Thirteen cheap guilty pleasures

1. Wal-mart's Great Value Low Fat, No Sugar Added, Butter Pecan Ice Cream- SO YUMMY!

2. Wal-mart's Equate Body Moisturizing Wash, I seriously like it better than Bath and Body

3. Wal-mart's Clothing brand, GEORGE- especially kids clothes. Very classic and cute but still about the price of Old Navy or something. I actually think a lot of their stuff is cuter than more expensive items!

4. Jergen's Body Glow Lotion

5. Dustees jewelry and purses (Our version of Sam Moon)

6. Suave Color Protecting Shampoo and Conditioner, Finishing Spray and leave in Conditioner

7. A vanilla cream Diet Coke at Sonic, about two to three times a week......yes I am back on them but at least not every day now, I see it as a treat for after school :)

They are under a dollar from 2-4 for Happy Hour.

8. I almost always leave with a few items from the Dollar bins at Target. They make great teacher's gifts and secret sister gift and are usually seasonal!

9. Rembrandt Whitening Strips, $20

10. Color T-shirts at Academy. Usually can find them for under $5

11. MMmmmmmm....Fried Cream Corn at Chicken Express and a sweet tea to go along with it.

12. Harold's Sidewalk Sale or Midnight Madness. I got several shirts two weeks ago for $12.99 a piece!

13. Hitting the clearance rack at Bannana Republic

Am I right side up or upside down......is this real

or AM I DREAMING.......................
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND BABY!
Okay, so I was at home for a week and late Friday was already dreading the drive back by myself with two kids the next day when.............my husband walks in the door of my parents house! He flew in and surprised me with tickets to Dave for Saturday night as an anniversary celebration! We hit six years on the 12th and ate sushi that night but you have to understand that Dave Matthews is a special thing to us and been a part of us since we started dating. We have gone to a concert together every year since I have known Trent with the exception of last year when I was pregnant with Olivia- first time in 9 years! Even Ty got to hear him from the womb! It was at Starplex and was incredible as always even despite the heat. Brought back so many memories. Harry and LeeAnn went for their anniversary as well and we got to visit with them a lot before the concert started. I also ran into one of my old college roomates and friend, Mandy! What are the odds in a crowd of so many people??!! What an incredible night. I was in heaven. What an amazing man I married. So thoughtful. So romantic. I would only leave him for Dave. Totally kidding. It was so funny watching people there. You had the college kids yelling ______ Yeah! And the old fogies swaying a little and nodding their heads. We got to smell a lot of weed.........Great people watching. All in all it was a WONDERFUL night. We came back to my parents and went for a late night swim and slept in the next day- sort of. ...... and I did not have to drive back by myself! I am still singing crash-one of my favorites. No Satellite, also a favorite or Two Step but ya know there is just not enough time for him to play them all. He played "our song" (crazy) once a couple of years ago, the time I mentioned when pregnant. I am still smiling.

One Last Trip

Having a blast at home. We got to to to my favorite lunch spot, BooBoo's and then down the way to Jumping Party Place. The kids had a blast and so did we. These are my highschool gal pals. Heather, little girl Rachel and newbie Jessica, Linnea, little boy Drake and newbie Parker, and my sis Holly. Heather and I also got to take in a dream bar and decaf Capp at Corner Baker and do lots of catching up and Holly and I took in a movie, You Me and Dupree. I am having a ball. Today I spent the majority of the day in the pool and visited with my Grandpa and aunt Linda. Ty LOVES "PawPaw" and was in his lap the entire time he was here while Olivia played at his feet with a tractor. More pics to follow.......

I got my One Step Ahead catelog in the mail yesterday, I don't know why I started receiving it. I guess I got on a list somehow. Anyhooo..... some of the items in there just make me laugh. So many in fact I decided to devote my Thursdsay Thirteen to them! I hope I have not offended anyone out there who might be reading and have purchased one of these items. I not saying they are bad, just sort of made me laugh. Some more than others.

Okay this one not so much because or the item but the description of the item:

1. My Brest Friend Breastfeeding Travel Pillow

This nursing pillow is preferred by lactation experts...because it helps new moms breastfeed more comfortably and successfully. It elevates baby into the perfect position so she can latch on easily, which helps eliminate nipple soreness. The patented back support keeps mom comfortable and helps relieve neck and shoulder strain. Adjusts to fit all waists, and (even Dad's) stays firmly in place. A secure way for dad to feed baby, too. With handy pocket and machine washable cover. Traveling? Our inflatable travel pillow lets mom and baby nurse just as comfortably... anywhere! One Step Ahead® Exclusive!

I am concerned if a Dad is nursing.

2. The Bumper Bonnet. Seriously? There are elbow and knee pads also available for the over-protective parent.

3. The Leash and Harness. Again............seriously?

4 Good Gravy! How heavy would this thing be with an actual kid in it? Why is he pushing the kid in a stroller while wearing this ridiculous thing?

5. Meet The Fockers!

6. What a lazy stinkin kid!

7. Ha! Poor Dog! The hands in the front are a little off.

8. Okay, I mix formula for added calories in Olivia's rice cereal. Its really not that hard, put two scoops in and poor in water. You are not supposed to use it over three days, this is A LOT of formula even for a baby who is drinking it on a regular basis, not real fresh either!

9. Naughty-SeatKids can't outsmart this "Time Out" seat! It makes sure naughty little ones observe their time out, even when you leave the room. The ingenious cushion has a clever weight sensor inside — if your child gets up, it sounds an alarm! Ensures time out is taken seriously. For kids 35 lbs. and up. Requires one 9-volt battery (included).

If you leave the room is the naughty seat really effective anyway?

10. "Time Out" Yellow Lab Make time outs easier — for you to enforce and your child to endure! This plush puppy offers naughty little ones a measure of comfort during necessary time outs. He's soft and cuddly, with a timer that lets kids count down the minutes while they ponder their behavior. 10"H. Imported. Styles may vary

I thought time out was not supposed to be easy. What is the point if it is?

11. C'mon Lady, $50 for a bath seat? Where do you put this thing after the bath? A rolled up towel is free!

12. HELLO! Discipline your kid!

13. Scary that the kid is in the kitchen to begin with and able to play with the knobs. Where is the parent? How do you cook over this sheild?

Pulling Weeds

Well my last post does not show up so I don't know that this one will but we'll give it a shot. I had some time this afternoon while the rest of my family slept, to work out in my front flower beds. I needed to pull a lot of weeds and trim some bushes. I think this type of work is very therapeutic on many many levels. Lots of time to think with no interruptions. God talked to me during this time and I saw many parallels to the way he 'weeds' us in our everyday life. You can apply these in many ways and take from it whatever you want. Here are some of my observations:

Something has to happen to make the weeds easier to pull, like a good rainfall or moistening the ground with a hose.

At first its a little overwhelming because there are SO many of them!

Its almost impossible to get every last one in one sitting so you go for the ones that stand out and 'show' the most.

Your going to get dirty when pulling them, even if you have gloves on. Its not the most 'comfortable' thing. Its hot when the sun is shining on you. It kills your back even if you sit to do it!

