Has it been that long?

Two weeks of school

I can't believe the girls have been in school for two weeks already. It doesn't seem like it. I haven't even posted their first day of school photos.

Emily is in middle school now and has so much going on. She works the book store every Thursday morning with her best friend Maddy. She is joining clubs, (which isn't like joining clubs when we were in school - so we will find out which clubs she in next week) and already bringing home permission slips for special trips. With GT she will be going to the Heifer Ranch for three days and two nights. That sounds like a cool trip. She will do that in October. Once a month starting in Septmeber, she will be going with GT to a local nursering home where she will play games, read stores and just socialize with the residence there. Luckily this will go toward one or more of her GS badges also. Then the big trip is in the spring when she gets to so to Huntsville, Alabama to space camp. She is very excited about. I even applied to be a chaperone for that one. We'll see if I get picked.

Erin is now in the elementary school by herself and I actually think this is working better for her. She is working really hard in school and is progressing better then I could hope. She has her first spelling test of the year today and she was ready for it on Monday which is a huge improvement over last year. She loves her teacher and is excited about learning cursive. Aunt Tammie found her a cursive book to help her practice and it just happens to be the exact one that they are using in class. That is too cool. However for us old people, the cursive that we learned doesn't look anything like the cursive their learning and it's very difficult for me to help her. Our cursive had lots of loops and curves to it. The new cursive is very blocky. I swear I didn't know that it was possible to make the letter c with straight lines when your writing in cursive. I'll have to find you a sample of it. It's crazy. That's public education. It changes one way and then changes another.

Three weeks since the Hicks moved

What???? It can't be that long! They were just packing the house. We were just at the Walk together. We were just making bookmarks together. We were just working VBS together. We were just geocaching Searcy in a mad spree together.

Life gets away from us too fast. We must learn to stop and enjoy the good things and not stress over pooh bear's head getting broke. We can't run around screaming at the kids because before we know it their not kids anymore and they moved off to college or their own life. What I'm saying is we need to take the time for those we love why their with us. Let's not keep putting it off. The laundry can get done later, the vaccuming isn't important, so there's a ring around the toilet - tell me 95% of the toilet in the homes don't have a ring around it up to 2 hours before the guest walk in the door, but who really cares? And if they do, the are welcome to clean it them selves. I've got plenty of the cleaning products in the hall closet. That's why there's a ring in the toliet, the products are in the wrong place.

I know I'm making jokes but I miss my friend. I'm still talking to her on the phone and email. I still having a pillow fight on fb with her. I know what time she's getting up. I know that she is working out. I know when she is gone to get the girls and I even know what the weather is like where she is. I do still miss her.

Kristi, I don't care if you don't have anything to blog or if you blog the same stupid routine a hundred times. It comes from you and you had a hand in it and I know that your there. That's what matters. I don't care if you post everthing you eat or drink in the day. Though I will say it because I know if I don't I'll regret it: No bathroom stop schedule. I hope your regular but I don't have to know it.

New Phones

The nice mommy has moved into my house. I don't know where she came from and I don't why but she is there. Don't believe me? Ask my girls. Emily and Erin are proud owners of the new LG scoop phones. Em's is ......... blue and Erin's is ........ purple. Duh! I don't know what possessed me to talk their dad into it but I did. I was having issues with Erin not being in the same school with Em and so I wanted her to have a phone. Makes sense right? Then why is one of the rules for Erin that she can't take it to school with her? Not that she or Emily can use it in either place but it's for them to use when they get out of school and I'm running late or need to send them a message. Yet, Em's is off all day - per our rule and Erin's is at home on the bar until Erin gets home from school via me.

I must be careful because the next thing the nice mommy might do is get them a laptop or a tv in their rooms. YIKES!!!!!

Oh and I got a new phone too. I know don't know what is up with that but I now have a blackberry pearl. And I sooooo like my new phone., except that I need ringtones. Again see missing Kristi.

News Release: Bigfoot Sighting

I almost forgot to tell you that I have found "BIGFOOT". There is no more searching to be done. I have found him. Well actually her and actually two hers. We took Emily and Erin to get new tennis shoes for school. We went to Penney's because they were having a sale. Bad idea because they only had one girl working and the place was a mess but that is another story. Emily found a pair that the liked and she asked the lady for a six. Now, I don't know if you know anything about shoe sizes but they start at 0 and go through 13 for infants to kids then they start back over at 1 and go up for adults. Emily was asking for the 6 that comes after the 13. The lady is taking a long time and I'm thinking about the fact that Em has asked for a 6. Penney's has all the tennis shoes for the kids and womens and mens in the same area so I walk over to the womens and find a size 6 Nike. I ask Emily to come over and try it on. IT FITS!!! WHAT? Erin walks over and really likes the shoe and wants to try it on. I know that she likes to take my flip flops and wear them so I thought what the heck. IT FIT HER TOO! WHAT? Em is 10 (though she will be 11 in 25 days) and Erin is 8. Let me say that again: Erin is 8. "BigFoot" has moved into my house and ate my daughters. Erin can wear a size 6x childs shirt and a size 6 womens shoe and her daddy can touch thumb to thumb and middle finger to middle finger around her waist. That ain't right I don't care how you slice it.

A Whirl Wind of Activies

I can't believe how fast the last two weeks have gone. It's just crazy.

Marty's Birthday, Mom's Birthday, Women's Walk to Emmaus #135, Hicks moving to Omaha and School n Scouts start next week.

Walk to Emmaus #135

If you haven't heard me talk about the walk to emmaus then you must not have heard my testimony about my faith and about Marty's and my decision to help start a new Methodist congregation in Cabot. The Walk to Emmaus was second of two major turning points on my faith walk and now I have oppurtunity to go back and work walks and be a servant of God for others as they take their piligrim walks.

I was lucky enough this time to work the walk with three of my best girl friends and my best best friend, Marty. Going back to work is such an awesome experience. It helps to refocus my life back on God because the activities of life pull me away so quickly.

This weekend I re-experienced His love in away that I have only found when I've been on a walk. Though I worked and am now physically exhausted, I'm so ready to go back and work. It was even better being there with Marty and the girls, but I found that I have so many wonderful people there that mean so much more to me then I will ever be able to tell them. Grace, Shelly, Lana, Rick, Joy, Chris, Veda, Vada, and the list could go on and on. These are wonderful people who I just can't wait to see again when I go back to the next walk. September seems like a very long time away.

I did get some very special news though, my friend Wendy is going to go on her piligrim walk in Oct. I'm so excite and can't wait to see her and then to talk to her about her walk. I wish I was working it. If I could take that much time off and they would let me, I think I would work every walk, but that isn't allowed for very good reason. I just so enjoy being a servant of God on those walks.

Corn Girl :(

As with every Emmaus Walk, you have to come back to reality on Monday. Sometimes it happens Tuesday or Wednesday but you do have to come back from that Mountain Top experinence. It's just the way it is.


It's no different this time but is more then just a bad day at work or a problem with the car or house. This time I got to come home each day to watch movers pack one of my best friend's house so that they could load her stuff into a truck and move her from here to Omaha, 10 hours away. No more quick hugs, no more lets go have dinner, no more "Hey can your run get the kids.". She's only a phone call, text message, facebook, blogspot away but it is still extremely painful. I'M NOT CRYING. I have vowed not to cry because God has a plan for her and her family and it's in Omaha at the moment and I support her family in this. I love God and trust Him but it is really hard to accept everything, I am only human here. Some think that I'm just crazy for not crying but to be honest - if this dam breaks it will be weeks before the flooding stops so it's best to keep the plug in it. It has almost broke all day but I'm still hanging in there.

Guess what I had for dinner in her honor? Well corn of course. Gonna have it tomorrow and the next day too. Why? Because I can. Good thing I like corn. I was teasing her yesterday about being corn girl and she started calling me rice girl because I work in the rice fields. So, here we are: Corn Girl and Rice Girl.

Okay, I'm done writing. Think I'll go climb in bed with a container of ice cream.

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!

Today is my adorable husband's birthday. I spent all morning Saturday trying to get him a gift and still don't have anything that I think is good enough for him.

If you never been around my sweet fabulous husband then you don't know how wonderful and great he is. I am trully blessed. He is my dream come true and I'm so very proud to be his wife.

