FALL IS HERE!

Add some wings and a harp and he looks like a little angelic cupid! I love this precious boy! The big one too!

This is how I can tell...........my fall decorations outside my front door are BLOWN to smitthereeeeeens, its only reaching 58 degrees today, there are mini white pumpkins gracing my mantel and three varying sized orange ones at the hearth, and I dusted off my crockpot early this morning for tonight's dinner! This beautiful bouquet from my beautiful friend Reese, oh I mean Shauna, puts a real sense of the season on my table as well! Thanks sweet girl! Just thought I would share some pics of this past week. My kids are in the tent that Pop and Cita brought them on their last visit to see us. Boy do they love to hide out in there and eat snacks, look at books, and be silly together! Here they are enjoying their afternoon snack of popcorn! The other is of Trent and Ty asleep watching the cowboys on a Sunday afternoon! Only a few more weeks of golf and before we know it we will be celebrating Olivia's second birthday and then Thanksgiving! Where has the time gone??!!!

The kids are really enjoying their classes at school. Mine is better. Learning to manage so many shorties really has helped. I have gotten to know the people there a little better too which is also a lot more comfortable. I am looking to returning to my field though and would appreciate prayers for opportunity and confidence involving this desire. I would still like for my children to benefit from pre-school in a Bible setting and hope to contribute more financially to my family at the same time. I pray that God will make a way for that to happen. My mother is coming to visit this next Saturday and I am looking forward to enjoying that time with her. We are discussing lots of fun fall activities for during that time! Until next time.........

Crock pot recipe I found while blog-hopping:

four frozen chk breasts

2 c mexican corn

1 c kidney beans

1 c rotel (spicey)

1 c green chiles

I added a few cans for ck broth

Empty all cans over chicken

cooked for 8-10 hours, shredded ck after it cooked.

serve over rice or tortilla chips with shredded cheese on top and a dolop of sour cream... YUM!

Before and After Locks of Love

I have been letting my hair grow over the past year and finally reached the Ten inch mark! I have been looking forward to my October 15th appt. for quite some time! I actually contracted some type of virus either yesterday or the day before which put me in a very nausious state. I was in desperate need of hair maitenance (color) as well so after coming home to get sick and carried on to my appt.! Complete craziness! It was there that the chills and achiness hit. The girl doing my hair was too nice warming me up and getting me bottled water. I was so afraid I was going to get her sick as well but she said, "Hey I am wearing gloves and if your okay I am okay!" I am so glad I did because I LOVE my new do! I was able to come home and take a muscle-ache (best purchase ever from the spa on our cruise back in December) hot bath and when Trent got home I went to bed. It was a 24 hour flu bug and I am praying I did not pass it along to any of my kids yesterday or the teachers for that matter! I thought it was just because I over-ate the night before until it was more intense by the end of the day. Trent took the kids for me today and I stayed home in order not to infect others although I am feeling MUCH better. Now I just have to send the hair off! If you are interested in doing so you can get all the info you need at www.locksoflove.org

Thank you Trent!

The View.

Bum and Em (the expectant parents of twins!)

Hunter (Tina's oldest) and Olivia

Mommy and Ty, his freckles are catching up to ours!

I came home Thursday in tears for many reasons. Trent and I had some GREAT discussion which helped me to have a different perspective on many things. I really believe God uses him to do so. Sometimes I wonder how we make it being so incredibly opposite from one another, but then again.......I think its because we are so incredibly opposite from one another! I have had a rough go for the past few weeks and have really missed time with him. He has been gone four days out of every week since school started. This past weekend they were home and had an entire week in town! Trent has been very sensitive to the fact that it is hard to do a lot of things without him. With my new job situation its hard to spend time with friends with him being gone the time that I am not working. He made me feel VERY appreciated this past weekend.

My friend Shauna and I had a girlie date Friday night and went to a movie and then out for coffee. Thank you Trent and Cole for keeping your kids so we could enjoy each other! We enjoyed a movie with the Tech football team! We saw Valley of Elah, great movie but kind of a downer. We then went to Starbucks and had a great time visiting outside. The weather was so nice that night! The next day we were able to sleep in!!!!! I saw the clouds part as a chorus of HALLELUJAH rang in the background! We have finally trained Ty to get his own milk in the morning and I just went in and turned on the t.v. then returned to my husband until 10 A.M.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We then WOKE OLIVIA UP! Yes, our kids are complete opposites as well- in almost every way possible! We had coffee and watched t.v for a couple of hours. Then I got in the shower where he told me to hurry up b/c I needed to make my appt. for an HOUR AND A HALF MASSAGE!!!!! It was incredible!

