Life with the DixieChirps

A laborious, gigantic career...

2009-12-11T12:43:00.004-05:00

A sweet friend sent this to me...it was a word of encouragement to me...it may be to you as well!
Thanks, Carolyn! This came at a perfect time for me to read!

"How can it be a large career to tell other people's children about arithmetic and a small career to tell one's own children about the universe?

How can it be broad to be the same thing to everyone and narrow to be everything to someone?

No, a woman's function is laborious because it is gigantic, not because it is minute."

G. K. Chesterton

Dishin' out the candy!

2009-10-26T09:54:00.009-04:00

As the days grow shorter, the nights grow colder, the leaves begin to turn, our minds start to fill with excitement of upcoming birthdays, family celebrations, dare we mention Christmas....lots to make a girl smile!

With all of these thrills that we've come to expect, so does the question, "So, little girl, what are you going to be for Halloween?" My girls used to respond to the staring gaze of a stranger...with a staring glaze, then when they grew older they'd say, "I don't like Halloween...it's scary!" And now, our little Cricket has overtaken all of the answering for everyone; she'll say (with great enthusiasm!), "I'm going to be a cowgirl!" (every year!)

In the past, we have either just taken the girls (dressed up, if they wished) to the homes of a few of our closest friends, out to dinner, or out for ice-cream and fun with other friends, etc., and we've not really made that big of a deal of Halloween. My girls naturally turn their heads from "yucky" billboards, TV ads, etc., and we've openly discussed our viewpoints on Halloween, but this last year we decided that we'd take back the holiday and embrace it as a Christian holiday, which is how it began.

So as Ricci and I age and mature (I'd like to think), our viewpoints naturally age and mature along with us. So as the little girl that was out tricker-treating with her daddy and terrified by a neighbor, Suzy Johnson to name, I'm now proud to say that I'm over it (not really!) and am ready to arm myself with candy to give and to receive.

Our little Lovey will be our darling Eloise, proudly living at the Plaza!

Our spunky, little Cricket...you guessed it...a cute, little cowgirl!
And our sweet AngelWings is planning to be our effervescent Vitameatavegamin Girl.

I love Lucy Vitameatavegamin 10 min - http://www.youtube.com/

So after answering a fellow homeschooler on this same topic, I thought I'd also post my response here, including a blog posting written by Doug Wilson:

***********

This blog posting by Doug Wilson was very encouraging, and I thought you might appreciate it as well.

Wilson is a CREC (Confederation of Reformed Evangelical Churches) pastor in Idaho, and he is also well-known for his numerous books, particularly on classical Christian education, courtship, and marriage.

Anyway, on this Halloween blog posting, I especially liked his point about how Christians should be more giving (i.e., candy), for recently our pastor (Pastor Jeremy Jones) recently spoke to us on how Christians should be seen as bigger-givers than stingy-keepers (my simple words not his which were much more eloquent!) to show that we more fully appreciate all that Christ has given us.

Doug Wilson's blog posting: Halloween
Here is a brief something I sent out to our church a few years ago. Some of you all might find it helpful. I forget if I have posted it before.

- Halloween -
As another Halloween approaches, and as many of us are working on building alternatives, I wanted to take the opportunity to offer a few thoughts and pastoral suggestions.

Here is the background. First, November 1 is All Saints Day. The All Saints festival was first established during the times of persecution in the early church when the number of martyrs accumulated to the point where it was no longer possible to commemorate them all. In the time of John Chrysostom, all the martyrs were remembered on the first Sunday after Pentecost. In 608 A.D., the Pantheon, a former pagan temple to all the gods, was dedicated in Rome as a Christian church. The date of that dedication (May 13) became the day of "all saints." The day was moved to November 1 in 741 A.D. with the dedication of the Chapel of All Saints.

Second, in the British Isles, the day was known as All Hallows Day. The "eve" of that day, the night before, was known as Hallowe’en. In the minds of simple people, the night before the day of the holy ones was thought to be a last ditch party on the part of unholy ones — devils, witches, fairies, imps and so forth. With this kind of superstition, of course, we have nothing to do. Obviously, the custom of kids dressing up in order to play trick or treat did descend from this view, but the thing that is objectionable here is not the dressing up in itself, or the consumption of candy, but rather the dressing up as wicked creatures.

Third, Reformation Day is on October 31 and commemorates the posting of Luther’s famous theses, which is usually regarded as the inauguration of the Reformation. It is frequently honored by churches on the last Sunday of October. As it happens, Reformation Day is also Halloween.

Fourth, and the bottom line for us, is that both of these two days belong to the Christian church, and not to the pagans. And the days have been ours for many centuries, despite certain pagan encroachments of late. We should keep the days, and fight off the encroachments. And so . . .
Here are a few things to do: We are encouraging parishes to hold Reformation Day/All Saints Day parties and gatherings. The mood should be festive and filled with rejoicing — an exhibition of our gratitude for the faithfulness of the martyrs of the early church and the martyrs of the Reformation. This obviously can (and should) include kids dressing up and getting boatloads of candy, but I would strongly urge that no one have their kids dress up as members of the other team — witches, ghosts, devils, imps, or congressmen. We do want to urge a high level of celebration, but we don’t want to take our cues from the surrounding culture. So if you take your kid around to grandma’s house dressed up like a red M & M, or like Theodore Beza, don’t have them say trick or treat the same way some ghost or witch would. Of course, repent or perish or sola fide probably wouldn’t work either. Let’s do this differently, and intelligently, and still have fun. So have them say trick or treat the way a cute M & M would.

What to avoid. We want parish parties, not pious parties. So when neighborhood trick or treaters come to your door, I would encourage you to give them more candy than unbelievers give, as opposed to a glare and/or a tract about the fires of hell. We want to behave during this time in such a way that their celebrations are revealed as far more anemic than ours (not to mention twisted and gross). We do not want our parish parties to be a cheesy alternative, a sort of faux-Halloween. It should be a true All Hallow’s Eve, a true Reformation Day blow-out.

On a related note, there is no way to do this without kirkers differing among themselves about what is appropriate. This is reasonable — up to a point. We know the general direction we want to go, and we want to get there together with unity of spirit. This means learning to lighten up on details. So don’t freak out and rebuke someone if their kid goes over to an aunt’s house dressed like John Knox, but he cackles evilly instead of saying soli Deo gloria. But feel free to be concerned if someone from the Night of the Living Dead shows up at the parish party.

All for now . . .Posted by Douglas Wilson - 10/2/2008

Too many posts...too little time!

2009-10-14T18:32:00.000-04:00

Fast-forward three months....

It seems that life has gotten so busy around her that something's gotta give...and sadly, it's been the blog...and laundry, but that's another topic!

I understand that seasons of life come and go, so for now... this season of life doesn't leave much time for too much bloggin'! I say this sadly, for I do so appreciate the archival aspect of blogging memories and photos, but I also understand that this season of life has brought more opportunities and more time/ability to seize those opportunities!

So until I find the time to post some pics and catch up a few postings from great memories we've made this summer, I think I'll post what I have for now and then hope that I can find time to do a monthly entry, but for now I'm going to have to forego the blog for a while, I think!

"I thought you were a professional!"

2009-10-14T18:19:00.022-04:00

Growing up, my only experience with a library was the one that we owned and the little bus that came to park in the corner of the Handy-Andy every Monday morning. I still think it's amazing that this stranger (a librarian, I guess) would allow us to board her vehicle, which had its walls lined with books and then allow us to borrow as many books as we wanted! Thanks, Mom, for taking us!

Then my next memory was in high school going to the college library with the rest of my class. And I can now appreciate the looks from the "older kids" (college students) who were annoyed that our class was even there. We would go over to OW and have to walk through the metal detectors...I still have no idea why they're there in a library, nor do I like them to this day! We learned how to use the Dewey Decimal System, microfiche (which Chip Adams could still get me giggling when he asks 'where the aquarium is'), and supposedly work on our term papers. [;)] All of this to say, it was quite a production, and I still to this day do not like large college or downtown libraries! Boy-am-I-thankful for the use of google...and my little library that I use today!

We do have the quaintest, little, satellite library with the most reliable, wonderful, helpful "Mr. Greg" and "Miss Hallie." Honestly, it's not that much different from the library that I used when I was little...it's just stationary, and it has TWO librarians! Yes, it's tiny; there's no metal detector, and it's always such a joy to walk in and be greeted by name. So today after running around town (and finally going to get an x-ray of my foot that's still bothering me), I quickly ran inside our little library to pick up some books that we had on hold.

As I picked up one of the books, I asked, "Hallie, have you read any of these books by this author?"

"No, I haven't. Have you?"

"No, not yet, but some of our curriculum calls for one of them, and the other book looked interesting as well."

"What grade do you teach again?"

"Actually, I teach all of them [the girls] together, so 2nd, 3rd, and 5th."

"Oh! That's right; you home school...I thought you were a professional!"

You've gotta love our little, quaint library and the blessed ones that run it!

We just had a good laugh about it! "Bless her heart!"

(By the way, Ricci did just tell me that they aren't "metal detectors" but that they are "scanners"! Same dif!)

My New BFF!

2009-10-14T16:40:00.001-04:00

Written back in August....

Last Wednesday afternoon, when I spoke to Miss Craig, we postponed a busy, shopping trip that we gals were going to take, for she had lots to do as did we. Fast forward four hours, and our phone rang...she had fallen…backwards...4 feet off of the retaining wall around her garden! Oh, the horror!

Thankfully, that afternoon, her kids called to talk to her and noticed that she wasn't herself...then she admitted that she had fallen. So on another line, they called us, and we ran up there...she looked fine, but she was already getting dressed (to the 9's, of course!) to go on to the hospital...she knew she had to go. She had a huge knot on the back of her head, and it was bleeding.

Thankfully, she really did seem to be fine, but she was complaining about being sore and having lots of pain on her right side (apparently the side that took the brunt of her fall), so once we got to the E/R, I just grabbed the closest wheelchair to keep her from having to walk, and when we wheeled her in, I explained to the receptionist that she had fallen close to 5 hours ago...a friend had told me to make sure that they knew the timeline...so they immediately came over to us to examine the back of her head while they handed me "the all-dreaded" clip-board and just told me to sign it for her. Of course, she hears EVERYthing that one says around her...can't see it, but she can hear it!

Craig said loudly enough for all to hear, "Sign your name and just write "BFF."

WHAT?!? I know she's "up with the times and all" but even I don't use that term...and last time I checked...neither of us text message anyone! (Well, maybe she does and we just don't see her do it!)

I, the receptionist, and the security guard were laughing hysterically! Later I asked her where she had heard that term, and she said, "I just made it up! You'll probably have to explain it to them."

I said, "No ma'am...I think they know."

She said, "How could they? I just made it up!"

As she was speaking...an ambiguous young guy was walking by, so to prove to her that it's a popular term, I said, "Hey! What's BFF?" And without stopping he just said, "Best Friends Forever."

She was shocked...put her hand on her forehead (like she always does) and giggled to herself.

So we continued to sit there...chit-chat, giggle, doze off; chit-chat, giggle, doze off.... and after several CT scans and X-rays, they revealed that there were shockingly no broken bones (angels had to have helped her land!), but she did have a nice gash in the back of her head with a small (quarter-size) hemorrhage in the front of her brain. So after sitting there for hours in the E/R spening boughts of allowing her to rest, lots of phone calls, and laughing at this and that, she was finally admitted to a room so that she could be observed for a few days as well as continue to get CT scans to show improvement in the hemorrhage, Lord-willingly!

Pride Goeth Before A Fall!

2009-07-04T13:20:00.010-04:00

As if this saying couldn't be true enough...pride definitely goeth before a fall...we just hope that it doesn't happen in front of others!

Ever since the girls were itty-bitty and ready to have some fun... whenever we have taken them to Sams, we'd put one girl in the back of the buggy, another in the floppy seat (man, I miss those days!), and one girl in the stroller. And as soon as the girls were old enough, they'd say, "Faster, momma/daddy, faster!" And off we'd go in a race to see who could go through the entrance doors faster...the grocery buggy or the stroller?!?

Now as the girls are older, we're still occasionally seen racing to see who can make it inside the store the first....often it's a mad dash at the last second. Yesterday went no differently!

Being the day before a holiday, the parking lot at Sams was JAM-packed! So once we found an appropriate (first!) parking spot, we unloaded the car and proceeded to walk through the mass of people going/coming! Ricci, Cricket, and Lovey were walking ahead while AngelWings and I closely followed...racing never crossing any of our minds, for I'm telling you...I've never seen so many people at Sams! Then I noticed that every couple of seconds, Lovey would look back at us and smile...I just thought she was sweetly keeping up with knowing that we were still there. Then as we got closer and closer to the entrance doors, her grin grew larger...and I knew what she was up to. So I whispered to AngelWings, "Come'on...let's beat 'em!" And off we went trying to make our mad dash around them...not even being respectful of the others also trying to enter Sams...yes, we may have taken out an unsuspecting elderly person or two, but I tell ya...the adrenaline over-took every heart-beat or care! And then there we all were...entering the store all shoulder to shoulder...neck and neck, if you will. Who was going to be able to proudly say that they were the winner?!? So with one last stride, I made it a little longer than I should have....and came down on my bum foot! OH! We were all laughing so hard and giggling with glee that it didn't appear to others that there was anything wrong...they just saw a family that was enjoying being together...hopefully! (Or just an odd grouping of ages that don't know how to act in public!) Then I tried to step out of the way of the entrance door, and there was absolutely no way that I could bear ANY weight at all on my right foot! Oh, the pain was unbearable!

In the midst of the laughter and crying (although it was painful, it still was very funny!), I just couldn't take a single step...although Ricci and the fella at the entrance kept nodding their heads toward the automatic wheelchair seats with buggies...um, no thank you! I didn't want to draw any more attention to myself than I already had! And I was very thankful that no one else had been hurt in any way as our family rudely careened into the already opened doors!

So after deciding that we'd abandon all other errands and just go on home (versus the emergency room), Ricci went to get the car and pulled it as close to the building as possible, and with his help I somehow managed to get into the car. So we all just went back home, and oh...the pain, and oh...how anxious I was...we had friends' coming over to celebrate Independence Day with us the next day! We still had sooo much to do...there was still a house and yard to be readied, food to be prepared, fun party favors to create, and oh-yeah...packing for our upcoming trip! (Of course, the first thing that anyone said to me, "Oh...that's your driving foot!") I was/am fearful that God has other plans!

Once we got home, Ricci helped me upstairs...I couldn't bear ANY weight at all on my right foot, and he and the girls immediately got me set up with ice and lots of ibuprofen. I love you all so much for all of your help! (Cricket has even provided me a bell in the event that no one is upstairs with me and I need something...too precious! I like it!)

Today...I can bear 'some' weight on the front part of my foot, so I just sit here while I keep ice on my heel and field questions from my precious lovies as they are generously preparing for our party this afternoon and also being sure to attend to my every whims. I am in such awe of everyone's pulling together! The good thing in this is that those coming over this evening to celebrate with us are some of our closest friends...more like family...so all will work out, Lord-willingly!

So today is our great country's 233rd birthday! 233 years! So many things have taken place in 233 years! In some way that seems like a very long time, but in light of other countries and their heritage, it doesn't seem like much time at all! Either way, I'm so very grateful for what we do have! And I do remember that our freedom isn't free; we must all do our parts (simple or large) to declare and protect our independence. I do pray that we all enjoy this holiday and are able to celebrate the rich heritage with which our great United States has been blessed!

I pray for our great country and those that serve and lead it.
Blessings on each of you this Independence Day!

Happy 233rd Birthday, America!

2009-07-04T11:40:00.005-04:00

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
~ the unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America ~

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

-John Hancock

crying couch vs. ball room

2009-07-01T12:55:00.005-04:00

After such a long weekend, this Sunday afternoon Lovey was having a difficult time pulling herself together after getting her feelings hurt over something pretty simple, so as I was going over to check on her, I saw Ricci sweetly laying her down on the sofa, and I overheard him tell her,

"Now we do have a crying couch, but we don't have a ball room!"

Of course, she let out a little giggle, and I just thought that it was so precious the way he sweetly reminded her to control her spirit yet still allowed her a little wiggle room to cry!

Inside extended family joke: "Everyone needs a good cry!"

Thank you, Ricci, for being such a loving father!

HGTV & the World's Longest Yard Sale!

2009-06-29T20:49:00.003-04:00

It's almost that time of year again when our little pocket of the world turns into slow-moving tourist after slow-moving tourist! But with the excitement in the air of a steal here or there, who cares?!? For it's the "World's Longest Yardsale"! Hereafter referred to as WLY for short!

I'm not a yard-saler (don't have the patience or the personality to walk away empty-handed from a hopeful seller...I don't want to hurt their feelings!), but I do like to take one of the days of the WLY with friends/family to get in the congested traffic and hope that you are the one to walk up and get a treasure for a steal! I know..it's a gamble, but I think I'm ready! I just checked the WLY dates, and they're August 6-9, 2009! And while I was on their website, I came across this little bulletin...pretty fun! Just thought someone here might be interested!

HGTV is Looking For Outgoing Yard Sale Shoppers attending the World's
Longest Yard Sale!!

HGTV's "Endless Yard Sale" will be back filming this
year's special and we're looking for fun, energetic shoppers to feature on the
show.

Specifically, we're on the hunt for teams of neighbors, friends
and co-workers (must live in the same town) who'd be willing to compete against
each other in a yard selling competition. Each team will be given a budget to
makeover a room in their home.

If you'll be shopping 'til you drop
between Chattanooga, TN and Jamestown, KY on August 6-8, 2009, and you (and your
friends) think you have enough personality to share with the nation, e-mail us
the details. We want to know your mission and what you love about the "World's
Longest Yard Sale"! Please include a photo of yourself.

We are casting
NOW, so please don't wait!!

Send your email to: eys09@live.com

Favorite Quote of the Week

2009-06-24T11:43:00.003-04:00

Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor in the morning the devil says “Oh, crap! She’s up again!”

*Taken from SouthernPlate.com, a blog that I've
really enjoyed lately. She offers great recipes and tips on how to serve yummy
meals, inexpensively and quickly!

Savory Summertime Snacks

2009-06-23T11:01:00.000-04:00

In my continuing attempt to "be a better mom this summer," here's a list of some yummy snacks that I thought I'd share. I found them at SparkPeople, and I'm really hoping to be more consistent this summer in serving snack-time treats to my fam....in hopes that my new 'habits' will contiunue into the new school year...and beyond!

On a side note: these 10 savory snacks are all under 250 calories (not that we all need it! I do!)

Mini Chicken Fiesta
Fill 1 small corn tortilla with 3 oz chicken. Sprinkle on 2 Tbsp cheddar cheese and top with 2 Tbsp salsa. Warm in microwave if desired.

Better than Wings
Dunk 2 celery stalks in 2 Tbsp light bleu cheese dressing. Drizzle with hot sauce to taste.

Creamy, Crunchy, and TangyToast
1 slice multigrain bread. Spread with 1 Tbsp goat cheese then cover with 1 sliced tomato. Add plenty of black pepper and a pinch of dried thyme.

What a Pita!
Fill a 6-inch whole wheat pita with 2 Tbsp hummus. Squeeze with lemon juice and sprinkle with paprika.

Cheesy Dunker
Dunk 1 piece of mozzarella string cheese into 1/4 cup warm marinara sauce.

No-Cheat Chips and Salsa
Drag 15 baked tortilla chips through 1/2 cup salsa. Try raspberry-chipotle, tomatillo, or spicy mango varieties.

Punched-Up Popcorn
Pop 1 bag of 100-calorie popcorn. Season with 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, and 1/4 tsp chili powder.

Filling Carbs-n-Protein
Eat 1 hardboiled egg with 3 pretzel rods.

Bean-n-Guac Rollup
Fill one small corn tortilla with 1/4 cup mashed black beans. Top with 1/4 avocado (diced) and add 2 Tbsp salsa.

Lett-uce Eat Tuna
Mix 3 oz tuna with 1 tsp lemon juice and 1 Tbsp light mayo. Season with black pepper to taste. Place mixture in 1 cup of lettuce leaves.

Oh! To be a better mom this summer was just recently finalized and posted.

Poll results for indoor/outdoor pool

2009-06-23T07:51:00.002-04:00

Thanks, y'all, for the help! The poll results are in for the indoor/outdoor pool question about which you think is more sanitary.

25% say indoor pools are more sanitary, and 75% say outdoor pools are more sanitary!

Hmmm....I have a few of you that I'd like to talk to...indoor pools; really?!? I'm still convinced that outdoor pools are more sanitary, and the joy that my grandmother has while watching all of the great-grandkids' playing in the hotel pool is priceless! Thanks for the responses!

Help Wanted

2009-06-16T22:28:00.003-04:00

Poll: Indoor vs. Outdoor pools!

Okay, y'all! You've gotta help me out here! I've set up a poll on the right sidebar, for Ricci and I need your help settling a "spirited discussion" regarding indoor/outdoor swimming pools!

One of us firmly believes that one over the other is healthier, for when we visit my grandparents, we stay in one of two hotels...both nice hotels, but one has an indoor pool, and one has an outdoor pool! If it were you (just judging on the pool situation!), which hotel swimming pool would you prefer? Indoor or Outdoor?!?

Are we rednecks or what?!?

2009-06-13T20:16:00.008-04:00

Sitting in the front yard this evening, it occurred to me that we couldn't look more like a redneck family if we tried to this evening! And if I had the ability to capture time in a bottle, surely I would have chosen to do it this evening!

We've had such a busy week, so today we purposely made an effort to stay at home, and it has been sooo very nice! Surprisingly, none of us slept in this morning...I guess we were eager to just have a day at home! And I know that we've all been busy doing this or that around the house, but I'm surprised to say that the house doesn't show for it! Oh well! Tomorrow's another day! Right?!?

This week while L and I were out gallivanting around town while the girls were at music camp, we caught a great sale on meats at Sams, and yesterday we enjoyed picking up some fresh veggies and fruits at Linda's Produce. So today Ricci made an incredible spice rub, and we were all looking forward to ending our day with a yummy cookout!

But this evening if you had driven by, you would have thought we were such happy rednecks! You would have seen Ricci diligently watching over his grill, my sitting beside him (in my newly white painted Adirondack chairs!) snapping beans while we were watching Lovey ride her bike with training wheels up and down the driveway while AngelWings was manning the 'boom box' (her mp3 player attached to some speakers was sitting atop the back of Ricci's car) for Cricket who was proudly singing "Ready to Run"! Yes, the girls were puttin' on a "Creekbend" (instead of Riverbend) show for us. There was Cricket singing, standing atop my gardening bench and singing with all of her might...

"Oh yeah!
Ready, ready, ready, ready....ready to run!
All I'm ready to do is have some fuuu-uuuun!
What's all this talk about looo-vvvve!"

