The Reynolds

Hey It's Me, Simon

2009-08-30T13:48:00.000-05:00

Hey Everybody,
It’s me, Simon. I turned 6 months old last week, and Mommy said it was high time that we updated the blog. Take a look at some of my pictures. Mommy and Daddy think I’m a pretty cute guy…at least that’s what they tell me a lot anyway. I’m rolling all over the place and can sit up for just a few brief seconds on my own. I like to get on my belly and kick my arms and legs. I LOVE my hands, by the way, and want to reach out and touch everything I see. I don’t have any teeth yet, but I’m working on it. I drool a whole lot and will gnaw on anything I can get into my mouth. Over the past week, I’ve had A LOT of dirty diapers. Mommy was kinda worried at first, but I feel good and haven’t run any fever. The doctor said it was likely associated with teething. I weigh 17lbs. Mommy calls me her little chunky monkey. I’m babbling a lot more lately and have just recently started saying something that sounds very close to ‘Da da’. (You can just imagine Kelly’s delight!) We’ve had a nice summer, but Mommy keeps saying she’s ready for fall and cooler weather. Daddy keeps talking to me about this football and hunting stuff. Maybe I’ll get to give you all another update soon…Mommy said at least before I begin shaving my face and driving a car. ;) Have a good week everybody!

Question

2009-04-30T20:46:00.001-05:00

Mommies, and Daddies too, I am curious to know at what age you began to introduce your little ones to cereal. (as in a little mixed into their formula/breast milk). I am asking because I have received many different answers. I have heard as early as two weeks from some and then others at four months. People have told me that I would ‘just know’ when Simon was ready. Please comment to share what worked for you and your baby!

2009-04-29T14:40:00.006-05:00

Things have been busy around the Reynolds household lately…lots of feedings, diaper changes and long rocks in the glider. All is still well. Just to catch up, our best friends, Jason and Jade Gaskin, welcomed Presley Matthew into the world Friday, April 10. He weighed 6 lbs. 15 oz. and was 19 inches. He is absolutely precious! It is funny to see him and Simon together because our little man looks so much bigger next to him. The picture above was taken at the hospital when Presley was just a few days old. So, you can see what I’m talking about! ;) We are looking forward to all of the good times shared with them as friends. Jade and I have joked that we will quite likely be paid back for all of the things we got in to growing up. She and I have been friends since the first grade. I think it is so awesome that we can now share this special time together too.

Simon is growing, growing and growing some more!! He was nine weeks old yesterday. We went to the doctor Friday for his first round of vaccinations. Vaccinations=NOT FUN!! Honestly, I think Mommy here probably took it harder than little Simon did. He had one vaccination by mouth and then three injections. He probably cried for less than a minute but it felt like much longer to me. He was a little fussy later that afternoon but never ran a fever. By Saturday he was back to his sweet self. He now weighs 11 lbs 7 oz and has begun to smile at us. His smiles make my day. He also still wakes twice at night to eat. Sometimes, he only wakes once. I am going to begin working again Monday. While I am sort of ready to get back into a familiar routine, I am certainly going to miss being with him all day.

We had a very nice first Easter with Simon. It was also his first time to go to church. Unfortunately, Daddy took the picture you see here of Simon and I so he wasn't in it with us. I didn't take my camera to church but some others had theirs and got a few family pictures. I'll have to post those later once I get them. In the other picture, Simon's shirt says "Baby's First Easter". I hope those of you reading this had a wonderful Easter as well!

One Month Old!

2009-03-26T14:35:00.004-05:00

Simon was a month old Tuesday. I can’t believe it has been that long! We went for his ‘well baby’ doctor visit this week and he weighed 9lbs 5oz and was 22 ½ inches long. He is growing like a weed! So far, he hasn’t lost any of his hair. We are still unsure about what color his eyes are going to be. Right now, they are a steel blue. Kelly’s eyes are green and mine are dark brown. The doctor said that he wouldn’t place any bets on their color at this point as they have up to six months to change. He is still sleeping well, only waking twice at night and going right back to sleep after eating. I’m a little hesitant to even reveal that for fear that I may jinx it! ;)
Thankfully, Simon has been patient with his new Mommy and Daddy over the past four weeks. This month has definitely been a learning experience for us. ;) It has also been one of the most special, exciting, emotional and happiest months of my life. On another note, Kelly’s Birthday was March 18th. Simon took him some cookies to work and we also celebrated with a sushi dinner. Yummy! Happy Thursday everyone!

Bath Time!

2009-03-18T18:35:00.002-05:00

Simon loves his baths! As soon as you put him in the water, he gets very still and quiet. Here is a picture we took of his first tub experience!

Like Father Like Son?

2009-03-17T13:06:00.004-05:00

No, you aren’t looking at two pictures of Simon. The top picture is of Kelly shortly after he was born. I didn’t realize just how much Simon looks like his Daddy until I saw this picture. It is amazing! The picture below is of Kelly when he was 6 weeks old. So, as you can see, Simon got all of his Daddy's looks. Seriously, not even his pinky toe looks like mine! Oh well, maybe that means he will act like me...oooohhhhh....sorry Simon!!!!!!! ;)

Simon is Here!!

2009-03-10T15:30:00.002-05:00

Simon was welcomed into the world Tuesday, February 24 at 9:55pm weighing 7lbs. 0oz. and was 21 inches long. I was induced Tuesday morning at 6:00am but only made it to 3 cm. We learned around 8:30 that night that Simon wouldn’t ‘engage’. So, we topped off the long day with a section and a healthy baby boy! Everyone is doing great. Simon is just perfect. Yes, I know that’s a typical Mommy response-but he really is! Although many people told me how wonderful this little miracle would be, I don’t think I truly realized just how much love and emotion would be born that night along with Simon. It really was ‘love at first sight’. All Kelly and I want to do is sit and look at him. Speaking of Kelly, he has been WONDERFUL throughout this entire journey and is such a proud Daddy! ;) We have been so blessed. So many times over the past two weeks, when I sit and think about all that has taken place, all I can say is ‘My cup runneth over!’ Thank you Lord!

Special Delivery

2008-12-16T16:26:00.002-06:00

Congratulations to Erin, Tim and Big Brother Jake on the birth of their baby:
Shelby Claire Norman
Born 9:40 AM December 16,2008
6lbs, 2 ounces
19 1/2 inches

More Pictures of Simon

2008-12-12T17:53:00.004-06:00

Kelly and I went for the 3-D sonogram last week, and I have attached a few pictures of Simon for your viewing pleasure! ;) We had such a good time looking at him. He was shy and kept putting his little hands in front of his face, but we still managed to get some good shots. I know the pictures can sometimes be a little difficult to make out, so I’ll try to narrate them for you:
This is a side profile of his face. If you look closely, you can see his chin, lips and nose. The little dark spot is his eye.

This is a picture of his hand above his little foot. Can you see his fingers and toes? Can’t wait to kiss them!

This is another side profile of his face. He has his hand up to his mouth and it appears that perhaps he is sucking his thumb. Doesn’t his arm look HUGE in this picture?! Kelly said it looks like he is going to have Popeye arms!! I’m just hoping it is the angle of the camera or something…anything…we can’t have arms that big for obvious reasons, right ladies???

This is a picture of one of his little legs and foot (his foot is on the right side of the picture). His other foot is beside it although it isn’t very distinguishable here.

The doctor said he now weighs about 2 to 2 ½ lbs. He is much more active now than he used to be and I can certainly tell that he’s getting heavier. This pregnancy sure seems to be flying by! I figure it will feel as if the days are creeping at a snail’s pace the closer I get to delivery but, for now, I can’t believe it is already December! Anyway, have a great weekend everybody!

Simon Thomas

2008-11-21T16:40:00.001-06:00

I know it has been a while since I posted anything, but all is well. We are doing great! Kelly and I went for a sonogram November 7 and learned that we will be welcoming a BOY in late February early March!!!! So, if you haven’t already caught the name in the post title, our son will be named Simon Thomas Reynolds! (Thomas is Kelly’s middle name and is actually a name used on both sides of our family.) Everyone seemed to think it was going to be a girl, including Kelly, but there was no doubt about the gender of this little one! He wasn’t bashful at all! (Guess he’s already taking after his Daddy!) The doctor said based upon his size, etc. my due date could be anywhere from Feb. 27 to Mar. 7. Other than a rotten sinus bug I am still trying to get over, I have felt good. Simon is really moving a lot lately, mainly at night. I have been playing Jesus Loves Me for him at bedtime each night from this little wind-up lamb that his Gran Gran (Kelly’s Mom) gave him. Last night, he was kicking so hard and so frequently that the little lamb was dancing around on top of my stomach! I love feeling him move. We have gradually started working on the nursery. The crib is on back-order until the end of Dec. I am having a hard time finding bedding that I like. Well, I take that back, I have found some really cute crib bedding but I’m not paying the astronomical price for it! So, if anyone out there knows of any websites or stores that sell affordable crib sets please share them with me!! We are going back to the doctor in just a couple of weeks for our 3-D sonogram. Hopefully, we’ll get some good shots and I can post one or two next time. Until then, thanks for your thoughts and prayers and have a very Happy Thanksgiving! I know I personally have much to be thankful for!

