Vlogemotions - Will

So in honor of those of you who mention that you cheat from time to time, I give you Will this week. I let him fall asleep on the couch while I was up doing some things and thought I would use him for this weeks Vlogemotion post. He didnt really say much, but give him a break hes only 2.

Really though, I enjoy anything that you do in your posts so please feel free to be as creative as you want. We enjoy these things, trust me!


For those of you first time vloggers, here are the rules:

1. Post the Vlogemotions button above so that those who come to visit your vlog post can link back to The Fort to see others. You can grab the code from the left sidebar.

2. Post you vlog (video blog) and share the strongest emotion that you felt during the week.

3. After your Vlogemotions post is up, come here and link up at Mr. Linky below.

4. Visit the other vloggers and LEAVE NICE COMMENTS!

5. Have fun this carnival is a BLAST!!!


Love and Prayers,

Praying For Manny

Many of you already know from my Monthly Miracles post that I live with Epilepsy. For many years I was so embarrassed and ashamed of it that I told nobody. Most of the people I know that live with this disease are the same way.

I decided several years ago now that I would no longer hide from the fear I had of sharing it with others, but instead honor it by becoming an advocate for this terrible neurological disorder.

I have since helped as many people as I am able to learn how to live with this disorder. Not only in dealing with the symptoms and ways to combat it, but even more importantly how to understand it especially when living with a family member who has it.

I have recently been talking with my good friend Angela @ Hangin with Mrs. Cooper. Her son Manny also has Epilepsy in addition to a slight case of Autism. Please pray for her and her family as they learn to combat this terrible neurological disorder. Visit her site and make sure you send your love and prayers to her and her family. Tell em The Fort sent ya, and let her know that Manny is in your prayers as we all pray for his healing.

If you or anyone you know is living thru this, please post this to your blog, tweet it, whatever to get the word out so that we can help others who are seeking a better understanding of what to look for in combating this disorder. It is VERY much appreciated. I am happy to help anyone who wants the help in anyway that I can.

I recently received this email from Ang, and wanted to share it with you.

Tim,

I can't even begin to explain to you how much your info has helped. We live in MA but we've been in touch with Boston Children's Hospital which is one of the top in the World. Your explanation of what happens before he has a seizure makes total sense to me in accordance to things we have seen. I can't even begin to explain but you have been such a huge help!!! "THANK YOU GOD for TIM and he being able to share his experience".

Manny is 9 and is also slightly autistic and some of the patterns that I've seen in him which I thought was autistic behavior could be because he is fighting off a seizure. Like I said, can't explain it but I UNDERSTAND where you are coming from. You are making me jump for joy here because you have just opened up so much confirmation for me. "God at his best right now" is all I can say. Thank you, Thank you, and Thank You for sharing this information with me.

Manny's name is Emmanuel and you know what that means so I've never doubted for a minute that he would be healed. I also believe in the power of prayer and with so many people SERIOUSLY loving Manny and praying for Manny is helping big time.

Tim, I am so overjoyed right now that I have to share this email with my hubs. I am so overjoyed right now and I Pray, Pray, that you can continue to help others and to remain seizure free. God's blessings to you and your family.

If you havent read any of the stories from the Monthly Miracles posts then you should. I wrote the original one about my Epilepsy on February 24th of this year and it is here. You can read the others who have been featured here. If you do make sure you have your Kleenex ready. They are all very moving stories.

So what are you waiting for? Get on over to Angela's and send her some love! Make sure you tell her we sent ya! Also register your blog in her new Blog Frog widget!

Love and Prayers,

Will - Jasgitottamirume!

JASGITOTTAMIRUME

If you can guess word for word what it was that Will was telling me today then you will be entered into a drawing to have your button put on the front page of my blog for at least a month! As you know besides my prayer list, all buttons are on my button page to speed up my load time. So if you want some free advertising here at The Fort, then get to guessing. There is no limit on how many times you guess either. Just make sure i have your email addy so I can let you know you got it right and that you are entered so you dont have to keep guessing. Dont tell anyone though, it will reduce your chances of winning!

Also, if your button isnt already on my buttons list and you want it there, let me know and I will do a button swap with you to make sure that it gets put up!

If you are interested in growing your blog, and attracting new followers see the Blog Frog post below. It is super fun and easy, and you can promote your blog on any blog that has one! Check out the awesome people that are on mine now! You can see them on the Blog Frog widget in my right sidebar.

Also let me know if you use the Blog Frog on your site and if your not already in my bloglist, I will PUT YOU THERE! More advertising for free I tell ya!