I LOVE YOU! Have a great day.

Braces are on!!

BEFORE

 

 

WOW! I can't tell you how proud I am of my baby. She got her braces on today. She didn't scream and carry on at all. She listened and was a true champ. She is hurting some now but that is to be expected. I know that the pain will be there but will be so worth it in the end.


AFTER

 

 

Time Management

I now believe that I'm terrible at time management. I am behind or was suppose to do so many things and there really just isn't any excuse except that I'm not managing my time. I don't post like I want (though I'm really rather boring and don't have much to tell). I haven't been exercising, biking, hiking or caching as much or at all. Okay..... I was just thinking about what my next line would be and I've decided to stop right there. I'm whining and I hate whining. You don't want to hear me whine, your just nosy (isn't that why we read other peoples blogs) and you want to know what's been happening with me. At least that is why I read my friends blogs. What are they doing and what are they enjoying. So... change of subject.


The last three weeks

July 14-18 was VBS - Power Lab. I'm the children's ministries director for our church and so I'm the head hauncho to make sure that it all gets done. Luckily, I've learned to deligate (well I'm learning) and this year's VBS director and co director were outstanding. They worked hard and we had another outstanding week with a few minor devil caused hiccups (like one of our pastors falling during setup and breaking her wrist.) We had 106 children on Monday and Tuesday, 104 children on Wednesday, 105 children on Thursday and 94 children on Friday. We had a Thursday night dinner and performance and sliming and had over 200 people in attendance. Plus we were able to raise over $1800.00 for the local EXCEL program (www.excelarkansas.com). This is only our third year of VBS and each year we are growning. It is so exciting to see Jesus working through all the volunteers that week. It always exhaust me but I'm always so proud of the team that comes to work during that week and before making decorations and special project to make it happen. God is so good.

Saturday was relax day and that's what I did. Our close friends have a house on Greers Ferry Lake and a party barge and so on Saturday Marty, the girls and I joined them up there for nothing but lazying around in the water all day. If you know how busy I am then you might be able to guess how little time I have to be out in the sun. So this white girl got cooked. I mean make yourself sick, can't walk cooked. I know what your thinking, I should have used sun screen, well rest assured I'm not crazy enough anymore and I did and I reapplied it 3 or 4 or 5 times. I still got sun burned. I was so sun burned I couldn't make it to church on Sunday morning and the kiddo sang their VBS music during the worship service and we had visitors. Oh how I hate that I missed it. I thought I was being smart. Guess I need stronger sunblock for these white legs.

It's Friday and I'm still suffering from the sunburn. Now I'm peeling and itching. Doesn't matter how much lotion I put on, I itch. Oh well. Leaving my DNA all over the place is kind of funny.

The other latest adventure accured last night. My godson, AJ, had an accident with his hand and a door jam. The door jam won. He got his left hand middle finger caught in it and he pulled it out leaving about an eighth of an inch of his finger missing. So off to the emergency room with a race to see which aunt, uncle or parent could get to him faster. See he was with his babysitter. I won, I got there about 5 to 10 minutes after the babysitter. Course, his momma had to come from the other side of Little Rock in rush hour traffic so that wasn't really a fair race. I make light because other then a scare and the fact that the finger is a little bit shorter then you would expect, he's fine. As his uncle Marty kept telling him, Chic's dig scares, so it's all good now.

Well that is the highlights and if I get ambisious enough then I might even get some photos up. Don't hold it against me if I don't. I'm trying.

The Cat Fairy

 

Okay, which one of you has decided that VBS is the time of the year for the Cat Fairy to come? Last year at the end of VBS, we were "blessed" with a kitten on our front steps. This year, on the first day of VBS (today), I come home to find that the Cat Fairy has made a drop on our back porch!!!!

HELLO! We are not shopping for cats. We are not the city cat people. So please stop delivering them to us.

Now - Anyone want a cat????

Just one word.

My friend Grace emailed me this one but I thought I would put it here and tag Tiffany, Laura and Kristi instead of emailing it around.

Here's the deal: answer the following question but the catch is to only use one word answers. ONLY ONE WORD.

1. Where is your cell phone? desk
2. What are you wearing right now? clothes
3. Your hair?: brown
4. Your mother?: Sherwood
5. Your father?: Heaven
6. Your favorite hobby? geocaching
7. Your dream last night? none
8. Your favorite drink? margarita
9. Your dream/goal? healthier
10. The room you're in? cubicle
11. Your ex? not
12. Fear? snakes
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? bermuda
14. Where were you last night? Home
15. What you're not? fake
16. Muffins? blueberry
17. One of your wish list items? contenment
18. Where you grew up? Sherwood
19. The last thing you did? read
20. What are you going to do this weekend? entertain
21. Your TV? old
22. Your pets? cats
23. Your computer? dell
24. Your life? crazy
25. Your Mood? joyful
26. Missing someone? Emily
27. Your car? Suburban
28. Something you are not wearing? socks
29. Favorite Store? JCPenneys
30. Your summer? Hot
31. Like someone? Everyone
32. Your favorite color? purple
33. When is the last time you laughed? yesterday
34. Last time you cried? Sunday
35. Who will/would repost this? Tiffany

Changes

Changes are good right? Then why do most of us resist change? Why do I get sick at my stomach at the thought of having to change anything? Change is all around me these days.

Job Changes) For those of you who don't know - my job has changed and has many uncertainties to it now. I am now the State Irrigation Engineer and technically my office is on the fifth floor of the federal building in Little Rock. Now the idea of being the SIE is really cool but the new responsibilities are huge. The location of the job is an issue for me because this is the same federal building that Timothy McVay once considered as a location for bombing though he chose Oklahoma's Federal Building instead. I don't think like an extremist so to think that one person out there thought of this building makes me concerned about the other extremist that exist in the world. The scope of my job is the other issue - I've been working on irrigation project almost since day one on the job and I believe in the irrigation projects. They are designed to reduce the ground water consumption of farmers to a tolerable amount in order to keep from depleting the water source. The solution to the problem is to divert excess drainage water out of local rivers for their use. I fully believe in being good stewards of the land and believe that using our resources wisely is how we can honor God. How this relates to change is that because of legal suits against the government, funding for my office has been almost nil and thus the powers that be want to shut the office or reorganize it, as is the latest endeavor. I believe in these projects and don't want to stop working on them, but I work for the federal government and thus must do what some bureaucrat in Washington feels is important and not what I feel is important.

Girl Scout changes) Scouts is a huge part of my world. I have two girls who love scouts, a husband who should have made Eagle Scout, a mother-in-law that was a scout/leader/training for GS and the one of the first den mothers, two nephews who are Eagle Scouts, a aunt-in-law that is a life time scout and my very fond memories of my little time in scouts. Well, like all things people move up in positions and think that they need to make their mark on something and they start tinkering with it to make it "better." Well, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I'm sure that this too will work out fine but I like scouts how it is. I'm a very old school type scout and like the structure of the organization and I even like the uniforms for ceremonial purposes.

Friends change) It's moving season again in Cabot. We live in a community that has either lived there their entire life or are military (usually) transients. Every spring/summer, the moves start happening and we have to say good bye to someone that we have come to know. Well, this time it isn't a military friend but a UP friend. Thanks UP for bringing them here but do you have to all the good promotions in Omaha? Can't there be any really cool plush engineering jobs here in Arkansas? My family has grown extremely close to the Hicks family in the last year. The girls are more like sisters and Kristi and I are more like sisters then I would have thought possible for only really knowing her for a year and a half. I was there with her through the darkness of her sister's death and now I have to watch as she moves away to a city 10-12 hours away. With gas prices and economic trends, I know face to face visits are going to be very limited at best and that just isn't the same. Again change is good, but change still hurts.

Kids change) Hey did you know that my first born is now 10 years old? She is leaving elementary school next Tuesday for the last time as a student there and will be officially a middle schooler. Do you know that she is on the edge of becoming a teen and all those wonderful hormonal changes that come with it? I didn't either until just the other day. Wow, were did the time go? Just the other day, I was pregnant and scared out of my mind about child birth. I'm so very proud of her because she is an awesome, sweet, respectful young girl but am I ready for the next phase? I don't think I have a choice.