Justice

2008-09-03T16:47:00.002-05:00

Passing this along... Please feel free to sign!

Hey Everyone! There is a petition addressing the trial for Ryan Crick and Eric Gregory. Please check it out and sign it if you agree. Feel free to make comments as well. I do want you to know that this petition is not to be vindictive. It is simply for justice to be served. Please pass this petition around any way possible... email, facebook, etc.
http://www.gopetition.com/online/20363

Oh Baby!

2008-08-27T17:28:00.003-05:00

Kelly and I are going to be parents! Honestly, I have had about two months for this reality to sink in and it still feels surreal. There have been so many emotions-shock and disbelief, joy and excitement, fear and uncertainty. To think that Kelly and I will have a little part of each of us here in another six months is amazing and that doesn’t even begin to describe it. July 4 will forever and always be a special date for more than the obvious reason now, because that’s the day Kelly and I learned that we were going to have a baby. We kept the news a secret until we could make the first doctor visit on the 28th. The weeks have never crept as slowly as they did leading up to that day. The morning of the visit, Kelly and I were so nervous. It was all that we had anticipated and more. I think I can speak for Kelly too when I say that it was love at first sight for the little ‘fuzz ball’ we saw on the screen that morning. We surprised our family with the news that night and needless to say they were and continue to be thrilled! I was thinking a few days ago about how God already knows this baby. He has known and loved this child way before we as its parents ever did. He already has a plan for this little person’s life. There is something so indescribable about knowing that while parents play such an important part in this miracle, it is really quite a small role in the grand scheme of things. In saying that; however, I can tell you that the responsibility He has placed upon Kelly and I to raise this little one according to His will certainly doesn’t seem like such a ‘small’ job right now! Nevertheless, Prov. 3:5-6 is definitely reassuring. So, thanks to those of you who already knew our news and have sent your sweet well wishes and most importantly your prayers! I’m happy to finally share this special time with the rest of you out there in blog land. ;)

Change

2008-08-14T18:25:00.001-05:00

So it’s official, Mississippi University for Women’s name will change. MUW began admitting male students in 1982 and so also began the more than 20 year debate over what the institution should be called. As a proud graduate of “The W”, as it’s affectionately called by many, I meet this change with mixed emotion. MUW, founded in 1884, is recognized as the first public college for women. This institution provided countless opportunities for females during a time when women’s rights were very limited. I was and continue to be very proud of this fact; however, I didn’t choose to attend The W because of its name. I chose MUW because of its size, friendliness of faculty members, cost, beauty of the campus and the opportunities it afforded me. You hear the cliché many times that you want to go to a college where you aren’t ‘just a number’ and that was honestly the truth for me. I felt that I would be given opportunities at MUW that I wouldn’t at other larger institutions and you know what? I was right! Heck, I had such a great experience at The W that I didn’t leave immediately following graduation. I worked in Admissions for four years. Now, as a former MUW Admissions Counselor, I am encouraged by the decision announced today to change the institution’s name. As you can imagine it was, and still is, very difficult to recruit male students to a university with “for Women” in its name. The challenge was increased even more when recruiting out of state, where people may have never heard of MUW. The natural assumption was that it was an all-women’s university and that it was private. Male students were already automatically ruling MUW out as an option. Marketing and aggressive recruitment efforts have been increased year after year but there is still only so much that can be done. Although this is a highly debated topic, I think there is one common thread among graduates and friends of MUW. That is that we share a love for the institution and desire to see it prosper. Changing the name will not change the institution. It will simply provide a more appealing and equal sense of opportunity for every student to learn and succeed. If changing the name of the University is what it will take to reach continued success, I am for it! (Ok, I will now take a step down from my soapbox.) ;)

Another Birthday!

2008-08-11T17:36:00.001-05:00

I celebrated my 28th birthday August 7. It was a blessing to be reminded of all the special family and friends I have who called, emailed and sent Birthday ‘happies’ to me. Thanks everybody!! Wednesday night Jade, Tara (our close friend from high school), her sweet baby boy Kane and I went to dinner to celebrate both of our Birthdays (Tara’s was on the 10th!) Then, Thursday night Kelly and I went to Anthony’s for my Birthday dinner. It is probably our most favorite restaurant and we hadn’t been in awhile so that was an extra special treat. Then Saturday night Kelly and I went to my parents for my family Birthday party. We had grilled steaks and all the yummy sides that go with it. So, as you can tell, I celebrated my big day in the best possible way…EATING!!! Did you know I was almost born inside a bank and then a car? Yep, according to my Mom she woke up that morning with ‘mild’ contractions but figured she really wasn’t in labor and went to work anyway. I guess since I was number two for her she thought she knew what to expect. (Apparently not!) She worked up until lunch before she finally decided that she might actually be in full blown labor! She had someone call my Dad while another co-worker took her home to get her suitcase. By the time my Dad picked her up and they got to the Dr.’s office she was almost ready to push. The Dr., not very happy with my Mom as you can imagine, told my Dad to take her straight over to the hospital ASAP. As luck would have it, their car wouldn’t crank!! My Dad said he was praying for the car to crank while my Mom was in the back seat praying too I figure! No doubt the prayers worked because they managed to get to the hospital just in time for me to be born. Now wasn’t that a sweet story???
I can’t believe I am almost 30. Honestly, where did the time go?? I always heard Birthdays come around a lot more frequently the older you get. Now, I think there just may be some truth to that!

Swanky Britches!

2008-07-31T08:14:00.000-05:00

One of my sweet college friends, Conner, has recently started a new business, Swanky Britches. Check out these reversible cotton diaper covers on her new blog! What a neat idea!

Recap

2008-07-22T18:59:00.005-05:00

July has been a month to remember. Westley’s 11th Birthday was on the 11th. Here are a few pictures of him at the family party. He went to culinary camp a few weeks ago. Cooking is his new favorite hobby, so among his gifts were an apron- so he could be stylish while in the kitchen- and cookbook- so he could make something really tasty and invite me over!

I’m also a little behind in posting a picture of our new ride! After the car accident left our car totaled, we had to get something else. Kelly’s truck is about to bite the dust. It may have another year or so left on it, but not many. So, we were looking for something that I could drive for a year or so and then pass on to him. Kelly has always liked jeeps. I must admit that I was a little apprehensive about owning one at first, but I like it now. We’ve had some fun times in it and more to come no doubt! The cats seem to really like it as well! We have to put towels down in the seats at night when the top is off!

Kelly and I went to the beach with Jason and Jade again this year. I’ll have to post a few pictures of our trip later. Until then, have a good rest of the week!

Long Time, No Post!

