Terrell Soup

Fabulous Freebies

2010-06-20T08:08:00.002-05:00

I have gotten some great freebies this week. I love going to the mailbox, because it's like a little lottery or slot machine just waiting to give me things! I've gotten a coupon for free shampoo or conditioner from Suave, free body wash from Old Spice, free feminine hygiene products from Playtex (two different kinds), and lots of little samples of things like shampoo and perfume.

I also won a free pedicure from the Spa at the Crescent Hotel in Dallas, and I bought a Groupon coupon for a free week of any of the spa services at Planet Beach Contempo Spa in Dallas for only $20. I plan to be pampered this summer. ;)

That reminds me...if you haven't checked out Groupon, it's really cool. You can buy a coupon each day for different things around your area. Here in Terrell I subscribe to the Dallas Groupon, which has a very eclectic offering of coupons. This is the first one I've bought but I've contemplated several others. Check it out and see if anything strikes your fancy. I also love Seize the Deal, which works in the same way. That's where I won the pedicure coupon.

Something else to consider trying out...Swagbucks. It's a search engine that pays you to search with them. You earn money in the form of swagbucks to redeem for prizes and gift cards. Take a look and see if it's right for you.

Stay cool...it's supposed to be 101 today in this area. Yikes!

Soleil 100 Days

2010-06-11T14:25:00.000-05:00

Soleil 100 Days: "There are thousands of fun, sharable prizes in the BIC® Soleil® 100 Days of Sunshine promotion. Join now! www.FeelTheSoleil.com"

Back to Reality

2010-06-11T09:40:00.004-05:00

I had the most wonderful time in Las Vegas last weekend...it was almost sensory overload. There was so much going on, everywhere you looked, so that I didn't even really know WHERE to look most of the time. We saw the Cirque De Soleil show "Love," based on Beatles music, and it was practically a religious experience it was so good. Excellent food, great shopping, and most of all, my wonderful and beautiful friends Angi, Michelle, and Jen to share it with. We were four best friends in high school, many moons ago, and reconnecting like this is exactly what we needed. True friendship knows no distance or time.

I can't say I found many "bargains" in Vegas (unless you count free drink coupons or some of the deals in the souvenir shops) but I have found out now that if you sign up on the different hotel websites, they will email you some awesome package deals and rates for stays there in the future.

I do have a few great deals to report. One of the most important things is that you need to sign up on the site http://www.houseparty.com/. They offer different party packages to help promote new products for different companies. I am hosting a Febreze party on June 26, and my free gift pack for the party includes about 5 new Febreze products for 10 people...so that is pretty awesome and totally FREE!!!

Another deal I want to help you get in on is at Blue Mesa Grill. I love Bobby Flay, and this is his chain of restaurants. If you go to their website, sign up to be a Chilihead. You will get an email with a coupon for a free appetizer. They have four locations in the Dallas area so if you are heading into town anyway, go eat there. It will be worth it, trust me!

Money Saving Mom has a great article on right now about signing up for freebies. I love freebies!!! I have signed up for a lot of sample sites and every day, the trip to the mailbox is like a little lottery. I've gotten so much neat stuff for free lately!! Check it out and see if this is something you'd like to try.

We have yet another trip planned for this month...the boys and I are headed to Beaver's Bend for some relaxation and fun...kayaking is my favorite up there! If you've never been, it's one of the most beautiful places on earth. It's in southeastern Oklahoma, and the water there is crystal clear (just like the air). The cabins we stay in are running a special right now, so take a look and see if it's a place you'd like to visit someday. I highly recommend it!

Busy week!

2010-06-02T17:20:00.002-05:00

I've been very busy this past weekend and week...we took a Memorial Day trip to Oklahoma City/Stillwater/McAlester and had a wonderful time. The boys and I got to go through the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial Museum and had an amazing experience seeing the site firsthand. I highly recommend it for you and your family.

As a result of being busy on the road, I haven't had much bargain shopping to do. I did find a great deal on a gorgeous Liz Claiborn carry-on travel bag and matching crossbody purse (BOTH for $57) at the Allen Premium Outlets. I also got a great BOGO deal on Van's shoes for my 11 year old at the same mall. I think we got two pairs of $60 shoes for $48 total. Not bad at all!

I chaperoned a couple of field trips this week, both to the Dallas Museum of Art. Today I bought a few gorgeous prints in the DMA Store, all clearanced out from the previous gallery exhibit "Through the Lens of Impressionism." I got about 6 5x7 prints from Monet and Manet, and one 8x10 print from Monet. All together the total was $10. I recently redid my living room in beachy, oceanic colors so all these impressionistic beach scenes will fit right in!! I would have never thought to look there for prints for my house. Just goes to show that bargains are to be had EVERYWHERE.

I've gotten several great samples and coupons in the mail this week from places I've registered with online. I got a sample size of Secret Clinical Strength, Purex 3 in 1, eb5 Facial Cream, a Neti Pot, and a great FREE coupon for a Yoplait YoPlus 4pack of yogurt.

Heading to Las Vegas soon...hope to have some great bargains to report from there as well. ;)

How Neat...Nearly Free!

2010-05-27T21:00:00.003-05:00

I had to go back to CVS today to spend some extra bucks before they expired. While I was there I decided to browse around with my coupon book in hand, of course. ;)

I wound up with two tubes of hand lotion that cost me .29 each, two more Suave deodorants that cost me .14 each, 8 Reach toothbrushes for 3.99 (two 4 packs with a BOGO coupon), a large bottle of Olay Total Effects 7 for $3 ($2 coupon and $2 extra bucks back), and a few more items from the 75% off sale in the L'Oreal cosmetic department, which netted me $3 in extra bucks so I spent $7 total on powder, blush, and lipstick. Not a bad run at the ol' drugstore tonight.

I will never run out of toothbrushes or deodorant...at least this year! I just can't help but get them when they are free or next to it. I will save some for charity donations or give them to my students. I don't believe in letting things go to waste.

14 t-shirts+5 polos+10 tank tops+6 shorts+1 dress = $70

2010-05-26T20:23:00.005-05:00

Have I ever mentioned how much I truly LOVE Target?

I recently stumbled upon a clearance rack in the boy's size 8-20 department of my local Target store and hit the motherlode. I found my two youngest boys (both youth size M or L, depending on how it's made) their entire summer wardrobe...for literally less than $70 total. I found them screen-printed t's, striped t's, Marvel Comics t's, and some solid and striped polos for $1.24 - $1.98 each!!! Seriously! I picked up 19 shirts, ten for one boy and nine for the other. I also got them four tank tops each for $2.00 or less each. I picked up three pairs of shorts for each boy for $4 each.

I went over to the ladies department and found me a really pretty dress on the 75% off rack for $6.48. I also found my great-neice a couple of tanks for $2 each as well.

At the register, the checkout lady though I was insane, but when she saw my amazing bargains she was ready to go shop herself. The grand total was $70 and change, for 36 articles of clothing. Not bad, not bad at all! ;)

Terrific Tuesday

2010-05-25T23:22:00.003-05:00

I got a lot of great deals today!!!

At lunch I went to CVS to pick up a few things I'd saved coupons for. I had about 4 BOGOs, a few $1 offs, and also found a 75% off sale on cosmetics. I wound up stocking the boys' bathroom with Gillette and Old Spice body washes. They were on sale for $4 each. I had 3 BOGOS and one $4 off, essentially making it to where I got 8 body washes for $12. In addition, I got $8 back in extra bucks, making it a net $4 for 8 body washes. I also got some L'Oreal mineral pressed powder and loose powder for $3.75 each, and had two $1 off coupons. These were originally priced at $14.99 each! I saved a total of $70 according to the receipt.

After a very long workday, I still needed to go to Target and Kroger. At Target, I found a beautiful Merona scarf on clearance for $6.04 and I used the $2.00 coupon from the 'net to get it for $4.04. I found a HUGE sale in the clothing department, with a lot of things priced at 75% off. I found a great Merona dress for $17 and got to use the $3 off coupon on that one as well. I got 5 12-packs of sodas for the kids for $15 with a $5 giftcard to boot, and I got the scrubbing bubbles deal where I stacked three $1.00 off coupons on the toilet cleaning gel, then got a $5 gift card for buying 3...AND I used the BOGO coupon to get a refill pack of scrubbing bubbles toilet brush pads FREE! I saved a total of $72 according to the receipt.

At Kroger, between the store specials, my regular coupons and doubling/tripling, and cellfire coupons, I saved a total of $68.

Not a bad day's work for groceries and cleaning supplies. I stuck to my list for about 90% of my purchases, which for me is NOT bad at all. I am a terrible impulse shopper. ;)

I Heart Freebies!

2010-05-24T17:56:00.002-05:00

Some of the freebies I have found today expire really quickly or are limited to a certain number, so HURRY UP if you want to get yours!

Free 32x41 inch 3M anti-slip floor runner

Free Ritz Cracker Cheddar and Bacon sample

Free Tea

Popcorn anyone?

2010-05-23T16:40:00.004-05:00

Click here to get a free sample of Orville Redenbacher's new Cheddar Cheese Popcorn.

Crystal over at moneysavingmom has compiled this week's CVS deals for us...take a look at some of the great offers!

Sign up here to get a free sample of Nature Made chewable vitamin D.

Did you know that Wal-Mart's website offers a ton of freebies and discounts? Check it out!

That should keep you busy for a while, anyway...at least until tomorrow or until I come across a great deal I must share with you! :)

Samples are Super!

2010-05-23T01:19:00.002-05:00

I got a great sample pack in the mail today from Kraft Foods. It contained 3 bags of Sundried Tomato and Basil Wheat Thins, 3 envelopes of Vanilla Latte instant coffee, and two FREE coupons...one for a jar of Kraft Mayo with Olive Oil and one for their new Homestyle Mac & Cheese. WOW! I have received other samples this week as well, including John Freida Root Awakening shampoo, conditioner, and smoothing lotion; Head and Shoulders shampoo; Prevacid; Stride Mystery gum; Crest toothpaste (travel sized tube); Miracle facial moisturizer and Sculptz facial moisturizer (full sized product). Not a bad week at all!!

If you like receiving free samples, visit www.startsampling.com to learn more.

Deals and Steals

2010-05-22T15:43:00.003-05:00

In the past week or so, I was able to score free deodorant, free dog food, free cat food, free pens, free make-up, and almost-free facial cleanser, cat treats, hair spray, conditioner, shampoo, and razors. I've also gotten quite a few great free samples in the mail. How am I doing all this? Coupons, baby. Printable, cuttable, cell-phoneable coupons.

Here are some of the best coupon and deal sites I've found:

www.coupons.com
www.redplum.com
www.moneysavingmom.com
www.mydfwmommy.com
www.couponmom.com
www.wickedcooldeals.com

What's great about a couple of the sites (namely moneysavingmom and mydfwmommy) is that the deals can be categorized by store, so if you know you're going to CVS, you can see what's on sale, what coupons and extra care buck rewards are available, and print what you need to be able to get the deal. I have been so impressed by their blogs and their attention to detail that I had to share it with you.

A couple of examples of my favorite sales this week: I went to Target this morning and bought 4 large cans of Pedigree dog food, 4 regular cans of Whiskas cat food, and a bag of Friskies cat treats. I had some BOGO coupons and a dollar off coupon, so I spent a grand total of $2.88. On Wednesday I went to Dollar General and bought 4 Suave 24 Hour Protection deodorants (full sized) and actually got back $.24 in change...because the coupons I had were $3.00 off 2, and the deodorant was on sale for $1.50 each!

Of course, your mileage may vary, but each time I come across a really good deal, I will post it here or link you to it from another blog so that you can take advantage of the sale or coupon. Happy shopping!

Welcome back,blog!

2010-05-22T13:37:00.003-05:00

So I have been quite busy the past six months, apparently. I haven't had much time to think, let alone update this blog. I am making a concerted effort to keep up, especially now that baseball season is over.

Some highlights...I have lost about 54 pounds in my WW journey, give or take the four pounds I keep trading up and down since hitting a plateau in March. I'm not giving up, though. It will come off eventually.

I walked a 5K with my friend Julie in April, which was a lot of fun. It was a goal to just finish and we did...and we weren't last! ;)

I have taken up a new hobby or two...cooking and couponing. Cooking, of course, should be easy for me since I have a family that eats and I have foodie friends. However, boiling water was about my limit until now. I am learning a lot and finding new recipes to try, new seasonings, and I am even growing some of my own herbs and vegetables. Weird, huh? The couponing though is my favorite thing right now. I scour the papers, the internet, and every sale source I can find to get the best deals on things. That's kind of where this blog comes in...I want to be able to share with you guys the sales and coupons I come across that benefit all of us around here. Money is tight and we all need a hand.