Such fun, blessed days! The joyful sounds of the children's voices, the smell of Ricci's grill, Sir-Barks-a-lot sitting at my feet, plenty of fresh air, our health (nothing more than tiny scratches and bruises from various bike falls), and the excitement of eating our yummy dinner! Yes, if I could capture time in a bottle, surely I would have chosen to do it this evening!

"That's the news from Lookout Mountain, where all the women are strong,

all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average!"

"Father Knows Best!"

2009-06-13T10:30:00.000-04:00

I have to say that I do think "Father Knows Best" in so many ways! My Heavenly Father! My earthly father! And of course, who doesn't have a glimpse of a smile come to their face when they see Jim Anderson and how he loved his family?!?

Most afternoons after school, Jen and I would watch every episode that we could of "Father Knows Best," one of our favorite childhood shows from the 50's. (I feel that I should clarify...the show was from the 50's; this childhood memory was from the 80's.) I guess a local TV station was re-airing them.

And just like Betty, Bud and Kathy, I still like to think "Father Knows Best." I have an amazing daddy; my girls have an amazing daddy... and we all have an amazing Father.

This week, I just knew that it was going to be rough to accomplish all that was going to be on our plates and we all know that humorous saying, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans." I had Him laughing hysterically this week....

Sunday night we laid our clothes out and went to bed early (well, early to us!), and we all awoke bright and early to get out the door at 8AM! That's WAY early for us! The girls were participating in a Music Camp this week...on the other side of town!

Daddy set out the Starbucks card and made sure we had everything and headed off to work. So we finished getting ready and headed out the door on time...shockingly, I know! While paying for my 'skinny, iced coffee...two pumps of mocha...hold the whip' (160 calories...yum!), I got the phone call for which we'd been waiting...we needed to make the decision as to when to return to Louisiana for a family funeral. It's a sad time, but it will be nice to see the family out there...if we go now or later!

Then we continued on to Music Camp where I dropped off the girls...oh, it's so cute to see an assembly of children excited about a new adventure! And then you should have seen the moms...excited for the same reason! After we got the kiddos settled, L and I took off for a play day just for us. All along, we kept mentioning more fun things we could do that week while the kids were busy at Camp, and I kept telling her, "Oh! I haven't even told you about Tuesday! I don't know how I'll get everything done!" So after we went back to pick up the kids, we all ran over to Taco Roc (hmmm!) for a late lunch, and she helped me create a way to accomplish 'most' of what was on my plate the following day. (Music Camp 8-12/board meeting 12-1/ setting up an event at Riverbend for Bethany 1:30-5/ helping host the event 5 'til / book club 7:30-9ish...all or most with chauffeuring...you know the type of day where you can mentally figure out how you can do it all, but if you write it down, you'd know immediately that it will never work!) Then we had to segregate the Chans from the Champs (very difficult to do!) so that we could get our girls up to their swim lessons.

And whew...it's been SO hot and humid this week! And swim lessons weren't any different! While we were there, I was fine one second, and then the next I thought I was going to pass out! Needless to say, I think I may have gotten some heat exhaustion (at least that's what I'd like to think!), for after I managed to get us all back to the car and back at home, I started to feel better after showers, some fruits and plenty of fluids! The next mornin'...not so much! I woke up not feeling too great and was "ill" for most of the day!

Yep...Father knows best! He completely took care of my to-do list...wiped it clean, in fact! And my more-than-wonderful husband picked up where I had left off! He took the girls to camp, delivered the 1000 balloon ribbons that we had cut (yes, that's another story in itself!), took care of me, made some returns for me, picked the girls back up, made supper...all the while he worked from home. The next day was more of the same while I recovered. Thank you, my love!

Thankfully, the rest of the week has gone very smoothly! We have loved every minute of Music Camp (the girls' learning all of the new songs, games and friends AND the moms' child-free shopping and lunch dates)!

Do you see what I see? Um...gum behind the ear? This child is so 'function before fashion'...and WHO ON EARTH taught her that?!?

Thank you, love, for loving me and helping me as you did this week!
Thank you, daddy, for loving us and sharing your wisdom with us!
Thank you, Father, for loving us and knowing what is best for us!

"Mice-Babies!"

2009-06-10T23:50:00.004-04:00

This spring we read the unabridged story of The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo before seeing the greatly anticipated film (book was WAY better than the movie!), and we also enjoyed listening to the audio book narrated by Graeme Malcolm...who's voice and accent(s) was absolutely perfect to a 'T'!

If you have a chance, we HIGHLY recommend your listening to this audio book this summer! Get to know Despereaux, the Princess Pea, Chiaroscuro (cripes!), and Miggery Sow (“Gor, ain't it pretty? Gor, ain't it something?!”) as you will quickly get wrapped up in the sweet story filled with humor, sadness, hope, revenge, forgiveness...it's truly incredible!

***NOTE: All PETA members, please stop reading now!***

"I will have no more mice babies! They are such the disappointment!" says Despereaux's mother!

"I will have no more mice babies! They are such the disappointment!" screamed ME!

If my ribs weren't sore enough already from two days of my "being sick as a dog," then they are plenty sore from my girly shrieks this evening!

After two days of my not feeling so great, this evening I thought it'd be nice to sit outside with sweet hubby and take in a few (albeit shallow...sore ribs!) breaths of fresh air! Ahhh! It was nice!

Then we turned to walk inside, and Ricci (being the gentleman that he is) opened the door for me to walk inside first, and my radar eyes saw Despereaux run across the kitchen floor! Now of course, I was two rooms away, but I saw him! With both hands clasped tightly over my mouth..."Shriek! A mouse!" And other evenings, my Wonder Woman supersonic ears have heard him as well! And each time I've awoken Ricci to "What's that sound!?!?" And he's sleepily rolled over and said, "I don't hear anything!"

"Aha! Now I have proof!"

"Well, I didn't see anything! It was probably just a roach!"

"It was tiny, but it was too fast and too big to be a roach! Please stand right there while I go and Google 'how...many...babies...mice'!"

"Whatcha not doin' at your post?!? You're looking over my shoulder!!! Then you can clearly see what I'm reading on UGA's Co-op Ext. Serv. for Agricultural and Environmental Sciences....

"They usually have about 8-12 babies in one litter, but can have as few as 1 and
as many as 20 babies at a time." "Rats and mice breed fast."
"Mice can get through any hole that will admit the tip of your little finger. Seal small holes and cracks by stuffing them with stainless steel scouring pads, then caulk over them."
"Mice like peanut butter."
and my personal favorite...although I don't completely agree....
"Shooting is not generally effective for controlling rats and may be hazardous."

Tiny marital squabble...followed by "Yes, dear; I'll get dressed and go to the store at this late hour and buy some traps!"

***

Sweet fella returned home safely with four mouse traps...and more stories than I needed to hear of how the his fellow, late-night shoppers and grocery clerks have gotten rid of their mice and/or rats...dare we say that word out loud!

The dog and I greeted him at the door; I already had the suggested peanut butter waiting! So like a good, supportive wife, I helped him bait the traps. (Oh...who am I kidding...it was all for my pleasure! I wanted proof...once and for all...that Despereaux was indeed living in our home! And after I had returned him to the library!)

So 'we' baited one trap and set it gently to the side (not on the floor...we have children and a dog, ya know!); 'we' baited the second...it didn't work; (oops! I dropped a dab of peanut butter on the kitchen floor); 'we' baited the third and fourth. Sir-Barks-a-lot came in to see what we were doing; we praised him for cleaning up the peanut butter I had dropped; 'we' turned around to repair the final trap, and...

Click!

Clap!

Bam!

Snap!

Sir-Barks-a-lot thought he'd check out the rest of the peanut butter that we'd set out; after all, we had praised him for cleaning up the other! Poor thing was looking at us like..."WHAT THE HECK was all of that?!?!? I promise I will NEVER try to sneak food again that's not on the floor!"

Oh! The poor, terrified animal...thankfully was unhurt! Yes, if he were 'on guard' all of the time, we probably wouldn't be having this problem, but oh...my poor boy! His look was simply pathetic!

So after more of my screaming like a little girl and a few of Ricci's 'choice' words followed by our doubling over from so much laughter (again...sore ribs!), 'we' finished baiting the last mouse trap, and Ricci pulled the stove out...that's the only place where we can figure they're getting into this 'ole house! And I have to say that I'm not a morning person, but I will be wide awake to hear the results!

Thank you, Ricci, for being the most wonderful husband and father! I rest knowing that God gave me you and that you're protecting us!

Will Blog for Food, I mean... Comments!

2009-06-03T08:13:00.001-04:00

Blogging for ~~Food~~ Comments:

Okay... some of you gals (and you know who you are!) crack me up by emailing me your comments instead of posting them! I really do blog just to keep up with our own day-to-day life and help myself remember little things (since I don't scrapbook anymore!), and I also blog for those friends and family that live far away! But I have to say that a blogger doesn't know if one has stopped by for a visit, unless one leaves a comment!

And who doesn't want to know if they've had a visitor?!? I certainly do!

Has Peggy Post written a book yet on Bloggers'/Readers' Etiquette? I'm sure that there's one written by someone out there!

Defending my pals that have leaving-a-comment fears, I will say that Blogger isn't the easiest blog publisher to use when it comes to finding where to place a comment, so until I find another way to enable a "click here to leave a comment button," please say hello when you drop by...it's not scary! I promise!

So for those of you who have asked (Jen, Carolyn, Mimi, Bonnie)... here's how to leave your comments...

at the bottom of each posting there's a posting-time-stamp with a link for comments next to it. Click on that, and then one can write their comment and choose how to sign it by either leaving a link back to your blog if you have one or by just signing your name or by just signing it "anonymously."

I do love your emails, but I'd also like to have your comments!

Hope that helps!

Album and a bag for under a buck!

2009-05-30T10:06:00.006-04:00

Here's a deal that's really great (we have Andrew Peterson to thank for directing us to this!):

Several of the artists with Andrew's new label, Centricity, are offering digital downloads of their entire album for $.99 for a limited time. Click on the store tab and then the digital download banner.

Going to this site, we were introduced to a new group, Downhere, that we have really enjoyed! We downloaded their newest album, Ending is Beginning, (for $.99!), and we're addicted to it! The sound of their music has lots of piano and symphony in it. (Hey, Carolyn...this isn't going to be your kind of piano/symphony cup'o'tea!)

Our favorite two songs (right now) are "My Last Amen" and "Hope Is Rising." (Tiffy, I think y'all will like them too! Want me to get you a cd for our Christmas present?) Great songs on there for the treadmill!

Their newest album, Ending is Beginning, reminds us that the end of our life here on earth is actually just the beginning! And I just have to give another plug for Andrew Peterson, for his song Far Country on his Far Country album, for it has the same premise; here on earth we are living in the far country, and one day we will truly be home. It's hard for me to mentally put a grip on that concept (Labronda, don't get a tummy-ache!) , for I so dearly love life here on earth with the amazing family and friends with which I've been blessed; however, I do have hope and faith that the life to come is going to be so much more!

I remember sitting on the "brown, leather sofa" as a little girl with my mom and 'confessing' to her that I couldn't say that I loved the Lord more than her, and she hugged me and sweetly said that God loves me more than she ever could and that my understanding would only grow in time...hmmm, that momma of mine seems to know what she's talkin' about!

On a completely different topic...enjoying life here in this far country...here's a great bag that I found online!

It says, Save Water/Drink Riesling!

RieslingRules.com is giving away this free reusable shopping bag when you join them in raising awareness of the precious nature of our water resources.

Click here to order.
Now go back and get that album before times up!

Oh...to be a better mom this summer!

2009-05-28T14:20:00.010-04:00

This week has been so wonderful...other than Cricket's first bee sting (ouch!) and the pain in my right heel...too much running around in my YellowBox (summer-time must have's for me!) and exercising on the treadmill, I guess!

Yep...Cricket's hand is still pretty swollen today after she was stung by a bee (on Tuesday night!) while she was helping take supper outside for the family. He just sort of landed on her hand, and while she was trying to see what it was, he stung her! Bless her heart! Today she says it doesn't "pinch or itch"; it's just still pretty puffy! Thankfully, it was on her left hand!

But the house is still pretty clean from having company (one reason why I like to keep having company!), and it's been so nice to not feel the pressure to stay on a school schedule...funny thing is that I'm probably doing better now that we're off of a schedule; I just hate the feeling of being behind the 8-ball, so now that I'm more relaxed I've had more time and enjoyment of getting things more organized around here, washing/ironing, playing (dare I say the 'craft' word! blech!), keeping bedrooms straightened, etc. I LOVE summer-time!

I'm really trying to get more habits formed around here. I've always kept a schedule around here that has our 'let's just at least aim for this' plan, but as the girls get older and our family changes, I need to update it and tweak it a bit for next year's school schedule.

I'm really trying to work hard toward getting on a schedule that flows naturally as a result of habits, and I'm also trying to get back on a schedule of planning our meals...it really helps me when the "freak-out hour" comes just before supper-time, and I feel as though I'm behind the 8-ball! So I'm working on some new recipes for our family, and I'm trying to clean out our pantry and out-door freezer in preparation for the new school year. It'll be here before we know it!

I think I'll keep the same plan to keep the house straightened (until our Bonnie comes back!), but I'll just work harder at stickin' to my plan! I'm such a perfectionist that it's more my nature to let it all go....so that I can get it all back together, but doing a little bit each day really does help! But... oooh, I really struggle with staying on top of our laundry! But this summer, I'm going to try to curb that struggle as well as try to rid our home of some of the extra clutter and get us more organized for the new school year. (Tips?!?) Yes, we're working on railing those daily habits!

Until 'my Bonnie comes back' here's our house-keeping 'let's just at least aim for this' schedule:

Monday – Organize calendar/meal plans for the week; Water houseplants; De-clutter tabletops; Change bedsheets; Tidy bathrooms

Tuesday – Clean windows/mirrors; Tidy bedrooms/closets

Wednesday – Vacuum & Mop; Dust

Thursday – Grocery shopping and errands

Friday – Clean bathrooms

Saturday – Laundry? Offer help with Honey-Do's?

Sunday – Lord's Day / Ahhh! A Day of Rest!

Everyday tasks: Make the beds. Do a load (or two!) of laundry...I guess that means that I have to find a workable way of returning the clothes to their rooms too! Clean kitchen counters. Keep kitchen sink shiny...this really makes a difference for me! Unload and reload Dishwasher. Keep things picked up and in their place!

A Memorable May!

2009-05-27T13:47:00.027-04:00

Whew...is it already the end of May?!? It's really hard for me to believe that May is almost over...which has had a lot goin' on!

We "wrapped up" our school year this past week; so we are thoroughly enjoying this week without having many commitments. {Hence...time to catch up on my blog...woohoo!}

Of course, this past weekend was a holiday weekend, and we successfully squeezed out every memorable inch out of it! And now it's Wednesday, and we're already closing in on next weekend when Daddy doesn't have to go to work every day! So now I look back and wonder where the heck May went! I still can't account for every day, but there were some pretty memorable days in it!

At the beginning of this month, I began (once again) Weight Watchers, and I'm so thankful for the great group of gals that are in it with me...it does make it more enjoyable! I think it's what works the best for me...I enjoy the monotony of writing things down (give me a checklist, and I'm all over it!), and the girls enjoy helping me track the calories, fiber and fat grams. I did really well on it after I had Cricket, so we'll see how I do on it this go-round! So after I attended my first WW meeting and took Cricket to soccer, we ran out to get last minute things for our cinco de mayo party...and stayed out way too late, for the next morning was the Belk Sale benefiting Bethany! And of course I didn't have time to sell as many tickets as I had planned on selling, sooo...I guess that meant I had to spend them, oh well...shopping for charity!

For those that know me, they know that I am NOT a morning person...but tell me that there's a sale that will end at 10 AM, and somehow I can muster up the strength to become a morning person! Oh my word...next year, I'm going to really push this sale! It's a great fundraiser! Bethany was able to sell tickets to Belk for $5, and Bethany was able to keep the profits! The tickets got one in the doors early at Belk and I'm telling you....everything was marked down drastically! It was like I was living a dream! You know...the dream where everything is marked down and you can grab what you can before the time runs out! The stores were so quiet (with the exception of cash registers' ringing and people hollering over sales!), and there were coffee stations with Krispy Kreme donuts (I did well, WW friends!) I'm telling you it was a dream! We bought a couple of little Ralph Lauren dresses for Cricket and Lovey (they're Lovey's favorite, and I'm pretty sure that they were only $10!), a RL shirt for AngelWings ($10), an MP4 player for $17, Ricci bought me some more Estee Lauder pleasures for Mother's Day (thank you, Ricci!), and I can't remember what other things we bought...I'm telling you...great sales all throughout the store; then they started to take the magic signs down when they opened up the doors to the public!

One thing that I've learned...being on the board of directors for Bethany means...fundraising! Previously, I didn't really know that 1/2 of Bethany's funds come from donations, and the other 1/2 comes from adoptions. There is no charge to the moms that come through and receive counseling and then choose to use another means of adoption. So this next year's sale, I'm going to come and get you gals to purchase these tickets and put on your shopping shoes...cause we're hitting the Belk stores early! In the name of charity!!!

Yes, I began WW just in time for our 4th annual cinco de mayo party...oh well! And for some reason, I didn't seem to get the camera out as often as I usually do, but here are a few pics of some of our closest loved ones that celebrated the special day with us.

As our tradition, I served the usual: Alals' chicken-spinach enchiladas, black beans with lime, Spanish rice (I ran out of time and fudged on this one with a semi-homemade version...if anyone has a good recipe for Spanish rice, I'd love it if you share it with me!), and for the first time I served a new appetizer, Black Bean Tartlets, that I thought was really yummy. Try it...I'm sure you'll love it too!

Black Bean Tartlets
Yields: 32 appetizers

Garnishes: sour cream, fresh cilantro
Ingredients for the tartlets:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese with peppers
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/2 cup cold butter, cut into pieces
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons ice water
Combine first 8 ingredients in a food processor; pulse until blended. Add butter; pulse until mixture is crumbly. Add egg and ice water; process just until the mixture forms a ball.
Divide dough in half; shape each half of dough into 16 (1") balls. Press balls into lightly greased miniature (1 3/4") muffin pans, pressing evenly into bottom and up sides.
Bake tartlet shells at 450° for 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove shells to wire racks, and cool completely.
Ingredients for the Black Bean Salsa:
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained
2 canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, minced
3 green onions, chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped sweet yellow pepper
1 plum tomato, finely chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
Combine all ingredients in a bowl, tossing well. Cover and chill at least 1 hour.
Spoon 1 tablespoon Black Bean Salsa into each tartlet shell; garnish, if desired. Serve at room temperature.
I found this recipe in the Christmas with Southern Living 2000

We served mango tea with fruit for the kids, sangria and a selection of Mexican beer for the mamas and the papas, and for dessert we once again served vanilla ice cream with your choice of toppings (toasted coconut, chocolate sauce, and Uncle Charles' roasted Spanish peanuts...thanks, Uncle Charles!) Of course, we were having such a great time that I didn't even start the waiting coffee...we were with such close friends and family that it was a very relaxed evening; it was wonderful!

Thankfully, God doesn't give us more than we can handle; the rest of that week I spent recovering from a ruptured ovarian cyst; Ricci took a day off of work to allow me to rest (there's not much more one can do but keep still and just rest...ahhh...that part's nice!), and he helped the girls with some of their schoolwork. There's nothing like knowing that you're in the home stretch...summer's awaiting around the corner!

Later that week, we celebrated 58th National Day of Prayer with our community. I have to say that I really appreciate this national holiday, and I also have to say that I struggle with knowing that others don't hold the same value of it as I do...why is it not more widely attended?

On the first Thursday in May, every community across the US is encouraged to hold an event at noon, and the theme for this year was “Prayer…America’s Hope” based on the verse from Psalm 33:22 which states, “May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.” Oh! How we need His unfailing love to rest upon us, and oh...we need to be faithfully putting our hope in Him!

This is the second year that I've helped facilitate our location's event, and I love seeing who participates in it! It's such a sweet time of coming together (denominations set aside) as a body of believers that desire our God to hear us as one church. Our pastor Jeremy led us this year, and he did a fabulous job; he opened up the time with a reading of Psalm 33, and then we spent time in prayer for our government, our military, our media, our businesses, our churches, and our families! What a sweet time it is! I'm thankful that my girls have the opportunity to hopefully grow up remembering this experience as a special one in our community.

That afternoon, we spent some time playing outside with Savannah, Ben, Emmaline and Jonathan (the creek is so full from all of the rain, and it's just irresistible to children!), then we had a memorable late lunch at Piccadilly (I'll spare you the details!) with friends before a play date at our new favorite park...welp...almost our favorite...I had to call the girls back to get back in the car...we'd have to come back to the playground, but not today...the battery was flirting with death! So after "I" took care of the car (at the fixit shop, of course! "I" meaning...I ordered a new battery, watched it being installed and paid for it! Yes, Daddy'd be proud!), we were on the road again!!

That next Saturday Jenna graduated from UT-Martin! Woohoo! We're all sooo very proud of you, Jenna! We were supposed to go to her graduation, but after the car was acting up and we were all so exhausted from busi-ness, we decided to play hookie and stay at home...I hear they call that a "staycation"! LOVED~IT! (Sorry, Jenna!) Others thought we were out of town, and it felt sooo good to just stay at home....the girls played while Ricci and I spent the day binge-watching this season of LOST. Wow~it's really picking up the pace....but now we have to wait until 2010?!? What's up with that?!?

Mother's Day couldn't have been sweeter...every year is sweet, but this one tops them all! The girls took the opportunity to call it a Mother's day weekend...who am I to argue with them?!? They started giving me gifts on Friday and Saturday....they're like their mamma, who just can't keep a gift a secret! Ricci bought me two new Adirondack chairs....I love'em! Come over and sit a spell in 'em with me! And they all made me breakfast in bed while the girls made me special cards and gifts.

AngelWings made me these gorgeous earrings...including the beautifully, wrapped box! Thank you, MaeMae! And thank you, girls and Ricci, for loving me and thinking that I'm the mom you say I am! I love you all...to the moon and back...and around and around....!

Speaking of Mother's Day, the end of this month has been a little discomforting (is that a word?) because our family will be getting together to 'lay to rest' our dear Alal, who has been so incredibly important in all of our lives. The flip side...we get an extra trip to see the rest of our family in Louisiana! That's good!

This past week, we've thoroughly enjoyed participating in some of the gardening lectures and workshops with Rock City's 1st annual Southern Blooms Festival! We've learned a lot and incorporated several of the lessons into the end-of-the-year schoolweek!

This past weekend, we did our usual Friday craziness and then had some friends over for an early Memorial day cookout. After we ate some yummy BBQ, we headed over to the Wilderness Theatre to see the movie, Night at the Museum 2, which was really good! There's nothing like sitting out under the stars with friends and watching a movie on the "world's largest movie screen"!

Here's a couple of pics...taken in the pitch-black; sorry for the blindness y'all experienced afterwards! You know...it's important to make memories!

