THE YUCKS

The visit with Mike's Dad and Mom went real good. It was nice to see them. I have pictures to post so I will do that later.

Shelby and Trevor woke up with the yucks this morning. They were throwing up at the same time. It was lovely.

I am going to take a break from the computer so I just wanted to tell everyone Merry Christmas and I will catch up with everyone in a week or so!!

WE'LL MEET IN HEAVEN

I have been reading Ellie's blog for some time now and her and her mother have really touched my soul.

Ellie went to be with the Lord last night. She is completely healed and sitting at the feet of sweet Jesus.

Pray for her mom, dad, little brother, and the rest of the family. They will need it over the coming days.

IN PREPARATION....

for the in-laws. That is what I am doing today. They will be leaving today from Virginia and heading this way. They will stop about half way and proceed tomorrow. Hopefully they will be here around lunch time.

So, today is preparation day. Cooking and cleaning will be in tall order today. Along with lunch with our pastor for Mike, going to pick Trev up from work, and if I get everything done by 5pm I am going to hang out with one of my friends and have a chat session.

Oh yeah, I am going to try to fit in a game or two with the girls this afternoon.

We had our "Dinner 6" get together after church yesterday and that was so fun. Other than a quick trip to the bathroom for Abby who ate way too much frosting and sprinkles in Sunday School, it was perfect.

Thankfully, Mike was paying close attention when Abby put her hand over her mouth and started looking green. I would not have like clean up frosting and sprinkles off someone else's floor, couch, etc.

Our kids Christmas program was last night and it was so good. Abby made us laugh because she was tired and kept yawning.

They were carolers so they wore scarfs and mittens and she kept running her mittened hands through her hair which made a static build up of which the state of Tennessee has never seen. It was hilarious!

Through it all she said all her lines and did her solo perfectly.

Shelby was in her element on stage! She is all business when she gets up there and her solo was wonderful. They were so excited to do it.

Trevor hated doing all the hand motions to the songs, but he did them. Not with great enthusiasm like the girls but he did them. I think this may have been his last kiddie Christmas play. As I typed that last line I got a little melancholy. When did he get this big???

They had pizza after the program for the cast members and then we came home, put on our pajamas, and watched Hairspray until Mike went to work.

It was a busy, fun day and I loved it!!

CHRISTMAS ADVENTURES

We have been doing a lot of Christmas-y things the past few days and I wanted to share them with all of you!!

December 7
Here we ate at Arby's before the Parade

Shelby and Abby watching the parade!

December 8

Seeing Santa at Krispy Kreme on Saturday morning

Abby eating her doughnut that she got to frost and put sprinkles on.

Shelby doing the same!!

December 9

We went to " A Walk thru Bethlehem". It is a cool thing one of the churches here put on every year. They make their gym like a real Bethlehem marketplace with costumes and the whole thing! The girls got to make a ragdoll, weave a bracelet, feel sheep's wool and pet sheep, watch grapes being mashed, watch an olive press, see fish dried with salt, and more!! This is a real treat for us every year. There are no pictures of this because Mike was video taping and as soon as he gets a cable I will upload some of it.

After the walk thru Bethlehem we went to the mall and participated in building a menorah made of legos. It was real cool and they loved it. They got dreidels and chocolate coins.

Trevor worked this weekend and went to a Christmas party for work so we got no pictures. Although he did go with us to Krispy Kreme and to build the menorah.

Our Church's Christmas Cantata was Sunday night and Shelby sang in that. She had a solo and she did great!! Again, Mike video taped it so I will upload it soon.

One of the best things about all these events were they were FREE!! Well, we did buy doughnuts but we probably would have anyway. They are so good!!

CHRISTMAS MUSIC

We have been listening to Christmas music around here for quite awhile.

Of course, if you know me at all, you know that one of my favs has to be Hard Candy Christmas by Dolly Parton.

That is not a surprise. But some of my favorites might just be a surprise!

I have fallen in love with Brad Paisley's Christmas album. I love "Kung Pao Buckaroo Holiday" and "Penguin, James Penguin"

I am also listening to Jimmy Buffet's Christmas album and The Skaggs Family Christmas album and Toni Braxton's Christmas album and Charlie Brown's Christmas Album and Harry Connick's Christmas album(I love it when he sings Frosty the Snowman!!) and the Christmas album I got from Bath and Body Works 500 years ago and I could go on and on.

Oh yeah, and the radio station that plays 24 hours a day Christmas music!!

I NEVER get tired of it and I think I would listen to it in July if I felt so inclined and sometimes I do.

What are your favorites?

A Happy HO HO HO to you!!!! (listen to Harry and you will know where I got that from:~)

DECEMBER IS HERE!

I hope everyone had a great first weekend of December.

The girls had a birthday party to go to Saturday morning and I had our ladies Christmas party that afternoon. So basically we partied all weekend!!

We are going to play a little game!!

It is called, "Is it fake or real?"

I am going to show you a picture of our tree and you leave a comment and guess whether you think it is fake or real.

Let's play, shall we?
Can you tell that we have some time on our hands here at the K house????

On a side note, I have finished knitting my first scarf and have moved on to my second scarf.

I am pleased to announce that the second is going much better than the first and I will post a picture when it is finished.

I will spare you the picture of the first. You can thank me later!!

Also, just to let you all know, next year you all will be getting a scarf for Christmas unless I branch out in 2008 and learn to knit something else.

FAMILY

Here are the pictures from Thanksgiving!!!!


Jeremy and his favorite nephew.

Jobie, Stella , and Abby Abby and Jobie cheesin' for the camera

Mike and Trevor chillin' out at the cabin

Aunt Brenda and Mom

Jobie and Abby cheesing

Jeremy and Daddy pickin' and grinnin'

Daddy, Taylor, and Jessie at Fuddruckers.

Mom and Dad

All the grandkids except Trevor

Uncle Mike reading to little Sam

Taylor blowing bubbles on the porch of the cabin.

Daddy, Uncle Roger, and Mike watching football.

Uncle Jeff and Sharon

Megan and Elizabeth

Aunt Kim, Nanny, and a little bit of Megan

Jeremy and his mini me, Steven

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are getting ready to leave in the morning to go see our families for Thanksgiving.

I just wanted to tell everyone that has been praying for us over the last week that we really appreciate it. All of you have been a great comfort at this particular time and we are so thankful for it!!

We are also thankful that the Lord is merciful and that He comforts us in whatever we are facing if we will just let Him. I am in the process of letting Him comfort me.

There are some things hat we have to go through that we don't understand and will never understand until He reveals it or we get to heaven. Either way, I am willing to let him know all the answers and trusting Him to know what is best for me.

I am still sad about the loss and will probably be for a while and Mike has reassured me that it is okay to be sad. He is sad, t00. One thing I know is that my God does NOT make mistakes and He is worthy of praise!!