You have to make sure to get them at the root and not just pull off what shows or they will just come back, and even bigger than before!

They seem to be more plentiful near the 'good' plants, taking their water and trying to overpower them.

Its SO satisfying when you get a big one by the stalk and yank it out by the root and then see the soft dirt all fluffed up in its place.

Even though some are pretty and have flowers on them, you don't necessarily want them in your flower bed.

There are all kinds of nasty slugs deep under the surface that you don't even know are there until you start digging.

Although its hard work, the flower bed is SO much nicer to look at when they are gone and you are finished, well you think your finished............

Its a continuous process, they will keep popping up, even if you try to prevent them with weed killer, spreading blackout fabric and mulch. It just nature for them to do so. Its just better if you watch often and get them when you first see them and they are small, or it becomes quite a task and your back to being overwhelmed.

Happy 25th Anniversary!!!!

Today is Trent's parent's 25th wedding anniversary, their SILVER! We had a celebration last Friday night so that his aunt and uncle, who are taking the family picture and here from Tucson, could be included in the festivities! We ate at one of their favorite mexican food restraunts and enjoyed fellowship and cake! I am posting this because their marriage has been such an example to Trent and I. I know I have written before how much I respect this couple but they really are just amazing. They treat each other with so much love and respect and some fun humor thrown in there! They share their spiritual challenges with us along with what they have learned along the way. They keep us accountable in a way that they don't mean to or even know probably. I hope that our children can say the same about us someday. Trent's Dad took him on as well in marrying Kay Ellen and has made him much of the man that he is today. Thank God for G! For many reasons really, but especially for the father he is to Trent and the father-in-law he is to me. Kay Ellen has also been an exceptional mother and mother-in-law and set quite an example herself. What a loving, caring, giving woman. She is absolutely beautiful inside and out. We hope you have another wonderful 25 years together and feel so blessed to celebrate your marriage with you. We love you Meme and G! Happy Anniversary.

Ty and Noah in Dress Up Mode

This is a fun pic of Ty, in his new underwear obviously, and Noah Galbraith from last Tuesday. They were playing dress up. Ty is running around in his underwear b/c at that point we were still in bootcamp. By his outfit you would think it were Halloween or something! He has moved on to clothes since, I promise I am not that W.T.

These boys have played together since they were born. I need to post a pic of their little siblings who are only a week a part!

THIRTEEN HAPPENINGS FROM THIS PAST WEEK

1.
Trent hit a hole in one at L.R. on #7 last Thursday! The first in his career!

2.
Friday night we got to take Grandmother to Ransom for dinner and then visited at her house and the kids played with the fun vintage toys!

3.
Ty is wearing UNDERWEAR! Had no accidents yesterday and just one today.

4.
Olivia has an ear infection in her left ear and fluid in the right one.

5.
Olivia is now almost 14lbs! She is FINALLY GAINING! Also finally in 6-9 clothes.

6.
Packed up Ty and Olivia's outgrown clothes and put them in the attic until hopefully we are able to adopt a child that will wear them!

7.
Packed up maternity clothes also to attic until a family member or friend takes them for good :( :(

8.
Ty is speaking in sentences now! Well occasionally anyway!

9.
Trent's new jeep went in the shop yesterday, looks like it needs a new engine :(

10.
Got to eat that cookie with my Carmel Macchiato that Trent brought me this morning :) We will be having to buy a new pot :(

11.
FINALLY exchanged some shorts at Old Navy for the right size, meant to the past four months!

12.
Denise had a birthday Sunday! We celebrated Tuesday over Kool-Aid as our children played together! SO glad to have celebrated another year ofmy sweet friend.

13.
Ty can now ride his Harley Davidson Big Wheel! Except can't reach the pedal when he turns the wheel, but can go in a straight line!

Is there a coffee delivery service out there???

Wow, I rely way too much on coffee. I woke up this morning to the wondeful smell, staggering into the kitchen I could not wait to have a cup with the new iced oatmeal cookies I purchased on my grocery trip to Walmart last night. The lid was on so tight I had to get a gripper out to loosen it to be able to pour from the carafe. I broke the lid!!! Just the top part, not the part to actually open to pour!!!! Here I am swishing around the FULL pot and smelling the coffee with no way to get it open!!! That was two and a half hours ago and after nursing Olivia to sleep, I am dragging BAD!!! I have heard there is a hormone that is released while nursing that makes the mother sleepy, I am especially feeling that today and I have SO much to do!!!!

I have laundry to finish and more baby food to make not to mention our third day of potty training boot camp! Yesterday, just one accident while he was playing!!! I think it just snuck up on him. Today he is actually wearing shorts over his cool underwear. He only has two pair left so I REALLY need to get on my laundry. I am such a creature of habit and routine, this coffee thing is really throwing me off.... can you tell???? I went ahead and ate the cookie and would leave to get a cup of coffee somewhere but I am trying to stay consistent with Ty here to get the potty down. He is doing so good and started telling us before yesterday. We went through this about six months ago and he did great but so many people told me he was really young to be doing that and that I should just hold off and not push it so I laid off. I should have just stuck with it b/c when we started this time he was not so thrilled about getting on for some reason and he did not want to tell us before. The other day he ran to his closet and shut the door to do his business twice!!! We have made great strides since then. I think we are almost there :)


I just had to write to vent and to get some possible sympathy. My entire house is filled with the aroma of coffee and I am still real sad about it. I broke it so badly that I think we are going to have to get a new pot :(

Stole this from Larissa since I missed the Thursday Thirteen :)

13 People

I have lived with....

1. Mom

2. Dad
3. Holly (highschool friend, freshman and senior at ACU)

4. Amy S. (soph at ACU, 2 years post college)

5. Jodi Jane (junior/senior at ACU)

6. Mandy Ruth (junior/senior at ACU)

7. Heather Lee (junior/senior at ACU)

8. Shalawn (senior at ACU)
9. Amy D (post college)

10. Trent (husband)

11. Gary (father-in-law)

12. Kay Ellen (mother-in-law)

13.Ty (son)

How did you meet number 10?
At Prestoncrest Church of Christ in Dallas Texas, in the singles grouop on a Wednesday night.

What would you do if you hadn't met number 1?
I would have been adopted I guess.

What would you do if number 2 and number 6 dated?
Be very disturbed.

Have you seen number 4 cry?
Yes, out of sadness and happiness.

Is number 13 ugly?
I do not think so, I am his mother!

Is number 1 cute?
Very, and pretty funny too.

Tell something about number 11.
I respect him more than he will ever know. Very disciplined in every sense of the word. SOOOO glad he is Trent's dad- because of that he (Trent) is a wonderful husband.

How do you know number 8?
We met at ACU through Julie Cromling. They were from the same hometown and Julie was on our hall (3rd Floor Nelson rocked)

What would you do if number 6 confessed they liked you?
Well I would let her know I was hetrosexual and I would confront her with what I think about homosexuality, which is I don't think that God likes it because of many things he gives us in the Bible.