The three amigos! Marion & Indiana Jones!
Two peas in a pod!

George & Wendy and Co. (couldn't find the rest of them in the dark!)

Saturday morning, we all awoke a little later than we had planned...we had to get over to RC to make our hypertufas! (Don't worry...I had to look up the word as well!) "Hypertufa is a man made substitute for Tufa rock. Tufa is a spongy cellular rock found in limestone country and especially where water has been involved in the wearing and leaching out of the original materials to effect a porous spongy consistency. In many countries throughout the world this natural stone has for centuries been hollowed out and carved for tubs and planters." (quote taken from here)

We each made a garden container out of a mixture of Portland cement, sand, peat moss and perlite. Camera? Didn't even think of it as we ran out of the house! oops!

That evening, we ran up to Sewanee for dinner with Aunt Jan, Uncle Eddie & Erich. We made our traditional pizzas and ice-cream, and let the pups have a good time...mental note...next time remember to bring an extra tennis ball!And the girls gave cousin Erich quite the workout! They had him running them all over the house..Macy was riding on his back for at least 30 minutes straight until we told her to get off...then he just took the fun outside on a wild chase all over the property with flashlights....what more fun could a girl have?!? Thanks, Erich, for all of the fun!It's so relaxing being up there...well, I'm not sure it is for Erich! The waterfall was huge after all of the rain that we've had this month; it was difficult to hear one another when on their deck overlooking the falls. Before we left, I had to snap these photos...I know it's poor lighting...I just had to get this photo before they all moved!

Unknowingly, Erich's moving in for the "my favorite cousin" title! Sorry, Will!

I just couldn't resist this photo! I could make a collage of all of the different pictures of the girls and Uncle Eddie still looking for Waldo! This is my Uncle Eddie that partook of teaparty after teaparty with me as a little girl! We love you, Uncle Eddie!

Ooh...it is exciting that we've wrapped up our school year! Now, of course, I had planned way more than was reasonable, so we'll still be doing some readings together over the summer, but I find that enjoyable and not feeling like I'm behind the 8-ball! And the girls are participating in some summer-reading-programs, so they'll get to count their free-reading assignments as books that count toward these extra rewarding programs...woohoo! We're also enjoying soccer practice, swimming and will be enjoying tennis and music camps! Woohoo, Summer, bring on the F-U-N!

To blog or not to blog!

2009-05-17T16:02:00.000-04:00

It seems that time has picked up and just will not slow down! It seems that my list of "things to do" doesn't seem to end...which is not a bad thing at all; it just seems that there's little time left to blog!

I still haven't jumped on the whole Facebook wagon, and I can tell you that I haven't even a clue as to what Twittering is! I don't think I'm interested in having one more thing to do! I do still like the 'ole pen and paper, telephone, etc. to keep up with close friends and family, so my question remains...to blog or not to blog.

I like to blog as a way to remember things (since I can't seem to find time to keep up with our family scrapbooks!), but I don't like the pressure of knowing that I haven't posted anything in quite a while...I just don't seem to have the time! And then I feel like I'm behind the 8-ball to update what/when/who/etc.! I'm hoping that this summer I'll have more time to get things done...like repaint the kitchen, learn some new recipes, take a cake decorating class, get out the sewing machine to make some fun things with the girls, read the books awaiting me in my mental queue), oh...and keep up with my blog!

Between traveling (we've done more than the norm this spring!), fundraisers, taking girls to classes/clubs, book clubs, hosting friends/family, etc. life has seemed to have sped up...everyone always said that this would happen as the girls got older...now I know what they meant!

So with open arms, I greet the warmer days of summer arriving! We're ready and waiting for some fun, lazy days at the pool with friends! I've got the beach bag packed and waiting with camera! Still lookin' for that extra time-slot to keep up with the 'ole blog! Maybe once we "wrap up" this school year (this week...yeah!), we'll have more time!

My non-working spouse!

2009-05-07T00:13:00.007-04:00

Oh! What a fun day the girls had at "Take Your Daughter To Work Day"!

Last year, AngelWings came home telling us of all the wonderful things that she had gotten to see and do, so this year Cricket was thrilled that she was old enough to attend the festivities as well!

So the previous evening we laid out our clothes, Daddy prepared Cricket with her hot chocolate and AngelWings with her "coffee" (mostly milk...you haven't tried to wake up this tween!), and they headed out the door!

Lovey and I had a fantabulous time just spending the day together...we went out to breakfast together, did some shopping, got our hair cut (thanks, Maria!), lunch, more shopping...a wonderful day spent as "just you and me time"!

That evening when we were all back together, the girls told me of their wonderful day with their daddy at work. One of their favorite (and most memorable!) activities was the game that they played called "Reality Check." They were each assigned different jobs/incomes/familial situations, and they had to go to different booths...bank, realty, automotive, insurance, clothing stores, daycare, utilities, grocery, entertainment/recreation, additional education, and their favorite..."that's life," which was unexpected events!

AngelWings' "reality check worksheet" showed that she was an Group Underwriter, making $60,700 with a college degree; she was married with two daughters, ages 4 and 6, and one son that was a year old....and a non-working spouse, who was able to take care of her children while she was working.

Cricket's "reality check worksheet" showed that she was a data entry operator, making $18,000 while she was working on her college degree; she was married to a working spouse, and together they had a two-year old son. She quickly came up with the idea of saving her daycare money and having grandparents watch her son.

Ricci said that it was so incredibly interesting to watch how the girls made their decisions as to how they spent/saved their money. AngelWings rented a huge, flashy townhouse while Cricket bought a small, modest home. AngelWings went clothes shopping four times while Cricket bought only necessary, store-brand items...although she did immediately acquire a cell phone and extensive cable tv! They both chose a used vehicle (although Cricket's first choice was a Hummer until she saw what it cost to operate it)! They both also enjoyed going to the "That's Life!" booth where they would draw a card which was some life event: receiving an inheritance, taxes' being due, kids' needing to go to the hospital, receiving bonuses at work, needing to do home repairs, needing dental work, winning the lottery, etc.

AngelWings benefited $100 from a bank error...to which she told the lady at the booth, "I'm going to go back and buy me a new pair of shoes!"

Each of the scenarios had options of with or without insurance, so the girls learned quickly that if they had already purchased health insurance then they only had to pay a co-pay versus the full doctor's bill. Auto-insurance: deductable vs. full cost of replacing a car. This activity provided all of the children with a good sense of the benefits of having insurance and also real world experiences.

Later that evening AngelWings questioned us as to what the word 'spouse' meant...I guess that word hasn't come up as of yet with the girls! And we've spent the rest of the week laughing that she had wondered all day long what it meant that her spouse was broken...as in her non-working spouse!

What a fun day they had....and the fact that Ricci got any work done that day is beyond me! The fact that he set that heavy work-day aside for the girls to enjoy this experience is just one of the many reasons why we love him as husband and daddy! Thank you!

Supper time with Cricket

2009-05-06T22:52:00.003-04:00

Supper time with Cricket is a hoot and a half! Every night...she keeps us rolling with laughter at what she either says or does. She always has! She just seems to have the perfect comedic timing and hilarity in how she describes everyday, normal things! This evening was no different!

On nice evenings we've been enjoying eating supper outside, and this evening while eating her supper, she loudly exclaimed, "This corn is freakin' good!"

Uh...I'm not sure where she learned that word...hmmm, but it was really good corn on the cob tonight! (I've been tossing an ear or two or five into my buggy at the grocery store every time I go since they're apparently in season [where? I don't know!], and Ricci's been grilling them for us! Hmmm!!)

Yes, Cricket has always (since she was eensy-teensy) kept us roaring with laughter at the things that she tells us....especially at the supper table.

"It's better to burn out than to rust out!"

2009-05-02T10:09:00.005-04:00

Another great Steve Hartman interview which will sweep you away...I'm sure you'll enjoy!

This video reminds me soooo very much of my great grandmother, Mother Simpson. She died at the age of 101; she still lived alone and was still cooking...although not as frequently as she'd have liked. Those who knew her know that she fed half of the south in her lifetime....either in her restaurant or her home. I clearly remember a specific holiday when she sent my dad and I all over town to deliver meals to those that needed somethin' extra.

This spring marks the second anniversary of her death. Most of the town attended her funeral, for they all knew that something great was missing from here on earth. Yes, the day her spirit left the earth was a sad one, but we rejoice knowing that she is in heaven with her Lord. She served Him by serving others all she was able while she was here on earth! She's still quoted as saying, "It's better to burn out than to rust out!" What a lovely character she was!

We miss you, Mother Simpson!

"Please get the snow out of your sand pail!"

2009-04-20T15:05:00.001-04:00

With snow falling, we somehow managed to get the car loaded up for our Easter trip. We didn't leave as early as we had intended...partly, because we Southerners were enjoying the snow...even though we were shouting, "Don't forget the beach chairs!" "Do you have your new swimsuit?" And "Please dump the snow out of that sand pail before you put it in the car!" How exciting!

Ever since the girls were little, I've taken photos of them when we're embarking on a trip...never intentionally; it's just something that's always happened! These I thought were pretty telling...

Lovey with her lovies and her shades on....ready to hit the beach!

Cricket watching a movie on her mp4 player (it's sitting atop her lantern where she's cocooned herself in the back of the car)...I wonder if Gramma and Grampa knew what doors they were opening when they gave her this! Thank you, again! This gal thinks she's in heaven between singing with Judy Rogers and watching Ratatouille!

And AngelWings, sitting there all pretty...pretty excited like me! "Let's get this show on the road! We wanna see our peeps and smell the salt air!"

So with the mail stopped, everything turned off, house locked up, Brody over at Zachary's and Mama Maria's, and Bluey in the capable hands of Connor and Emily, we got on the road! It snowed on us (I guess, I should technically say the word "flurried") at least until half-way to B'ham! We grabbed a quick bite to eat at the Summit (again...can't go through B'ham without at least driving through the Summit!) and continued on our way! First stop...Uncle Charles!

We pulled into the restaurant parking lot at the exact same time he did, and we had a nice supper together and then drove over to his house to see his new, little puppy, Little Girl. Sadly, I look back and see that we didn't get one picture of the girls with Uncle Charles! In the cold weather, I guess we were in a hurry...then once inside, we had Little Girl(s) quite excited about seeing one another! It was a fury of activity! And Uncle Charles just sat there and didn't seem to mind the loud squeals and giggles! We love you, Uncle Charles!

Then after we said our goodbyes and accepted all of the gifts that he had for us (toys for the girls and boiled & raw peanuts...it's the "Peanut Capital of the World," ya know! Thank you, Uncle Charles!), we headed on to Mimi and Pawpaw's. We got in a little after midnight, but Mimi was still waiting up for us and had a fire going in the fireplace....again, this global cooling has got to go!

Oh, it was good to be home! I'm so sentimental, so the smells, sounds, etc. are so special to me! We stayed with Mimi and Pawpaw for a few days...long enough to start a demolish job in her bathroom...we ran out of time to finish it...oops! I guess we'll have to make another trip back! And one night we had Jen and Nate over for a cookout and another night we all went bowling...grandkids love it, and the adults don't mind it so much either...pretty fun stuff with all of the fellas with us this time! Let's just say that P-Daddy had to show us all a thing or two! My score's not even worth mentioning! On the kids' lane, once again...Macy did really well!

After a couple of days, Ricci and the girls and I headed over to stay at the condo, and what fun it was! Driving there wasn't the fun part; I had one of three migraines in my entire life, so I was trying not to "get sick" (I know that's improper English, but you know what I mean!), and the spring break traffic's flood gates were opened! And we had so much stuff in our car that we could barely see out...and I'm not kidding! And of course, there's a mandatory sign when you get close to the beach that one HAS to stop at Wal-Marts (again, deep south) and pick up more than you can carry back to your car.

Um...somehow we all forgot that there wasn't any room in the car in the first place. I still don't know how Ricci packed us all in WITH the added plastic bags from WallyWorld! We had to roll the windows down and hang our legs and arms out with the bags...this time I am kidding. Somehow we made it to the condo, and Ricci and the girls unpacked the car, I went to town doin' my thing: ever since I was a child, I've tossed what I can into the dishwasher (plates, utensils, cups, etc.) and always empty out the ice to start fresh. Whew...it was nice just being at the condo. And then the fury of questions began, "Can we get our suits on? Can we go down to the pool? Can I blow up the beach balls? Where are the towels?" I have to say that I was just as excited as they were, and thankfully my headache subsided after everything settled down and we got something to eat! So we made it down to the beach just in time for the sunset!

A storm was a'brewin', so we couldn't stay out there for too long (and it was still a little chilly!), so when Jen and Nate got there for supper, we ate and then let the kids play in the heated indoor pool. Camera? Urgh...I got everything else but my camera!

The next morning, we woke up bright and early to hit the beach! Man, I married a sweet fella! He doesn't question a thing when he helps take the umbrella, cooler, two beach bags (one for toys and one for towels/sunscreen), oh yeah...chairs, etc. We all love just being on the beach, and it's so much easier now that the girls can carry their own (literally)! We stayed out as long as we could, and then I remembered...Easter shoes! We still hadn't bought the girls' Easter shoes! Man, why do I do this every year?!? I guess I'm waiting for the sales: supply and demand! And one certainly can't wear white shoes before Easter Sunday! It's just not proper!

So we made our way through the crowds at the Sandestin outlets, grabbed what we needed and headed back to the condo, for Meems and P-daddy were coming over for supper! After supper, the girls showed Mimi and Pawpaw their new tricks in the pool before they left, and then Ricci and I got busy getting ready for Easter Sunday (Easter baskets, Easter lunch, Cricket's bday cake, birthday party goodie bags...)

The next morning we woke up and headed off to church; it was great to see everybody, and then we all went back to the condo with Mimi & Pawpaw, Jen & Nate & Co., and Greg & MaryAnn & Co. to have Easter lunch together and to celebrate Cricket's birthday.

Jen brought this amazing appetizer; maybe she'll share the recipe with us; maybe...Jen?!? Lunch was yummy...it was the same menu that we served for Cricket's baptism luncheon (sniff, sniff)...garlic and herb chicken-pasta salad, a really yummy salad with cranberries, sugared pecans, and bleu cheese, and croissants. Some ate in the condo, and some ate out on the balcony! And her birthday cake was just a simple pound cake (Sorry, Carolyn, I used a cake mix...we were on vacation!) made in a fun sand-castle Williams-Sonoma cake mold that I thought I'd never find! [Ricci finally found one online on Friday afternoon, ordered it, and it was shipped to our condo the next morning...AND it was less than I would have paid for it in the store...amazing! Way to go, Ricci!] And I just added some seashells and raw sugar around the base of it! (So I now have the form, if anyone wants to borrow it!) Simple and fun...much like my Cricket, who loved the cake!After lunch, we ate some birthday cake, opened some gifts (Seriously, we weren't expecting gifts! And y'all gave her some really great ones...thank you, again!)

Then we went on a treasure hunt! I hid all of the kids' goodie bags inside a treasure box (I forgot that at home, so a simple Rubbermaid box had to do!), and Ricci and James hid the box somewhere along the beach. Here's the poem that Ricci wrote and had them follow (smart fella; he is!):

Out the door and to the left,
Around the corner and down the steps,
Look across; it stands so high;
Better go under, unless you can fly!
To the left or to the right,
Go the way with the beach in sight!
Go to the end and wait right there!
Read the last clue at the very top stair!
He Is Risen!
We heard it in church!
The treasure is hidden
By a man on a perch!

The weather had once again turned colder, so once the buried treasure was found, those of us that were brave enough (not me!) got into the outdoor pool, and those of us that weren't brave enough stayed in out of the wind and just watched everyone play from a distance and gabbed!

That evening after everyone was gone, Mimi stayed with us to spend our final night on the beach, and we had such a good time enjoying our last night there! It was actually the first time that I had to sit down and just relax, have a glass of wine and unwind! I guess there's no better test of a great vacation than one that makes you go back home to get your relaxation!

The next morning we awoke to terrible weather and waited out the storms that were covering the southeast; maybe I shouldn't admit this on the world-wide-web, but my all-time, recurring nightmare is being with my family...overlooking the water...and seeing a water-spout or tornado coming at us. Aghhh! (Maybe confessing this is good therapy!) We kept the local weather on all morning, and that's all that was being reported...water spouts and tornadoes...right where we were! Again, aghhh! Finally, the weather somewhat subsided, and we HAD to leave to get Ricci back to work, so we got our car and Mimi's car loaded up and got on the road! Boohoo!

Thankfully, we made it "back up north" (to B'ham...as Mother Simpson would have said), and we met K-Ren at our usual Cracker Barrel; it was great to see her, and then we headed on home!

Ahhh...home again, home again, jiggety jig!

"...kills ants too!"

2009-04-18T10:13:00.006-04:00

We are very thankful to have been blessed with great friends, one of which is none other than Levi (aka, "Ivy" as our girls call him)! We love him and his wife and daughter for so many reasons, but this week in particular I've been singing his praises, for this spring along with the April showers, we've had a couple of unwanted visitors...ants! Urghh! And years ago Ivy gave me a great tip on how to rid them!

I'm not overly organic (not that you are either, Levi, but...), but I am sensible and cautious to care for my family, and I'd rather choose to not use extra chemicals and pollutants in our house to rid ourselves of bugs, so I turned to Ivy's wisdom regarding ants...

Once at a party in our yard, he showed me an ant pile and said that if we'd sprinkle a little Sweet'n'Low on the pile that we'd see that "it not only kills humans, but it kills ants too!"

We have cracked up about that whenever we think of Sweet'n'Low, and this week I decided I'd try it! While I was out one day, I snagged a couple of packets from the restaurant where we were eating, came home and drew some lines 'to not be crossed'! I still can't believe it myself...it works! I've heard that there are rumors that Aspartame was originally designed as an ant poison, and I don't know if that's true or not, but I do know that if you have any unwanted spring-time visitors, try it; it works!

The Red Envelope Project has been a huge success so far!

2009-04-14T12:39:00.006-04:00

The project has been a huge success so far! A worker in the White House mail room has confirmed the delivery of more than 2.25 million red envelopes! Million!

I know that many of us were a part of the nationwide, grassroots Red Envelope Project where every pro-lifer was asked to mail an empty, red envelope to Barack Obama at the White House.

It's not too late to participate...each envelope represents a baby who has been killed by abortion. The red color symbolizes the blood of abortion. The President’s address is on the front. The following message is printed on the back: "This envelope represents one child who died in abortion. It is empty because that life was unable to offer anything to the world."

The goal is to have millions of red envelopes flooding the mail room of the White House, and that’s exactly what is happening!

The Obama administration has noticed, and the Red Envelope Project continues! You can still send your red envelopes to the President.

President Barack Obama
1600 Pennsylvania
Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

I pray that this tidal wave of red envelopes changes the president’s heart on abortion and that he acts to protect unborn babies from a violent and brutal death.

Saving/Giving More!

2009-04-02T17:05:00.007-04:00

I've mentioned these two blogsites to a couple of you, so I just thought I'd share the direct links here. These two blogsites actually do the work for me when it comes to saving more money when shopping....MoneySavindMom.com and DealSeekingMom.com.

Using Publix for example, each week (or when there's another really great sale/deal) these two sites will email me a list of items that are on sale and also provide links next to the items where one can print off a coupon to save additional money!

The richest bum I've ever seen...everybody has a story!

2009-04-02T09:28:00.008-04:00

This spring the girls have taken up a new favorite past time of looking under the bridge overpasses for...bums. Yes, I've done my duty to remind them that not all have been blessed with covenantal blessings, and we've taken several opportunities to pray for them and what may or may not be going on their lives.

But yesterday when we drove down to the zoo, as we pulled slowly into their drive which takes one under the overpass, there was a huge display of lots of goods! Now, I'm telling you that there was so much that I want to go and get a picture, but I'd never do that....I'm just saying, "This is somethin' to write home 'bout!"

Driving carefully along the one-lane road, I did my first glance...tons of stuff!

Second glance...happy fella sitting in a lawn chair (may have even been an easy-boy recliner)!

Third glance...he was having a great time listening to music...oops...eye contact...and we actually waved to each other!

Cricket shouted from the back, "Wow! That's the richest bum I've ever seen!" Even though it was awkward, I'm just dyin' to go back and get another look...take him something...pose as a journalist to get his story! Yes, everybody has a story!

***

Does anyone remember that news segment, Everybody Has a Story, on CBS's The Early Show? It's not around anymore, but when the girls were little, it would air on Friday mornings, so I'd arrange to have someone to feed/hold at that exact time so that I could see it. (Before TIVO!)

Steve Hartman (one of my favorite journalists) became well known for his award-winning feature series, Everybody Has a Story, based on his belief in a "theory" of the same name. To prove his point, Hartman would toss a dart over his shoulder at a map of the United States, and then travel with his cameraman to wherever the dart landed. Upon arrival, Hartman would find a phone booth with a phonebook, and then, after choosing a name at random, would call that person, hoping that they would tell their "story." His adventures took him around the country, and it was amazing how people would allow him to come and interview them as they told their story. The stories that his assignment would produce were ALWAYS so emotional! I'd be sitting there either laughing, crying or both! I wish they still sent him on those special assignments!

I wish that they'd bring back that series by Steve Hartman...it was such a special series! Here's a link where you can view a few more, if you'd like! But get out the tissues, 'cause your either going to be crying from tears of sadness or tears of joy!

I wish Steve Hartman would call me up to get me to take him down there so that he and I could get the story of the gentleman that lives under the bridge near the zoo! Yes, everybody has a story!

What a difference a day makes!

2009-03-31T20:46:00.005-04:00

It seems like it was just yesterday that Ricci and I went to the hospital to have our second baby! And in a few hours, my sweet Cricket will be eight! Where on earth does time go?!?

She has just recently gone through quite a growth spurt, and every morning she appears differently than when we said goodnight to her the evening before!

Cricket, we're so very proud of you and the young lady that you are becoming! We love you and hope you have a wonderful birthday!

An evening on the town...

2009-03-21T23:03:00.001-04:00

As a small token of thanks for watching the girls while Ricci and I were away, we treated our friends, the Steves, to attend the symphony with us for the symphony's Heart of Romanticism performance, which featured the Brahms Symphony No. 4 paired with Dvorak’s Cello Concerto that some call “the grandest of all cello concertos.” It really was amazing!

It was a very fun evening, and it was so amazing to watch the children as they watched the musicians. The evening was fun, and I have to say that watching the guest cellist was helpful in making the evening memorable. Let's just say that he looked a tad-bit like Fabio and was very enthusiastic with his playing that cello...amazing talent...and if I had that talent, then perhaps I would behave the same...still he is/was 'worth writing home about'!

After the symphony, Ricci took us to Rembrandt's for a late-night coffee and treat...hmmm! These days are sooo much fun! To quote Aunt Katherine, "Isn't life so much fun and worth living?!?"