He then surprised me with a double date with Tim and Em to the Tech homecoming football game. The really cool part about that is that we enjoyed the game in the Sprint/Alamosa (the company Trent used to work for) box at Jones Stadium! We had never been in a suite there before which was incredible. A wonderful meal and non stop snacks to boot!

The next day was church was so nice to attend with Trent! I love being able to worship together not to mention having an extra set of hands to carry backpacks in and get at least one kid to class! After brunch, we headed out to LCU to watch Shanon and Tina's softball girls play the Tech girls. Great beautiful day. Then evening service and dinner with the Meme and G. Just a wonderful weekend.

I can't tell you how much I appreciated not only a break but being pampered as well! As I walked upstairs to get my massage there was a sign that read, "The Quiet Zone." I couldn't stop smiling! I have an incredible husband for more reasons than I could list. Boy does he know me and meet my needs. Talk about filling up the love bank this weekend!

Jerrod Shelton

There is a precious family within our church family at Greenlawn that is in dire need of prayers. Some of you are in the area where they are undergoing medical counsel and treatment at the moment. It would be great if you were able to encourage them in person, all of their friends and familly are here. Jerry, the father works for United Foods here in Lubbock and his company flew this family on their company plane because of the emergency to get his child (a son in highschool at Lubbock Christian Schools) to Dallas on Friday. PLEASE read the specifics in the following and take just a second to pray for his son and this family.
Thursday morning a tumor was found in Jerrod Shelton’s brain; deep, near the brain stem. He was flown to Dallas and then transferred to Plano . Fluid has been removed from the spine and has been sent off for testing. They anticipate the results Monday. He is presently in ICU and will stay there a week. They are looking at Chemo and Radiation to reduce the size of the tumor and probable surgery about the middle of next week. If you want to email Jerrod, go to http://www.medicalcenterofplano.com/. Click on Patient. Go to Email Patient and follow the instructions. They will personally bring his emails to him.

Thank you,

Dad had a little bit of complication in his surgery and ended up having to spend the night in the hospital. Hopefully he will be home soon. Please continue to pray for him, he had a hard night and is still in quite a bit of pain. They are hoping for 80% pain free eventually! He was in a severe auto accident when in college and actually lost his best friend. This is an injury remaining in addition to a fall he had last month. Pray for a smooth road to recovery please. Thanks.

Prayer Request

Please pray for my Dad, Maurice Young, throughout the week and specifically Thursday. He will be having surgery on his shoulder. He should be home that evening. Pray that He be with the doctors performing the proceedure and that he recovers smoothly and quickly. Thank you~

Sweet Haylee's Birthday Tea Party!

This was the cutest and sweetest party I have ever been to! As mentioned before we went to Seminole last weekend to watch Hayden play football and then onto the party. Ty came with the girls because the big boys were playing football. He did great with all the girliness aside from asking if he could go with the boys about twenty times! We had such a great time celebrating this precious girl. Haylee is one sweet girl with a great sense of humor yet quiet spirit. How blessed we are to have her!

Blast that Ming Ming

Its Friday and the kids have watched T.V. all morning and I just have to say that the duck on Wonder Pets is driving me nuts with not being able to say those r's. Ming Ming disturbs me greatly. Okay, so I am a little irritable these days............

Well lots going on around here as usual! Trent was home a whole two and a half days this past week and will be gone for five! We did however make the most of those days. We were able to enjoy a dinner with some friends we have not seen in a while and Trent got some guy time in with Jon. Yesterday we did not have to be anywhere in the morning so we made Suzanne's famous orange ninnemon rolls ! They just always remind me of her because she loves them so much and I had never even heard of them before she introduced them to us several years ago on a Sunday night football night! Foods, smells, and music take me back to various places. We also watched the end of the movie we started the evening before, "We Are Marshall". Great movie but very sad!

We cooked together for lunch. Something we enjoy doing together and hardly ever are able to these days. We had baked talapia cajun style, roasted red potatoes and Trent fried up some zuchini and squash (my favorite!) and green salads. So tasty and minus the stick of butter in the potatoes, not too bad for the body! Afterward he put the kids down while I ran some errands and he finished packing. Two hours later we put him and his girls team on a plane and I cried pulling out of the airport. I am not a big crier, I hardly EVER do actually.