Tell a fact about number 9.
HUGE republican with a love for George Bush Senior and all time favorite, Bing Crosby.

One of the most fun genuine people I know.

Who is number 4 going out with?
Well I hope nobody since she is married and pregnant with her third child!

What does number 5 do for a living?
She was an English teacher but now is a stay-at-home mom working on her masters.

What do you think about number 3?
I love her. She is an incredibly Godly woman who will tell you how it is. She is the female version of my husband. She is my sister

Where does number 7 live?
Colleyville, last I heard

Would you ever live with number 13?
I do right now! How would I or he make it otherwise??? He is the first joy of my life!

What do you like about number 12?
Best mother-in-law anyone could ever have! Very thoughtful and giving. Beautiful inside and out. A wonderful Meme to my children.

Favorite memory about number 2?
When I was about four years old on Christmas Eve, he held me up on his shoulders with the binaculars looking for Santa's sleigh. We stood out in the drive way for pretty good while before he talked me into getting in bed so he would stop by our house.

Do you love number 2?

Yes, real BIG ;)

What is the most interesting place YOU have ever been?

Did anyone see the Miss Universe pageant last night? I only saw about the last ten minutes sparatically b/c we were flipping back and forth from the new show Fallen-which was sort of wierd actually. But anyways, I caught the questions for each of the top ten contestants and Miss Puerto Rico asked Miss USA what her greatest fault was. She said," I have a habit of wearing my heart on my sleeve and just seem to care to much about people and want to help them." Hmmm sounds like an attribute to me! Her most interesting place she had ever visited was Lake Tahoe because that is where she went sky diving with her friend that happened to be in the audience. How sad. These are supposed to be role models for girls? I know I am probably actually jealous b/c the girls are so pretty on the outside and secretly wish I looked like that in a bikini but I was just sickened by it.

Got me thinking though............what is the most interesting place I have ever been? I have been to a lot of historical sights but I met my man in Savannah GA last year for a long weekend and we did five different types of tours. I would have to say that is the most interesting place I have been. I loved it there and could easily live there. I love the history, scenery, art, people, and the food is to die for! We got to go to The Lady & Sons, Paula Deen's restraunt- I use her book often. We also met her sons and visited with them by accident b/c I had to sit being in my third trimester with Liv. Tell me about the most interesting place you have ever been and why..........

Thirteen Blessings from this past week:

1. Suzanne had a smooth delivery of a healthy baby boy- Jonathan Ryder.

2. He was not as big as they thought he might be, only 7lbs. 12oz.

3. Amy is off of bedrest and able to have a normal pregnancy!

4. My brother-in-law Shanon, found a job working for LCU!

5. My sister-in-law Tina, also found a part time job at a orthodontics office that

will be flexible with her family!

6. Suzanne's and Larissa's grandfather is doing better and has been moved into a nursing home. His sweet wife moved in with him!

7. Em is able to go straight to Invitro and not having to do artificial insemenation again! The sucess rate for invitro is much higher and possibility of having multiples! They are hoping for twins!

8. Trent's job and the fact that it is allowing us to have a wonderful summer together as a family! This also allows him to play a lot of golf and be in many tournaments, which he has always wanted to do.

9. Our health as a family.

10. We received two huge boxes of "hand-me-down" clothes from Aunt Tina which will have Ty set for the rest of summer and all next year! Everything looks just like new b/c they take such good care of their things and they are special to us because our sweet cousins wore them before!

11. Also received a huge bag of clothes for Liv, also all precious and in good shape from Aunt Em. We will be taking good care of them as well and be returning them for when theirs arrive!

12. Grandfather fell this week but went to the doctor and checked out okay. He is such a precious man and the most humble human being I have ever knowen. He is a HUGE blessing and example in my life.

13. All of our family and friends who are so special to us.

Can I just brag on my son for a little while? Of course I can, this is MY blog!!!! :) He just amazes me more and more each day! I have said this before but, he is at the most challenging AND the most loveble age all at the same time right now! Weird right? He is such a sweet little man! I have not started pressing manners yet, however for about the past six months he has been using please and thankyou along with his yes' and nos' when he wants or doesn't want something. I guess he has just heard us and caught on, and at the appropriate time. He also says bless you and thank you when you bless him. This may seem like normal stuff for a two and a half year old to a lot of you, but I did not hear a lot of that in my class at school last year so its pretty neat for me to hear him using manners without being asked to. The only thing I have pressed is ma'am and sir along with his yes's and no's. The other thing that makes this music to my ears is that Ty has had a speech delay since he had tubes in his ears a year ago May. They took out fluid the consistency of jello so the poor little guy was not hearing during a crucial speech development time. He is just now putting three words together, not really true sentences yet.
Today we took a nap after church. He of course woke up after about an hour and a half and cuddled me while rubbing my back and head. He comes up and tells me he loves me just out of the blue with a kiss daily. He loves to sit by me and lean on me and holds my hand a lot. He instigates all this! I guess he gets it from his Daddy b/c I was never the touchy feely kind of girl... of course all that has changed with this little guy. I attack him with kisses and hugs all the time and he occassionally after a while of it says Mommy stop! He has heard a lot of the same songs for some time now at church and school and usually does the motions and just says a few of the words. I taught him, "You are my Sunshine... My only Sunshine..." this past week and he starts it ALL the time and is singing all the words along with me! His little voice is so sweet, and I know I am being ridiculous here, but it almost makes me emotional each and every time!!! It is just such huge strides from where he was.
He loves to pick out what shirt he is going to wear, but its almost always a blue one. He doesn't mind red so much but goes nuts for the blue. He is LOVING choo choo's and his absolute favorite thing in the world is Thomas the Tank Engine. Probably like most little boys his age. He has to have the four that he owns with him at ALL times. He even sleeps with them. I don't allow them in the tub or in the car for outings but other than that, always in his little hands.
He is super sweet to lil sis and give her kisses on the head all the time for no other reason than the fact that he loves her. He wants to hold her alot and is always entertaining her, especially if he hears her cry...... he runs right over and immediately starts trying to make her smile. Its great in the car when I can't be back there. Just all around a neat little guy..........of course I may be a little biast.
This past weekend was great, lots of time with my parents who left Saturday. They brought back dog among other things that I purchased while at home. Mom and I worked in my backyard and she helped me A LOT with kids and plants and all kinds of things really. Today was especially good b/c we got to go to church. Trent and his Dad are in the Stampede tournament out at L.R. and were one shot out of first as of yesterday. I have been dying to know how they are doing!!!!
I also got to talk to my friend Amy whom I have not gotten to in a while and it just made me miss her all the more. Thank goodness for blogs now! Amy and I were roomates our sophomore year of college and for two years after college. She has seen me through some of my hardest times and just has a feeling of home to me. I told her today, but I am so jealous of the girls she gets to be with now at the best times of our lives.... being married with a family and at church together. It wasn't just real long after she and her husband moved back that we moved out this way so we have not been able to be a big part of each other's lives since. She is at home on bedrest b/c of having contractions after having a stitch put in to stop them. She is also on a medication that makes her very awake and jittery. Say a prayer right now for her that she will get through this and that there will be no more contractions. He family is gone to give her some rest as well but as all us mothers know, even when you need it you miss them! I also got a surprise call from my friend Linnea today! What a fun day! We did not have much time to visit because we both have nursing babies but at least we got what we did. I am not worthy of such special people in my life. I am SO SO SO SO SO SO VERY blessed to have all of my friends and thank you for taking the time to know and care what is going on in my life and even let me brag on my boy a little. He is home!!! YEA!!!