So keep up with me and I will try to keep this blog updated regularly with local sales and deals, as well as the happenings in my life. :)

Cake, Camo, Goals, Memorials, H1N1,,.and so on and so on

2009-10-04T15:08:00.008-05:00

Isaiah 30:20
Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.

What an insane past two weeks. So much has happened that I don't really know where to start. Let's see...the beginning is as good a place as any, I suppose.

Wednesday, September 17, 2009. Andre came home from school sick. We went to the doctor and they said it was probably the flu but no bad symptoms; just let it run its course.

Thursday, September 18, 2009...Andre was sicker so I took him back to the doctor, where they discovered he had pneumonia. No school until at least Monday.

Sunday, September 20, 2009, I got a call during Sunday school that my mother was unresponsive and being taken to the hospital from her nursing home in Grand Saline. I met my sister there and Mama was actually semi-alert; enough to where she asked me about me cutting my hair off and dying it blond. She told my sister and I that she loved us very much, then was unresponsive again. They did a CT scan and saw a massive brain bleed. They care-flighted her to Tyler, where the trauma surgeon explained to us that there was no hope and that they were transferring her to hospice. Mama passed away that night close to 9:00, peacefully and without pain. It was horrible and awful for us, and I am still so very sad about her loss..but know that she is rejoicing today, well and able to dance and sing and see her relatives that she's missed for so long.

Monday, September 21, 2009...Clay came down with the flu. He missed three days of school because of it. It was strain A, but not positive for H1N1. He and J.P. weren't going anyway, due to the loss of my Mama. Andre had to go to school since he had missed several days the week before.

Thursday, September 24, 2009...we all went back to school and work.

Saturday, September 26, 2009...I started feeling quite unwell.

Sunday, September 27, 2009...thought a bus had hit me in my sleep...not good.

Monday, September 28, 2009...went to doctor. Positive for strain A flu. No tamiflu for me, though...only for children and elderly patients. Rest and fluids advised.

Wednesday, October 1, 2009...back to doctor...thought death was near. Much MUCH worse, and had a strange new symptom with a SWOLLEN face (right side). CT scan, new antibiotic, new diagnosis of secondary strep infection and a sinus infection...hurray. Doc said that if I did not improve in 24 hours, I was going to the hospital. She also said I better have a backup plan in line for taking care of the kids if I go to the hospital. Yikes.

Thursday, October 2, 2009...back to doctor AGAIN. Was already better, thankfully. No hospital for me.

Friday, October 3, 2009...got a call from the doc; she confirmed I did, in fact, have H1N1 flu. Good to know now that I was either going to get well or die.

Saturday, October 3, 2009...spent the afternoon at the Outdoorsman's Expo at FBC since I was feeling up to it. Had a lot of fun!!! Also had my early birthday party (combined with my friend Lisa, since our bdays are the same) at Julie's house...lots of fun, fellowship, and an awesome cake. It's good I had the cake that night, because that morning, I weighed in at WW and met my 10% goal!! I've lost 26.6 pounds. WOW!!!

Which brings me to today....Sunday, October 4, 2009. Looking forward to a new week with NO new events, and NO doctor visits. If I go any more, they'll have to rename it after me. I've funded at least one new wing. ;)

Have a blessed week!!

Weight Watchers Wednesday

2009-09-17T05:50:00.003-05:00

OK, now it's serious. I am down 22.8 pounds already! My clothes look like a "family of gypsies has moved out of them" according to close family. ;) I am so motivated to lose more weight that I even WALKED IN THE RAIN. What is wrong with me??? ;)

I'm proud of myself, but mostly I'm proud that I got two of my besties and one of my co-workers to join WW. I think we can be great support for one another and I know that we will all be healthier for it. We can walk together, celebrate together, and enjoy our newer, healthier lifestyle together! We can also go shopping together as necessary. ;) I think that might have to be soon, since my pants keep falling down.

I'm loving finding new recipes to try, even though I still don't consider myself to be much of a cook at all. I grilled salmon the other night, and had roasted broccoli and a huge salad with it. The boys loved it. Of course they love anything they can slather in honey mustard. I won't tell them it was LIGHT honey mustard. ;)

The rain is putting a damper (no pun intended) on my walking at times. When it's more than drizzling, I don't walk but I am keeping active. I have my Gazelle and I also do more housework to keep up with the activity points. I should get a treadmill, I suppose. Anyone have one for sale, cheap?

Have a glorious week and I'll see you soon. :)

Weight Watchers Wednesday

2009-09-09T20:31:00.000-05:00

So I'm almost 7 weeks into the program...and I am 20 pounds lighter, 2 dress sizes smaller, and a mite more healthy I do believe. I can't believe I never did this before. What was I thinking? Rather, what was I NOT thinking? I've actually had fun doing two things that were the very bane of my existence before: exercise and cooking. Seriously.

Cooking has been fun because I have learned many new and interesting things that can be thrown into a crock pot. I love it when a plan comes together. ;) I have tried a lot of recipes that have been good enough that the kids haven't questioned my abilities or my sense of taste (shout out to Melisa for the recipes!). I've also created and substituted things that fit our tastes better, which has worked out well so far. I've not been sad at the grocery store, staring longingly into the bakery section or anything. I've found lots of things that taste as good and are more filling and less fattening. I'm also finding that by using the recipes, I have made out grocery lists and planned menus...which means fewer trips to the store and actually a better grocery bill. Yay!

Exercise is something I actually...seriously...look forward to! I walk in the mornings, about a mile and a half, and then I'm walking in the evenings, about a mile and a half to two and a half miles. I do this 5 or 6 days a week. I truly believe this is what is making the difference for me weight-wise. I've been able to step up my pace and now go a mile and a half in about 20 minutes. I'm walking farther to get more time in, since WW activity points go by time and not distance. In the mornings I walk about 25 minutes, and in the evenings I am up to 45 minutes. Each step makes me stronger, healthier, and more determined to lose weight.

I can't wait for Monday. I think I'm in new numbers this week, which will mean at least one more star. I am at a point now where I'm at a weight I have not seen since Byron died, and possibly even before then. I had a strange experience shopping over the weekend...I went to the racks and headed straight for the same old size I've worn for the past two years, and then realized it wouldn't fit. I went to the next size down, but when I tried it on, it was still too big. Even though I knew that would be the case, psychologically, I haven't gotten myself past that old self-image. Is it just me or is that a phenomenon with most people who are big and start losing weight? I wound up not buying anything, but I came home and looked in my closet...which holds a variety of sizes throughout...and found a new pair of pants I had bought 2 years ago but never could button. I wore them to work today! Guess what...I had to pull them up more than a few times. ;)

A Little of This, A Little of That, and a lot of Music!

2009-09-06T16:34:00.005-05:00

Judges 5:3
"Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I will sing to the LORD, I will sing; I will make music to the LORD, the God of Israel.

I have been a non-blogger the past two weeks. I had to let school start and immerse myself back into the routine of it all. Hopefully things are back down to a fair sense of normal, whatever the heck that is. ;)

Football is in full swing now, and the Terrell Tigers are 2-0. Wow! I am so proud of our team. I'm also proud of the band, the colorguard, the Tigerettes...they make us shine and I am thrilled to be a part of it all every week.

I have not posted my last two Weight Watchers Wednesdays...I feel awful! But I have been losing weight still; 19.4 pounds as of last week. I'm on a roll and don't intend to stop for at least 70 or so more pounds.

Anyway, on to the topic of local music. I was able to get in a promo shoot with the guys from "Hey Jersey" this weekend, and caught their show at The Adelaide (along with three other local bands). The talent all our kids seem to possess is incredible. If you ever have an opportunity to see a show at this particular venue, I highly recommend it. Mark Nichols runs a very tight ship at The Adelaide and the kids who come to the shows are well behaved and are there to have a great time with some awesome local music and hang out with their friends. My son filled in as a bass player for "Horseshoes and Hand Grenades" and did a great job with that, I think. I took a lot of pictures of the bands...some samples follow below. To see the whole shebang, you have to check out my facebook page. ;)

Horeshoes and Hand Grenades:

Hey Jersey:

Hey Jersey Promo Shoot:

Ride 'em, Cowgirl!

2009-08-22T10:25:00.002-05:00

Psalm 23:1
[ A psalm of David. ] The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

I had the best time shooting pictures of this little filly...Avery is a sweetie and I would take her home with me in a second (if it weren't for those pesky boys of mine). ;) She's about to turn 3 and is having a "cowgirl" themed party. These shots are for the invitations. I will only post a few, but there are so many good ones I bet her mom has a hard time choosing! :)

Weight Watchers Wendesday

2009-08-19T18:16:00.000-05:00

So after three full weeks on the Weight Watchers plan, I've lost 15 pounds. F-I-F-T-E-E-N pounds! Yay me! I have to put that into perspective, into terms I can visualize. Two full-term newborns. Two gallons of milk. That's a lot! I'm so excited to be experiencing success and to still feel so motivated to lose more.

However...

I can't escape the feeling of "waiting for the other shoe to drop," so to speak. I keep thinking this is just too easy. The scales must be wrong. It can't be as simple as this. It can't be just eating better and moving more. Am I the only one who has felt this way? I think it's ingrained, from a lifetime of going up and down the scale so much I ought to have whiplash. I mean, seriously...who in their right mind is excited to get up early in the morning to go walk a mile or two? I really feel better in the mornings when I get my walk in first thing. I look forward to it in the evenings because it's a few minutes of peace. Plus I have to hear the next chapter of my book (currently in the middle of Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer).

I know it won't always be this easy. I know I will have to slow it down a bit because losing enough to accomplish this first goal probably consisted of a lot of fluid and a lot swelling that would naturally come off easier. I'm praying that I stay motivated and excited even when the losses come in numbers like .8 or .25. A loss is a loss, you know. Until then though, I'm relishing earning my little star stickers. :)

30 Compressions...2 Breaths

2009-08-15T21:17:00.002-05:00

Genesis 2:7
the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

CPR is something that I feel everyone should know how to perform, at least at a rudimentary level...just in case. As part of my job duties, I have been certified by the Red Cross to be a CPR/AED/First Aid instructor and as such, I am an authorized provider for the training for the school district.

Today I recertified 37 Petermann Transportation employees for CPR and AED. It was a full day. We had two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Working with recerts is actually kind of fun, because since they've already sat through the whole 8 hour class before, doing the "challenge" to recert simply consists of taking the written exam (all three parts) and then performing the actual skills on the manikin so that I can be sure they know how to do the steps properly. That's the most time consuming part, but it's my favorite part as well.

I explain to anyone I teach that I want to be confident enough in their abilities that I would allow my own children to be on their bus and know that they could take care of them if the need were to arise (God forbid).

Fortunately today, everyone passed the exam and all demonstrated appropriate skills. We have a good group of drivers and they were all attentive and asked questions. I am confident that if there were an emergency, they each have the capability to handle it.

Even though the challenge is shorter, with 37 people to go through, I am a tired little girl tonight. It takes it out of you!

If you never remember anything at all from a CPR course, remember this...30 chest compressions, 2 breaths...you can help make a difference and possibly save a life.

Weight Watchers Wednesday

2009-08-12T18:14:00.002-05:00

So I made it through another week on program without feeling deprived or denied anything. I lost 1.4 pounds. Not as dramatic, of course, as the previous week, but still a good loss for a week. I'll take it!! It was a little more difficult this week, especially with the wedding (and wedding food, wedding cake, etc.) but I did just fine and didn't go over my weekly allowance at all. In fact, I only used 9 of my 35 weekly points.

I'm exercising twice a day and now am up to a mile and a half each time. I really enjoy using that time to walk to listen to books and to spend some time in thought or prayer.

Here's to another good week and good loss! :)

P.S. If you get a chance, look at the article in the Tribune yesterday about Project HOPE. I made the cover! ;)

http://www.terrelltribune.com/articles/2009/08/12/news/doc4a8307bd5fe08760768953.txt

Wedding Bells Are Ringing...

2009-08-09T21:04:00.002-05:00

Genesis 2:24
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Two very dear friends of mine were united in marriage on Saturday afternoon. I had the privilege of taking their wedding pictures for them, and thought I'd share a few with you.

The bride lost her husband one day before I lost mine, also very suddenly due to a heart attack. The groom lost his wife almost two years ago due to a sudden stroke. The pair have known each other for a very long time, as their families went to church together. After their spouses' passing, they both attended GriefShare, a grief counseling program at First Baptist. After the semester in the support group, their friendship grew and they fell in love. I am so very, very happy for them. They give me hope that there is love out there in the world, somewhere! :)

Busy week ahead, working on the rest of their pictures and putting together a surprise for them. I'll keep you posted! :)

Weight Watchers Wednesday

2009-08-05T20:47:00.002-05:00

I had my first full week of WW as of Monday. I stayed completely on program, and I never once felt hungry or wanted to eat something that wasn't such a great choice for me. I stayed full, and I ate what seemed like a lot of food. I chose to eat several times during the day in smaller portions that were just a few points here and there, rather than using them in big chunks on a couple of big meals. I only used 2.5 of my "extra" weekly point allowance, and I never traded any of my activity points. Speaking of activity points, I earned 20 of them. I walked every day except Sunday, and I used my Gazelle when it rained. I made a conscious choice to do what was right and what was necessary to lose some of this junk in my trunk.