I think I am just allowing myself to become stressed out and I need to make the choice not to be. I hate it when he is gone even though I have had him all summer and will for two months after this fall season ends. I try to remind myself how this is so much better than when he was gone all year long for four days out of the week. Its just when I am in thick of it I lose sight of that. After basically working daycare all day I come home and drink three cups of coffee to gear up for dinner and bathtime and putting the kiddoes to bed. Then I hear Satan tell me I am too tired to get into The Word and the sad thing is I listen and believe him. I know that this is why I am feeling overwhelmed and I want to change this. I had about five minutes of quiet time in my bathroom yesterday doing the "Busy Mom's" devotional. Its nowhere near enough but its a start. I am getting back into prayer journaling again too.

The kids have a hard time when Dad is away also. They decide that its a free-for-all at home and develop a deaf ear to my instructions. Yesterday as I was coming home and the car was quiet I called Em to meet me for a coke at Sonic to catch up a bit. After two pit (field) stops for Ty and we were parked and she got in, Olivia turned into a different person and screamed at the top of her lungs the entire time. I got her out tried to give her some of my drink instead of hers, which was not satisfying to her, got back and disciplined her several times, nothing changed the circumstance so we were forced to leave. (I AM SO SORRY EMMY) This is not a rarity at my house when Trent is gone, yes ONLY when he is gone. This girl has developed quite the attitude and does not seem to understand that its not acceptable to scream at her mommy and tells me NO to lots of things. Last week Ty came up to me and proudly told me he colored on my coffee table! Whose kids are these??????????????????? Why can Trent just give a look or say it one time and work magic. If I ever pick up a phone the same type hysteria is set into action. It can be calm and normal for hours before but these things seem to set it off. Its like the phone turns into a giant sign saying GO WILD~

I kind of want to go wild myself! I will get somewhat of a break today as we are going with G and Meme and the Hays kids out to Seminole for Hayden's game and then onto Hobbs for Haylees 8th birthday! She is having a tea party with two other little girls. I need to go charge up my camera and get the house somewhat in order to trick my inlaws into thinking I have been keeping a neat house through all this! Yeah, the house is not going back on the market until Trent's season is over. I may even try to sqeeze in getting my fall decor up- that always makes me happy because its my favorite time of year! If I can just make it to Thanksgiving it will all be good! God give me courage, and I am scared to say patience, and help me to make good choices that can only glorify you. Have a great weekend everybody!

What is today coming to!

Okay, I did not write this, I got it off a bulletin from a 'myspace' friend. It was just too funny not to share. This is in no way to offend anyone, just classic. I have MANY similar stories from a Jack in the box drive through and Trent ordering at BBQ place in Las Colinas close to where we to live! The difference is the one at the end of this story not a change matter.

Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King for $1.58. The counter girl took my $2... and I was digging for my change. I pulled 8 cents from my pocket and gave it to her. She stood there, holding the nickel and 3 pennies, while looking at the screen on her register. I sensed her discomfort.... and tried to tell her to just give me two quarters, but she hailed the manager for help. While he tried to explain the transaction to her, she stood there and cried. Why do I tell you this? Because of the evolution in teaching math since the 1950s.

1. Teaching Math In 1950
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit

2. Teaching Math In 1960
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?

3. Teaching Math In 1970
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit?

4. Teaching Math In 1980
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20

5. Teaching Math In 1990
A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate.... and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers.)

6. Teaching Math In 2007 Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara $100. El costo de la producciones es $80. Cuanto dinero ha hecho?

No I am not racist toward hispanic people. I do believe however when you work in an area that the majority of the population speak english, it might be a good idea to learn it yourself. I always wonder how they don't get screwed on stuff themselves!

Olivia's napmat

For my family members who care:

Oops, here is the napmat! I forgot. I was going to have her little name monogrammed on the top part of the sheet in that turquoise color but waited until the Tuesday before school started and they said it would be two weeks before they could get it back to me. Maybe around Thanksgiving or something. Way to go Grandmom on the sewing! Trent's grandmother also helped me make Olivia's bedding, Ty's curtains, my kitchen curtains and the curtains in my bedroom. All of which will be going with me if anyone ever buys our house! She taught me my favorite hobby that I never have time to do, and hope to get back to sewing someday if I have the time and space to spread out. Have a great weekend!

First Day at a New School

All dressed for our first day.

Liv with a backpack! She is still snackin on some toast!

