A Few Things

Life has been much more hectic than normal, and quite honestly, I can't even think straight to get my thoughts in order. Here are a few things that have been going on.

Last Monday night Jon and I finished our last dance lesson. On Tuesdays I would be totally drained, but it was all worth out . . . after all we're creating memories. . . While I don't think we were the best dancers in the class, I do think we were our teacher's favorites. She gave me a hug when we left. I think we made her laugh . . . ALOT. . . and. . . we probably got on her nerves a bit too because of our silliness.

Here's a dip. . . see Jon's tongue hanging out. . . that's not because he thinks I am out of sight and dynamite. . . it is because whenever he has to concentrate really hard that's what he does . . . just about anytime he's playing a sport his tongue is out. I think he's concentrating on not dropping his 125-pound wife flat on her booty.
We learned this new move called the sugar twist. Our teacher said this was a move that was to be exaggerated. I did what I do best . . . exaggerate . . . the sugar twist that is. I shook my hips like there was no tomorrow. See Jon's hand? He was supposed to shake it like "hubba, hubba" You can tell by the look on his face that he's not thinking "hubba, hubba". He's thinking, "stop it, stop it."

This move is called the "Trust Me" and it's one of my faves. After he throws me back up, I do a turn and then we start back dancing. It makes me feel like a real dancer.

More sugar twisting. . .

**Jon's Dad is still in the hospital. Please pray for him and our family. We are hoping maybe, just maybe, he will get to come home tomorrow. It has been a long road. He has this friend, Harvey, who is a shining example of what a friend should be . . . you know the kind the Bible talks about . . . a friend that sticks closer than a brother. . . the kind of friend that lays down his life for his friend. . . I think if any of us in this life on earth has just ONE friend like Harvey, we should consider ourselves very blessed. He works all day, goes to the hospital at night, stays until the middle of the night so Jon's Mom can go home and sleep. He's not doing it either because Jon's Mom doesn't have help. She does. . . us. . . . I think she worries about putting too much on us. One night Jon was there and he told Harvey to go home. Harvey wouldn't do it. Finally after hours, and I mean hours of going round and round with it Harvey told Jon to leave and so Jon did. I really want to do something special for Harvey just to thank him for his kindness. Please give me some ideas. It's hard for me to think right now.

** The contract on our house expired today. We have been assured by the other agent that the seller will honor our terms once the title issues are worked out. Jon has actually taken matters into his own hands and things seem like they will work out. He was supposed to get a call back from an attorney today, but no dice. I told Jon to aggravate the mess out of him until he responds. I told Jon this weekend to do whatever it takes just make sure it is legal, moral, and ethical . . . ha!ha! I was kidding, well . . . kind of. . . when I said it.

**Last Tuesday I resigned from my position as a Wednesday night teacher for Adventure Club. I have worked in the children's department at church for the last 10 years (our church for 8 and another one we attended for 2). It is something I have prayed over and feel at this time God has led me to do. This Wednesday night will be my last one, and I know there will be tears. Jon and I have felt led to visit other churches, including the one we currently go to. We just really need some wisdom and clarity right now. . . . and a break. We met with our pastor today and he was very considerate and understanding. If you think of us, please pray for us. We tend to be people to make decisions slowly. . . sometimes I can get impatient. I'm so thankful for Jon's wisdom and leadership over our family.

**We are having a tough time with these preadolescent years with Alec. None of my really close friends have kids his age (11-1/2) except for one and it is just really hard to compare them b/c her son is exposed to much more than Alec is. Any advice? I sure would love some. His temper is definitely a problem. He told me today he also feels lonely a good bit. The girls have one another and I'm so busy doing this and that. God is really showing me that I need to be more attentive and really listen with both my eyes and my ears. Alec is a long-winded kid, so please pray for me too. We even bounced around the idea of school . . . This time it was Jon and not me saying it . . . I don't know. . . I'm so very, very torn. . . not that I am opposed to school b/c I am not a "homeschooling snob." I always say we take it year-by-year. Mainly b/c I don't think him going to school will solve our problems. I feel like we will just get a new set. I guess my question is, is this what most kids his age are like?