So, with all that said, I am thankful for my husband and his unselfish love for me, my children here on earth and in heaven, my family and friends, and the unconditional love of my Savior!!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!

SO WARM AND COZY

I love, love, love this cool weather. When I got up this morning to go walking it was 28 degrees. It is such cozy weather.

For our church supper tonight I am making dressing, as in turkey and dressing, for 75 plus people.

I am praying for the Lord's strength to do this because I have NEVER cooked dressing for 75 souls. In fact, I don't think that I have cooked dressing for 20 people.

And, I am no fool~~~I have me some Uncle Ben's dressing from Nashville Cash and Carry. All I have to do is boil the gazillion gallons of water, dump all the stuff in, and stir.

How's that for large quantity cooking?

My momma didn't raise no fool. No make dressing from scratch for 75 people fool.

Thank you dear Lord for instant stuffing, amen!!

HAPPY NOVEMBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is our Little Orphan Annie!

Here is our fairy with no wings because she got tired of them. She really loved the hair piece though!

This is what they wore to tutorial on Tuesday. They were cute enough to eat!

Abby and Kylie are having fun. Abby loved Kylie's clown outfit and we had a great play date with our friends in Halloween.

Our gang on the hayride at Walden Farm.

Waiting for to go through the hay maze.

We had a good field trip to the farm. They learned a lot and had fun.

BELLA WAS WONDERFUL!

It was! It is the kind of movie that makes you think. If you go see it don't blink because you might miss a missing piece of the puzzle. I like those kinds of movies.

If you want to know more about the movie you can go here.

You can also go here to read the lead actor's testimony.

To get a review of the film got here.

The theater was packed by the time the movie started. I think they are only releasing it in certain cities to see how much of a response they get. We heard that the time slot we went to was sold out.

We couldn't confirm that but it certainly looked like it.

GOLF TRIP OF THE YEAR

I dropped Mike of at the church this morning to go on an overnight golf trip. He was excited but apprehensive because he hasn't played in a loooonnnnggg time. (That is a long time:~)

He went to the driving range yesterday afternoon and he got a large bucket of balls. That's a lot of balls!!! I just looked at him and said, "Are you sure you want to hit that many?" He seemed quite confident that he did want to hit that many.

The girls and I sat in lawn chairs and watched. 5 and 7 yr olds get bored pretty quick when there is only watching involved. We had to go get blankets out of the car because they (me, too!!) were cold and whiny.

By the end of that LARGE bucket of balls, Mike was thinking maybe he shouldn't have set his goal so high. He was kinda sore this morning so I sent him on his trip with a bottle of ibuprofen and a note that says he is excused from playing if at any time he can not stand straight up:~)

I am going to the movies this evening with the other golf widows and we are seeing Bella. I will let you know how it was. We are hoping it will live up to the hype.

IS THAT WHAT I THINK IT IS???

My 10 year old nephew had emergency surgery in the middle of the night last night. Apparently his appendix decided it no longer wanted to be a part of his body and wanted out.

My brother and his wife got to sleep in the oh so comfy chairs at the hospital and I am sure they got the best night's sleep of their life.

We just talked to him on the phone and he sounds tired but good. He has been playing Playstation. That is one of the advantages of being at a children's hospital. My SIL said that the nurses have come in and asked if he wants pain medication and he has told them no. That is, until he got up and walked around. He decided morphine wouldn't be so bad after all.

He is a real trooper!! That boy is a BIG ball of energy. He gets that from his Daddy. Believe me! When my brother was little you couldn't tie him down with steel chains!! He was ALWAYS doing something! That boy couldn't sit still to save his life.

I, of course, was the complete opposite. I didn't like to run because I didn't like exerting all that energy and I hated to sweat. Yes, I was a true little southern miss. I didn't like sports. I didn't like to get dirty and I didn't care for anything that made me break a sweat.

I am thankful the Lord has answered our prayers. Steven seems to be on the mend and I am grateful that my SIL was able to act quickly before it got worse.

A LITTLE CHANGE WAS IN ORDER

I needed some fall colors around here and I like this template. I am cheap so paying for one was out of the question. I will use the free ones thank you very much.

It is blessedly rainy here today. We are loving all this wet stuff falling from the sky and I am making a cozy meatloaf dinner to go with it.

What are you making for supper on a glorious fall day?

PAMPERED CHEF AND OTHER THINGS

Tomorrow night is my Pampered Chef party and I would like to say my house is sparkling clean but it isn't!!! And~~ here I sit blogging. Go figure.

I am glad that I have one more day to get this place into shape.

Shelby got the new American Girls catalog and she just told me there is nothing that she is interested in ~ in it. Yeah, right!! For 30 minutes she kept saying,"Oh Momma, look at Julie's bed. Oh, Momma look at so and so's outfit."

I found a wool sweater at Goodwill yesterday for myself~~$3!!! It is beautiful and I love it.

NATURE WALK, CHECK!!!

Today we went on an awesome nature walk with our friends. They have a wonderful trail that goes on for a couple of miles. The kids rode bikes and scooters. Ruthie and I took turns pushing the stroller with Baby Kylie in it.

The kids had a blast but we ditched the scooters halfway into our walk. We dropped them in a friends front yard and kept going. The weather is OUT OF THIS WORLD DELICIOUS!! We came home tired, thirsty, hungry, and feeling incredibly blessed.

It was nice to get out and enjoy God's creation and spend time with our lovely friends.

Thank you, Lord for these incredible blessings.

I KEEP MAKING MYSELF SNEEZE, MAMA!!!!!

Abby just sneezed on me and I said, "Bless you!!"

Then, she did it again!! I looked up to see her sticking her hair up her nose.

"What are you doing?"

"Making my self sneeze, Mama!!"

Okay, then!! We are so cultured around here.

I found some yummy jean jackets for the girls at the Goodwill today! Shelby's has a leopard print collar and Abby's has a design on back. I also found Shelby a jean skirt from Old Navy that looks like it is brand new. I don't think it has ever been wore!

Mike found a pretty fall plate for .99 and it a Mikasa! The name of the design is 'Burnt Orange'. I can't wait to put some pumpkin muffins or pumpkin bread on it.

While the kids were at tutorial, Mike and I got to spend three hours together doing what we love~~going to Panera Bread and cruising through Goodwill and a used book store.

We all had a great morning!!

THE BLUE TEAM WON........

and the red team lost.

Mike was on the blue team and Trevor and I were on the red team. Softball teams, that is.

We lost by one lousy point and Mike will be gloating for a long time.

We had a blast! After the game, we had a picnic and had singing and a devotion. Abby had a good time playing in the dirt like we were at the beach. Shelby just made the rounds socializing.