So.....I went to the meeting, kind of nervous about that first weigh-in. I have dieted many, many times, only to find that all my hard work was for naught. I went in, stepped up on the scale, and the lovely WW lady looked at me, then looked at the scale reading, then looked at me again with this strange look. I thought something was wrong, so I got off and got back on, and she said "I have to get out my calculator, you lost so much!!" I was in shock. I was expecting maybe a pound or two. My grand total for week 1's loss? 8.2 pounds, baby!!!!! E-i-g-h-t point t-w-o!!! I was on cloud nine!!

I'm still on program, I'm still walking (got two miles in today, as matter of fact), and think I might have finally found something that works for me. I'm giving it the old college try, that's for sure. I'm working hard to get in the right number of servings of fruits, veggies, and dairy...but I'm still struggling with the oils. I don't eat much oil.

Now I know that every week won't be like that, and I know that it will usually be in that 1-2 pound loss (but I'll take ANY loss). I'm not getting my hopes up for that because it didn't take me overnight to become this big, so it will not be overnight for me to lose it all. I'm patient, though. Someday you'll see me sashay through the streets of Terrell (yes, that's right, I will SASHAY) and wonder where the other half of me went. Promise. :)

Little Drummer Boys

2009-08-05T18:34:00.003-05:00

2 Samuel 6:5 (New International Version)

⁵ David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.

OK, well maybe not so little...but they certainly fit the drummer boy bill. Here is the bulk of the 2009-2010 Fighting Tiger Drum Line. There are a couple not pictured (one broke a toe and one has strep throat). They already sound good to me, and band camp is only a few days old. Today they were marching up and down the drive along the back of the high school, which happens to go by my building and my office window. I was surreptitiously taking pictures so as not to embarrass that snare player in the front with the green shirt...he'd never forgive me if the other guys saw his mom taking pictures of practice, I'm sure. ;)

Off and Running

2009-08-04T06:19:00.002-05:00

Acts 20:7
On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.

Back to work yesterday...and it was great to be back. I was afraid I'd be all discombobulated from being on vacation so long, but it's like a bicycle. ;)

Weight Watchers meeting was last night...and my first weigh in. I'll have to let you know the results on Wednesday, but it's good, so look for that coming this week.

Band practice is every morning at 7:00 now...they go 7-11 and then 1:30-3:30. Two a days, if you will. The show is going to be AWESOME this year. The music is "Scheherazade" from 1001 Nights. I can't wait to hear it every morning from my office at the high school. They practice right behind my building so I always hear it. I wish I was musically inclined, but unfortunately, I can't even play the triangle. ;) I'll try to get a shot of them practicing and then post it up for today.

J.P. came home from camp yesterday afternoon. He had a wonderful time and was completely hoarse. He said he lost his voice screaming for the band and screaming at the girls to be quiet. ;) He told me about the fun things they did, and then told me about the groups and their meetings and devotionals. He learned 11 new bible verses. He also opened up and told me that in one group they discussed fears, and his fear right now is when André goes off to college and leaves him here...he said he won't have another guy here to "teach him how to do stuff." He actually cried. It was so sweet. Most of the time they just fight like cats and dogs...but I know deep down they love each other and that J.P. looks up to André very much.

Summer Ends...School Begins

2009-08-02T21:17:00.004-05:00

Exodus 35:2
For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD.

Sadly, today is my last day of summer vacation. Tomorrow I must report back to work at THS. Now don't get me wrong...I LOVE my job and am truly blessed to work with a group of amazing ladies and wonderful kids that make it not seem like work at all. Heck, I'm truly blessed to work at all in these tough economic times!

I have really enjoyed the last six weeks I've had off with the kids. I've accomplished most of what I wanted to do, and I have had some very restful moments along with some wonderful and exciting ones. I wouldn't mind it going on a few more weeks, that's for sure!

HOWEVER...

I am really looking forward to this year. My head is full of new ideas and lots of motivation to try new things with my students. I am starting a new support group for my Project HOPE student parents, so that they can not only cope with teen parenthood a little better, but also earn "Baby Bucks" to spend in our new Parent Pantry on diapers, wipes, and other necessary baby items (we always need diapers and wipes for the pantry if you feel led to donate!).

I pray that this is going to be a wonderful and effective year for all my students. Yes, we face some tough times and many challenges, but I have faith that we will overcome the obstacles and come out in early June having accomplished what we set out to do at Project HOPE keep students in school and get them across the stage at graduation, despite their circumstances.

Here are a few of my favorite pics I've taken at work. You'll have to click on the pics to see the whole image...they look funny on here but you can see the whole shot when you click on it.

Rain, rain...don't go away!

2009-08-01T09:27:00.003-05:00

Deuteronomy 28:12
The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands.

I don't think I can recall a more rainy July. I had to look up some statistics just to see where we stand. According to the website Weatherbase, our zip code has, on average, 2.1 inches of rain in July. We average 4.3 rainy days in July, historically. As best I can tell, we had 4.81 inches of rain for July and 9 days with measurable precipitation. All I know is that I'm thankful for it and glad that my water bill will be slightly less since I haven't had to water as much! :)

Rain always makes for great photos if you know where to look...here are some of my personal faves I've taken just after a rainfall. Enjoy! :)

A Walk to Remember

2009-07-31T08:02:00.002-05:00

Genesis 1:5
God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

Instead of listening to an audio book this morning, I decided to take my camera with me on my walk. I love to walk early in the morning, when the only sounds are those made by crickets and birds, and the only movement is the breeze or the occasional critter. The colors are more vivid, the scents of nature are more pure, and the hopefulness of the day is palpable. Here are the scenes I typically encounter daily. Enjoy!

They Grow Up Fast!

2009-07-30T21:04:00.002-05:00

Genesis 18:19
For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him."

Today I sent my middle son off to pre-teen church camp. This is his first time to be away from any family for a week. It's hard for me to believe sometimes that he is a pre-teen (or tween, or whatever they call kids that are no longer little kids but still not teenagers). He's almost 11, but just the other day he was a squalling, squirmy bundle I lugged home from the hospital...all 8 pounds, 6 ounces of him.

J.P. is so different from my other two kids. He is very laid back, casual, and doesn't get very emotional about things. Even tempered, calm, and definitely not one to want to make a scene. He is a people pleaser, and he loves to make people laugh. He has a goofy sense of humor and tons of charm. He's going to be one of those kids that even if he gets into trouble in class, he will be able to charm his way out of it with his smile and his giggle.

I have a feeling we will have quite a few girls calling the house soon. He has that tousled sandy blonde hair, deep brown eyes, and a tan that makes most cheerleaders envious. I wish I could keep him all to myself longer, but I know I have to send him out in the world someday, hopefully equipped to make good decisions and knowing that I love him very much.

I'm so thankful that we have an awesome church and an active youth department. This camp will be so much fun for them! My prayer is that the kids' hearts are open to receive the message God brings them this week and that they come back as leaders for the kids they encounter at school and in the community, winning hearts for God.

Weight Watchers Wednesday

2009-07-29T18:41:00.003-05:00

I thought I'd dedicate a day a week to focus on the new journey I've embarked upon with Weight Watchers. Each week I will try to update my progress and discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly when necessary.

So far I haven't felt hungry, I haven't felt deprived, and I haven't felt stressed about calories or fat grams. That seems to be the luxury of the WW point system. I'm quickly learning how to figure the points for foods, and I have had to get used to measuring things. Who knew a serving of salad dressing was only 2 tbsp, and that 2 tbsp is really enough if you want it to be.

You know, I think that my problem for a long time has been portion control. I got too used to "super sizing" things, and trying to eat everything on my plate (there are kids in China or Africa starving to death, you know). I grew up in a "clean your plate" family, and that mindset has really stuck with me. We didn't have a lot of money, so we weren't supposed to waste anything.

I've also been an emotional eater...I eat when I'm sad or depressed (comfort food), and I eat when I'm happy (celebration eating). Since my husband died, I think I've gained about 40 pounds. I guess that might be expected, but I'm tired of it.

In most cultures, we love each other through food. We use it to cheer people up, to celebrate occasions and holidays, to mark rites of passage, as gifts, as a way to connect to others. Food is an extension of ourselves, and we try to fill others with our love or our lives via the food we prepare for them. I am going to work very hard to get past that mindset...to convince myself that food first and foremost is fuel for the machine that is my body. The enjoyment of food should come from flavors, textures, smells, and presentation, not from the amount of it I can consume in sitting just because it tastes good or it makes me feel less sad or depressed.

I have spent two days on the plan and both days have ended with plenty of points left over. I'm having some trouble getting in dairy products...I'm not much on milk but I will make a concerted effort to get those in as I progress. I've had a lot of activity and look forward to my walks in the mornings. I've been listening to audio books on my mp3 player, which makes the time pass quicker for me than music. Today I added some time on the Gazelle, which was good during the brief downpour this morning. It made me feel less guilty about watching TV. ;)

So I'll update Wednesday about my progress and how I feel things are going, and let you know how weigh-in goes. My first goal to meet is a 5% goal, which should take about 5 weeks to meet. Keep me motivated, folks! :)

Here's to Health, Life, and Smaller Pants

2009-07-28T05:23:00.002-05:00

I have a new look...much shorter and much blonder, but still all me. ;) Soon there will be more (or less, rather) to my new look, because today is my first day on the Weight Watchers program. I went to my first meeting last night and I am really looking forward to making a change for the better in my life.

I have decided that lap band isn't for me right now. I know that I can do this on my own. I just have to find the inner strength and willpower to change my unhealthy eating habits and to get up off of my ample derriere and move more often. I started walking about a month ago, so that's one thing that I have in my favor.

Oh, and just FYI...I will need help to stay motivated with three sons in the house (they eat ANYTHING and EVERYTHING) so I will be asking for support!

Wedding Spa Shower for a Friend

2009-07-26T22:34:00.002-05:00

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

Our dear friends Shelba and Mike are getting married in August, so the girls from our Sunday School class got together to give Shelba a "spa" shower. We all met at Debbie's house for food, fun, and of course, pampering a-plenty.

Debbie arranged to have three special ladies there, one who is a massage therapist student, one who is a registered reflexologist, and one who is a nail artist. We had full body massages, reflexology foot soaks, and our toenails painted with such an artistic flair that I may never go back to plain old polish again.

We laughed, we ate, we relaxed, we laughed some more (and ate some more), and we had a wonderful time. We also got Debbie and Lisa to enter the 21st century and join Facebook. ;) That was fun too!

We are all so thrilled that Mike and Shelba are tying the knot. Both were widowed in the last couple of years, and both are such sweethearts that they just seem to belong together. The only sad thing is that our Singles Sunday School class is dwindling...we've had several marry already or become engaged. It gives me hope that maybe I might be able to do that myself someday.

Here are some pictures from last night. If you want info regarding the Toe Artist, her name is Melissa Daniels and she is amazing. She runs "Lil Miss Creations" and I have her contact information if you would like it.

Beaver's Bend Trip, Part Four...and not really in Beaver's Bend at all!

2009-07-24T21:48:00.005-05:00

Psalm 78:15
He split the rocks in the desert and gave them water as abundant as the seas.

On the last day of the trip, we took a detour east to Arkansas...where we stopped by the Crater of Diamonds State Park. Now when I was a little girl, my parents took me up there to find a diamond. I remember it being a huge open mud field, with no shade, no where to sit, and being pretty miserable all day long in the July heat. Well, it was exactly the same some 30-odd years later. Of course the gift shop and equipment rental facility was much improved (not to mention that they added a water park to the grounds but it costs extra, of course), but the open mud field was a scorching 115 F and the shade was only there if you wanted to hike a half mile to it. Needless to say, I hadn't changed my feelings about it much. BUT...it is one of those places that most parents just seem obligated to take their children to visit at least once, just so they can say they did it and the kids can say they dug for a real diamond in a real diamond mine.

After my half a mile hike to a shady spot, I sat there and looked out in the open field...lots of little clusters of families with children, much like my own, and in every cluster, there was a screaming kid saying something like, "It's hot moooommmmmyyy!!! I wanna go home!!!! Can we go to the car NOW?????" I was laughing on the inside, happy that it wasn't just me!

My boys, on the other hand, found it to be not exactly fun, but a quest...a quest to find a diamond. André had it in his mind that he wasn't leaving without one, so he set out to dig a pit that we could bury someone in. J.P. helped, of course. Clay gave up and sat with me in the shade. Jeramey went to the gift shop to cool off. After about 3 hours of searching and digging, we finally had lunch and called it a day.