2008-06-23T19:54:00.000-05:00

Well, hello! I suppose for the very few of you who read this blog on a regular basis you likely have given up on me ever returning. I don’t blame you! Life has been very hectic for me since February, the last time I posted anything. Just to catch you up on what has been going on…Spring is an extremely busy time of the year for me with work. I was in Orlando, FL for a few days before leaving for Philadelphia, PA, where I spent seven days. I finally returned home and back to a normal work schedule, FINALLY! JonParker is growing like a weed, and we have had so much fun loving him since he arrived in January. His features seem to change everyday. He smiles a lot and makes sweet little sounds in an effort to ‘talk’ to us. He is sleeping through the night for the most part so his Mommy and Daddy are pretty happy about that! Brandon had his 15th birthday March 30. He now has his driving permit which is still hard for me to believe! We also celebrated Kelly’s 26th Birthday on March 18. Westley has been busy with baseball. April 15 marked a year of construction for us on the house. So, needless to say I am more than a little proud and relieved to announce that we are officially living here, in the new house! I know, can you honestly believe it!!? We spent our first night here May 9!! It is ironic how that happened. We had already planned to begin moving that weekend anyway. Our bedroom furniture was delivered that Friday morning. By Friday afternoon, the air conditioning in the old house went out! It DIED!!! The house was like an oven by 10pm. So, we got in the car and came up to the new house with nothing in it but the bedroom furniture! We have been here ever since. I suppose if the air conditioner had to bite the dust, that weekend was the best time! We are still very far from having everything in its place, but that will come with time. We get more and more accomplished each weekend it seems.
I suppose you could say our priorities were changed for us too. On Memorial Day weekend, Kelly and I were in a car accident. To make a long story short, we were basically run over by two cars that were attempting to race down the highway. Kelly and I were in the right lane, and I was driving. I had just a few seconds to see them flying up behind us in my rearview mirror. They were trying to share the left lane. One of the cars apparently lost control and ran into us. Sending our car flipping into the air and back down onto the ground. We then slid off of the road and down into a deep ditch. The car that hit me also flipped and the second car got away somehow. We later learned from the accident report that the cars were going about 100 mph. According to several nurses at the hospital, racing down this particular stretch of hwy is becoming increasingly common as we weren’t the first ones they have seen this happen to. The driver who flipped along with us was “too intoxicated to give a statement” and arrested. To our knowledge, he wasn’t hurt. Of course, he also had NO insurance. I was discharged from the hospital the same day of the accident with a few scrapes and bruises, a jammed finger and some minor damage to my teeth.
I now have a nice little row of braces on the inside of my bottom teeth. Yep, I sure never thought I would have to revisit the braces era but here I am! The orthodontist seems to think that I will only have to wear them for about 8 weeks. I hope he’s right! Kelly, on the other hand, wasn’t as lucky. He had to stay in the hospital for two days for a severe concussion, more than 30 stitches to the forehead and broken teeth. Needless to say the dentist has been our new friend over the past few weeks. There is no doubt that our guardian angels were with us that afternoon. I can’t help but think about how bad it really could have been. If there is ONE good thing that has resulted from that experience, Kelly now beats me putting his seatbelt on! So, to those of you who have read this long post, THANKS! I have honestly missed blogging and reading about everything that’s been going on in everyone’s lives. I am recommitting!

Random Post of the Day!

2008-02-19T10:38:00.003-06:00

Has anyone else tried Kellogg's Special K Cinnamon Pecan cereal? I had it for the first time last night, and it is WONDERFUL! If you like cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, you will love it! I consider this the healthy, grown-up version. The only problem is it comes packaged in such a tiny box! There just isn’t enough to last a full week in my house! It has definitely become a favorite for Kelly and I. Anyway, on a different note, two of my sweet friends have created family blogs! Take a moment to visit The Normans and The Lotts when you can. They will certainly be fun families to blog-stalk! :) Have a great day!

Happy Valentines and Such!

2008-02-14T17:51:00.005-06:00

Happy Valentines Day! Valentines is my second favorite holiday. I love everything about it. What it represents, the chocolate (of course), the pink and red hearts, the little paper valentines you exchanged in elementary school, the flowers, etc. Kelly and I had Valentine breakfast this morning after he got off work. This has become a tradition of sorts since he has had to work Valentine’s night for the past few years in a row. We had breakfast casserole and fruit & yogurt parfaits! Yum! I hope everyone reading this has had a wonderful day with someone you love. On a different note, I know I haven’t posted anything about our house in FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!! I promise to get some pictures up soon. As much as I would like to say that we are living there, we aren’t. :( However; I can honestly say that I am beginning to see the light at the end of this very long and drawn out tunnel. We lack minor things now such as installing the kitchen appliances, countertops and sinks, stair fixtures and two toilets. This has been a VERY VERY long process, but I know it’s worth it. The pictures above are of JonParker and his Favorite Aunt (Please disregard his expression indicating otherwise!)He was three weeks old yesterday and is continuing to do well. More posts to come!

JonParker is Here!

2008-02-08T10:42:00.000-06:00

I’m so behind, I know. The past month has been extremely busy for us. Perhaps I can get back into the routine of things now. JonParker Fikes was born January 23 at 10:04 am weighing 6lbs 4oz. and 20 ½ in. He and Jill did great and are continuing to do so. We are all absolutely in love with him. I had to work in Jackson over the past two days, and I missed him terribly while gone. His big brothers are pretty smitten with him too! So far, he is sleeping and eating well. He is also really strong, already trying to lift his little head up! His eyes are dark blue right now. There is a debate among us about whether they will remain blue or turn brown. My brother-in-law and Brandon have blue eyes, and my sister and Westley have brown eyes. Brown is the more ‘dominant’ gene, so we figure they will turn, but they haven’t yet! Time will tell! Some of you may recall reading in a previous post about having another little Fikes in the family. What a blessing our family has received. Thank you Lord! Thank you!

January 23!

2008-01-04T17:49:00.000-06:00

I got wonderful news this afternoon that an official date has been set for JonParker’s arrival! He will be here on January 23! I can not wait!!! Time will seem to creep so slow until then. Jill went to the doctor today, and everything looks great. I will be an Aunt of three in only a few more weeks!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2008-01-04T17:24:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I can’t believe it is 2008 already. It seems as if 2007 flew by so fast! Christmas was very busy hopping from one family function to the next, but it was well worth it as always. The top picture is of me, my sister, Mom and aunt. A few years ago, we began a tradition where we all wear matching Christmas shirts on Christmas Day. I am not really a “Christmas Shirt Wearing” kinda girl, but I make an exception one day a year. ;) The middle picture is of me, my sister, Mom and Dad and the final shot is of me and my nephews. Kelly had to work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so I went to his Grandparent’s on his Dad’s side Christmas Eve night as well as my Grandparent’s on my Dad’s side. Then, I was at Kelly’s Grandparent’s house on his Mom’s side for breakfast Christmas morning and to my parent’s house for Christmas lunch. Then, we had Christmas dinner and Kelly’s parents. So, I kept the roads hot and ate until I thought I would explode! Kelly and I were in Memphis with the Gaskins for New Years. We went up early for the Liberty Bowl and stayed through New Year’s Day. We had a lot of fun bringing in 2008! Of course, I forgot my camera at home, so I don’t have any pictures to post. I generally always have New Year’s resolutions, but I honestly haven’t made any this time around…other than to get in our house before 2009 (I’ll save that for a future blog!). 2007 was full of many blessings for which I am so grateful, having another nephew on the way and the construction of our new house are just a few! Kelly also has a new cousin on his side of the family and another on the way as well. We are looking forward to what the future has in store for 2008! From our home to yours, best wishes for a blessed new year!

Attention Ladies

2007-12-14T15:41:00.000-06:00

This is a poem by MAYA ANGELOU titled: To My Dear Lady Friends. I absolutely love it and think every word is true. Enjoy!

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
Enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
a youth she's content to leave behind....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a feeling of control over her destiny...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to fall in love without losing herself..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without ruining the friendship...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her childhood may not have been perfect. But it's over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW..
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW..
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table... or a charming inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...

Scrooge Yourself!

2007-12-07T15:41:00.000-06:00

This is the funniest thing!!! I just Scrooged myself! Click on the link below to see how you can Scrooge yourself too!
http://www.scroogeyourself.com/?id=1223900356

2007-12-04T09:23:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving was very nice and relaxing this year. Since both sides of our family live locally, we didn’t have to travel far. Unfortunately, Kelly had to work. He will have to work Christmas too! :( It has been this way all but one year since we have been married. It just so happens that the shift he is on works all of the major holidays…which equals = major bummer…I know, but we have gotten somewhat used to it by now and have found ways to schedule family time around it as best as possible. He could take vacation; however, several of the guys on his shift have small children and like to take their vacation at this time to be with their little ones. I certainly don’t blame them. Naturally, not everyone can take vacation at this time, so Kelly works.
Anyway, the above picture is of me, Jill (with JonParker) and Mom that we took on Thanksgiving Day. This is the first picture I have posted of Jill and JonParker, but rest assured that there will be many more to come! As you can see from the ticker above, it won’t be long before he is here! Jill went to the Dr. for her checkup last week, and she got a very good report. Her due date is January 30, but the Dr. said that they could actually pick the date that they would like to have JonParker’s Birthday as she will be having a surgical delivery. I can’t wait! It is going to be so much fun to have a baby in the family again. So, on a different note before I close, Christmas is almost here and I have SO MANY gifts left to buy! UGH!!!!!! I love Christmas shopping but really, really, really don’t like trying to figure out what to get everyone. Each year, I start early and declare that I will FINNISH early. Yeah, right. I am always the week of Christmas getting done. One day, I will succeed! Until then, to all of you out there who have already finished or only lack one or two gifts to completion….BA HUMBUG!!!!!!!!! (I’m really jealous). ;) Oh, and the other picture is of Kelly and Jade. We went to the Egg Bowl game with the Gaskins and had a great time. Kelly and Jade had a bet that if Ole Miss won she would put a "Rebels for Barbour" bummper sticker on her car, and if MSU won Kelly would put a "Bulldogs for Barbour" sticker on his truck. I suppose you can tell who lost the bet!