Technology Challenged

Okay, must of you wouldn't think that I'm technology challenged but I'm. I love blogging and reading other's blog pages. This is how I know what my wonderful friend Tiffany is up to in Japan and that my friend Laura just had a baby boy. I love myspace and facebook, though I am completely challenged trying to make it look the way I want it to. However, I see things that other do and I want to be able to do it too. Like putting video online. So dug out our old RCA camcorder that we purchased just before Emily was born so that I could "record" ever aspect of her life. Yeah, right! I had to remember how to use the thing but was able to make some recordings. Okay that wasn't so bad, but know I have to figure out if I can get this old technology camcorder, which well before usb ports, connected to my computer. Well I asked my technology expert friend and of course she knew exactly what I needed. So for Mother's day, I got a dazzle converter. After several attempts, I managed to get the software loaded correctly and the recorder connected to the computer. I was even able to make a small move clip. GREAT! I can do this.

Well, here's were it goes wrong. Last night was Emily's last elementary school musical and I was all excited because I was going to record it and post it on my blog. Alexis could see Emily way over in Japan. Yeah, that didn't happen. I went to make sure that I had the tape in the right spot because I didn't remember if I had after I had learned to download. Well, the recorder ate the tape. Okay no biggy there because I had nothing of importance on there really because it was a new tape we had purchase when I dusted the thing off and had only recorded some none important things. So, I fix the tape and tried making it play. No dice. No video is on that tape now. Okay, so I try recording. No dice. Flashes "Tape" at me and locks up. Okay, try another brand new tape. No dice. Press record, it starts, then it hangs up and flashes "Tape" at me. Get it froze and it will rewind or fast forward or play but try to record an "Tape", "Tape", "Tape". Okay, I get it.

So instead of me blogging and showing you my first video of my "baby girl" just before she leaves behind elementary school and enters the world of middle school, I'm blogging about crappy technology. Sorry, but you missed a GREAT musical. Oh and you'll also get to miss her second piano recital, because it is Thursday night and I just don't see me getting over this technical hurdle that quick.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

My baby is 8 today. I just can't believe that it has been 8 years since the day this precious child came into my life. She was happy, healthy and a ray of sunshine and she still is today. She is a thoughtful, selfless child. She always seems to put others first and just loves to give things to people who mean something to her. She likes bugs and flowers and biking and cuddling. She is my cuddle child. She swarms a lot but she just loves to cuddle.

I didn't get to spend the day with her like I wanted to. I have found that with the end of school, Memorial Weekend and Mother's day, May is a very, very busy month and if you happen to have birthday in that month it's almost impossible to get a birthday party scheduled. So like most of our month, other things took president today. That makes me very sad. My beautiful, precious child spent the day at church and then at a friends where she wrecked her bike and skinned her arm and leg up. I wasn't even there to hold her when she cried.

She did get to have her birthday party last night though. She had a swimming party at the local indoor pool. She was so excited because she got 7 new webkinz and now she has more than her sister. I don't have her pictures handy to post but will get them up soon. She has grown so much in 8 years.

My baby!!!

Tagged by Tiffany

Tiffany tagged me about my husband...

How long have you been married? we will be married 14 years this October.

Where did you meet? We meet at a friends house. He had been dating a girl for 3 years and I was dating one of his friends.

How long did you date? We started dating June 9th, 2001 and got engaged March 28th, 2003.

How old is he? He is 8 months older then me.

Who eats more? He does

Who said “I love you” first? I did

Who is taller? He is

Who sings better? We sing about the same.

Who is smarter? I think he is. Neither of us have had an iq test so who knows.

Whose temper is worse? MINE

Who does the laundry? we both do

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Is the right side when your laying down or when your standing at the foot looking at the headboard?

Who pays the bills? I do

Who cooks dinner? We both do

Who drives when you are together? 90% of the time he does

Who is more stubborn? Me

Who kissed whom first? We kissed each other first.

Who is the first to admit to being wrong? He is.

Whose parents do you see the most? we see them about the same

Who proposed? He did

What’s his best physical attribute? His blue eyes

Who has more friends? I do

What are you most proud of him for? wow - what am I not proud of him for?

Who has more siblings? I do

Who wears the pants in the family? We rule the house together.

Okay Tiff, there are the details. I tag Laura because other then Kristi, whom Tiffany already tagged, none of my friends blog.

Not the Mommy!

Have you ever woke up and realized that you're not the Mommy that you wanted to be? We all make jokes about "you're turning into your Mother," or "I sound like my Mother" but do you have an idea in your head of what kind of mom you wanted to be?

I don't like the mom that I am becoming. I believe in being strict because I believe that my girls need to be taught that they are resposible for their actions and no one is to blame for their bad choices, but lately their choices are getting them into trouble. They're not doing anything that most people would get upset about, but again I'm the strict mom. I'm after them all the time and I'm loosing my temper almost on a daily bases and I don't like to. I've seen both of my girls in tears because of me almost everyday for of the last 7. That isn't what I want at all. This isn't the mom that I want to be.

I love my girls and I know they are great. I know that Em is intelligent and outgoing and confident but I'm always on her case. I know that Erin is intelligent and kind and loving but I'm always hard on her about school work.

I've been feeling like a monster lately and I just want to be a loving Mom. Not a best friend Mom but a loving, care what I think, be there to talk to Mom.

Today is my birthday and I'd rather not celebrate it because I've become a person I don't like and that isn't something to celebrate.

I love Spring

Last Saturday was a beautiful spring day. The scouts had a planned butterfly garden work day and so we were up and out of the house working in the garden by 9:00 am. I just love doing that. It is hard work pulling weeds and digging holes and watering routinely but the garden is so beautiful and smells so sweet.

I enjoyed it so much that after we were done up there at noon, I came home in ripped out my front flower bed. Though you really can't call it a flower bed because the only flower in there is a rose bush that I keep trying to kill (it isn't something I want to spend time up keeping) and the gardenia bush that I planted two years ago that has not bloomed yet. I want to expand my bed to 8 feet by the length of the house south from the front door and then I want to create a bed that goes north that you would walk through to go to the garage. I want to also put one there along the side of the garage. The plans are all in my head but I'll try to take some time and draw then out so you can see. I'll also take some pictures this weekend of what it looks like now. Crap would be the word I would describe it as now.



Since I've got this project in mind, that is what I told the girls I wanted for my birthday. Flowers for the flower beds. I want to see butterflies and hummingbirds and birds all around my yard. I've always loved flowers and having gardens. My grandmother and mother had flowers and flower beds everywhere when I was growing up. I love the smell of gardenias because of the one that grew just out the door of the playhouse. That is my favorite scent.

She blogs!!!!

Well now that March has come and gone and April is almost too, thought it would be a good time to catch you up. Not that anyone reads this anyway, but here goes.

Severe Weather

We have had record severe weather here in Arkansas. Snow at the first of March, then rain that caused flooding and then tornadoes that came way too close to home and then more rain and more flooding.

I am trying to figure out how to get my old camcorder hooked up so I can share the video I shot of the Arkansas River. It is absolutely amazing to see the river completely out of it's banks. I drove over to our construction site by the White River and was just in total awe of the magnitude of water. You have to see it to believe it. I saw it and still can't wrap my mind around it. It's actually a good thing that our project is stopped for litigation because that site is under water.

The tornadoes where a little too close for comfort and too many of my friends were even closer then I like. There was officially 10 come through from one wall cloud. I just consider it one that just kept touching down but they call it 10 separate ones. Marty and I were watching TiVo TV so we were behind on the warnings that were coming out. We had just caught up with real time when we really started looking at the path projections. I don't usually get worked up about storms (guess I've been through too many that were nothing) so we don't normally even do more then just watch the broadcast but for some reason we both felt that we needed to get up and get dressed for the weather. So we did and we even got the girls out of their beds and put them in ours. I've NEVER done that. (They slept through it though.) About that time, the phones started ringing. First Mom, because it had just past her and she knew it was projected at us. While I was talking with Mom, John called Marty's phone. I called Stacey because they are just down the street from us and if it was coming our way it had to pass them first. Her family went next door then to a neighbors storm cellar so I didn't have to worry about her. Marty called his mom while I talked to Stacey. She said that it wasn't bad there because it had gone east of them. Christine called me after I got off the phone with Stacey. They were doing well but they were concerned. Their power went out while we were on the phone. We had lost satellite but we still have an air wave TV in the kitchen so we could still see the news plus Marty has his ham radio license. So I stayed on the phone with her. The tornado turned and took the path it had taken when it wiped out Cabot in the 70's. Which was a lot closer to Christine than to us. Like I said too close. They didn't have any damage but there was lots of damage around the city park/pool off of Richie Lane. Needless to say we didn't get much sleep that night. I was on the phone calling friends to check on them.

