Starting Over

You are looking at alot of hard work, effort, and money.........or what used to be. I have really grown to love our freezer, especially when we have a garden. It comes in so handy! I wish I had taken a picture of it a few days ago, and you would have seen all the garden veggies from last year and the current one. You would have also seen all of our meats, seafood items, as well as some home made bread and a few other various things. I've been trying over the last 2-3 years to be very resourceful and use the freezer to my advantage. Yesterday evening, however, I went to the freezer to get some shrimp to cook for my family, and I walked in the building where the freezer is to find a horrible mess: blood and water that had flowed from inside the freezer to the floor in front of it and beneath it. It smelled...BAD!!! I don't know exactly when it happened, but somehow the door of the freezer had become ajar, and there was all of my hard work and Carl's hard earned paychecks sitting there ruined before my eyes in 100 degree weather!! A knot came to my stomach and a lump formed in my throat. I cried. I couldn't help it - I was so disheartened. That was when God reminded me of how blessed we really are. We have so many blessings - too numerous to count. We had also read in our devotion that morning about how if God clothes the flowers and takes care of the birds, then He will take care of His children.

When I went to take this photo this morning, so many Biblical lessons came to my mind. I realize we're not going to starve, and I realize that there are other people who go to a fridge everyday and see a similar photo and wonder where their next meal is coming from. How can I complain when God was the One who provided it?? It will take some time and more hard work, but with God's help, we'll have things added back to it. As a matter of fact, I have several zucchini that were picked from the garden yesterday morning and need to be cooked and put up. God is AWESOME!!!

A Wet Kind of Day...

I loved the animals that were put together with pots at Dollywood. Here's a snake. No, I'm not calling my son a snake!! LOL



















It was so hot and humid at Dollywood that we chose one day to just ride all water rides... (Well, I didn't!) Hey, someone's got to make pictures!!!



Everyone loved riding River Rampage...the first time. (heh heh heh) Daddy and I didn't ride either time, so we found something more fun to do - we discovered the blasters. The blasters are associated with a colored flag along the "trail" that the boat takes. Well, you put a quarter in the slot right as the boat is coming by that colored flag, and the ones you love the most get "blasted" with water! Timing is everything!!










This is River Battle, and, yes, it is a battle to ride...or not! Let me explain. You see, those of us who are innocently standing by to make pictures of our loved ones can be "shot" with water guns assigned to each person on the boat. Now let me just say, these people that "shoot" you may or may NOT know you. Acquaintance is NO factor in this ride. You can innocently be passing by and get pretty wet! What makes it cool, though, is that those who are on the outside of the ride can "shoot" back if he is standing at one of the "guns" along the outside. It makes for a pretty interesting ride, and one that you have to be prepared for because you will definitely get sopping wet!!! I became highly offended when someone I didn't know "shot" me!!! All I wanted was to get some good shots of my family as they rode this ride!! I ran away and started pouting and sucking my thumb. How dare someone wet me that I didn't even know, and HOW DARE THEY WET MY CAMERA!!!!!!! I was finally able to calculate where I could stand and NOT get myself or my camera wet and just use the zoom feature! LOL This was the last wet ride of our day because you get so wet. You've pretty much had your shower for the day, so you might as well put on fresh, dry clothes and continue on your journey. Or you could pay $3.00 for the family dryer and get dried off!! Ha!

25 Years and Counting...

Dollywood is celebrating 25 years this year, and we always have a blast when we go. This time seemed hotter than any other time we've ever been. It was so very humid, but we still enjoyed it!!


I could eat this boy up, especially when I see those dimples shine through!!!








She loves to ride anything that tickles her tummy! This is one of her favorite rides. See that smile?!?!










What's Dollywood without Dolly? We happened to be there on the first day of the Kids Fest, and she made her way through the park. When she passed by us, it was like she knew I wanted her picture and looked straight at my camera!






What a beautiful sunset God gave us to behold on our way home. It was absolutely breathtaking!!

Feeding the Hungry...and Learning Along the Way

I learned about this website last week, and thought it was worth mentioning. If you want to learn new words or just test your knowledge on the words you know, click here. For each correct answer, they will donate 10 grains of rice to feed the hungry. Check it out!

A Budding Beautician...NOT!!

As I sat at the table eating bonbons and reading a steamy romance novel this morning (not really, I was looking at grocery ads), my children decided to go into my bathroom. I didn't think much of it until it became quiet. That's when I inquired as to what they were doing. My son came in to get my scissors, so I asked him why he needed them. He told me that he needed them for his sister's hair. "Uh, no!" I said. So I awakened back to reality, walked into my bathroom, and this is the sight I saw. I would like to be able to tell you that I was a good mother and didn't give my daughter a complex by laughing at her hysterically, but I can't. I lost it!! I tried my best to fuss, but I just couldn't! I laughed! She and my son had worked at trying to get the brush released from her hair, but to no avail. I did the same...to no avail, so.....

I called for back up.










"Pebbles", in all of her glory, had to be loaded up and whisked away to the salon, because no one could remove the brush from her hair. She's really excited to go and be seen in public. Can you tell?






We were prepared to have it all cut off pretty short, but the stylist at the salon worked on it for a while, and...















she was finally able to remove the brush. (She did have to cut it out, however.) She shampooed, conditioned, cut, and dried my daughter's lovely locks.




After 8 hands, 2 1/2 hours, and $20.00 later, "Pebbles" emerged without her prominent head piece.











I told her that IF she ever does this again I am going to cut it out myself at home then take her to the salon for a $6.99 haircut with a coupon. I think "Pebbles" has learned her lesson! :)

The Joys? of Baseball 2010

I don't know why my son decided to scratch that part of his body at this moment. Maybe it took his mind off of his dad fussing at him for not paying attention? Or maybe he wasn't paying attention then? Anyway, I thought I had made a pretty good photo until I got home, downloaded the photos, and it became a "split" decision!! LOL

My kiddos really do love baseball....some days more than others...It depends on the "action" or lack thereof. :)

Mother's Day 2010

My kiddos and I...Oh, how I love them!!!!


My mother and I...Oh, how I love her!!!!