We left with some really neat rocks, some family memories, and some vacation snapshots. No diamonds. At least that's one more vacation place I can check off the list of places I need to take the kids to see.

Beaver's Bend Trip Part Three

2009-07-23T22:27:00.004-05:00

Isaiah 32:18
My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.

This third installment features shots from "Evening Hole," which is a renovated area designed to increase the trout population and attract more fishermen to the area, I'm sure. It's GORGEOUS. I love the layout and the landscape. The water is crystal clear, and the scenery is heavenly. We had a wonderful time in this part of the park!

Tomorrow I think I'll post the shots from our detour to Arkansas to the Crater of Diamonds State Park. See you then!

i

Beaver's Bend Trip, Part Two

2009-07-22T14:06:00.004-05:00

Revelation 22:1
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Today's post from our vacation highlights our time we spent in the Mountain Fork River hiking. It was such a beautiful place!!! I was kind of worried because this part of the river runs very swiftly and I was afraid one of the little ones would be swept away, but the big guys took very good care of them and didn't let them get away from the group. I stayed mostly on the bank, hiking up and down about a mile and a half or so along the river as they played. Some places were no more than knee or ankle deep, but others dropped to 4 or 5 feet.

André and Jeramey really loved the surroundings and plan to go back and do the real "man camp" kind of stuff if we get the opportunity. I'll stay nice and cool in the cabin, thank you very much.

Tomorrow I will highlight an area of the river called "Evening Hole," which they are renovating into a trout or fly fisherman's paradise. It's gorgeous. I can't wait to show you! :)

Beaver's Bend Trip, Part One

2009-07-21T10:52:00.005-05:00

“I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.”- Psalm 119:30

My boys and I went on vacation a couple of weeks ago to Beaver's Bend State Park near Broken Bow, Oklahoma. We had an incredible time there. We went kayaking, canoeing, hiking, swimming, and just really enjoyed each other's company for the week. Over the next few days I'll post up some photos I really love from the trip. Hope you enjoy them, even though they are from my point and shoot and not my "big gun."

The selection today are shots from kayaking and canoeing on the Mountain Fork River. I had never done either one of those, so it was a first for me and for the younger two boys. André and Jeramey had before, of course, so they were pros. We went canoeing first, and that was so beautiful!! The weather was not unbearably hot, and the river was ICE cold. The scenery was just spectacular. Kayaking was on days two and three, and maybe even four. I was scared, because I thought I'd tip it over or never be able to get out of the silly thing...but I was wrong. It was the best thing ever. I LOVE it. I might even have to buy us some kayaks to take to the lake or go on river trips with. SOOOO much fun!

We can't wait to go back!

Third time's a charm!

2009-07-19T20:30:00.002-05:00

I think this is the last batch of Photo Walk pictures I'll put up...I am kind of tired from editing. :)

Remember, to see the whole set and all the shots from other Photo Walk participants, visit our flickr page...and visit my Facebook page!

More Photo Walk shots!

2009-07-19T14:40:00.002-05:00

I thought I'd show a few more...I think I have over 100 shots on the flickr group page and on my facebook page, if you want to see them all...but here are some of them:

Photowalk 2009

2009-07-18T16:04:00.005-05:00

1 Samuel 20:42
Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, 'The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.'

I met up with about 20 other photographers this morning to walk around downtown Terrell and take pictures. It was really a fun experience and I enjoyed getting out and making new friends very much. I got to see a lot of the historical architecture that is hidden behind fences and ivy. Here are some of my favorite captures of the day:

Come visit me on Facebook!

Terrell City Pool

2009-06-13T18:16:00.003-05:00

Revelation 22

¹Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

We spent some time at the city pool today. It's such a great, family-centered place to take my boys. It's always clean and there are always more than enough lifeguards on duty. Leigh Ann Belk does an excellent job managing the pool. We bought a family pass this year, now that the boys are old enough to go without me. Check it out if you get a chance!!!

THS Band Spring Concert 2009

2009-05-20T21:19:00.003-05:00

2 Chronicles 5:13
The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: "He is good; his love endures forever."

Last concert of the year...and it was made especially sad by the fact that Mason is moving away in a few weeks. Our percussion ensemble is a tightly-knit group of kids who love music and play extremely well. Here's to a great year that has passed, and a great one to come in 09-10!

THS Prom 2009

2009-05-18T07:18:00.003-05:00

Psalm 149:3 (New International Version)

³ Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music to him with tambourine and harp.

The prom, an annual rite of passage for teens everywhere, was held Saturday night at Cityplace Tower in downtown Dallas. The theme was "A Midnight Dream." I worked as a chaperone for the first shift (until 9pm) and it was really nice. The kids sure do clean up well. ;)

Solid Rock Café

2009-05-18T06:25:00.003-05:00

Psalm 63:5 (New International Version)

⁵ My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

The children's choirs at FBC Terrell had their spring musical last night. "The Solid Rock Café" was just amazing! These kids have worked so hard and have practiced all spring to deliver a "solid rock" performance for us. I was so proud!! We are blessed with such a talented group of youngsters as well as a group who truly loves the Lord and are not ashamed to deliver His message to the community. Way to go, kids! :)

Mother's Day Picture

2009-05-10T20:25:00.002-05:00

Proverbs 22:6 (New International Version)

⁶ Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.

My boys let me take a picture of them together today. It's the best Mother's Day present ever! I love my sons and am so blessed to have them as my own children.

Victory

2009-05-09T14:05:00.002-05:00

Isaiah 40:31 (New International Version)

³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

What a great game to end the season today! Team Barcelona faced the Nitros and fought valiantly throughout the entire game. They boys really came together as a team and played well. Unfortunately, it's the final game of the season. What a way to go out, though...on a victory. Barcelona won 5-3. J.P. scored once , Miguel and Elijah scored twice each...it was just amazing. Viva Barcelona!

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-09T06:36:00.003-05:00

Psalm 139:13 (New International Version)

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

Happy Mother's Day to all moms out there. Enjoy this collage of pictures from the kiddos at Project HOPE!

Viva Barcelona!

2009-05-05T22:01:00.003-05:00

James 1:4
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Team Barcelona crushed the competition from Forney tonight, 10-0. They played so well! It was a real pick-me-up from last Saturday's 11-1 loss. Go team!

I took team and individual pictures for the team tonight. Here is a preview!

O-O-Oreo!

2009-05-05T06:23:00.002-05:00

Psalm 50:11
I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.

Wow, what a difference six weeks makes...check out the size of our pet "horse" now! :)

What a storm!

2009-05-03T16:20:00.002-05:00

Isaiah 54:11
"O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will build you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires.

That was quite a storm last night. The thunder, lightning, wind, hail, and round after round after round of pummeling rain was just more than many trees in the area could take. Lots of whole trees, branches, fences, and miscellaneous stuff was blown EVERYWHERE. It's going to take a few days to clear it all up.

Fortunately, we were blessed to only lose one section of fence and my windmill wound up in pieces, but those are just things. We were not injured. Like the song says, I will praise Him in this storm!!! :)

Special Olympics 4-15-09

2009-04-16T17:25:00.004-05:00

Psalm 127:3 (New International Version)

³ Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

Wow...I have never had such a wonderful day of fun and smiles! Being at the Special Olympics meet was such a blessing and a privilege. Seeing the kids who come in last smile and be just as happy as the kids who come in first is an awe-inspiring thing. So much joy, laughter, smiles, hugs, and sheer determination. Here are just a few of the many photos I took. The hugs are my favorite...that's what it's all about.

p

s
f

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T15:43:00.003-05:00

John 20:10-17 (New International Version)

¹⁰Then the disciples went back to their homes, ¹¹but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹²and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

¹³They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"

"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." ¹⁴At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

¹⁵"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."

¹⁶Jesus said to her, "Mary."
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).

¹⁷Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "

I hope you and your families have a blessed Easter. He has risen, and in doing so has given all who believe eternal life. Praise God!

Here are a couple of pics from church today, one of my boys and one of Andre and his friend, Mackenzie. Isn't she beautiful? :)

Dry Creek Cemetery

2009-04-11T18:53:00.004-05:00

Psalm 107:20 (New International Version)

²⁰ He sent forth his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.

I've always had some strange fascination with old cemeteries. Not like a macabre, goth-girl, want-to-go-wander-them-at-night-and-see-ghosts kind of fascination, but I have just always loved to wander through them in broad daylight, looking at the headstones, trying to form stories of the deceased in my mind. Their dates of birth and death are there, along with their names, so I try to fill in the dash between the dates with what I imagine their lives to have been like. Maybe it's a bit weird or crazy, but that's OK. ;)

This particular cemetery is Dry Creek Cemetery on 1565 just outside of Poetry. It's very small, and secluded in the neatest little area surrounded by old trees and wildflowers. Lots of irises and indian paintbrushes dot the landscape during the spring, but not quite yet as there were not any out today. I've photographed things here before and thought I'd return today since it's close by and it's pretty cool to see. It's also nice and quiet, and nobody bothers me there.

I think I might start a little personal side challenge to find other little cemeteries this spring. I'll post them up as I find them and see if I'm the only weirdo in the bunch.

On another note, have a wonderful and blessed Easter. He has risen!!

Finally...Soccer Returns!

2009-04-04T21:11:00.003-05:00

Song of Solomon 2:11
See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.

I've enjoyed the rains and I know we needed them desperately...but it sure did put a crimp in the soccer schedule!! We've had FOUR rainouts. In a row. The boys were SOOO ready for games to start up again! We played our second game Thursday night and our third game this morning. In both games, J.P. scored 2 goals. He's a beast at this game! Here are some shots of their hard work!

The Best for Baby

2009-03-28T08:38:00.004-05:00

1 Peter 2:2 (New International Version)

²Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.

We had such a treat yesterday at Project HOPE. Misty Singelton, an ADN student at TVCC, has been doing her service project at our place for the past few weeks, and she did a lab and presentation yesterday with some of my girls. She taught them how to make their own baby food, rather than buy the prepackaged kind (like Gerber and such).

She purchased $10 worth of prepackaged baby food, which was 10 packages; enough to last a 6 month old for 3 days. She also purchased $10 worth of fresh produce, which is enough to feed a 6 month old for about 4 weeks. It was amazing. She onlycooked half of what she bought for this presentation, and we had 40 servings prepared already.

I took pictures all along as she prepared the foods. Baking the apples, sweet potatoes, carrots, and acorn squash makes them squishy enough to then be pureed in the blender or mashed with a fork. Things like bananas and pears don't have to be baked at all...just mashed or pureed. You don't have any preservatives, and the flavor is SOO much better. She had the girls taste the prepackaged version of each food first, then the fresh alternative. The fresh ones won every single time, hands down.

She said that if you spend one day a month, about 2-3 hours preparing all the foods, you will have your baby's food for a month at your convenience. Once the purees are prepared, they are put into regular old ice trays and covered with saran wrap or the equivalent. Just write on the outside what you've put in the tray and you are all set! Pop them out and thaw at your convenience.

All the recipes she shared were at www.wholesomebabyfood.com. There are tons of them there; she just did the basic "first foods" for us.

It was a blessing for us and our girls. Pass on the website to anyone you know who has a baby! :)

United Way Fish Fry

2009-03-27T06:04:00.004-05:00

Matthew 15:33-37

³³His disciples answered, "Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?"

³⁴"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied, "and a few small fish."

³⁵He told the crowd to sit down on the ground.

³⁶Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them
and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people.

³⁷They all ate and were satisfied.

From 11:00am to 12:30pm today, go by the firehouse at city hall and pick up a catfish lunch for yourself and a friend or two...the City of Terrell is helping to raise funds for the Kaufman County United Way. Each lunch includes catfish or grilled chicken, side dishes, dessert, and a drink for $8.00. You'd spend that on lunch anyway, so let it go to a good cause! :)

I hope to snap a photo or two as they cook today. If I do, I'll post it up later. Have a great day!

OK, so I didn't get to shoot any pics of them cooking...but I did take a pic of the fabulous meal before eating it all up!!! :)

2 Years...in memory of Byron V. Black, 6/25/67 - 3/25/07

2009-03-25T07:26:00.003-05:00

Jeremiah 49:11

¹¹ Leave your orphans; I will protect their lives.
Your widows too can trust in me."

It's almost impossible for to believe that it's been two years since my husband died. Two years ago this morning, just about at this time, my world changed forever. I was looking back at an email I sent to various friends about that day. It's posted below for reference.

Two years later, we are coping as well as anyone could expect, I suppose. I know the boys miss their daddy terribly. There have been so many things that have happened in their lives that I wish he was here to see or participate in...football games, band practices, soccer, basketball, girlfriends, school assemblies, drivers ed, baptisms...but I know he was watching from above and smiling all the while.

