Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini

Today Harper and I have been on the Great Swimsuit Hunt 2009.

I'm 35 and a new mom. I can no longer wear two pieces in public. (Truth be told - I probably should not have been wearing them for the last 5-8 years but who doesn't try to hold on to their youth?)

But I have had a lot of invites lately to go swimming and I really want to be able to take Harper plus I need a suit for later this summer when we go to the beach. But I have a real bone to pick with the retail industry. Why do they put out swim suits in like February and then in June/July when you really need one - there are none to be found? We went to T J Maxx, Target, Old Navy and Belk and the WELL was dry. I refuse to pay more than about $20 for a suit so my choices are limited. I finally ended up at Wal-Mart and found two that work fine. I'm not a swimsuit model but hopefully I won't repulse any other swimmers.
I promise I am NOT paid by Sonic or Wal-Mart .......these are just my two places. I can't get away from either one.

In other news - is it just Arkansas or are you being overtaken by flies? We have a consistent 2-3 flies in our house no matter how many I kill a day and they are sending me to the looney bin. I can't stand flies.
Harper Brown has been just a delight today. She has been so happy and sweet and smiley - I think I've kissed her a million times today. She is getting a lot easier and I have never loved anything as much as I love being her mom. Just this week she has started reaching for me. If someone is holding her - she will reach out her arms to come to me. Or if she is in her exersaucer - if I come to her - she reaches out her arms to me to pick her up. It may sound like something little - but to me it's EVERYTHING. She knows I'm her mom and she wants to be in my arms!

I have passed up rice cereal and moved on to applesauce and she LOVES it. She ate a TON tonight. She has been sleeping 4-5 hours at a time instead of 2 so I am so happy! I plan to make her baby food but she and I are going to be on the move a lot in July so I will probably wait until August to start.

I am TOTALLY Random

Monday is our day to recover from the weekend and just play catch up! It's also laundry day. So we have been home all day and tonight is just a whole bunch of stuff I wanted to post.

• First of all - I am going to be putting prayer requests on the Prayer Blog. There will still be a section for you who are TTC, a section for singles, and then there will be a section for all others. So check back often and Pray!!! Thank you!If it helps - I often mark different days to pray for different things. Like maybe Mondays I pray for government and church leaders. Tuesdays I pray for family members and friends. Wednesdays I pray for the sick and so on. Sometimes it seems like a lot to have just a HUGE list every day. There are some things you may be burdened with that you pray for each day but it can also help to break it down a little bit. And make sure you spend as much time praising as you do asking. We forget that a lot.
  

Isn't this a cute top?? I'm giving one away!!! Go HERE and leave a comment if you would like to win one and I'll draw the winner on Friday afternoon.
A sweet blogger sent me this necklace in the mail today. That one word pretty much sums me up!!!! What word describes you???

Okay - two more months until FOOTBALL season!!! Who is ready!!! You know we love our Razorback football around here and I have loved finding Harper unique Razorback outfits. Cotton Candy Shop made this for her and I am CRAZY about it!!!!! I can't wait until she is big enough to wear it!
And a couple of moms are now making fun TEAM TUTUS in your school's colors along with matching flower bands! Pair this up with a Razorback tee and Harper will be the cutest little Hog Wild Chick ever!!!!

• I happened to recieve two more books for the single girl - two more copies of Gary Chapman's "Love Languages for Singles". I want to send those to two lucky readers. If you haven't already bought it and would like to have a copy - leave me a comment and let me know. I'll draw those names on Friday as well. (This was totally random but the 3 single winners last time ALL were from Alabama. I didn't realize it until I went to mail the books!)

• Anyone watching "The Next Food Network Star"? I happen to be addicted to the Food Network because a. I like to cook and b. I like food. I'm so excited that the mom of 4 who is just a "home cook" is beating out all the chefs and culinary school graduates. Good food is good food, huh? I could never do that show because it would completely stress me out.
  

• Ya'll have been so sweet telling me you think I look thin! Talk about making a girl feel good! I still have about 15 pounds to go before I'll be at my ideal weight but I do weigh less than before I got pregnant. I thought I would share my 5 pregnancy weight loss secrets (probably should not try these at home) 1. Have a 10 pound baby 2. Be in the NICU with that baby for a month and be too stressed and tired to eat 3. Breastfeed - that is the REAL secret 4. Go on lots of walks with her in the 90-100 degree AR weather 5. Have a baby who is allergic to nuts and eggs so you can't eat any ice cream or baked goods. ha ha ha!