This past week we were driving home and Abby said she knew how Miss Kitty have kittens. I was curious to see what she had to say because she has been obsessed this for a while.

In fact, for her birthday wish she wished for Miss Kitty to have kittens.

Anyway, she said, "Mommy, we could take Miss Kitty to see some man kittys and she could pick one that she wants to marry. Then, her and her husband will have little kittens and be happy. So, can we take her to see some man kittys?"

Uhh, I don't think so, honey.

In other news, we thought we may have to move soon. The crazy people next door (we live beside a strip mall with a pet groomer and antique store) are having a big flea market sale.

We got a piece of their mail and I had to take it over there and they said that they were in the process of their property being sold and the buyers were buying our property to. Mike and I started talking about it because he only has til May and he will be finished with school.

There are some apartments available on campus so we went to look at the 3 bedroom one the other day while we were running errands. It was big and we know that if we had to we could live there easily.

Long story short, I talked to the couple we rent from and even though they have our property up for sale (which we knew about) they don't have any prospective buyers. They said not to listen to anything the crazy people next door say because they are after all~CRAZY.

It's nice to know we have a place we could rent if the need arises but also that we don't have to move right before Thanksgiving and Christmas.

CATCHING UP ON PICTURES

This is Debbie and I at the Deeper Still Event. We had a blast! She is one of me best buddies!

Here are the girls on their first day of tutorial. I could just eat them up. They were so excited and they love, love, love it!!

This is Shelby's "girls" the first day. There are only two boys in the class. I can imagine the drama that goes on with all these girls. Pray for the boys!!

This is Abby in her class the first day. She was all about coloring her picture.

Trevor goofing off during a never ending Parcheesi game!! Shelby and I FINALLY tied!! When I say it was never ending I am saying it was almost two hours long! We play to win around here so we kept blocking and sending everyone back to home. We are relentless! (in a good way:~)

Mike and Shelby posing during the cut throat game! We had to stop and take pictures, of course!

Abby singing a song from the Christmas play. She is practicing her solo.

MY MAN MEME

The Game of Tag about your MAN

1. Who is your man? Michael Christopher
2. How long have you been together? We fell in love 18 years ago and been married for 16.
3. How long did you date? On and off for 2 years.
4. How old is your man? 34
5. Who eats more? Mike unless I am REALLY hungry.
6. Who said "I love you" first? I did only because Mike didn't say things like that back then. He does now and he tells me every day without fail.
7. Who is taller? He is almost one foot taller than me.
8. Who sings better? He does. He has a very nice voice
9. Who is smarter? He would say I am but I think he is. We love a good debate and we look at some things differently because I am a woman and he is a man.
10. Whose temper is worse? Definitely mine. It takes a whole lot for Mike to lose it.
11. Who does the laundry? I do but Trevor folds all the clothes I wash so we both do.
12. Who takes out the garbage? Our son
13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? We both do during the week because Mike works nights but on Saturday night he does but sometimes we switch.
14. Who pays the bills? I do. I have done the bills since we have been married. We just started a different kind of budget and I am excited to use it.
15. Who is better with the computer? He knows a lot ore than I do.
16. Who mows the lawn? Mike does and I am thankful for it. I don't even touch the lawn mower
17. Who cooks dinner? I do mostly but I love it when Mike cooks cause he is really good at it. He grills because I don't know how and he makes a mean batch of pancakes.
18. Who drives when you are together? Mike unless he is real tired.
19. Who pays when you go out? Depends, usually Mike.
20. Who is most stubborn? We are both pretty stubborn.
21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Me.
22. Whose parents do you see the most? Let's see I have seen my parents 3 times this year and my in-laws twice so I say it is about equal.
23. Who kissed who first? We just kissed
24. Who asked who out? Mike asked me to a Christmas party so he asked me out.
25. Who proposed? He proposed to me at Ryan's Steakhouse in April 1991
26. Who is more sensitive? Me, me, me!!!!
27. Who has more friends? Me.
28. Who has more siblings? We each have a brother and a sister but Mike also has a half brother and sister that he doesn't know very well.
29. Who wears the pants in the family? Mike, absolutely and I love the way he fills them out!!! I love you, baby!!!

I am tagging Seven4Heaven and anyone else that wants to participate!!

CHRISTMAS IN SEPTEMBER

A couple of weeks ago, our church started Christmas play "tryouts". That is a term we use loosely because it is not really a tryout.

Anyway, Shelby and Abby got a CD with the play on it. I believe I have listened to this CD a million gazillion times!!!!!

I am not exaggerating!!!

I am SO ready for Fall!! We are still having 90t degrees and that does not mix well with my Christmas music listening.

I am convinced that summer is grasping at straws, not wanting to let go of this unbearable heat that has plagued us for almost 2 and a half months now.

On to other things, I was reading over at JellyBellyBeGone and I hate how people have control over the way that we think about ourselves. If I had heard that about myself, I would have probably went straight to the food, too.

I am trying to not let things like that control me, but it is hard to do!! There are people that will be cruel like that no matter what they personally look like.

There is a young girl at our farmers market and she has some physical deformities. When I see her I want to go up and give her a hug because I am sure she probably gets lots of stares and comments. She looks to be in her late teens early twenties but I am not sure.

Then, I see so-called "normal" looking people ALWAYS dissatisfied with the way they look. I just wonder what they would do if they had the challenges this girl has.

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS SHE LAUGHING AT???

I am sure that is what the people at Panera Bread thought this morning. I was there listening to the BigBoo podcast and I accidentally laughed out loud. I am sure my face was 50 shades of red!

It was such an escape because they really don't talk about anything serious. What I was totally laughing out loud about was a certain bobcat that Big Mama's husband had killed but if you want listen for yourself just go over to Big Mama and click on the BigBoo Cast button. It will be the second podcast but all three are funny in their on right.

Now, on to other topics, I found a yummy Gap blue jean skirt at Goodwill today. It is knee length and in a size I haven't worn in awhile. I am excited to wear it!!

School is going well and we are keeping our enthusiasm up longer this year. We have fallen into our routine better this year and earlier. I think it is because this is our third year and we have gotten over a "hump" so to speak.

Mike is plugging along at school and work. I am glad that he will be done with school this year I don't think he could handle another year of this.

AT A LOSS FOR WORDS!!

*Update~if you want to read more in depth notes from Deeper Still go to Boomama and she will direct you where you need to go. Keep on keepin' on, sistas!!!

Now, if you know me in real life, you know that it must be something big, right? I have been trying for 4 days to write a post about this and I have just now been able to sit here and do it. I have been at a loss for words that would do this past weekend justice. I have made a feeble attempt but here goes~~~~~

I went to Deeper Still The Event Friday and Saturday with my good friend Debbie.

IT WAS AWESOME!!!