**Just when I think I love Jon the absolute most any woman can love her husband . . . I just fall head over high heels more love with him. We were out of town this weekend and when he called to check on his Dad it was the first time I'd listened to him talk to his Dad on the phone. He had such a gentleness, yet strength in his voice. He talked to his Dad in a somewhat childlike manner, yet still with the upmost admiration and respect. Everytime he talked to him this weekend, I'd just tear up listening to him. . . Prince Charming couldn't have been this good in the fairy tales.

**I'm sorry I've missed some of my favorite bloggy friends over the week. I can't wait to catch up reading your blogs and see what all I've been missing. There is lots going on over on our end here. . . I would definitely appreciate any and all prayers. God is so good, ALL the time!!!

SNOW MUCH FUN

My kids are always hoping and wishing and hoping and wishing that it would snow on Christmas day. Well, Sunday they got to see snow and we all had snow much fun playing in it!

Here's Jon when it first started snowing . . . check him out in shorts of all things. The man wears shorts when it is 40 degrees outside.

Max was a little unsure about the snow, but was he warmed up to the idea he loved it. . . crazy bulldog.

Once it got to snowing heavy Jon decided to put warmer clothes on. We all headed outside to throw some snowballs at one another.

You can see Hanna was in the snow much longer than I was . . . look at her wet head. . . can you tell we here in GA are not very prepared for snow? I bought my kids gloves back in December when we went to Stone Mountain. Well they must be with our sock monster (you know the monster who lives in the dryer that steals all of our socks) because we couldn't find any gloves. The kids were able to rouse up some socks to put on their hands.

Alec and I loved throwing snowballs at one another. My boy is getting so tall on me.

The kids loved building a snowman. See the socks on their hands?

We actually left during the snowstorm to go and ride by the house we are trying to buy and look at it in the snow, then we went to Wal-Mart to stock up on a few things . . . like toilet paper. . . which we had run out of. When we get snow in the South everything shuts down, so I knew we had to get out and get it because I didn't know what the night would bring.

On our way home we were driving by some friends of ours house, and they were outside playing in the snow. We pulled up in their driveway and did a sneak attack snowball throw at them. By the time we made our way around to them all had gone back inside but their son. He went inside and got his mom and sisters. I started throwing snowballs at them. It was lots of fun!

When the girls came in from outside I ran them a hot bath. When they got out they, of course, wanted some yummy hot chocolate. . .

DURN

I've recently developed some really good friendships with some ladies I've know through soccer and swim. These ladies are very dear to me, and everytime I'm with them I have SO.MUCH.FUN. and I laugh WAY.TOO. HARD. I love a good belly laugh, don't you? That is what these girls bring me, lots of good belly laughs. They've invited me to play Bunco several times and a couple of months ago we went to dinner and a play here in town. As I was flipping through the program I saw some of the up and coming plays, one of them being The Importance of being Ernest. I leaned over and asked my friend Suzanne if she thought this would be a play the kids would enjoy, you know like "Ernest goes to Camp, Ernest goes to Jail, Ernest goes to Africa." She busted out laughing and informed me that was the wrong Ernest. Oh I was mortified. I thought and I think I said, "how redneck of me."

I came home and told my sister this story, and she laughed and laughed. During our conversation I told her, "Oh no. They are going to know all I am is just a dressed up red neck. Melissa said, "Yes, you're a DURN."

This Christmas, as a gag gift, Melissa even bought me all 3 Ernest goes to Jail, Camp, and Africa movies.

Well, of course when we got the dates of the play, we all knew we had to go and see it. After all, I needed to be educated in something other than red neck.

Saturday night these girls and I got together for dinner and to see the play. Then afterwards we headed to this neat coffeehouse.

Y'all I laughed so much, and so hard. After the week I'd had I really needed some good belly laughs. After all Proverbs says, "A cheery heart doeth like good medicine." Yes, being out with these ladies was medicine for my soul.