Reasons, Seasons or Lifetimes

2007-11-21T13:59:00.000-06:00

I received this email from a friend a week or so ago. I have often thought about this very same thing but never expressed it as well as the person who wrote it. I later thought that I should have posted it here, on my blog. Then, I got it again today from someone different! So, I was certainly happy to get a second chance to share it with you. I feel that there is a lot of truth in it. I can personally look back on several relationships for which I would classify as a reason or season and then those who are a lifetime. Regardless of what they were, or are, I am thankful for each and every one of them! I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it; it is real, but only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Reunion

2007-11-21T11:28:00.000-06:00

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I recently had the opportunity to get together with my college friends for our five year social club reunion. We played in a washboard band!!!! How fun is that???? (I played the bucket, by the way.) Now, there you have it, a little unknown and rare fact about me. We traveled all over the state and parts of AL and AR. Our biggest “gig” was the Jr. Miss Pageant in Meridian. We actually got a few $100 bucks for some of our performances and even managed a few moments of stardom when we performed on The Morning Show, aka. Buddy and Kay, on WTVA-TV!! We primarily sang old church hymns and folksy songs. I posted a picture of us at one of our performances. I swiped the picture off of Conner's blog, and a newer picture that we took when we were together a few days ago. I honestly can’t believe it has been five years! We had such a good time catching up. Many of them are Mommies now, so it was great to get to meet their little ones too! Almost everyone lives out-of-state now, so it is very rare that we are all able to see each other at the same time. I made many wonderful memories with these sweet girls and wouldn’t trade them for anything. I hope we can all come together for our ten year. It will be here before you know it!

I Always Wanted a Niece!!

2007-11-21T10:36:00.000-06:00

I am, once again, very behind in the blogging world. I haven’t updated in awhile, as you can tell, and I haven’t been keeping up with everyone else’s either! I know this will likely only get worse as the holiday season kicks into full gear. Thanks, to everyone reading, for hanging in there with me! The title of this blog originates from Brandon’s Powder Puff football game at school a few weeks ago. For those of you who may not be familiar with this, the girls play football and the boys are the cheerleaders. They also had homecoming festivities, and Brandon was the freshman maid. He and another friend borrowed two of my dresses. I always knew those old bridesmaid dresses would come in handy again for something! ;) He also borrowed Jade’s blond wig from Halloween. That was as far as he would take it. Absolutely NO make-up!

Happy Birthday!

2007-11-01T18:27:00.000-05:00

For some reason, I am terrible at remembering to post Happy Birthdays on my blog. So, once again, better late than never! My father-in-law, Mr. Ricky, had a birthday October 8. I know I have mentioned before how wonderful Kelly’s parents are, but I like to take every opportunity when it is presented to me! I can say without hesitation that there are few things in this world I could ask of Mr. Ricky that he wouldn’t do. There is no doubt that I have certainly tried his patience more than once on this entire house project! Bless his sweet heart; I’m sure he is more eager than anyone for it to be finished! Thanks for all that you do Mr. Ricky! We love you!

House Update!

2007-10-19T12:22:00.000-05:00

Kelly, his Dad and Uncle Rusty worked on the house yesterday. I thought I would catch a few shots of them in action. :) How do you like the front porch “fall scene”? Even though we aren’t moved in yet, I just couldn’t resist decorating for my FAVORIATE time of year! Mr. Max, Kelly’s Papaw, grew the pumpkins in his garden. We initially thought we may be in by Thanksgiving, but it looks like it will be early December now. Kelly has assured me that we will be able to put a Christmas tree in it. I sure hope so!!! How exciting!!! I can’t wait for us to celebrate Christmas in our new home! So, I suppose I need to explain a few of these pictures…the blue and brown is one of our upstairs bedrooms. The ceiling is blue and the walls are brown. We painted the second upstairs bedroom ceiling a few shades lighter than the green that you see on the walls. Kelly’s Uncle is in one of these pictures. I didn’t get a picture of the upstairs bathroom, but I will post one soon. Yesterday they worked on the trim, so that is what you see Kelly painting in one of the pictures. The gold color on the outside wall will be painted throughout the downstairs den and dining room. Blue, as I like to call him, aka Buck is the sweet little orphan hound that I mentioned in an earlier post. He is the one that has been adopted by Mr. Ricky and Mrs. Marsha. I ask you, how SWEET is he!? He hangs out at the house while they work. Oh, on another note, Westley broke his arm in two places Wednesday night while playing football after church! He is going to get his cast today, so I’ll have to get a picture to post. He told me last night that he was going to get “Hamilton Blue” for his color. This was after he told “Nanna” that he was going to get orange for Halloween. Guess we’ll see! TGIF! Have a great weekend!!!!!

The Babies

2007-10-16T18:00:00.000-05:00

The babies are getting fat! Aren’t they just precious? They are able to eat on their own now and play all the time. I’m such a proud Momma! ;) Zeek likes them now and is finally playing with them. Wendy, on the other hand, still growls and hisses every time they come near. My parents have grown fond of the little darlings and have agreed to keep them once they get a little older. They have two labs, Daisy and Bell, who are quite intrigued by them. I think they will get along well. I’m glad they are going to a good home, but I’m still going to miss them a lot! Maybe I can get some house pictures posted tomorrow. The upstairs rooms have been painted and “trim work” will begin sometime this week. For those of you who may not know…hunting season is upon us…yep, that is a MAJOR priority on the hill-side. Prayers, at this time, will certainly be appreciated. ;)

Snakes And Snails And Puppy-Dog Tails....That's What Boys Are Made Of!

2007-10-09T11:54:00.000-05:00

Thursday was the big day. We all gathered at the Doctor’s office for Jill’s sonogram and official announcement of Baby Fikes’ gender. It is, without a doubt, a BOY! The Dr. said that if it was a girl, we had some serious problems on our hands! :) He was VERY active, so we got some good pictures of him squirming and flipping around. JonParker Fikes will likely be his name. (Yes, my bother-in-law is an AL fan.) While we were all certainly happy and thankful that he appeared healthy and well on his way to a late January Birthday, I must honestly say there was a bit of disappointment that he wasn’t a girl. We were looking forward to the possibility of buying hair bows, cheerleading outfits, little purses and pink dresses. Nevertheless, I am THRILLED to have another nephew on the way!! That night, I bought him his first gift…little blue puppy dog slippers!!! I am so glad to finally go shopping and know if I am looking for pink or blue!!! So much to do and so little time!!! Have a good day!

Little Orphans

2007-10-03T17:52:00.000-05:00

Look what Kelly and I found at around 10:30 pm September 21…yep…someone had taken these two PRECIOUS babies and placed them inside a Wal-Mart bag, drove them to the end of our drive-way and threw them into the woods!!!! If it had not been for one of them breaking free and crawling to the edge of the road, I wouldn’t have seen it when pulling into the drive. When we stopped and opened the car door they were both screaming their little heads off! I stomped around in the woods until I found the second one still inside the bag. HOW on earth could any human being do something so heartless? It is one of the tackiest, cruelest and inhumane things an individual can do and I do believe they will be held accountable for it one day. We live on a relatively rural road, and people are constantly dropping off animals they don’t want. We recently had a sweet little beagle dropped off at the new house. Kelly’s Dad has already claimed him though. Anyway- I immediately drove to a nearby Wal-Mart to buy formula and have been feeding them from an eye dropper ever since. So far so good…they are eating and growing! Wendy and Zeek don’t know what to think about our house guests. I’m already getting so attached, but I haven’t allowed myself to name them just yet. As you can imagine, Kelly is just thrilled about the idea of two more cats around. So, on a different note…when I’m up to it…I will have to blog about my work-trip to Austin, TX. IT WAS TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, my sister finally finds out tomorrow whether we can buy pink or blue for Baby Fikes!!! Happy Wednesday!

House

2007-09-25T15:27:00.000-05:00

We are almost completely finished with the outside of the house. We only lack having the columns put in under the porch. I am still trying to decide on paint colors. The pressure is on, because they want to begin painting this weekend! Yikes! These pictures were taken yesterday. Maybe we will be in by Thanksgiving!