And today we had the pleasure of witnessing a special marriage between two very special people. Now...as a wedding coordinator for almost ten years, I have to say that I've witnessed many'a'marriage (and they all do start to blend together), but this one was all-the-more special, and I had to fight back the tears when both fathers stood up and prayed for the couple! Oh...to see the evidence of this covenantal family being extended! What a special weekend!

Fillin' up on my Family Tank

2009-03-16T22:55:00.000-04:00

I talk to Mom and Jen multiple times a day, and at times it does seem like they're right down the road (or at least I like to pretend!), so when we realized that all of our hubbies were either out of town or REALLY busy, I decided to take a jaunt down there...on a whim!

I'm one that will actually plan to be spontaneous, so already this trip was unlike me! But...it was so much fun! And I wanted the opportunity to spend some time with Jen before they move. Ricci's been super-duper busy, and we knew he wouldn't be at home many nights this week; Daddy was out of town on a business trip, and with Nate deployed...we had the perfect makin's for a girls' trip!! We grabbed some essentials (Cricket was sure to grab her Clifford tent), packed the car and took off! Shockingly, we got out the door early!

Okay...I dislike gadgets, but I think I'm ready to cave on getting a GPS thing in the car. We planned to stop and have lunch with Uncle Charles in Dothan, but since it was a spur of the moment trip, he was on his way to the state capital...he's the mayor, ya know! So we decided to take our time and stop when we felt like it, so of course we had to stop at the Summit in B'ham; then Cricket rallied us together for a run to Cracker Barrel, and.... this just shows you how relaxed I was...the girls said they saw one to the left, so I turned to follow their directions! Someone has since told me it's there, but we didn't see it! So we drove on...until we were so lost that even I couldn't find my way out of this gorgeous subdivision! So I called Ricci at his office, who turned on a tracking device on my cell phone, told me to turn this way/that way/and boom...we were back on the Interstate! Scary, huh?!? But hey...it worked!

We found our usual Cracker Barrel near K-ren's house, had a fun lunch and then got back on the road! Of course, Ricci called us immediately after we drove past exit 205 and said, "So you didn't want to go to the Peach Park without me?" Again...scary!!! He even told me where we were parked at Cracker Barrel! Whew...today's technology! Can't live with it; can't live without it!

Once we got to Jen's, Mimi was there, and she grilled us an amazing dinner...I can't remember what kind of fish, but hmmm...it was good! We stayed with her for a couple of nights and then moved over to Mimi's and stayed with her. (Although, Annie had already learned that life was sweeter at Mimi's...as an only grandchild! She and Mimi enjoyed some early morning chat/play time together...thanks, Mimi, she loved every second of it!)

One morning the girls went to Story Hour at the library with Drewby and Sarey...clearly you can tell that Lovey and Sarey got into the "Princess" theme of the day. Drewby and Cricket were havin' nothin' to do with it! AngelWings just enjoyed helping take care of baby Quinny!

And one afternoon we went bowling, which was Cricket's and Lovey's first trip to the bowling alley...lots of fun was had by all! Poor Drewby; he's sooo out-numbered by girls!

Early one morning, Lovey and I were the only ones awake, so we sneaked outside in our jammies, got in the car, and went to the donut shop that's been there for as long as I can remember...more than 30 years! Hmmm...the donuts are still just as good! I had forgotten about the traffic being as thick as it is right there, so I strategically placed the car so that we could get out in our jammies and check out our options...again, hmmm! We each picked out a donut and some more to take back to the others and then headed on down to the park down near Giuseppis and Chip's house (like my description? I can't remember it's name) The seagulls enjoyed our being there!

I love making memories with each of the girls!

One day Mom and I took the two middles out to lunch at the Crab Trap...the girls' lunches came served in two, cute little pails with shovels...the perfect conditions for making sandcastles!

Oh! These two had so much fun! They were both in their own worlds! And Mimi and I had fun watching them!

Tinkerbell...having so much fun!

Killing time until we met up with everyone else, we rode the trolley through the Destin Commons...after a little stop at Starbucks and some shopping through Williams~Sonoma, of course!

What can be more fun than riding on a trolley?!?

A little run through Publix with my two sleeping babies...had to get some extras for our picnic at the outdoor movie night at Baytowne! We met up with Jen and the rest of the kiddos and also Greg and MaryAnn & Co. Bad news...Sharon was working that evening! Good news...she was working at the Starbucks right beside us! Trust me...we kept visiting her!

The movie we were there to see? What movie? We were practically the only ones there, and the kids had so much fun running around; Greg was spotted going in this and that "restaurant" (still have no idea what he was doing!); the kids kept going down to drive the miniature boats; us gals kept chatting; it was all fun and games until Cricket went downhill...quickly! No one could console her, and Greg was so sweet to take care of her and help us all get back to our cars...by the time we exchanged kids, cars, etc. and got home to Mimi's, sweet Cricket was running quite a fever! Ughh! So that night I barely slept (kept checking on her...in her Clifford tent, of course!) and got up early the next morning to "make a beeline for home" as Ricci told me to do! So Meems helped us get all packed up again and set up to head home. Of course, I think I had to stop more this trip than when they were eensy-teensy; I had to stop to get drinks to keep me awake, Tylenol/ibuprofen for Cricket, snacks, etc.! And of course a super-duper fast run inside the winery...I have friends with expectations, ya know!

We moved peeps around in the car a little....we set up the blankets and such next to Cricket so that she could rest on the way home; Lovey was excited to be moved up a seat; and AngelWings was thrilled when we said she could ride up front...for the first time ever!

What a help this gal was...sitting up front like a grown-up! As we got closer and closer to the interstate in LA (lower Alabama), I cautiously stayed at my lower-than-normal 55mph, came down a hill, and boom! I was the only one on the road, so I knew that the cop (urgh...makes me mad to even type it!) hiding behind the broken down, yella schoolbus was after ME! Of all the nerve to give a momma with a sick baby a ticket for going 59 (I was going down a hill...come'on!) in a 40mph area...WHAT?!? I NEVER saw a 40mph sign! Urghhh! That blows my "never gotten a ticket"! As soon as I pulled away from the rude putz, I cried like a little girl! Then I called Ricci and asked him what would happen if I got another one on the way home! I was still at the bottom of AL...and had to drive all the way to the top! Cops were everywhere that day! I still haven't heard why!

Yes, AngelWings was ever so helpful when I had to pull out my license and registration...and all of the other million things she helped me do to get us back home safely! Thanks, MaeMae!

It was nice to be back at home; and Ricci was waiting for us when we got back home; we got Cricket all settled in, told Daddy about our trip (as if we didn't call him every second giving him the blow-by-blow!), and whew...we were back at home again!

Have Mardi Gras beads...will travel!

2009-02-25T23:17:00.002-05:00

Packing for five to go three different places isn't what I'd call fun! We are a very close-knit family, so separating us all isn't my favorite thing to do! But a great friend of ours and her aunt were having a special birthday party out in New Mexico, so who were we to not join in the fun?!?

Thankfully, we are blessed to have some amazing friends who were so wonderful to step in and help with the girls. Sooo, once everything was planned, it was time to put them into motion...getting the house/laundry, meals taken care of, making sure that everyone (including pets!) were taken care of, and lots and lots and lots of packing...tucking notes, gifts and surprises into various, hidden places was the name of the game! Ughh...I thought I'd never get it all done! And yes, I did forget some key elements out of my own suitcase, but "just buying it when you get there!" always seems to work! And um...the fish...I didn't remember to make provisions for Bluey until we were flyin' high in the sky! (He was fine when we returned!)

So we were ready to take off! We dropped off two, picked up one, dropped off one more, and then Craig, Ricci and myself were off! Saying goodbye to the girls is always by far the most difficult part for me...but they were all quite excited to be staying at their friends' digs! Yes, I HATE saying goodbye...and I can never make eye contact with anyone on the first leg of any plane trip...for fear of everyone seeing me cry like a little girl. Then, of course, as I board the second flight, I'm good to go! I guess by the time it takes me to realize that I'm boarding a second flight somewhere, my subconsciousness has come to the realization that "I'm not in charge; He is; they'll be okay!" And after that first drink, I'm great...funny part is that my 'drink' is nothing more than a tomato juice on ice! Hmmm....it tastes so much better flying at 30,000 feet!

After we landed, we thankfully collected all of our luggage, got our rental car (which for some reason they upgraded us to a nicer SUV...don't remember what it was exactly!) and headed off into the sunset! Awww...sunsets out west are so beautiful!

As for our first destination...don't forget who we had with us...Miss Craig (not feeling her tippy-top self!) saw that Walgreen's off in the distance! So we did make a pitstop and then drove up into the hillside of the Sandia Mountains where the party would be held Saturday night. By this time, sweet Miss Craig had completely lost her voice! Ricci said that had to be her world's worst nightmare...someone that has a lot to say...someone that others want to hear what they have to say...someone who could barely whisper, "Oh, honey-child!" by this time! "Bless her heart!"

After unloading Craig's luggage with her family, helping with a little prep work on the Mardi Gras decorations and foods, we all drove back down into Albuquerque to the first of several parties! These peeps know how to celebrate! What a crowd it was...and what an honor it was to be included in that fun evening of great family stories of back home in Louisiana, lots of laughter and lots of yummy food!

The next morning (hmmm...I wish I could wake up every morning with two extra hours! I love that Mountain Time Zone!), we got up bright and early and did some driving around (getting lost if you ask me...hee hee!) before heading over to the birthday brunch where we were so graciously greeted by the family members that we knew and met even more wonderful friends and family. The brunch was delicious, and the gathering couldn't have been any more fun and special! As everyone was making plans on how they'd spend their day, Craig's hilarious cousin, Steve Jr., gave us a great hint about where to shop...he said that we had to visit Jackelope's, a great place... "like World Market on crack!" Boy, was he right! We loved it...it was similar to an open World Market or our Southeastern Salvage, and we bought some great souvenirs for the kids and their friends, and even some special things for our annual Cinco de Mayo parties...it'll be here before you know it!

So after brunch, everyone went off in different directions. Ricci saw an REI in the distance, so we went their first, of course! Then we headed off for some sight-seeing and shopping. Everyone suggested that we visit Old Town Albuquerque which was a lot of fun...it was full of life with tourists, horse-drawn carriages, shopping, great restaurants, etc. "New Mexican" restaurants to be exact...which cracked Ricci and I up every time we heard someone say it. (At first we just thought the town was fun of new restaurants that were Mexican...nope...they are New Mexican restaurants!)

After a full day of acting like a tourist and just enjoying being with one another, we headed back to the hotel to get ready for the big Mardi Gras birthday celebration! What fun it was! The food was amazing...different, yummy appetizers, jambalaya, gumbo and King Cake! Arra...please share some of those recipes with me! And none but Craig and her great-grand-daughter MaryBeth outlasted the Second Line Dance! She may not have had her voice back yet, but she wasn't droppin' out of the Second Line Dance!

The next morning we all enjoyed worshipping with Craig's family at her nephew's church; then we all said goodbye to one another as some had to rush back to the airport. Ricci and I took the afternoon to drive along Route 66, then up into the Sandia Mountains to the ski resort up there. The snow and views were amazingly spectacular! Then we headed on up to Santa Fe. The drives out there are just so beautiful! And the art and history...I look forward to learning more about the rich history out there along with taking the girls back there to see it all again!

The next morning we packed up and headed back over to get Miss Craig (who still had little to no voice!) before heading to the airport. The trip seemed to fly by...from beginning to end...and what fun it all was! On the way back through Dallas, we were able to have a quick bite to eat with Tara and her girls at the Grand Hyatt. Then after Miss Craig and I stepped through the wrong doors, poor Ricci came and helped us get back in through security...which stopped him! Now, I'm talkin...full body scan with some pretty impressive equipment that I've never seen! I'm just thankful that after they took digital images of his face and everything (we're laughing hysterically about this now, but then...not so funny!) security found a forgotten hotel key in his shirt pocket! Whew! So we were back in the air in no time and headed home!

We so appreciated getting to see everyone and celebrate such a special weekend with them! What a great time it was! And just as soon as we landed, L brought us our car and our AngelWings, and then we received a call that dinner was awaiting us all at the Steves! How blessed we are to have friends that love us like they do! What great care you showed to our little loved ones....the girls had a great time being with their friends and no harm came to them while we were away....except for Lovey, who was quoted saying, "No! No! Please don't make me sleep under a Georgia Bulldog blanket!"

Nan, all I have to say is "Come on over...Lovey's got a nice LSU blanket awaiting your next stay with us!"

Add your name to the list too!

2009-02-23T12:01:00.023-05:00

Oh...this has the potential to be a great fundraiser! The girls and I have partnered with Firstgiving to help us with our fundraiser for Bethany Christian Services. Won't you please help us by donating a gift of at least ten dollars?

Bethany Christian Services is a Christ-centered, not-for-profit, pro-life, adoption and family services agency with more than 75 locations in 32 states and ministries in more than a dozen countries.

Bethany is the largest adoption agency in the country! In addition to adoption services, Bethany also provides pregnancy counseling, family counseling, foster care programs, refugee services, orphan care, and an infertility ministry called Stepping Stones.

Bethany is supported through reimbursement for services and gifts received from individuals, churches, corporations, and foundations.

Firstgiving is the leading social fundraising platform, and it's amazing how simple and secure it is to provide an online donations and/or leave a supportive message on our page. Donating through this website is simple, fast and completely secure. It is also the most efficient way to support our fundraising efforts by automatically processing these donations for us, saving you the hassle of collecting and forwarding checks. However, if you'd feel more comfortable sending us the money without using the Internet, feel free to contact us, and we can make the arrangements for you! Any help is greatly appreciated!

Our family has made a personal goal for this February and March...to raise a minimum of $1000 by receiving at least $10 from 100 of our friends, family and associates! And we're hoping that many of you are partnered with a company that offers a matching program that will increase your investment!

A gift to Bethany can be a caring way to honor loved ones both living and deceased. Your gift will help Bethany in ministry to protect and enhance the lives of children and families. On this blog, I'll be showing our progress as well as keeping an updated list of names of our helpful friends/family (and a link back to your blog/website, if you like!); however, if you'd prefer your name not be listed, then just let me know! We're just so appreciative of your support --anything great or small! Please forward this link to anyone who you think might wish to donate too! Together we can make a HUGE difference in the lives of those around us!

** Charitable Donation Receipt for your taxes is available for printing.

To help us reach our goal, please visit our website, http://www.firstgiving.com/sc1.
Thank you!!!

1. DixieChirps & Co.
2. Mrs. Sherri Martin
3. Dr. & Mrs. Erik H. Stoer
4. Nekey Shirley
5. Anonymous
6. Anonymous
7. Mark & Chrystie Moody
8. Richmond family
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Laissez les bon temps rouler!

2009-02-21T23:08:00.000-05:00

What a crazy January/February we've had thus far! I absolutely love the Christmas holidays for every single reason of why we celebrate, but I have to admit that I almost enjoy more the hum-drum days that follow!

Although we still haven't seen the hum-drum days of winter as of yet (except the first week of February when I got to do nothing but snuggle with the girls and make sure that they were as comfy as possible while they were all under the weather!), but we've all thoroughly enjoyed these months of the new year!

We've enjoyed getting to see various family/friends come through town! Ricci's aunt and grandmother came for a short visit, and it was wonderful to have the time to just sit by the fire, chat and laugh about crazy things! I enjoyed helping host a baby shower at our home for two good girlfriends, Brite and Jan; driving the girls to various field trips, classes/clubs, etc.; having our eldest tested with the CAT...and whew...she did really well! (Even though I know it's the Lord who I'm ultimately held accountable, it was great to know that according to the CAT, we're not doing such a terrible job homeschooling after all...she did really well!)

I just think this picture is just too cute not to share!

And perhaps the highlight of my January was the honor in being able to attend the placement of a Bethany baby with the family that adopted this lovely child. At the end of last year I joined the board of directors, and what an extension of my heartstrings have already been touched by this ministry! For those of you that aren't familiar with Bethany, Bethany Christian Services is a not-for-profit, pro-life, Christian adoption and family services agency, supported through reimbursement for services and gifts received from individuals, churches, corporations, and foundations. [Click here, if you wish to help the girls and I raise a $1000 donation by asking 100 of our friends and family to each donate a minimum of $10, which is greatly appreciated!]

Yes, I've noticed that life has seemed to really speed up...it was especially noticeable when Ricci looked at me and said, "Um...how are you going to accomplish all that's on the calendar for just today?!?" Life did seem to be slower when the girls were younger....now, we can accept more challenges and responsibilities, give of ourselves to others, etc. What a joy life is!

The girls' Prairie Club's Valentine Tea party...too cute! Even Auntie Craig had to join in!

February has brought its own surprises...my aunt and uncle dropped by for a brief visit; we were blessed with a week (our winter break?!?) of snuggle time to get through cold/flu yuck; we've celebrated with friends over their triumphs and are praying on our knees with friends' enduring hardships. Over Valentine's weekend (yes, holidays are several days...not just one day!) Ricci and I were blessed with getting to go away to New Mexico for a FUN Mardi Gras birthday celebration for two lovely ladies, Auntie Craig's 85th and Aunt Katherine's 90th...don't let the ages fool you...these two began and more importantly ended (after most had fallen off the line!) the Second Line dance at our Fais do-do! What a treat that was to be with them and their family and to see God's wondrous American Southwest!

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Jen Daniels' new CD release!

2009-02-21T20:19:00.002-05:00

A friend of ours, Jen Daniels (who just had twins! congrats again!), is releasing her newest CD, titled "Come Undone." I placed a widget on blog's right sidebar...listen, take, and/or share! I'm sure that you'll enjoy her music as well! And as one that's not a regular concert-goer (unless one can visit/move about freely! ;), I highly recommend your catching her next in concert!

PRE-ORDER through PayPal her New Album "Come Undone"
$16.50 - all pre-orders ship April 1

Or check out some of her other songs at http://www.myspace.com/jenniferdaniels. Some of our favorites are: It's a Good Day to Live, Welcome to Your Life, and In My Coat!

I am so LOST!

2009-02-21T20:09:00.000-05:00

Okay...I am so LOST in this TV series! What the heck is goin' on?!? Ricci and I have had a couple of episodes stockpiled, so we finally sat down late last night to watch them, and I can't tell you where/when/who people are!

I used to sit on the edge of my seat while watching it, but now I just sit there thinking, "No need to run, Jin, you'll just reappear somewhere else in the woods a matter of seconds!" Ricci and I both agree that we're only watching it now to reclaim the investment that we've put into it AND to see how it's all going to end! What on earth kind of upbringing did these writers/creators have?!?

All I have to say is that if I were on that freaky island or in LA with "Ben," then I'd be stickin' close to Sayid, Jack or Locke!

Well, we've had a full day with birthday parties (Happy Birthday, Jonathan! Happy Birthday, Emmaline!), running errands and shopping, so my sweet loves are fed, bathed, jamified and enjoying some good 'ole I Love Lucy, so I'm off with Ricci to watch the last episode that we've recorded...not that it's getting me anywhere! I may go and join the girls!

Am I the only one that's LOST here?!?

BOGO @ TGIF

2009-02-10T22:40:00.004-05:00

It's BOGO @ TGIF! Here's another great offer that a really great friend [;)] sent me....it's a "buy one entree, get one free" deal from TGIF's, and it doesn't expire until March 1, 2009! Woohoo! I just think we'll have to run downtown to have a little lunch date with our daddy here soon!

http://www.tgifridays.com/promos/bogo_2009_02.aspx?fromhome

Thanks, Alma...via P-Daddy!

Stinky Brown Bag

2009-02-10T22:30:00.003-05:00

If any of you are on the mailing list for Qdoba (one of our family's favorite eateries), then you've already received this email, but I just had to post it, for I think it's hysterical! As a business major in college, I appreciate great advertising, and this one is a memorable one! Besides, I'm also sharing this great deal! AngelWings and I especially love their Mexican Gumbo (one can pick either steak, chicken, or veggie)...hmmm! I'll warn you...it's a huge serving, so we usually share!
****
Subject: Stinky Brown Bag

Attention All Employees,
There is a brown paper bag lunch in the break room refrigerator without a name. It’s behind the ranch dressing and it smells like bologna. If this odorous brown bag happens to be yours, PLEASE DISPOSE OF IT IMMEDIATELY.
Then go to Qdoba Mexican Grill for lunch. They’re now offering any chicken entree on their menu with handmade chips, a choice of salsas and a regular fountain drink for only $6.99 (click here for the offer). It’s a great value and you can choose from any of their 18 different chicken dishes. So, whoever you are, you no longer have to be the SAD PACKER.

Thank you,
Management
"Propelling work to the next level"

Here today, gone tomorrow!

2009-02-07T10:10:00.009-05:00

Last Monday was an interesting day...full of surprises! (We like good surprises!) Right as we were running out the door to meet Aunt Jan and Uncle Eddie for breakfast, the rain started turning into snow! It was so beautiful! The 'city' had already salted the roads (wahhh...please stay off of 'our' road!), so the roads were fine, and everyone was out and driving about, but it did feel so odd to be driving in it as if nothing was unusual.

The further we drove down the mountain, the snow did turn into a slushy rain, but there was still an excitement in the air! And after a lovely breakfast that Uncle Eddie and Tressie treated us to (thank you, again!), we ran to the store like all true southerners...to get our milk and bread. (Honestly, we make our own bread, so we only got milk....and a few extras!) Then after dropping Ricci back off at work, and after we ran another errand or two, we headed back up the mountain. As we drove along the road that leads up the mountain, one could see that beautiful snow/ice line that sometimes appears in the winter....it is always so breathtakingly beautiful to me! And it reminds me of one reason why we live up there!

As we drove further and further up, the yards were nothing but white, and the entire mountain was still and quiet...so we drove around for a bit, until the girls couldn't take it anymore and just had to get out and play in it. So I parked the car and enjoyed sitting in the warm car with the windows rolled up (to keep the snowballs from hitting me!), watching the girls play in the snow while I enjoyed the heat and made some calls to my sis, mom, grandmother, etc. (You know that snow down here is worth a call home!) Thankfully, Aunt Jan had just given the girls some fun gardening gloves, so the girls used those to keep their hands warm...thanks, Aunt Jan! After the snowballs stopped flying at me, I did get out and play for a while...'til the snowballs started flyin' again!

This is the bottom third of the huge snowman that sadly never was assembled...who knew a snowball that large could be so heavy?!? Obviously, we didn't!

AngelWing's snowman...scaled down quite a bit!

Thankfully, I had the camera in the car, for as soon as we took this photo, the temperature rose just a degree or two, and as quickly as the snow had fallen...the snow began to melt. Here today...gone tomorrow! It reminds us to be thankful for what we have...thanks, dear Lord, for that beautiful snowfall! So now we sit and await with great excitement our next 'big' snowfall!

Where in the world is SSC?!?

2009-01-29T12:10:00.004-05:00

This was sooo much fun! I didn't realize that I had been to 24 of the 50 United States of America! I can also see that there is still so much for me to see! I wish that I could also find a map of the world to 'fill in'! God's world is amazing to me!
I've visited 24 states (48%)
Create your own visited map of The United States

Oh, wait! Here's one...I see that there's a lot more for me to

Amazing Race, here I come!!!