Well we are now into our second week of school. I think the kids are doing well and like their teachers. "it was just the first week!!" or so I keep telling myself. I have nine 18-24 month olds each day by myself. Most of them are closer to 18 months old. All sweet kids, just the hardest days work I have put in, in a real long time. I do not remember being this tired after pulling an all-nighter for a deadline when in design. I did however have to take the required CPR and health safety class Sunday after church and had the blessing of getting to know some of the other teachers better. One of these had my class last year and has switched to the babies this year. I have her son in my class all four days. She gave me a lot of encouragement and ideas that I think are going to make a big difference. I could tell I have freinds praying for me because today was a lot better. Well its bath time and I am beat and this is going to be the extent of my blogging for some time I think. Things are just too crazy right now. I do still believe that this is a blessing that we can all be together and at the same place four days a week, however I am exploring other options for the future. This is always a hard adjustment for our family with Dad traveling in addition to all this so please continue to keep our family in your prayers.

Labor Day Weekend

Let me first say that for some reason not all my pictures transferred over and it makes me real sad. One of my all time favorites of Ty is somehow lost forever! Anyhoo... I don't know if I have ever mentioned it before but Trent's parents have a house on the lake outside of Brownwood. We were able to enjoy it for the first time with our family this past weekend. Trent's sister Tamara and her sweet family were there also. You have never been around more enjoyable kids! This may sound super cheese but I really consider it an honor to have them as family. Our oldest neice Hannah celebrated her 13th birthday the first day we were there. We had the yummiest steak dinner with some INCREDIBLE fresh vegetables for a salad that Tamara got at a stand outside of town. Everyone skiied but me and my kids and Trent is beyond beat from it! Lets just say he made the most of it! Hayden even got up on the slolom (sp?) can you tell I am not an avid watersport person? Now give me a jetski and let me tear it up! Ty and Olivia really loved being out on the boat and Ty even road the 'hotdog' with Dad and Hannah! We of course visited Underwoods for some grub the night before we left. The weather was perfect and it was such a nice weekend for all of us. We had not had a family vacation until now and plan on heading out there again when Trent is done with his fall season for some fishing and chili-cookin of sorts. Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend!

Let The Craziness Begin...............

Well here we go, on to another school year! Trent has already been back to it all for a week now with kids. He got them all moved in and books bought, etc. last Saturday. Their first tournament is next weekend so they are practicing every day to qualify. Next week work outs start, for both of us! That's right, you read it here, keep me accountable! I will be running everday along with a Trent Ab work-out and yes I am scared! His days will go to 14 hour days! He will be leaving at 6 A.M. and coming home close to 9 P.M. every night for the next three months. Oh, and he will be gone four days out of every week too! I keep trying to remind myself that I had him all summer and will again for the holidays. Its just so extreme!

As I had mentioned before I will be teaching at a different pre-school this year. Of course the kids will be going as well. We all will be there four days a week. I have spent the last few days getting my room ready and last night we had "Meet The Teacher Night". It was a success. All but two of my parents came and they all seemed super sweet. I will have 18-24 month olds this year which is quite a change for me. Half the age, double the days, without help from a husband when I get home..........say some prayers for me. When I think about it too much I get a little overwhelmed but I know that this is a blessing and God will see us all through it. Its just up to me to choose to involve Him in every minute of it!

I get excited about the silliest things involving school. Trent's grandmother made Olivia the most precious little nap mat you have ever seen! I will post pics for you family members that never comment but verbally ask for pictures later! She also moves up to backpack status, well a little minature one that I found at Sam Moon last year. A cute little flowered Jansport-precious! She is going to look so big. She also now has a little lunch box. No more baby stuff, except for diapers-see previous post, for this girl! I am kinda sad about that part of it.

I love both of their teachers this year and again are so blessed in that area. God just takes care of my babies. I was a little overwhelmed at 'decorating' my room at first. Its quite a different deal than our last pre-school. Before we were only given one bulletin board and the rest was for Bible classes. Here, we have the ENTIRE ROOM, which is pretty big actually! They gave us money to go to Mardel's and pick out what we wanted. It was fun to do!

We are going to be busy busy from this point on. It will be a longer stretch before we get home again and no Dave Matthews this year! Trent will be in AZ. the weekend of it! I still just can't believe that we will be missing it. Dave is such tradition for us. Maybe next year! I would so rather it be this way than the way it was before with Trent gone ALL YEAR and I feel blessed to be able to do the pre-school thing for another few years anyway. Come on September, bring it~

All About Olivia Lane

Lots of milestones for this little girly this past month......

Yes, we have started potty training and not because of me. She asks to go on the potty and does everytime I have put her up there! Yes both kinds! She looks so odd up there, she is too little!!! She will not be two until November and I am not ready for this. Its so much more convenient to keep her in diapers. We are not making any big moves unless we get to the point to where they are always dry and she tells me everytime. I don't think they make underwear that would fit her. I have not even found a 'feel n' learn' or pull up that will!

