March

March is here and half over and I have not posted in a month. This is always a busy time for us. Our youngest turnned 15 this month on the 3rd. We celebrated and had trouble finding the time to take her to get her permit. Well, we were successful in doing this this past Tues. We had a nice experience and beautiful drive to Guntersville. It is so hard to believe that she is old enough to drive. She is also playing softball on the JV team at school and so that is keeping her and us busy. The other big change for her is that she is getting braces next week. She has been bugging me for a while to get checked. She had one tooth that was starting to crowd other than that I didn't think it was bad. Well, we go for two evals with two diff. othodontist and the whole right side of her mouth did not touch each other. She said "I thought this was normal". So last Friday she had three teeth pulled so they can eventually have a good bite on the right side. The strange thing is the left side was perfect. She got her spacers on Wed and her mouth is sore and I think when it feels better she will get her braces and be sore again. We are looking at two years if she does everything she is suppose to do. The one thing that perked her up was they reward them with coupons if they do everything they are suppose to do and can trade them in for gift certificates and such to the mall. Well, she is competitive and they may regret offering that to her we will see. That is the news for our youngest.

Her sister is also having a busy time. We were fortunate to get to go to Lipscomb last weekend to receive her scholarship. We thought it was for the ones that had already accepted and was going there. They were still selling Lipscomb. She and I had a great time. We went up on Thurs night and stayed with my best friend from High School. They kept us busy all day Fri and then treated us to dinner at the Titans stadium Friday night. It was beautiful looking out over Nashville as we ate. Then the students went to Dr. Lowery's house for devo and dessert and got to stay on campus. We met up again early the next morning to receive the official scholarship and then were free until sing o rama at 2:00p.m. So we went prom dress shopping and were successful. We arrived back at Lipscomb for sing o rama, which was really good and by the time we said goodbye, run a couple of errands and get dinner were not back at our friends until about 7:00p.m. I was absolutely exhausted. I think the oldest was too. We were both in bed by 10:00 and not once had the TV on and had forgotten about the time change. Needless to say we missed church. So come to find out Kent and the youngest had too. We arrive home in time for huddles and crash that night. So then we sent her off early yesterday with the trip of her life. She was blessed to get asked by Rex to go with him to Baja for 12 days as his personal interpretor. If you know her at all you know this is a dream come true. She will be with a group from Lipscomb until next Thurs then she will be with the homebuilders from Mayfair until that Monday. This is her Senior trip and she couldn't be happier. Needless to say our thoughts and prayers are with them. Phil Kinzer is leading the group from Lipscomb and we were thrilled about that along with his wife Diane. Then we know just about everyone going next week so we feel very good about who she is with. Please pray that GOd will bless them and use them to further his kingdom.

Now on to us again. Kent's mom is coming and bringing our nephew so we will have a 8 year old here all weekend so we will be busy. Also, I am going with Mrs. Tommie today and help her with Amber's 6 month old picture. She is sad as she looks at pictures of Lisa so hope and pray this is a good experience for her. I am planning on keeping Amber after that while she takes a break. Hope everyone has a safe and happy Spring Break. Will try and not wait so long to post again.

We never know!

Just thinking about how we are here for just a short time. I have always wondered what the world does without having the hope of Salvation. I hear so many times with my line of work well, I am here instead of the alternative. I always say" well, if we are living right the alternative is suppose to be a lot better". Then they always say "well, I am just not ready". Well, we are suppose to always be ready. We went to Diana's brother in laws visitation last night. Diana said "we just never know". This is a 42 year old father of three married to his high school sweetheart. You would think would he would have a long life ahead of him. We waited for two hours just to speak to Diana and Bruce and Laura Lee. We never made it into the parlor where the family was. We were talking about all of the laughter that was around us and how everyone was enjoying themselves. It is so true how a funeral is like a reunion. This is such a tragic event and our hearts go out to this family. I cannot imagine life without Kent. I know we are suppose to be ready at all times but we are never ready when they are so young. We just have to always be ready because we never know.

P.S For some reason I did not post this when I wrote it.

The night before Winterfest

Our girls are packing for Winterfest and it is a little sad that their dad and I are not going. This is the first time that we have not been in many many years. Our youngest was sweet because she said she was kind of sad that we would not be there this weekend. She still loves us at least. Jamie has really enjoyed us not being with her the last 4 years. We have been on just a few things with her but she is enjoying her independence. We wore her out being with her every minute in Jr. High. The good news is that we plan on getting some things done around here this weekend. It has its pros and cons. Time is quickly passing and we are finding more and more nights at home. Never thought in a million years that this would happen this fast. It is fun just a diff. stage in our life. We said we were going to have to start playing cards and games again with our friends like we did before we had children. We have alot of good memories doing that with the Copelands, Smiths and Lunas. We used to go camping with Randy & Holly Norton and several other couples that no longer live here. Those memories we all still laugh about when we see each other. Our kids can't believe we had a life before them imagine that. Well, we will def. miss our girls but hopefully will get alot done this weekend. Hope everyone enjoys their stage of life they are in right now because it truly passes quickly. Softball games for May start next weekend so I guess the card games will have to be put on hold until after the season.