Yada Yada Yada

I always was leary of taking digital pictures b/c of computers not always being reliable and the fact that we rarely take them to be developed. Well I am now super sad b/c my fourth pictures were lost. The card did a freeze thing that I won't take the time to write about but I had some priceless ones of Ty with a firecracker, the whole group in awe of the fireworks and Liv in the pool. Oh well. ...

To finish my recap from home, it was absolutely wonderful and probably the best time I have had there. Have you ever felt a memory being made and become emotional in the moment? I did that a lot while I was there. It was really hard to leave to come back to Brown Town. I had lots of fun at Gardenridge the day before we left and helped mom start to paint her laundry room. We are in the process of updating their house. Mom and I stayed up the night before talking and crying and it just all went by too fast. I thought that staying longer would give me time to do all that I had wanted to but of course it was not and I did not even do half of what I wanted to. It is so hard to spend some good quality time with family and see all of my friends too. It really is just impossible. The majority of the people I grew up with are still in that area and a lot of the people I went to college with ended up there as well. Then there are also all the friends from Prestoncrest from after college, singles group, and then our first two years of marriage. Can you believe in August we will be celebrating six years?? After today I know exactly what I am getting Trent for our anniversary, a massage!

My mother and father-in-law got me a gift certificae for a fifty minute massage for my birthday this past year. I was just now able to use it since Trent was traveling up until May and then we were out of town on and off. It was the absolute best massage I have ever had. Of course I have just had like four or five but this lady was awesome. I did not know before going but she is the parent of one of our students at Bright Horizons this past year. I have had lower back problems since I gave birth to Olivia and she confirmed it was sciatica due to a hip out of place as well as one of my ribs!!! She did some pressure releifs along with moving my hip around and I felt instant relief!!!! She said it was temporary and that having a baby just changes your body more and more with the more pregnancies you have. I wish I could have had it right before bed time but ten O'clock worked just as well and it was a great start to the day. I have had to drink water ever since and she suggested a sea salt bath to draw out of all the toxins. She was concerned about me nursing with all of that in my system but so far there has been no reaction to Liv so I guess the water is working.

We have been a one car family for the past two weeks because my husband sold his little honda to his friend Harry and drove it to him while in Dallas. I am so nervous about doing that with a friend but they were both cool with it. Even worse, he has bought his next one from my brother-in-law who has only had it himself for a week! The two of them have twin personalities and have the idea that everything they own is for sale for the right price. Being the planner, no change, never even bought a lottery ticket low risk person that I am, I have a hard time with it. We now have two SUV's, a suberban and a jeep grand cherokee. You are probably thinking not so smart in a time of high gas but Trent hardly puts any miles on a car and me for that matter with living in such a smaller town. I only fill up every two weeks and that will probably be the same for Trent now too since his office is not just a mile away anymore but oh no.... now like five miles!!!! I love that about this town, everything is no more than 15 minutes away! Its so easy all across the board. It will be nice to get in and out of, the new car I mean, with two car seats, stroller and golf clubs in back.

This weekend will be eventful. Jon and Jenn King had their little girl Elise and we will be taking them dinner and visiting with them tomorrow night!!!! I also have a baby shower lunch for a friend of our family Laura Hampton out at LCC, always fun. The biggest party is for Grandmother (Trent's) which is a surprise out at my in-laws celebrating her 85th! She is going to be floored! Well I hope not literally.

Thursday Thirteen for OLIVIA LANE

1. Gaining ounces

2. Army crawling all over the place

3. so tickelish she belly laughs outloud!

4. Still in 3-6 month clothes but some 6-9 one pieces

5. Eating all vegetables and fruits along with rice cereal still, nurses before after and in between

6. Loving Cheri-O's, and Fazoli's garlic bread sticks!

7. Now drinking juice and water from a handled sippy cup! so wierd to see b/c she is so tiny!

8. Still teething but still no teeth

9. Become quite clingy to her mamma

10. Grabs for EVERYTHING

11. Loves jewelry

12. Sleeps from 9:30 P.M.- 8:00 A.M. every night

13. Starting to wave, or at least lift her hand up for bye bye! Too cute.

Family Fun

Well fun was had by all out at the Trinity Park in Ft.Worth. Ty is REALLY into 'choo-choo s right now. He was more than thrilled to get to ride the train and made sound effects all the way. We had a picnic first and then took the train ride.



The time went by too fast as always. The trip to Marshall was somewhat a bust but we really enjoyed our time with Brian, Amy, and Cale. Olivia developed some allergies before we went and I made the mistake of giving her Infant's Tylenol Cold Plus. It had the adverse effect on her and she was up 24 hours straight and screamed her head off for three of them while we were at Amy's parents house in Tyler! The minute I stopped giving it to her and it was out of her system she was fine, other than a little bit of a runny nose in the mornings. Well this will be a quick post and I will give more details later. We are back to a very busy time here at home.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Sounds of Summer that I Love 1. The locusts in the trees 2. Water splashing in the pool 3. The windchimes on the backporch 4. My little boy being pushed by my dad on his horse swing, saying giddy-up, and whoa! 5. Baby O making all kinds of noise on the porch 6. The leaves rustling on the trees as a breeze comes through 7. Burgers and steaks sizzling on the grille! 8. The spray of the nozzle as mom waters her thousands of plants! 9. Fireworks bursting in the air, can't wait for that one out at Meme and G's! 10. Ty playing in the sandbox, he vocalizes his every move! Dig Dig, pour pour, sift... etc. 11. The fan humming 12. Red Robins singing on the telephone wire. I have seen a lot of those this week! 13. The slurping of slushees or slurpees, no I don't necessarily enjoy the sound from others but I love to slurp myself!

I see trees of green.....

I see green everywhere compared to the browntown I came from! We are having an absolute blast with Pop and Cita! We went swimming the first day and Ty did good kicking and blowing bubbles! He did not want to come out of the pool for lunch and rest time! Olivia, not so wild about it but we are working on her! Ty has also enjoyed the tire swing that looks lilke a horse that Pop hung out under a big tree as well as the turtle sandbox they got him. He is not going to want to go home!!!!

I of course have already gone to my favorite Arlington spot, Boo Boo's with Holly and Granny and then shopping at Brownstone Village just down the street! I am really missing living in this place right now. We have spent a lot of time out on the backporch just visiting. My parents have a beautiful backyard with all kinds of fun stuff in it. While we sit Ty loads his dumptruck over and over and plays with cars. Liv just rolls around and crawls, yes crawls all over. She started that for the first time last Saturday while I was at Larry and Nell's doing laundry! Heath says he taught her to do so! Our dryer went out and my Suberban had a lot work done on it all in the same week so we are here trying to forget all about the money and stress that went along with that. Well me and the kids anyway.