• Oh and very importantly - I asked today as I drove thru - and a Pina Colada slush at Sonic is WHITE coconut (make sure it's white and not blue) and pineapple. So just tell your sonic that if they don't know what I'm talking about.

• One more thing - My mom just posted pics of me in the same dress Harper was wearing yesterday. I haven't seen those pictures before - I thought it was fun. You can tell Harper does NOT look like me - she is SO her daddy.
  

Have a great Monday!!!!

I Heart America

I think my absolute favorite holiday is the 4th of July. I love Christmas and Thanksgiving but there is something so wonderful about the Fourth. I love summer and it's a nice break in the middle of the summer. I love the fireworks and the cookouts and the lawnchairs and the red, white and blue everything and patriotic songs.
I am SO thankful to live in America. (As I write this I realize that there are a TON of you who live in other countries and I know you all love yours equally - but I DO love my nation so much!) I get SO emotional every year during the Patriotic service at church because I am so in debt to all the men (and women) who have served our country - especially those who have gone to war. Both of my grandpas served in wars and they were my heros. I'm SO proud they shared that legacy with me.
Today was our annual Celebrate America service at church so I wanted to dress Harper up in red, white and blue. At the last minute - I put her in this little outfit. It was mine when I was a baby. (My mom saved SO many of my outfits and I love that I'm able to put Harper in them).
Shannon at Cary Hairbows had sent me a special patriotic bow for Harper to wear and I just love it - we are going to get a lot of use out of it in the next week! ( I got my jewelry at Dillards probably 7-8 years ago.)
I'm a little worried about my child. She was SO NOT happy to be at church this morning. I'm pretty sure she cried most of the time we were there. But this afternoon we took a family trip to Wal-Mart (which is something we NEVER do) and she was practically giddy. She smiled and cooed and laughed the entire time. I certainly don't want to raise her to be more happy at Wal-Mart (or Target or the mall) than in church. (I really don't worry about that - I'm sure as she grows that church will be her favorite place just like it has always been for me).
Tonight our church did a special service on the town square complete with a flyover, patriotic songs, Twila Paris singing a special, free hot dogs and ice cream and a special speaker who was a Vietnam Vet who sustained massive injuries and was later saved. Scott stayed home with Harper since it was past her bed time and I enjoyed going and visiting and just loving the small town atmosphere. It was just Americana in the South at it's finest.

What is your favorite thing about the 4th or about living in America? (If you are not from America - what do you love about your country?)

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens

These are a few of my favorite things right now:

• I am currently NUTS about 3 things - if I didn't know FOR SURE that I'm not pregnant - I would wonder because I am constantly craving : Salt & Vinegar chips (what on earth??? But I can't quit eating them), Coke and Cherry Icees - last weekend I saw one too many signs for them and now I want one every single day, and Scott just told me that Sonic has pina Colada slushes and OH MY - they are SO good!!!!!! It tastes just like you are at the beach. If you are at work and need a vacation - turn on some Jimmy Buffet, Jack Johnson or whatever sounds like summer to you and drink one. :-)

(Hopefully your Sonic knows how to make them - ours does but another local one acted like I was crazy when I ordered it - so I'll ask tomorrow what's in it so you can tell your sonic = It might just be pineapple/coconut if I had to guess).

• 
• Harper's first day in her little swimming pool. We blew it up and filled it up this afternoon and put her bumbo seat in it and she really liked it (for about 15 minutes) and then the pouty lip came out.
  

Splashing away

• 
• I also LOVE her little strawberry swimsuit from Gymboree - precious!
  
• 
• I love when friends come to visit - Laurie and Kelly (Laurie's best friend since childhood and our next door neighbor for a few years when I first got out of college) came to visit. Kelly is in town for a wedding and I was so glad she came to meet Harper and that I got to see her!
  
  

• Scott and I have the hardest time making decisions about where to eat and tonight we wanted to "eat out" (or more like get some take out) so one of our favorite things has always been to write down 3-4 restaurants on pieces of paper and then pick one out of a hat. Tonight we upped our fun because we let Harper pick the place since she can now grab. She picked Chili's and my stomach thanks her!
  