Later I found out I had friends even closer then I knew: Laura, Melanie, Mr. & Mrs. Merritt, Ronnie & TJ.

It did a lot of damage to the baseball field at Sylvan Hills and my old high school, Sylvan Hills High.

Emily

The other things that have been happening is that Emily has started singing with the Praise Band at church on Sundays. She is really good and is starting to not look scared to be up there. Again if I can get through some technical challenges I'll post some video of her.

She decided that she wanted to do a talent show, so she looked in the paper and found the "Babies and Children's ABCExpo". She was very serious about it and kept reminding us what date and that she really wanted to go. So we took her. She performed Hannah Montana's "Rock Star" for the audition. They only took the top 10 talents for the show. She didn't make the show but she was great about it. She did well but it was her first audition and there were many of the "pageant/talent show" kids that were there also. Who knows, we maybe doing it again.

She is working hard at the moment on getting ready for her second piano recital. She is working on 4 pieces. I don't know the day of the recital yet but will be posting about it soon.

Erin

Little Miss Sunshine is working hard at school. She is still struggling with reading and writing. So if you get a letter from her, would you please be her pen pal? She doesn't like story writing so we are trying to let her write letters to friend telling about her life to get her to practice. She just finished benchmark testing at school and said that it was easy, so lets hope we're moving in the right direction. I do think the glasses have helped though.

Church

We have our first annual Easter Egg hunt and it was a huge success. I got to do the planning this year but I hope to have someone serve as Family Events coordinator and take that off my plate. We had it at a new members home and it was fabulous. They have huge yard out in the country. It worked out great except that it was really wet from loads of rain that we have been getting. Didn't dampen any ones spirits though and we all had a fabulous egg hunt for over 1500 eggs.

On Palm Sunday, the kids started the service with a parade of palm branches then stole the show with a performance of two songs. It was so wonderful to see the kids sing "Come to Jesus" and "Get Up, Get Up". Again, if I can get the technology worked out, I know where a video of it is.


There is more but I guess I can try to type that soon.

Snowing in Arkansas in March

I know that some places it isn't strange to have snow in March but for those of us in Cabot, Arkansas it is. Especially when it was in the 70's only one week ago. We were running around in shorts, getting sunburned and now we don't dare expose any skin to the 29 degreee weather.

My kids are so over joyed at the snow and I'm very glad that they did get to see such beauty. Here are some pictures of the "Spring" wonderland.

How do you like the Christmas decorations in March??? Marty used the big C9 set this year on the Snoopy tree and he liked it so much, he has left them up. He asked me to get different colors so that he could just change out the bulbs with the season. Unfortunately by the time he asked me this they weren't out any more. So if you see ANY color C9 bulbs please let me know or pick them up for me. I'd love to present him with: purple, pink, spring green, kelly green, blue, orange, sky blue, royal blue. It would be so funny.

Check out how it looked like the burning bush in this picture!!!!

Pretty cool, uhhh?

Proud Momma Moment

Emily has a very beautiful voice. This isn't a Momma opinion this is what I hear all the time when people hear her sing.
Emily reads very welll. This again isnt' a Momma opinion, this is what I hear when someone who doesn't know her hears her read aloud.

Well, Emily has decided to join the praise band at church and yesterday was her first day singing on stage on a microphone. Not only did she sing but she read a passage by herself for the congregation. Other then she looked a little unconfortable, it was her first time after all, she did a very good job at both. It isn't her first time reading a passage for the church, because she read one of the readings during Christmas of the lighting of the advent candles.

She is still taking piano lessons and now I guess I will have to get her voice lessons. Oh well, if this is the talent that God has given her, and she is comfortable using it, then I will be glad to encourage her every step of the way.


EMILY - your daddy and I couldn't have been more proud of you yesterday. Keep up the great work for God that your doing. WE LOVE YOU!! Mom

Go 88

If you're wondering why my page is presently black and white, well that is the color of the checked flag and race season is back. I love watching cars go around and the faster the better. My lucky number is 8 which up until last year was also my favorite drivers number. It is still my lucky number but 88 is my race number now. Marty doesn't have a favorite driver, which is good because we don't get cross that way. He just roots for certain guys to not win and the guys he doesn't like I also don't like so it's good.

I'll have to see if I can make a checker flag for my banner.

I love the engineering of racing. It takes so much engineering to get a car to go around the different tracks and win week after week or almost week after week. Each track is unique and requires different technology.

In other news for today - I'm ready for winter to be done.

Today it was close to 70 degrees. So Marty and I loaded the bikes in the truck and to the girls down to the river trail for a ride. We started at the NLR Alltel Arena end this time instead of in the middle at Burns Park like we normally do. Marty and I had done that trail but not with the girls. We got started and decided that twe would just see how far the girls wanted to go. The NLR side is about 7 miles from Alltel to the Big Dam bridge. We made it to boat ramp by the Burns Park golf course which is about 4.5 miles and then we turned around and went back for a total of 9 miles.

Marty and I hadn't had enough yet so we left there and went down to the county farm trail and did another 3 miles round trip out to the peninsula that you can see from I-440 looking toward Penicle Mountain. This is a flat ride and doesn't take as much effort. It was a great ride. Though I'm going to pay for it tomorrow. My knees are screaming at me now. I hurt them growning up and now it doesn't take much. I pray that as I get older that I will not hurt them to the point that I can't do what I love to do - hike, bike and camp.

I haven't gotten to down load my pictures from today yet but I will get them on line as soon as I can.

Denver for a Week & a new job

I can't believe I haven't written since Jan 17. I guess I've been a little bit busier then I thought. I have been in Denver since Sunday and am just now getting a chance to blog about it.

Okay, my first time in Denver is very uneventful. I flew out Sunday and arrived around 4:00 pm. I didn't have a rental car so was kind of stuck at the hotel. I am not a very experienced traveler and not a very adventureous person on my own, so I basicly went to my room, went to dinner across the street and then back to my room. Monday through Thursday was class from 7:00 am until 5:00 pm each day and again being the safe, cautious and boring person that I am I didn't miss any of my classes. I did miss one yesterday, but I was trying to change my flight for today for the earlier one. I had originally wanted all day today to explore and make the most of my trip but did I say yet that I'm rather cautious and unadventerous when alone? Well I didn't want to try to get around by myself and I didn't know what to do with my luggage and I didn't have transportation.

I really wanted to see the mountains up close and personal but I guess I will have to do that another time. I'm pretty sure if I was not married I would rarely adventure away from my house because I'm just too cautious. Now you wouldn't know this if you really knew me because when I'm with a group a friends, I'm always the one that takes the dare. I've just got to try it and if my friends are standing there encouraging, well, you just never know what I might do. Alone me is a complete different person.

I did get to see a really neat snow fall. I will have to upload photos later because they are giving me errors at the moment.

The other news is my new job. I am, as of Feb 3, 2008, the State Irrigation Engineer for NRCS in Arkansas. My official office is now Little Rock though I will be working on the same projects that I've been working on since 1996. Thus the reason why I am actually in Denver, an irrigation conference. I have been learning how irrigation is done in the western states so that I can have a better understanding when I communicate about my job. I'm excited, scared and overwhelmed but I can do it. It will require more responsibility but my boss seems to have confidence in me and that is good.

Way to Go Emily

Have any of you heard of the 4th/5th Grade Talent Search by Duke TIP? Well I hadn't either until yesterday. Emily is in GT at school and she brought home a letter from Mrs. Gairhan yesterday. In this letter was an application for the 4th/5th Grade Talent Search. This is an honor given to the top 5% of students in their grade level. It is Talent Identification Program (TIP) offered by Duke University. According to the provide material this program is designed to help academically talented young people become inspired to learn through exciting educational opportunities through formal recognition, praise for performance, and a clear message that continuing to develop their intelligence can be fun and fulfilling.