Birthday Girl!

2007-09-25T15:18:00.000-05:00

My Mom’s Birthday was September 20. We had birthday dinner for her last weekend at a local Mexican restaurant and they put a sombrero on her head and sang to her…fun was had by all! I have such an amazing Momma! I love her more than words can say. This picture was taken for her job. She would likely kill me if she knew I put it on here, but I think it’s great! Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Anniversary

2007-09-25T15:13:00.000-05:00

September has been such a busy month! Kelly and I celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary on the 13th. My, how time flies! We have actually been together for about eight years. We started dating in high school and through college. Although we had talked about marriage often and knew that it was something we both wanted, the proposal was still a complete surprise. Kelly called me at school one September afternoon and said that he wanted to take one final trip to the beach before summer was over. So, after having birthday dinner for my Mom that night we drove to Florida for the weekend. We spent the next day on the beach and that afternoon Kelly said that he wanted to take a walk on the beach before we went to dinner. I noticed that he kept pacing around the room while I was getting ready and rushing me to finish. When I finally walked out of the bathroom he was standing on the balcony with this terribly sad expression on his face. I looked behind him and saw why. It was pouring rain! I still thought to myself how odd it was for him to be that worked up over not getting to walk on the beach. I think I remember saying something like…”We can walk when we get back. It’s no big deal.” But it was a big deal because he had planned to propose to me on the beach! He was so nervous!!! At that point, he said he could wait no longer. After asking me to sit down (it was at this point that I got the hint.) and saying all of the sweet things girls dream to hear… we became engaged and were married the following September! It is still one of my favorite stories to tell. I am blessed to have Kelly in my life. I love him very much, and I’m thankful for the years we have been together. Lord willing, I am looking forward many, many more!

Game Time

2007-08-31T11:36:00.000-05:00

I went to the MSU vs. LSU game last night with Jade and Jason. I haven’t been to a college game in a long time. Kelly had to work. :( Even though it rained…hard…and State lost, Jade and I still managed to have fun. That is never a problem for the two of us. I must say that I think I enjoyed watching the fans much more than the game. Hilarious! I stole this picture from Jade’s blog. Thanks to Jason, we were able to stay relatively dry with the ponchos that he bought for us from the bookstore. Thanks Jason! Happy Friday!

Home Sweet Home

2007-08-13T11:06:00.001-05:00

I’m very behind on house pictures. It was just reconfirmed for me when I saw the last pictures I posted in June. Goodness! Our summer got really busy after that. We now have a roof, windows and a little bit of brick as you can see below. These pictures were taken Friday afternoon. We (they) started laying brick last week. Hopefully, siding and sheet-rock will begin in a few days. My job will soon become increasingly hard as we inch closer to paint. WOW, how am I ever going to decide on colors?!!! Every time I think I have my mind made up I see something else I like better. I have taken a lot of inside pictures, but it’s hard to tell much about them at this point. I’ll post more once the sheet-rock is in place. On a different note, Brandon started the ninth grade and Westley started the fifth grade last week. It seems like they had a short summer break, but I think they were ready to go back. Jill’s doctor visit last week went well. The doc. said everything looked and sounded great! They changed her due date to Jan 28. He wouldn’t even try to determine the gender this early. So, we are going to have to wait until the 20 week visit. I’m so excited to find out!!! All signs point to a boy, but you never know! Anyway, happy Monday Yall’

Home Sweet Home

2007-08-13T11:04:00.001-05:00

27 OR 18? Hmmmm...

2007-08-07T17:33:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to ME, Happy Birthday to ME, Happy Birthday to ME, Happy Birthday to ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay, today is MY Birthday incase you didn’t catch the song up there or the picture totally threw you off. I googled August 7, 1980 this afternoon and was reminded that Mount St. Helen in Washington erupted on this date, the date I was born. How fitting that a mountain should explode spewing forth ashes, smoke and molten rock in honor of my grand entrance into this world. HA! Ok, enough of the sarcasm. I am 27 today! It still seems surreal. I must tell you that I was a little sad about turning 27. Primarily because I know that I don’t have very many more “20s” left. The thought has frequently occurred to me at various times, but I really hadn’t given it a lot of thought in the days approaching my Birthday until Kelly kindly reminded me of it last night…when he brought to my attention that NEVER in my life would I be 26 again. I was thinking about that when all of a sudden I was reminded of something funny that happened to me yesterday morning. I was standing in the kitchen making coffee and talking on the phone to Kelly when someone knocked on the door. I opened the door to a pleasant looking little old man on the campaign trail (Boy, another reason to celebrate this date. It is FINALLY voting day). I politely smiled, took his card and thanked him for coming by. I noticed that he had this relatively puzzled expression on his face. He hesitated for a moment before asking “You are old enough to vote, right?” LOL!!!! Any other time, this would have likely offended me but not this week! I simply said “Um, Yes sir. I’ll actually be 27 tomorrow.” Can you believe it?! I have decided it had to be one of two things:
1.That was his PR tactic to “flatter” me into voting for him.
OR
2.My lack of make-up and ratty pony tail reminded him of someone that would look less than 18 years old.
While I hope to still appear young, I’m not so sure I want to look THAT young. Either way, it was entertaining. I have to conclude by saying that I am very thankful to have lived a happy and healthy 27 years. In the words of one of my colleagues today, “age is just a number, and with each year we get to make new memories, gain more wisdom, and have many great experiences!” I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me at 27. Happy Tuesday!

Life's A BEACH!

2007-07-19T12:25:00.000-05:00

Kelly and I are back to the working world from a very fun and much needed vacation to Destin, FL with the Gaskins. We lounged on the beach, laughed A LOT, ate anything in site and even managed to squeeze in a little shopping! Of course I, being the genius that I am, forgot my camera. So, we bought a disposable camera while there and haven’t gotten the pictures developed yet. As soon as I do, I’ll be sure to post them for your viewing pleasure. Until then, check out Jade and Jason’s blog. They will likely have pictures before I can get around to posting any. Happy Thursday!

Happy Birthday Westley, Jill & Billy!

2007-07-19T12:12:00.000-05:00

Better late than never, right? My nephew, Westley, celebrated his 10th Birthday July 11! He had a Slip-&-Dip party with friends. The pictures above are of his 9th Birthday when we were at the beach with my family. I came across them a while back and decided to post them on his special day. (or a week later but who’s counting, huh?) What a cutie pie! He is growing up fast! Happy Birthday Westley!!! We love you!!! Many, many more to come! :) Also, another Happy Birthday shout-out to my sister and brother-in-law. They both celebrated birthdays July 18 while at the beach! Isn’t it neat that they have the same birthday? Twice the cake and ice cream!!! I love yall!!

SNAKES in My Head...

2007-07-09T19:33:00.000-05:00

You can most likely tell by looking at the pictures above…I have had better weekends. First, let me preface this story by telling you it is going to be L-O-N-G and that there are three things in the world for which I possess phobias:
1.Spiders (the really big nasty ones)
2.Heights-like being way up in the air without walls around me (i.e. on top of a building, sky diving)
3.SNAKES
*The one and only creature in the world that I will attempt to run over with my car AND back over again and again until I’m confident that it is dead.* Late Saturday afternoon, Kelly and I went to his parent’s cabin near the river to cook dinner with some friends. It had rained all day Saturday and was still raining when we arrived. Kelly immediately got out of the car and walked nearby to switch on power to the cabin. I got out of the car in a hurry to get inside out of the rain. I was looking over at Kelly about to say something to him as I was walking…not even paying attention to what was coiled up in the grass a step away from my sandal-clad foot! (It was literally, a STEP away! I’m not exaggerating!!) I certainly believe the good Lord is what caused me to look down right before I stepped beside that hideous monster! At that split second, I let out a strange combination of screams/shrieks/moans and cries while jumping about 5 feet in the air (certainly felt like it anyway). I hardly remember my feet touching the ground I ran back to the car so fast! It was right at this moment that Kelly saw our nicely camouflaged unwanted cabin guest. I’m pretty sure it scared him too! He said with a quivering voice “That’s a rattle snake…a BIG one too!” Yes people, a RATTLE SNAKE (7 Rattlers, I later learned.)He also had this nasty bulge on his side, probably from his last meal.
My legs felt like jelly, and I thought for a minute I was going to be sick. I stayed in the car while Kelly tried to find something to kill it with. Around and around the cabin he searched, and that snake’s head was lifted and watching him the WHOLE time. He finally had to go to a nearby cabin and get a big piece of wood to beat the thing to death. It still jerked around and moved long after it was dead. I sat in the car for about 30 minutes afterwards. I honestly think that was probably the most terrified I have ever been. Granted, I would have been scared silly even if it was a tiny grass snake, but HEY, look at this thing! Even before I almost stepped right beside it I was close enough that it could have probably struck if he had felt so inclined.
Last night, I woke up at 3am because I needed to go to the bathroom but all I could think about was “the snake”. I kept thinking that a snake like that could possibly in our bedroom and I couldn’t see it in the dark! (Crazy, I know). Then, I was thinking about it again today and shortly after opened the door to step outside. Someone had been by on the campaign trail earlier and stuck a card in between our storm-door and the kitchen door. When I opened the door, it slid down and fell to the floor. I screamed…loud…again!! Poor Wendy Gul and Zeek Zeekster didn’t know what to think! Perhaps I’ll get over it eventually. I must also mention that I was walking my usual stretch of road as I do during lunch each day about three weeks ago and happened to come upon a dead water moccasin! Yes, it was dead but still scared me. Nothing like Saturday though! I don’t know what’s up with me and these snakes, but I can tell you that I DON’T LIKE IT! If you have sympathized with me and read this long blog to this point, God Bless you and thank you for your time. May you never experience such a scare! ;)
* Additional note, the pictures were taken by Kelly. No way did I get close enough to take them. My one close encounter was enough!