We're going to New York, TX today to the cemetery. We don't go often, mostly because it's so far away, but also because I know he's not really there, anyway. We'll go by and pick up Byron's mom (she lives in Athens) and go out to the cemetery and then to lunch or something. I plan to take a few pictures today out there. Charlotte will be 80 in May and I want to get some photos of her with the boys every time we are together. I'll post as soon as we get back.

Thanks for reading and thanks for your prayers.

Email sent 3-31-07

I have tried to think of ways to help sort this whole surreal event out in my mind, and it was suggested to me by my pastor to reach out for strength. I am asking for your prayers, if you are a person of faith, or your positive energy, if you have alternate beliefs.

On Sunday morning at 7:23 am, I found the love of my life unresponsive, blue, and cold in our bed. He had passed during the night sometime, while we were sleeping. I found myself in some strange fog, calling 911 and performing CPR until paramedics and a physician arrived. The doctor, who had left his shift at the hospital and was on his way home when he heard the call, came to me while the paramedics were working and told me that "this was not going to be a successful resuscitation." Those words didn't register in my mind. I begged him to try everything he could, so they took him to the hospital and tried for over an hour to save him. There was no hope...and the doctor came out to explain to me and my three children that he was gone.

I cannot in a million years imagine how I am going to spend the rest of my life without him. He has been there for me for so long that I don't remember life before he was there. This has been an unimaginably hard week, and every minute I think it might get the slightest bit easier, something happens and I see him...I hear a song, or smell something familiar...it's just so hard to even breathe sometimes. I have cried until I think I can't make any more tears. There are just no words that can explain why a 39 year old man's heart would stop in the night. I am so angry...and lost...and forever broken.

I keep trying to be as strong as possible for the boys, but it is so hard. They're handling this better than I expected, but that's the beauty of the resiliency of children. Our oldest is much more acutely aware of the depth of this loss, as he and his dad have truly been best friends.

We have a wonderful network of extended family, friends, and church members who have come out en masse to comfort and assist in every way possible...but nothing is filling this gaping hole in my soul. At this point, I cannot ever imagine it being filled again. After days of constant activity, and people coming and going from my house, I find myself alone with my thoughts this evening. Please help me understand why this has happened...and how I can get through the rest of my life without him.

Oreo Again (you might need to get used to that)

2009-03-22T07:52:00.003-05:00

1 Corinthians 13:13

¹³And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I can't help it if he's just terminally cute and is a great model. ;)

Here are some pics of day 2 with Oreo.

Skywatch Friday

2009-03-21T08:29:00.005-05:00

Psalm 57:8

⁸ Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.

...well, actually Saturday morning...this is my view over my back fence every day. It was much nicer before they put up those power lines, but I must admit, I like electricity. ;)

Happy Spring and have a wonderful weekend!!!!!

Meet Oreo

2009-03-21T07:17:00.002-05:00

Genesis 1:25

²⁵ God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Meet Oreo, our newest family member. He is almost 6 weeks old. He is a Great Pyrenees. This young man will be quite large but totally awesome with the boys. He runs around like a spotted cotton ball with legs. We are already in love. :)

Hey Jersey

2009-03-20T16:28:00.003-05:00

Judges 5:3

³ "Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers!
I will sing to the LORD, I will sing;
I will make music to the LORD, the God of Israel.

Hey Jersey is a great local band. The guys are Matthew, Dustin, Collin, and Cale. They are quite talented and were nice enough to let me give them a photo shoot in Downtown Terrell on Thursday. It was a great opportunity for me to experiment with band photography, and I think they will be happy with the results. At least I hope so! :)

Soccer Season

2009-03-12T17:45:00.000-05:00

Ecclesiastes 4:9

⁹ Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:

Soccer season is upon us. J.P. is playing for Team Barcelona, and is looking to be a pretty good ball handler so far. His teammates have played longer, I think, but he's working hard to help make this team all it can be. Go Barcelona!

Back again!

2009-02-01T20:42:00.003-06:00

Ephesians 6:4 (New International Version)

4Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Well, I got busy with work and kids and life in general and haven't posted in a month. Sorry about that! I have quite a bit going on and it's difficult to keep up with everything. Exhibit A:

The boys are playing Upward basketball again this season. They are on the Mountaineers (in green in the photos). We played our fourth game Saturday, and the kids are really having fun and learning a lot about the sport. I am so pleased with the Upward program as a whole. Both seasons it has been extremely well organized and we have been blessed with awesome coaches. What a wonderful way to teach the kids about basketball as well as God! The practices are once a week, the games are one hour, and every game includes a short devotional during halftime. The kids have weekly bible verses to learn and they earn stars for their uniforms by their play, sportsmanship, and Christlike behaviors during the games. There are always a lot of parents, family members, and friends at the games showing their support and love. I'm so glad I found a wonderful church home and family to help me raise up my boys!!! :)

Warmth

2009-01-02T22:26:00.002-06:00

Romans 15:3 (The Message)

3May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all.

So I'm participating in a January photo project for www.dpchallenge.com, and the title is "Warmth." It's not necessarily a photo a day (thankfully), but I'll post some here as I post them there just for kicks. They may not be photos I take that day. This one posted here was taken a while back, but fits the project theme so I thought what the heck. Yesterday I posted a photo of Miss A and her mommy (the sepia one where she kisses her mommy on the cheek) since I thought that represented warmth well. I'll add more throughout the month. Hopefully it will give me some motivation to take out my camera a bit more often.

Speaking of warmth, wasn't it warm today??? I know very well how warm it was around noon, as I sat on the side of Rockwall St. with a blowout. Happy new year to me. Huzzah. ;)

Little Miss A

2009-01-01T00:44:00.005-06:00

Matthew 18:3 (New International Version)

3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Is there anything more precious in the world than children? I just love 'em...even ones that aren't my own. I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon at Ben Gill Park with Little Miss A and her beautiful and wonderful parents. Is she not the most adorable thing you've laid eyes on? I mean come on...who can resist that face??? :)

For a 2 year old, she was a very cooperative model, especially when playing with the bubbles. Dad only had to wrangle her two or three times. What more could one ask for?

I hope you enjoy viewing the pictures as much as I did taking them.

God Bless Us, Every One!

2008-12-26T18:36:00.005-06:00

Matthew 2:1-2 (New International Version)

1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi^[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east^[b] and have come to worship him."

Wise men brought baby Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Mary must have been pleased, as none of those gifts made noise. In my house, however, less-than-wise men (or woman, as the case may be) brought my children things that make MANY noises. One such case in point...my oldest son got a beautiful Alvarez guitar. Henceforth and forthwith, he's learning to play. It's akin to him learning to play the drums all over again. Loud and continuous for hours and hours. He has bloody callouses already, but pushes through the pain to play "I Walk the Line" or "Love" over and over and over and over and over and over (you get the point). I am blessed and thrilled that (a) he loves the gift, and (b) is musically inclined...but next year I might just get him something quieter...like a bucket of dynamite and a match. ;)

Enjoy some various Christmas pictures, including some with my mom and with Byron's mom...and a short video clip of him practicing tonight. Hey, if I have to listen to it, so do you. ;)

Hometown Tragedy

2008-12-18T17:28:00.002-06:00

Proverbs 3:5 (New International Version)

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding.

Last night, a young man from my high school campus was shot and killed. A tragedy in and of itself, to be sure. As more details and facts (and a lot of rumors and assumptions) were made available, the tragedy turned into a nightmare from which many will not recover quickly,

Markee Johnson was a senior, just days from his 18th birthday. He was a football player, a two-year member of the Student Council, popular by most rights, and did well in most of his classes. His discipline record only showed minor infractions, and there were scant few of them. He was active in his church and Sunday school class. He had many friends, he had a job, and he worked hard. By all accounts, Markee was a good kid with a future ahead of him. Why on Earth then, at 10:20 last night, was he pointing a gun in a man's face, asking for his money? Why on Earth then, at 10:20 last night, was he with three other young men, all of questionable character and intent, planning (by other people's accounts) to commit robbery or burglary? Why on Earth then, at 10:20 last night, was Markee lying in a pool of blood at the city park, shot in the head by the man he tried to rob? Why on Earth then, after 10:20 last night, was a mother planning to bury her son?

This is a young man who had everything going for him. By what the students were saying today, he was changing over the last few weeks. He moved out of his mother's home and into his father's apartment. He started running around with a bad crowd. Many friends say that he was told not to hang out with those boys. He made choices that not only ruined his life, but many others as well. There were many, many hurting kids and teachers at school today. What sadness and pain. All of it senseless and completely preventable.

The man whom these boys tried to rob was completely within his rights to fire upon this group. He had a concealed weapon permit, and had his gun with him as he walked his dog through the park. I am sure he feels badly for the death of this young man, but he was defending his life. With a gun pointed at me, I can't say I wouldn't have made the same decision myself.

Please do not let Markee's death be in vain. Remember that every choice you make impacts others. Remember that one bad decision can cost you a lot...even your very life. Remember that parents should never have to bury their children. Remember that as senseless as this tragedy is, that God has a plan for each of us. Perhaps his plan for Markee's life was to use his death to teach us all the lesson of making good and responsible choices. Talk to your kids about it. Remind them of the impact they can have on the world, both good and bad...and that their choices determine their destinies.

Terrell Christmas Parade

2008-12-13T16:38:00.004-06:00

Luke 2:8-9

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

You know Christmas time is here when the parade travels down Moore Avenue. Our annual Christmas parade was this morning. Lots of townsfolk braved the cold wind and lined the street to see the local dignitaries, fire trucks, cheerleaders, band, and floats. Here are a few snaps:

Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness

2008-11-30T20:25:00.000-06:00

Psalm 68:4-5 (New International Version)

4 Sing to God, sing praise to his name,
extol him who rides on the clouds ^[a]—
his name is the LORD—
and rejoice before him.

5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.

My heart hurts tonight...there's just no other way to describe it. It's been about 20 months now and I hurt more today than ever. I need you here with me. I have tried so hard to keep up the appearance that all is well and that I'm OK...but I don't know if I can keep that up anymore. I'm so tired. I've made an honest attempt at moving on, even going out with a very nice and kind man for about five or six weeks...but I just couldn't do it. I couldn't make my heart pretend that I was ready to move on. I also couldn't be so unfair as to compare him to you...which will be what I do for the rest of my life with anyone I might go out with. I don't know how to not do that. You were with me for 17 years...how can I not compare anyone else to you? You knew every single detail of my life, my head, my heart. How can I ever let anyone else in like that? How can I not think of you every time someone else holds my hand or gives me flowers? How do I ever, ever, ever get over you?

The boys are still hurting too...it seems now that Andre is having a lot of trouble focusing in school. He failed a class for the first time in his life, which means no band and no tennis for six weeks. He's also struggling in a couple of other classes, but passed by the grace of God. He has developed an attitude, mostly with the little boys but sometimes with me as well. I don't know how to handle it. J.P. and Clay are doing well at school in class, but J.P. has gotten in trouble for skipping class and Clay has been in trouble for not paying attention in math class several times.

I can finally admit how angry I am that I am dealing with this alone...I don't have anyone to turn to, at least anyone that I thought I could depend upon and who knew you. I haven't heard from Cary or Joe in almost a year. I haven't heard from Jason in 14 months, except for court issues (long drawn out story about your video camera and it's rightful ownership). None of the men who said they would help our boys remember you and to grow up knowing what a great father you were are here anymore. I don't know why they all just abandoned us...and that hurts and angers me completely. How unfair to those boys that not only you were taken away, but the three other most important men in their lives just stop calling or coming around at all. What does that tell them? What does that do to their emotional stability? Of course, they've met some very good and kind men here at our church...we've made a few new friends here but it's not the same.

I guess I'm just feeling sorry for myself tonight. I miss you so much that I cry more now than I did in the beginning. My blood pressure is up and I've gained weight. I feel bad all the time and I never exercise anymore. I'm just too drained, emotionally and physically. I just want to see you again. I miss you telling me you love me. I miss you calling me 17 times a day just to say hi. I miss you playing with the kids and me having to tell you all to quiet down and stop being so rough before somebody gets hurt. I just miss everything about you.

I love you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-28T17:51:00.000-06:00

Psalm 69:30 (New International Version)

30 I will praise God's name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at my sister's home yesterday...good food, great family, and lots of things to be thankful for. My children are healthy, our needs are met through God's blessing each month, and we have a loving family who will keep us going when things get rough. I have a career that I love with great employers and employees. I thank God for all that we have been blessed with, and how He continues to show us how to be grateful even in our grief. I miss my husband so much...holidays are really hard for us and I would do anything to hear him laugh again. However...even in the midst of pain, we are shown time and time again that God is good ALL the time.

Here are some pictures I took yesterday...my boys are the lights of my life and for what I am most thankful!