Marty and I are so very proud of her. My nephew, Dylan, has been recognized by Duke University and many doors have been opening for him and now Emily is being offered unique opportunities also.

Emily, daddy and I love you so very much and are so very proud of all your hard work at school. We pray that you will take every oppurtunity that opens to you and use it to your best ability. God has blessed you with the world and the ability is yours to make the most of it.

Day 13 and Friends

Still doing the 30 day challange:

"I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me." Song of Solomon 7:10

Okay this day's encouragement is too personal to put on my blog but let's just say that in this department my husband rocks my world and I never feel that I'm not his desire.

Thank you God for giving me such an amazing man.

Revealing myself to my friends:

In honor of Tiffany in Japan, I'm taking the challange of blogging these personal questions. Here is what you didn't know about me.

1. What time did you get up this morning? 4:28 am cst
2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Can't remember
4. What is your favorite TV show? Numbers
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? coffee and muffin
6. What is your middle name? Joann
7. What food do you dislike? vegetables
8. What is your favorite CD at moment? CD??? you mean ipod playlist right?
9. What kind of car do you drive? 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
10. Favorite sandwich? Nutella
11. What characteristic do you despise? Lying
12. Favorite item of clothing? bathrobe at the moment
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Australia
14. Favorite brand of clothing? don't have one
15. Where would you retire to? in the mountains in a cabin
16. What was your most recent memorable birthday? 2006 when Marty got me my Canon rebel digital camera
17. Favorite sport to watch? Nascar
18. Furthest place you are sending this? Japan and Germany
19. Person you expect to send it back first? doubt anyone will
20. What is favorite animal? wolf
21. When is your birthday? April (month of the diamond)
22. Are you a morning person or a night person? Morning
23. What is your shoe size? 8 ½
24. Pets? 2 cats
25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? Nothing new but exciting - Christ died for you
26. What did you want to be when you were little? A baby doctor
27. How are you today? Healthy and doing better then last week
28. What is your favorite candy? Snickers
29. What is your favorite flower? Gardenia
30. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? Feb 3 - I have a business trip to Denver and I have never been there
31. Mountains or the beach? mountains
32. What is your full name? You know my middle - why my full
33. What are you listening to right now? Nothing
34. What was the last thing you ate? Muffin
35. Do you wish on stars? Yes
36. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Purple
37. How is the weather right now? It is clear and sunny
38. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Stacey
39. Favorite soft drink? When not dieting - Mt. Dew
40. Favorite restaurant? Red Lobster
41. Hair color? brown
42. What was your favorite toy as a child? baby dolls
43. Summer or winter? Summer
44. Hugs or kisses? Both
45. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate
46. Coffee or tea? both
47. Do you want your friends to email you back? Well, I always love emails from my dear friends. Lets me know they are still keeping tabs on me.
48. When was the last time you cried? Last week everytime I drove in the drive and saw our empty yard
49. What is under your bed? clothes
50. What did you do last night? Disciple IV bible study
51. What are you afraid of? Loosing Marty or my kids
52. Salty or sweet? sweet
53. How many keys on your keyring? car ring - 1, work ring - 4, house ring - 8
54. How many years at your current job? 15
55. Favorite day of the week? Saturday
56. How many towns have you lived in? 4
57. Do you make friends easily? yes
58. How many people will you send this too? blogging it - so I don't know
59. How many will respond? didn't we already do this one?
60. If you could experience anything in the whole world, what would you want to do and why? Scuba diving, Snow Skiing, White Water Rafting, Backpacking in the Rockies and the Appalachians (I love the outdoors and these are things I want to do before I can't)

Loosing Focus

This has been a long stressful week and it has caused me to lost my focus, my excitement, my enthusiasium. I know I have lots to get done but I don't want to do it. My shoulders hurt and I want to go to bed. I don't want to go out and sale Girl Scout cookies, I don't want to go purchase things for Sunday School, and I don't want to plan more activities - girl scout or church. I just want to be. That is me today: flustrated and unfocused.

One of my dearest and best friends called me this morning and she was soooo excited. She has been gone all week at a conference and she is fired up about what she learned and wants to spread the word. (Which I'm very glad for and support her 100%) I just am not excited to hear it. Not that it is her or the subject, it's just me. I don't like being this way because I support her work and her enthusiasium, I just wish I had it too. She wanted to get together this afternoon and normally if she has been gone as much as she has I'm right there. Drop everthing, reschedule, There. But today when she ask, I just couldn't and it has been eating at me since I got off the phone. I'm not a put my friends at arms length type person. I'm the hug, high fives, support beyond any cost type. This mood has got to go.

Dentist/Orthodontist = Evil Tormentors ????

Have I told you about my daughter and her adversion to any professional person working in her mouth? Well ..... today was the routine check up for Emily at the orthodontist. She has had a spider for about a year and a half and we go every 9 to 12 weeks for him to check in preparation for braces. Now she has seen this man since she was 7 and she is now 10. He has talked her through every process thus far and has caused her the bare minimum of pain (I can a sure you that the cat has hurt her far more then him or his staff.)

Today's visit started like all the others. She goes in smiling and the assistant calls her name, she and I go back where she promptly climbs up in the chair grabs the gameboy provided and begins to play. The assistant calls for an x-ray which just brightens her day more and she hopes out of the chair heads to get the x-ray and comes back with an even bigger smile.

The assistance takes a look in her mouth and talks with her about her 3 loose teeth and they laugh and carry on. Doc walks up and looks at her mouth, talks to her about her 3 loose teeth, tell me to look at the front top because he thinks the next time in he will start putting brackets on the front, and then he promptly turns to the assistant and says "take out her appliance".....

You would have thought he just told her to jab a hundred needles into my child. Emily came completely and totally unhinged. She was hollering, crying and begging for Esop (her lamb she sleeps with). She was unconsoleable by him, the assistant and Mom. We tried to console her for about 5-10 minutes. Nothing would calm her down. And they haven't even touched her!!! Remember he has only given a verbal instruction to his assistant. The doc is getting flustrated with her, as is mom, and gets in her face about her behavior and tells her Mom will have to leave if she doesn't stop. He explains that it won't hurt and exactly what it will take to get the spider out. NO. Not working. He finally makes her open her mouth and pulls the right side off and then the left. She never even screamed about pain. She was fighting him and crying though. Then she wouldn't allow him to scrap the glue off completely. When he's finally had enough he asked her if is actually had pain and my stubborn, mule headed daughters says "Just a little." She doesn't know what pain is!! She can't even consided that it actually didn't hurt and that she was wrong. And to think we still have to put braces on?????

I love my daughter but I've never so not wanted to be her mother then that moment. I don't mean for that to sound bad because I would never trade her and couldn't ask for a better daughter - most of the time. I just don't get this side of her. Her fear is very real to her but unfounded. I don't know how to get her through this. Rational reasoning doesn't work, grounding doesn't work, offer of reward doesn't work... any ideas????

Oh and if your wondering, she isn't any better at the dentist when she gets her teeth cleaned.

Sad Day

Scout Foster Bowie
October 2006 to January 6, 2008

Some days you just want a do over and try to change the events. This is one of those days for our family. Many of you know that our dog, Scout, has been sick since September. Even though we thought we had his condition in hand, sadly he passed away last night. I'm a dog lover. I always have been and our dog is like one of my kids. Some people think that is stupid but everyone is entitled to their opinion. Scout wasn't but 2 years old and had already had a hard life because he was hit by a car when he was 10 weeks old. We adopted him from our vet and had hope to give him a better life. Well things just don't work out the way we think some times. Instead, we had to wake our kids today and tell them that the dog they loved was gone and watched as they cried. All the while, knowing that we couldn't take away their pain because we couldn't even take away our pain.

Bye buddy, we miss you already. We love you!

Strong Character

"Love suffers long, and is kind." (1 Corinthians 13:4a)

"My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

My husband is one of those considerate men who knows who he is and isn't afraid to show it. He isn't super physical strong but he is so very emotionally strong. I know how he feels most all of the time (because like all men he does get quite and not talk at times), but I never have to guess how he feels about me and our marriage. Thanks to God for creating such a wonderful man.