There are also many of you who have followed The Fort in the Blog Frog widget and we appreciate it! Please make sure that you also follow in the Fort Forum by clicking the green link that says "Visit The Fort Thompson Community" at the bottom of the blog frog widget. This also gets you a ton of exposure as your blog will appear there each time you make a post!

Contest ends August 4th.

Love and Prayers,

Your Gonna Miss This!

Here we go with another Your Gonna Miss This Moment! If you havent joined in yet with my good friend Pam @ Your Gonna Miss This then you should. Its allot of fun and helps us appreciate the little things before they are truly gone!

This might be a little boring to watch, but it is one of those things that I will truly miss. Another big thing is the Fashion Shows, so make sure you scroll down and see that video as it is VERY entertaining!



Love and Prayers,

Getting Froggy With It!!

If you do not have a Blog Frog widget then you need to get one QUICK!! Here is why:


It functions as an information piece as it shows whom has been on your blog that links to your site.


It allows you to market your site on other blogs by showing your name and profile info on others Blog Frog widgets that you link to. So every time you link to someones blog make sure that you register. So if you haven't registered here at The Fort make sure you do so now. This will allow you to advertise your blog here every time you visit which will send many Fort Thompson readers your way. All you have to do is put a link on your blog to Fort Thompson (having our button doesn't hurt either) and then go to The Blog Frog widget in my right sidebar. There you will see where others are currently already being marketed on my blog. Go to the bottom of the widget, and click on the button that says "become a Fort Soldier". It's as easy as that! You are crazy not to do this. Trust me when I tell you that I have met many people through this social widget.


The Blog Frog community also provides another resource of marketing as others can find your site through different venues such as communities, friends, affiliations, chat walls, etc. It also provides a platform for expanding your followers by visiting sites that are already following many of the same sites that you are.

The Blog Frog is also NEW AND IMPROVED!! It is BETTER THAN EVER and cant get any user friendly than it is. So even if you are computer challeged, dont be afraid to get your own froggy widget today. You will be AMAZED at how it changes your blog and your traffic. Im NOT being paid for this by the way I just really believe in it and want to help give you tools to improve your blog too! My blog was around 30 followers before The Blog Frog and is now over 300+! Hows that for traffic and meeting new folks!

"The Frog" as I call it will drive traffic to your site and is a ton of fun. Don't just take my word for it, Jennifer @ My Charming Kids (aka MckMama) uses it too. Think of your exposure when people on her site see your info!


That's right, get to hoppin like MckMama and The Fort. Don't just be bloggy, be Blog Froggy!


I want credit for that one Russ!


Please leave a comment on this post when you get your own Blog Frog widget. This way I can come over and register as a follower on your frog! You can find The Blog Frog at http://theblogfrog.com. Also please feel free to click on the green "Visit the Fort Thompson Community" link and leave your comments and questions there! This is the part that makes if fun!

Love and Prayers,

A FUNNY Thing

You know yesterday I was just thinking to myslef that I hadnt gotten any awards in such a long time. How about you? They use to fly around bloggy world like nobody's business and you just couldnt find time to post them all. Then when you did get the time you had so many to talk about it was exhausting, and trying to figure out who gave them too you was a task in itself. Sound familiar?

Well just as I was thinking that maybe they were still out there but I just wasnt getting any love, I get an email that there are two waiting for me at a friends blog! Made my day I tell you. It made my day. They are still out there and it is still very nice to get them.

I got the Adorable Blog Award which I have received a few times before, but none the less it is still extremely special to be thought of again.



Then I also got the Uplifting Blogger Award which really means allot to me because I try to keep The Fort as uplifting as possible.



They were both recieved from my good friend Angela at Mom's Fortress of Solitude. If you havent been to her blog you should check it out.

So here we go with the award hand out! I will not be able to send out email for all of these so I hope you see that you got it! These awards are going to all of those who are in my bloglist as well as all of you whom I have asked if I can put you there. Some arent there yet as I havent had the chance to do it yet. You know who you are. This includes all of my fellow Blog Frog Community Leaders. It also includes all of those whose blogs I follow as I find them very uplifting and adorable. I wouldnt follow otherwise.



Speaking of The Blog Frog. If you arent using the Blog Frog to improve the traffic on your site you should. It increases your traffic and for all of the communties you join your blog link will apprear on their site each time you visit. The Blog Frog is also new and improved so its much more user friendly! So get to Blog Frog hoppin now! The first step is joining my community in the right sidebar by making a link to The Fort in your blog and then registering your blog in my community. Just click "Become a Fort Soldier" at the bottom of the Blog Frog widget. You will then be a member of this community where you can communicate with fellow bloggers. Also feel free to become a follower of The Fort on Twitter if you use it!