Clay, my baby (8):J.P., my middle boy (9):

Andre, my oldest (14):

Tranquili-Tea

2008-11-15T21:24:00.000-06:00

Titus 2:3-5 (New International Version)

3Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Today was our church's "Tranquili-Tea" for our Women's Ministry program. We had about 90 women from ages 14 to 88 at the event. We gathered to fellowship, pray, and refresh friendships new and old. We had a wonderful guest speaker, Vickie Kraft, who was inspiring and educational.

One of the highlights of the event was that each table's hostess decorated the table with her own style and her own china/place settings. There were 14 tables, each as beautiful and different as the women decorating them. I took many pictures of the settings and of the event. There is even one of my friends Julie and Lisa with me (I'm in the middle). I hope you enjoy them.

What a beautiful event, and an even more beautiful bond of friendship. I am so blessed to be friends with Kristi Lowrie and Karen Brockway, without whom none of this would have been possible today. God is so good all the time. :)

See Ya Later, Alligator

2008-11-02T21:37:00.000-06:00

James 3:7 (New International Version)

7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

My sweet friend Presley took me to the East Texas Gator Park today near Grand Saline. It was really neat!! They have all kinds of lizards, snakes, fish, turtles, and other critters, and of course, many, MANY alligators. Scary thought...most everything they have in the park was trapped within a 10 mile radius of their place. YIKES!

These are some of the many pictures I took while there. My favorite, though...is the sign when you first get there:

Let that be a warning to any wanna-be alligator molesters out there! ;)

Ch-ch-ch-changes...

2008-10-19T15:43:00.000-05:00

Daniel 2:21 (New International Version)

21 He changes times and seasons;
he sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.

So there are some things changing in my life...my kids are getting bigger and more self-sufficient, I've become more and more involved in church and community activities, and I've made a lot more friends with whom I can hang out and go places or do things. All in all, these changes are for the better. I've kept to myself for far too long, mostly out of grief and stress.

I also believe that the Lord has revealed to me that it's OK for me to move forward in another part of my life...I am actually dating someone now. I guess you call it dating...we've been going to eat with the kids or hanging out at the house with the kids for a couple of weeks now. He's asked me if I am interested in dating him, and I said yes. We've never been anywhere alone together yet...I am still kind of apprehensive in some ways about the whole "dating" thing. It's not like it was 20 years ago, then again I'm not who I was 20 years ago either. It seems so weird to me. I guess when you are with a person for almost 18 years and then in an instant they are gone, anyone else would seem strange to be around. I think it's best that we get to know one another as great friends first and foremost. Maybe I'm scared...or worried about the boys...or all of the above. God will let me know what to do in His time, I'm certain.

Anyway, enough babble. Here are a few more pictures from the pumpkin patch. These little faces are what make everything worthwhile!! :)

Workin' at the Car Wash...

2008-10-18T17:12:00.000-05:00

Ephesians 6:6 (New International Version)

6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

The 4th grade Sunday school class at FBC Terrell had a car wash today to raise money for the Just One R.O.C. fund...they worked for 3 hours, washed and dried 26 cars, and made $326.00, which will be doubled due to our matching fund, so in total it was worth $652.00 for the R.O.C.!! The kids worked so hard and had a lot of fun. They also talked with Mr. Shannon and Mrs. Crystal about how they were not only raising money for our church, but also learning to be good and faithful servants of the Lord with their ministry. They are such awesome kids! Shannon and Crystal are truly blessings in our lives, our church, and our community. :)

Herding Cats

2008-10-18T00:47:00.001-05:00

Luke 18:16 (New International Version)

16But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

What little cuties I have in the day care this year!! These are just two of the smiling faces I got to spend the afternoon with today. We went on a field trip to Rockwall's Pumpkin Patch. We had a group of ten 2 and 3 year olds. It literally was like herding cats...they all wanted to go in different directions as fast as their little legs would go. I was so tired by the time we got back to school!!!

Above you see Mr. A. and Mr. J. They were happy to pose for my camera. I have TONS of other pictures but I am too tired to go through them all tonight...we had a football game and 5th quarter at the church tonight, so I'm about to pass out any moment. Tomorrow is a busy day with the fly-in and the kids' car wash at the church. If you need your car washed, come by the First Baptist Church of Terrell between 12-3 and the 4th grade class will wash your car for a donation to our building fund. Dirty up the car really good before you come, though...my boys need to do some serious scrubbing!! :)

Conquering Fear

2008-10-12T17:16:00.000-05:00

Job 39:22

22 He laughs at fear, afraid of nothing;
he does not shy away from the sword.

It's been six weeks since I've posted...so much has been going on with home stuff, school stuff, church stuff, LIFE stuff...it's so hard to get everything done in just 24 hours a day! I haven't had my camera out that entire time for the most part, until yesterday. I have to share with you some pictures from the adventure some folks in my Sunday School class took, and I was there to document the event for posterity's sake!

There was a group of six of us who traveled an hour and a half to New York, TX, which is about fifteen minutes the other side of Athens...and went to visit www.goziptexas.com to ride the cables in the trees!! Zip lining is a fairly new sport to Texas, and this is one of the few places in Texas to get a true zip line experience. They have nine lines, and the longest is 900 feet long. Imagine hanging 2 or three stories up in the trees, zipping down a cable hooked to a harness around your rear end. I thought they were nuts...but I digress. I still have some unconquered fear to deal with, so I opted out of zipping this time. I took tons of pictures and have decided that I will do it myself next time I go.

The place is just GORGEOUS. If anyone says there is no God, they need to go there and just look at the breathtaking beauty around them on top of that hill. It was so peaceful. It was such a blessing to go with good friends to experience such a great time.

It's kinda pricey...$60.00 for six lines, $80.00 for all nine, but worth every penny according to my friends. Go and judge for yourself...I'll doubt you regret it!

The Pride of Terrell

2008-09-01T08:47:00.000-05:00

Psalm 81:2 (New International Version)

2 Begin the music, strike the tambourine,
play the melodious harp and lyre.

Here they are...the Fighting Tiger Band 2008. This is the first movement of their new halftime show, "Africa - Ceremony, Song, and Ritual." The song is called "Primitive Fire." You will also see the Color Guard and the sweethearts of Terrell, the Tigerettes.

I was having technical difficulties, so the video ends during the Tigerettes kick routine, right near the end. I apologize...my computer has issues and as soon as I can get it to render the whole thing, I'll repost it. :)

My son is playing in the front ensemble...you'll see me zoom in on him at the beginning, ;)

The kids don't wear their full uniforms until later this month...it's just too blooming hot for them to suffer in all that wool-blended garb.

They will add the second and third movements to the show as they perfect them. They sound really great so far and I have been told that his group is one of the best they've had in recent years. Of course, I'm just a little bit biased. :)

Enjoy!

I know I've been absent, but I have an excuse!!!

2008-08-30T18:46:00.000-05:00

1 Corinthians 9:25 (New International Version)

25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

Oh y'all...I know I've been completely absent for the past two weeks...I promise I will try do to better. Life has been completely CU-RAY-ZEE and I have just settled into about 15 minutes of peace and thought I might update the ol' blog.

Inservice the week of the 18th was handled well. It was informative, done in small groups, and presented topics that were useful to us. I applaud whomever redesigned that whole thing.

I got to meet our three new assistant principals, and I LOOOOVE them. They are all tough, smart, experienced, and truly care about kids. I am so looking forward to how things will be this year at THS. We have really been blessed with a team of professionals who will move us forward.

School started the 25th, of course, and my boys all have amazing teachers. We couldn't be happier with their assignments, and I know they will grow and learn a lot this year. Even my big ol' freshman, who thinks he knows it all already. ;)

Now that school has started, so have all the school-related activities. We've been to band events, sports events, parent events, and events on top of events. I'm still learning how to be in two or three places at once. ;)

At my office, where we take care of the students who are pregnant or parenting while still going to school, we are busy as cranberry merchants (as my nanny would say). We have four students out for their postnatal homebased education, which means I am visiting girls in their homes (or our Parenting Skills teacher is) at least twice a week for each student. Our day care is filling up rapidly with kiddos from 4 weeks to 4 years old, and we are running about trying to make sure everyone is taken care of in the best ways possible.

Neeless to say, this should explain my absent posts...but I will be more prompt in the future . As my mea culpa, I will post some pics from "Meet the Tiger" night. Go Tigers! :)

Details, details...

2008-08-16T22:34:00.000-05:00

1 Chronicles 28:19 (New International Version)

19 "All this," David said, "I have in writing from the hand of the LORD upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan."

What a crazy week...every time I turned around there was one (or six) more thing(s) to do! I have ferried kids all around town (and to surrounding ones as well) for various activities, so much so that I think I need to hire a private secretary to keep up with the schedule.

When we get so busy, sometimes we get caught up in the details and lose sight of the big picture. At least I do. I let the routine and the rush sort of gobble me up and I have to make myself stop and smell the roses...or as in the case today, the water lilies.

I drove my oldest to Kaufman to drop him off to see his girlfriend play in a volleyball tournament this morning...one of those "one more thing" things. After leaving him at the school, we headed back to Terrell and I drove past the entrance of the Kaufman City Lakes Park, same as I've done a million times...but this time I turned the car around on 34 and went back so I could actually drive into the park, which I've never seen. My other two sons and I drove into the playground area and parked, then we walked over to the first of the two lakes. There was a little pier thingie that jutted out over the water, but the water was practically non-existent. The entire lake was COVERED in water lilies and lily pads. I wish I had my camera with me at the time, because it was so beauiful! I will have to go back soon to get a shot for you. As it was, I was fortunate to be able to reach one of the flowers from the pier and I snapped it off to bring home.

The boys and I then walked around a bit, and they played on the playground. A lot of the equipment was worn and there was gang graffiti all over the park on the signs and buildings. I was really disappointed in that. I guess the city of Kaufman doesn't take care of their facilities as much as I'm used to.

It was nice to pause for even 20 minutes or so today and spend it with my little ones. It's going to be harder to catch those moments as school begins again, and even moreso as they grow up so fast before my eyes. They're my "big picture" and I never want to get so caught up in things that I forget it.

The pictures above are detail shots of the flower I took today. I was in an abstract, artsy mood so I thought I'd do something a little bit different. Hope you like it! :)

Are You Ready for Some Football?!?!?!?

2008-08-12T05:59:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 13:13 (New International Version)

13 He who scorns instruction will pay for it,
but he who respects a command is rewarded.

It's that time of year again...TYFL football season is upon us. My middle son, J.P., played for the Longhorns last year and was called back this year. Now, I have to admit...I did NOT want him to play this year. I didn't want him to play LAST year, either. To tell you the truth, after our horrible experiences of last season, I was practically adamant about him not playing this season. J.P. had pretty much resigned himself to playing soccer instead when we received a phone call from the man who will be coaching the Longhorns this season.

I found out that the coaches from last season had all either moved up to the next age division or had quit altogether. I also found out that the man coaching was the stepdad of one of the boys on the team last year. He said there would be big changes, most specifically in coaching style and consistency...two BIG problems last year (among a littany of others). I finally gave in and so we will be Longhorns again this season.

I don't want to sound like I'm trashing TYFL...I'm sure the organization as a whole serves a great purpose and keeps a lot of kids busy, having fun, and learning fundamentals of football. My experience, however, was that the parents are awful on the fields, cursing at other people's kids during games, screaming at their own kids and the coaches, and the coaches lose their cool WAY too much of the time. I just don't parent like that and don't like my kid being around people who do.

Now, of course, that means my life is not my own from now until November. Practice three nights a week, games on Saturdays. This along with my oldest son's THS band schedule, tennis schedule, and my youngest son's piano lessons and whatever else he might involve himself with, means I will be a basket case until that final banquet...which of course, ushers in the start of basketball season. ;)

That old saying that "Mothers of boys work from son up 'til son down" is so very true!

Y'all have a blessed day. :)

This one's for the girls...

2008-08-10T13:49:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 31:29-30 (New International Version)

29 "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

This was taken at the North Texas Arboretum in Athens, TX.

This was taken at the Greenville Heritage Botanical Garden in Greenville TX.

This was taken in my backyard at my old house in Greenville, TX.

To my sisters in the Lord...

There comes a time in every woman's life when she has to take a close look at herself. Not at her circumstance, not at what she did, not how unfair life is, or at who made you do it. She has to just look at herself in all her glory and imperfection. Have you ever admired a woman who has been through changes in her life? Or have you made up in your mind that she is just messed up. Before you make this mistake, take a closer look. A woman who has endured the most unusual life is someone of wisdom, someone who has been chosen by God to go through things that have made her stronger.

Think of all the great women in the Bible: Mary Magdalene , Ruth and Naomi, the woman with an issue of blood, and Esther, to name a few. Mary was a prostitute, a very uneasy woman. But by the time Jesus was done with her, she was His closest follower. Esther was unfortunate in marrying an abusive man, but by the time God was done with her, she had married one of the wealthiest men in the land.

