The Rehersal Dinner

Yes, it was a blast. Who wouldn't enjoy reliving their college years?



the bridal party



me and the bride.

good times...( I hope)

Well, the time has come. This weekend I get to be pretty (or at least try). I think I'm ready. I got my dress altered, I bought the proper under garments, and my farmer's tan is under control. I may need to practice walking in my heels a little more....Well, I know I need to. I have never worn heels this high. I'm just happy I've gotten over my anxiety that I will be standing next to a beautiful bride and some gorgeous twenty year olds. So now, I can move on to my anxiety of falling :)

the perfect hill

One more video....this one is of me on my most favorite hill.



I promise this will be the last one. ;)

p.s. I haven't learned how to stop...at least not gracefully.

sushi

Yes... the boy can put it away.



He's so cool.

Gotta love Gravity

A group of us went long boarding at the Dam. I included a video of the shortest hill, only a 1/2 mile. My favorite was the 1 and a 1/2 mile.....so sweet! In the video John and I were in back. John is in the orange hoodie and I am in front of him in the black jacket. At the end I was just sure he was going to take me out with his power slide. Check it out.

Sorry about the quality, it was taken with my phone.

Borrowing Emma...

Little Libby loves Emma! Libby fed her, sang and danced for her, and read books to her. Libby wanted me to ask Beth if we could keep her. When I said "I don't think so" . Libby said "Well, maybe we can just borrow her". I said "I suppose that's what were doing....borrowing her". :)

Opening Day....

What cutie pies!!!

Until then.

Well, one thing is for sure. I have been blessed with some of the best friends ever! Both new and old I thank all of you who have been so wonderful to me. It is because of your love that I know and feel God's love.
Slowly but surly I am becoming more at peace with my life, even though it is not as I had designed I am confident that God is good. And, with that I will trust in His faithfulness with whatever this life offers me. It is my prayer that God will work in the lives of my children in the same way. It is my hope that they will learn of God's unfailing love early in their young lives and trusting in that will give them the hope that will sustain them until eternity. And so... until eternity I will live and love hard and embrace all the joys and the sorrows.

a new day

Well, it is safe to say that this past week has been one of the hardest weeks of my life. Maybe the only one that could rival it would be the one in which I lost my father. I know many of you are curious. I wish I could go into it but as I stated once before on my blog, it just doesn't feel right. Some things are too personal and too hurtful.
For now, everyday is a new day and I am learning to surrender to those things I can't control. And, even though I have discovered how un-deservingly ugly life can get I remain hopeful. The things I grieve today I grieve for three. But, at the same time I have a hope for three too. It is within this hope that I know these things I grieve I will not grieve forever.

The kids and I saw “Bridge to Terabithia” this past weekend. Probably one of the best movies I have ever seen, most likely because the message was perfect in its timing... “nothing crushes us”.

Isaiah 43:1-3

Have you ever felt people's prayers?

I do.

its a beatiful day in the neighborhood.....

I would be soo lying if I didn't say that I wasn't in desperate need for a day like today. Work was hilarious as we had a red bull party in the stock room. I must admit this was my first red bull
experience. And, I loved it. It gave us the energy we needed to play a quick game of “pig”( shooting a paper wad into the trash) and then we went on to tackle the coat wall, a huge wall that had only 4 coats hanging on it....it looked so sad. However, it brought me great joy to cover this barren wall with SUMMER fishing shirts. Can I get a hallelujah! As I left work I was blinded by the sun and I felt real heat for the first time this year. It was 60 degrees! I instantly thought of my long board in the back of my mini (van not cooper). I ran my errands, came home put dinner together (to cook later), and headed for the hill right outside our front door.....heaven!

I'M BACK WITH A MAC!

Yep! and I love it. Thanks to my big sis (and brother in law) I am sitting on my couch posting! Not only that but while I was meeting a friend for lunch yesterday at a restaurant I logged on just for kicks and giggles. That is a luxury that only Tim had before.

I have come along way since I started this blog. In the beginning I was on the slowest dial up ever (it took 20 minutes to post a picture and that was only if it didn't time out) and as of a couple days ago I was tied to the very old and ornery family pc. I feel like a free woman!! :)

If your wondering or just plain miss me....

I haven't been on the blog because my computer is hosed. :(

BURRRRR!

Since my dear friend in Africa can whine about burning up (never mind she’s el’ prego and living in a desert). I figured I can whine about FREEZING! It’s amazingly cold! I think the low last night was 5 degrees and its not suppose to warm up anytime soon. I can’t get the temperature in our home above 63 degrees. Our heater just can’t keep up.

