the best and worst date ever.....

Last week, Mark was called to a meeting at last minute out of town. Hunter was with his dad, leaving just the girls home alone together.

It ended up being such a fun peaceful time, just us girls. We ran errands together. We played, read books and made little videos. Anything that could be done in the home since it's been high 30's here in Sunny Florida for about two weeks now.

Finally, I decided I was in the mood to get out of the house and go on a dinner date with my baby girl.

Ruby Tuesday was the nearest thing to where we live that sounded good and child friendly. Off we went.

Get there it ends up being a half hour wait, so I thought about saying 'forget it' and head to subway instead.

But.... you know how it is when you get something in your mind that sounds good. Its hard to turn away and redirect yourself. I was in the mood for their Ruby Mini Burgers. I drove around the parking lot a couple of times really debating my options.

A) Do I wait with a toddler for that long and risk a chance of a possible melt down and a miserable dinner night with her?

or

B) Head to subway, walk around Wal-Mart and entertain ourselves.

Ruby Mini Burgers pulled the hardest and won.

We put our name on the list and found a place to let a toddler run around as much as possible until our name was called. Another couple came in with their 18 month older daughter Maggie. Morgan quickly made a friend and being the organized parents they were, brought snacks. Maggie was happy to share with Morgan. Thank you, Maggie.

The wait actually went by fast. We waited about 15 minutes. So that wasn't bad.

We were quickly seated to our booth, just me and my girl.

We already knew what we wanted and placed our order the moment our waitress came to the table. My thought was 'the quicker I order, the quicker it comes out and I get to eat before my daughter gets bored or tired, with a meltdown on top.'

So we ordered..... grilled cheese buns sandwich for Morgan. Don't even ask about that. I order my mini burgers.

It had to be the quickest and the easiest order in that entire room.

We wait....

We wait some more.....

Finally, I ask for something to hold Morgan over as she is starting to get a little bored.

They bring her a bowl of mashed potatoes, in which she really loved. While demanding she feed herself. Could they have given her a bigger spoon? The waitress obviously didn't have children.

That buys a few minutes.

We continue to wait....

Then, I break out the phone, and let her watch a little Wizard of Oz previews on YouTube. Are you surprised by her choice in Wizard of Oz. In which she now says "boz" for Oz.

"Mommy, Boz. Boz."

She is really into this saying "cheese" thing when she sees a camera. When she sees a camera now, she says "cheese" almost as if she thinks the camera is called "cheeeeese!" HA!

She picked up my cell phone and she put it up to her face and said "cheeeese!"

Finally, our waitress brings her 'grilled cheese buns' and tells me that they made mine wrong and so she is having them remade.

Ugh... how hard can it be to make mini burgers plain with just cheese??? Really?

Finally, she brings out my plate. Morgan and I say our prayer and as I touched my mini burgers, I realize they're COLD! Not even luke warm.

By this time I am really starting to lose my patients. Then the question arises:

A) Do I waste MORE time and WAIT even longer for another order?

or

B) Do I just take a bite and try to make the best of my cold burgers, although I was looking so forward to eating these darn things?

I took a bite.

Ewwww!!!!

I can not eat these cold like this.

I look around, my waitress isn't to be found. I asked the nearest waiter to please get me the manager.

Morgan's dish didn't look any better, but she was hungry enough to not care and was digging into her dish.

The manager arrived and I give her my complaint.

She apologizes and said she would comp my burgers and bring out a new hot plate.

The new ones arrive and sure enough they were hot. FINALLY! It only took three tries to bring out the second to easiest thing being made back in the kitchen, next to the grilled cheese for kids.

I haven't even mentioned.... the waitress, not once did she offer to refill my ice tea. I ended up waiting through three plates and eating my entire dinner before she finally swings by and asks if she can get be another tea.

By this time (something I would normally never do)....

I don't replay or look up at her. I give her 'annoyed' with my body language and nod my head 'yes, I'd like another glass, and how kind of you to think of it now that I am done with my food.'

She comes by and tells me the manager took care of the entire bill and to have a good night.

Good!!

Hey, I am all about paying for my dinners. I used to waitress, so I am also about leaving great tips. But this was the worst service. I can't recall in years the last time I have complained to a manager about the service or food.

I did (although, didn't feel it was deserved), leave her a tip. I felt bad about my entire meal being taken care of, so I left a tip that probably would have been less had I paid the actual bill.

Whatever!

I had a free hot dinner at the end of the night. It may have been the worst service I have received in a very long time. It however, was the BEST date I have with just me and my girl!!!

will they know me in heaven?

