12-01-11

This was on our impromptu field trip to the Bush's Visitor Center

(I'll write about this visit soon:)

The Day After Thanksgiving

We just lounged around the hotel and ate the free breakfast until Trevor and Jessie came so we could all take a dip in the pool. We ended up going to the hotel next door because they had a hot tub and hardly anyone was staying at it. We were able to enjoy some good family time.

By early afternoon, Trevor had to go get ready for work and I had to get ready for my date with my friend, Casey. We went to lunch at Cheddar's and stayed there for a couple of hours. It was so nice to catch up and laugh with her. It was such a good time of catching up.

My sister came and picked up the girls so that could spend the night with her and Noah. She had a fun time planned for them and they were so excited to see Noah.

I spent Friday evening with Jessie. We ate supper at Chickfila and then we talked for a few hours. By the end of the day my throat hurt but I loved every second of my day. I can't wait for Jessie to join our family.

On Saturday, Mike, Trevor, Jessie, and I ate breakfast at Cracker Barrel. They sat us by the fire and it was so cozy and festive. We talked and laughed. I sat back and soaked up every second of us being together. I made note of their faces, these people I love with all my heart. I can't tell you how happy that breakfast made me.

We went to my sister's apartment to pick up the girls and hang out with her and Noah for a little while. We really liked her new place and it was nice to be able to picture where she lives.

Trevor had to go to work at 2pm so we dropped them off so he could get ready for work. We headed to Nashville to drive around and go by to see our old house. We were meeting Cindy and Mackenzie at a bowling alley at 3 so we were able to drive around our old stomping ground.

The girls and Mike bowled while Cindy and I talked and ate our snacks from the snack bar.
They had fun and we got to catch up on a lot that has been going on. Our family has missed them so much.

After supper at a local favorite we went to see Sonia, Bailey, and Mason and we met a new friend, their dog, Sunny. I have missed them so much. I wish we could have seen Marvin, too but he is overseas doing his job for the military. We are so proud of him. They were our homeschool field trip buddies and there are so many places that we didn't get to experience. I am praying that they get to come see us soon so that we can do some awesome field tripping around here.

When we got back to the hotel we all just fell into bed. I love days that are exhausting but full of love and friendship. It truly was a day to remember.

Bert Tippett

In a couple of hours I will be going to a funeral. A funeral for Bert Tippett, the man in this video.

Mike and I had the privilege of being in the same Sunday School class as he and his wife, Mrs.Dianne, over the last few years.

What a blessing God gave to us.

He lead a God-centered life.

He was an example and an encourager.

When he and Mrs. Dianne looked at you and said, "We are praying for you." You knew they really were. It wasn't just lip service or a flippant response. They were praying.

I will be taking kleenex to the service but I won't be crying for Brother Bert. I'll be crying for all of us here.

Heaven just keeps getting sweeter.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

This is Ms. Clarice's* tree and it is over 40 years old.
It is the same kind of tree my Mamaw and Papaw had when I was growing up.
(*Shelby's piano teacher)

This week has been a whirlwind of activity with the aftermath of Christmas and the after holiday blahs. My parents got into town Wednesday after the threat of being snowed in at my brother's house. They were blessed with over a foot of snow starting Christmas night.

We have enjoying their company just spending time together. We were able to go to the Nativity Museum at the Upper Room Chapel downtown. They have over 100 creche from around the world. We were also able visit the Oryland Hotel to see all the changes they have made since the flood and the beautiful Christmas decorations.

Last night was our 4th annual New Year's Bash at Marvin and Sonia's house and it did not disappoint. We laughed, talked, played, laughed, ate, and laughed until almost 6 this morning.

Like 2008, 2009, and 2010, 2011 was rang in with a look back at God's blessings and a look forward to the blessed hope we have in the future. As we sat around the table playing games I was reminded of some of the struggles we have all endured this year. Some have been resolved and some we are carrying over to the new year.

I was also reminded of the awesome favor and grace we have been given that will flow endlessly over 2011. That thought should make us want to give Jesus our laud and honor. He truly is my Rock and my Shield. My ever present Help, my Comfort, my Deliverer.

Welcome, 2011! I'm ready for you.

010110-010210

This was right before midnight when everyone was rushing to get outside.

New Year's Eve we went over to our friends Marvin and Sonia's house. This is our 3rd annual NYE party over at their house. Last year and the year before were great but they just keep getting better and better.

Everyone was outside making some noise.
(These two pics were the only ones I got before my camera battery died)

We got there about 7pm on NYE and we didn't leave until last night around 9:30.

We played Apples to Apples a bazillion times and it was soooo much fun. I have to say it is now my favorite game.