Trent on the other hand has been playing 52 HOLES A DAY!!!! Do you think he misses me???? He says he does but I kind of wonder! He is preparing for several tournaments.

Today I am going to meet my friend Jay from highschool. He lives in FL now so we don't get to see him just real often. I am still very close to my highschool group of friends and the majority of them still live in the area, with the exception of Jay, Maria in Virginia Beach, and Joel in Houston. Jay has a new, well as of 6 months, girlfriend that we will be meeting whom he says her has never felt the same way about anyone else. I am too excited to hug his neck and to meet this sweet girl. She has to be wonderful if Jay loves her.

Well ta-ta for now. I will post pictures of all our fun later!

Thursday Thirteen for Thelma

This is what I called my great aunt, originally named Thelma Emma Phillips but after marrying her husband Joe, Thelma P. Ater. She was my Nana's sister. My nana, whom I was VERY close to, passed away six months after having a stroke when I was just in sixth grade. My "AA" kind of stepped in and resumed the role of my grandmother until she passed away this past Saturday on June 10th. She was 91 and lived a full life but many were still not ready to lose her. She was not your typical elderly lady. I have so many wonderful memories of her and visits to her house growing up. She lived the last half of her life in Alamogordo, New Mexico. It was always a fun time with her and Joe. They were quite the active and humorous little couple. He passed a few years ago and she just hasn't been the same since. Her health declined but she continued to be active. She got to where she needed some assistance and was able to move in with her grand-daughter Linda who lived just up the mountain in Cloudcroft. They had a very special relationship since Linda was young and I know she is probably going to miss her the most. She has been so blessed to have Thelma on a daily basis. My Dad looked to her as a second mother and is deeply saddened as well. We traveled for the visitation and funeral this week and returned last night. It was so strange going to that town and not being able to visit with her. All the "could've, should've (s) went through my mind. Trent and I kept wanting to plan a trip out there to see her and then he took on more and more responsibility with Sprint and began to travel extensively and it just never happened. I think the last time I actually saw her in person was at my wedding 6 years ago. She was listed in the program as my grandmother. I have talked to her on the phone several times since but wish I could have spent more time in person with her. I dedicate this Thursday Thirteen to her:

Thirteen Wonderful Memories of Thelma Emma Phillips Ater

January 4, 1915- June 10, 2006

1. Her love for The Lord

2. Her love for ALL of her family

3. Always saw the positive in people

4. Her fun and wonderful sense of humor

5. She had such a grace about her.

6. Reuben Sandwhiches

7. The way she loved to watch the hummingbirds drink from the nectar on her back porch.

8. The way she liked turquoise jewelry and wore a beautiful ring on her hand.

9. She nicknamed my Nana, "Doty" because of her being the youngest sister and how their father would "dote" on her.

10. She lost a son to cancer that she never let leave her heart. He continued to always be the most important part of her life other than her Lord. She loved his wife as a daughter and was such an incredible example of a Godly woman.

11. Never missed a birthday or Christmas my whole life, with a super sweet card and always gave me a check with the amount of the year I was turning.

12. Her spoon collection from all the places that she traveled to.

13. Her voice, I can still hear her.

I know that not many of you knew this sweet lady but I hope that I could give you a little glimpse of wonderful she really was. I hope that I can be the type of woman, wife, and mother that she was in many many ways.

Kissable Little Cook!

Liv is now enjoying just about every vegetable, here sweet potatoes in a highchair that was originally mine. She also enjoys kisses from dog !

Thankfully Murray is GREAT with both the kids and loves to 'love on them and snuggle up to them! That Furry Murray is a good dog, most of the time!




The two of them can really ham it up for some pics for Dad! We like to think that Ty is being the "Daddy cook here! He LOVES being the "Took"! He likes to pretend to make things in the kitchen for all of us. Funny, all the little boys in my class would rather play with the dishes and food than the blocks or cars anyday! Such a fun age! I can't wait to be able to make cookies together and let him help for real!


Well two summer projects down and three to go. As you can see, I got the little kitchen painted. I still have the details to do but its 'playable'! I also got the curtains for the bedroom done a few weeks ago with my grandmother-in-law, is that a word? Its Trent's grandmother that I have stolen as my own! Her name is Etie and she and I have lots of fun together! She taught me to sew last year and helped me make the bumper for Olivia's bed, sew on ball fringe to the gingham bedskirt that was Ty's, and I worked my way up to making her curtains for her room on my own. She made my kitchen curtains and the ones in Ty's room before I knew how. She also has made some of the best swaddling blankets for both kids. I am so excited to be able to do that now. We also enjoy bi-monthly dates to Furr's together! One of my favorite places that not too many people will go with me! She is fun to be with and a busy little grandmother. She is has social engagements almost everyday of the week and they travel as a couple quite a bit, I want to be like her when I am her age for so many reasons! Ty calls her granmom and is nuts about her and 'DD'. He is where the Phillips humor all began! They crack me up. He still tries to trick me all the time, the more time I spend with them the more I understand my husband!

13 Favorite Eats

Thirteen Things I like to EAT 1. All time favorite meal, Pot Roast, yes with cooked carrots 2. California and Coppell Rolls 3. Marble Slab- Amaretto Ice Cream with Rasberries and almonds mixed in 4. Chicken Enchiladas with queso, green sauce an Durangos (local) 5. Cheese sticks at Spanky's (local ) 6. Cracker Barrell breakfasts- anything! 7. Meme's buttermilk pies 8. Mom's meatloaf 9. Mom's chicken salad 10. Grandmother's coconut cream pie 11. Kemp's Butter Pecan Ice Cream 12. Sonic Jalepeno Poppers 13. DQ Pecan mudslide

Counting My Blessings

All's well in Phillipsville. A start to a new week and getting in a routine! We had a REAL lazy week last week, but I figure we are due for one after the past year we have had! Have I mentioned how glad I am to have Trent home???? We have so enjoyed each other these last few weeks. We have been bringing Ty in with us when he gets up at 6:15, most of the time-not all, he will fall back asleep as he drinks his morning milk and one of us will get some snuggles in on him. I made curtains for our room with more fun Ballard fabrics, I will post pics later, and it makes it so dark in there when we shut our bathroom doors. We all slept until at least 9 or so everyday last week. We would then go in and wake up Olivia (thank GOD we have at least one sleeping child!) and drink our morning coffee while Ty will play on the back porch or watch the Wiggles. Trent rented five movies last week and we watched one every day! Trent's sister Tina was in town with Shanon and Heath to look for a house so we got to see Heath a bunch! Ty LOVES him and they had a good time together. We even caught a real flick at the theatre. Trent had already taken Ty but he didn't mind seeing it again and I quite enjoyed "Over The Hedge" myself as well as my sister-in-law Emmy!