February is Here

Wow, I cannot believe it is February. Jamie's Graduation is fast approaching. She told me yesterday she only has 11 more Mondays. This is due to spring break and she will miss the next Monday after spring break due to the trip of her life. She has been asked to go to Baja with none other then Head Boss Rex Watson. She has finally gotten the o.k. to talk about it. She will get to leave on Thursday before Spring Break and will not return until the Monday after Spring Break. This is a dream come true for her. The first thing is she gets to go to her favorite place in the world and gets to be out of school three extra days. Also, she gets to be there with two awesome groups. The first part is with Lipscomb led by Phil Kinzer (former member at Mayfair) and the second is with the Home Builders class (which are alot of her Huddle leaders). She is so excited she is about to bust. She is so blessed to be able to do this great trip. So that is our big news for her. Kent & I are very excited for her. She is wishing she was already at Lipscomb but this will help her meet new people for next year. So she is on count down until Spring Break and Graduation.
May has started Softball practice and her first game is just a little over a week. I am looking forward to watching her play but dreading the cold. Kent bought us a heater last year which helps alot. She is having a good year so far, she told me the other day she is really going to miss her sister next year. I was happy to hear this but sad for her because just when they are getting more things in common they are going to be separated. They are both excited about being at Impact together and our family trip to Baja in July. God has truly blessed us with two wonderful daughters and for that I am glad. Just wish I could slow these years down.
That is about all that is going on at the homestead. They were so disappointed yesterday when they did not get out for the snow. It was not pretty around here yesterday. Will try and do better about posting.

Rude Workers!

I decided to post this after reading my friends Sunny's post. I wasn't going to because I thought it was just me. Our family was at American Eagle after Christmas and our youngest found a shirt she wanted to purchase. We proceed to the cashier and walked to the end of the counter where the two workers were standing talking and folding. They both looked up at us with the look they couldn't believe we were interupting them. Never said "may I help you or nothing". Well, I said "we would like to purchase this". One of the girls looked at us and said "you have to go on the other side". Let me remind you there was nobody else at the register so there was not a line or anything. Our youngest and me just looked at each other and I was trying to stay calm. If she had not wanted the shirt so bad I would have walked out. We purchased the shirt and she was not friendly at all. I was appalled. We told dad what just took place and without hesitating he said "it it coming from talking on line". These kids do not know how to talk to people and they are loosing their manners. LOOSING, it is lost. I am still amazed that these emplyees looked at us the way we did. My little one dosn't miss a thing and I think she was shocked too. They better be glad we do not go in there very much because the manager and owner would have heard about this. Their clothes are so expensive and to be treated like this, absolutely not. I guess I feel better. When I worked retail in High School the customer was always right, even now dealing with the public they are always given the benefit of the doubt. Oh well, I can just do eveything I can to teach my children to treat others with respect and hope others will too. It just seems to me but I think respect is going out the window and that makes me sad. Matt 12:37 (I need to remember this too)

23 Years ! YEA

Well, We just celebrated 23 years together. "and they said we would never make it" Ha! No just kidding. We met in December of 1982 and our first date was in Jan. of 83 and we were married the following January 1984. It was fast but meant to be. I believe that Kent has taught me to laugh alot and to stay calm. It has truly gone by fast and to look back over the years it has been a blessing. The many laughs we have had along with the tears have developed a closeness that no one can ever take away. Looking forward to many more.
Still thinking of the things we have gone through of my moms. We spend all of these years collecting things and stuff just so someone else has to go through it. I am still trying to downsize. We have cleaned out alot and still have alot to go. This brings me to the lessons I am trying to get back into. Seems like I got so busy and havn't stopped for spiritual time for me. The study is by :Beth Moore and it is about Daniel. There is so much depth to learn about him and his history and what he went through. She is comparing Babylon to today's world which is interesting. Quote from her study " How do we resist the world's titanic pressue?" She compared him coming from Jeruselum to Babylon as sheltered to sensory overload.
This brings me to always remember that no matter how bad we think today's world is that it seems it has always been just as bad since sin first entered the world. You can always find it in the Bible or history books. How Daniel is resisting the royal food and wine. To think that a (scholars believe) he and his captive friends were 15, and he was resisting food of any kind that in itself is hard to believe. I just remember how much my brother ate at this age.
So to resist todays temtation of wanting more is one of things I am going to work on this year. As she points out it dosn't start by just going to church of Sunday's Wed. and it is never accidental, it is a daily resolve and consistancy. I am going to try and spend more time in the word this year and show myself I can dig deeper without it being over my head. She ends today's lesson with a great quote: "The lifeblood of integrity is becoming the same person no matter where we are -- no matter who's around." I certainly married a man of integrity and I would love to leave a legacy of integrity to my children not stuff.