Women are so quick to beat the next one down instead of trying to hold her up. Before you wonder, ' What's up with her?' ask yourself, 'What's up with me?' That woman could be my mother, sister, aunt, in-law, stepmother, niece, grandmother, great-grandmother, neighbor, friend, or co-worker, etc. That woman could be ME.

Women are the carriers of life, not the channels of death. Let's build and encourage each other, as did Ruth and Naomi. Pass this to all the women in your life. Encourage and love, forgive and forget, and trust that the woman that receives this will be touched in some way.

May the peace and love of Christ be upon you!

I Believe There Are Angels Among Us

2008-08-09T20:38:00.000-05:00

Matthew 16:27 (New International Version)

27For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

I noticed these clouds in the sky when I was outside watching my youngest son ride his bike this evening (he just learned this week). To me, the wispy clouds like these always remind me of angels...their wings spread out across the sky, watching over us. I might by optimistic, naive, or just crazy...but scenes like this comfort me and give me hope. I like to think that Byron is one of those angels, keeping a close watch over things at home. Maybe I am just a little bit crazy. ;)

Skywatch Friday - Natural Beauty

2008-08-08T19:24:00.001-05:00

Psalm 108:4 (New International Version)

4 For great is your love, higher than the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

My contribution to Skywatch Friday...enjoy the majesty of His creation! :)

His Promise

2008-08-05T20:12:00.000-05:00

Genesis 9:13 (New International Version)

13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

Here are two shots of the beautiful double rainbow over our quaint little town this evening...one from my front yard (I love how it frames my home) and one from the back yard (hate the power lines but whatcha gonna do). You can't really see the second rainbow except for in the bottom shot, but it's there and it was gorgeous. The cooler temperatures were nice too...I have been sweating like a pig the past couple of weeks in those triple-digit temps. Maybe that tropical storm will bring us some relief for a day or two.

What a beautiful reminder of God's love for us. I always think of Him when I see rainbows. Ezekiel 1:28 says "Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking." The radiant beauty of a rainbow shows me the beauty of His love and His promise to us. If we have that fleeting beauty here on Earth, can you just imagine what Heaven will be like?

Domestic Bliss...yeah right!

2008-08-03T07:30:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 31:29-31 (New International Version)

29 "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

So I got up this morning and baked biscuits. Yummy, flaky, tender, melt-in-your-mouth biscuits. Not too shabby for me, the one who does not cook. Usually if I cook something, my kids ask if we are having company or if it's a national holiday. I just never learned how to cook anything fancy, and I don't really enjoy it. Actually it's the cleanup I don't enjoy...or the prep time. I am just not a cook. I've learned to embrace it and accept it. Of course, it's not a marketable asset as a single woman...they say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach; I, however, will have to find a different way. I want to learn, but I just don't see myself as a gourmet. I will never be Martha or Rachael or any of those ladies who make magic in the kitchen.

By the way...my biscuits? Frozen. You didn't think I'd actually whip those babies up all by myself, did you? ;)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Martha Stewart Says:
If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it’s still cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant “fix me up.”

Real Women Say:
If you over salt a dish while you are cooking, that’s tood arn bad. Please recite with me the “Real Women’s” motto: “I made it and you will eat it and I don’t care how bad it tastes.”

Martha Stewart:
Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.

Real Women:
Take a lime, mix it with tequila, etc., chill and drink. You might still have the headache, but who cares?

Martha Stewart:
Stuff marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.

Real Women:
Just suck the ice cream out of the bottom of the cone, for Pete’s sake. You are probably lying on the couch, with your feet up, eating it anyway.

Martha Stewart:
To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.

Real Women:
Buy Hungry Jack potato mix and keep it in the pantry for up to a year.

Martha Stewart:
When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won’t be any white mess on the outside of the cake.

Real Women:
Go to the bakery. They will even decorate it for you.

Martha Stewart:
Brush beaten egg white over pie crust before baking for a glossy finish.

Real Women:
The Mrs. Smith frozen pie directions do not include brushing egg whites over the crust, so I just don’t do it.

Martha Stewart:
If you have a problem opening jars, try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non slip grip that makes opening jars easy.

Real Women:
Go ask the very cute neighbor to do it.

And finally…the most important tip:

Martha Stewart:
Don’t throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

Real Women:
Leftover wine????????

Skywatch Friday

2008-08-01T19:28:00.001-05:00

Revelation 1:7 (New International Version)

7Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.

It's just been too hot to get out for pictures, so I went to the archives for these two images. I took these on a trip to Galveston a while back. The top one was at sunrise, looking toward the Flagship Hotel from the beach. The bottom one was at sunset near the same location (looking the opposite direction) a couple of days later. I will treasure the memories of that trip. We all had such a great time there. I can't wait to go back again.

Hope the skies in your area are beautiful and a little cooler than here. The forecast for the next four days calls for highs of 104, 105, 106, and 107. Yes, really. Yikes.

Joy...and if all the animals along the equator were capable of flattery...

2008-07-30T07:50:00.000-05:00

Job 8:21 (New International Version)

21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
and your lips with shouts of joy.

Joy is what I feel when I look at the pictures I posted today. They are some of my favorites, because they really reflect their individual personalities.

First is J.P., my middle child. He is all boy...rough and tumble, always skinned up or scraped up somewhere, and always mischievous. He's not a troublemaker, but he is always in the middle of something.

Next is Clay, the baby. He's sweet and innocent...when he's asleep. ;)

Then there is Andre, the oldest. He's a natural leader, kind and caring, and very much an instigator when it comes to trouble involving the younger two.

The fourth photo is of my late husband, taken not long before his death. He was a good man and an incredible father.

The last picture is one of hundreds I have taken of him with the boys. It's one of my personal favorites.

In other news...

I just love the Ocean's movies. I watched 11 and 12 last night (I still need to get 13), just because. Granted, 12 is not as good as 11, but 13 is better and makes up for the slowness in 12 IMHO. I have always wondered, however, about the part in 12 when they're talking to Matsui in the restaurant. I always laugh when Linus (Matt Damon) takes his turn and quotes Zeppelin lyrics. I googled the conversation, and this is what I found out (http://theboard.byu.edu/index.php?area=viewall&id=14656):

Question: During one scene in Ocean's Twelve, the characters played by Matt Damon, George Clooney and Brad Pitt are sitting in a bar with this guy (Robbie Coltrane) and they start speaking in gibberish. Damon's character is completely thrown; are they speaking in some sort of code, or is it just plain nonsense? - AJ

Flickchick: Your question epitomizes the difference between Ocean's Eleven (2001) and Ocean's Twelve (2004). The virtuoso list of needs for the casino robbery in Eleven - "a Boesky, a Jim Brown, Two Jethros, a Leon Spinks, a Miss Daisy and the biggest Ella Fitzgerald ever" - sounds like gibberish, but it's sheer, smirking hipster showing-off. Thing is, it's clever - each term actually means something by way of a highly personal kind of free association, as Steven Soderbergh himself explained (and all I had to do was ask!):

"We [Soderbergh and screenwriter Ted Griffin] felt we had to come up with some funny, Damon Runyon-esque turns of phrase that weren't arbitrary - we did sit down and think them out. So, Carl Reiner is the Boesky, as in Ivan, the powerful, rich magnate, inside kind of guy. Jim Brown is the confrontation Bernie Mac has with Matt Damon - the 'Don't mess with me or you're in for it' moment. The two Jethros are Casey Affleck and Scott Caan, the idea being 'We're going to need gear heads, car fanatics... some people who are total hillbilly under-the-hood guys.' A Leon Spinks is the disruption of the boxing match: A sporting event with some controversy to it - that's what Leon Spinks means to me. The Miss Daisy association is driving; that was the SWAT van, a ruse involving transportation. The Ella Fitzgerald is the tape of the fake vault, which they're going to play back and have [Andy Garcia's character] Benedict think is live: 'Is it live, or is it Memorex?'"

Makes snarky sense, right? But the gibberish in Twelve is just that: gibberish, though it's supposed to be some kind of sophisticated code that allows thieves to talk freely in a public place about setting up a job. "A doctor who specializes in skin diseases will dream he has fallen asleep in front of the television," says Rusty Ryan (Pitt). "Later, he will wake up in front of the television, but not remember his dreams." "If all the animals along the equator were capable of flattery, then Thanksgiving and Halloween would fall on the same date," replies Ocean (George Clooney). "When I was four years old," counters Matsui (Robbie Coltrane - hey, that's funny, a guy who looks like Robbie Coltrane playing someone named Matsui), who's in a position to set them up with a much-needed gig that involves robbing a reclusive Amsterdam antiques dealer, "I watched my mother kill a spider with a tea cozy. Years later, I realized it was not a spider. It was my Uncle Harold." The desperately baffled Linus (Damon), aware that it's his turn, chimes in with lyrics from Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir": "O let the sun beat down upon me/Stars to fill my dreams/I am a traveler in time and space/To be where I've been." Ryan and Ocean swear Linus just called Matsui's niece a whore, but they're obviously jerking his chain. Which is all very well and good, but jerking the viewer's chain is something else. You could do your nut turning over the goofy non sequiturs in your mind, trying to grab will o' the wisp clues. Halloween and Thanksgiving on the same date... You wear masks on Halloween, you know, like a burglar, and if Halloween and Thanksgiving are on the same date then that means the job will go well. But what about the equator animals and flattery? Maybe that means that if you can get your crew - the animals (thanks a lot, boss) - to play nice together and work toward a common goal ("equator" = "line," as in getting your ducks in a row), then the job is doable. Whatever. The actors seem to be having a blast, but the scene oozes contempt for poor schmucks who shell out their hard-earned bucks to see a movie. And that, in my book, is the problem with Ocean's Twelve in a nutshell.

I also love the part in 12 when Tess has to play Julia Roberts...hilarious. The scene with Bruce Willis is one of my favorites!

The Soundtrack of My Life

2008-07-28T20:36:00.000-05:00

Judges 5:2-3 (New International Version)

2 "When the princes in Israel take the lead,
when the people willingly offer themselves—
praise the LORD!

3 "Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers!
I will sing to ^[a] the LORD, I will sing;
I will make music to ^[b] the LORD, the God of Israel.

I took the boys to see Journey in concert last night at the Superpages.com center in Dallas. We've seen Journey several times, but the youngest two had only seen them once...back in 2005, their daddy took them to see them at the Nokia theatre. I wanted to take them myself this time, to commemorate something that was important to all of us. Journey music has been a huge part of our lives. My life, actually. Even though they've gone through several breakups, reformations, restylings, lead singers, and sounds, they've always been a band whose music I loved. My late husband was probably their number one fan. When the tickets for this show went on sale, I bought them the first day so I could experience this show with the boys. I am so glad I went.

Andre chose not to go at the last minute. I had only bought four tickets, and he wanted to take his girlfriend. Unfortunately, when I bought the tickets, they weren't dating at that time, and afterwards, the show was sold out. So I gave his ticket to one of J.P. and Clay's friends and we all went. I wonder what it says about me, that I couldn't find one adult to go with me to the show. I asked everyone I knew, but nobody took me up on the offer of a free ticket. It's a shame, because the show was awesome.

Cheap Trick opened and did a 40 minute set, sounding good but you can tell that lead singer Robin Zander is feeling his age (aren't we all?). The boys recognized a couple of their songs, likely due to Guitar Hero's inclusion of "Surrender" in the game. Next, Heart rocked the house. Ann and Nancy still sound amazing and belted out some of their biggest hits. They brought the house down with "Magic Man" and "Alone." I just wish they had sung "Dog and Butterfly," which is one of my favorite Heart songs ever.
After about 45 minutes, they left the stage for Journey's crew to set up.

It took almost another 45 minutes for them to get the stage ready, but it was worth the wait. I had not seen Arnel Pineda (the new lead singer) before, so I didn't quite know what to expect. He's a very good singer, and sounds remarkably like Steve Perry. He looks a lot like him as well, other than the fact that he is Filipino. He's high energy, that's for sure...and so was the show. The hits sounded great, and the new songs from "Revelation" are good as well. I was impressed. So was the rest of the audience, which was PACKED. I'm not sure what capacity is at the amphitheater, but there was barely room to breathe.

The songs that I came of age to..."Open Arms," "Don't Stop Believing," "Be Good To Yourself," and all the great hits...it was an emotional experience to hear them all again with my own children at my feet. They were singing right along with me. I finally broke into tears when Jonathan Cain played the first few notes of "Faithfully" on his piano. It was our song. The song Byron sang to me the first night he told me he loved me. The song we played on our wedding night. The song whose name was the closing for every note, every card, every letter I ever wrote to him. I knew it would be emotional for me, but I guess I underestimated the catharsis I experienced. I had to let all the past 16 months of pain and emptiness go in those tears, crying in the midst of 10,000 people cheering and singing. Hearing that song, by the people who wrote it and played it for us, live in person, with my kids there and my husband in Heaven, was almost more than I could bear. But when it was over, my tears stopped as I looked to the darkening twilight sky. I saw the first stars of the evening, and a cloud formation right above my head in the perfect shape of an L. A sign that only God and Byron could send...a fluffy, cirrus-cloud message to me that they were still watching me and with me when things get difficult. I stopped crying and rocked out the rest of the show with the boys. We danced, cheered, and had a great time.