Speaking of Em, I have a prayer request. She and Tim have been trying to have a baby for two years now. They are now getting help at the fertility specialist we went to and have undergone their second attempt of Artificial Insemination (sp?) a week ago and will find out Tuesday if she is pregnant or not. There are no real complications as to why they should not be able to. Em has had cysts in the past but that is taken care of this time. Its so hard to understand how it happens so easily for some and not for others who want one so bad like this sweet couple. They will be incredible parents and I SO want this for them. If it has taken you a while you know what it feels like to have a bunch of pregnant friends and be sincerely happy for them, but wonder why it is not happening for you. I remember that feeling and did not go near what they have gone through at this point. Could you stop and say a quick prayer for them, it would be greatly appreciated.

I also have a praise. As you know, a couple of weeks ago I had mastitis. It cleared up quickly but not something I want to go through again. Anyhoo.. a few days later I felt a HUGE lump in my opposite breast. Not like any of the blocked ducts I had had in the past. I got them a lot while nursing Ty. It also was not going away with the typical treatment of hot compress and pumping. I had decided if it had not gone down by Sunday I was going in today. I got scared and thought maybe its not a blocked duct at all but could be a lump! If you know me well you know I am a worrier, not my favorite characteristic about me, and I of course started thinking of the worst. I had asked one friend to pray about it and as of this morning it completely dissapeared! Not slowly went away but dissappeared! Amazing. Praise God.

I have another praise as well. My friend Linnea, whom I grew up with and have been friends with since first grade, delivered her second child last Wednesday. His name is Parker Tate Oxley and he weighed 7lbs. 11oz. and is 19-1/2" long! He is perfect and healthy! Can't wait to meet the little miracle later this month. Praise God.

I have a small commercial too. The same friend I asked to pray for me gave me a book for Mother's Day entitled, To Know Him, by Gloria Copeland. Its the highlight of my day to read and I reccommend it to everyone. Short readings that just get you pumped about your relationship with The Lord. Thanks April.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful start to the new week. May God bring many blessings to your lives as well and shine through you in all that you do.

Thirteen Thrilling Things About June

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



1. My husband is home!!

2. Sunny Days at the golf course

3. Movies in the Middle of the Day with Trent and kids

4. Swimming at Meme and G's

5. Going home for two weeks at the end of June

6. Golf Tournament in Marshall with Brian, Amy, and Cale Davis ! WOOHOO!

7. Get to go to Boo Boo's in Arlington! Along with all of my other favorite restraunts in the Ft. Worth Area

8. I get to meet Parker Oxley and Heather's little girl who has yet to be born but will be by the time I get there!

9. Sitting out on the backporch in the evenings and the mornings with family in the wonderful dry heat of where we live! The main thing I love about it.

10. Starting summer projects, painting the little wooden kitchen for kids, hanging pictures, painting little table for my bathroom.

11. Giving fun shower for my wonderful friend Suzanne and her little boy, who will be here in July, Ryder.

12. The arrival of Elise King!!!

13. Tank Tops and Flip Flops from now on baby!!!!!!

Thursday Thirteen

Okay I am a little new at this entering links thing so if it didn't work I won't be real suprised. Thirteen Crazy Things That Happened This Past Week: 1. My husband survived and returned from a boys fishing trip with Todd and the Jons AND caught a stingray as well as several sun rays on his newly buzzed head! 2. My in-laws kept Ty Sunday night and enabled me to make 35 diaper cut-out invitations for a baby shower I am hosting later in June- actually got them in the mail too! 3. Had our last 'Teacher' day at Bright Horizons Monday 4. Had our last Ladies Bible Class Tuesday and revealing of our Secret Sisters, thank you Ruth Williams for all of your neat gifts and encouraging words. I am now a collector of Willow Tree! 5. Managed to get Mastitis (sp?) that same day (Tuesday) 6. Trent took over with kids while I was in bed all achey and feverish with the boob issues! Did a great job too! 7. Managed to rent AND WATCH two movies this past week: Fun With Dick and Jane (I laughed outloud several times!) and Cassenova 8. Baby is gaining weight eating peas and apple sauce as well as rice cereal three times a day. (probably the reason I got masititis) 9. Sister has started making Mamamama sounds that sounds like Mama to me! 10. My car would not start Monday so thankfully since Trent was gone fishing his car was available and I switched over kiddoes and we still made it to the work day. 11. Found out my roomate in college and post-college Amy (Dickey) Smith is pregnant with twins and due in January, probably more like December !!!!! They will be her third and fourth children. Pray for Amy as she has Diabetes as well. 12. Found out my sister-in-law Tina and her family are moving back here! Yea! 13. Ty is improving on his speech and singing songs! Thank you ECI, Lee Bremer!

Family Television???

Does it exist anymore? Everything that comes on past six O'Clock has the "Viewer Discretion Advised" before it. We used to watch CSI, Law and Order, and other stuff like that when we are actually home to watch television, Ty sits there and watches it too and its pretty disturbing to a two and a half year old. I thought he couldn't possibly understand what was going on at his age but the scenes are pretty graphic now days with all the dead bodies and all.

So the other evening, home just me and kids trying to cook dinner, found "Stewart Little" on ABC Family channel. Yea, something clean! I thought I have found a solution for something Ty can watch. Tried it again last night while doing laundry, nope.... "Big Daddy" with Adam Sandler was on. Is this now what they consider "Family" television???

So..... flipping around found a "Goofy" movie on Disney. Thought, that is good. Can't go wrong with Mickey Mouse! Well at the end the good guy wins but the bad guys are fighting and one says to the other, "Put me down you big fat JERK!". I also heard them call each other stupid. Things I am trying to teach Ty are 'bad' words! I am finding that a lot of cartoons now have mean words in them too like idiot, jerk, and things like suck and crap!

What the crap? HA- just kidding. Trent and I use this term (not in front of Ty of course!) occassionally reminiscing about Jason Donoho. Along with a thumbs down and spitting... but back on to the subject... Can kids watch anything besides Elmo and Wiggles DVDs anymore? Not that we watch THAT much T.V. but there is an appropriate time for it and not a lot of options.

For the last two days, other than the morning Wiggles, I have had the television completely off. This has been a little easier to do with Trent out of town (Boys Weekend), otherwise we would have to have it on for the PGA and ESPN! Ty picks up the remote all the time and says, "Daddy's" HOW SAD IS THAT!!!!! Also easier with it being so pretty outside, however its been real hot out here so we have limited that time to the mornings and late afternoon.

I think we rely too much on television as a culture. Some t.v. is okay but all day? No wonder so many children are obese now! Let's get back to what used to work, outdoors, indoor 'activities', etc. Its hard to do and get things done around the house as well, but I have started to try and include Ty in these activities too, as much as you can someone his age! I think its Dr. Phil that said in his Family First book that there age appropriate jobs for every age and its good to start at a young age not only to help out but to teach some resposibility. He picks up his toys each time we leave the house or when we are done in the bathtub or even outside. He can bring me his shoes and put them up and bring me his plate when he is done. I never fill a cup unless one is brought back to me!

Okay, I am off my soap box on the television issue but would like to hear thoughts from others.