2007-07-09T19:31:00.000-05:00

On a much, much happier note; Jill called this morning after her Dr. visit and said that she got to see Baby Fike’s heart beat and its arm and leg buds!!!! She is 11 weeks. Everything checked out fine. YAY!

We have Trusses!

2007-06-27T17:18:00.000-05:00

Fortunately, the rain held off until late yesterday afternoon so they were able to get all of the big trusses up. It was fun watching this huge crane lift the trusses so high in the air. The middle picture is of Kelly helping to secure one of them. You really can’t tell from the picture, but he was pretty high up there! I would never be able to climb that high and focus on what I was doing long enough to hammer it into place. I would no doubt fall and break my neck…or worse! Anyway, the top picture is of the back side of the house and the final shot is of the front. I had to take the pictures from the car since it was poring rain at the time, so they aren’t the best but you get the idea. :) They are working the rest of this week to add the smaller trusses over the porch, etc. Happy hump day!

I'm Gonna Be an AUNT...Again!

2007-06-22T14:36:00.000-05:00

I’m going to be an aunt…AGAIN! OMG! I’ve wanted to get that out for days now…whew…I feel like a load has been lifted. :) My sister and brother-in-law are expecting a baby January 30!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They wouldn’t allow me to share the news for a few weeks, and I just thought I would explode before I had the chance to say it. You see, I have always thought Brandon and Westley would be it for Jill and Billy. They both told me so for so long, I had given up hope years ago. I guess at the time that’s what they thought too! Until awhile back when they decided that they wanted another little Fikes running around. Wow! I was so surprised at that announcement. You can imagine my anticipation every month (we are sisters…there is no such thing as “it is personal wait until they tell me thoughts”). There was an interrogation each and every month! I wanted to know as soon as they found out! I was simply elated when I got the news that she is expecting! There will be 14 years difference between Brandon and the baby and 10 years difference for Westley. So, it has been amusing to get the different responses from people. Some automatically assume that it was an unexpected surprise…um…no! Brandon and Westley are going to be such great big brothers! Now that the official announcement is out, I just want to say that through this news I have been reminded that I don’t know everything. Yep, shocker I know but I really don’t. I think God just looks down from heaven and laughs at me sometimes…well…ok all the time…at things like this. When I get so sure that I know what my life and my family’s lives are going to be like. I think in this case he just grinned when he threw me that curve ball. Or even still, he just shakes his head and says “I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future Jeremiah 29:10-12”. I am so thankful for that. I’m so thankful that I don’t know what my future holds, but I do know that whatever it is, bad or good, I will prosper and have hope. So, I’m going to be an aunt, again!!!!!!! Have I said that already??? :) YEAH!!!! More to come...you better believe it! :)

Happy Father's Day!

2007-06-22T14:13:00.000-05:00

I haven’t posted in a few days, so I’m behind in wishing every father…for the very, very few who may be reading this…a happy day. I’m sure you have heard the little saying “anyone can be a father but it takes a real man to be a Daddy”. Well, I couldn’t agree more. It takes a REAL and SPECIAL man to be a Daddy. My Daddy and Daddy-in-law, like many others, totally deserved a day just for themselves. The above picture is of me and my Daddy at the beach on one of our summer vacations. I LOVED the ocean (still do) but was always too afraid to go into the water alone. So, I would always have him carry me through the waves. Needless to say, I was very excited and impatient for him to come out to the beach and take me to the water, so I was just pulling him along. It always seemed like we would go so, so far out but we never really did. There are many other pictures I could have used here, but I have just always liked this one. I showed it to Daddy last night. He liked it too, but I think for a different reason…he was a handsome young fellow. Still is, of course! ;) I love you Daddy!!!

The House

2007-06-22T11:10:00.000-05:00

I just thought I would post the latest picture of our house. I took it yesterday afternoon. Things are still moving along nicely. The trusses are scheduled to go up Tuesday although there is a chance for rain. Goodness knows we need it, but I hope it comes Monday or Wednesday instead! We are going to look at brick today. I know I will be overwhelmed at all of the options. I’m afraid it’s going to be hard to decide. That’s just one of the many decisions, I know. Kelly and his Dad are still working hard on it. Over the past two weeks, they have gotten some additional help to speed things along a bit and to assist with some of the more “tricky” parts. I’ll post more pictures after the trusses are up. Happy Friday!

I Have a Dream...

2007-06-14T10:55:00.000-05:00

Nope, not the kind you are thinking. I hardly ever remember my dreams when I wake up. Fortunately, I don’t have nightmares very often. I do think; however, that the dream I had last night may classify as a comedic BAD dream! I must explain, before telling you about it, that I telecommute from home. This simply means that I work from a home office and make trips up to Jackson, where the organization I work for is headquartered, only periodically when needed. Well, I dreamed that I woke up this morning and just decided that it would be a good idea to drive up to Jackson (3 hours) and work from Headquarters. I had no specific purpose for it other than I thought it would be “nice”. So, I put on my white ROBE with pink HEARTS and FUZZY UG HOUSE BOOTS, don’t bother with any makeup or putting a brush through my hair, don’t even recall brushing my teeth, and drive to Jackson. Once I arrived at Headquarters, I went straight to my boss’s office (which wasn’t even located where her office actually is but inside the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S SUITE!). She was on the phone, so I plopped down on this bench outside her office and strike up a conversation with the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S ASSISTANT! It is only then that I realize two very critical things. A) I am in my ROBE, with FUZZY UG HOUSE BOOTS, NO makeup, nappy hair and bad breath. B) I have NO reason to be there. So, I decide at that moment to panic and try to create a really “good” reason for surprising my boss by driving up to Headquarters. (Not even why I look like I do). The whole time she was on the phone, I was sitting outside her door trying to think of something to say. The last thing I remember thinking about my appearance was, “Well, maybe they will just think that I have on a short dress.” What tha’….that they won’t notice my fuzzy house boots in June, pale face with dark scary under-eye circles, hair that looks like Wendy Gul and Zeek Zeekster have been sucking on its ends, and bad breath that smells like I had a bacon, egg and POO biscuit on the drive up!!!! Where did this come from??!!!
*The picture above is of the robe and house boots that I do actually own. I was just wearing the robe last night before bed, but I haven’t worn those boots since WINTER…and not with the robe even then! I just thought you might enjoy a visual. Yes, you may officially begin to question my sanity now. It’s ok.

Growing Family

2007-06-13T17:37:00.000-05:00

For those two or three of you who read this oh so interesting blog, you may recall a previous post last month about Kelly’s cousin, her husband and son welcoming a new baby into the family. Well, I received their sweet birth announcement today and finally have a picture to post of Ally and Big Brother, Cade. Don't you just want to squeeze them until they giggle!? :) We recently learned that Kelly's other cousin (Have I mentioned he has a lot of cousins?)and her husband will be expecting a baby January 31! So, Cade and Ally will have a little cousin of their very own to play with soon! :)

Happy Birthday!

2007-06-12T16:30:00.000-05:00

June 11 was Ms. Marsha’s birthday. What a wonderful lady! Thank you, Lord for giving Kelly and I such a caring and thoughtful mother to love. Happy, Happy Birthday and Many, Many more!!!

