Woooo-Whooooo!!!! 10,000!!!!

Thank you San Francisco!!!!

You were my 10,000th hit!!!!

I am glad you stopped by and hope that you will again!!!! Introduce yourself next time, and stay for awhile!!!

Bridget(in OK) it was almost you!!!! You were 9,999th....so close.

That's all, just wanted to celebrate!!!

And the Golden Measuring Tape goes to...

ME!!!!!!

Yeah for the Bloggy Awards!!!

Bridget over at Don't Blink gave a little blog love to me and now it is my turn to share it. First let me say that Bridget is who I want to be when I grow up. She is hilarious, beautiful, a little wacky, and a lot in love with Jesus. She home schools her kids, loves her husband, and doesn't take herself too seriously. Oh, and she lives in my home state of California, which makes it even better.

Now, on the the specifics. I have to do three things with this award.

First, I have to say something nice about my main man....okay, he is my ONLY man, but he is pretty great, so this is not hard. For a longer diatribe on husbands in general, read this from last week.

Here goes: Big Daddy, is all that. He is madly in love with me. He adores our children, and he is vested in the people they will one day become. He is the picture of hard work...but knows how to relax and enjoy things.

But my number one accolade is this: He loves my body. He loves it exactly the way it is. He has never suggested I diet, lose weight, work out, color my hair, do my makeup differently, nothing but "Babe, you look hot!!!" and he has even has gone the extra mile by telling me I am beautiful with NO MAKEUP and my hair pulled on top of my head, with pj's and baby spit up on the shirt that I thought was clean.

Now for those of you who do not "know" me in the flesh, but only thorough this blog, here are the facts. I am just shy of six foot. My skinny is a 14 long and an XL shirt. I am broad in every way. I not only have hips, but I have a butt and a gut. Yet some how, waking up with him next to me, reminds me that I make 200 pounds look good!!!

And while I may dream of a 12 long, it is my dream and not his. And that is a blessing that I never thought about when I dreamed of my dream guy, but boy is it a fringe benefit that I wouldn't trade for anything.

Off that soapbox and on to number two.

Second, list six ways in which I measure success.

6. Stewardship - Not how much money you have made, but what you have done with it.

5. Humor - Any level of success, comes with some degree of failure first. Most people do not share their failures, and worse yet, they have not learned for them. If we take ourselves too seriously, than we are missing the point. Laugh at yourself. Out loud if possible.

4. Goals - I find wisdom in planning. Everyone might have have different goals, but just having them means that you are trying to succeed at SOMETHING. And to me, that matters.

3. Journey - I am not interested in people who "have arrived" I am interested in those who are on their way, knowing that growth and character comes from the journey, not the destination.

2. Empathy - When I had kids, I was immediately burdened by raising empathic children, who would grow into empathetic adults. It does not matter where you are in your own life, if you can NOT understand where someone else is in theirs.

1. Love - Loving God and loving others is what it all boils down to. If you have all the other things, but lack love, than you lack the ability to reach people and to make a difference.

Third, I need to pass this on to someone else.

Brandi and Pete
Carol
Bridget (in OK not Cali)
and lastly to my Mom, who while new to blogging, will be wildly successful once she gets going.