Highlights From This Past Week

Sister is sitting up on her own! We actually captured it on film the moment it happened which was last Saturday afternoon. We also started peas a week ago mixed in with the rice cereal and now fruit as well. She had her six month well check yesterday and is real underweight so we are adding formula to the rice cereal. She did grow another inch and is now 26-1/2 inches long but only weighs 12.5!!!!

Later that afternoon we went to our friend Evan's 2nd birthday party and Ty had lots of fun in the bounce house in her backyard. We had my Bright Horizons Faculty dinner that evening at the church and later got to spend time with friends. We sat outside all evening and it was the perfect night for it. We got to see our friend Justin and his fun wife Jenny who we have not seen in two years and celebrated Aaron's 30th birthday. I have also included the picture that I promised earlier of both my 'buzz boys'! Ty is still waking up here after his nap before we went to the dinner.

This past Wednesday was also my last day with kids at Bright Horizons. I wish I could figure out how to post these pictures in order but I am just not that techno-savvy (is that even a word?) The last pictures I put on are showing up first. I need a blogging lesson! I am enclosing a picture of our little class. Not the best picture of me but please overlook that! I was having issues with my shirt creeping up and itchy eyes so the glasses are on.

Well Ty's speech therapist is going to be here any minute so we gots to get going. He is doing really well and about caught up, well he is, he is just plain stubborn! Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Olivia Lane Phillips is 6 months old!

Six months ago yesterday I gave birth to this precious girl! I can still remember every detail ! As most of you know I was induced a week early and she only took three hours to get here. My epideral did not work and I felt absolutely everything but she was well worth it! I can't believe it has been six months and in this same amount of time that has happened in a flash she will be a year old! She has been a very easy baby but starting to go through lots of changes.

1. As you can see she loves to play in the exersaucer, or as I call "working on the f arm" Thanks to our sweet friends the Binkley's she is able to do so. Ty brings her animals from his little people farm all the time and she likes to chew on them.

2. She has been teething for about three months but still no teeth. She drools a lot more than her brother did.

3. She grabs at EVERYTHING and has quite a grip for her dainty little self! She likes to go for cups and pulls them to her mouth for a drink. She has already had some of Meme's tea and Grandmom's water!

4. She loves to hang out on a blanket on the floor and flips and rolls all around.

5. She is already enthralled by Baby Einstein and thanks to her brother "The Wiggles". Its like her 'off button' when turning them on. She watches them when the rest of us are at the dinner table so she will have something to do!

6. She smiles everytime her brother talks to her and has started laughing a lot. He gives her plenty of reasons to do so!

7. She would rather stand than sit and bounces while bending those little legs.

8. She is such a little priss! She shifts her weight and sticks that little hiney out when people talk to her!

9. She has been enjoying her rice cereal for the past month and has showen a definate interest in food. We will be starting the vegetables as soon as I can remember to do it! Thanks to Meme we have a nice start!

10. She has the most kissable little cheeks ever! She is in 3-6 month sleepers but because of her tiney little body still in 0-3 two piece outfits! I didn't think it possible but she is even smaller than Ty! I guess these two don't have a chance but to be long and lanky!

Okay I will stop at 10 but I could write a book on how in love with this little girl I am. Her little personality is so laid back. I just can't get enough of her. I feel so blessed to have her in my life and cannot wait to experience so many things with her. At the same time I want to keep her so small and snuggable forever! Well I will always snuggle her but I her whole body will not always fit in my arms. We have our six month well visit next week and I will post the physical changes at that point. Hopefully no more ear infections like her brother. We just went through a double ear infection with her two weeks ago. Just like Ty, she showed no typical signs. She had a 'smoker's' cough so I decided to take her in. She got a shot because she does not keep down medicine and healed quickly! She was a trooper and hardly even cried, did not even turn red!!!! She is much less of a baby than me even at six months!

Trent has been bugging me to get his and Ty's hair buzzed for months, since his Alamosa gig has ended. He will be wearing a hat everyday for the summer because he will be outside and thought it would be so much easier. He had his hair like this when we were first married and I found a picture of him and Chad Hackler from when we went to Depeche Mode, reminded me that it didn't look all that bad. I also saw Matt Jacobs and their little boy Brady who had just done the same and thought they looked precious so I decided to give in. Yesterday morning over coffee I mentioned I thought it would be okay now... .before I finished my sentence he was in the bathroom getting his clippers and yelling to Ty to get outside.............

Blessings

Well I promised more to come and believe me they just keep coming. One of which we turned down for other blessings. Last week Sprint officially offered Trent the Director of Business Operations (his same job at Alamosa) in Kansas City. I won't write the actual amount because its just depressing to see in writing what we are giving up but I will say it was an obscene amount of money for just his salary and that was not counting bonuses which they guarentee. They said travel would be less to about 50% of the time and were willing to work with him in order to get him there. We know the travel would end up being more than that and the three of us left behind would be alone with no family or friends to help us.

He has been the golf coach at LCU full time for the past three months and I have never seen him happier. The salary is almost laughable but we are making it thanks to his incredible severance and stocks to invest. The biggest perk as I have mentioned before, will be the time we have as a family. School has been out the past week and already we are seeing the benefits of him being around. Golf is his absolute passion and he is so good at it. He won his first tournament this past weekend. That was just him not the school, but talking about the school.... its looking like the girls will be going to Nationals! Pretty neat this being his first year and all.

I am just glad that we are not packing up right now and so excited to be together. Our school will be out in another week and we will then all be out at the course every day. Come home for lunch and naps and then to the park at sundown. Trent and I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning last week talking about the traditions we want to start in our family before our kids will remember the difference. We plan on being in The Word together every night after baths and kids are in bed. Its hard not to be greedy on the money end, especially since we now have a second child! But I would rather be greedy on the time issue. I have not enjoyed being a single parent and its just priceless to have a Dad around.

WARNING.........THIS IS PERSONAL..AND LONG!

I have been so blessed with various friendships in my life. Many people whom I have come in contact with and developed friendships with I still have in my life today. My oldest friend, Linnea I have known since first grade. I still talk to the core group of my highschool friends fairly often and usually get together with when home. I still talk to every roomate I have had in college and since graduation. God blessed me with many many people at my church Prestoncrest in Dallas while in the singles group there as well as in the Searchers class and later the Young Married and Growing Together class. Several of which I still keep in close contact with. I found it so hard to leave all these people in moving out west, but God has blessed me again with an incredible girls group and all the wonderful people in my new church home here at Greenlawn.

I came to sort of a sad realization today after discussing several spiritual issues with a friend, she is one of the few people out of all these that I have mentioned that I have had these discussions with. Why is that. I think I feel guarded in some situations and just fun in others that its not just appropriate to get real deep. Maybe I am not as deep as I should be when it comes to my faith or I would be talking about it much more amongst my chatter.

People from early on probably could write my testimony for me. Through all this I feel convicted to share both my factual and spiritual testimony with those who might feel inclined to read. I was born to parents with a Methodist background, or at least that is what they agreed upon as a couple. My dad's parents had a methodist background. My mother's mother was raised Baptist and her father was raised Catholic, how they ended up at a Methodist church I am not real sure of. I know as a teenager that my maternal grandparents attended the Baptist church and do not have a memory of my paternal grandparents ever being involved at a church. Later though my paternal grandfather changed to Jehovah's Witness- another story for another time, which by the way I will definately share, its very interesting.