I've visited 6 states (2.66%)
Create your own visited map of The World

Are you a member of the Lost Mitten Club?!?

2009-01-28T18:24:00.003-05:00

As a member of the Lost Mitten Club, I just had to share this deal from Land's End! Such a great deal...and cutest marketing EVER!

Happy "National Handwriting Day"!

2009-01-22T08:08:00.002-05:00

Happy early "National Handwriting Day"!

What a great holiday (we like to celebrate everything around here!), and I didn't know that this holiday exists! Just FYI...January 23 is National Handwriting Day, also John Hancock’s birthday!

Handwriting allows us to be artists and individuals during a time when we often use computers, faxes and e-mail to communicate. Fonts are the same no matter what computer you use or how you use it. Fonts lack a personal touch.
Handwriting can add intimacy to a letter and reveal details about the writer’s personality. Throughout history, handwritten documents have sparked love affairs, started wars, established peace, freed slaves, created movements and
declared independence.
"Though computers and e-mail play an important role in our lives, nothing will ever replace the sincerity and individualism expressed through the handwritten word," said Robert B. Waller Jr., WIMA’s executive director.

By the end of the day today, I'm determined to wrap up our hand-written thank you notes from the Christmas holidays! No...sadly, I'm not finished...this is an area where the perfectionist side of me always seems to take over! And the ones that I have written are still laying by the front door awaiting their delivery! I do have only a couple more to write, and then we're d-o-n-e (as Lovey says)! Actually, the girls finished their thank you notes on the first or second day of the new year...and now I just have a few more to complete! My struggle (however) is getting them to the post office! For some reason, I can write a note, address and even stamp it...then it sits by the door waiting to be delivered to the post office! Would you believe that I even took the girls to a field trip to the post office and didn't deliver the notes that I've already written?!? Urghh! That's okay...I saw the letters' laying on the seat next to me when we got back inside the car, so I politely asked one of the girls to get back out in the freezing cold and take'em inside for me! (Aah...the pleasure of having extra hands to help!)

And I'm sure some of you are wondering why I won't just put them in the mailbox with the flag up...well, I have a perfectly good answer to that! When I was complaining about my inability to get things to the post office, mom asked me what you're wondering....and I told her that I didn't know why I wouldn't put things into the mailbox, and like a very-good-momma [;)], she told me...when I was young there was a time that young kids were going through our neighborhood, taking mail out of every one's mailboxes, opening them up, taking what they wanted (we assume they were looking for cash) and then leaving the remains out of the way. Well, poor me is still suffering from the what~if's in my lovely 'black & white' world and wanting to assure myself that the letters that I have written with great joy are being delivered to my loved ones...perfectly laid in their mailboxes awaiting their successful delivery!

BOGO Coffee!

2009-01-16T16:38:00.002-05:00

Hey there, my fella~coffee~lovers (Christina & Co.)!

I've had several good coffee comments from the gals that were over here last Monday night for Jan and Brite's baby shower. Several of you commented on how good the coffee tasted (I think it had a lot to do with the co-old temps!), but I thought I'd let y'all know that right now it's BOGO at Bi-Lo! That evening I served New England Coffee's French Vanilla Decaf. Although my favorite is their Hazelnut Crème.

And if you go here, you can receive a $.50 coupon, which of course one may double at Bi-Lo! And if you're into personality testings, here's a fun coffee quiz on their website!

Hoping you stay warm,
Me, a hazelnut married to a Columbian Supremo!

99 loads of wash goin' round...99 loads of wash!

2009-01-08T10:04:00.002-05:00

99 loads of wash goin' round...99 loads of wash!
Take one out...fold it around...98 loads of wash goin' round!

Well, my box 'o laundry detergent says that it will do 180 loads, and by dern today I think I'm gonna prove it! We have over-night company arriving here shortly (can't wait!), a trip to Atlanta tomorrow, and a baby shower here Monday night, so now's my only opportunity to get it all done, so I'm trying my best to get this laundry situation under control! I promised myself that I wouldn't go into the new year 'behind the 8-ball' with the laundry, yet here I still am! Aren't New Year's resolutions just made to be broken?!? Oops! Time to go switch out another load!

If anyone has any tips, I'd love to hear them!

"When it rains, it pours!"

2009-01-06T23:12:00.009-05:00

Well...remember my wonderful posting (back in August) when I announced the Farmer's Almanac's forecast for our area?!? Welp, they were right! A "brisk and wet winter" we have had!

Overall, it has been chilly, and it has rained and rained and rained! (I was expecting more snow, but the winter's not over just yet!) And just when you think it's rained all that it can rain, here rolls in the fog! Although I'm not really complaining, for I do have to say that the weather does make for a cozier home, and we have enjoyed snuggling, getting back into reality with school and house work! And I have loved every minute of it...up until yesterday afternoon!

Thinking about preparing supper, I walked into the kitchen and heard water moving...other than the rain falling outside! Yes I could hear water moving....it was in the basement!! So we called Daddy at work (isn't it nice being the weaker vessel/damsel in distress?), and he came on home to find that the basement was flooded and was filling up faster than the sub-pump could rid us of the water! [My husband informs me that it's actually called a "sump-pump." Oops...Did any of you gals notice?] Thankfully, I have most of our items in Rubbermaid boxes....Go, Rubbermaid and Sterlite! And Ricci's tools are up on shelving! But our sweet hubby/daddy got to work with his shop-vac (Dad, that Christmas gift you gave him ten years ago sure has been helpful over the years, but this beats all! Thanks again!), and Ricci worked most of the night from the moment he walked in the door. Knowing that he was wet and cold, I made a copycat recipe of Panera's Broccoli Soup, and I convinced the poor guy to come inside to have some soup...hmmm! It was so good! (Recipe at the bottom!) He sat down for about ten minutes to eat and pray with the girls before they went to bed. Then he immediately got back to work, but it only went from bad to worse!
Lovey, one of our two little night-owls, had rejoined me back downstairs (she "can't sleep with all of the quiet!"), so after hanging out with me for a while, I was about to take her back upstairs when we heard a terrible, terrible sound. It was a sound that you know something big is wrong....Eric came running up to ask me and Lovey if we were alright, so between the three of us we located where the sound happened. It was actually a heavy, thick drain that had ripped off the side of the house, taken some tree limbs and was resting on the telephone, cable lines above Eric's car. We moved his car, and I forbid him to touch any of it....remember, it's still pouring down rain while we're standing out there in the dark watching one thing after another happen! It really was so bad that all we could do was stand there in awe and laugh to keep from crying!

Ughhh...of course, Ricci can't go to work today (Yeah!) until we get something settled (no pun intended)! I'm sure that others at his office are in the same boat (again, no pun intended!), for the rain and flooding is all that's on the local news. Many of the schools are even closed! (Usually, that's to my girls' advantage, but today that's not going to benefit them...sorry, girls!)

And thankfully, today it has quit raining, and the temps are just dropping (brr!) while it's very windy....supposed to be helpful in drying us out! And the creek running beside our house (with its waterfalls) are just amazingly beautiful to hear and see!

If you're chilly too...and don't feel like running out to Panera, here's you a good copycat recipe! We all loved it! I was hoping that there would be leftovers; however, there weren't! So this recipe is so good that you might consider doubling this!

Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup

Very good soup...serve with crusty bread.

1 tablespoon melted butter (I used extra-virgin olive oil)
1/2 medium chopped onion
1/4 cup melted butter (I used extra-virgin olive oil)
1/4 cup flour
2 cups half-and-half cream
2 cups chicken stock
1/2 lb fresh broccoli
1 cup carrot, julienned
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (I chose not to use this)
8 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese
salt and pepper

Directions:
1. Sauté onion in butter. Set aside.
2. Cook melted butter and flour using a whisk over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Stir constantly and add the half & half.
3. Add the chicken stock. Simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Add the broccoli, carrots and onions. Cook over low heat 20-25 minutes.
5. Add salt and pepper and nutmeg.

What day is it?!? / Who cares!

2009-01-04T23:01:00.004-05:00

This week has been more than wonderful! After we had tears of sadness from our holiday visitors' returning to their homes, we got to work getting the house back together, putting a few Christmas things away, enjoying a few new Christmas gifts, writing thank you notes, etc.

It seemed that without a firm schedule, we would have to stop and wonder, "What day is it?!?" Who cared! All we knew was that it was a couple more days before Daddy had to go back to work and before our holiday vacation was over! Woohoo!

We did take time to see some Christmas lights/reindeer with friends, our annual New Year's Eve ("Pancakes and Pajamas") get together with friends and just some good'ole (greatly needed!) time to get our new thoughts together for the new year! We did some things around the house, some revamping of our school schedule, and just enjoyed being with one another!

One thing that I found while I was cleaning out my nightstand was a little note that I had written down on a piece of paper...I don't recall where I heard this wisdom...but I still think it's so wise!

Men need to know that their thoughts are respected.

Women need to know that their feelings are protected.

...and her new double-barrel shotgun!

2008-12-27T22:52:00.008-05:00

Christmas day was lovely and the evening itself was quite a treat! Since we did have quite a few extra bodies than we had beds, we settled the children onto pallets (quite cozy ones, I'll add!) And it was such a treat to watch the children go to bed with what new gifts they treasured! (If that's not all-telling, then what is?!?)

There was one child in particular that was the most interesting to watch (I won't tell you which child it is, for I'm sure that you can guess)! She went to sleep with a water bottle (in case she "grew thirsty during the night"), a lantern (that Pawpaw gave her Daddy), her new Bible (we give our children their own grown-up NKJ Bible when they fully master and enjoy reading), her new lovey (Mimi managed to secure the only "Brownie" replacement available in the US),... and her new double-barrel shotgun, should there be any bad guys! Yes, of course, it's a toy, but our little Annie Oakley is so cute!

The morning after Christmas, my mom and sister and I (with my precious baby niece in tow, of course!) ran off to steal some after-Christmas deals! And when we returned we found that our little infamous Annie Oakley had handed out all of her toy guns to her cousins and had assigned position postings to everyone! When we first walked into the house, one could have heard a pin fall. And I said to Ricci, "The house is so peaceful! I'm so thankful everything was easy for you fellas!" Then he gave me a look that implied that the house had just recently been returned to order! Evidently, there had been a show-down at the O.K. Corral, fathers, uncles and grandfathers included! How cute is that?!?

You mean it's all over?!?

2008-12-27T22:14:00.007-05:00

You mean it's all over?!? It seems like it was just yesterday that we put up our Christmas trees (one white Christmas tree in the living room and one colored Birthday tree in the family room...to keep presents separated, of course!) and that my parents arrived for the girls' Christmas pageant (e'hem, Tiffy, pics?!?), ... then (as my life seems to enjoy!) we hit the super-speed time warp, and BAM...everyone was packing up to leave! Although it did seem like a whirlwind (and it was!) what a fun time it was!

Advent readings
Cooking yummy foods
Celebrating several family members' birthdays!
Meems and P-Daddy watched the girls Sunday evening when Ricci and I ran to friends' Christmas party...thanks again, M & P!
Last minute gift deliveries to close friends and neighbors (not that they're not one and the same!)
Spending one day driving around looking at houses/property...in search of a specific plantation home (that I want Meems and P-Daddy to buy!)
Last minute shopping in all of the craziness (I know some hate it, but I love it...every one is so cheerful and has a common goal, making their house a home for friends and family!
Awaiting more fam to arrive
Opening up our stockings on Christmas Eve!
Sending out my sweet brother'n'law to look for that dern ingredient that always seems to sneak up on me missing....thanks, N!!! You're the best! "Ta! Ta!"
Opening up Christmas gifts and watching others open their gifts! (I did receive a gift from my daddy that will be a gift to last generations...I can't believe it...thanks, Daddy!)
Spending Boxing Day with more fam
And celebrating my parents' 40th wedding anniversary! Happy Anniversary!

Yes, sadly today everyone packed up and left...after celebrating two more birthdays (Happy Birthday, AngelWings and PawPaw!), and the house is once again quiet (relatively speaking!)...and we've all gone into detoxification! Even the dog!

Thankfully, the Lord is weaning us off of our high from the holidays, for tomorrow we're expecting friends that we sadly 'allowed' to move away this summer!

Lovey's "gift" is giving!

2008-12-18T00:55:00.005-05:00

Over the last couple of weeks, the girls have been giving gifts here and there to one another...it could be as simple as a decorated, paper-towel tube to an elaborate, treasured item of their own that they know that their sister would love to have! It has been cute to observe...for a while...then Daddy and Mommy had to step in and make some general guidelines to help them see that we shouldn't be too frivolous nor too shabby either. (Just taking an opportunity to teach a lesson!)

Then this evening I've been continuing to wrap a few tiny gifts while everyone is asleep, and I literally laughed out loud when I realized exactly what the 'help' was that Lovey was giving me today...

Earlier today, she put her Santa hat on to help deliver the gifts to the Christmas tree...the sweet, little thing was watching me wrap things, then she'd sweetly ask if she could put the label on the gifts, and of course I said she could! (I know that there will be one day that I'd crave having her there helping me with her little 'almost' 6 year-old penmanship, so even though I'd love it to be done just so, I was cherishing her help.)

Obviously, earlier today I didn't take the time to oversee any of her work, for she was very helpful in putting a gift tag atop every, single gift and then placing the gifts under the tree...all of them are under there, signed From: Tressie

Family RR line is "Under Construction"!

2008-12-17T10:50:00.006-05:00

Thinking about the holidays now...I'm such an opportunist/perfectionist that I always feel the weight on my shoulders of "too many things to do and too little time" during the holiday season!

I like to be organized, for I love a list that I can check off or a neat label that I can affix to something! And I've cracked myself up this year, for I had stashed more gifts than I remembered in our 'coat/gift' closet, which is so neat and tidy now that we've taken the Christmas gifts out of it. (I try to purchase little things for our friends and family all throughout the year so that I'm not overwhelmed with last-minute shopping...although that's fun too! And I try to keep an updated list inside the back of my planner for my eyes only, of course!)

I'm hoping that Santa has my next Franklin-Covey calendar refill under the tree (when asked, all I've suggested is that and a candy thermometer), for I've already started to 'pencil in' my annual holiday notes to my planner what would be good ideas for next year...examples...what to take to next year's this/that Christmas party, what would be a good gift for this person, when to get the paperwhites/amaryllis bulbs ready, etc.

Anyway, we still have a few things left to do around here to ready ourselves for Christmas...we have until tomorrow, for that's when company starts coming into town!

And already thinking about the new school year...I have to admit that I'm already looking forward to the hum-drum days of January, (after the double baby shower I'm planning is over, of course)! I eagerly anticipate starting back to school in January; however, I HAVE to work on our daily schedule and try to structure it a little more! Of course, this time of year is always a little unusual with fieldtrips and other special things to do for the holidays, but we did start back to school earlier this year to allow us to have more time off during the holidays...it was a little odd earlier in late-summer when people would say, "You've already started back to school?" But it sure is great now! I plan to do that from now on!

Anyway, the daily schedule that I have created for us accounts for every half-hour of our day; however, I have only used that as a "guide," and recently even that has gone by the wayside!!! It's time to regenerate and renew our school schedule! And what better time of year to do that than January! If you have one that you think works particularly well for your family, please feel free to share!

I'm really looking forward to the new year so that we can start afresh with some newer rails...so for those of you that are reading, Laying Down the Rails, I think you'll appreciate this announcement....
From now thru January 2nd, the Chan**** Railroad Line is "Under Construction"!

"Are we going somewhere special today?"

2008-12-16T07:45:00.001-05:00

As a typical first half of December, it's been a little hectic around here...the girls wake up asking, "Are we going somewhere special today?" "Who's coming over today?"

Last week, we had a nice visit with Ricci's mom, dad, aunt Carolyn, and uncle Jim, who were staying at some cabins not too far from here. We were able to meet them for supper at Canyon Grill (yum!!), and then they all went on to see the Christmas lights at RC (brrr!) before joining us at our house for some coffee and hot chocolate...and the amaretto-chocolate pecan pie that I had promised to Ricci's mom. We had hoped to see them the next day, but a dear friend of ours had a death in her family, so we were busily helping her make arrangements to attend the funeral and be with her family. Then ahhh....Sunday....a day of rest! Isn't it so true that when one has a true need for something, one so much more greatly appreciates it?!? Rest to the weary! A friend to the friendless! Money to the needy! We've all experienced some form or fashion of such a gift when needed! God gave us such a gift when He created the seventh day, so after church we came home and crashed!!!

Then Monday night and Tuesday morning I hosted my annual Christmas Open House. This year I hosted the open house with my friend Kelly Raschall (as Cricket calls her), and it was so much fun to collaborate with her. We already have bigger/better plans for next year! Toss in a fun birthday party and prairie club that afternoon, and it was early to bed that evening!

The next morning we went to see some friends in the Nutcracker, had lunch with good friends and their adorable daughter Mary Alice, made a last-minute doctor's appointment, did a touch of Christmas shopping, and then headed off to pick up Efrem and go to our Christmas banquet at church where Cricket and Lovey performed Matthew's Begats (for the last time for a while)...it's time to learn a new one...got somethin' else, AP?

On Wednesday afternoon, when I squeezed in a doctor's appointment to check my thyroid levels (for I was completely out, and they wanted to recheck my levels before prescribing more of the same dosage), it was all in God's perfect timing for me to be forced to squeeze that into my schedule, for when the doctor looked at me and then my throat, he said, "Uh, you need to be on an antibiotic!" I thought everyone felt worn out and tired at this time of year...with a touch of a sore throat! Whew...I feel so much better after having had a course of Z-pack! A new woman! I hadn't realized that I was feeling so poorly until he said that!

Today and tomorrow I'll (hopefully) wrap up my Timeless Treasures orders and get them delivered, so that's great! And for those of you that joined us, I so greatly appreciate your friendship and support! I do enjoy giving/selling monogrammed jewelry and embroidered gifts, and I also enjoyed getting some of Kelly's new books!

Nourishment of the heart and soul

2008-11-30T19:03:00.004-05:00

What a great day Miss Craig had today...Doctor Henry came in today to say that her heart rhythm's were looking great and that she hadn't had a fever in almost 24 hours, so he said that she could go home today or tomorrow...her children wanted her to stay at least until Monday, so we think she'll most likely come home tomorrow. As a treat to her close friends and loved ones, her children have "given her permission" for her to come to our home versus going to a rehab, and I think she'll do just great! What a treat this is for those of us who have usually been on the receiving end of her sweet love...e'hem...custard, anyone?!?

Yes, I'm confident and trusting that she'll do really well in making a full recovery to her usual busy self! And if I do say so myself, I come from a rich heritage of ladies that can make a mean pallet on the divan (must be said with all of southern accents) as Alal always called it. She's already looking sooo much better! I've got the house ready, menus planned, a fire in the fire place, and she's sure to have plenty of rest and recovery...although I've teased her about having quite a bit of laundry to fold in her awake hours! [;)] Seriously, I'm just kidding!

Back to her day today, I have to say that the hospital does have a problem or two here and there (what hospital doesn't?), but to hear scripture and prayer over the PA system really struck a tender nerve with me...how priceless is that?!? And this afternoon, it was so wonderful to see those, dressed in their church clothes, coming to visit their loved ones...and then the pastors that also came to minister to the weak. I just really enjoyed observing the nourishment that so many of the patients received both in heart and soul. Yes, it was an unusual Lord's day, but a blessed one at that!

National News Alert - Craig turns down trip to Walgreens!

2008-11-29T16:37:00.002-05:00

National News Alert - Craig turns down trip to Walgreens!

On Friday (no...it was just on Wednesday...I'm so tired, I don't know what today is), as I was finishing up a newsletter that I'd been working on here and there, I kept getting odd phone calls from a sweet friend...and I offered to run her down to Walgreens and the grocery store with us...she turned it down! Then after getting a call from her daughter, we went over there to check on our sweet friend, and she really wasn't herself; she was extremely weak and dizzy. So after talking to Julie, a friend that's a cardiac nurse, we decided it would be best to go ahead and "go on to the hospital to get checked out."

Well, in true Miss Craig fashion, (I just have to paint this story, for it's hysterical!), she certainly didn't want to put anyone out by taking up any more of our time, but after we convinced her that it was the right thing to do, she said, "Well, what do you think I should wear?" We told her that she looked fine wearing what she was (it looked comfy to me!), and she said that she would be right back...she was going to change her clothes regardless. So Julie took our girls with her (a huge treat to them!), and after Ricci and I waited for Miss Craig for a minute or so, I went to check on her...and she had completely changed her clothes from head to toe!

She dressed as if she was going to a Christmas cantata...after just the right outfit was assembled, then we had to pick out just the right pin to put in her lapel, her favorite perfume, grab some new tic-tacs and then pick out the Fall-season Kleenex! Although I was really anxious to get her to the ER, it was hysterical and I couldn't help but laugh at her! She does remind me all too much of someone else!

I'm thankful that God was faithful in allowing us to get down there to the ER in our timely fashion (key word "fashion" not "timely"), for when we got there, they took her immediately in, for her heart rate was really high (an understatement)! After a really long afternoon/evening in the ER, they finally admitted her to the hospital, for her heart was still in fibrillation.

I will never/ever forget how immensely kind she was...even when they had so many failures getting two IVs started, she'd sweetly say, "I know; you're doing the best job that you can do." Then there was the common unenthusiastic but still cheerful, "Oh, happy day." She was continuously so kind, sweet and gentle to everyone, even though she wasn't feeling well at all. After 8 hours of staying in the ER, she was taken to another floor for a couple of hours before being admitted into her own room. Bless her heart, her kind, sweet, gentle, appreciative spirit never once left her; she is such an inspiration to all.

After Ricci saw that we were settled, he went on home to get a couple hours of sleep before retrieving the girls...who were enjoying their sweet digs...especially Annie, who came home with a gorgeous brown egg laying sweetly in a make-shift baby bed of hay and straw, and she excitedly told us that she also brought home some fresh goat's milk that she would feed to her baby chick once it hatched! Thanks, Jen and Julie!

This afternoon, her son Paul came to be with her, and I'm just now getting back home (I know that she'd do that for any of us in a heartbeat), and it was a real honor...but I'm exhausted! Ricci's mom graciously offered to move the family's Thanksgiving celebration to tomorrow (Friday), so we'll be driving down to be with them tomorrow...after a good night's sleep!

I'm too old for this!

2008-11-27T23:11:00.010-05:00

If this month gets any crazier, I'm going to drive myself down to the nut farm...I know that they at least have clean sheets down there; right?!?