I received a rhema (that is "word" in Greek)

I didn't want to leave!!! The music was great. We got to see Mandisa, live and rocking the house. Well, we were at the Curb Center at Belmont University but she rocked it!! Also, the praise band was great and Anthony Evans is awesome.

Let's see how many times I can use the words awesome and great in this post.

Priscilla Shirer talked about David knowing who he was and whose he was. I am telling you right now the Holy Spirit met us right there Friday night! I could have jumped out of my seat and ran the aisles!! She was giving us words that God wanted us to hear.

Beth Moore talked about cooperating with God, returning to whole-hearted obedience, and having the courage to see the fulfillment of God's promise to you. Again, she brought us the Word of God. I could have shouted that place down.

Kay Arthur talked about being at a crossroads and using David as an example of having many crossroads in his life. She, also, brought us the the Word of God. Again, the Spirit was evident when she spoke.

I don't want to even try to post all the notes I took and all the things that God has given me to "chew" on. I got some meat from these ladies this weekend and I will chewing for awhile to actually swallow it all.

Two things that really impressed me this weekend was:
1) they did not promote their books. In fact, it was said that to hear from the Lord don't read their books you need to read your Bible.
2)we had a question and answers session. One of the ladies in the crowd asked how to get her husband to speak her love language. Kay Arthur said just start speaking his and he will be so full and overflowing that he will want to start speaking yours. She also said have s*x with him. She said, "Ladies. our bodies are not our own!!" People, that is from Scripture! Nowadays women don't want to hear that but it is the truth. When you are married your body belongs to your spouse. That is not popular thinking but it is Biblical thinking.

Oh yeah, one more thing, my pretend BFF Lisa Whelchel was there. That was an added treat. She doesn't know it but we are BFF in my pretend world.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to got this weekend. Thanks to Mike for doing without me for a whole Saturday and doing it lovingly. Thanks to Debbie for getting the tickets and being excited with me.

AMY IS VICTORIOUS TODAY!

Yesterday, Amy Wilhoite went home to be with the Lord. She has had the ultimate healing.

I am sad on one hand, but rejoicing on the other. She was suffering so much and she had fought a good fight.

Please pray for her husband, Brandon and baby Gary.

$7.02 IS A REAL BARGAIN FOR WHAT I GOT!!!

We started our tutorial today. I was proud of myself for preparing last night. I laid out clothes, took out breakfast burritos to thaw (recipe over at A New Chelsea Morning), made sure we had our backpacks filled, and did my little cheerleading routine about how much fun we were going to have.

Getting up and getting started went real well. ( A side note: my kids are late sleepers, well, Abby gets up before Trevor and Shelby, but she sleeps till 8 usually) We made it there 20 minutes early, which, again is great for us considering the church is 30 minutes away and we are ALWAYS running behind.

We found where Trevor was supposed to go, then we found the girls' teachers and got their name tags. Abby's tag said Abigail and I had to tell the teacher that she goes by Abby. Not a problem! I only call her Abigail when she is in trouble so I didn't want her to think she was in trouble all day.

Shelby didn't need me at all. She was already in deep conversation with another little girl in her class. I took lots of pictures. I didn't get any of Trevor. He would have been mortified if I had started snapping pictures in front of all those high school kids.

I have three hours to kill while they are in their classes so what's a girl to do with three hours of free time in the morning. Go to Goodwill!! That's right!! I found some sweet little things that were just too cheap to pass up.

I got 4 plates, a carafe with grapes on it, 2 white cotton pillowcases that feel like heaven~brand-new I might add, and a large light pink cloth napkin to put on Abby's dresser as a doily. All for $7.02.

One of the plates has a neat hand painted Oriental pattern that I will use when we have Chinese food. The other three plates have cute little snowmen on them and they will be used as Christmas presents when we add cookies to them.

After looking over everything at Goodwill, I stopped at Jack in the Box for a Diet Coke and a little bit of reading time.

The girls loved their classes and Trevor gave me the typical cool teenager response, "It was okay."

When I went to pick the kids up, the girls were so excited to tell me what they had done. Abby said, "Mommy, it was fantastic!!" Shelby didn't want to leave. We were back home by 12:45. We ate lunch and talked about EVERYTHING that went on at school.

COMMENTS.......I NEED COMMENTS.....

Come on people, leave me some comments to let me know you are out there!!! I'm not talking about you, Becky, you are a good comment leaver......is that a word? It is now!

"MAMA, HAND ME THOSE...

stuffed up animals." That is what Abby asked me to do last night when we were getting ready to make a house out of pillows. She had to draw out the plans on a piece of paper before we could start building. Her and Shelby have taken the cushions off the couch this week more times than I can count.

Shelby had her first Musical Beginnings class today and she loved it. While I was waiting on her, I was talking to one of the ladies that work at the school.

A new building is being built and we are excited about it.

Anyway, she was saying that when they were digging to build the retaining wall at the street, the workers discovered that the wiring for "THE" red phone line to the White House runs right in front of the new building site.

Therefore, they had to route all the other wiring and water pipes and everything around this important bundle of wires.

I started thinking about this little tidbit of info. First, we live 15 hours or more from Washington, D.C. so it is incredible to me that "THE" red phone line actually runs underneath our fair city.

Plus, you would think that it would be some kind of top secret breech of something or other to know that "THE" red phone line runs underneath our fair city.

Wouldn't it?

I don't know.

But, if you come to this blog tomorrow and everything is wiped clean with no traces of noodle nest you will know that it most certainly was a top secret breach of security and I have been kidnapped and my memory erased.

Just so you know.

In case this blog is hijacked.

SCHOOL'S IN!!!!!!!!!

Today is our seventh day of school and things are going pretty smoothly. We have been working on our cursive writing, Fungi, cake baking, and cobbler making. We have been busy!

Trevor has been going to the college and helping the girl's volleyball team practice. He is working a lot of hours, too!! He is busy, busy, busy!!

We are going on a swim play date tomorrow with my friend Ruthie and her kids~~this is the last week of pool time. We are wanting to get as much time in as we can. We have tentatively planned to go to the pool again on Friday. Got to get in the last bit of summer.

I hung out a load of sheets and towels on the line this morning. They were dry in 15 minutes!!! It is still HOT here!! I love the smell of fresh clean laundry that has just come in off the line. Smells so good. I thought to myself that I never want to live in a house where you can't hang clothes on the line. It just ain't right!!

IRONING ON THE PRAIRIE?

I have been reading the Little House on the Prairie series to my girls during read aloud time after lunch. It has been a nice way to get a little break and some together time in.

We were reading the chapter where Pa and Ma are scoping out a place for their new homestead and Pa goes off to hunt some wild game for supper.

Ma and the girls tidied up the campsite and washed the dishes. Then, Ma washes the clothes and lays them out on the prairie grass to dry. After the clothes dry she puts a blanket with a sheet over it on the seat of the wagon and proceeds to iron the dresses and other clothes.