At the coffee house we all got a little silly and started playing instruments. It's a 2-story coffeehouse and all of the "young ones" were upstairs playing pin pong. I know they thought we were a bunch of silly old ladies. Suzanne appropriately named our group that night, "The Real Housewives of _____ County."

Here are Pam and Terri looking all dignified while they wait for their coffee

Suzanne is one of the funniest people I know. She CRACKS-ME-UP all the time!

Here's Terri playing the guitar

Check out Pam, a Real Housewife of _____ County

Christen and Liz were getting silly with their whip cream from their hot chocolate. Oh my goodness I had a sip of Christen's. It was so good, literally like a liquid candy bar.

Doesn't it look just so yummy?

Here I am meeting up with them at the beginning of night for dinner

Here I am talking to Pam. I had to post this picture because I know I've mentioned on my blog that for some strange reason if my mouth is moving then so are my hands. I just can't talk without them.

We all had an amazing dinner. This is one of the best eating places in our town.

Here is Silly Suzanne looking serious. Don't let her fool ya! She's not all as serious as she is looking in this picture. I think I was laughing at her while she was posing.

Kathy and Suzanne - I love this picture of them. They are so pretty!!!

Our tickets got to us a little late, so we were a tad bit late for the play. We had to book-it and book-it big time. Pam got on this kick where she had us laughing b/c she'd pose like the teenagers do . . . with the peace-out sign and lips poked out.

Christen and Liz hurrying to the van. See me on the side . . . . laughing. . . I'm tellin' ya, I laughed all night long!!

See Pam in the back with her peace-out sign?

Here are Terri and I at the play. There was this guy there that coughed the entire play. At first it was funny, then it got to be a little irritating. Bless his heart though. . . something had to have been wrong with him for him to have coughed like that.

Kathy and Terri

The play itself was GREAT!! I'm so glad I got an education in another Ernest. Thanks for such a fun night ladies. . . cough, cough, cough.

Memorization Monday

This week I am going to get out all of my previous index cards and review all of the verses I've memorized; that way they stay in my head and I don't forget them.

On Saturdays we Scream for our favorite Basketball Player

We've participated in Upward Basketball program for many, many years now. Alec ushered us into it and played for 3 or so years, so when his very competitive, younger sister was old enough to play, she bounced to it (no pun intended).

Y'all this girl is quite the athlete, and ALL of it comes from her Daddy. I run and lift weights, but ANYBODY, and I do mean ANYBODY can do that. She is fierce, aggressive (in a good way), and just naturally talented. She's a natural leader . . . always cheering her teammates on and congratulating them when THEY do a good job. She's so funny though. . . every time she scores she makes sure We are screaming for her!!

Jon's Dad was quite the basketball player growing up and actually went to GA Southern on a basketball scholarship. Her basketball genes came straight from her Grandaddy. I have loved watching his face every Saturday as he watches her play. I've told him she is just a mini version of him out there playing.

We've been so blessed that our soccer coach and all our girls, but one on our team, we play soccer with. It's been so much fun. The fun will continue though because soccer starts next Saturday. Our soccer/basketball coach is the best. He loves our girls and he loves sports. His reactions are just as much fun to watch as our girls. I've often told people that before we were on his team we'd think, "This guy takes sports wayyyy too serious. He needs to loosen up." But, we have had the pleasure of being on his team for 2 years now, and now I tell people, "When you are on his team, you LOVE him."

Look at her go!

She's open. She's open.

Y'all better be cheering for me!

Bumpy Waters & Dying to Self

If I had to use 2 words to sum up our week it would have to be bumpy waters. It's been one rough week. I know I have mentioned once or twice before about a family member who I love very much who has had a tough time with his health lately. Quite honestly, I've been hesitant to blog about it because he is a well-known member of our community, and I really don't know who reads my blog that lives around here. So, in order to respect his privacy and avoid the "rumor mill" I just haven't felt free to blog out it.