For all he does

"....through love serve one another." Gal. 5:13b

Day one of encouraging my husband was rather easy. I had a staff meeting at church and didn't really see him but about 30 minutes before I left and 30 minutes before we went to sleep. Though it really won't have been hard anyway. I have always said that God blessed me far beyond what I ever deserved when He brought Marty into my life and that still has not changed.

Today I'm suppose thank my husband for the way he serves me and our family. Well where do I begin? Marty has always been a doer. There is no job that he won't do and most of them he doesn't have to be asked to help do. I know. You don't have to say it. He is fabulous. He takes care of feeding the pets, he washes dishes, he washes/folds/puts away laundry, he makes sure the kids have their baths, he cooks, he vacuums, he does anything and everything and NEVER complains. I have the greatest husband and he loves me on top of all that. He makes me feel special and perfect and sexy.

He is Mr. Wonderful and he's all mine. THANK YOU God for such a wonderful but undeserved partner to share my life with.

New Year - New Adventures

It's a new year and have you done what everyone else always does and make new year resolutions? Do you really plan to lose weigh, get fit, spend less and save more?

Well I have made my resolutions with my husband and my family and I do plan on doing my best to keep them.

One that I am planning on doing is only 30 days and it is the 30 day Husband Encouragement Challenge for Wives (see www.ReviveOurHearts.com). I resolve for the next 30 days to: not say anything negative about my husband ... to my husband ... or to anyone else, about my husband and instead to say something that I admire or appreciate about him ... to him ... and to someone else about him!

I also resolve to pray for 31 days for him.

To get started - I am to thank him for "choosing me" above all other women. I plan on tell him this in person but so every one else knows without a doubt - I LOVE MY HUSBAND and I am so glad that he is my partner in life. I can't image going through life without him and love to experience each day with him. Going camping, hiking, bike riding, or doing work around the house is all fun because I do it with him. I thank God for leading me to him and for blessing our marriage.

"The heart of her husband safey trusts her; so he will have no lack of grain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life." Proverbs 31:11-12

If you care to join me in this challege then please go to www.ReviveOurHearts.com and click on the link to the challenges.

Wonderful Christmas Day

It was a wonderful Christmas Day with family. We went over to my brother's house and opened presents, played Mexican Train and ate deep fried turkey. It was a very relaxing day.

The girls seemed to enjoy their gifts. Emily got two pandas, a telescopy, a panda calendar, loads of clothes and a camelback backpack. Erin got two giraffes, a MP3 player (she calls and ipod), a giraffe calendar, loads of clothes and a camelback backpack.

It's so nice seeing pure joy and love and happiness on my children's faces. You don't always get to see it and to experience it is just so rejuvenating. It tells you that your doing alright raising them.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!!!!

Christ was born on Christmas Day and came into the world to be my saviour and yours! I know I haven't been in the spirit of the season but God is good and has a way of changing me when I least expect it. It's not because my shopping is done or that I've been spending some great time with my "sisters" and their family, but He gave me something that I have been searching for the past 17 years now. A pleasant, warm family holiday with my husband's family.

Now, don't get me wrong, I've loved them since we were dating and they have always loved me and welcomed me to the famiy but we all know that each family unit is unique and does things differently and it is hard to join any's family. Marty and his sister are 5 years apart and different as night and day and we just have never been very socialable, but I so enjoyed spending last night in her presence and it makes me sick thinking of the past missed oppurtunities. We have all changed as we have grown and had families and I think that it has finally reached us all at the same time that we are family and special to each other. Watching Emily and Erin play with Sorcha was so beautiful. Hearing them make her laugh and share with her was a true joy.

I know that Christ was working here. I can't explain it but it's something I know.

And I'd like to show you the very special necklaces Anna made each of us and the craftmanship and thought she put in them is awesome.



I pray that each of you have a very Merry CHRISTmas and that you tell each and every member of your family how important that they are no matter what differences you have.

Just can't

I've been trying to get in the Christmas spirit and I just can't seem to find it. We didn't get the tree until Saturday and didn't put it in the house until Sunday. It finally got decorated on Tuesday. That's is about the extent of my decorating. I just haven't done it. My shopping is in the same state of not done. I've got nothing, NOTHING, for either girl and have just today purchase a present each for my sisters in Florida. I still have two brother-in-laws, one nephew and one niece in Florida to purchase for before I can mail their gifts.

I have made some small purchases but nothing is striking me as "the" gift to give. I love giving. I so want to purchase a gift for absolutely everyone I know and for ever child of my dearest friends. Well, so much for that this time. I just can't.

I'm not normally a "I can't" person. I'm normally a think positive it will work person, but something just isn't there this time.

This is really sad to me too. Christmas is about God's perfect gift to us and about family and love and hope and good cheer. It's not suppose to be stress and I don't a have time. My sisters aren't coming "home" this Christmas and there have been no special plans made with our parents. While my friends are taking trips to visit relatives, we've got no "family" plans. Now why is that? My mom and brother live just down the road as does Marty's mom and dad yet there has been no talk of being together. Maybe this is why I'm not in any rush to celebrate which is a terrible reason because then my girls are missing out on the joy and warmth that I always remembered from my childhood.

I'm not depressed guys, just random thoughts as I'm home alone while Marty is doing inventory. Now you see why he doesn't leave me alone with my own brain very often.

Emily is in "Faith Finders" at church and much to her dad's and my surprise, she read the reading for the lighting of the advent candle this past Sunday. We didn't know that the class was doing this and I just happened to luck into having my camera there. She is such a great reader and she did an outstanding job.

This coming Sunday the girls will be singing during the worship service. The children who wish to sing, will sing "Jesus, Born on this Day" and "Joy to the World". It should be very beautiful. So if you're able and would like to hear them then come this Sunday at 10:30 am.

Well, time for bed

Christmas Survey

I was tagged by my good friend Tiffany who is the main reason why I blog and who has the most reason to be sore at me for not doing it lately. (This is her hint to do it. THANKS Tiff.)
On with the survey...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? both but I really perfer wrapping
2. Real or artificial tree? REAL. I do not do fake trees. I can't... I married Clark Griswald.
3. When do you put up the tree? The first Saturday in December
4. When do you take the tree down? New Years Eve or Day
5. Do you like eggnog? No
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My guitar that I got in third grade because my third grade teacher played one and she was my favorite teacher.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? 4 or 5 of them.
8. Hardest person to buy for? My mom
9. Easiest person to buy for? My children
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't remember so it must not be too bad?
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail but I'm usually late
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? National Lampoon Christmas Vacation and Charlie Brown Christmas
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? November
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Mom's fudge
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored
17. Favorite Christmas Song? Go Tell It on the Mountain song by Garth Brooks, anything from Tran-siberian Orchestra or Go Fish's Snow album
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Well can't you
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Tinkerbell
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Christmas morning except for our Christmas PJs that we get every year.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Nothing
23. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme? No
24. What do/did you leave for Santa? Cookies and milk

Memphis Zoo Snooze

Have you ever spent the night in the Zoo? We have. Our troop went over to Memphis Saturday afternoon and spent the night learning different thing about animals. We were given personal visits with a hen named Kellogg, an iguana named Indy, a rat named Louise, an American Thestral named Nina and yest a ball python named Monty. If you know me at all then you know there is no love connection between me and snakes and usually I'm not in the same county (if I can manage it) much less the same room where one is not behind glass but actually being touched by girls that are in my care. Well, I made a deal with my girls that if every single one of them (23 in all) and every single parent that accompanied us (9) would touch Monty, then I would also. I just knew I would have at least one person hold out. Well as you can see from the below picture, I was betrayed. I had to touch a snake. No it did not feel like I thought it one and no I do not have plans to do that again. I did it for my girls and my girls only. No one can say that I transferred my fears to my children.

The next morning we were served a light breakfast and then lead on a personal tour before the zoo opened to the public. This is an awesome experience and one I never forget.

4-H Camp

Well, my baby is growing up.

Today the 4th graders head to 4-H camp for an overnight learning experience. Since I'm the girl scout leader and the children's minister, I always go with my girls on their trips but this is a no parent trip and it's weird being on this end of it. This trip is the highlight of the 4th grade. All the kids in all the low grades talk about getting to go when they are in 4th grade and Em has been looking forward to it.