We all went straight to bed last night when we got home. We were exhausted from partying.

Today we got up late and breakfast~it's Pancake Saturday, of course:)

It is really, really cold here so other than a trip to the grocery store for some necessities (read~toilet paper:) We have been hunkered down at home cleaning, eating, and watching movies.

Trevor has been in Gatlinburg for the last three days with a friend's church youth group and he is having a great time. He comes back tomorrow.

This year I have decided that this will be more like my journal. Feel free to read or not:) I just want to have a record of our lives and this blog serves that purpose.

HONDURAS ISN'T SO FAR AWAY

Well, actually it's around 3,400 miles as the crow flies.

But not really.

Because last night Honduras was sitting beside me on a round, red leather couch and teaching me a few words in Spanish.

And, no, her name isn't Honduras but she's from there.

She is my friend that doesn't speak much English.

She has two beautiful daughters and a handsome, hardworking husband.

Last week I asked her to come to my church and Sunday they did. They couldn't find the church at first~she said she tried to tell her hubby where it was but he didn't listen. That made me laugh~it sounds familiar:)

They brought their Spanish Bible and sat with Mike and I.

Last night while we waited for our daughters to finish practicing for Select Singers I asked her if they enjoyed the service. She said they really liked it.

And then she asked me something that pierced my heart.

She pointed to her skin with a concerned look and asked me in broken English, "Is this problem? Most people American."

I told her emphatically as I could that it was NOT!!!

A huge smile spread across her face as she nodded and laughed as if she were relieved.

I had no hesitation about inviting her and her family to my church because I know the color of their skin isn't an issue. I am so thankful that I didn't have to even think about whether inviting them would be an issue.

I am praying that we will continue to build a friendship and that they will feel God's love through me. I am absolutely going outside my comfort zone and it's scary but I am pressing forward.

FRIDAYS ARE FABULOUS

Abby, Anali, and Shelby at the church in Alaska.

Mrs. Janice, Pastor Ron, Abby and Shelby
at their house on our last night in Alaska.

IT'S MY JOB TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS

These pictures were taken by the girls. This is our friend Mason. I like this pic for some reason.

This is in Sonya's china cabinet.

Abby's feet:)

Shelby's feet:)

Abby's face:)

We went to eat lunch with Mary and Noah today. It was a lot of fun. We are missing Shelby and we have it on good authority that she is having a great time.

Abby and I baked a strawberry cake this evening and it smells wonderful.

She is reading her books for the Summer Reading Program at the library.

Tomorrow we are headed for the splash pad with friends if the weather holds up:)

NO TROUBLE HERE

We have just been chillin' out here at home today.

Mike took a quick trip to recycle our tree and some stuff to the city dump.

I ran to the grocery store to pick up a few things for lunch tomorrow. We are having friends over from church and I am making Mexican.

See I told you~~~ boring. I love it.

Have a chillin' weekend, yo. (I am channeling my inner gangsta:~)

WHOSE BLOG IS THIS AND WHY HAVEN'T THEY UPDATED IT??????

Oh, goodness!! It has been over a week since I blogged a post!!!

Shame on me!

Let me give some reasons for the bloggy break:

• my sister got married Sunday
• my sister got married Sunday(I thought that needed to be stated twice:~)
• my parents were in town
• it's Christmas time
• I have had two sweet house guests since Saturday~I'm not sure I want to give them up
• I have been trying to stay warm by snuggling with my hubby every chance I get~except yesterday morning when I temporarily lost my ever-loving mind~can we say PMS!!!!
• and last but certainly not least~MY SISTER GOT MARRIED ON SUNDAY!!!

So, as you can see I have had quite a bit going on since the last time I posted.

Please forgive me!

Or, not. Whatever.

In other news, I am so glad that we live in the south where even the hint of ice or snow sends people screaming to the grocery store AND makes them forget how to drive.

The kids were supposed to have their Christmas parties at tutorial yesterday and they canceled it. Excuse me? What? And here's the kicker~there was NOTHING on the roads.

Remember one of my reasons for not posting? I'll help you. It had three little letters in it. P.M.S.

That cancellation sent me to the edge considering I had already taken a shower and made about a bazillion pig in a blankets. And, guess what. I ate them ALL. HaHa just kidding. But I wanted to.

Anyway, that is my life for the last week:~)

I will post pictures of the blessed event when JR and Mary get back from their honeymoon. I figured she might want to be the first to show pictures seeing as how it was HER wedding:~)

AWWWWW!!!!

Thanks my friend. You are too sweet.

ALL NIGHTER

We had tornadoes ALL night last night.