Trying to get back into the swing of things after this last little trip ('vacation detox' as Auburn calls it) has been for the birds! We all came back home pooped and flirting with colds...then just as I was trying to get back on top of laundry, homeschooling, etc. Annie walks through the room with her hair doin' something funky! Looking at her across the room with my early morning eyes' squinting at her, I asked her what was up with her hair. Upon further (and closer) investigation, I realized that it was gone! G-O-N-E! Reflecting back onto one thing that Nancy Wilson said down at the beach...."Remember to act, not re-act." So I calmly walked upstairs to find what was "gone" only to see that I couldn't find any remains, so I calmly asked her to come upstairs and show me where it was....she had hidden it. Uh....then...I re-acted! I fell apart, and it was a downward spiral from there! I knew that whatever occurred that morning would "make a memory" so I was being careful about what I said or did, but oh...I cried and cried and cried! (For those that know me really well, they know that I don't love change, and I don't love false teeth or hair...I know...I'm weird! So this really sent me over the edge in a horrible way!) And before you mention it to her, please don't...we went out and purchased quite a few new hats, so we're hoping that we can keep it respectfully quiet around her for a while....as Charley optimistically pointed out, it's hat season after all! And she does look really good in hats!

So as I've tried to recover from that "episode," I've also struggled with a birthday that I didn't want to see come...or go...but who can stop time? And the elections....but we won't even go there...other than to say that some of us (me!) need to remember to vote once more in this election run-off! Urghh...I gotta remember that!

Knowing that I'd had a difficult week, sweet L said that we needed to get out and just enjoy some fresh air and laughter, so we got our fams settled and then hit the town (shopping, dinner, coffee and lots of great conversation, serious and hysterical)...just what I needed! We had such a great time that we didn't even pay attention to the time, and when we did...it was already morning!

Knowing that I was supposed to meet another gal-pal at Barnes and Noble at 7AM for a book signing (who signs books at that hour?!?!?), L knew that I just couldn't do it if I drove back home to drive right back out there, so she and I quietly slipped into her house (closer to B&N) and crashed for an hour or two before sneaking back out to go catch up with Rebekah, our other nutty gal-pal, who got me psyched about meeting Glenn Beck! L didn't have much interest in Glenn Beck, but she went anyway to show her loyal friendship...and because she hoped in the slight chance that Martha Stewart might make a surprise appearance in being there signing some of her books! Sadly, she wasn't! But Glenn was!So after recuperating from that all-nighter that I'm feeling too old to be able to pull off anymore, I once more tried to get back to the land of the living. And after all, this is when life really speeds up! "It's the most wonderful time of the year!" (Hope you don't mind that great Christmas song stuck in your head as it is mine; I love it!) A little shopping for the day and some cooking for our traditional "friends' Thanksgiving" over at Kendall's (fun/fun...thanks, Kendall, Shell & Co.!), then we thoroughly enjoyed getting together that evening with our supper club for a little bday party for LarLar and myself (fun/fun...thanks, Leah and Cici!) Note to self: get more Woodchuck Amber Draft Cider for the next supper club...hmmm...it's soo good!

So the rest of the week has been filled with a little of this and that...homeschooling, laundry, housework (um...I think I dropped the ball on that one), shopping, cooking (that's the fun part!), finalizing this next month's newsletter for our homeschool group, etc.

We're all getting that great feeling of excitement with the chill in the air as well as the adrenaline rush of jumping into the shopping crowds as we prepare to celebrate our season of Thanksgiving and our Lord and Savior's birth! Happy Holidays!!!

And we're off....

2008-11-20T15:53:00.021-05:00

This time of year is just amazing...it's crazy...it's hectic, but it's amazing! Just some of the enjoyments of the season....the glowing colors of fall (and this year has proven to be more spectacular than anyone could have predicted!), the beautiful sound of the fall leaves' falling and blowing around (especially as little feet swish their way through them!), the incredible smell of the heat coming on for the first time (yes, I'm sure it's not good for you, but you will find all of us gals' hovering our heads over the vents to breathe it in with joy!), the excitement of seeing who is going to play the first Christmas commercial (will it be Cool-Whip or Hallmark?), the remarks of criticism that we hear and make regarding which store that plays Christmas music "too early" while we secretly hum along with it?!? November is always full of pleasures both great and small!
This November seemed to hit me without warning! I swear the other day I was thinking, "I wonder if we can get in one more trip to the pool?!?" Then Jen's birthday (November 1st!) was here...happy birthday to you again, sweet sis...I love you with all of my heart!

Trying to take advantage of the glorious weather, we invited the college students that attend our church over to our house for chili...our church parish group and friends helped host it...there were over 40 here, and although I fretted about our not having enough food, the weather, etc., it turned out great! There was more than enough food, and the weather could not have been more perfect!

And then that week we were off for a trip that I knew was off in the distance...not until the beginning of November! Well, before I could sit down and think about it, it was November! It was time to go and cast our votes...then go get our free Starbucks...then send the dog and fishie on their "vacation" and then begin packing our things while anxiously watching the electoral votes' accumulating. After doing all of that we put a few last minute clothing items for our trip in the wash and went to bed knowing that our great God is providential and knew all along that our nation's politics would be 'changing.'

The next morning, we awoke to find that perhaps we should have inspected all of the little pockets before washing our favorite clothing items....aghhh...there was ink all over our clothes! And we're not talking our 'stay-at-home clothes' but our 'go-clothes' as the girls call them! Some of our nicest 'go-clothes'!

Thankfully, some of our friends that were traveling with us as far as B'ham, reassured us that it couldn't be all that bad...until they saw them! But they whisked them away (no pun intended) ahead of us on our trip to B'ham...to Motown where they spent their first day of vacation in the capable hands of Mo, my new best friend! And we met up with the rest of our travel peeps and drove on to B'ham to visit the Birmingham Museum of Art where we visited the incredible DaVinci exhibit...it really was great! There are things that I just didn't know about DaVinci before that exhibit...for instance, he was left-handed and drew from the right to the left to avoid smudges, etc. He hid many drawings inside of other drawings or writings. He did many dissections (until the pope put a stop to it) just so that he could know the intricate details of how muscles/bones/etc. worked together. And there were several writings of his that could only be read by looking at it in a mirror....it was fascinating to get to know him better!

After spending some time there, we drove on to the B'ham Zoo to catch up with Lars, Bubs and Nan. And K-ren even came to join us! It was a great afternoon to enjoy the zoo...I can only recall seeing one other couple there with a child, so we pretty much had the run of the zoo! And again...the fall leaves were amazing!

After a fun romp through the zoo, we went to have supper with K-ren (it was sooo good to see her!) before heading over to the hotel! There we met back up with Lars, Nan and Mo....who is a big-time-bad-time hero! She got almost everything out of our clothes...they were practically as good as new! I will never figure out how she did it! I've been told that Mo has this spiritual gift of laundry stain removal, and now I believe it!

Whew...it was a long but fun day!

The next morning we awoke early to have breakfast with K-ren before she headed on to work; then "we" repacked the car and headed on further south via Dothan, AL to have lunch with sweet Uncle Charles. We had a wonderful afternoon with him...albeit too short, for my cell phone kept ringing, and it was my nephew saying, "Ya Ya, are you here yet? Well, where are you and my cousins?" And yes...my prayers were answered...Uncle Charles set us up with lots of fresh pecans and peanuts, raw and boiled, a couple of jars of muscadine jelly... hmmm! The love we have for him and feel from him is immeasurable! He is so wonderful! And as the mayor of Graceville, he's quite a busy fella, so we had to let him go, and we once more hit the road.

The drive down to Sandestin for the conference didn't seem to take that long...we stopped for groceries and then drove on to the condo where Meems, P-Daddy, Jen and the kids were awaiting us. After "we" unpacked the car, we grabbed a bite to eat and then headed over to the conference center just in time to hear Steve Wilkins begin a session on "Friendship." The conference this year was especially great...Steve spoke on friendship while Doug Wilson spoke on the different rooms of the home. I'll be happy to share my notes with anyone...I want to re-listen to the sessions, and I can share the link to hear the audio recordings.

Later that evening Nate came in, so we all put the kids to bed before spending some time together...trying not to wake the parents, ours that is!

The next day we raced from here to there...not my favorite feeling, but that evening Cricket and Lovey were in a talent show...they sung Andrew Peterson's "Matthew's Begats" once more and tied for first place with our friend Brittany! Woohoo, girls! The only thing a little skeptical is that the prizes were awarded in $2 bills...something that only one man I know carries....hmmm...I still have to ask P-Daddy about that! When our family friend Andy interviewed them after they sang, Cricket leaned into the microphone and said, "We've even sang this on stage with Josh Groban!" And Lovey quickly corrected her..."You mean..Andrew Peterson!" It was too cute! I just thought...at least Cricket mistook AP for Josh Groban and not one of the other cd's in the car! (Not that there are bad ones....we just have a pretty well-rounded appreciation of music!)

The next day was rushed once more...too many things to see and do when at home! Jen, Nate, Eric and I threw (with help from Drue and MaryAnn! Thank you!) a little 40th Anniversary party together for Meems and P-Daddy...if they had known about it, they wouldn't have gone, but we were able to successfully pull it off! Woohoo!

Then a little shopping at the outlets (there's a sign when you enter the Beaches of South Walton that says that one must not visit the area without shopping at the outlets), so that's just what we did! Then we raced back to the condo to get everyone dressed for the ball! The entire trip was such a blurr that I didn't even slow down enough to take all of the photos that I should have, but here are a couple of cute photos from the evening!

Mimi made the granddaughters matching skirts...they are so beautiful! Thanks, Meems!

Cricket and her dance partner were dancing so well, but I could only catch her photo from the back!

Sarah kept trying to convince Mimi to swing her like YaYa...I made the mistake of twirling her through one too many Virginia reels...and that gal's getting too big to hold and twirl, but oh the twinkle in her eye made it so worth it! She loved it!
The girls ended up having a few fellas in line to dance with them...AngelWings did say that the "McPherson boys" were quite good dancers! I thought you'd get a kick out of that, Joyce! What a fun evening it was!

The next morning, I awoke before the sun came up, so I gently woke up Cricket, and she and I hurriedly ran down to the beach and sat quietly on a towel, wrapped in blankets, as we watched the sunrise. It is something that is there every, single day...and we don't even think twice about the glory that it is! What a special moment it was when we watched it so quickly rise up over the gulf waters and move so quickly away from the horizon! Thank you, dear Lord, for that special morning!

Then at church later that morning when we took communion, Cricket looked up at me and said, "That bread's not too bad!" Then after we 'partook' the wine, I have to say that Cricket had me about fall out of my chair with laughter when she looked up at me and said, "And the wine doesn't taste too bad either!"

That afternoon and evening....I loved sooo very much! We had such a relaxing Sunday dinner...relaxing all but for the face and stomach muscles that ached from laughing so hard at Mom's telling us every detail that she could remember about a family from her childhood that had a chest full of confederate money. She had us all rolling! Then the afternoon consisted of peaceful rest and then a mad dash back to the beach to watch the evening sunset.

Then we returned to the condo for a yummy dinner (if I do say so myself...Mom, Jen and I all took turns preparing the meals at the condo, and I had BBQ chicken slow-roasting all afternoon in the crockpot). And after dinner, the grandkids began a highly competitive game of hide'n'seek. A game that not even the adults could resist! And although we limited the hiding places to the bottom two floors of the condo....there were more hiding places than anyone could have imagined! Even baby Quinn got in on the action!

I'm still not sure who won the many games...AngelWings who stayed hidden the longest by standing in a hidden corner of one of the showers, Drewby who stayed hidden wrapped inside a comforter that was rolled and laying atop a piece of furniture, Cricket who stayed hidden laying under a coffee table/ottoman that had only three visible inches under it, Lovey who was hidden behind a chair that clearly had no room behind it, Ricci "and others" who were hiding in a long closet...each time one was found, they'd step out to give themselves up...all the while they were quickly closing the door to keep other peeps hidden. It was a hilariously (word?) good time!

The next morning, we requested 'late check-out' just so that we could hit the beaches "just one more time" to breathe in that good, salty air!

"Sring me 'round one mo' time, Ricci! Pwease?"

Then we sadly packed up the condo, said our goodbyes and drove over to Meems and P-Daddy's house for a few minutes before heading back to the winery....I mean, home!

It's hard to believe that we were swimming in the gulf earlier that day, and as we traveled closer and closer to home, we were having to adjust the car temperature to warmer and warmer. When we stopped in B'ham for a late supper with K-ren, it was freezing...relatively speaking not literally...but by morning, literally!

Little vacations from temperatures, seasons, etc. make one realize just how blessed we really are! And it often makes coming home all the more special...even if it does mean that we're back in the rat-race of this hectic, crazy but amazing season of life!

"Home again~Home again~Jiggety Jig!"

Calling all early voters!

2008-11-04T09:20:00.005-05:00

Did you vote early?!?

I didn't, for two reasons: one...I'm slightly OC, and I want to know that my vote was cast on "the" day and two...mainly for the fact that I love the hype of standing in line with my fellow voters...friends/neighbors that I haven't seen in a long time!

Anyway, a friend of mine sent this to me, and I thought some of you early voters might be interested in this website...
http://www.sos.georgia.gov/elections/polllocator/PollLocator.aspx

I would assume that most states would have this web-opportunity to make sure your ballot was officially received.

Electing a US President in Plain English

2008-10-30T18:22:00.006-04:00

I have to admit that I've never fully understood the entire US election process...all I keep remembering is a confusing conversation in high school in my government class, when someone said, "So although we have elected them to be our representative to the electoral college...they can vote any which way they choose?!?"

And I remember the answer being "Yes!" Aghhh!

Why couldn't I have paid attention more closely?!? (No comments please, Mom and Dad!)

So I was thankful when a friend (thanks, Karen!) sent this three or four minute YouTube video to me and the kids...it breaks the electoral process down into simple English!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok_VQ8I7g6I

"Do you need some deodorant?!?"

2008-10-30T15:30:00.008-04:00

Cricket LOVES to go through the Sunday paper with her daddy! Me...I just like it for the sale ads! Not that I can clearly remember any of them and match them up with savings, but I like to think that I do!
But I just think it's so humorous the way Cricket is attracted to the same sections that her daddy is attracted to! I just think it's so cute the way they both think so much alike! But one area where she thinks like her momma...she loves to look at the ads and clip out coupons...however, she thinks that if she has a coupon for this or that, then we just have to hop in the car to go and get it!

Last night, while she was sitting at the foot of our bed she said, "Momma/Daddy, do you need some deodorant?"

"Um...excuse me?"

"Do you need deodorant? Or dishwashing detergent?"

It took us a second to notice that she was clipping out the Walgreen's coupons from their sale ad!

And if you're wondering...yes, they are having a great sale on deodorant and dishwashing detergent! Now...if I can just get my act together and combine those with other coupons...then I can pretend that I'm a coupon-savvy gal like some of my other friends!

Mental soup, anyone?!?

2008-10-22T21:55:00.003-04:00

Tonight I served lentil soup with smoked sausage, cornbread and sweet tea. And while the girls were setting the table, Lovey hollered, "I love mental soup!"

This colder weather (I'm freezing!) has me in the mood for yummy soups and chilis! Hmmm! I need some new soup recipes...got any?!?

Boiled Peanut Restriction

2008-10-22T16:24:00.007-04:00

In our house, no one wants to be put on boiled peanut restriction! It's the worst! Growing up, I thought that everyone had the sophisticated taste for boiled peanuts, grits, sweet tea, etc. But now I appreciate that there are those that haven't developed their taste for these fine things...it's all the more for us! Yes, we LOVE boiled peanuts, so when Meems and P-Daddy brought us up some of the biggest peanuts we've ever seen, we immediately started them a-boilin'! Hmmm....they're so good! And these angels of ours can put'em away! Actually, we all can, but Angel Wings in particular had us crackin' up...we eventually had to put her on 'boiled peanut restriction'!

We told her that she had already eaten half of them, and she said, "I know...this is my last one!" Then we'd turn around, and she was still eating them...in her honest, sweet voice, she humbly said, "I know...I know! I thought I had stopped, but each time I look down, there's another one in my hand!" Bless her heart!

So as the tomato season vanishes, God has provided us with our yummy boiled peanut season! And we'll soon start clammering for the pecans that sweet Uncle Charles sends up to us from Graceville, FL (other side of the state line from Dothan, AL).

Thanks for the peanuts and pecans, Mimi, Pawpaw and Uncle Charles!

A whirlwind of a week and a day!

2008-10-21T20:33:00.005-04:00

Whew, doggy, have the days sped up! Every year at this time (beginning of fall) as the days grow shorter, the to-do lists seem to grow longer! What's the deal?!?

Last week we 'almost' finished up the fall cleaning (I'm almost caught up on my laundry...and by that I mean 'under five loads' to do! I still have hope that I'll get there!); we had our first day of prairie club; the girls and I manned the house while Ricci was away on a business trip! Then Meems and P-Daddy came to visit...Mimi's annual October 'flee from town so that no one throws me a surprise bday party' visit! And before I knew it...the week was over, my head hit a pillow, and I was out! Too much to do~Too little time!

What a fun visit we had while Mimi and PawPaw were here! On Friday, Dad was able to spend some time out on their property while Mimi, the girls and I hit the town looking for deals, eating at Taco Roc (of course!), and meeting L and kids at the playground for an impromptu play date.

Of course, there were several funny things that occurred while they were here, but one really funny thing was that Mimi brought me a 'bag of stuff' that she had found under my bed at home...in that bag was a ton of notes written in high school. Why I saved them back then? I don't know! But it was fun going through them...most of them written between myself, Lorrie, Chip, Adam, and I haven't finished going through them...they are too funny! "If I knew then, what I know now!" Anyway, while I was reading them...out of the blue, Mom asks, "Have you ever heard anything from Eryn Ferguson?" I told her, "No, I don't think that I've seen her since the evening we graduated from high school." Then as I walked into the family room (where our computer is)...there were TWO emails from Eryn Ferguson! Aghhh! ISN'T THAT CRAZY?!? I screamed and told mom, and she knows that Jen and I always kid each other about our lives seeming as if we're on the Truman show (you know...that our entire life is actually a TV show). So she kiddingly acted as if she was holding something up to the lights as if they were our sponsor for that episode! Aghh...yes, we have a crazy (FUN!) family!

Then after Ricci returned home from his trip, we went to the corn maze...lots of fun getting lost and riding the hay rides! Then we attempted to make it into the Wilderness Temple downtown; we waited in a slowly moving line for about two hours, and as the sun set we grew cold, tired, and hungry! We were probably going to be the next in line, but we all decided at the same time...we were out-a-there! (Has anyone been yet? Is it worth our going back?) So Dad took us all to dinner, then we went home and had a little bday party for Meems!

From Saloon to the Prairie!

2008-10-21T19:58:00.012-04:00

"From Saloon to the Prairie!" This is the title of the pattern that I've begun to use in my making prairie dresses for the girls.

Now... I've never sewn before other than decorative sewing (pillows, curtains...and other things that don't require a pattern...and cross-stitching, of course!), but L promised that if Mom got me started that she'd help me finish them up before the girls' next prairie club! And ohhh..I can't wait until they're finished...they're going to be so cute!

Mimi, thanks for shopping with me for the fabric...and keeping me on track! (I'm not crafty, but I am creative, so I always aimlessly walk through Hobby Lobby looking at all of the endless 'possibilities'!) And thanks, L, for getting me started in this new endeavor! It's sew much fun!

Surely, I'll post some pics when finished!

The girls on YouTube!

2008-10-13T22:48:00.009-04:00

This weekend, we were invited to an Andrew Peterson concert for his new album's release, Resurrection Letters, Vol. II.

It was a great concert; the first half was the story behind each song on the new album, and the second half of the concert was songs by request. So of course, Annie and Tressie thrust their little arms into the air, and once they offered their request, it was followed by "I can help you!" And if a momma and daddy's heart could have ever burst, this was one of those times...we were so proud of the girls! It was too precious!

Annie ran up on stage, followed by little Tressie, who walked up there following big sissie's lead. AP ever-so-kindly shared the stage with them and even cracked up a couple of times when Annie improvised the bass guitar...something that we hear every day but that he wasn't expecting.

Of ALL times, guess who was without a camera?!? Me!!! I couldn't believe it! I ALWAYS have my camera! Thankfully, there was a great couple sitting behind us that overheard my dying request for a camera, and they captured most of it on video! Oh...my new best friends!

And thankfully Eric's friend, Drew, who was promoting the concert, captured this great photo!

Thank you sooo much, Drew, James & Becky! And Andrew!!

And Tif... don't worry about giving us a CD for Christmas; we got one while we were there! ;) Thankfully, this one too was signed...to avoid any future confusion..hee hee!

"If you are experiencing a mental health emergency..."

2008-10-13T20:36:00.004-04:00

I just find it amazing the way God made men and women so differently! You know...the way men have to rationalize and 'fix' things while women are more emotional and often turn things into something irrational and make it a bigger deal than it actually is! "Bless our hearts!"

Yes, us women are pretty emotional at times, but how I love being a woman, a weaker vessel. I can't imagine carrying the weight of the responsibility for an entire family! I guess that's a reminder for us wives to pray more fervently for our dear husbands.

Within the last two days, I've had two good girlfriends call and say that they were basically getting ready to freak out....well, let me join the club! Please!!! Perhaps it's just the business of this time of year...or perhaps it's the change of the season...I don't know, but I feel it too!

As a wife and mother, there are many stresses that can pull us down (duties in the home, caring for our loved ones, friends, extended family, commitments in the church and community, etc.), but somehow we manage!

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."

I Corinthians 10:13

I'm so very thankful for this promise! He does always provide us a way out; doesn't He? I also find it amazing the way we can feel our blood pressure drop... by smelling or just holding a sweet baby (shout out to Baby Kate!), seeing a cute puppy, or just laughing with good friends.

At the end of one of my phone calls, my sweet friend and I were laughing so hard about her calling her insurance company about something totally unrelated to what she heard on the other end of the phone..."If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please hang up and dial 911." Now that's funny!

Lions, Tigers, and...Sea Monsters, oh my!

2008-10-12T23:03:00.001-04:00

The weekend...ahhh...we can't wait until Friday evening's arrival, for that's when Daddy comes home from work and promises not to go back until Monday! And staying up late on Friday nights, sleeping in late on Saturday mornings...mmm!

But this Saturday we had a rushed start to our day...we were all enjoying the warmth of our beds and then all of a sudden, we remembered...we were given free tickets to the educator's preview of the new National Geographic IMAX movie, Sea Monsters! And we didn't want to miss it! And I'm so glad that we didn't, for I have to say...this film is actually one of my favorite IMAX films yet!

It's a fascinating film that follows the life of a Dolichorhynchops, named Dolly, and her brother.

The movie begins with a little girl following her dog through the woods, and she comes across a washed out cliff that is revealing a wonderful fossil. The film flips back and forth between computer generated images of what was once under the ocean's surface ('thousands and thousands' of years ago!) and what is now above the waters' edge...say in the middle of continents (Kansas, Israel, etc.) where paleontologists (1900's to present) are finding the most amazing fossils of "Dolly's" and her other seamates.