Old Friends + Their Babies + Festival = FUN!

2007-06-04T19:10:00.000-05:00

Pooped Out!

Too Much Festival Fun!

Becky & Asher

Ashley & Erin

I went to Birmingham Saturday to spend some long overdue time with three special college friends and their ADORABLE babies! Ashley, Becky, Erin and I were in the same social club at MUW. Now, we all live in different states so it is rare that we are ever able to see each other at the same time. We went to the Homestead Hollow Arts & Crafts Festival in Springville. It was such a neat place! If you have never been, it’s worth the trip. I definitely plan on going back in the fall. There are only certain times of the year that you can attend the festivals. They have everything from fine arts, traditional crafts, pioneer demonstrators, entertainment, great food, and children’s activities.
Although the festival was a lot of fun, my most favorite part of the entire day was lovin’ on Anna Claire, Jake and Asher. It was the first time I got to meet Anna Claire and Asher in person. I really think they liked their “Aunt Sarah” a lot. I mean, check out the picture of all three of them with me. Can’t you tell? Well, I am totally smitten anyway. :) That’s why there are so many pictures. Absolutely no way I could choose just one or two! Saturday just reminded me of how great it is to have those good ole college friends. Even though we hadn’t seen each other in a while it was like we hadn’t really missed a beat. I hope it always remains that way. I also hope that more of the girls can join us next time!

34 and 1

2007-06-01T15:44:00.000-05:00

Today is a special day. No, not because it is Friday! :) My parents have been married for 34 years today! Two of the most WONDERFUL people I know. I love them SO much. They have always been so supportive of my sister and me through everything and provided us with such a loving, nurturing and Christian home. They still do! There is no place like home, right!! Today also marks one year in my current job. Wow, how time flies! I can honestly say that I absolutely love what I do and who I work for. It has been a great year working with them. I have learned and experienced so much. So, everyday is a blessing to be celebrated, but I have two extra special reasons to praise the Lord today! What blessings I have received! Happy Anniversary Momma and Daddy! I love you!!

2007-05-29T19:31:00.000-05:00

I had a relaxing holiday weekend. Kelly had to work, so I mainly spent time at my parent's house. We grilled and watched movies with my two nephews, Brandon and Westley. My sister and brother-in-law celebrated their twelfth wedding anniversary Sunday. Congratulations guys! Many more to come!

Cha-Cha Chicken Salad

2007-05-29T19:03:00.000-05:00

I tried this recipe from the latest Southern Living magazine last week, and it was very good. I ate it with wheat thins. If you are a chicken salad fan, give it a try!

1 8oz. Package of cream cheese, softened
1 cup Mayonnaise
2 tsp. Curry Powder
1 tsp. Salt
6 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 (8oz.) can crushed pineapple
2/3 cup orange-flavored sweetened dried cranberries
1 cup chopped roasted, salted almonds

Whisk together cream cheese and next three ingredients in a large bowl; stir in chicken, pineapple, cranberries and almonds just until blended. Chill 8 hours.

TGIF and a Long Weekend Too!

2007-05-25T18:13:00.001-05:00

I hope everybody has had a good week. I don’t know about you, but TGIF! I felt a small tremor today. It rattled the windows and scared Wendy Gul and Zeek Zeekster something fierce! What was it you ask? Why, the teachers’ last day of school of course! I think it was them firing up their engines in unison and screeching out of the school parking lots! Hmmm, maybe that could also explain all of this smoke I have been inhaling around the house this week. (Ok, I know I know it’s all of the forest fires…that’s another story.) Anyway, I also even heard the faint echo of Alice Cooper’s song “Schools Out for Summer” in the distance!! I envisioned them blaring this song on their car radios while throwing their faithful red pens out the windows and driving away into the distance. :) On a more serious note, Congratulations to all of you teachers out there who have the next few months off! Stay up late, sleep late, lay by the pool…live it up! Also, I have posted a few pictures of the house that I took this afternoon. They have worked hard this week. Kelly’s uncle Charles Lee even joined in on the fun today. Have a great long weekend!

House Update

2007-05-21T23:00:00.000-05:00

Ok, this is my last post for today…I promise! I just wanted to add a few of the newest pictures of our house so far. It has come a long way since I posted shots last month. The top picture was taken May 13, the middle picture May 17, and the last today. We have gotten the plumbing completed and the foundation and porch poured. Today, Kelly and his Dad raised the first of many walls. YAY! How very exciting! More to come! :)

Weekend Wedding

2007-05-21T22:34:00.001-05:00

Weekend Wedding

2007-05-21T22:31:00.000-05:00

This weekend, Kelly was a groomsman in his friend Rob Miller’s wedding. We left Friday morning headed down to Mobile, AL for the big event. It was great seeing Rob again since it had been quite some time since we last saw each other. This was also the first opportunity I had to meet his sweet bride, Lindsey. Kelly and Rob became friends in college when they played football together at ICC. We also got to hang out with Lewis; another college friend of Kelly’s that we don’t get to see very often. The outside wedding ceremony and reception took place at the Ezell House. It was beautiful! Unfortunately, many of the pictures I took were too dark to post but I did manage to get in a few (check out the slide show above). It was really great to see our old friends again, especially during such a special time. Congratulations and Best wishes Rob and Lindsey!

Thank Heaven for Little Boys!

2007-05-21T13:18:00.000-05:00

What a very busy weekend it has been! I have a lot to post about today. First, the most exciting news is that my sweet friend Tori and her husband Bo are the proud parents of a healthy 7 lb 7oz. 20 1/2 in. long baby boy! Brayden Hughes Edmiston was born at 1:14 Friday afternoon. Isn’t he beautiful! Tori and I were in the same social club together at MUW, and she was and still is a special friend to me. How blessed Brayden is to have such a great Mommy and Daddy. Congratulations guys! I can’t wait to meet him!

Happy Mother's Day

2007-05-14T17:34:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a nice Mother’s Day, whether you were the one being celebrated or if you were the one doing the celebrating, it is a very special day nonetheless. Moms really should have more than one recognized day. Especially when you have Moms as WONDERFUL as mine! I have been blessed with two amazing Mothers. My Mom and my Mother-in-law are so important to Kelly and I. No words that I could think of would even come close to describing what they mean to us, so I won’t even try. The really cool thing is that I have heard a lot of people saying the same thing this past week. It’s awesome to know that there are so many Mommies out there doing such great jobs! Keep up the good work all of you Moms out there and know that you are LOVED!!

2007-05-09T16:30:00.000-05:00

First and foremost, Kelly’s cousin Ashley and her husband Bradley welcomed a beautiful healthy baby girl, Ally Grace, into the world Saturday. She weighed 8 lbs. and 8 oz. This little bundle of sweetness also has a proud Big Brother, Cade. What fun they are going to have together! I left my camera at home when I went to see the baby, so I don’t have a picture to post right now. Never fear though! I will have one soon and get it on here! ;)
Until then, the picture of my new bathtub will have to do. At 9:00 yesterday morning, I learned that Kelly and I had to have a tub picked out by the end of the day. Yikes! The plumbers were working at our house and needed to know the tub’s measurements, etc. to ensure that everything was arranged properly. I have been looking forward to getting to pick out my bathtub for quite some time now and was flustered about having to rush. See, I think that there are few things better than a long, warm bath in a nice tub. This was important business! I didn't really care to have a jacuzzi tub, but I wanted the same size. Luckily, I learned that you can order the exact tub but without the jets. Kelly thought that this all should be a simple choice...coming from someone who hasn’t taken a BATH since he was probably 6 years old! :) Anyway, we finally found what I was looking for! It’s different...has a funny shape...that’s what I like about it though. Can’t wait to soak in a big fat bubble bath!!

For the Love of Cats

2007-05-02T16:51:00.000-05:00

It just occurred to me today that I haven’t posted any pictures of my little darlings Wendy (aka Wendy-Gul) and Zeek (aka Zeek-Zeekster). Oh, the happiness they bring to my heart and the daily annoyance that they bring to Kelly. It is important to note here that although Kelly claims to despise them, HE is the reason I have them both. Kelly got Wendy from the local Humane Society, and a few months later Zeek was found near our mailbox and brought to him by our neighbors. They were both kittens when we got them. My intentions never were to have two cats in the house, but I was NOT even going to think about putting one of them outside, how unfair! As you can see, there is a lot of Wendy-Gul to love (top picture). She sort of became…well…big-boned after her hysterectomy (well, that’s what it is!). I have heard this is common in animals. Zeek just had his surgery. I wonder if he will get bigger too. I caught them doing what they do best…napping! Wendy loves to sleep under my desk next to the heater that I have on year-around. (She isn’t very modest is she?) Zeek, on the other hand oozed charm for the camera, waking up to pose for his glamour shot. I don’t think he liked the flash of my camera all that much. I LOVE cats!!!! I always have. I prefer them over dogs any day. Now, now! I know many of you are dog lovers-owners. Please don’t hate! :) I like pups too!!! On a different note, Kelly and I are going to see a cabinet-maker tomorrow for the house. Fun times!!