Death is something that is all around us. Lately, I have felt that death is getting nearer to me in some way. I don't know in which way, but in some way. Maybe its that little bit of 'fear' that sneaks in me of losing something or someone so dear and near to me, like my children.

I read daily blogs and stories of families that are living among us with their hearts broken and dealing with the unimaginable pain of the loss of a child.

I have compassion. I have prayed so may times in my life for God to make me more like Him. To let me love, feel and care for others just has He would love, feel and care. He, I believe, has answered those prayers. When I read a story, or see first hand someone dealing with pain or the loss of a loved one. I don't just witness the situation and then go about my busy life. I feel the situation with them. My emotions will take my mind to 'that' place, and it will allow me to place myself in the shoes of another, getting a glimpse of what they must be experiencing.

With being able to take myself there emotionally, I feel it then gives me the ability to pray for these people in ways that some wouldn't think to pray for them.

I don't know.

I can't fully explain what I am trying to say. All I know is that I feel different. I feel like I have walked so many lives of other people. I have found myself awake in the middle of the night, with that feeling a panic, as a parent that just lost a child would feel. I have felt my heart race. I have felt my chest struggle to breath. I have felt so much pain just by other's painful experiences in life.

The other night I laid in bed. I had my eye mask on and Mark was next to me reading his book. He probably thought I was fast asleep, as I laid there in deep thought. When out of my mouth I spoke these words....

Me: "do you believe we will know each other in heaven?"

Mark: (His response was a moment of silence. Probably confused by the question out of no where or wondering if I am talking in my sleep. )

Then he replied: "no, I don't think we will."

Me: begin to silently cry.

Me: begin to not breath because I am trying to not let him know I am crying under my eye mask.

Me: can't control it anymore and I begin to weep out loud, still with eye mask on over eyes.

Mark: "honey, what's wrong?"

Me: "I didn't like that answer." (my cry just got ridiculous now.)

Mark: "I'm sorry, I probably shouldn't have said that. I don't know the answers to that. I just think that we wouldn't know each other."

Me: "I don't like that answer."

Mark: "babe, what do I know? I could be wrong. Here let me look it up." (As he grabs his bible and start fumbling through the pages.)

Mark: "I just believe that our purpose when we get to heaven is to glorify God. Even if we don't know each other in heaven, it won't matter. You won't be sad about it. You will be thrilled to be in the presence of God. You wont' remember your life on earth."

Me: (not moving mask from face still.... wiping snot down my cheek.)

Mark: "reading some scripture...."

Me: (can't remember anything he read.)

Mark: "babe?"( as he continues to browse the bible.)

Me: finally getting a hold of myself a little "its okay, you can stop searching the bible."

Mark: "I don't think you will care not being married or knowing me in heaven....." (thinking I would be upset to not know him as my husband in heaven)

Me: (sort of getting annoyed now and a little cranky...expressed myself with a little deeper tone) "I don't care to be married to you in heaven!!!" (laughing now, but at the time, not so much.)

Mark: (his eyes opened wide and afraid to speak)

Me: "I just want my children to know that I am their mom in heaven. I just want to know my babies in heaven. Because if I don't know them in heaven, then it takes the joy of me being excited to go to heaven. I don't want to ever not know them or them not know or remember me. Why put all this effort into love, relationships and family if we can't even be together and know each other in heaven."

Mark: "I don't have the answers, honey."

Then I went to Nashville. Remember this post?

I spoke with Pete Wilson (a pastor friend in Nashville) about this topic with in the first hour of meeting him face to face. He said that he does believe we will know each other in heaven. He sent me several scriptures from the bible that he believes supports his thoughts about heaven.

Although, I will not post them all here. I am curious as to what you think about this topic? I know it can be a very sensitive topic. I know as a parent that has lost a child, this can be a very painful and scary topic. It is for me too.

I am excited to go to heaven. Its supposed to be this wonderful, joyful thing. The whole purpose of living out our purpose here on earth, so to live eternity in heaven. I never feared dying or going to heaven before. When I was young, single and with no children, I never feared at the thought of dying too soon.

Now that I have children, my heart is tied. My heart has two small people that look to me for their needs. Two little people that give me reason to wake up each day and breath. The two very beings that are gifts given to me (loaned even) by God here on earth.

So, the very thought of not knowing these gifts, these children in heaven or them not knowing me as their mother really struck a sensitive spot deep within my heart.

Although, I know there are no tears in heaven. What about those families that lost loved ones or a child way too soon? What about those parents that believe they will see their little baby again in heaven? Will they?

To not believe that would happen is almost unbearable to think of for me.