The film takes us through Dolly's lifetime of what she would have seen and experienced (including a shark attack... that she survives...carrying with her a shark-tooth souvenir!); then as the film ends we follow the last few days of her life...and then merge back to the present day and watch archaeologists uncover the fossils of a Dolichorhynchops... with a shark's tooth embedded in its right wing.

Armed with knowledge/common sense, it's such a wonderful film to 'bring to life' what the earth perhaps looked like at one time (pre-flood?), and it helped me to realize that when the earth was indeed covered with so much water (and hmmm...fewer people) it makes sense to me that the waters would have been more alive! More water...more large animals of the sea! Following this logic (post-flood), it also makes sense to me that as our Creator promised to never flood the earth again AND as He promised to Abram (later called Abraham) that He would bless him with as many descendants as the stars in the heavens [Genesis 15:5]....it makes sense to me that we descendants would need more land!

I'm not sure if too many remember the many emails immediately following the deadly Tsunami that struck Sri Lanka during the Christmas holidays in 2004...the emails were full of U-G-L-Y (and very strange looking!) fish/animals that were supposedly washed ashore as a result of the Tsunami. Whether they're a result of the Tsunami or not, it's all very fascinating to me to think that our Creator created so many different species of animals...for our enjoyment, which in turn gives Him praise!

I highly recommend this film! The music, the information, and the scenery is amazing! But do take caution that it's not for those with slight water anxieties! As if Jaws wasn't enough!

Time is a-fly-ing!

2008-10-12T23:00:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure how my bloggin' girlfriends get an opportunity to keep their blogs up to date...I don't!

How do you do it?!?

I seem to be in this pattern where we get so busy that blogging isn't anywhere near the top of my to-do list, then I have to go back, download my photos, jog my memory, and then 'post' my posts!

I guess it doesn't bother me all that much, since it's still way faster than scrapbooking, and I know that my blogging (and back-blogging!) will one day assist my scrapbooking...which one day I hope to get back to doing, for the girls sooo love looking back at our fun memories!

So now for a little back-bloggin'!

A sweet act of love...

2008-10-10T11:02:00.003-04:00

I have to post this, for I just think it's one of the sweetest gifts of the week/month/year....and I've been in puddles over here...and I think you might be too!!!

Knowing that some of our dearest friends had opened up their home this week to a little girl in need (the girl's single mom works outside of the home and needed childcare for her daughter during her school's fall break...my heart is already saddening), yesterday Ricci came home and told me a sweet story about something that had happened.

After a couple of days of my friend's watching this little girl, the little girl is really enjoying the new atmosphere in which her mom is leaving her every day. So one day, it was apparent that the girl needed extra love (she was wearing the same clothes from the day before,...), so my friend initiates the gentlest, overwhelming gift of love...she offers the little girl a bubble bath!

What a kind gesture of love! When Ricci told me this...I burst into tears! Isn't that precious?!? There are opportunites all around us to show God's love to others, and this one just hit me like a ton of bricks! I just found this kind gesture overwhelming, for it was so gentle and yet so impacting! What a sweet way to show God's love to this little girl in an effective way. She (her clothes, spirit, etc.) was washed and made new!

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. James 3:12-14

Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. Matthew 18:5

Friend, you are truly a friend to have, and I'm so thankful to call you mine....you know who you are! I love ya!

Thank you, Daddy!

2008-10-04T23:31:00.001-04:00

This afternoon, Cricket received a piece of mail out of the mailbox! Her "very own piece of mail" as the girls squeal!

After reading about Cricket and her love of flowers, Pawpaw sent her a sweet note with some photo slides of beautiful flowers that my Pawpaw had taken. The slides are beautiful, but even more is the love and care that they invest in one another's lives. The girls each have their own individual relationships with my parents (and my sister and her family), individually. And it's so cute to observe.

After Cricket opened her letter and had Angelwings read it aloud to her (it was written in his beautiful, fancy handwriting), she immediately wanted to call him. So she did...and I have to admit that I did overhear her leave her message on the phone...like such a big girl! She was so excited, and her voice was so animated in all of her appreciation! And it's so funny to listen to her when he calls her back. They'll stay on the phone with one another forever (especially with Aunt Jenni!)...just to talk...and to see what each one has been up to!

I just so greatly appreciate that my children have such a close-knit relationship with my parents. Thank you, daddy, for taking your time to invest yourself in their lives! And for so many other reasons...too many to count!

Friends, fieldtrips and fun!

2008-10-04T23:30:00.007-04:00

This time of year is so much fun for friends, fieldtrips and fun! This week's weather has been spectacular, and our homeschool group hosted a fun picnic and fieldtrip to the Tennessee River Gardens & Nature Preserve/Butterfly Pavilion, a private/non-profit organization, which is a spectacular wildflower garden and wildlife preserve in the heart of the Tennessee River Gorge!

Once everyone arrived (we had over 200 people), we took a short, guided hike, which included wildflower gardens, duck and rainbow trout ponds, a real fossil bank and a Great Blue Heron rookery!

This is a photo from the rainbow trout pond...Greg W. wouldn't believe it! They were HUGE! And our guide had each of the kids take a handful of fish food (no, not Ben and Jerry's, Jen!) and toss it into the water at the same time...the fish went CRAZY....like piranhas! It was an amazing site to see!

After the hike, some of us enjoyed a tour of an enclosed butterfly pavilion which houses 20 native butterfly species both in flight and in ALL stages of metamorphosis. Open late spring to early fall, the pavilion includes eggs, larvae, chrysalis and butterfly, as well as species-specific host plants and nectar plants. We've been there at a different time of the year, and there seemed to be more butterflies then, but it was still fun to watch the kids' faces as they found a chrysalis or butterfly!

After a long afternoon picnicking, playing and visiting with friends on the grassy banks of the TN River, picking the last of the beautiful summer wildflowers, and doing some art sketches, we went on home....perhaps it was just all too much for this little Lovey, who fell asleep sitting at the dining table!

What's his name?!?

2008-10-01T22:04:00.000-04:00

Cute conversation that I had this evening with Lovey...it just proves how well/poorly (?...you decide!) balanced our music selections are:

Lovey: What's his name again?
Me: Who?

Lovey: That guy!
Me: Who? (So I started tossing out random names making her laugh/think.)

Lovey: That guy that sings! It's not Josh Groban. It's not Michael Buble. It's not Andrew Peterson.
Me: PonyMan? (aka Gordon Lightfoot)

Lovey: Um...no ma'am. The one who has the symphony? Oh, yeah...Beethoven! Whoever has Beethoven in their head, raise your hand!

Long weekend! Late nights!

2008-09-29T22:19:00.008-04:00

This weekend we had the pleasant surprise of getting to see some long-time, family friends that we haven't seen in a looong time! And what's even better is when you're able to pick up where you left off! It was a pleasant surprise that they were going through "our neck 'o the woods"! Pastor Schneider is the one that married Eric and I, and we've known them...forever! So after church, we had the Steves over for lunch along with the Schneiders, and it was a great afternoon to just be able to catch up with one another (along with a little chaos of all of the little peeps running here and there!)....after lunch the fellas just stayed at the table ALL afternoon while us gals sat in the living room and enjoyed a great Sunday afternoon...else called 'a day of rest.'

Then today... we're getting back into the swing of the 'work' week. Mondays...else called 'a day of detox'! (We're having to wean ourselves off of a fun weekend with daddy at home with us!) So this evening at devotions, everyone stayed awake...then after each individual was finished praying...one by one 'we lost a good soldier' as my dad has always said.

First, Lovey prays; then (if it's late at night) we jiggle Cricket, our early riser to pray; then Angelwings, our late-night gal, prays; then myself; then Ricci. But this evening everyone's so tired, so after each prayed, each fell asleep.

Lovey, trying so hard to stay awake, fell on into sweet slumber sitting on top of my purse while she held onto Pandi and her cute, little ballet backpack that Mimi gave her.
And then there's Cricket who gets more snuggly the sleepier she gets! All who know her well know that she just can't stay awake too late...not for anything!

My early riser!

2008-09-29T14:49:00.004-04:00

Capturing a still, quiet moment!

Two things my little Cricket loves...cutting flowers and the peaceful, early moments of the day!

Geaux, LSU!

2008-09-27T22:17:00.007-04:00

After the girls played HARD outside ALL day long, it was bath-time before anyone was allowed to sit down for a spell to watch the LSU~MSU game! Well, Angelwings had to have been pretty tired, for she took her shower and went on to bed...or maybe sick...that's really not like her! And Cricket and Love just had to watch the "big game" so I told them that they could watch it if they'd sit still and quietly, knowing that it was just a matter of minutes before they would fall asleep! Yep...momma was right!Now we just have to wait until Daddy comes home, for I can't pick'em up...sweet things are just getting too big!
And while the B-man's bed is in the wash, he was plum-tuckered as well, so look where he found a comfy place...big fella crammed himself into the top of a laundry basket...long day for all!
While Eric has run down to Walgreens to get some last minute sales, I'm working on making his favorite fall cake for Sunday dinner tomorrow, Irish Cream Pound Cake. The Schneiders are in town, so they'll be joining us Chans and Steves! I'm looking forward to seeing them!

A lovely night on the town!

2008-09-27T10:41:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday night, we had 'the' most amazing evening! But first...a little background history...

This year, I 'broke away from the mold' [AO curriculum] and scheduled our composer studies to follow the Masterworks Series being performed by our local symphony, and this year the Masterworks Series was going to open with the magnificent music of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony featuring the CSO orchestra and chorus and guest pianist Sin-Hsing Tsai. So we've been over-indulging ourselves in Beethoven's music...he was such a talented being that had such an interesting life!

Then I asked Ricci if we had already gotten our tickets, and he said that we hadn't....aghhh! So we frantically added up the costs, and it was going to be $70 for some cheap-o seats. Not exactly what I was dreaming of! Then the next day, Ricci called home from work and said that he had won us tickets! Not only did God give us tickets....He gave us Center Orchestra tickets!

So on Thursday night, when Ricci came home from work, the girls and I were dressed and ready to go...shocking to him, I know...and he took us down along the river to the Bluff View art district, which is a lovely unique neighborhood originally fashioned in the style of a small European Village. Very apropros, I do say! We ate some delicious food at Tony's Pasta before heading off to the symphony at the Tivoli theatre.

The music was unbelievable, and the girls loved it! They were sooo well behaved! And at intermission, it was great to see some friends that we haven't seen in some time.What a lovely evening it was! I'll always be thankful!

The South will rise again!

2008-09-22T17:06:00.007-04:00

Last Friday, our family and some dear friends had the honor of attending the 145th Anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga. It was such a fun, exhilarating day! There was not a cloud in the sky and also a gentle, cool breeze in the air! We had the best day, but I'm afraid that we all received a full month's worth of Vitamin D in one day (hence the "not a cloud in the sky")!

When we first arrived, we checked in and then listened to a brief lecture by the Port Columbus National Civil War Naval Museum from Columbus, GA. Their exhibit was so educational on 'technology' of the time with the ironclad ships and other various weapons used by the Union and Confederate navies. We'd love to go see their museum one day...we're coming to see you, Ivey!

Then we went through security (somehow there was even a metal detector out in the middle of the field) to have an opportunity to hear VP Dick Cheney deliver a great speech! There were lots of secret service agents...they even had something to do when the largest part of the stage fell prior to Cheney taking the stage. And the color guard from The Citadel was there as well!

Paying tribute to his great grandfather, Samuel Fletcher Cheney, who was a Union soldier (e'hem), Cheney spoke a very moving speech, reminding everyone that in just 48 hours, 145 years ago (to the hour!) the battles fought at Chickamauga were the second (next to Gettysburg) bloodiest battles fought in the Civil War. He and his family were then presented a beautiful, commissioned painting of his grandfather in full uniform on horseback. Here you can read a great report by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

After Cheney's moving speech, Labronda and I just sat on the ground and rested while the daddies took the kids to see more/take more photos! (Shayne took much better photos than my little camera ever could, so as soon as I get the CD of photos he made us, I'll post them...they're really good!)

Cricket striking up a conversation between her, her 'friends' and World War II Medal of Honor recipient Charles Coolidge!

This is what we call a 'field trip'!

A line of canons that were occasionally fired during the day. The canon closest was actually used during the battles of Chickamauga.

There was lots of shopping to be done on sutlers row for various period wares... and all of the foods and drinks were 'period' as well. All of the drinks were sold in beautiful glass bottles with either corks or bottle stoppers. For the bottle that the girls and I selected, it was initially $6 and $1 for each refill.

Not knowing that there was going to be so much to purchase for food and drinks, we all had brought coolers with us, so we headed back to the cars and 'tailgated' before gaining more energy to head back and do some more exploring and shopping before the battle re-enactments. I have no photos of that fun...perhaps, I was too exhausted...you know to actually stand up and get my camera. ;)

After our picnic, we took some time to walk through the camps...Cricket enjoyed speaking to each and every re-enactor. All (except General Longstreet who acted as if he were conducting strategic business) were more than kind to converse with her...although we weren't always certain if we were speaking to the person or the re-enactor.

This kind lady even invited us to come back later that evening for fried apple pies, baked beans and coffee. We all found it interesting the way the ladies would step on the inside of their skirt hem to avoid their dress swinging into the fire.This was a yard goods shop that Labronda, Cricket and I really enjoyed.

This store clerk (I was actually taking a picture of his sign...not him!) reminded me of Nels Oleson...very kind but of few words. But Cricket had him crackin' up with her going on and on about this and that!

The girls with the fans that Shayne bought for them. Thank you, Mr. Shayne!

Tressie literally tried on every, single hat that was sold in this booth and checked herself out in the little mirror.
Macy, of course, shopping for shoes! And we did find some that would be perfect for the ball in November! Hmmm...I'm thinking that these fine fellas aren't shopping for us gals...I think they're in the market for some well-deserved shade!

I just had to take this photo of Eric with his camping chair, pink backpack and a bottle of somethin'...it'd been a long day for this fella that thought he'd marry a woman that wasn't still carrying a grudge against the north and that would give him lots of boys! "Bless his heart!"

Tressie enjoying a swig of yummy sassafras fizz! Macy and Savannah, truly two lovely Southern belles!
Again, Shayne took much better photos so when I get them, I'll be sure to post some of them...but until then, here are a couple of photos that I was proud to have taken!

It was such an amazing day!!!

Such a lovely day that we hated to go home!

But rest assured, the South will rise again!

Goodbye, twaddle! Hello, living!

2008-09-18T14:04:00.013-04:00

Well, I've got the fever...not spring but fall!

I've been tossin' out almost everything not nailed down! I've divided everything into three piles: give (to some lucky/unlucky recipient...there's a ton in your pile, Jen!), toss (broken stuff/junk), and donate/sell (goodwill/JBF). And Brite's promised to come over to show me how to handle selling things on EBay...I mean, come'on...how many signed photos of George Jones does one gal need?!? (Sorry, Mamaw!)

Reduce/Recycle/Reuse!

And it has been bitter sweet! I'm such a sap, so I can get misty when looking at things (clothes, books, toys) that the girls have outgrown. And then I'm also an organized pack-rat, so I can very efficiently stuff/organize things...give me a photo box or Rubbermaid container, and I'm happy as can be!

But it's also so free-ing to see an empty, clean space! We're unloading our bookshelves, closets, etc. Woohoo! Out with the old twaddle, and in with the new 'living' books! (That part's pretty exciting!) And as much as Eric teases me about holding on to all of my Southern Living and Martha Stewart, he is now teasing me about using them as the foundation of our new house when we start to build it...I think that's hysterical! He's always said that if there's a tornado warning, he's taking us to the basement to get in the middle of my 'neatly bagged' stacks of SL and MS magazines!

Again, it's sad to watch the girls' being transformed into young ladies, but it's such a reward at the same time to watch them! So we're in the process of re-arranging a few toys/pieces of furniture around here and there as we bring in a few more grown-up items. (Anyone just have a hankerin' to come and paint some walls with me?!?)

So with a fresh, clean slate, one has to re-decorate! Right?!? I get such a high from moving/changing furniture around!

'I' (with lots of Ricci's help) painted an old table and several chairs that we're using for school...it all looks like new! We were given this table, which used to be just stained with an oak finish (oak's just not me!), and I've had these "Wendy's" chairs since I was living at home...they've been painted/recovered so many times! (Uncle Ray had some kind of business deal with someone at Wendy's, and all I can remember is that one year everyone in the family went home with several Wendy's chairs! Thanks again, Uncle Ray!)

So now I'm trying to decide on the fabric that I'll use to recover to other chairs that I've also painted a shiny black. I've already used the gold with black dots on the two chairs (above), and the other two fabrics still in the running are two black fabrics, each with red, sage and gold tones. One is more faded, and one is 'brighter' in contrast. Opinion?!? (They're resting atop the sofa that's already in the family room.)
So...now I just need to make my run to the goodwill and recycle center and then decide what to do with all of these twaddle books! Want some?!?

"They do look awful! And I'm being honest, Momma!"

2008-09-18T14:04:00.006-04:00

After all of this canning/preserving fruits, painting furniture, and all-out Fall house-cleaning, my hands really do look like they need a manicure. And of course, I don't really dwell on it until we're headed out somewhere! (Shocking...I know...but I do consider myself pretty low-maintenance!)

So as we headed out and traveled down the mountain, I glanced at my stained fingernails (next to the black specks of spray paint), and I said, "Whew...my hands really look awful!"

Of course, Angel Wings (like a typical, firstborn people-pleaser!) declares, "No, Mama! They don't look bad at all! I can't even seen what you're talking about!"

[Insert: a little, brief conversation on etiquette regarding speaking truthfully vs. fearing saying anything unkind.]

And of course, Cricket (like a typical second-child...happy-go-lucky), sitting in the back of the van and just enjoying the scenery, is completely oblivious to any conversation going on at all!

Then Lovey (typical "pat-me-on-the-back-please" personality) pipes up and exclaims, "Oh, Mama! You're right! They do look awful! And I'm being honest!"

Help needed/Following other blogs

2008-09-18T14:04:00.002-04:00

Okay, I absolutely love this new Blogger function under "Blogs I'm following"! However, I'm wondering if I'm missing out on something that I should be doing.
I've listed the blogs that I follow, and I'm wondering if there's something that I should be doing (or clicking on) to mark off the posts that I've already read. Do any of y'all know?
You know me...I can't survive without a list that I can check off! Please tell me if there's one!

Anyone going to Target?!?

2008-09-16T12:44:00.002-04:00

I just came across this great website, Money Saving Mom, and it reminds me of that grocery game that a few of us played not too long ago, but this is sooo much better! I'm sure that this gal could be a great friend, if she lived closer! Anyway, on her website there was a link on it for $5 off of a $50 order at Target...I only wish I saw this earlier this week, for it expires tomorrow. But if someone's going to Target today or tomorrow, here's the link... http://www.100bigcoupons.com/target-coupons.php

Clip Art for famous kings and queens of England!

2008-09-16T07:35:00.001-04:00

This last year, the girls and I each began a "book of centuries," and since then I've learned that it's not so easy to find great clip art to make the girls' books more interesting, so I was thrilled when I found this website that has great clip art for the famous kings and queens of England, dating back to Alfred The Great in 871!
Now we can either print out a copy of the clip art for the girls to paste (what kid doesn't love to paste things?!?) or the girls can copy their own drawing of the clip art into their individual books!
Here's hoping you can enjoy it too!

A fun CM week!

2008-09-15T00:05:00.002-04:00

What a fun (and busy!) wrap-up to a great summer we have had!
As the leaves are already starting to fall and the rest of the growing season is wrapping up its final showing, we're relishing these last few days of summer! (After all, fall is my favorite season, and I'm eagerly awaiting it!)

One afternoon, a good girlfriend called upon several of us other gals to come and help her carry her burden of blueberries! Uh, yeah...we're there! So the next morning we all adorned ourselves with our buckets tied around our necks (like professional berry pickers) and met up with everyone to help out sweet Joanna! What a fun time we all had! It was so sweet of J to open up her yard and her home to all of us...and our kiddos in tow! The kids had the best time playing, and we would all pick for a while and then go outside and 'sit a spell' while we cooled off and had some tea, scones, cookies, etc. Fun! Fun! Fun!

Isn't this the cutest berry-picker you've ever seen?!?

And as we started off our new school year, two girlfriends and I hit the road for an impromptu over-night trip. We learned of a great SCM conference, settled our fams, and hit the road! We had a great time yackin' all of the way up there and back! We rushed out of town so quickly so that we could make it to our hotel in time for happy hour, and after enjoying some time relaxing, we went to a wonderful restaurant...I have no recollection what the name of it was, and I paid cash, so I have no receipt, but here's a photo of it...it's down on the bottom left! Oooh, and I'm still craving their chicken with capers! It was soooo good! It was served over a bed of angel hair pasta with a lemon and white-wine sauce and with the most gently sauteed green beans and red tomatoes on the side!

After we ate and laughed til we could eat and laugh no more, we giggled our way back to our hotel room, stayed up way too late, and got up way too early the next morning. After enjoying a scrumptious breakfast at the hotel, we were off to the conference! (Notes to be posted later!)

Preserving our blessings one by one!

2008-09-14T21:14:00.002-04:00

Whew, it's nice to be out of the kitchen! After our two families collected and sorted our yummy apples and pears (please note: I've decided to just call these apple-pears "asian pears"), Labronda and I got together for a day or so of canning/preserving!

(Two of our little helpers!)

It is always so much more fun when you do something as tedious as that with a friend! And we had a blast...but whew were we tired after having been on our feet for so long! And we still didn't get to do all that we wanted to do, so we split up the fruit once more!

So after a few days of looking at all of that fruit, I decided we just had to finish up what we had started (come this winter, we'll be thankful to be tasting yummy fruits!), so when Ricci called to say he was on his way home from work, he asked if there was anything that he could bring...I did put in a request for some 4-oz. jars...knowing that I couldn't find them anywhere! After about 30 minutes, here he came...with some 4-oz. jars! That guy's amazing....he got them at Ace Hardware! I would have never thought to check there! Well, now I know! It was funny to hear him tell of the jars' sealing themselves as he drove up to our house! Thanks, Ricci!

And there's still more to do!

Pear Honey

"This tastes so much like honey, your friends will never believe that the bees did not make it."

Ingredients:
8 cups peeled, cored and chopped pears
1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
8 cups white sugar

Directions:
Place chopped pears into a large pot, and pour pineapple juice over them to prevent them from browning. Stir in sugar, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir frequently to prevent scorching. When the pears are at a full boil, reduce heat to medium, and cook until the mixture is the color and texture of honey. The longer you cook it, the thicker it gets. Ladle into hot sterile jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the top. Wipe rims with a clean damp cloth and seal jars with lids and rings. Process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes.