However, just briefly, my father-in-law, who I am just crazy about, was admitted to the hospital on Monday night. Tuesday, Hanna and I went to be with him, and let's just say, I was extremely emotional. I tend to be that way in moments of crises. I just am not one to hold it together. I cry and cry alot. . . I'm just one of those girls who believes crying is good for the soul.

Wednesday the kids and I were back there and Jon had been going by there after he worked. . . putting him getting home between 9:00 and 9:30 every night. May not sound like much, but his alarm buzzes at 5:00 a.m. every morning, and it has been rough on him.

We really all were afraid Jon's Dad had liver cancer. Wednesday morning Jon called and our conversation went as follows:

Jon: "Hey Babe, I just talked to Mom, and she was crying so hard I couldn't understand her."

Jon starts choking up . . .

Me: "Jon, I can't understand you. Please calm down. I can't hear you."

Jon: "Mom's got me crying. The surgeon said after doing Dad's liver biopsy she just knew he had cancer. She was up off and on during the night wondering how in the world she was going to tell our family that he has cancer. She got to the hospital this morning and the pathologist told her he was 99% positive it was not cancer. The surgeon hugged his neck. He told her he didn't expect that kind of response. Dad just has lesions on his liver and a really bad infection. They are going to clear it up with antibiotics."

Halfway through this I was bawling. We all were rejoicing and praising the LORD. As I was talking to Jon my mother-in-law was beeping in. I called her back and she and I shared tears together.

We had a really good visit at the hospital with Jon's Dad. He is on some pain medication so he is pretty funny.

When life like this happens I tend to squeeze it all in. . . I still worked this week. I still homeschooled the kids. We still went to basketball practice, swim practice, soccer practice, dancing lessons, ballet, and church. Honestly, I am slap worn out.

So today we had planned a field trip to a museum with some of our homeschool friends. I was quite excited about it. This morning was awfully rocky. In fact, I was downright mean to my kids.

Total exhaustion + argumentative Ashley + Alec and Ashley fussing = 1 mean mom. The kind of mean that makes me look like a raving lunatic.

Thankfully though I have very forgiving kids. Yes, I am one of those mom's that apologizes to my kids and asks their forgiveness when I have wronged them. I also asked Jesus to forgive me. I talked with each of the kids about how it makes them feel when I yell at them. Hanna is my child I have to pull things out of. My conversation with her went as follows:

Me: "Hanna, I'm sorry for yelling this morning. I was really ugly and I'm very sorry. I love you very much. How did it make you feel when I was yelling?"

Hanna shrugged her shoulders.

Me: "Did it make you mad or hurt your feelings?"

Hanna: "No, it just hurt my ears."

After my crazy fit of meanness, I started blowdrying my hair to get ready to go to the field trip. My mom calls me and asks me to drive her to the airport. My sister was having her gallbladder taken out and she needed my mom ASAP. So all of my plans for today were changed in seconds.

No field trip + crying/disappointed kids + exhausted mom = BAD STINKY ATTITUDE

God has really been teaching me a lot about dying to self lately. Sometimes I am able to do this gracefully and with joy. Other times I do it, but I do it kicking and screaming. That was me today . . . kicking and screaming. You know how bad it is when you have already chugged down a pot of coffee all to yourself and you are wondering how you are going to put one foot in front of the other because you are so tired. I certainly didn't mind helping my mom so that she could be with my sister. I just was very selfish today and was thinking of how exhausted I was. . . . . I, I, I. . . . Me, Me, Me. Well, I really stunk today, especially my attitude.

I know I've had a few negative posts lately. Please don't think I'm a "Negative Nelly." It has just been rough lately.

I need to learn to let go of things when life starts throwing things at me . . . that it's okay to miss a sports practice or homeschool or church, if need be.

I need to learn to die to myself gracefully and with joy and that life's interruptions are God's opportunities.

Praise God though, today was Jon's last day of working ALL the time for awhile. I've been a single Mom for 4 weeks now, so I'm very thankful we will be getting back to our regular schedule.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Real Estate Soap Opera - Part 2

Okay, so let's see. . . where was I? The house . . . we put a really low offer in 2 days before my birthday. I kept telling Jon the house was what I wanted for my birthday. . . pretty big request, huh? It just so happens the listing agent is a friend of ours we go to church with, so I was very glad of this.