• I heard this song a month or 2 ago and am just CRAZY about it. And then I found out the first single on the new David Crowder CD is this song. I love his version and listen to it constantly (it just hit itunes) but it's not on you tube so I'm sharing this one - which is great too. "How He Loves Us" - if you are having a tough time - try listening to this and remember just how much He really does love us!

• Do you know about www.technorati.com? If you register your blog on there - it will show you who is linking to your blog and where your blog ranks among the millions of blogs out there! Go check it out - it's fun!
• Something that makes me EXTREMELY happy is that after having the prayer blog up for 7 months - we now have 75 praises!!!!! Isn't that AMAZING???? I know some of you are still on the list waiting............but God can do anything! And I can't wait for some of the single girls to start announcing they are engaged or dating seriously! I'm working on adding a section for all other prayer requests. I think that's how I'm going to handle the requests I get - I'm just trying to figure it out so for all of you sending me requests - I'm working on it. Keep praying!!!
  

Eat It ......Just Eat It

I had planned to wait a few more weeks but for the last week or two - Harper has been SO interested in everything I eat. She will sit in my lap and try to grab everything off my plate and bring it to her mouth. She knows exactly what I'm doing. She watches me and opens her mouth every time the food moves near her.
She even knows there is something REALLY good in this cup - there must be - Momma sure likes to go to that place. ha! (Still drinking Crystal Light but I let myself have one coke at least one coke a day). After researching and realizing she met all the requirements and that she was showing signs of wanting to eat...............

We decided today was the day!!!!
Here I am getting the cereal ready.

She is drooling in anticipation.
(If you look close - you can see her two bottom teeth)
I even put the cutest bib on her that Scott's cousins just gave her last weekend.
(I mean you NEED to look cute for all the BIG occasions in life, right?)

Looking and waiting as I get the first spoonful ready

Ummm........what is this?

Not as great as I had imagined food might be

Are you sure this is real food?

Well - maybe I'll try a few more bites

Nope - I have had ENOUGH

Daddy - where is that sandwich you just finished eating?

You have GOT to be kidding me? That was IT?

Harper ate several little spoonfuls but wasn't extremely crazy about it. She really wanted to grab the spoon more than anything. She loves to bring anything to her mouth - my cups, teethers, toys, medicine droppers, etc.

My baby is growing up!
Next thing I know - I'll be writing about the prom. :-)

Show Us Where You Live Friday - MASTER BEDROOM

Next week : Garages and Yards!

I wanted to post about my day separately but I've been so busy the day got away from me so I'm joining my personal post with our tour your home Fridays! Harper thinks it's a great idea.

We got up early this morning and dropped off Dawson to get groomed. We then hit up Target where we were the ONLY customers in the store. I'm not kidding - it was like a perfect dream. Then we went home to get ready so we could go to play group.
It was at Amanda's house again today (in the blue) and that is always a GOOD thing because she goes all out and is an amazing cook. We had chicken shish-ka-bobs (a personal favorite) and beans and potato salad and banana pudding. SO good!
I counted and I'm pretty sure there were 13 moms and 17 children (under 5) there! That's a crowd!
The bigger kids had fun playing outside in the pool and sand. It was WAY too hot for us to be outside more than a couple of minutes.

Harper had a cute dress on that I just love but she did not act so cute at play group. She was okay for part of the time but then it was naptime and she was letting us all know it.
She did act good for my friend Isabel for a few minutes. Isabel is moving to NC soon and I'm so sad. We were not off of Amanda's street before Harper was sound asleep.
But her nap had to be quick because we were home for a quick meal and I took her to the doctor because she had a hangnail that had become infected (is it always something with me and her? I feel like we go to the doctor every week. ha! This is so weird for me because I managed to go about 12 years after college without going to the doctor ONCE). ha! We stopped by my old office (which is next to my doctor's office) to visit and then we picked up Dawson who was trimmed and sporting a Scooby Doo bandana.
So - onto our bedroom. I've decided in the last few months that I'm ready for a change in our room. I'm not real fond of our comforter set. It's just time for something new. I bought our bedroom furniture when I was still single and had bought my first home. My mom advised me to buy a king bed and that I would thank her once I was married and she was right.
Nothing much on the other wall but our armoire (and Harper's bouncy seat). Our room is where all the baby stuff has collected I guess.
You can see where Harper is sleeping in her pack and play but this weekend we are going to try and move to her room. I'll let you know how it goes. We actually tried tonight and realized the sun sets on that set of the house and she has an early bedtime and it's WAY too bright in there so tomorrow I'm going to look for some black out panels.
This is kind of what I want to do in our room. I REALLY want a big fluffy white comforter and then a brown coverlet and brown curtains with pillows with maybe some blue accents.
Am I crazy with a baby and a dog that sleeps with us to do white??? What do you think???
These are all along the idea of what I want to do in the next few months. I'm about to make some changes to our family room and then maybe towards the end of the year I'll start on our bedroom. In the meantime - I'm shopping for ideas so I can't wait to see what you all have done in your master bedrooms!