I remember attending the Methodist Church as a child and my parents being very involved with the youth there. My Dad taught highschool for several years and I think that came very natural to him. For some reason I have memories of being in VBS and Christmas pageants there, as well as the ceremony of palms on Palm Sunday but no real knowledge of Bible stories other than that of the birth and death of Jesus. Not to say it wasn't taught, I just don't remember it. We quit going to that church I think around the time I was in third grade or so. I think it was because for some reason or another the pastor left and my parents were not real keen on the new one. We did not go anywhere for several years after that. We visited a few places but never placed membership or got real involved anywhere else for any extended period of time.

I grew up in the same house from when I was 2-18 which just happened to be accross the street from the parsonage of the preacher at the Baptist Church across the field from our house. I played outside a lot, mostly by myself but also 'rode bikes' with kids from down in the addition of our street. This preacher's little boy was outside a lot too. He was about 8 years younger than me and also an 'only child'. I thought he was such a cute little kid and saw him out and talked to him quite a bit. Through all this I got to know his parents too (Bobby and Judy Bridges) and when I was in 5th grade they invited me to go to a children's camp in Glenrose. It was there that I got real interested in Jesus' life and the sacrifice that he had made for me. It was there that I 'asked Jesus into my heart' and prayed to know him. When we got back from camp, there was a lady named Dottie Eastman who offered to study the Bible with me. We did so for quite a while. My mom would drive me to her house across town and she would explain things to me. It was about 3 years later I asked to study with the Preacher and what Baptism was about. We did so for several weeks and my parents came to those meetings with me. We all decided to be Baptised and were together on the same night after an evening service.

I remember being so shocked that Jesus would go through all that just so I would know Him, God, and be forgiven. I would write poems about it and was so incredibly touched. Then I became a junior high little brat. It scares me to think of what I could have done or what could have happened to me had I not had the support of an awesome youth group and some real encouraging people in my life. I remained very active in the youth group throughout highschool and sort of made it my mission to see how many people I could get to come to church 'Lock-ins" and jump on my bandwagon for the Lord.

Young Life also played a big role in my walk with The Lord. This is a non-profit, non-denominational organization aimed at bringing young people to The Lord. I had some incrdible leaders and very insightful study in highschool. All of my friends went and I think that is the core of what brought our little group together and that has held us together after all these years. It was during this time that I met my friend and person I consider to be my sister, Holly. We have been through so much together. She came to church camp in Falls Creek Oklahoma my senior year of highschool and she later introduced me to Abilene Christian University.

I can truly say that it was there at ACU in my college years that most of my sprituality was formed. Holly had a close family friend that went to ACU on a football scholarship. I had already planned on attending North Texas University but accepted an invitation to go with her on a highschool weekend there to help her check it out! Well needless to say I was totally taken by the fact that they cared whether or not I went there and thought how neat it would be to have an incredible Christian environment while studying in college. I had no idea that it was a 'Church of Christ' school until the last day of welcome week when attending Baker Heights in Abilene with my 'Energy Group'. I thought it was odd that everyone had been asking me specifically which church I had gone to previously and that so many people happened to already know each other through various camps and such! Okay, I was an idiot! It was not until that night when a thirteen year-old boy was speaking to the congregation on Women's Roles in THE church, which was very very VERY different to the role I had seen at Woods Chapel Baptist Church in Arlington! I really had thought that ACU was equivalent to TCU, and was so confused. I remember going back to my dorm room that night and talking with Holly and people on my hall all the doctrinal issues of COC and not feeling real good about it.

I went to my University Professor and had very lengthy discussions about it and decided that other than style of worship, it was not all that different from what I had believed and been taught previously. It was at that time that I decided I would never claim a denomination again and try to decifer on my own what I believe. That has been a real struggle for me and I am still working on it in a lot of ways.

Upon graduating I went to the Dallas area and attended Prestoncrest COC . I visited with my friends Bethany and Mandy and later became very involved in the Singles group there and met my husband Trent. He has been the most influential person on my faith of everyone. He did not come from a real strong COC background either. His mother was raised Baptist and his father was raised very conservative COC but Trent was not real seriously involved in church until about highschool age. Together we have been trying to figure out things ever since. He has so much more knowledge than I do. He taught a lot of classes when we were in the singles group and has since and has done a lot more in depth study through that.

I am learning that a lot of my faith has been based on 'blind faith'. I was required to take several Bible classes in college that because of the amount of information in a short period of time I ended up cramming and not really learning. It has not been until later in life that I am truly learning. I am trying as a mother now especially to get that knowledge in order to teach my children what God expects of all of us and trying to live up to that as well. Its a hard road at times and I don't want to take what others say as fact, I want to know it for myself and not believe something because someone tell me to. I want to beleive what I believe b/c God tells me to. I believe that He inspired The Word and I want my children to come to that belief as well, but I want them to question their beliefs and decide for themselves what the truth is so that it is THEIRS and NOT MINE.

Thanks to so many people in my life I have a lot of spiritual encouragement and accountability and I thank these people for letting God use them in this way. I can thank specifically my friend April today for inspiring me to get in The Word more often and acquire that knowledge for myself that I want so bad. I am not Baptist. I am not Church of Christ, although I attend one. I am first and foremost a sinner, and because of Christ, a Christian. I am secondly a wife, and thirdly a mother. I have got to get this first part right in order for the latter two to be successful. I feel that it is important in having relationships for people to know this personal part about me and my background. I want to know that from everyone else too and hope that this encourage other people to share their testimony as well.

My friend Denise gave me the idea to write my testimony in my children's baby books instead of the general, 'About Mom' stuff. I think it really is more important for them to know than where I worked and such so that they can know 'where I am coming from' all around. Especially if something happens to me before I can tell them myself.

Some incredible things God has done in my life:

1. Shown me TRUE love in the examples of people he has placed in my life such as friends, professors, family, my husband, my children.

2. Shown me that true happiness comes in Him and not in material things or in people. He has shown me this through taking people and posssesions out of my life. I thoutht that if I was to get married and have children, that then I would find true happiness. Both have brought me happiness but also pain and neither are perfect.......only He is.

3. Shown me that people are not perfect and if I rely on any one person I will always be dissappointed but if I rely soley on Him alone that I will always be successful- this got me through being laid off and the fact that I put my Design Director on a pedestal. Also true in a marriage. We are only human.

4. I can see Him and feel his love and comfort throuth the acts of kindness, encouragement, and support of others.

5. He provided me with a Christian Education and through this prepared me for the obstacles I would face in my first job, being the youngest by 10 years and only Christian.

6. He has given me a glimpse of what is like when hurts for us and his incredible indescribable love for us by letting me borrow two beautiful children.

This is a short list of the many many things that knowing God and there are just too many to write in a blog but I have journal upon journal of the rest of the ways knowing God has blessed me. Stay tuned for more.............