Why go through all this heartache, trial, pain and EMOTION, if you are not able to celebrate our imperfect lives here on earth, perfectly together in heaven? God speaks about restoring all things as it was meant to be on earth, in heaven. Pete (pastor friend) said "so that leaves me to also believe God means relationships and families will be restored perfectly in heaven as it was meant to be here on earth."

I like that answer better.

I have searched this question a little. I have found many scriptures and many opinions. I still don't know the answer and I think that I may never know until I am there.

Until then, I can only imagine and hope that my children will know me in heaven.

What do you think?

Will my children know me in heaven?

Will they know me as their mother?

Will we greet each other and worship Jesus together?

Will parents get to see their babies and hold them again in heaven?

Will I know YOU in heaven?

Will we sit at the feet of Jesus like children ourselves? His children?

Your thoughts?

hey dad....

Since you live so far away. Or would that be, since I live so far away?

Anyways, I sent you a birthday card (late) which should arrive any day now via snail-mail.

This year I didn't get you your annual photo mug of the kids or anything. Instead I got you something a little more exciting.

I wrote you this post here on my blog with a photo of us. See?

Whatcha think about it?

Do I make you proud, daddy?

And if I call you "daddy" does that make you feel a few years younger?

I want to make this a special day for you daddy even though we are so many miles away, so I am going to give you some advice.

1. Don't go out in the paddle boat today, daddy (still making you feel younger?). It's too cold and I don't want you to get sick. And well.... we also know what happened with your first experience in the paddle boat. :)

2. Don't hammer on anything today if possible. I don't want you to smash your finger. That would really hurt and its your birthday, so no boo boo's for you today.

3. Don't do anything to upset mom. Then she can't yell at you for it on your birthday.

See with all that great advice you are bound to have a fabulous birthday.

We all love you here in Florida.

Happy Birthday Dad and Grandpa!!!

Here to imagining a nice slice of cake to celebrate another year with you.

(And imagining how yummy it taste too!)

$100 giveaway

As seen on TV, I recently worked for PajamaGram. I mostly modeled all their 2010 Valentine PJ's. Although, not all of which I modeled are not online just yet, but I will also be in the new catalog. You can order your free catalog from their website.

In addition to that I also filmed two commercials for PajamaGram, one for their famous Hoodie-Footie Snuggle Suit as seen here.

The other was for their new and very popular PajamaJeans as seen here.

I had such a great time working with a long time friend of mine Victor, who booked me on the jobs.

Not only did I have fun, I got to keep my very own Hoodie-Footie and PajamaJean. I love them.

The PajamaJean is especially my favorite, because they stick to as advertised. I wore mine for a 10 hour shoot, having taken them off and put them back on for different parts of the commercial to shoot. The jeans never once lost their shape on me. They did not loosen or get sloppy, nor did they wrinkle. They were soft and cozy on the inside, while looking like a styish pair of jeans on the outside.

*NOTE* I am in no way writing this post because I have been asked or getting anything in return for promoting this. I actually feel this is a fun topic, something that maybe would be of interest to you and a funny story that now involves YOU and a special giveaway!!!!

Funny story:

After I had modeled for the PajamaGram client, I had went online and signed myself up for the catalog so I could have a copy of my own work. Its often hard to see and get hard copies of your actual work when modeling, so when you get a chance to get it, you do.

Well, a few weeks went by and all of the sudden I received an email. The email said this.

Dear Misty Rice,

Recently you signed up to become a member of PajamaGram’s VIPj Email List. Each month we choose a new VIPj Member to receive a free PajamaGram and we're happy to inform you that you have been selected as this month’s winner.

As our lucky winner, you are invited to select up to $100 of PajamaGram products. You can have your PajamaGram shipped to you, or treat someone special to a special surprise by shipping it to them — it'll surely make their day! We can ship your PajamaGram anywhere within the Continental U.S.

All we need you to do is fill out the attached form and return it to us via a reply to this email or via fax at (802) 985-1382 (Attn: Laura Fitzgerald). As soon as we have received your completed form, we will send your PajamaGram on its way.

At first I thought it was some kind of spam mail or gig with strings attached. I sent the email to my friend Victor, and he confirmed with a giggle "that's funny and offical."

I have been chosen randomly to receive $100 free stuff from PajamaGram. This part of the company has no idea who I am or that I just recently modeled for them. All they did was place my name is a recent customer that signed up to receive catalogs for them and I won!

Pretty funny, right?

Sure it is, Misty! But what does that have to do with US?

Glad you asked.

You see, I decided that I would like to take my blog in a little different direction. I would like to start blogging and building my audience. I plan on blogging about my children, modeling and life in general, just as I do now. As well, as blog about anything and everything I can think of (sort of like I do now, too!). Ha!