Looking Back on 2006

Looking back on 2006 it was a good year just passed too quickly. I am glad it passed quick for our oldest for her recovery but sad that this is her last year at home. 2007 will bring big changes in our household they will be good just sad that she has grown up so fast. If she wasn't so happy and excited I would cry all the time but to see her face light up as she talks about college is a wonderful sight. Just got the news about Mrs. Mann today and our thoughts and prayers will be her and her sweet family. Also, just got to touch base with Mrs. Tommie and it brought up something that just showed how dumb I truly am. I am so literal math was def. not my strong subject in school. Anyway, Mrs. Tommie's husband is literally on the genius list and I have gotten to talk with him a lot lately. He was telling our oldest and myself about the mensa test. He is one of the few that has gotten 48 out of 48 right on that test. So that tells you how smart he is. So I pulled up this sample test tonight. If you are bored you can pull it up and try it. http://www.mensa.org/workout2.php I got more right then I thought I would but like I said Math and me do not get along. It amazes me that people know all of this stuff without trying. My dad probably could have been on that list and I always said he didn't share any of those genes with me. I hate alcohol got in the way of what a good man he was. Oh well, I may not have the brains just the heart. Hope everyone has a wonderful New Year. Phil 4:13 HAPPY 2007!

Cleaning up for Christmas

Well, we survived Christmas and the fast track of traveling to TN & KY this past weekend. We had a great Christmas and enjoyed watching the girls. The kids on my side of the family have the biggest time with the paper fight after we have played dirty Santa. We laugh so hard just over silly paper. My girls have missed it for the last couple of years and were so excited to be a part of it this year. Now we are back home and cleaning out and putting away all that we received. I have things that I have not used in years and wonder why I have been holding on to them. It is just amazing to me how much clutter that is collected over the years. I feel like after going through all of my mothers stuff I have given away more stuff this last year than I ever thought I could. After doing this you start to think about not wanting your children to have to do this once we are gone. It does make you realize how unimportant things are that we think as valuable while we are here on earth. God tries hard to get us to realize that our heavenly treasures are more important but we get so caught up in our earthly treasures it is sometimes hard to see. God has truly blessed us and I will continue to try and downsize some of our clutter. My problem is unfortunately I have a good memory and can remember who gave us what, even wedding gifts from 23 years ago. I feel this is a curse because my friends who do not remember who gave them what do not have any trouble getting rid of things therefore they are clutter free. I am getting better and that is something I am going to work on this year in 2007. There will be big changes in our household this year with our oldest going to college so I will have to find alot to keep me busy. Just getting rid of stuff should be enough to keep me busy for several years. My prayer for myself this next year will be to work harder on my heavenly treasure and being a good steward of my earthly treasure. Happy 2007 to everyone.

Made it to Break!

We have finally made it to the Christmas break. All of the hustle and bustle will finally start to come together. I know we are all happy to be with our families and spend time laughing and making new memories. God has truly blessed us this year. Thank goodness it hasn't been as hectic as last year. Other than just being hectic with a senior and a freshman in the house. Our oldest Senior year is now 1/2 way over, and getting faster. I know in her mind it isn't fast enough. One day she will be happy to be coming home. (Ha) I wonder if she will ever admit it. It seems as though they were just starting school not long ago. I am looking forward to seeing my granddad who will be 95 in Feb. He has got a lot of personality. I think this year the absence of my mom has hit home a little harder. We were so busy with our oldest surgery last year that there wasn't much time to grieve. My mom loved Christmas and had enough decorations for many households. She has passed that love on to our youngest who absolutely loves any holiday but especially Christmas. She loves tradition and will let you know if anything is different. I thank God for our two teenage daughters and my wonderful husband of almost 23 years. We hope and pray for all of our family and friends a safe and happy holiday.

1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Wow, it is hard to believe but our oldest back surgery was one year ago. She has done great and so far so good. Only God knows what the future holds. Hopefully, it will all be good. This time one year ago she was in ICU and we were embarking on a journey that she came through with flying colors. She had a lot of complications while in the hospital but once home it has gone like clock work. She is a tough little bird and was off all pain meds less than 6 weeks after her surgery. Thankfully she is not self-conscious of her scar as she enjoys showing it off. Her little sister has also been a great encouragement to her. I do not understand how people make it in this world without a strong church family. After burying my mom and signing the papers for major surgery on our child I could have been a train wreck without the love and support of my family and church family. You always wonder if you are doing the right thing but I truly believe after hearing people talk this past year that we did. Randomly I have met several people this year that have scoliosis and never had the opportunity to do anything or just didn't think it was needed when they were younger, have considerable pain now as they are older. Being in the health care field I see a lot of people on disability from back injuries and are not doing good so that is always in the back of your mind. With a good support system I think she is going to be fine. The only thing she really had to miss this year was flag football for high school but I am not too disappointed because it is so rough. Hopefully God will continue to bless her with health and happiness. She is starting to use muscles that she hasn't used in a year and feeling that a little so hopefully those will go away as her limitations are lifted by her doctor. Our next visit is January 2 and we are anxious to see what if any her limitations will be.

Hello

This is a test. Trying to decide if I want to put myself out there for all to see and read all of my ignorance. Trying to figure this all out too. How to post a blog and post on others.