Fun TV

2007-05-01T11:09:00.000-05:00

If you haven’t tuned in to this TV Show yet, it’s worth your time….SO funny! It comes on NBC Monday nights 10/9C. I can’t believe that these couples are inviting Wedding Crashers to their special day, but I’m glad that they are because it is hilarious to watch!!

85% Dixie

2007-05-01T10:10:00.000-05:00

Go to this link and take the test to calculate your percentage of Yankee or Dixie. It is from the Harvard Computer Society Dialect Survey. I am ALWAYS asked about my southern accent when I travel to various places for work. It used to embarrass me, but no one (so far) has ever been ugly about it. In fact, they are usually very complementary. Anyway, I’m proud of my 85%! What about you?

Summer Treat

2007-04-30T22:09:00.000-05:00

I came across this recipe in the May issue of Southern Living magazine and tried it over the weekend. It is very good and super easy, so I thought I would share. I made the Lemonade pie, but they also had a recipe for Raspberry-Lemonade pie and a Lemon Pie Dip that sounded pretty tasty as well. I may have to try those too! ;)

Creamy Lemonade Pie
2 (5-oz.) cans evaporated milk
2 (3.4-oz.) packages lemon instant pudding mix
2 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
2 (3-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
1 (12-oz.) can frozen lemonade concentrate, partially thawed
1 (9-oz.) ready-made prepared graham cracker crust
Garnishes: whipped cream, fresh mint sprigs, lemon slices

1. Whisk together evaporated milk and pudding mix in a bowl 2 minutes or until thickened.
2. Beat cream cheeses at medium speed with an electric mixer, using whisk attachment, until fluffy. Add lemonade concentrate, beating until blended; add pudding mixture, and beat until blended.
3. Pour into crust; freeze 4 hours or until firm. Garnish, if desired.

Yield: Makes 8 servings

Jean Voan, Shepherd, Texas
Southern Living, MAY 2007

Progress

2007-04-27T18:56:00.000-05:00

I took some pictures of our house today. As you can see, we have made progress from the first pictures I posted in March. Gone are the batter-boards! Last weekend all of the cement blocks were positioned. It is still hard for me to visualize where everything will be. I just see a lot of red dirt and blocks! :) This weekend, Kelly’s uncle is going to help us get the mounds of dirt that you see all smoothed out. I’m looking forward to getting the foundation poured. I have been told by numerous people that things will speed up for a bit once this has been done. We’ll see! TGIF!

The Five Finger Prayer

2007-04-25T17:04:00.000-05:00

I wanted to share an email that my Mom sent to me today. It would be a creative way to teach your child, childrens' Sunday school class, or heck even yourself for that matter…how to pray. I’m going to show it to my Sunday school class this week:

The Five Finger Prayer

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a “sweet duty”.

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God’s guidance. And like the middle finger they seem to be right in the middle of all that we do and have in our lives, whether we like it that way or not—thus our prayers for them are vitally important!

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them. Plus, it can serve to remind us that in our weakness, God’s strength is what sustains us.

5. And lastly comes our little finger—the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, “The least shall be the greatest among you.” Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

Weekend Fun!

2007-04-24T15:26:00.000-05:00

The picture to the right is of Jade and I modeling the hottest new shoes on the market for Spring 07’. They are going fast and you don’t want to be left out, so be sure that you visit Jade at The Cottage Boutique to get yours! By the way, when you wear these high-fashion shoes this spring and summer, don’t forget to wear your novelty Santa Claus socks with them!!!!!! HA! That’s for you Jade! Anyway, to let you know what this picture is really all about, last weekend Kelly and I had dinner with our long-time friends Jason and Jade. We ALWAYS have fun when we get together, no matter what we are doing. This weekend was no exception; however, we did do something that we hadn’t done in a very long time…we went BOWLING!!! Yep, I know that those of you speed dialing The Cottage Boutique to secure yourselves a pair of these beautiful puppies are disappointed. However, you may just call Magnolia Lanes to see if you can work out a deal! ;) Jason and Kelly were the brains behind this adventure and Jade and I both stuffed socks in our purses before we left home. We hadn’t talked to each other on Friday, so neither of us were sure if we were REALLY going. Anyway, it was funny because after dinner when it was confirmed that we were going to go bowling we both whipped our socks out not knowing that the other had done the same thing! Now, Jade said that she grabbed the first pair of socks she could find, because Jason was rushing her out the door to meet us. I, on the other hand, just think she was trying to make a “fashion statement”!!! :) While she was sporting the “Festive Holiday” look, I think I should have been wearing a poodle skirt to accent my ankle socks! I’m sure those bowling around us were quite entertained. A good time was had by all! Happy Tuesday!

Gobble Wabble

2007-04-23T18:54:00.000-05:00

I had just finished my previous post when Kelly and his best bud John Ross came home with the fruit of their labor this afternoon. They had been turkey hunting with little success all day when they came across this “bruiser” turkey as they like to refer to him. Poor little fella! I guess you can tell by Kelly and John Ross’s smiles that they don’t feel too sorry for him. Way to go Guys!

I'm Back!

2007-04-23T17:50:00.000-05:00

It has been a while since my last post, but I’m back! Things have been very busy with work. I was in Nashville for a week at our annual International Convention. We had almost 4000 people in attendance with five of seven countries represented! It was definitely all work and no play but I still managed to have a good time. :) This year, our Convention speakers were Al Gore, Jehan Sadat (internationally known Middle Eastern activist), and Kevin Sharp (country music singer and cancer survivor). They were all very interesting speakers, and it was really neat to get to see them in person.
Kelly and his Dad have really gotten a lot of work done on the house. I will have a few pictures to post in the near future. I hope everyone had a good Monday!

Birthday Boy

2007-03-29T17:46:00.000-05:00

Brandon, my nephew, will be celebrating his 14th birthday tomorrow! It’s hard to believe that he is a teenager and in junior high school. Look at how cute he is!!! Preteen girls everywhere, eat your little hearts out!!!! ;) I am a very proud aunt in case you can’t tell. He and some of his buddies are going to the Alabama vs. LSU baseball game Sunday to celebrate. Maybe his team will win! Brandon brings so much love, laughter and good times to our family. We are blessed beyond measure to have him in our lives. So, Happy Birthday Bubba! We love you!!!!!

Home Sweet Home

2007-03-27T18:00:00.000-05:00

Last weekend was very special for Kelly and I. We officially broke ground on our future home!!! To be more precise, Kelly and his Dad broke ground. I just stood to the side and took pictures of the big event. :) We always knew that we wanted to build a house one day but didn’t know where or when. Kelly’s family all live close together. Close, as in his parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles and cousins all live within a mile of each other. After considering a few locations, we found the perfect spot on a hill across from his parents’ house. We were blessed to have been given the land by Kelly’s grandparents. In the beginning, all you could see were trees…a lot of them! After almost two years of clearing timber, truckloads of dirt, building a driveway, adding electricity and water and agreeing on a house-plan; we are ready for the next step! Kelly and his Dad will be doing the majority of the work themselves. This will be a special time for them, and I’m glad that they can do it together. They each have full-time jobs, so the majority of the work will be done on weekends and Kelly’s long-breaks. I know that this will be a test of patience and trust on my part! ;) As you can see from the pictures, they worked on the batter-boards over the weekend. The top picture is before they started work Saturday, and the bottom shot is while they were hard at it! Our “footing” will be dug this weekend. I hope to become a pro in the “construction lingo” before long. Stay tuned!

First Time for Everything

2007-03-20T20:16:00.000-05:00

Well, here we are! Welcome to our blog. For the past few months, I have enjoyed looking at everyone else’s so much that I thought it would be nice to create one of our very own. What a neat way to stay in touch with each other and share special times with family and friends! Please bear with me as I learn the ropes. I can only hope to become half as good as some of the bloggers I know. ;) Special thanks to my best friend Jade for helping me get started. More to come!