Quick Christmas Quiz

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both, whatever works for the given present.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real, it is too much fun to go and pick it out and chop it down
3. When do you put up the tree? As close to Thanksgiving as possible
4. When do you take the tree down? It depends, usually before New Years though
5. Do you like eggnog? Heck NO!!!!! A glass of wine will do me just fine.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My Cabbage Patch doll
7. Favorite gift received as an adult? Last year we got a kitchen makeover
8. Easiest person to buy for? Usually my sister KC, but my husband is pretty easy too
9. Do You have a nativity scene? Yes, my grandmother made one when she was in her 70's, it is BEAUTIFUL. It is large, and it is on the DO NOT TOUCH list at our house
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I am a mailer, but this year it has been so HARD getting my kids to cooperate for the picture....I am definitely a picture sender
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? We got a snow ball maker one year...HELLO we LIVE IN MISSISSIPPI!!!
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? With Big Daddy as my hubby there is only one answer to this question....Charlie Brown Christmas
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? As soon as possible, but it usually around September or October.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Plead the fifth
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Shrimp at my grandmothers on the night of Christmas
16. Lights on the tree? HUH? Who does not put lights on their tree?
17. Favorite Christmas song? Little Drummer Boy, and Christmas Carol by NewSong
18. Travel for Christmas or stay home? Always at home...I DO NOT TRAVEL ON CHRISTMAS!!!
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yep
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A Star with lights
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Pj's on Christmas eve, everything else in the morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The big stink about saying "Merry Christmas"
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Red
24. Favorite Christmas dinner? We only cook a big meal on Thanksgiving..so whatever I can get my hands on will do.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Tresor perfume, and a Spotted Pony Long Sleeve T-shirt

100

I make my own rules. I grabbed this 100 list off of and I am suppose to just highlight those that I have done...but it would be so much more fun to give a little play by play right????

1. Started your own blog...hello you are reading this aren't you

2. Slept under the stars...many times...one of my fave spots was O'Neill Park in Trabuco Canyon CA...our dog Barney even had his own tree that HE could climb....good times were had by all. After years of camping there, our family ended up moving with just a few miles of the place.

3. Played in a band..you should be thankful the answer is NO!!!

4. Visited Hawaii...Yes, three times. Oahu twice, once with family, the other with my senior class...and Maui, the trip of trip with three best girlfriends after our sophomore year at BIOLA University.

5. Watched a meteor shower...many times, my brother and I use to sleep out in the back yard during them when we were kids. Just last year, we took our kids to the Lake to see one. Poor Beez, every time we said, "oh, look at that one." it was gone and she was too late...in the end she caught on and just stared out into the vast horizon and she did finally see some herself.

6. Given more than you can afford to charity...yes, and been blessed because of it.

7. Been to DisneyWorld...in 2005 when Katrina hit the Gulf. We partied on, while all our friends and neighbors had no power for a week. It was turned on about 12 hours before we got home.

8. Climbed a mountain...hiking yes, but like Everest, than no.

9. Held a praying mantis...yep

10. Sang a solo...yes, BUT be glad you were not there

12. Visited Paris, no but I did live in Perris California.

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea...not while on the sea, but I have watched one from the rocky cliffs of Oregon overlooking the sea and also from the shore in SoCal

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch, if cooking is an art, than yes

15. Adopted a child, nope but I could see myself doing it

16. Had food poisoning, yes, while on a date...not fun.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty, get back with me in May, we hope to go to the Big Apple in April

18. Grown your own vegetables, yes see this post

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France, Mona who???

20. Slept in an overnight train, don't think so, but possible when I was a child

21. Had a pillow fight...yes, but I ban them in my house

22. Hitchhiked, surprisingly, yes

23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill, heck yeah, maybe i will tell the kids I am taking one tomorrow!!!!

24. Built a snow fort....man, yes..angel, yes...fort...no

25. Held a lamb, yes

26. Gone skinny dipping, most memorable time was in the a fore mentioned Maui trip

27. Run a marathon...does shopping day after Thanksgiving count???

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice....no

29. Seen a total eclipse, yes

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset yes and every time I am astounded at the beauty the Lord gives daily

31. Hit a home run...no

32. Been on a cruise, no but hoping to on our 15 year anniversary

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person, yes with my Grammy and Pops...amazing memories

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors...no

35. Seen an Amish community, yes but not as close as I have wanted

36. Taught yourself a new language...I am the BIGGEST GRINGA you will ever meet

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied, yes

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person,no

39. Gone rock climbing, yes at Joshua Tree

40. Seen Michelangelo's David,no

41. Sung karaoke, once again, be glad you missed this one, but I do enjoy it with my daughter

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt, yes

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant, yes, ask my husband about that one