We packed her bag last night and I called her dad on my way to work just to double check that she had everything before they left for day care. (Marty takes them because I'm already gone.) The 4-H center is a really cool place though. It was built back when I was actually in 4-H in the early 80's. I was one of the first 4-H kids to actually "camp" there. It's more like a hotel then camp though because they have dorm rooms not cabins or tents to sleep in. It is a beautiful facility that has a large lake, swimming pool, tennis courts, ropes course and many other activities. I actually went on my Emmaus walk there. They are suppose to do some canoeing and the ropes course and several other enjoyable activities. I'm very excited for her but will miss her tonight. It is so weird to not be going.

Lord, watch over my baby and keep her safe.

Exciting Weekend

Wow! What a fun weekend we had. Saturday evening my junior troop got together for our annual pumpkin carving. It is so much fun to watch the girls as they clean out their pumpkins and then to start work creating their master piece. Most of these girls started this when they were in second grade. As they have grown their skills have grown and we had some very awesome pumpkins this year.

Troop 130 Pumpkins

Then there was the first annual Christ UMC Trunk n Treat. What an amazing turn out! I had my concerns but of course God took care of all of it. We had 8 trunks and 8 activities, plus music, a space walk and hot dogs with chips and drinks. They counted 170 people at 6:00 pm. There is no telling how many people went through total. I can't wait to plan next years event. Course I have to get through Christmas, Easter and VBS first.

Jonah and the Big Fish

Me and my buddy

Thank you Lord for all the blessing in my life

Nothing Exciting

We'll I just read my friend Tiffany's blog and I just don't know what I have to share that is as exciting as her experiences right now. Yeah Tiffany!! I'm living vicariously through you, girl. Make sure we're enjoying every minute of life.

No, seriously, we all have wonderful lives but it just seems like I don't having anything different to say.

This past weekend we took the Girl Scouts on an overnight camping trip at Petit Jean Mountain. I had two girls that had never slept in a tent and two moms with little camping experience. We really had a good weekend. I love camping in October. The weather was beautiful and the girls had great time. At least that was what they told me.

Also this past weekend Kristi and I went to our rehearsal/training for working the next Noahs of Ark Walk to Emmaus. We were so excited that when we got back we were able to get two people to also go on the walk as pilgrims. One was a lady that I have been praying would go since my walk 2 years ago. God is good all the time! I can't take pictures of the walk because it isn't allowed but I will write what I can. Please pray for the pilgrims of Walk 131 starting Thursday at 6:00 pm until Sunday at 5:00 pm.

For those that know that I love math, here is an email that a dear friend just sent me and instead of just forwarding it, I thought I'd post it here.


Beauty of Math!
1 x 8 + 1 = 9
12 x 8 + 2 = 98
123 x 8 + 3 = 987
1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876
12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765
123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321

1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111
123456789 x 9 +10= 1111111111

9 x 9 + 7 = 88
98 x 9 + 6 = 888
987 x 9 + 5 = 8888
9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888
98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888
987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888
9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888
98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888

Brilliant, isn't it?
And look at this symmetry:

1 x 1 = 1
11 x 11 = 121
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321
1111 1 x 11111 = 123454321
111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321
11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321
111111111 x 111111111=12345678987654321

Now, take a look at this...101%

From a strictly mathematical viewpoint:

What Equals 100%?
What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?
Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%?
We have all been in situations where someone wants you to GIVE OVER 100%.
How about ACHIEVING 101%?
What equals 100% in life?
Here's a little mathematical formula that might help answer these questions:

If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Is represented as:1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

If:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R- K 8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

And:

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E 11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But:

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E 1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

THEN, look how far the love of God will take you:

L-O-V-E-O-F-G-O-D 12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude willGet you there, It's the Love of God that will put you over the top!

DeColores

Happy Late Birthday, Tiffany

Okay we know that we are late but on Tuesday (your birthday) each one of us had a sick child so we are just now getting to have our margarita in your honor. We love you and miss you. Hope to hear from you soon.

Trust me when I say we did your birthday up right last night!!!!!

Never play mexican train dominoes while drinking margaritas.

Sick Children

It's day 3 at home with my sick child. Em came home Monday from school with a fever and looking very much unlike her lively self. She was crying and just so upset. I can't stand to see my kids feeling this bad. For the last two days we have been fighting this temp that has gotten as low as 99.8 and as high as 104.2. You can easily tell when it has risen because she just looks lifeless and just wants to be under the covers. She isn't reading and is really watching very little tv. NOT my healthy child at all.

We went to the doctor on Tuesday and she has an ear infection and red throat. So she is on antibotics but it isn't working yet. Let's pray that she will be well soon and can go back to work and I can go back to work.

Tag your it

Okay I've been tagged by Tiffany because I've been to lazy to update my blog.
Tiff, I do this for you!!!!

Two names you go by:
1. Charolette
2. Jo
Two things you are wearing right now:
1. Shorts
2. Jesus rainbow t-shirt
Two of your favorite things to do:
1. Hiking
2. Scrapbooking
Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. A well child
2. A hair color and style
Two favorite pets you have had/have:
1. Scout (our lab)
2. Honey (the sweetest but stand-off cat)
Two people who will fill this out:
1. Good questions?????
2. ???????
Two things you ate today:
1. Fiber one bar
2. Just got up so nothing else yet
Two people you last talked to:
1. Marty
2. Krisit (last night)
Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1. Going back to work (fingers crossed)
2. Field survey
Two longest car rides:
1. Arkansas to Melbourne, Florida
2. Akransas to Lubbock, Texas
Two favorite holidays:
1. Halloween
2. Christmas
Two favorite beverages:
1. Diet Coke with Lime
2. Margarita (cheers Tiff!)

Really Good Day

Yesterday was a really good day and it was even a Monday.

I was up on time and out the door on time so there was no rushing to beat the clock. Instead a did something that I've rarely done and that was to turn off my radio and pray. I prayed from my house all the way to work which is about 28 miles or 30 minutes. It was just right to start out my day like that. I believe that it helped me stay calm and focused yesterday.

Well, work went smoothly, I got something accomplished, I recorded all my food intake, I got to go walk for 15 brisk minutes at lunch, and I got to have a wonderful afternoon with my family. Marty had gone to school with the girls for Emily's birthday and so he was home at 3:30 with the girls and we had all evening together.

I cooked salmon and rice which both of my children ate some of and that was really really good. The dishes got done and all the home work was done. We did discover that we are going to need to get more computers in my house. We do have two but one is being rebuilt by a friend at the moment (no pressure but could use it back). Emily had a research project to work on and Erin accesses her Math book that way. She really loves math and looks forward to having work to do on the computer in her Math book. Well that meant that I didn't do anything on it (which really was a bad thing) but I could have balanced the checkbook or did some church planning or some scout planning.

I have been told before that when we put God first and start our day with Him that all things will fall into their appropriate places and yesterday was a wonderful example of it. I am going to try this on a daily bases, so, yes, I started to day with prayer and today is progressing just as nicely. Priority is a hard thing to do but all things are possible with God.

General thoughts

I guess I haven't been posting as much lately because school has started back. It's not really that we have had that many activities it just processing all that is going on.

The girls are loving school and their teachers. I'm so glad they have who they have. You might remember I posted that I was concerned but I'm quickly getting over that. They have very little homework and all their papers have been 100's or 90's.

Emily says her teacher is very funny and puts a lot of science into the classroom. She does great with science so the combination is great. Erin's teacher seams to be more math oriented and that is Erin's subject. She is all about the numbers. Well she likes bugs too. It is so cool to hear my girls talk about habitats and environments and sedimentary/metemorphic/igeneous rock types and species of trees when we are out on hikes or just around the yard. I don't think I learned these type of things until 8th grade earth science. School is way cooler then when we were in it.

That is one of the great wonders of being a parent, rediscovering the world as your children learn it.

Labor Day Weekend

What a fabulous weekend!!!! We had a great family weekend.

Saturday we got up and went down to the river trail and road bikes for 5 miles round trip. Then we came home changed and headed to a friends house to enjoy their pool for an hour or two. We came home and Marty grilled pork chops and then we set around and played Skip Bo for the evening.

