised more funds and organized more events than a girl scout could ever dream of doing.

Over the years, she hired most of the doctors in this town. Became their friend, their advisor, and in many cases, their mentor. This is because she had worked her way from the switchboard operator to the Head Sr. Administrative Advisor of Sparks Medical Foundation. She worked for 50 years for Holt Krock/Sparks.

She became a vital member of society as well as the absolute cornerstone of my family. This past Wednesday I had the honor of attending the dedication ceremony of the new Donald W. Reynolds Crisis Center facility. My grandma served on their board of directors for many years.She was instrumental in starting and seeing many of their programs and projects through. She no longer serves on the board....but she was given an award Wednesday for her service to the foundation. This award was a surprise to her, and I am so thankful I was there. My 2nd cousin, her nephew, now serves on the board and he called me to let me know.
My grandma Josie is someone I look up to without question. She is the embodiment of grace, honesty, beauty, humility, compassion, and drive. I owe so much of who I am to this Amazing Lady. I only hope that in my life I can accomplish half of what she has set before me. She has taught me many lessons.....and I think one of the most important is to let those around you know how much you love them. I could go on for days about my grandma and all she has taught me, she truly is on of my best friends, but I will leave you w/this......"Never let someone tell you that you can't. You can. Life isn't fair, so deal w/it. Pray w/out ceasing, and love your family and friends. And dance when you can".

Flip Flop mania

To know me is to know that I live for shoes. Especially in the summer....love me some flip flops and sandals....I hate to have my toes covered(even in the winter!). So, this weekend I was doing a little crafting, and decided to make some flip flops for Miss Layla. Well, they were soooooo stinking cute, that I just had to make a pair for my self! Check them out......

These are the ones I did for Layla And these are the ones I did for me! Super cute! You want some don't you!

I have the BEST friends....

Seriously. I have the best friends......and after you read this post, you will not be able to argue that point. You see, my friend Rachel had a garage sale last week. She had pics on her blog of things she was willing to part with for this sale.....so, there was this pic of something that looked a lot like, well, a Va-JJ. So, I sent her a little comment asking her where she had this little treasure hung!

Well, when I got to the office this morning, there was something sitting outside the front door...???....When I pulled it in and turned it around so I could see it.....This is what I found!!!THE VA-JJ....AHHHHHHHHHH!!! Thanks for thinking of us!

Ever thought about Pilate's roll in the Easter story?

Strange question? Maybe, maybe not. As a child, I always heard the Easter story and for some reason I always wondered about Pilate. So, today I started reading the Easter story in the gospel of John (chapter 18-19). I remembered that Pilate wasn't too keen on the idea of killing Jesus....but as I read I got a better idea of just how opposed he was to the idea. The Jews had no authority to kill Jesus, so they had to have Pilate give the go-ahead.....Pilate found no fault with Jesus and wanted to release Him. 3 times Pilate said he found no fault and would let Jesus go...but the Jews were insistent. Giving in to the "peer-pressure" (for lack of a better word) Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified. I guess this is the part that always got me thinking....."If you find no fault and have no problem w/him, then why have him killed?" Turns out (besides the fact that that was the plan from the beginning!) that Pilate was just a big wussy. So, the lesson I can take away from Pilate is to stand up for what I believe and not give in to the pressure of the world. Sure it is hard, but it is do-able.
Even better is the Easter story as a whole. We have all heard it, and around this time every year, we all start to reflect on it. But, have you ever REALLY looked into it? Here, let me help.....
Pilate had Jesus flogged. Pretty nice for a guy who found no fault huh? Flogged-beaten, whipped, possibly w/something over your eyes/face...w/no covering on his body. They used whips and beat him to the bone....THE BONE...all while he wore a crown of thorns. This crown was made by the soldiers and it wasn't "placed" on his head. It was a thick, braided circle of spike like thorns that they dug into his scalp. I don't know about you, but I can not even trim my rose bush w/out gloves....but my Jesus wore a crown of spikes....for me...
After the near death beating that he endured he was forced to carry his own cross. And I don't mean he had to pick up a few 2x4's and carry them across the yard. I mean, open wounds, blood running,crown of spikes, and little to no clothes, Jesus drug a HUGE wooden cross over a mile.(From what I can find, the cross weighed around 150 lbs.) And I feel safe in saying that the sweet soldiers didn't sand that HUGE rough heavy wooden cross. He DRUG it, on his wounded, bloody, aching shoulders. Where do you think that cross ended up hitting him several times as he drug it? I would say it probably did a pretty good job of driving those spikes on his "crown" deeper and deeper into the temple of his head. As if this wasn't enough, the people on the streets spit on him, kicked him, threw rocks at him and called him names. He fell under the weight of the cross (and the harm his body had endured I'm sure)...HE WAS HUMAN....
Here is a little info....did you know this was the worst criminal death in that day...and only the worst of the worst got nails in their hands AND feet. Jesus got both. They nailed him to the cross. Did you get that? THEY NAILED HIM TO THE CROSS. No, not w/picture hanging nails, but w/something we would assimilate to a railroad spike. They were driven into his pulse. This broke the tendon extending to his shoulder, forcing him to use ALL the muscles of his back to hold himself just to take a breath. The spike used for his feet was bigger b/c the feet were done together. He was forced to put weight on his feet to lift up to get a breath, all the while, his feet were tearing. He was nailed to a cross, bleeding from the HOLES in his body, wearing a crown of spikes. Jesus did this for 3 hours. At the point that he asked for a drink, they gave him vinegar on a sponge. They mocked him. He eventually stopped pouring blood and his wounds poured water. (The adult body is made up of about 3.5 liters of blood) The soldiers wanted to make sure of his death, they shoved a spear into his side. Keeping track? That is a spike wound to each pulse, one to the feet, spear to the side, and countless other "crown" and whip injuries.
Mothers....can you imagine your child beaten so badly that you do not even recognize him? Can you imagine your child hanging on a cross? I can't.....But He did......and He did it for ME. And for YOU.
So this year when you think of the Easter story, don't think of a little crown of thorns. Remember the Cross. And remember the most awesome part of the Easter story.....Jesus rose from the dead. He didn't do it b/c he wanted to, He did it b/c I need Him. He did it so that I may spend my life serving Him and that one day I will sit with Him in Heaven.
I hope all of you have the most beautiful Easter and spend time with family and friends to celebrate the true meaning of the season.

Kids, Husbands, and Dogs...OH MY!

Layla loves to take pics...so when she got a hold of my camera the other day, this is what I found......

Channeling her inner Elvis....

What is that yellow crap on her face? I was painting the playhouse that day, so I am sure it is probably cheetos or something equally as nutritious that Brad fixed her for lunch. (Daddy isn't as good w/the high cholesterol diet guidelines as Momma!) Oh well, a cheeto or two never killed anyone!

I finally got some pics of Bradley.....granted, they are SILLY, but he is smiling!! See, I have to act like I am going to kiss, or hug, or love on him. This gets him all silly trying to keep me off of him.
"Hello, I'm MR. DORK!"




**** Now, lets think about this.....This morning, I overslept by 20 minutes-AHHH. I got up, got my coffee(gotta have my coffee), got the dogs fed and outside,got Bradley up, fed him, got Layla up, fed her, got them off to school....came home and jumped in the shower. I walk out of the bathroom to this.................
The biggest lump is Brad....sleeping w/the dogs. Man, life is hard.
So, I jet off to the office and leave these 3 morons to them self....wish I was a husband or a dog. Gotta love the fam!