The guys working on the house (putting up siding) have started a fire. I’m so cold in this house I’m debating going out there and joining them. My mom says it’s El’ Nino. Well I say It’s El’ Nun ‘ya! Because I want “nun” of it. As a former Floridian, I am committing today to never live any more north than I do at this very moment! I’m even including the north side of town!! O.k… thanks for listening to my rant. I feel a little better now, not warmer, just better ;)

Strange with a capital S!

Something strange happened to me today at work. I got bit. I got bit by a guy. A coworker. On the cheek. This guy has always been very friendly but that’s just odd. He came up behind me and before I knew it, I had been bitten. Hmmmmm….
It has been a while since I’ve been in the workforce but I wasn’t expecting this.

So... I'm an idiot

Anyway, I found out that my new favorite place isn't Ription lake but Ripshin Lake ;) . I was right about one thing... it is one of the most beautiful places on Earth!! If you follow that link scroll down and you will probably agree with me . If not ....you are no longer welcome on my blog. Just Kidding...I think :)

If you are interested in seeing some of the photos that were taken of the fam. while at Ripshin check it out here.
Click enter then go into gallery , then events, and find Ripshin Christmas tree farm. :Warning: there are A LOT of photos.

Anyway, I may be an idiot but I have more hope for my son. Especially, with the reading that is required of him in only the First grade! He came home with a book of poems by Jack Prelutsky. (Whom I have come to love). But, this was tough reading for the boy AND he was going to be tested on this stuff. This is an example of the first poem.

I Told the Wizard to His Face

I told the wizard to his face,

"You're just a fraud, a phony,

A fake, a sham, a charlatan,

Your spells are pure baloney,

Your hogwash couldn't fool

An unsophisticated child-

What do you have to say to that?"

The wizard merely smiled.

"You see, you have no answer,"

I continued, feeling bold,

"You only use illusion

When you turn balloons to gold.

In fact, your poor pathetic act

Is practically a crime-

What do you have to say to that?"

He smiled a second time.

I escalated my harangue,

And blared triumphantly,

"Your prestidigitation

Simply can't bamboozle me!"

The wizard smile a wider smile,

"Piff poff" was all he said-

Since then I've been but two feet tall

And have a hamster's head

I've been told that after having this certain teacher( whom I love) we ( I mean he) could easily skip second grade. I might be beginning to believe it. Anyway if you have some time on your hands look up some of Jack's poems....I really enjoy them (never mind he's a child's poet). He's good.

Just in the nick of time!

Wheeewwwh! Libby pulled out of her funk just in time to be included in our family photo shoot. It's a good thing because I swear she was the cutest thing! We (the fam) were asked to take part in our state’s new advertising campaign. We went to one of the most beautiful spots I have seen. There is an amazing Christmas tree farm hidden behind Ription lake. This lake is the best kept secret in East TN. It is a quaint little lake that edges right up to a small country road. It sits there very still with parts covered with ice and snow.
Despite it being incredibly cold the kids did great. No whining and they did whatever the photographer told them to do. We're promised some cool photos out of this. I took some scenic shots with my phone because we forgot both of our very nice cameras ( why do we have them??).
Luke is thinking he will be famous…after all he did get out of school for half the day for this. This has to be a big deal! Not really….just a neat experience for our family and a chance to do something cold ….I mean cool ;)

"hush little baby don't say a word momma's gonna...."

Well, I was wrong when I said Libby is on the mends. We are home again today and the Libster is still not better. We are on the 5^th day with a fever (not including Luke’s 3 days last week). Thank goodness its low grade, but unfortunately it’s enough to keep her out of school. I’m starting to get a little nervous. We have a photo shoot on Friday morning. A lot of people are depending on us to be there and healthy with no snot chapped noses, I’m sure. Hmmm….everyone can start praying now. I know it is out of my control but I don’t want to let anyone down.

I’m beyond these four walls making me crazy. I’ve upgraded the nervous tick to a full on body rock while singing a lullaby under my breath….ahhhhhhhhhhh!

Another one bites the dust...

Well , over the weekend Libby came down with whatever Luke had. She is feeling better and her fever has past but I think now she is suffering from a broken heart. Unlike Luke she is deeply sadden because she is missing school today. Every few minutes she breaks down in tears. She being my healthy child hardly ever gets sick. She hasn’t taken it very well.

And, the weather outside is frightful. It is wet and cold mixed with a fog that looks like its going to stay with us for a while. As for me I can feel my mental and emotional well being deteriorating as I sit her. With the exception of going to work for a few hours yesterday I haven’t left the house since Friday. So, next time you see me if I have a nervous tick ….well, now you know why.

On a very cute note…. (At least what I think it is cute, but who know at this point….) As Luke was walking to the neighbors this morning for school (car pool) I watched him stop to pick up every earthworm he saw in our driveway and toss it in the yard (attempting to save their life). He has such a sweat heart.