my new life...

Well, after getting a little motivation from my friend Michelle and also from the enjoyment I get from reading my other friends blogs, I've decided that I am going to return from the blogger grave!

I went forever with no ideas of anything to write about and then my life took a turn and Jimmy and I found out we would be parents. I now have something or rather somebody, beautiful and fun and ever-changing to blog about, my sweet daughter Reagan! Everyday she seems to change and learn something new and I've decided to chronical these milestones for those of you that want to keep up...

Since Friday will be Reagan's 5 month birthday I've decided to start from the beginning and bring everyone up to speed... so here are a few of our precious moments with our sweet girl...

Welcome to the world Reagan Lynn Springs....

long lost blogger....

Hello everyone! I apparently have lost the ability to keep up with my blog!! I am in the process of finding a topic and then maybe I will post!!

A Christmas Story for people having a bad day...

Just a little Christmas humor... :-)

When four of Santa's elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the Pre-Christmas pressure... Then Mrs. Claus told Santa her Mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more!
When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out, Heaven knows where. Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered.
Frustrated, Santa went in the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had drank all the cider and hidden the liquor... In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider jug, and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found the mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom.
Just then the doorbell rang, and irritated Santa marched to the door, yanked it open, and there stood a little angel with a great big Christmas tree. The angel said very cheerfully, "Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn't this a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?"

...And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree.

If I ever questioned... I won't anymore...

Sometimes I can see why people would question whether God exists. Things happen to good people that make you wonder... "why not make this happen to a convict or something, why me?" It is the faith that you receive when excepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior that holds the answer to that question. You fully believe that God has a reason for EVERYTHING and a purpose for EVERYONE!!

That being said, this morning I got one of the biggest scares of my life. It's raining terribly, I'm driving to work and my cell phone rings. It's Jimmy, he starts the conversation off with "I don't know where you are but be careful"...seriously this is no way to start a conversation! This abrupt hello was followed by, "don't freak out but you brothers have been in a bad wreck and totalled the truck". Please tell me how I am supposed to "not freak out"!! Fortunately, the boys are fine and the truck is replaceable but there is no worse feeling than the panic that you get when you think about something happening to one of your loved ones. You immediately wonder what on earth would I do if they died. It's terrible, I know and you should never think that way, it's just human nature.

The fact that God kept both boys safe is enough to praise Him but when I talked to Jimmy after he went to pick up the truck, I was in absolute awe. Apparently the passenger side door was so crushed in it was touching the gear shifter. Jayme walked away with a scratch on his thumb. The only way I choose to believe that this is possible is that God wasn't going to let anything happen to Jayme today. Wreck or not, he would not be hurt. I by no means am leaving Tyler out of this. He didn't have a scratch on him either. Jimmy had said "this is the hardest hit I have ever seen". Jimmy works in a body shop and was a volunteer fireman, he knows wrecks.

God had a reason for the wreck this morning. It may have just been a simple reminder to a teenage driver of how quickly something can happen that could take your life or your passenger's. There may be more to it, only He knows. I do know one thing, this is not the first time that God has protected my brothers. When Jayme was three or four he was hit by a car so hard that his shoes flew off his feet. He landed on his little toddler butt in the neighbors yard. There is no reasoning but God's grace. When Tyler was in the womb, he had scar tissue from Mom's pregnancy with me, wrapped around his face. What could have easily hurt him turned into a small flat spot on the end of his nose that distinguishes him from the rest of the Markham clan.

I know one thing, God loves these boys and he has a plan for both of their lives. I am so grateful and honored to be their sister!

One more year down... a lifetime to go!!

I just want to wish my sweet husband, Jimmy, a happy 3rd Anniversary today!! I love you sweetheart!

With Thanksgiving on the horizon....

With Thanksgiving just a handful of hours away, I'm going to follow in the footsteps of my dear friend, Sandy Broome (love you!) and voice some of the many things that I am thankful for this year...

* My salvation. I know that I am a child of God and He is my Heavenly Father. Regardless of the mistakes that I make in my life, He still loves me and always will. Thank you.

* My husband. He is the backbone of our small but precious family. I thank him for his love, strength and hard work to provide all of the things that we enjoy. Thank you.

* My Dad and Mom. I have so many things to thank them for. The wisdom that I use in my everyday life, some was education, most was my parents. I am proud to say that they molded me into the respectable adult that I am today. Thank you.

* My brothers. They are all such awesome men! I am thankful for their humor. If ever I may need a laugh, any one of them can make me laugh to tears. I'm enjoying watching them all grow and find their own ways in life. I love them so much! Thank you.

* My In-Laws. All of them! I could never have asked for a better family to have married into. Like my birth family, they all have their quirks, but that's what keeps life interesting! To Leigh and Jamie, I grew up with awesome brothers but I will grow old with awesome sisters, I love you both dearly! Thank you.

* My job. I'm thankful for the additional income that it provides for my family and the friends that I have met along the way. I'm also thankful for the knowledge I have gained and the new patience I've acquired! Thank you.

* My friends. I am so abundantly blessed to have so many awesome people in my life that I call friends. Some of them close enough to be called family. Each and every one of you add something to my life that is irreplaceable. Thank you.

* My life. Each day is a precious gift. I thank God for giving me the days I have had so far and, His will be done, the days to follow. Thank you.

* My country. Whether the land of the free and the home of the brave is in turmoil or not, it is still my country and I will stand for it. It is still and forever more, one nation under God! I am thankful for the freedom to pray for it's rulers! Thank you.

There are days where I find myself longing for more out of life. It is those days where something is said in passing or I see something on T.V. and I am humbly knocked to my knees to realize that I have so much. The most humbling part is that those that have much less, give abundant thanks for the little they have and here I am asking for more.

Oh give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 107:1

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

Next Tuesday, November 25th!

It's getting cold, everyones getting pale and if you're like me you had to revamp your makeup to keep from looking dead! If you need some tips on how to create a "winter glow" or just want to sit in for a free make over, join me Tuesday night, November 25th (that's next Tues!) at my Mary Kay training center in Belmont, right off I-85. We'll meet from 6:30-8pm, refreshments served. This is also a good opportunity to get some really cool holiday gift ideas for everyone in "your circle", men and teens too! If your interested give me a call on my cell (704)460-2381 or email me at rachelsprings@ymail.com. I'll provide any extra details or directions if you need them! I hope to see some new faces join us and bring a friend if you'd like!