P.S. Can you believe Michael Jackson died??? I know he defined the word CRAZY but there is no way if you are anywhere near my age that you can't tell me you didn't love the Thriller album or remember seeing that video for the first time? I was in 5th grade and MTV had just started and we got to watch the video in class (I have no idea why?) I was probably wearing friendship bead bracelets and playing atari at home after bringing home my pacman lunchbox and listening to "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and "PYT".

P.P.S. When I get the energy and most importantly the time - I'll go back and make links that go to each Friday's post for quick looks!!!

Show us Where You Live Friday Participants

1. Robin @Alabama Slacker Mama 2. And they lived happily ever after 3. Mary Vigil 4. Leslie @ Lamberts Lately (Paint Shop Pro) 5. There's No Place Like Home 6. Whitney @ Treasures from our Family 7. We are THAT family 8. ln the Warm Hold of Your Loving Mind 9. RILEY 10. Heather 11. Stephanie ~ A Blue-eyed Boy Met A Brown-eyed Girl 12. Lisa S. 13. Enchantresses 3 14. a-n-n-a-l-e-e 15. Kate @ Flow of Flotrude 16. Christa from Texas! 17. Amber 18. Emily @ The Pilot's Wife 19. Louisiana Livin 20. Kassie's Beach 21. Shelby - Bringing Up Madison 22. Hey there Maria 23. Cody Jean 24. Tyler & Julie 25. Oh Pickles 26. The Ebright Family 27. Emily of Timeless Paper 28. Wendy @ Pancakes and Milk 29. Family American Style 30. Details from the Dechiros 31. Happily Ever Afters of the Lancasters 32. The Starr Family 33. Lori:pandagirl 34. KRISTEN'S PALACE 35. Kentucky Newlyweds 36. A fellow G.R.I.T.S, Reid 37. SimplyHappyMama 38. Tiaras & Tantrums 39. Rachel at Home Sweet Home 40. Cheri Quite Contrary 41. KIMBERLY 42. D@SunnySideoftheSunPorch 43. Angela 44. Laura Beth @ high on life 45. JenGlamGirl 46. Carolina Girl 47. Melissa @ Huckleberry Prairie 48. Pamela 49. Tiffany- The Pirtle Family 50. Kari - p.s. love.love 51. A Beach Cottage 52. Sarah @ Thriftydecorchick 53. Stephanie @ Because Of Love 54. The Pilston's 55. Living For Him 56. Anna Williams 57. POOP ON JELLY 58. Emily 59. Kimmie @ Full Circle 60. Carrie 61. Ashley :) 62. The Santa Ana's 63. Sarah Robbins 64. Twice As Nice 65. Stephanie @ Abundant Joy 66. Brittany 67. afamiliarpath 68. Michelle V. 69. Tiffany 70. Jaime 71. Jenn@First Comes Love 72. Sonya 73. Dawn - Big Fat Pencils 74. At Home with Cara 75. Christy @ Embellished Bayou 76. Amanda @ Raising Royalty 77. Katie @ The Adventures of Katie and Josh 78. Adam, April & Aidan 79. Three Calhouns 80. Bobbie Jo 81. To The Moon and Back 82. Michelle