I was up and down all night with tornado sirens and checking the weather. I talked to Mike at least 5 times because he has to go outside to get samples and because he is watching the weather.

Thankfully, we are all okay but our neighboring counties are not. You can read here about the closest devastation to us.

We are praying that everyone we go to Tutorial with is okay. Trevor goes to the orthodontist in Sumner County, that is how close we are. This county was just hit in '06 with a tornado and this one seems to be even worse than that one.

Please pray for the people from Memphis to East Tennessee. A lot of people have lost their loved ones. A lot of people lost their homes.

INSPIRED

One of my bestest friends from high school is getting into shape. She is doing a SUPER job.

I am so very proud of her. Through the trials she is having to face at this time she is still persevering to do what she needs to do.

WAY TO GO, BECKY!!!!

She has inspired me in so many ways. That is why I just did a 3 mile workout and I am now sitting down to eat steamed cauliflower. YUMMY!

Go tell her what a good job she is doing!!

RECOVERING FROM THE PARTIES!

Here is the sight I just came across! Our two girls, their Daddy, and Miss Kitty all curled up on the couch snoozing away!!

The flash on the camera makes the room look bright but it really isn't. The only light in the room is the TV. They are wiped out from our partying. We went to a New Year's Eve get together last night and they did not go to bed til 2 am.

Then, we went to a New Year's Day get together at 11:30 today. We didn't get home til almost 5. They really earned a nap!!!

My sweet Michael has to go to work tonight so he really, really needs the rest. He loves it when the girls curl up next to him. He calls Abby his little "pea pod" because she gets all warm and toasty when she lays up next to you and goes to sleep.

We had a wonderful time at both parties!! Last night, the guys played Mexican Train with dominios and the women played Phase 10. We laughed our heads off.

We ate authentic tamales and guacamole til we thought we were gonna puke. They were delicious!!!!!

Today, we ate tons of good food!! We all felt like we were going to explode and then they brought out the fondue pots!! Oh! sweet! chocolate! glory!!!!!! They had bananas, strawberries, Oreos, pretzels, marshmallows, cream puff, Nutter Butters, chocolate chip cookies, rice krispy treats to dip into blessedly delicious chocolate.

Let me just say that a cream puff dipped in chocolate is about the best thing there is!!!! It is so yummy!

It was nice to spend ringing in the new year with friends and enjoying each other's company.

I have been thinking about 2007 and what has transpired since I started this blog. I have been looking over things I wrote last January and it has been funny in a way. We have had a trying year. It has been happy, sad, exasperating, challenging, etc. I know that God stretches us and shapes us through our experiences.

I know the main experience He used this year is the miscarriage. I have struggled to make sense of it where there is none. I have questioned why and received a response I knew deep down all along.

God has been faithful through this year.
When I thought He wasn't there, He was there.
When I thought He didn't care, He cared.
When I thought I wasn't going to make it through, He held me close.
When I thought I was alone, He whispered, "I am here."
When I didn't think I was ever going to get any help, He gave a series of messages to my pastor and I believe they were just for me.
When I needed a loving hand to hold and a shoulder to cry on, He showed me my precious husband.

I know that through it all God's plan will prevail. I don't have to know the whys and the hows because He does and I can trust in Him.

I am excited to see what will happen in 2008 and what He has in store.

He is God and He, alone, is worthy to be praised!!

Happy 2008

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.

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.

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.

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.

Okay~~~so

Okay~~ so we are maybe changing our family vacation to May instead of August because we think it might work out better AND we are excited to go!! The only thing is we have got to save money like mad people on a mission! Which is not a bad thing but we are not famous for having a great saving capability! We are determined to go so that is the motivation!!!


On to a different topic~My Dh and I have been out of school for 15 years and we haven't had a reunion yet. I got an e-mail from my friend Becky, she graduated with us, that said they might be planning an informal reunion. I have been reflecting on this reunion thing since I read the e-mail and I have come up with two things I think about a reunion. 1- I am not the least bit curious to know what people I graduated with are doing except maybe a couple of girls my husband had a crush on, LOL! 2-The two people that I love the most that we graduated with are two of our bestest friends in the whole world so we don't need a reunion to see them. Correct me if I am wrong but aren't reunions just for finding out who married who and got a divorce, who got fatter after high school ( I would fit in that category!!), who has kids, who is the most successful, who has gotten bald, who is the overachiever, who died, who is gay, etc-etc-etc. No thank you, no thank you, no thank you!!! My Dh says he would go if they had awards like in high school. LOL! I just can't see driving 12 hours back home to see people that really don't interest me in the least. Unless, it coincided with an already planned trip home. HHMMM~that might not be so bad. Now if they serve steak and shrimp cocktail I am there!!