Sunday we got up and went to church and then came home and loaded our GPS for an afternoon of Cabot geocaching. We haven't cached in a year and just had to get the new ones that have popped up so close to home. We finished with another evening of Skip Bo.

Today we got up and packed for a morning at Pinnacle Mountain. We started on the west end of the base trail and walked it's 1.5 mile to the East Summit trail head. We then took the East Summit trail up to the top of the mountain, where we rest for a bit before we took the West Summit trail back down. While on the way up, Grandma called and we invited her and Pop to come out to meet us for lunch at the bottom. We were almost down when Erin almost stepped on this guy.

She loves bugs so I took this picture so she could draw him and tell about him in her nature journal. We then proceeded on down and was almost down when Erin took a tumble. She skint her knees and bruised both of her palms. She was a trooper and through some tears she walked on down. We cleaned her up and ate lunch with Grandma and Pop. Then the girls talked us into take a walk on the King Fishers trail. There we found the following critters to look at:

It was a very nice walk around.

We finished the afternoon off back in our friends pool and then dinner at Chili's. What fun to spend time with your family.

God never gives you more than you can bear.

Whatever your cross, whatever your pain, there will always be sunshine, after the rain .... Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall, But God's always ready, To answer your call ... He knows every heartache, sees every tear, A word from His lips, can calm every fear ... Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night, But suddenly vanish, in dawn's early light ... The Savior is waiting, somewhere above, To give you His grace, and send you His love .. Whatever your cross, whatever your pain, "God always sends rainbows .... after the rain ... "

To get out of difficulty, one must usually go through it! God never gives you more than you can bear – so bear it willingly and you will rejoice in your rewards!

School has started

Well, yesterday was the first day of school.

Here are the girls just before we leave the house. Erin is starting 2nd grade and Emily is in 4th. They are both very good students and are very excited about getting back to schedule.

Erin's teacher was very welcoming and warm which really made for a great start.

Emily has the new teacher who happens to male. She is very focused on the fact that he is male and was a little apperhensive about him.

I picked them up instead of them riding the bus home (upon their request) and was glad to hear that they both had a very good day. Em says that her teacher is funny but very strict. We'll see how this will work for her. I'm sure she will be fine.

Scouts also started last night. Wow are we going to have a full year. I have 12 Junior scouts and Cris has 12 Brownie scouts. We will be having lots of wild times together learning about being women in today's world.

The juniors got to pick our troop crest last night. By votes, they picked the Unicorn crest to represent us with it standing for our Friendship, our Adaptability and our Creativity.

What if I stumble????

Thursday, September 27, 2005, I left for a 72 hour spirtual retreat that, at the time I didn't know it, would change me forever. I was excited and scared all at once about going. This was something I had never done before and I was doing it alone. There were 5 other women from my church going but I had never taken any religious class or activity before without Marty. He wasn't even allowed to go with me to drop me off.

On the drive out, my fear rose and by time the sponsors from our church had left, I was in near panic mode. Friday, I walked around in a haze trying to figure out why I was there but actually started settling down. I talked with the ladies from my church and made some friends that I didn't expect to make. On Saturday morning, I received the answer to why I was suppose to be there. God's grace came so hard to my heart that I'm still in awe of the power of Him. Knelt at a foot the cross I laid down my pride, my selfishness, and my selfpity and I picked up my cross and have been carrying it every since.

Until this Saturday and then Sunday...............I stumbled and then fell. The pain in my heart is so heavy. I'm confused and bruised. I'm human and I'm subject to all human conditions. God knows I've experienced most all of them at some point. God's grace is so devine and I know that when I asked His forgiveness it was unconditional given to me but the feeling of letting Him down is so strong. Letting anyone down or being anyone elses stumbling block is something that truly weighs on my heart.

With being the Interim Children's Minister for the church, the very thought of the possiblity of causing someone to turn from God because I stumbled or fell due to my humanist causes me to be so ill. I know there is only one perfect Christian and none of us will ever compare to His glory, but ...............

I can't find the words, yet I can hear some of my friends as they will read this. "Don't be so hard on yourself." "You have to forgive yourself as God has forgiven you." "We all suffer from human errors." I know. Just hitting earth after being among Angels since October 1, 2005 can really hurt.

God, I'm listening. I don't know what your telling me but I'm trying to listen.


DeColores





What if I stumble, what if I fall?
What if I lose my step and I make fools of us all?
Will the love continue when my walk becomes a crawl?
What if I stumble, and what if I fall?

Father please forgive me for I cannot compose
The fear that lives within me or the rate at which it grows.
If struggle has a purpose on the narrow road you've carved
Why do I dread my trespasses will it leave a deadly scar?


DC Talk's - What if I stumble - from the Jesus Freak album

The count down has begun.

In 9 days Marty and I start back Disciple. We will be doing IV this time and have been doing Disciple Bible study four years. This will be 5.

In 10 days the girls start back to school. Emily has a male teacher and Erin has a teacher that moved from K to 2nd grade this year.

In 10 days Girl Scouts start back on regular meetings.

In 12 days our Wednesday night cell group starts back meeting every week at our house.

In 24 days Emily starts piano lessons back.

I could go on and on. We schedule everything, can you tell. I'm a very structured individual but even this gets to me sometimes.

I am excited about all of these starting back though. I may be a nerd but I love planning and since I'm the scout leader and the children's ministry, I'm always planning something. We have a very exciting new year in scouts since Emily moved up to Juniors. There is so many activities and badges and things to learn. I've got so much planned for them that I don't know how they will find time for school.

Then there is the new program that we are starting for the 4th through 6th graders in Sunday School. We're starting a new group called Faith Finders and have the really cool curriculum that even has it's own website that the kids have access to. They give us the feed back on it as to what they want us to teach each week and they do the choosing of the games they do, so that they get a hand in their activities. The ones that I have talked to are very excited about it.

Lots of different great things and then a few sad.

We have our going away/back to school scout party tomorrow. It will be Alexis' last event with us. She and her mom are so cool (check out her blog). Alexis is one of Emily's best friends and Tiffany is quickly becoming one of my very close friends too. It's great but now we are gonna have to communicate via our blogs because she will be in Japan. I'm very excited for them and am actually very envious too. I'm not really a mover type person but I'd love to see other parts of the world and learn different cultures. I just do it through my military friends. I told Tiffany that Alexis is gonna have to get a webcam so she can still attend our meetings. I've already sent her an invitation to our private troop blog so she can still communicate with the girls. Another thing that is wonderful about Tiffany that we are going to miss is she knows all of the Camp Story Girl Scout songs and she has been our teacher. So the webcam will have to serve two purposes, to keep Alexis connect and so Tiffany can still teach us music.

I'll try to get a picture of Tiffany and Alexis tomorrow at the party.

August already

I can't believe that it is August already. Scouts, School and Small Group are starting back and I just can't see where the time is going to come from. We stay too busy these days. I'm always feeling somewhat rushed. I love all that I do I just wish I had more oppurtunity to do it. Thers'e only one activity on my plate that I'd like to give up and I can't because it's the one that pays the bills.

Work is not what it use to be. It use to be interesting and busy and changing. Now it's slow, stressful and full of politics. I don't like politics.

Well, I know I have to make the lemonade out of lemons so I won't complain. I have job with great benefits and when we do have funding it is rewarding. I just have to make it through these slow periods I guess.

There are so many topics talk about some days and others I've got nothing. Today I could change subjects over and over. I could talk about scouts and how excited I am about this coming year. I could talk about the girls going back to school and how excited I am for Emily and concerned I am over Erin. I could talk about Children's Ministry at our church and how I'm looking for servants to help out in all departments. I could talk about starting our cell group back and that I'm not ready because my house is a disaster. I could talk about the walk that is coming this weekend and how excited I am for the women who are going. I could talk about my friend who might be going on one of the next women's walk in Oct or Nov. I could talk about how I wish more of my friends would blog and that it actually flustrates me that they don't. I could talk about the dear friend who is moving in a week to Japan and I'm going to miss.

Pick a topic. Any topic. I've don't know which to discuss. Maybe it isn't my life that is busy but just my brain with too many thoughts.