If you have any additional questions on how The Blog Frog can hop your blog to the top just email me. :)

Love and Prayers,

Vlogemotions XII

Now just so you know because I forgot to mention it in the video, I did a special hair bun that I learned from a new bloggy friend Jenn. If you are interested in little girl hair do's check her out. I will post some pics down below as soon as I can get them up. Thanks Jenn! You said if I did this I would have to do it for all the little girls and you were right. The teacher walked me over and introduced me to all the moms because they had made comments about Taylors hair. SOOOOO embarassing! But nice to hear I did a good job none the less. They wouldnt believe her when she told her her daddy did it. HA






For those of you first time vloggers, here are the rules:

1. Post the Vlogemotions button above so that those who come to visit your vlog post can link back to The Fort to see others. You can grab the code from the left sidebar.

2. Post you vlog (video blog) and share the strongest emotion that you felt during the week.

3. After your Vlogemotions post is up, come here and link up at Mr. Linky below.

4. Visit the other vloggers and LEAVE NICE COMMENTS!

5. Have fun this carnival is a BLAST!!!


Love and Prayers,

Wordful Wednesday - Dont Miss THIS!

Its that time again! This you dont want to miss! You see Taylor decided to put on a Fashion Show for us, but this time 2 year old little brother decided to join in. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

This will for sure make the video at his wedding reception. LOL

For more Wordful Wednesdays go see my good friend Angie at Seven Clown Circus by clicking the button below.

Love and Prayers,

Update on Bogey

Many of you have asked about how Bogey is doing so I wanted to post an update.

Bogey is in surgery as I type this. Please be in prayer for Dr. B and the team that is working on him to repair his leg. We will probably not seee him again today as they want to keep him overnight for observation after the surgery is complete.

I will post again once we get him home with pics to let you know how he is doing. Thank you so much for your concern, it means so much to Bogey, Carey and I, and especially the kids. They love him so much and it is really become sad for Taylor as it became real once the Dr. explained to her what was going to happen.

Love and Prayers,

Recipe? Smecipee!

Ok. Im not big on recipes because I just dont really have any. My mother taught me to cook from scratch and that is always just the way I have done it. This is why I have no recipes.

Therefore I am giving you something very easy and VERY good. It's a desert and I call it Cherry Delight.

Here is what you need:

1 Angel Food Cake

1 Large box of Cool Whip

1 Large can of cherry pie filling

1 Large box of Vanilla Instant Pudding

Directions:

Tear cake into small pieces and place into a large resealable dish like tupperware. Then after mixing the pudding, pour it over the cake pieces evenly. You might need to spead with a spatula. Then after the pudding has soaked into the cake, pour cherry pie filling in on top of this. Spread the entire contents of the cool whip tub over the top and chill.

There you have it! Not healthy by any means, but entirely delicious!

If you havent played along with Brent's MckLinky bloghop, now is the time! Its allot of fun and you meet some great people.




Love and Prayers,

Sad day at The Fort

Today Popa (Tim's Dad) came and took us to Pappadeaux's for lunch. It was a great time, and its always great to see Popa. The kids just LOVE their time with him.

So does Bogey. Bogey just loves Popa so much (because he plays with him ALLOT) that when Popa had to leave Bogey jumped from Carey's hands and fell to the ground breaking his right hind leg in two very serious places.

He is to have surgery hopefully sometime Monday morning hopefully to save the leg. There is literally no connection of the bones now it is just that bad. We can only hope and pray that the surgeon can find a way to pin it back in place so that he can still use it. He will for sure have lasting effects as he grows older as the break occured right at the joint in a growth plate.

Please keep our Bogey in your prayers tonight. As you will see from the pics, he is not feeling so good today. Today it was a sad day at The Fort.





Love and Prayers,

Vlogemotions - Surprise!

For those of you first time vloggers, here are the rules:

1. Post the Vlogemotions button above so that those who come to visit your vlog post can link back to The Fort to see others. You can grab the code from the left sidebar.

2. Post you vlog (video blog) and share the strongest emotion that you felt during the week.

3. After your Vlogemotions post is up, come here and link up at Mr. Linky below.

4. Visit the other vloggers and LEAVE NICE COMMENTS!

5. Have fun this carnival is a BLAST!!!


Love and Prayers,

I want to thank Brent Riggs for the use of his MckLinky. It is a great way to link up any carnival. Please visit Brent and his family if you havent already. His links are provided below. Also please be in prayer for his daughter Abby who is listed in my prayer list. She is in the fight of her life with cancer. They need all the prayers they can get.