44. Visited Africa, no

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight, yes

46. Been transported in an ambulance,nope

47. Had your portrait painted,no

48. Gone deep sea fishing, yes and puked the whole time, they say that draws the fish in

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person,no

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris,no

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling, yes at Hanauma Bay in Oahu, at Catalina Island, and in Maui

52. Kissed in the rain, yes, its how I knew I loved the man I married

53. Played in the mud, yes

55. Been in a movie, no but my beloved was in Underseige

56. Visited the Great Wall of China,no

57. Started a business, not officially but I do make cakes and I use to run a daycare from our home

58. Taken a martial arts class, no

59. Visited Russia,no

60. Served at a soup kitchen, yes

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies, one of my greatest regrets(and funniest stories)...I sold Girl Scout Cookies fraudulently, I was NOT a GS...my sister and I just wanted to make some money.

62. Gone whale watching, yes it is AMAZING

63. Got flowers for no reason, yes

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp,no

67. Bounced a check, who??? ME???

68. Flown in a helicopter, nope

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy,yes but I wish someone would have saved my Corn on the Cob rider...it was like a car, but it was a cob of corn instead

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial, yes and the all the other great monuments and memorial in the D.C. and Virginia area

71. Eaten caviar, yes, I am not a fan though

72. Pieced a quilt, no but I hope to one day

73. Stood in Times Square, nope, but get back to me in May

74. Toured the Everglades, no

75. Been fired from a job, I don't think so

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London, no, but I have seen the Changing of the Guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

77. Broken a bone, yes, my toe

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle, yes, not a good memory for me

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person, we went cross country 7 years ago, and that was one of our stops...breath taking

80. Published a book, I hope to one day, but not yet

81. Visited the Vatican,no

82. Bought a brand new car, never have and never will

83. Walked in Jerusalem, how beautiful that would be, but no

84. Had your picture in the newspaper, yes, we live in a small town, so a couple of times

85. Read the entire Bible, not ever from cover to cover, but yes, each book

86. Visited the White House, yes, but if you ever gave me three wishes, I would love to see the private quarters

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating, yes fish and and a dove

88. Had chicken pox, yes, I broke out the last day of sixth grade and I missed all of our end of the year parties

89. Saved someones life, I was a lifeguard in college, and I did run lead on a possible spinal injury recovery...oh yeah, I also did the Heimlich Maneuver on my niece when she was chocking on a starlite peppermint...that was really scary, but she chucked it across the room and was fine.

90. Sat on a jury, no, been called once, but did not serve

91. Met someone famous, heck I married a movie star, see

92. Joined a book club, I am my own book club

93. Lost a loved one, yes

94. Had a baby, had three via c-section, lost one in miscarriage, and one in a ruptured ectopic

95. Seen the Alamo in person, yes

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake, yes but it was really cold

97. Been involved in a lawsuit, yes but it was from a car accident, nothing too exciting

98. Owned a cell phone, owned one, washed one, lost one, need a new one

99. Been stung by a bee, yes

100. Read an entire book in one day, yes more than one

A Little Alma Mater Love

BIOLA University is the BEST Christian Liberal Arts University in the world....I know, that sounds bias...but the truth is the truth.

Here is a great video, supporting my view point.

BIOLA ROCKS

Random thoughts ....

Just checking in with everyone...we have been so busy with the surprise guests that I have not had time to blog. Here are just a few random thoughts..............

• Can you believe the election is only three weeks away? After two and a half years of campaigning, I am ready to VOTE!!!
• Did you catch the Cowboy/Cardinals game yesterday???? That was CRAZY!!!
• My sisters and I all gave pedicures to each other yesterday...well, not really, since we do not let Lucky do any painting...she is really bad at it.
• We are making Chicken and Dumplings tonight....just in case you were wondering
• Bridget, you need to check your email and get back to me ASAP.
• The Beez is going to be Lola for halloween. (fyi, Lola is Hannah Montana's BFF)
• I AM NOT DRESSING UP THIS YEAR....PERIOD
• Watched the movies Leatherheads this weekend...good movie....gotta love George Clooney
• Christmas Shopping....Our boys have outgrown "toys". This year it is all about electronics...as in IPODs....one word EXPENSIVE

That's all, just wanted to ramble a bit.