As I read that I started thinking about the complaining I do. I have lots of amenities that make my jobs easier but I slip into a grumbly mood sometimes. I was thinking how Ma just did those chores without even questioning why she should.

I mean let's talk about this. They were out in the middle of nowhere. There was no one around for miles and they certainly weren't expecting company. It had to be hot and dusty. She did those chores because that is just what she did. She knew that those dresses needed an ironing so, by golly, she was going to iron them.

I want to do my homemaking not out of obligation but a willingness to make my house a home. I have been reading a book called "Home Comforts" by Cheryl Mendelson. It was recommended over by Bev over at Scratchin' the Surface.

Cheryl says,"She lived her life not only through her own body but through the house as an extension of her body; part of her relation to those she loved was embodied in the physical medium of the home she made. My own experience convinces me that there is still no other way to make a good home than to have attitudes toward home and domesticity modeled on those of that traditional woman. But most man and many women do not want to identify themselves with homes that they create through which they offer themselves to others. Advertisements and television program images offer degraded images of household work and workers. It is scarcely surprising, then, that so many people imagine housekeeping to be boring, frustrating, repetitive, unintelligent drudgery........ And I am convinced that such attitudes toward housekeeping are needlessly self defeating. You can enjoy keeping house. No one is too superior or intelligent to care for hearth and home."

I have to admit I am one that has had the attitude that house keeping is drudgery. I am trying to change that. I want to have a better attitude toward my home. I am trying to look at things differently than I have in the past. This book has been a real eye opener for me. I like her ideas and the way she looks at house keeping. I am off to make my house feel like a home.

MIDDLE NAME MEME

My sis from over at Seven 4 Heaven tagged me! Thanks Resa :~) I'm still waiting on that phone call! (j/k~I know you have been busy:~) Here goes:


1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.
2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.
3. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog-post containing your own middle name game facts.
4. At the end of your blog-post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.



My middle name is Marie.

M~ mother to three kids
A~ able to multi-task and amaze my husband
R~ reads insatiably
I~ interested in learning more about sewing and other crafts
E~ elated that school will start for us tomorrow

Jellybellybegone consider yourself tagged!!

COME ON, LET'S PLAY!!!

Due to the fact that they lied to us about the cooler temperatures and this boring Saturday afternoon. We will play "What Is In My Purse?" Here's how we play~ I will list stuff that is in my purse and you will either laugh or be bored to tears.

Ready? Here we go!

I have
- a pair of fold up scissors that have come in real handy on many occasions. (except the time I had to go to driving school for a speeding ticket~the security guard made me take them all the way back out to the car~they could be considered a weapon, go figure:~)
- instructions on how to install an alternator for your car. I better keep those handy you never know when you might need to arbitrarily change out an alternator.
- millions of receipts because you never know when you are going to have to return the 6 pack of Diet Dr. Peppers you consumed last week.
- assorted candy wrappers because the old guy at church just loves to load your kids up on sugar BEFORE the service so that you feel like you need Prozac after the service.
- a handy dandy notebook because you never know when the urge will strike to write down things that you will forget you wrote down and read them 6 months later.
- a New Testament that your 5 yr old just had to take to church but just as you are walking across the parking lot she decides it is just toooo hard to carry it to the door.
- gum for those morning that you go walking with your husband at the crack of dawn and forget to brush your teeth because it is the crack of dawn (well for me, anyway:~)
- my trusty check card~ no explanation needed.
- cap to a medicine bottle that you don't even know how it got in there but you just go with it.
- a bottle of ibuprofen because they just don't hand out Prozac like candy, ya know!
- a makeup bag because there are times you DO have to put it on in the car~while you are driving, in the rain, with 3 kids yelling, at night, with the radio blasting, and the windows rolled down.
- hand sanitizer because your kid might just puke in the dentist's chair and while carrying the kid to the car realize that you forgot to wipe off a little bit of it~and it is exactly where you put your hand to carry said kid to the car.
- an emery board to do my nails because you never know when you will have 5, 10, or 20 minutes to wait in the HOT sun for your teenager to get off work to have him come to the car and say, "Sorry Mom! They needed help and I stayed a little later to help them out." Not to mention that if he had been 2 minutes later he would have seen the ambulance driving off with his mom from the deliriously crazy heat. (Did I mention we are presently without a vehicle that has AC?)
- and finally~$10 in cash that you are hoping will stretch until Thursday night when your husband's check goes in the bank because this week we had to replace an alternator (thank goodness for those directions:~) and had an unexpected doctor visit and unexpected medication purchases and books to buy for school and bills to pay and food to buy and etc, etc, etc.

THE CRISIS IS OVER, GO ON ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS!

Yesterday was much better. We haven't fixed any of the car problems but I am much more calm now. We did have to go out for about an hour yesterday and by the time we got home we were drenched in sweat. WITH GOOD ATTITUDES!!

The girls were red in the face and their hair was plastered to their little faces but they were troopers. It is supposed to cool down this weekend. It's only supposed to be 95 instead of 105. That will be a relief.

Mike is going to try to fix the van this weekend. He thinks it is the alternator~ the thing the vehicle runs on after the battery starts it. I know this because my husband told me. Not because I am knowledgeable about cars or anything.

I am going out to dinner with one of my peeps this evening and I am excited. I have already made dinner for Mike and the kids. I am looking forward to a couple of hours with some nonstop talking~hers and mine! We always have lots to discuss~from her dog and cat to my kids and stuff. We never run out of things to talk about.

GGGGRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!

*UPDATE~took Abby to the dentist for her routine cleaning and she gagged and threw up all over herself in the dentist's chair. I am going to go to bed and pull the covers over my head!!!! You have to laugh at it all or you will go insane, right?????

I am having a pity party today!! We got up early and everyone was in a good mood. We were going to take Trevor to the orthodontist and run some errands. We are running right on time. We are on our way and Mike looks at the gauges and says the battery light is on.

This is a problem but,hey whatever. We turn around and go back home. We decide Trevor and I will take Mike's Explorer and he will stay home with the girls. No problem, right? The AC is out in the Explorer and it is 1,000 degrees out here.

Okay, no problem we will just ride with the windows down the 25 miles we need to drive. Never mind that by the time we get there with the mixture of wind, sweat, and humidity I will have an afro. And, yes, I know Corbin Bleu looked oh do very cute in High School Musical with his sweet hairdo, on a 34 year old white woman~~not so cute!!!!

We get there in time for the appointment and Trevor goes back. Chick fil a calls to see if he can come in early. Hey, NO PROBLEM!! We can get there in plenty of time. We only have one more errand to run. EXCEPT~I had to make not 1 but 2, count 'em 2, back tracks because I didn't realize there was no exit going south for the road we needed to be on!!!!