We got home about midnight, and the boys were tired (I of course, was exhausted). I am a little hoarse today, but none the worse for wear. I am so glad I had the opportunity to share that experience with my kids.

Do you have certain music that is important to you? What is the soundtrack of your life?

I'm Not Alone

2008-07-27T14:16:00.000-05:00

Psalm 62

1 My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him.

2 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

I hope everyone's Sunday is going well. I am in a better frame of mind today, due largely in part to the fact that my church is awesome. We had a great service today, and our Sunday school class was equally uplifting. I feel a little bit better and have been reassured that all will be well if I just leave it up to Jesus and stop trying to make it be all about me. Humility is not my strong suit, and neither is patience...I just can't seem to let go of control of situations and ask for help when I need it. I think I'm a big girl and can do it all by myself. But I am always shown that it's not about me, my control, or my way at all...it's His way, His will, that will (and should) be done. I am making a conscious effort to let Him be in control and not be so caught up in trying to do it all alone. I'm NOT alone, no matter how lonely I might feel.

J.P.' s Sunday school teacher (Crystal Slade) sang a beautiful song at church today. It's called "You're Not Alone" and it was perfect timing for me to hear it and truly listen to what the words say. Here are the lyrics in case you don't know the song (it's by Meredith Andrews):

I search for love
When the night came and it closed in
I was alone
but you found me where I was hiding
and though I'll never ever be the same
It was the sweetest voice that called my name
singing

You're not alone
For I am here
let me wipe away every fear
My love I've never left your side
I have seen you through the darkest night
and I'm the one that's loved you all your life
All of your life

You cry yourself to sleep
cause the hurt is real
and the pain cuts deep
All hope seems lost
With heartache your closest friend
and everyone else long gone

You've had to face the music on your own
but there is a sweeter song that calls you home
**sayin'

You're not alone
For I am here
let me wipe away your every tear
My love I've never left your side
I have seen you through the darkest nights
And I'm the one that's love you all your life
All your life

Faithful and true... Forever
For my love will carry you....

You're not alone
for I... I am here
let me wipe away every fear... Oh yeah
My love I've never left your side
I have seen you through your darkest nights
Your darkest nights
And I'm the one that's loved you all your life
All of your life

It's amazing how He reveals Himself to us every day if we just take the time to look around, pay attention, and listen.

The pictures I posted today are some old favorites of mine, taken in various locations around here and Dallas. The wooden cross, however, was found on the roadside near Fort Davis, TX on vacation last year, as well as the cowboy. I love to search for beauty in the everyday, and to see things that others might overlook. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them.

Have a great rest of the day...see you tomorrow! :)

Saturday Doldrums

2008-07-26T16:07:00.000-05:00

Psalm 25:15-17 (New International Version)

15 My eyes are ever on the LORD,
for only he will release my feet from the snare.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.

17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied;
free me from my anguish.

Another not-much-of-anything-special-to-do day today...which is great because school and work are just around the corner. Cleaned house this morning, but I still need to vacuum. Picked up J.P. and Clay's friends in Quinlan so they could spend the night, and their two friends down the street are here as well. It's a house full of kids...I better have some ibuprofen on standby! ;)

I've been kind of down the past couple of days... I think I'm just feeling lonely and sorry for myself. I really miss being married, or at least being part of a couple. Having someone to share your life with is taken for granted by so many people...I know I took it for granted before he died. I regret that but there's not much I can do about it now except not to make that same mistake again, if ever given the opportunity to share my life with someone again. I just miss that close companionship...the fact that you know someone is there to talk to or cry with or just be with, doing nothing at all. Like I said, I'm just feeling sorry for myself today and probably need to double my dosage of Lexapro. ;) Truth be told, I need to call on Jesus to help pull me up. I am not praying as much as I would like to and that's my own fault.

Gotta start thinking about back-to-school shopping for the kids. I have their school supply lists, which are each about as long as my arm. I probably ought to have the credit card at the ready along with extra ibuprofen and Lexapro for that trip. :)

Skywatch Friday

2008-07-25T11:06:00.001-05:00

Psalm 68:34 (New International Version)

34 Proclaim the power of God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
whose power is in the skies.

Here are a couple of the beautiful skies I saw this week on vacation...what amazing color and depth He has given us!!! :)

I hope everyone has a wonderful Friday, and I can't wait to see the skies in your part of the world.

Shifting Sands

2008-07-24T20:12:00.000-05:00

Matthew 7:25-27 (New International Version)

New International Version (NIV)

25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

So here are a few more Cooper Lake pictures...these are of my kids or my great nieces and nephews, as we were all there together. I love to watch kids play in the sand. It reminds me of my own childhood, when I would spend what seemed like hours just playing in sand...scooping it into and out of buckets, making castles, moats, towns, whatever I fancied at the time. Something inevitably would happen and shift the sand, collapsing my creations and forcing me to start anew. It's a lot like life, sand. We are constantly shifting about in life, and sometimes things make us take stock of who we are and where we are heading, and sometimes we have to start anew. Here's to staying on firm foundations and living like He wants us to live, even in uncertain times.

It's nice to go on vacation, but it's GREAT to be back home!

2008-07-23T21:51:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 40:29 (New International Version)

29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Whew...I'm back and I survived three days in the wilderness. Ok, so it was air-conditioned wilderness, but if you have to hike a quarter mile to the bathroom and shower, it's WILDERNESS in my book. ;)

We had a great time, even though it was HOT. If you've never been to Cooper Lake State Park, it's worth the 75 mile drive. It's between Sulphur Springs and Paris, so it's not really that far, and it's gorgeous. We saw all kinds of wildlife, we swam, hiked, fished, and played, and the kids loved cooking over a fire (I have to admit that s'mores are good, even in the dead of summer). I only took 1,480 pictures (really), so I will have to get them pared down and processed so you can see our adventures. I've only posted a few, but you can see how beautiful this place is (as well as two of my great-nieces who posed in the top photo)!

There's lots more to come, but I'm tired and ready to sleep in my own bed. Thanks for stopping by and reading...and thanks to Jim for the link on Terrell Daily Photos! :)

In my yard...

2008-07-20T13:08:00.000-05:00

Psalm 104:24 (New International Version)

24 How many are your works, O LORD!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

See what's living in my yard?

We have a family of barn swallows that nested above my front porch last year and returned this summer to raise a new brood. I noticed a couple of times in early summer that eggs had fallen from the nest, but finally, they managed to hatch four babies. That was a few weeks ago. Three of the fledglings are now flying around, but the fourth one (seen in these pictures) is not flying yet. He hops around all over the yard, and sometimes flutters a few inches from the ground, but still hasn't taken to the air. Mama is still very protective of him, and she always comes when he calls to her. I snapped these images while opportunity presented itself, because it won't be long before he flies I'm sure.

I took this opportunity to teach the kids about these birds. We googled barn swallows, and learned that they are the most common bird (when you include all their varieties). We also learned that they eat insects while in flight. The fledglings take about a week to learn to fly and will no longer return to their nest after that time period. I know the other three babies are still coming back to the nest at night, but that will stop in the next few days. It's sad to see them leave, but next spring, Mama and Daddy will return to start the cycle again.

Went to Sunday school and church today...even though I have a major migraine that is making me want to find the nearest guillotine. Very good class, and equally good message from Bro. John today. We were saddened to hear of our youth minister's call to another church, but I know we all wish him well and will soon have another great youth minister to work with our kids.

Here's to a good week. I'm leaving tomorrow morning with the kids to go camping for a few days, so I won't be posting until Thursday. I'll have TONS of pictures, though, so stay tuned! Keep us in your prayers if you don't mind. :)

Mmmmmm!!!!

2008-07-19T17:46:00.000-05:00

Matthew 5:6 (New International Version)

6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

I grilled chicken tonight for supper...some Montreal Chicken seasoning, key lime juice, and a tad of olive oil. My oldest son thought I was nuts when he saw me taking the camera out the back door towards the grill...but here you go. It was tasty stuff!

As far as today's verse is concerned...there are many times in my life when I hunger and thirst for more...to know Him better, to serve Him better, to be a better me. He always seems to do something every day to make me appreciate my life and my circumstances just a tiny bit more than I did the day before. For that, I'm eternally grateful.

P.S. I'm also eternally grateful that A&E is showing some of my favorite movies, all on one day!!! Tombstone, Wyatt Earp, and Open Range. Heaven on television! :)

As promised...tonight's Skywatch photo

2008-07-18T20:28:00.000-05:00

Here is how the sun sets in my neighborhood...how's it look near you?

Joining Skywatch Friday

2008-07-18T17:28:00.000-05:00

Psalm 19:1 (New International Version)

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

I thought I'd join the Skywatch Friday group and post a sky picture each Friday for your enjoyment...but as yet, I haven't taken a picture today. I want to take a sunset shot and I'm impatiently waiting for the sun to go down. I promise I'll get it posted before the day is gone. My bedroom faces east and my front door faces west, so I get to see a sunrise and sunset every day from the comfort of my air conditioning. ;)

Until I get a shot of the sunset tonight, I'll post a sunset I shot over Lake Tawakoni from the FM 751 bridge near Quinlan a while back. I love the oranges and pinks of sunset.

So, I will get a new shot up this evening when the sun goes down...I am glad to join a group that appreciates the beauty and glory of His skies as much as I do!

Beauty in the Everyday

2008-07-17T18:43:00.000-05:00

Romans 1:16 (New International Version)

16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

When you look at all the beauty in the world surrounding us, how can anyone deny God's very existence, much less be ashamed to share the gospel with others?

These are all flowers I've shot in the past couple of years in various local spots...you can see my whole floral portfolio (and my other portfolios) at DPChallenge if you'd like.

Today's been a day of laundry and cleaning...oh joy. Seems like every time I pick something up two more somethings appear in its place. The joys of parenthood! ;)

Went to the post office, and for the first time in recorded history, there was NO line. Of course it was 4:15 so I guess I was right before the last-minute rush, but it was nice to pop in and out in just a few minutes. I then had to go to Wally World, which was not nearly as pleasant an experience, but necessary nonetheless. I had a hankering for stuffed baked potatoes, so we bought potatoes and such for supper. We decided on bbq to go in them, and they were very good. Even the kids liked them.

Now I have packing and planning to look forward to...we're going camping at Cooper Lake next week. I am not much of a camper, but we're going to make it work. My sister and I have rented two "shelters with amenities" (i.e. air conditioning and electricity) for three days so we can at least be in some sort of comfort. It will be me, my three kids, my oldest son's best friend, my sister, and her EIGHT grandchildren. What a crew. I think we might have lost our minds....I'll let you know for sure soon. ;)

Day at the Lake

2008-07-16T14:12:00.000-05:00

Well, we did go to the lake after all...just me and the two youngest boys. We went to Lake Tawakoni State Park. We were the only ones on the swim beach and it was great! After swimming a while, we went on one of the nature trails. After a quick shower and packing up, we stopped at Ham's on the way home for ice cream. It was very tasty, and a fun time was had by all. You can see more pics from today on my flickr photostream slideshow on the right side of the page. :)

Staying Afloat

2008-07-16T08:47:00.000-05:00

2 Samuel 22:16-18 (New International Version)

16 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at the rebuke of the LORD,
at the blast of breath from his nostrils.

17 "He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.

18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.

Ever feel like you're treading water in the sea of the daily grind? Sometimes I think we all feel that way, myself included. With money as tight as it is for most folks, that just adds to the drama. But when I am feeling like I'm about to go under, I know that God is there to help pull me back up to the surface and keep me afloat. I've had to call upon Him so many times in the past 15 months, but He is always there and always helps me to make it one more day. I am so thankful and appreciative of His saving grace.

Speaking of treading water, I think I might take the kids to the lake today. The three of them are all practically little fishes...especially the younger two. What's so funny is that the youngest, Clay, would not ever even allow water on his face up until last week. He spent the week with his grandmother in Athens and she had him take swimming lessons...and now he's swimming under water, jumping off the diving board, and even went to a water park on Sunday with some friends and went down the HUGE slides all on his own. It's amazing!

I will take a bunch of pictures if we go and I'll post them up later. To tie you over while waiting for my amazing photography skillz, please enjoy the picture at the top of this post...it's from the last time we went, just about two weeks ago. That's Daniel, Zack, J.P., and Clay (J.P. and Clay are mine, the other two are neighbors) posing in the water. Such little goofballs!

Oh...in other news: What's this world coming to??? I guess I will be next, because I take TONS of pictures of my kids at the park. Sheesh.