Also please leave them a comment and let them know that Tim at The Fort sent ya! They will much appreciate it!

Riggs Family Blog
Brents Blog

Hoppity Hop Hop Hop!

Here are three things you might not have known about me:

1. My father is a pastor.

2. I once threw a no hitter.

3. I have no tattoos.

I know that doesnt seem very excting, but I just didnt have the time to think much about it.

I look forward to visiting your blogs and learning more about each of you. If you enjoy what you see here at The Fort, you are more than welcome to follow along. We will follow you too!

Love and Prayers,

Do you do it?

We are now on Twitter! So if you Twitter or would just like to follow along, please do so. You can go to the Twitter section of the blog (left sidebar) and click the follow link or find us at our handle which is @FortThompson.

You follow us and we will follow you! Just like with the followers link here at The Fort! Top right sidebar. And if your not aready following us here at The Fort, please do so and we will follow you too!

As for all of you who have linked up and joined our Blog Frog community also, thank you. We are now one of the Blog Frog Community Leaders and will bring you many more fun and exciting ways to build your viewership through the Blog Frog! So if you arent already following us on the blog frog widget (right sidebar) please do so! It is allot of fun and will give your blog a ton of visibility here at Fort Thompson. Everytime you pay us a visit your picture and blog name will appear here with a link to your blog for others to click on! So put a link to The Fort in your blog and then click become a Fort Soldier under the Blog Frog widget, and you are in The Forts Blog Frog Community! Its that easy! Better yet, get you own Blog Frog widget to add to your blog! For more info on The Blog Frog see this post!

Love and Prayers,

We Miss You Granny

Love and Prayers,

Vlogemotions

My apologies for reposting this, however with the events that have taken place this morning (see post below) this is about we can muster at this time.

Please keep our family in your prayers during this time of our loss. Any and all prayers are greatly appreciated. We will still get around to all your blogs to see your posts.

It would mean so much to us to see many of you link up here this week for Vlogemotions! Make sure to send some love Carey's way as it was her Grandmother who passed.

For those of you first time vloggers, here are the rules:

1. Post the Vlogemotions button above so that those who come to visit your vlog post can link back to The Fort to see others. You can grab the code from the left sidebar.

2. Post you vlog (video blog) and share the strongest emotion that you felt during the week.

3. After your Vlogemotions post is up, come here and link up at Mr. Linky below.

4. Visit the other vloggers and LEAVE NICE COMMENTS!

5. Have fun this carnival is a BLAST!!!


Love and Prayers,

Wordful Wednesday - Without Words

Granny

September 9, 1922 - July 8, 2009


Please keep Carey and our Family in your prayers,

Love and Prayers,

Our Little Picasso's

I'm joining Pam again at Your Gonna Miss This for her weekly carnival that shares things that we will miss. I love that this carnival focuses on those things that we too often take for granted, and gives us the chance to appreciate them while we still have them. Stop by and visit Pam for more of these great moments!

This week we painted for our activity for the July 4th weekend. I will always miss these family times together with our kids. They get so much excitement and joy from doing things like painting.

We actually did real paintings this weekend on real canvas! The kids will be able to put them on the wall in their rooms and display them proudly. I got this idea from an artist who is also a fellow blogger. Thanks Hollie for the great idea. It was so much fun!
The base coat.

Adding some color!

The finished products!

Love and Prayers,

Friday Frustrations - Surgery

Is there really anything more frustrating that having to have surgery? Im guessing its at the top. Here is me before the surgery, somewhat relaxed as it was still very early and I had been given something to relax me not that I needed it.



And now afterwards. As I am still very drugged and in ALLOT of pain. Yes, this was VERY frustrating. I hated feeling this way. I am still in some pain but no where near what I was during this video and soon thereafter at home.




Thanks again to all of you who have kept me in your thoughts and prayers. It means more than you will ever know.

Now head on over to Conversations With Moms to see more Friday Frustrations!


Love and Prayers,

I'm Blog Hoppin will you?

Fort Thompson also known as "The Fort" is a family blog that chronicles all ongoings of our family. We host Monthly Miracles which is a feature that highlights an angel encounter or miracle (act of God) that has happened in the life of various bloggers. These are always very touching stories! In addition The Fort is the home of the newest most innovative vlog carnival Vlogemotions! It has been allot of fun for all who participate and those who just watch. You will laugh and sometimes cry, but always enjoy your trips to The Fort!

Love and Prayers,