We got to the second errand in plenty of time~~until they needed MORE paper work on top of what I had already efficiently done at home. UGGHHH! Okay, no problem. Then I find out I have to write 8, yes 8, checks to be deposit on the first of each month for the next 8 months. I am now looking at the clock and shaking my head. I tell Trev~call work and tell them you will be there as soon as you can. Him~ "Sorry mom your battery is low and it won't let me through." Me~" Where is your cell phone ?" Him~"I forgot it at home." Deep breaths in through the nose out through the mouth.

FINALLY, we are on our way. Guess what? I need gas or we will be sitting on the side of the interstate with no one to come get us because Mike can't use the van. SO~ we get off at an exit that I am sure has a gas station. Guess what? First gas station has no gas, second gas station has no gas!!! What are the odds? Get gas~after a few choice words.

Drive like a mad woman just to get Trev to work ON TIME, not early. So much for getting there early. Ahh, I am almost home and I need a big ol' Diet Dr. Pepper. As soon as I walk in the door Shelby says,"I am hungry and Dad said to wait til you got home." AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I lost it!!!! Crying, fussing, slamming stuff around (got a paper cut from the papers I was carrying) Then I had to apologize.

No problem, I get a new chance tomorrow. Lord willing.

CAN IT GET ANY HOTTER??????

For three days straight we have had triple digit temperatures. This is the reason I am not a fan of the summer months. The thermometer in the van has gotten as high as 108!!

Needless to say, we haven't been doing anything outdoors. We walk to the van, get in, and turn the AC on full blast. When you are coming from indoors to out it is like hitting a wall of scorching hot air. It is hard to catch your breath for a few seconds.

Mike and I had a good anniversary date on Saturday. We went to see Hairspray, then we went to The Cheesecake Factory. It was so fun. We are cheapskates when it comes to the movies. We go to matinées and we don't buy any of the high priced junk food; so, when I say we would go back and see Hairspray again, that should tell you something!!! We laughed and laughed.

The food was heavenly at TCF. We were early enough that we didn't have to wait long for a table and it was nice just to sit and talk. We topped off the evening by sharing a piece of Snickers Cheesecake.

Our last Sunday at the church Mike is preaching at is coming up. We are kind of sad but we know we will go back and see everyone. They are having a Kids Day. The first one they have ever had. We are excited to see how it goes on Sunday.

LOOK AT US, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS TOGETHER. LOOK AT US, AFTER ALL THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE HOW TRUE LOVE CAN BE, THEN JUST LOOK AT US.


Today is our 16th wedding anniversary. When I look back over our years together I can only say that the Lord has been the tie that has bound us together.

We were both 18 when we got married and people thought we were too young. I am sure they thought it wouldn't last. I know of at least one person that said it was a mistake. Her marriage ended years ago.

I told my friend on the phone last night that I am thankful that the Lord knew what kind of husband I would need because I was so young I didn't have a clue.

We are going out to celebrate tomorrow evening. I am so in love with my husband I am busting at the seams. Thank you, Lord for your gift in my life. You deserve all the praise for this marriage.

Ecc. 4:9-12 It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society: If one fall he shall be supported by the other: woe to him that is alone, for when he falleth, he hath none to lift him up. And if two lie together, they shall warm one another: how shall one alone be warmed? And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a threefold cord is not easily broken.

MY 100TH POST

Here are 100 things about me in honor of my 100th post in no particular order.

1. I am the oldest of three children.
2. I loved playing school and going to school.
3. I went to 4 elementary schools.
4. I went to 3 junior highs.
5. I went to 2 high schools.
6. I graduated from high school engaged to be married.
7. I got married in August after I graduated in June.
8. I have never regretted it for a minute.
9. My husband is my very best friend.
10. I would rather spend time with him than anyone else on earth.
11. I am totally and completely in love with him.
12. I am glad that on this coming Friday we will have been married 16 years.
13. I have 3 beautiful children.
14. I never thought we would have more than one because it took me so long to get pregnant with my second child.
15. There are 9 years between my first and second child.
16. There is only 2 years between my second and third.
17. I love them with all my heart.
18. I have been a foster mom.
19. I got pregnant with my daughter right after I became a foster mom.
20. I would have loved to adopt my foster son.
21. He was the only foster child we had and I loved him.
22. I wish I knew where he is today.
23. I have put whether we have more children in God's hands. (My husband has too. :~)
24. I love to cook but cleaning up is a downer.
25. I have a son that cleans up after I cook, that's an upper.
26. I homeschool a 16 yr. old, a 7 yr. old, and a 5 yr. old.
27. I sometimes get overwhelmed by it all.
28. I am always aware that I am my kids teacher.
29. I am not the best at it sometimes.
30. I have a lot of faults.
31. I am working on them.
32. I am going to Weight Watchers.
33. I have lost 25 pds.
34. I am thrilled about it.
35. I don't want it to come back!!
36. I have never flown on a plane.
37. I want to REAL bad.
38. I tell my husband all the time~he says it's no big deal but he has flown all over the country.
39. I am glad I am a parent of a teenager.
40. I love getting in to good discussions with him.
41. I love driving him to work because I know in a few months I won't be needed by him like that anymore.
42. I love that he has a great sense of humor and he keeps me laughing.
43. I have two daughters that make me smile.
44. They are as different as night and day.
45. I enjoy being with my family anytime I can.
46. I have never been farther west than Nashville TN.
47. I love driving a stick shift.
48. I didn't get my license till I got married.
49. I got them in my in-laws Buick Lesabre.
50. I was very scared.
51. I have been in numerous accidents.
52. I had one when I was on my way to work at the mall and trying to eat a burger at the same time.
53. I have worked as a newspaper carrier
54. a line girl at Western Sizzlin'
55. a babysitter
56. a medical assistant
57. daycare worker
58. opthalmic assistant
59. receptionist
60. sales clerk at a music store
61. These are not in order.
62. I was awarded a full scholarship to Kee Business College.
63. I got married instead.
64. I am not sorry that I made that choice.
65. I am Aunt Jennifer to 7 nieces and nephews.( pronounced ant thank you very much!!)
66. I love them all.
67. I have been in the room when 3 of them were born.
68. I loved every minute of it.
69. I would love to work in L & D.
70. That's Labor and Delivery for anyone who doesn't know.
71. I am a caregiver at heart.
72. I love taking care of people.
73. I have been with two people I love when they passed away.
74. I am glad I was there.
75. I was changed forever both times.
76. I am living a good life.
77. I can't imagine my life going any other way.
78. I am thankful I was introduced to Jesus at an early age.
79. I love Him more everyday.
80. I am a child of His and I am grateful for it.
81. I have two friends from high school that I stay in touch with.
82. I am glad they love Jesus, too.
83. I am blessed to have them and their families in my life.
84. I have known them for almost 20 years.
85. I am better for it!!
86. I have a brother that is a pastor.
87. I have a sister that is looking to Jesus for guidance.
88. I like camping with my family.
89. I like tent camping. ( I know I am weird!)
90. I like traveling but I like coming home, too.
91. I like scrapbooking.
92. I want to do more of it.
93. I want to hike to Elkmont Lodge and spend a few nights.
94. I love The Great Smoky Mountains.
95. I like camping in the winter.
96. I camped for a summer when I was 13.
97. It was one of the best summers I had growing up.
98. I can't believe how easy it has been to make this list.
99. I could keep going and going.
100. I have to stop now:~(

WE MADE IT!!!