83. Michelle 84. by the by 85. Katie in VA 86. Handsome Little Men 87. Gina 88. Katie and Matthew 89. CaseyLew 90. Lauren @ Simple Yet Classic 91. Lauren @ Simple Yet Classic 92. sharae 93. Chrissy in the UK 94. the fleur de lis cottage 95. The Gava Gang 96. LIVE. LAUGH. PULL YOUR HAIR OUT 97. The Loves of Jenn 98. Maggie Elizabeth 99. Mindy 100. Authentic Life with Landon and Bethany 101. Bethany and crew 102. THE WELBORN HOUSE 103. NEW Family News 104. karen@a time for everything 105. 3boysmom 106. Audrey 107. Chelsa Knepp 108. teresa-bug 109. Ashley at Johnson & Johnson 110. Snarky Mom 111. danielle @ blissful 112. Amanda in PA 113. Aishlea 114. Nurse Kimbrough 115. Mary @ Giving Up on Perfect 116. Lauren 117. susanne @ a simple life 118. Sarah 119. Josclyn *****Tickled PINK 2 B Me ***** 120. Caroline 121. Amanda 122. Melissa @ The White House 123. Annie @ Chapters of our Life 124. Mandy @ Little Precious Boutique 125. House of Jones 126. Rachel @ Moments with My Miracles 127. Ashley 128. Garson 129. Katie 130. Julie 131. Christy Stewart 132. Family American Style 133. Marcie @ Life is Good 134. Jennifer 135. Paige Thomas 136. ShabbyMama 137. Beth Haley 138. Andie 139. Zachsgang 140. Megan Sloan 141. Martha @ So Lovely Creations 142. Kristi 143. Angry Julie Monday 144. Shelley Freeman 145. Hickstionary-master bedroom 146. Lisa @ Odom Party of Five 147. Sara @ Delightful Dwelling 148. Sandi @ La Dolce Vita 149. Meg @ Therapy By Decorating 150. The Eison Family 151. Erinn- Chateau Buteau 152. Loni @ From Two to Three 153. Elizabeth 154. Danica @ Chic Runner 155. Shannon 156. Shana in Clarksville 157. Sarah in TX @ on the Rhoads of life 158. Lori: part of # 33 above 159. Debbie at The Shabby Bungalow 160. Mandy 161. Miriah 162. Susie - boys will be boys 163. Jen 164. Sarah @ pewter sage

165. Cozy in Texas 166. Tina @ Blessings 167. Kether 168. SARA 169. Jennifer 170. Wendi @TheRoushHouse 171. The BREWER FAM 172. The Belle 173. Holly 174. Jessica-and3makes5 175. Team D Fun 176. Jae @ A Teacher's Heart 177. Jeri G 178. Whitney Wilkins 179. Better late than never-Brittany 180. l e x i n d u s t r i e s 181. Little Blessings 182. Sally Thrasher 183. ButterYum 184. Ashlee W. 185. SarahBethCreativity 186. lyla 187. mommyblogsme 188. Little Blue Bungalow 189. Amanda @ morethanthestarsinthesky 190. Lori's Family and Home 191. Broken 192. Scrambled Eggs 193. Megan 194. Shannon 195. Helen Joy-Barclay and Me 196. Brittany- Corrected- SORRY! 197. Crystal's Life 198. Danielle-Mom of 5 199. Audrey@ the joys of raising jack 200. Karen 201. lesli @ flipflops & lipgloss 202. Leah at Thinking Out Loud 203. Jennifer 204. Lauren @ little moments 205. Annie (Puerto Rico) 206. AUDRA @ Little Moments with the Laneys 207. Taylor 208. Nancy P 209. Melissa Stafford 210. Jen-Blessedmomto7 211. Lindsey @ Keeping Up With The Spences 212. Allyson Blackwood 213. Lianna Knight 214. Jackson Family 215. The Daily Sweatpants 216. Amanda 217. The House Family 218. Susan @ Whoopsie Daisy Diaries 219. Betty Cummings 220. Ashley AKA the nut 221. The Way Life Should Be 222. Shannon in Memphis 223. Kate @ Barefoot Daydreams 224. Molly Hall @ The Hall Monitor 225. Shaila - Better late than never! 226. K K's Kreations 227. Tara G.- the Yellow Hats 228. Amanda Ledford 229. This Plate Is Full 230. Emily 231. Ms. Miranda 232. Amanda Rick 233. Kristin 234. Angela 235. Christy - Omaha, TX 236. LCPARSONS 237. Overachieving Mom 238. chesley 239. Jessica 240. Newlyweds Next Door 241. Elaine's Semi-Homemade Life 242. Kim at artof domestic living 243. Keely 244. Gretchen 245. Jenn 246. Colleen