Hope everyone is well, we can catch up later this week.

Internet Filters...you gotta get one

If you do not have an Internet filter on your family computer, let me encourage you to get one. I know that there are a lot of options out there, some costing a pretty penny and most of the free ones are not worth your time. BUT, I have found one that we have used the last two years that has everything we were looking for: FREE, customizable, and secure. If you are interested in keeping all the nasty stuff out of your house, you should try K-9. Within about 5 minutes you can have your family computer free from unwanted content and websites.

Now, the funny thing about filters is that sometimes they block content that is not inherently raunchy, but may contain words that are categorized as explicit. For example, last week I posted a response to an Anonymous comment in which assumptions were made about my belief system, and I felt like I wanted to set the record straight. Well, my sister, who works from home using a company computer(which uses some type of filter, but not K-9), just informed me that MY BLOG IS BEING BLOCKED FOR SEXUAL CONTENT!!!! How hilarious is that!!! I know that is must be due to the content of the previously mentioned post.

I love how, in my defense of Godly intimacy, I am now grouped within the raunchy sub-culture that is so prevalent on the web.

I think I will go back and re-word my post to see if I can change my new found rating...but come on...give me a break...I have walked a lot lines in my life...but this one takes the cake!!!!

To kill or not to kill, that is the question.

So, here is the deal.
We live in the south and are not ashamed of hunting and fishing. I am all for frying up some fresh caught catfish, or grilling some fresh deer tenderloin. For me, I have no issue with being an animal killing than eating individual. And I would not think twice of killing anything that I felt was trying to cause me or my family harm.
But, lately my boys have been wanting to kill-as in shoot- the turtles in the pond because they keep stealing their bait. Now, I should clarify, that they did not come to the "let's shoot 'em" philosophy by themselves. It is widely practiced here, to bring your BB gun with you to the fishin' hole to take care of 'em turtles. As a matter of fact, a lot of people I love and respect do this too.
But I can not get over the killing for killing sake.
As I type, my boys have a HUGE turtle in our backyard. I mean HUGE like probably 24inches across. This picture does not do him justice, believe me...he is HUGE!!! He is currently in a 33 gallon trash can, of which he takes up the whole bottom.

His fate awaits.

***UPDATE***

Word on the streets is that this is prime eatin' as far as turtles go. And while I consider myself quite the adventurous cook...I can not EVEN go THERE!!! But, someone with an inclination for turtle soup just might be stopping by our house today to pick up him up for dinner. Rest assured though that if that does not work out, he has been given clemency and will be returned back to the pond.

What do you think about it?

Why I LOVE Our Friends and My Husband

First, let me fill you in a little. About 6 weeks ago, our Minivan went kaput. The transmission is shot, which is seriously one of my greatest nightmares since a previous minivan put us through the ringer with its transmission problems...so much so, that we traded it in and bought this one.
Well, since were not sure if we wanted to fix the van and sink more money into it or just cut our losses and get something else, we decided to be a one car family for a while.
Here is the good news: Jeff's Mom and Dad had a car that they were not using, so they let us use it while we decided what to do about the van.
It was such a HUGE BLESSING to not have to worry about a vehicle or repairs. And at the same time also have the luxury of staying a two car family. Well, at least that's what we thought. Here is the bad news: About two weeks after we got the "loaner car" the starter went out. (on a side note...this car has NEVER left the in laws on the side of the road or stranded...it has been a really great car for them) BUT, I guess no such luck for us. So much for not having to think about repairs right???? So we bit the bullet and got it fixed.
Fast forward two more weeks, to last Sunday, and part of the engine LITERALLY FELL OUT!!!! I am not even kidding you. It went...metal clanking metal loudness like a really bad nightmare...and chi-ching...there was the harmonic balancer lying in the middle of the driveway. I will say that I was glad that it decided to drop its load in the driveway and not on the highway, but really, was anyplace a good place to have parts fall out of your engine??? NO!!