Also, cut her hair! I did it after her bath about a week ago. It turned out pretty well! SO glad I did not pay someone to do it! This girl is growing before our eyes and I am NOT READY! Mom, that is the watermelon gingham dress you got her, she wore it to church Sunday. Thank you!

Also, painted her toenails for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Have not been brave enough to do her fingernails yet! She did great for her tiny toes though! Sat so still watching and even for the blowdryer to dry them! They look just precious!

I have more into and posts to post but not enough time to do it right now. Maybe one late sleepless night in the future! Have a great week!

SEVEN YEARS BABY!

On this day seven years ago at The Little Chapel at Brookhollow in Ransom Canyon at two O'clock in the afternoon, we said, "I do."

Wow how we have grown during the time that has passed. A lot of big changes and I think we were challenged through travel and job change is when we have grown the most. I can truely say that today it is better than it has ever been!

I remember the day I met Trent very clearly, although it seems SO long ago now. It was on a Wednesday night in the single's class at Prestoncrest. My friend Bethany and I were actually early for once and sat a little closer to the front. A guy I had met oddly at the bank while I was measuring there, for my job, was sitting in front of us and introduced us. They had gone to school together. In a short conversation I learned he (Trent) lived in the apartment complex next to me. You have to understand that this girl is incapable of flirting and was NEVER looking for a date. In fact at this point in my life, I was done. I am not sure how much time passed before I met up with him again. It was then a Sunday when I was my usual late self with a few friends visiting with me and ended up sitting next to him on the back row in class. His first words were, "Hey, you want to go the Byron Nelson with me?" Not hi.........or how are you......
I actually already had tickets from my roomate, Amy Dickey (Smith) and instead invited him to go with us. He did. Him and four girls! Still not looking for a date there but thinking what a sweet cute guy! Amy and I ended up eating dinner with him and he took us to hit balls afterward. I had no idea the golf that my life would entail at that point! We began a sweet friendship which many weeks later led to our first date to which I met his entire family! That had never happened to me before and it was then I knew that this was going to be something special. I was beyond cautious in getting into any kind of relationship. I remember praying that day........."Please God, if this is not meant to be, spare me the pain now because I am fine being single -but I can see myself getting wrapped up in this one."
I had no idea!

This may sound strange, but I felt all along that God was pulling me toward this man. I had my doubts at times. We could not be more opposite from one another and had completely different up-bringings. I see so many things looking back now that show me how true that feeling was.
Two years later we became engaged, that could be an entirely different post in itself! Six months later we were married.

I had some not so great relationships before this one. The first time I heard this song I cried and started to sing along..........God Bless the Broken Road...........that led me straight to you! SO true for me. My husband makes me such a better person in so many ways. He not only encourages me but challenges me as well and holds me accountable. He has taught me self-discipline in many many ways. He has taught me to not be so uptight and more free-spirited. He has shown me how to laugh at myself and not be so serious. He has taught me to be more vocal in my thoughts and beliefs which in return has made me a more confident and proud person. He helps me be a better parent to my children. He ALWAYS backs me up. He demands respect for me from everyone.

We do not have a perfect marriage. I have not met a couple yet who does. We have struggles and weaknesses just like everyone else. Now we know how to communicate and work through those and own up responsibility on both ends in order for that to happen. I think that is what we celebrate more than anything else today. We are not as spiritual as we could be and that is a constant goal which is what I think has made it work. God has blessed me with this man and I would not change one moment that we have been through for the couple that it has made us. Thank you God for being a part of our marriage, through example of others, using the Holy Spirit to reach us, and feeling your love in one another over the past seven years.

Thank you for the past 9 years and Happy Anniversary Trent...................I love you forever, for always, and no matter what!

Quality Family Time

Our open house was not sucessful but our day as a family was! We enjoyed a nice outing at the park. This was before the heat wave took our town and it was absolutely beautiful. Trent joined us after his morning in a tournament for a picnic and play time. I love these pictures, they really captured the day and I hope I remember the details of it forever. Maybe blogging will help me to do so a little better. The first one of Olivia and Trent is not the best one I captured but I love that she is saying cheese and he is sweetly brushing the hair out of her face! Even dog did great and had a great time! He did not bark at one person. Just laid nicely and enjoyed some lovin from sweet kiddoes.

I have a silent prayer request. We are making some life-changing decisions and need some clear answers from The Lord. I am not really feeling comfortable with sharing the details of these at this time but God knows and I would appreciate it if you would remember our family during your prayer time. If you care about our family and are reading, you are a blessing to me. Thank you.