We are back home!! We had a great time, but we are glad to be home. Mike, the girls, and I went grocery shopping this morning because we were out of everything!!

While I was gone, I became an aunt again. Mike's sister had a little girl on July 14th. Her name is Alexis Rae. She is so sweet and cuddly.

I got to celebrate my nephew's 2nd birthday with him and it was great.

I will post more later. I had to go through all my e-mails~there were over 900!! Most were junk e-mails! Don't ya hate it. I will post again soon.

HOME ALONE!

With my wife's permission, of course, I have temporarily hijacked her blog. She left July 7 on a whirlwind family visit tour, and consequently, left me at home alone. Being at home... by myself... left to my own devices...? What a scary thought!
My darling wife does call a couple of times each day, to make sure I'm taking a bath and brushing my teeth. These may be considered natural acts that would normally be done without a thought, but the lack of wait in line for our bathroom is down dramatically and that seems to confuse me and makes me lose my train of thought.
My mother also checks in on me every couple of days to make sure I'm all right. I'm thinking "I'm 34 years old, if I haven't figured out how to make it yet, I'm doomed!"
Anyway, they're going to be gone until the end of the month, but rest assured, I will hold down the fort. I figure if I haven't burnt down the house in the first week, I'll probably be OK.

WE'RE OFF AND RUNNING......

We start our trip tomorrow. We will be going to Nanny's first and then on to Mama and Daddy's. We are packing bathing suits, snacks, and good attitudes.

I would be lying if I said I was glad Mike can't go. BECAUSE, ya'll, I am not happy about that part at all!!! I am just thankful that he will be flying to Virginia and being with us for a few days at the end of July. Then, we will be heading home.

I am ready to dig my toes in the sand and be free from dishwashing for 3 weeks (everybody I am visiting has a dishwasher except Nanny. )

BYE, Tennessee friends, I hope you miss us a little! I'll see you soon, Virginia friends!!

HAPPY 4TH!!!!!!!!!

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all!

God forgive and bless America!!

THE NARROWS OF THE HARPETH

We went to a place today called The Narrows of the Harpeth. It is a place that has a waterfall and you can only get to it by hiking down a path. This said path is overgrown on both sides with all kinds of plants and stuff.

Let me just say, I am not one to be squeamish about many things. My brother has always had different animals and such. We once had a family of paint turtles living in our bathtub. Even now, he has a plethora of fish, dogs, a boa constrictor and the like. (God bless his wife, Jessie, she is forever in my prayers!!)

Well, we met up with a slithering little pal on the above mentioned path today. Trevor wanted to pick it up. Jeremy would be so proud:~) It was long and at first we thought it might be dead. BUT, OH NO IT WASN'T!!!!!!!! We didn't bother it. We let it go on to where ever it was heading. It was nice enough to hurry on up and get out of our way.

That was just one of a couple of things we encountered today. Abby learned that you can pee in the great outdoors if you have to go bad enough. Shelby learned that you can't wear a stretchy bracelet and throw rocks in the river and keep bracelet from flying into the river after a rock. Trevor learned that when you are leaning over a snake that is quite long and intriguing expect your dad to come up behind you and scare you.

My Abby likes to collect all kinds of stuff and rocks are no exception. She thinks every rock is unique and worth carrying home. We have to limit her to 5 or 6 rocks or she will fill her backpack up with a ton of them and then want you to carry them for her. She helps me to remember that things we think are plain and boring have signifigance.

ALL WASHED UP AND THEN SOME!!!

Our 4th of July cookout at church was a wash!! At the end of the service, Mike was praying and he was interrupted by the loudest clap of thunder I have ever heard. Then, the heavens opened up and poured. We had a real bad storm.

Mike ended up cooking the burgers on the stove. They have a big gas stove with a grill. We
boiled the hotdogs and we had our "cookout" anyway. It all went well.

This church that Mike is preaching at is country in every way. There are no windows in the whole church building. When we had the Christmas Candle Lighting Service we had it during the Sunday morning service. All we had to do was shut the door and turn off the lights. It was black as pitch in there.

There is a field behind the church with donkeys and cows in it. Most everybody goes outside between services for a smoke break and as soon as church is over they clear out quick for another smoke break. Yesterday, during the monsoon, they were all squished up under the awning of the side door trying to smoke without getting wet. It was a sight to behold. They all got drenched when a gutter gave way and doused them with rain water.

I have been fighting a cold or allergies or something. I have been sneezing my head off and blowing my nose till it is raw. I hope I get over it before I leave to go to Nanny's on Saturday.

I'm off to make chocolate milk for Abby and I hope to get a bit of housework done. Hopefully, but not likely. AHHH~~summer.

HOT DANG!! I WON SOMETHING!!!!!!!

Barb over at A Chelsea Morning had a drawing for family recipe cards that were left over from her daughter's wedding and I WON!!!!! YAAAA!!!

This was right up my alley because I only had to leave a comment and be put in a drawing to win. Ya know, I actually didn't have to DO anything. So, thanks Barb for your little giveaway and I can't wait to try all the recipes.

I went to lunch with one of my friends from church and her co-worker this afternoon and it was very good to get out and chat with them. We ate and talked and talked and talked.

It has been toooo hot here to go out and do anything! Well, except sweat! I can't stand it when you take a shower to go somewhere and when you step outside you feel like you never took a shower!! I hate that feeling. I am trying to be positive about the heat but every time I step outside it is like stepping into a sauna.

One more thing before I go, I have 3 teenagers sprawled out in my living room and none of them are my own. What is wrong with this picture? My teenager is at work. These teens are just coming back from mission trips to Cuba, France, and Chicago. They are exhausted, bless their hearts. I am having a hard time reigning Abby and Shelby in. They love to talk about everything and these kids just want a nap!!

YOU'RE SUCH A LOVELY AUDIENCE, WE'D LIKE TO TAKE YOU HOME WITH US, WE'D LOVE TO TAKE YOU HOME!

Mike made the mistake of getting the movie "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" from Netflix.