That brings me to today. One of our dearest friends JR came over to assist Jeff with the repairs. (I should stop here and clarify that Jeff is REALLY great at fixing cars, and we actually very rarely have to take our vehicles in to a shop to get fixed) Anyway, they were out there working just fine, minding their own business when the SKY FELL OUT.
Now, let me clarify again. We do live in the south, and we are known for having random thunderstorms in the afternoons...but it has not rained in like 2 1/2 weeks....can't a guy get a break?!?!?!
But, since they are not faint of heart, they kept on working...in the RAIN!!!
Here are the pics to prove it(and it really was raining super hard like the watermelons I shared about a few weeks ago BUT I was a fraidy cat and did not want to get my camera drenched so I waited till it let up some before venturing outside to document the whole ordeal.)...only REALLY GREAT FRIENDS and a SUPER HUSBAND would stick with such an undertaking. I am so blessed.

Still Under Construction

Here are some updated photos of the destruction...I mean construction.


This is the view from the side door entry. That cutout was a window prior to us owning the house, when this area was a carport, not part of the living room. It has always been kind of an awkward area....that is until KC and went crazy with the sledge hammer.


This is the NEW opening.


This is the NEW bar area.

The contractor is here right now finishing the drywall. He is busy sanding...which is quite possibly the worst job ever and the messiest. After a quick clean up, the new floors will go down and then it will be time to touch up the paint.

Surely the end is near.

The Best Part of Remodeling

Every once in a while you get to see the light at the end of the tunnel. This afternoon we saw the light in the form of graffiti. Why go through all the mess and hassle of remodeling your house if you can not paint your names on the wall.



Above: our real names
Below: our nick names

Here we go again...

Well friends, we are back in the grind. The remodeling is back in full swing. We have super busy the past week, and seem to have an even tougher week ahead of us.

I have family coming in next Tuesday, so the Hubby wants to buckle down and finish up all the loose ends. The good news is, we are actually doing really well. We had a contractor come out over the weekend and install a new support beam in the living room, to compensate for the fact that we removed a wall. We should be able to install the new floors this weekend. I have been painting the living room, and later today I should be able to re-texture the living room ceiling. The drywall work should get completed today or Thursday. And the list could go on and on. Thankfully, the process has not been as problem filled as the kitchen was, just a lot of hard work and long hours.

Once again, I have 4 or 5 entries, that I started, but could never get around to finish..so hopefully I can play catch up soon.

Does this one count?

So, I am thinking that this picture should count. Since I am technically wearing a bathing suit, and I do not recall anything about you having to see it...then this should count right??????





I am working on my bravery issues...I will post a real one later.

Hey, can I photoshop it first????

Top 10 6/20/08

10. Green Beans







9. Squash and Zuchinni

8. Sweet Corn: Ruby Red Queen and Chubby Checker

7. My Wheelbarrow Garden








6. My hanging baskets on my front deck











5. My herb garden in a whiskey barrell








4. Morning Glory's and Moon Flowers just days away from blooming







3. The scent of fresh Lavender as you walk in my front door...and fresh mint for my iced tea









2. Our beastly dog Bruno









1. Standing next to one of 30 tomato plants that are taller than me...6 1/2 feet tall!!!

Must Read

The Shack
by William P. Young
.

You need to read this book.

I have never read anything(and I read A LOT!!!) that has both made me sob and laugh hysterically(not at the same time).

While, it is fiction, it is full of TRUTH.

It is ultra thought provoking and deeply moving.

It is also one of those books that you really can not say much about without giving the good stuff away. So here is the back of the book:

Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally

murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness.

Four years later in the midst of his "Great Sadness," Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend.

Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and

walks back into his darkest nightmare.

What he finds there will change Mack's world forever. In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant "The Shack" wrestles with the

timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?"

The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book!

You should be able to find it at your local book store. Both main stream and Christian stores are carrying it. I saw that Sam's Club is carrying it for about $10 or you can pick it up here.

Really, if you read you should not pass this up. And, if you don't read, you should start with this one.