Like my little soap box! (sort of like now!)

But I never tried to really grow an audience. I want to see if I can slowly but surely grow my audience and take my blog to the next level.

"So what does that have to do with us, we ask again?"

Well, my little blogging buddies, this is what it has to do with you.

You know that $100 gift card to be used at PajamaGram.com?

I am going to give it away to a lucky blogger. You will be able to shop online to your hearts desire (up to $100's, that is). You will then place your order with me via email. I will get your order shipped out to YOU!!! You can shop for yourself, your dog, your family or a friend. Whatever you like! You can even order yourself your very own Hoodie-Footie or PajamaJean and be cool like me! *giggle-giggle*

Awesome right?

"So what do we have to do? You know those strings attached?"

Well, yes, there is a little tiny string attached, but it's so tiny, its more like dental floss. Its easy. Don't you think $100 in free stuff is worth a little tiny effort on your end?

"Maybe, depends on what it is I guess."

That's the spirit!

All I am asking is that you following me here on my Blog and Twitter, and spread the word about me. I also have a Facebook account, you can jump on their as my friend too. If you have one of the three (facebook, twitter, blog), I ask that you give a little shout out to my blog (with link) and this post, on one of yours.

I am not going to do the whole "points" thing, as other blogs do. I find that to be a little annoying. Okay, I find it to be really annoying. Besides, I don't want to keep up with all of that.

I would just like to gain some new readers. Simple.

I will wait until Feb. 1st to draw my winner. This gives myself and you two weeks to help spread the word. While also announcing the winner 14-days before Valentines Day, just in case you want to order something for yourself or someone special in your life.

While I have your attention, I want to do a blog makeover. Does anyone have any creative ideas for a model/actress/mother and wife? I always love to hear other peoples creativity. Toss that out to me in the comment box too if you feel up for it.

Okay, I am done.

Start following me on the following:

1. Here on my Blog! (just hit follow me to left of my blog)

2. Twitter

3. Facebook

and

4. Leave me a comment here telling me were you are following.

Leaving a comment here on my blog is a must, so I can keep tabs. I will do my (random) drawing from the list of comments on this post February 1st.

If you do not have twitter, blog or facebook. No worries. Just leave a comment and I will still include you in the drawing. I am just asking my readers for some extra love by helping me spread the word.

PS: If any of you already have the PajamaJean or Hoodie-Footie, please share. I would love to hear some personal stories from you on what you think about them.

Be sure to follow me some place so you know when I announce the winner on Feb. 1st.

Thanks for spreading the word.

this spell I'm under

This is my love song to my sweet Savior. When I heard this song on my iPhone iPod, the words of this song had such a whole new meaning like never before to me. I wasn't thinking of my husband. I wasn't thinking of my kids. I wasn't thinking romance. I instantly thought about my sweet Savior.

I often find myself to not be the best at witnessing to people. I want to by my actions. I want to share my life stories that I believe are my walking, living and breathing testimonies. Then I heard this song and I was like "wow, this is what I want people to know why I love my Jesus so much. I want them to know what it is about HIM that keeps me coming back for more. I want everyone to know what it is about this spell I am under."

It's HIS LOVE!

It really just does something to me.

It really sends a shock right through me.

Its made me who I am today.

Whatever HE is doing, I just want HIM to do it all over again.

Here are the lyrics of Tim McGraw's song - Its Your Love. Really read the words in this song. It is exactly how I feel about God's love for me and HIS purpose for my life.

Let this be my testimony!!!

Yea yea

Dancin' in the dark middle of the night

Takin' your heart and holdin' it tight

Emotional touch touchin' my skin

And asking you to do what you've been doin' all over again

Oh it's a beautiful thing don't think I can keep it all in

I just gotta let you know what it is that won't let me go

It's your love

It just does something to me

It sends a shock right through me

I can't get enough

And if you wonder

About the spell I'm under

Oh it's your love

Better than I was, more than I am

And all of this happened by taking your hand

And who I am now is who I wanted to be

And now that we're together,

I'm stronger than ever

I'm happy and free

Oh it's a beautiful thing,

Don't think I can keep it all in

If you asked me why I've changed,

All I gotta do is say your sweet name

It's your love

It just does something to me

It sends a shock right through me

I can't get enough

And if you wonder

About the spell I'm under

Oh, it's your love

Baby, Oh oh, oh,

Oh it's a beautiful thing,

Don't think I can keep it all in

I just gotta let you konw what it is that won't let me go

It's your love

It just does something to me

It sends a shock right through me

I can't get enough

And if you wonder

About the spell I'm under,

Oh it's your love

It's your love, it's your love, it's your love