Pear Preserves

Ingredients:

3 quarts pears, sliced or chopped
3 cups water
4 1/2 cups granulated sugar
6 slices lemon

Directions:

Wash and pare fruit. Cook until tender in water. Remove fruit and make a syrup of the liquid and sugar. Add fruit to partially cooled syrup and bring gently to a boil. Add lemon slices. Boil rapidly until fruit is clear and tender. Let stand in syrup to cool. Remove lemon. Pour fruit into sterilized jars. Reheat syrup to boiling and pour over fruit. Seal each jar as filled.

Pear Apple Jam Recipe

Ingredients:

4 C. diced pears
4 C. diced tart apples 5 T. lemon juice
5 C. sugar

Grated rind of 1 lemon

Directions:

Peel and dice fruit. Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Boil about 20 minutes. Take from heat and allow to stand for 10 minutes to plump. Bring back to boil stirring frequently until mixture is thick and clear (about 10 minutes). Pour into sterilized Kerr jars to within 1/4 inch of top. Put on cap, screw band firmly tight. Process in Boiling Water Bath 10 minutes.

"That's what happens when God puts you in your favorite person's tummy!"

2008-09-09T14:58:00.002-04:00

Today, my little cricket and I were snuggling together (although she's the child with the most energy...she a pretty great snuggler!), and I told her how I much I loved her.
She responded telling me how much she loved me.
Coming close to tears of joy, I responded by telling her just how thankful I am that God had chosen to give her to us.
And she matter-of-factly said, "Well, that's what happens when God puts you in your favorite person's tummy!"
She sure does keep us laughin'!

I do declare!

2008-09-01T12:51:00.003-04:00

I do declare, Miss B.! You are amazing!

After her reading on my blog that we've been just worn out, I just received a sweet, sweet note in the postal mail from a dear friend who told me that she was hoping that we are feeling better and encouraging me in our new homeschool room/year!
I really appreciate that, B! I had a sweet aunt Carolyn who was wonderful at writing notes to friends and family, and just as she has passed away... so seems the art of writing to one another. Our girls love to write notes to others and to one another, and I hope to continue to instill that art/love in them.

So from one 'school marm' to another...Thanks, Bonnie, for that sweet card!

The bounty is overflowing!

2008-08-30T14:26:00.004-04:00

Just like God's amazing grace in my life, the bounty of friends and fresh fruits/vegetables is overflowing!

Sis and daughter Emmaline went with us this morning to pick some apples, pears, and apple-pears (I didn't know about those before today!) out at the home of our good friends, Greg and Peggy. The girls had the best time running around, playing on Alexx's "kingdom," catching butterflies, checking out the pond,...

It was so wonderful to see them running around in such a gorgeous setting!

I also had never seen a handy-dandy apple picker like this one either!

Or a fancy-shmancy pear picker like this one either!!!And what a bounty we brought home! Isn't it all gorgeous?!?

I'm so excited about making some applesauce and apple butter (for Ricci and the girls), an apple tart or two, pear and apple-pear preserves, and more...am I beginning to sound like Bubba on Forrest Gump describing shrimp? And I'm sure that we'll find other ways to use our yummy gifts, for which we are very thankful! Ricci has fond memories of growing up with his grandparents' cupboard full of home-made apple sauce, etc., and I'm hoping that his grandmother will 'hook me up' with some good family recipes!

So it appears that my hippie friends aren't all that hippie and that I'm falling into hippie tendencies too, which leaves me thinking, "Hmmm...is it hippie or is it being a good wife/momma?) Either way, I'll keep my preppy/hippie tendencies!

Thank you so very much, Greg and Peggy!

Blessed with a bounty of food and friends!

2008-08-27T22:30:00.007-04:00

A sweet, dear friend suprised us today when she dropped by to share some goodies with us.

Every Wednesday afternoon, several of our hippie friends stop by a local drop-off and pick up their produce from a co-op that they are all in (Y'all KNOW that I'm kidding about the hippie-thing! And some of you may take that as a compliment [;)]). And throughout the summer, when our itty-bitty garden isn't producing what I'd like for it to be producing, I have to admit that I do get a eensy-teensy bit jealous!

So this afternoon, I was thrilled when Elaine stopped by and sweetly gave us what we wanted out of her basket!

There was so much bounty...full of amazing color, texture, shapes, etc.! (Our God is so good to give us what we wouldn't expect!) Now I'm excited about serving them to my family...and of course, Nick and Elaine too! Since they aren't feeling too well these days and don't feel like 'dealing' with these great foods, do you think if I prepare them some yummy things that they'll stop by next week?!? I won't count on it!

Here are the names and some pics from their shared bounty!

- Delicata Squash
- Garlic
- Tomatoes
- Sungold Cherry Tomatoes
- Zephyr Squash
- Cucumbers
- Zucchini or Sweet Peppers
- Hot Peppers
- Eggplant
- Okra
- Genovese or Cinnamon Basil

Isn't it all gorgeous?!?

Thank you sooo much, Nick and Elaine!

A garden that only an owner could love!

2008-08-26T17:18:00.009-04:00

Once again this year... our gardening containers are flourishing, our flower beds are continuing to look better than they did last year, and.... our garden is only a garden that an owner could love.

You know....how beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

The herb-side of the garden is doing really well with our cilantro, basil, mint, lavender, and rosemary! Too great, perhaps! And the vegetable-side...well, it's less than desirable! But our tomatoes are finally beginning to fruit after 'we' (Ricci) removed the horn-worm, and we did harvest one amazing zucchini from seed! So I'm happy with our results!

We don't have the space to go crazy with a garden area, so I'm happy with the results that we've achieved from our 4'x8' space! And this one flawless zucchini made an amazing addition to our lasagna that evening! The girls gobbled it up! (Of course, it was helped that it was also made with our yummy puttanesca, Aunt Jan!)

But I just had to share a photo of this tomato hornworm for those of y'all that are interested...it's quite a bundle of nature study! Oops...I just remembered that I was too afraid to take the lid off of the jar to even take a photo...yes, y'all can tell that I love a controlled atmosphere to do our nature study! [;)] But here is a photo that looks identical to the one that we had...complete with all of the 30 or so white eggs that covered it! And be sure to click here to learn more about this nasty, fascinating creature!

(Now we know why we haven't produced any more tomatoes than have been on the grocer's shelves!) Then this evening I walked by his glass house (a Ball jar with a lid w/ holes), and it was full of flying baby wasps! So BACK upstairs I went to get the girls BACK out of bed! Between impromptu nature study and allowing them stay up later than normal to watch the Olympics, thank goodness we homeschool!

It was amazing to watch the baby wasps chewing out of their eggs like they were making little hinged lids! Yes, we have gotten our money's worth out of our little $2.50 magnifier!

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas!

2008-08-25T15:42:00.000-04:00

Yes, today is the day that I begin setting my expectation levels for the snowfall for the coming winter! And as usual...I already have high expectations!

Today the Farmers' Almanac released their published 2009 edition!

For those that know me well, they know that I don't prefer to get out in it, but I'll be the first one to wake everyone up shouting/calling that it's indeed snowing and that I'll get the hot chocolate started for those that wish to venture out! (Kendall, Shelley & Co....y'all can just plan to come on 'down' to our house, for I'm not coming 'up' there! So don't even start askin'!)

The Associated Press published today that "Numb's the word!" Not looking at what I don't want to see (next summer's predictions), I immediately looked for what I did want to read...

We, the Southeast, should expect above-normal precipitation this coming January and February! I'll just pretend that they accidentally forgot to mention late December...bless their hearts!

Isn't this exciting?!?

Too precious!

2008-08-21T23:37:00.004-04:00

I'm doing a little last-minute packing (what's new for this perfectionist/procrastinator?!?) for my little trip tomorrow, and I just had to show what I found in my purse...

A sweet little fairy must have added that to my wallet! One...she was thinking way ahead! Two...she is sooo thoughtful! Three...she could have been thinking about herself, but she's thinking of me...that's so precious that it's made me cry!

I just can't believe I've been blessed with such a wonderful daughter! With three!

I'll never understand why God has blessed me with such a wonderful, little family! A husband that serves our family by working diligently in/outside of the home, three precious angels who still think that I'm the most beautiful woman on the face of the earth (Bless their hearts!), a loyal puppy who adores me, two parents that I adore (and that I think are the two most beautiful people on the face of the earth (Bless MY heart! Just kidding, Meems and P-Daddy!), a wonderful sister who can only know things like a sister can, wonderful aunts who are like additional mothers, amazing friends....I can go on...yes, I've been sappy this week!

Anyway, Angel Wings, I love you with all of my heart, and I know that I have such a special bond with you that I never want to live without! You are the sweetest thing in the entire world!

This Year's Hymn Study Schedule

2008-08-19T12:28:00.002-04:00

September: “And Can It Be That I Should Gain” by Charles Wesley
October: “All Glory, Laud and Honor” translated by John M. Neale
November: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” by Martin Luther
December: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” by Charles Wesley
January: “God, Be Merciful To Me” by Richard Redhead
February: “It Is Well With My Soul” by Horatio G. Spafford
March: “All People That on Earth Do Dwell” by William Kethe
April: “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” by Charles Wesley
May: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” by Thomas O. Chisholm

CyberHymnal and Wikipedia have both been extremely helpful in my research of the history of these hymns as well as the history of the authors, translators, composers, etc.

Shameless request!

2008-08-19T12:07:00.003-04:00

Hey there, y'all!
This is a shameless request for comments on my blog from those of y'all that I know are dear to read it! Most of y'all just send me an email, and I greatly appreciate that...but I'm hoping that I can get my comments up, for I just realized that is how payperpost rates my blog. Sooo....the more comments and links to my blog that I have...the more posting opportunities I will have.
Let me know if you have a blog that you'd like for me to link to this blog!
Stephy

"Field of Poppies"

2008-08-15T10:39:00.006-04:00

Hmmm....can you guess what artist we studied this summer? Macy brought me this coloring this morning, and I am so proud of her for remembering such detail, for it's been a couple of weeks since we studied this painting/artist!

For those of you that might be interested, this summer we came across some excellent books that are written by an author named James Mayhew.

We are still currently checking out his books as often as we can, but this summer we read (over and over and over!) a set of books which describe a little girl named Katie who goes to art museums with her grandmother. Each book begins with Katie and her grandmother making the decision to go and visit an art museum, and once they get there, for some reason or another, Katie's grandmother always has to stop to rest. She allows Katie to wander around the different paintings. So through the beautiful, colorful pages Katie and her vivid imagination enters the individual paintings and discovers lots of interesting stories and details.

In the particular book, Katie Meets The Impressionists, when Katie jumps into a painting called, "Field of Poppies" by Claude Monet, she has a good time playing with Claude Monet's son Jean before going on a picnic with Jean and his mother in a "field of poppies." The other artists included in this particular book are Pierre Auguste Renoir and Edgar Degas.

These books really make the art/artist more real for a child! I highly recommend them!

Only once every four years!

2008-08-07T22:34:00.014-04:00

Well, it only happens every four years!

What?

The summer Olympics and celebrating two special birthdays!

Mary Alice's 4th birthday AND Marigny Caroline B. was born on 08-08-08!! ("Mallie" as her parents are calling her...or "the unsinkable Mallie Brown" as Uncle Ricci is already calling her!)

Isn't she gorgeous?!?

So Friday afternoon we headed off to the hospital to meet the adorable new one, and then the girls and I got busy planning our fun evening to celebrate the 2008 Summer Olympics' Opening Ceremonies in Beijing! We had some dear friends over (that are also nuts for watching the Olympics like we do), and it was a fun evening! We bought the fellas some Tsingtao beer...tastes a lot like Blue Moon to me! Tressie pulled out her panda bears (even her panda bear soap!); we bought some Chinese to-go boxes to box up some of our Amaretto butter cookies (recipe's below...oooh, they're so good!) for party favors; and the girls dressed up in the beautiful dresses that Aunt Jan & Uncle Eddie brought them back as a gift from their trip to China.

We enjoyed a dinner of Mandarin Chicken (recipe's also below...a good recipe cooked in the crock-pot for a busy day!), white rice, green beans with toasted almonds, and a spinach/mandarin orange/almond salad....and of course fortune (I mean, blessing) cookies! Oh yeah...on their way home from work, the sweet fellas picked us up some yummy eggrolls, crab rangoons, etc. We cracked up about their hitting a Chinese restaurant on their way home, but ooh, it was all so good!
Dinner was yummy, and Eric set up the DVD projector, so we all sat in awe of the opening ceremonies....wasn't it incredible? And we also took turns playing this fun game to see every one's geographical knowledge....um, now y'all know why I'm home-schooling...so that I can re-learn what I supposedly learned way-back-when! It is a fun game to do, if you have a minute!

Mandarin Chicken

(This is a really great crock-pot recipe that I originally found in a Kraft magazine, but I may have adapted it somewhat!)

1/2 cup Barbecue Sauce
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup orange marmalade
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. grated ginger
6-8 boneless/skinless chicken breasts

Stir barbecue sauce and flour in small bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Add all remaining ingredients except chicken; mix well.
Pour sauce mixture evenly over chicken in slow cooker. (Do not stir.) Cover with lid.
Cook on LOW for 3 to 5 hours. Serve chicken topped with the sauce.

Amaretto Butter Cookies

1 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. white sugar
2 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. amaretto
White sugar to dip cookies

Beat together butter and sugar until creamy in large bowl.
Add flour, salt and almond extract, stir well.
Chill dough for at least 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Pinch about 1 tablespoon of dough and roll in 1 inch ball.
Flatten in crisscross pattern using fork dipped in sugar.
Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.
Remove while warm dip into white sugar.
Cool.

Speaking of cooling, the weather outside has been so wonderful! It does feel like Fall is around the corner (although the weatherman says this won't last!), so Saturday was the most wonderful day to celebrate our dear friends Mike and Bridget's little girl's 4th birthday! She is so precious, and that party was quite a party! They served the yummiest bbq, slaw, baked beans, cake and ice-cream, and then the gifts...I've never seen so many gifts! What a fun day it was!

Here comes Autumn!

2008-08-04T14:37:00.005-04:00

Well, the new school year has me even more eager for the smell of Autumn in the air! And it's almost here! I'll wait a couple more weeks before I start nagging Ricci to get out my Fall decorations, but I did succomb to the self-imposed peer pressure today when I lit my Autumn Wreath candle that Jen gave me last year for a hostess gift!
Thanks again, Jen! It smells sooo good!

Update on "Being worn out!"

2008-08-03T19:31:00.012-04:00

Thanks to those for the sweet calls and checking on us!

As for now, no news is good news!

After having taken Tress to the pediatrician on Monday, we had to have Dr. Phil (close friend of ours) drop by and make a house-call on little A...thank you, Dr. Phil! For on Tuesday night when we were finishing up devotions with the girls, Annie grabbed her chest and started saying she was having chest pains! So for quite a while that evening her heartbeat was very irregular, and thankfully Dr. Phil correctly said that we could spend the night at home instead of the ER, and when we took her in the next morning, the irregular heartbeats did still show up on her EKG. And interestingly, mom told me that it was when I was going into 3rd grade that my irregular heartbeats began...isn't that interesting?!? So we're keeping an eye on her and trying to keep her calm...now that's a feat! ;) But please keep praying with us that we'll know how to take the utmost care for her! She's such an active child [;)] that it's often difficult to know when it's a chest pain that deserves medical attention or if it's just 'normal.'

So after spending Wednesday morning at the hospital, we met up with Efrem to take him out to lunch for his birthday...then over to Wally World; then on Thursday we took Craig to lunch then over to Wally World; we were in there for four hours...and through a terrible storm which took out the electricity three different times...now that was a trip to write home about! And I've learned that it's more helpful to them if we just work on their shopping list, not mine; so by Friday, sweet Eric took the afternoon off to assist me in our 'back to school' shopping, and there we were....back at Wally World! Then Target, Office Depot, Walgreens, etc.!

Then on Saturday morning, we took the girls to the annual library party (I just LOVE those goodie bags!), and although it was a hot day, it was fun! Then Sams and back home to work on getting ready for another school year!

Enjoying a quick popsicle with the Chans and the Steves!

Isn't this Sam the cutest thing?!?

So today we begin a new week! I'm almost scared to look into the sales ads to see what other great stuff is out there, but here are a few of my favorite finds: the 'buy one, get two' Mirado Black Warrior pencils from Walgreens, my new Sharpie pens (love'em!), my new book easel, and our new book case from Target! Oh, and our new artist Sketch books for our nature studies!

The family room is looking better too...I still have a few more things that I would like to finish up to make it 'perfect' for us, but I just love the way it's lookin' already! (You know...that feeling you get inside when you've moved furniture around?!?)

I'm really looking forward to getting everything else set up, but here's a quick peak at my new organizing method...an individual cube for artist/composer, history, literature, nature study, and one still to fill! Then the girls each have a cubby for their individual books! (Organizing gives me such a thrill!)

We (at least momma and daddy!) are soooo looking forward to more structure with the day-to-day 'back to school' lifestyle!

What on earth?!?

2008-07-29T18:16:00.007-04:00

What on earth?!?

Obama has taken the American flag off of the tail of his 757 which he is using to campaign in Jordan...yes, you read that correctly! What other American president looks for votes in Europe?
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=70236
http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/07/20/obamas-757-is-back-in-service/
I REALLY hope that I get to hear an explanation for this one! If this is a sign to come...I'm a little unnerved!

Before

After

We are so worn out!

2008-07-28T10:53:00.007-04:00

We're dropping like flies over here! The girls are just exhausted from staying up too late and doing a little too much; and for a couple of days Tressie has been complaining about her ears' hurting her (I've made her an appt. with the pediatrician, but as far as I can remember, she has never had an ear infection, but I know that her daddy had several when he was a child); and my pleurisy is acting up again...momma can't do too much when she can't breathe well! And poor Eric's just worn out!

Thankfully, supper's already made, so I don't have to think about that! I try to always prepare more food than we need on Sundays when we have friends over for dinner...just so that I don't have to think about supper on Monday nights, for Mondays are our detox days (we're in detox from having our daddy stay at home with us for the weekend as well as fun doing this and that!)

After we return from the pediatrician's office and the library, it's back to getting the house ready for another school year's kick-off! Woohoo! (There's nothing else better than the smell of a fresh, new notebook!) I'll start my 39th load of laundry, and then continue trying to implement the best new set-up for our family/home-school room. This year I've decided to put a round dining table and an extra bookcase at the end of the family room. And then when we're not snuggled together on the sofa by the fireplace, we can be using this new area for games, artwork, puzzles, etc!

Hopefully, we can pull ourselves back together quickly so Momma can begin getting the 'new' room ready, for we're looking forward to crackin' open some of these new books that we've bought!

Free "Paper Sloyd" book!

2008-07-23T10:08:00.006-04:00

Who doesn't remember creating 'cootie catchers' in elementary school?!? Wasn't that fun?!?

Well, I just learned about a much more sophisticated (ooh-la-la!) way to teach the art of paper folding, i.e. encouraging a little added touch of industrial/technical education.

I have just been introduced to a really great new site...Homeschool Freebie. And this morning when I checked the site, today's (July 23rd) download is "Paper Sloyd" by Ednah Anne Rich (in the form of a PDF ebook)! All you have to do is click here and "save as" to your computer!

In addition to finding this great book (very beautifully done in the early 1900's), there are a lot of other great books that one can download (in a PDF file) for free!

This will be a site that I'll begin checking often! For any that know me, know that when one calls something a type of 'craft' project, my blood pressure immediately starts to rise...for this is an area which I lack (not in creativity but patience!), for too many bits of paper and chaos can cause me to flip out! Yes, a little OCD comes into play!

But after saying a prayer today for patience and grace, we are going to enjoy reading "Paper Sloyd" as we embrace the art of paper folding!

Spending the day at Antiques Roadshow!

2008-07-21T10:52:00.011-04:00

OH, what a fun day we had at the Antiques Roadshow! From now on, whenever I'll think of the show, I'll think of how much fun we had and just how well organized they are!

Craig and I got up at the crack of dawn, drove over to our friend's home to get our tickets (that Dan and Paula so graciously gave to us! THANK YOU!) and drove to the convention center to begin looking for a parking spot! Well, we pulled into the parking garage that wasn't full yet, parked, got our things out, and walked right in! It was as easy as that!

We never really had the opportunity to even sit down in the camping chairs that I brought for the two of us! The area was so well organized that when we walked inside, they glanced at our tickets and put us in the 8:00 row, which was the earliest time-slot. We realized that our tickets must have been specially marked since they were given to our friend by one of the producers, for everyone else's tickets were marked for a specific time (8:00, 9:00, 10:00,...), and everyone was placed in the appropriate roped-off line...which all moved rather quickly! It was so much fun to watch what everyone else had brought, how they had wrapped it to protect it, and how they were delivering it (wagon, wheelbarrow, rolling chair, etc.)! Then once we got to the top of that line, we were told to shut off all cell phones and to put away all cameras as we were escorted into another area. All of the action...as well as the appraisers... are inside an inner circle, so each person is personally escorted to the particular line which is right on the outside of the "inner circle." So for example, one is escorted to the 'rugs & textiles' line (or a line for toys, metal works, clocks, books & manuscripts, etc.), and then one waits until it is their turn to step inside the "inner circle" where the appraisers are, and they literally spend less than 2 minutes with each person per item. So the entire process happened quite quickly, and there was never an opportunity to set our things down and/or relax, for again...each line moved rather quickly!

It was so well-organized that they spun us in, and they spun us out!

And before we knew it, we knew exactly what we were 'worth'! My great-grandmother's wedding purse was appraised at $50 due to its worn condition; yet I did learn something new...I have always been told that the fabric that has always been with the purse was the lining of the purse; however, it is actually the hat band that my great-grandfather wore at their wedding....so that information makes my item priceless!

And Eric's Shakespearean book that I took for him wasn't even valued....

[Cue Debbie Downer's "Wa Wa Waaaa!"]

Urghhh...the appraiser told us that Shakespeare's books are published second-only to the Bible; so simply because of supply and demand, Shakespearean books aren't as valuable as people often think that they are! And the fact that this book once belonged to Massachusetts's attorney general in the mid 1800's wasn't important at all. I just hated coming home to tell Eric this! Oh, well, something new was learned!

And Craig's great-grandmother's crewel handiwork was valued at $450-$600! Of course, it's also priceless to her and her family!

So let me ask...what would you have taken?!?

So after we finished, we set up our chairs and enjoyed some people-watching, but the temperature was so low in that huge arena that we just couldn't stay seated for too long. We could only stand the cold for about an hour or so; then we walked around some more and entered Craig into a 'video-diary-confession' (that's only what I jokingly call it!); she went into a 'room' and stated her name, city, and a brief description about what she had brought to the show. She did an excellent job, and it was so much fun watching her and seeing and hearing the joy in her face and voice. Hopefully, they'll place her video on the TV show (to be aired in Spring 2009) or on their website...wouldn't that be great?!?

Later that evening, Eric and I and the girls had a very special dinner with two very lovely people! If they aren't perfect for one another, then knock me over now! The evening was such a sweet, sweet time! It has been sooo amazing to watch God's hand in both of their lives! And we can't wait to see Him continue to reveal His plan to them both!