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Road Trip

Harper and I had such a fun day today! Nonny, Harper and I headed out this morning and went to Tulsa. (There are so many of you in Tulsa that I would love to have called to see but we had a very quick whirlwind trip so there just wasn't time this time!)
We made a quick stop at the NICU at St. Francis. It felt weird to be at the hospital on a 100 degree day since we had been there during very cold weather and a snow storm. All of our nurses and Harper's doctor were either off or in classes so we didn't see anyone we knew but it was bittersweet to be back where we spent so many hours.
Then we went for a quick lunch at Pei Wei. YUMMY!!!! Dummy me ordered Kung Pou Chicken which I love but then I got it and remembered that I can't eat peanuts (which it has) or anything cooked in peanut oil (which I was scared it was) so I had to make mom trade meals with me. I'm still getting used to avoiding foods for Harper's allergies.
And then the reason for our trip - we got to meet BOOMAMA and BIGMAMA!!!!!!!!!

Um, I think Caroline needs a little sister????? :-)

They were EXACTLY as you think they would be. So fun and friendly and nice and hilarious! Sophie and Melanie were the first blogs I ever read of people I didn't know. I think I started reading both of them about 3 years ago (I really have no idea how I stumbled upon them but they have been my daily read every single morning since.) Seriously - no matter what I do - I start my day by reading their blogs and they always leave me laughing. I was just THRILLED to death to meet them today - I never dreamed I would get to meet them - especially both at once! I even felt so at home - I actually sat and fed Harper in front of them (I can't believe I did that but Harper was furious and hungry). ha!
They had just spent the last few days at Pioneer Woman's ranch and Ree sent two pans of her famous cinnamon rolls - one each for me and my mom. I can't believe I actually have in my possession cinnamon rolls made by THE pioneer woman. And OH SWEET GOODNESS HEAVENS TO BETSY they are some kind of good. I'm pretty sure I will eat the entire pan myself in 2 days. You can get the recipe here and if you read it - you can imagine why they are over the moon good. I will be making some soon.

Yep - it's been one fun day!

Hair Day

My hair has been a MESS lately. The aftermath of pregnancy is killing me! ha! My hair has been falling out in clumps leaving me with a HUGE bald spot at my crown, a forehead full of baby bangs and my gray roots are out of control. (My hair is completley 100% gray/white and has been for about 10 years which is why (if you have been wondering) my natural color is dark brown and now I am a blonde).

So today I got it done. And Harper went with me. I was more than a little nervous about how this would work but I couldn't leave her with anyone. Thankfully - she slept for about an hour and the rest of the time she sat in my lap and just looked around and smiled. I think she "gets" the price of beauty. She likes to watch me put on my makeup every morning.
She understands that I do not just roll out of bed looking the way you normally see me. ha! (Can you believe I just posted that picture - I am NOT a proud woman).

When we got home - Nonny was here for a visit!! She and I are taking a little day trip tomorrow and we have a few fun things planned including meeting some "mama" bloggers who are both "Big"-time and "Boo"eautiful. (SO EXCITING!)

Don't you just love her face

She LOVES her grandparents

Isn't her bib cute? Got it HERE. (since ya'll are asking!)

This afternoon - I picked up this Blessing Ring that I recently ordered. I'm so excited about it. I'm going to take all the cards we received while we were in the NICU with Harper and punch a hole in them and put them on this ring. I was on the search for a way to keep those cards and putting them all in a book didn't seem like the greatest idea. So once I get them all strung - I'll show you another picture. Your cards were a treasure to us!

Amanda who I ate lunch with last week has started a prayer blog for NICU babies! If you have requests - go visit HERE and give them to her. I'll also keep the link on my left sidebar. There is also a link called "others" that is a great resource for prayer requests. I am not going to quit posting prayer requests - I just worry sometimes that I might be overloading ya'll. I don't want it to reach a point where you feel so overwhelmed that you just don't pray at all. That's why I just have this sense that I need to step back from it for a short time. But even if we pray in blanket prayers - God hears us and knows the needs.