He has created a monster!!! Shelby LOVES the movie!!!! I have heard this song sung more times this weekend than I care to!! Not because we have watched the movie over and over. We have only seen it 3 times!! Mike and Shelby have sung the song nonstop since Friday evening!!!!!!

Okay, I'm tired of it now. That girl loves her some musicals!!! Don't get me wrong, I like the Bee Gees just as good as anybody, but come on now!! She even cries when Strawberry comes back to life. She loves her some drama mixed with happy endings.

Anyway, she has started singing "Here Comes the Sun" so maybe we are moving on!!!

IT'S OVER! VBS IS OVER!

The girls have been going to VBS all week. It was at the church where we USE to attend MOPS. (notice the emphasis on use to!! I can't believe we have graduated!!)

They have had the best time!! They learned new songs, did crafts, played, ate, and had a ball.

It was a nice week and we are glad that we had the opportunity to go.

But, I am glad next week will be slower and not as crazy. Don't get me wrong, it has been nice to have 3 and a half hours to spend with Mike, Trevor, and Ruthie on different days. We just like to have some down time after such a busy week.

The kids and I are planning our trip to go see family in two weeks. We are so excited to take 3 weeks and go see lots of family and friends!! I am already making lists in my head and trying to decide what we would need to take.

Okay this is my 91th post only eight more to go before my 100th post. You know, the hundred things about me post. How in the world am I going to come up with 100 things about myself!!! I think I need to start making a list for that post:~)

Have a great weekend!!!

SWIM! SAID THE LITTLE FISHY!! SWIM IF YOU CAN!!!!

But, our little fishy can't. Why? Because he went the way of the white throne. Our little goldfish is no more. Some may wonder why this is significant. This goldfish was saved from sudden death by my sister back in 2004.

It was part of the college's Project Pumpkin Halloween Carnival. You know, the game where you toss a ball or hoop onto the fishbowl and win the goldfish. This fish was an unlucky loser and so the girls in the dorm were going to flush him down the white throne.

Luckily my sister has a soft heart and rescued him. She named him Petrie, after the character on Land Before Time. She went to Walmart in the wee hours of the morning to get a bowl and food. When she went home for Thanksgiving break I took care of him for her. I brought him home and he was here for the rest of his 2 and a half year life. We even bought him a big fish tank so he could swim his little heart out.

The girls wanted to change his name to Nemo and they called him that but, I liked Petrie so that is what I called him. Then, a few days ago I started seeing signs of distress and I knew he was going down fast. I told the girls I didn't think he was going to live much longer and I was right. They were upset and we talked about it.

Now they want a new fish and their Daddy has told them they can get a new fish or two. Hopefully, they will appreciate their rescue from the pet store, like Petrie appreciated his rescue, and live as long as he did.

THE BAR ACROSS THE STREET.....LITERALLY!!!!!!!!

As I sit here in my living room I am unwillingly listening to a wanna be 70's rock band playing,"I Shot the Sheriff." It is like they are right in our living room giving us a private concert. I am not joking!!

It happens almost every night of the week and it could be 80's, 90's, or country music.

It is like a hodge podge bar that we can not figure out.

Needless to say, we are pretty tired of it.

We are tired of the tires squealing out of the parking lot at 2am and the loud mufflers and the drunks yelling at each other because they are too drunk to know it.

I am now listening to "Cherry Bomb" by John Cougar when Mellencamp was NOT part of his name.

The thing that really makes us crazy is that if we choose to sit in our living room to watch TV or listen to the radio or have a conversation or read a book or do nothing we have to listen to all that junk going on over there. We have to turn up the TV to drown out the live bands and the yelling. We can't have our windows open when the ruckus starts because our kids will hear some pretty unsavory stuff coming from across the street.

We are considering moving and I think it might be soon. We have endured this for about 2 years and it is getting old!! Mike is WAY over it!!! We are praying for a miracle. Maybe God will smote it with His hand. Either way, it's got to stop. Really. Soon. Please. God. Make. It. Stop.

I am going to take some Excedrin and stuff cotton balls in my ears! See, Resa, it could be worse. At least your noise is your own kids not a bunch of over-grown drunk kids with loud mufflers and loud mouths. Goodnight.

WITH A FRIEND TO CALL MY OWN, I'LL NEVER BE ALONE AND YOU MY FRIEND WILL SEE YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME

*Christel, If you are reading this you will recognize the title as lyrics from Ben by Michael Jackson. I will never forget laying out in the sun on the hill behind your house ,using baby oil to maximize our tans and listening to that MJ cassette over and over and over!!! Beautiful memories!! Love ya!!!

I don't know if it is the post over at lots of scotts but I have been thinking a lot about my friends that I have had for years and years. I have been weepy for some reason today (no, I'm not pregnant! :~) When we went to pick up Trevor today from camp they did a recital and a little musical and I was weepy. Now, if it had been sad or morose that would be understandable.

BUT, NO!! It was Schoolhouse Rock!!! FOR GOODNESS SAKE!!!!

Come. On. Now!!

Anywho, I have been thinking about some really fond memories. Becky, Trevor, and I going to the Pottery to shop for my wedding. Being at the hospital when Emily was born. She just celebrated a birthday. Her Mom wrote about it over at seven4heaven. Sharing some great times with D&D at church and elsewhere. Going out to dinner with S&M. And, I could go on and on and on. I am blessed. I love all of you!

I am thankful for all the wonderful, "old" friendships that I have. Then there are the new ones. My good friend Ruthie that I spent all day with on Tuesday and then finding out on Wednesday that her Dad had passed away. Heart wrenching!! Her Mom died in January and now this. I am utterly without words for her. I am praying earnestly for her and her family.

The Lord says He is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother and I know that is true. I am also glad that He sends friends our way to enrich our lives , sharpen us like iron, and helps carry us when we cannot walk ourselves. Thank you, Lord.

I HAD VACATION LAG LAST WEEK......

You've heard of it or experienced it~~ I am sure!! That week after vacation when you walk around in a daze wondering what you are supposed to be doing. That was me all last week.

I am finally feeling like I am back to normal. Trevor left this morning for music camp. He is pretty tired and he has only slept in his bed two nights out of 23 days. He said he had a blast at The Wilds and he had a lot of things to tell us. On Saturday night he went and saw the third Pirates movie. He said he liked it but it was hard to follow.

We had Homecoming at church yesterday. We didn't get home til around 4:30. It turned out good though. We had about 50 people. The Calverymen sang in the afternoon and Shelby just loved them. They gave her a picture and Mike said she was turning into a roadie~for Southern Gospel. I cracked up!!

I am trying to get all our souvenirs from our trip together and writing out all the stuff we did so we don't forget anything. I will be writing some specific things about our trip at the end of the week. I start a Bible study at my friend's church tomorrow and free movies have started so Mike is taking the girls tomorrow. We just love free movies in the summer.