I have to stop and say right now that even before we put an offer in we started covering this decision in prayer . . . . a constant prayer in our lives we have always asked God to open all the right doors and close all the wrong doors because we want to be in the center of His perfect will . . . not to the right or to the left, but right smack in the center.

After going back and forth with the seller we settled on a price. When the listing agent would update me on the progress of negotiating I asked him one day could I do my rah-rah dance. He told me during one part of the negotiations to hold off on the rah-rah dance for now. When the seller accepted our final and best offer, the listing agent assured me I could do my rah-rah dance. Jon and I both were ECSTATIC!!

Immediately Jon's head flooded with ideas for the house. He spent so much time looking things up on the internet. We've been going over the things we like. Thankfully we have a lot of the same taste. We would go over there all the time planning, dreaming, envisioning. We met counter top people, flooring people, etc. When we picked out our counter tops the lady was amazed at how quickly we agreed on one. She said that most couples fuss and fight. We've picked out paint colors. Our kids have run upside and downside all through the house. Max even peed on the carpet (which we will replace, of course). Jon and I EVEN went on a run through the neighborhood. We've taken several family members by there. We just can't wait until we get closed and start giving the place a face lift.

There were a few bumps in the lending process which made Jon and I nervous. The lender we are dealing with is one of those types you don't feel like you can trust as far as you can throw. However, we're already in this thing and to start over would be tedious and long. My friend, Suzanne, used to work in lending so I have consulted her many a time about different issues that have come up. She has been a great help and has eased my mind LOTS!

Monday of this week I called the attorney to check on the title. . . . to make sure it had cleared. He informed me that he had just got back from the courthouse researching it, and he found MAJOR title issues . . . . like the previous owner still owns part interest in the house, which was due to a HUGE oversight by another attorney. There is also a $9,000 lien on the house that is unresolved. Pretty big stuff!! We can't buy a house where the owner still owns part of it. The former owners are well known in our community and so I have been asking around about them. I hear they are good people, so I am hoping and praying that if anything is required of them they will cooperate. Our attorney assured both Jon and I that as soon as he heard something he'd let us know. Poor Suzanne, she has legal experience also. . . so Monday night at basketball practice she hears my sob story of what's going on. Thanks for all your help Suz!!!

Jon's Dad is a retired real estate attorney and when our current attorney was telling Jon about all of these issues he knew that Jon use to do title work for his Dad. Jon asked our attorney, "Who is the numskull that messed this up?," Our attorney hesitated, and then said, "Well, you and I both know him." The attorney then told Jon the name of the attorney who messed it up. Jon started laughing and said, "For a minute there I thought you were going to say it was my Dad." (It wasn't) They both got a good kick out of this!!

The listing agent, our friend from church, has really, really impressed me. Jon called him Monday night on the way to our dance lessons and left him a voicemail telling him all that is going on. He is ALL over this. He has already contacted the seller and the seller's attorney who are also working on the issue. He assures me this is a big deal and can take anywhere from days, months, even years to resolve. He is working very hard, and I am just so very thankful God has put people we can trust in our path where we feel and know we are in good hands.

So from here on out it is a waiting game. We are waiting and praying. . . praying for God to still open all the right doors and close all the wrong doors.

I've been so hesitant to talk about this house on my blog. . . thinking, that if I talk about it, it may not happen. . . almost like afraid to get my hopes up. But, you know what? My hopes have already been up, and my blog is my journal, and this is life as I know it right now.

I did tell the kids the other day that there were some house issues, and there is a possibility we may not be moving. I have told them that I am so thankful that we have a nice home NOW and live in a nice neighborhood NOW. Then from there I told them what was even better is that we had a place to keep us warm in the winter and cool in the summer, no matter how nice or not nice it is . . . and, we're all together. Those are the things that matter.

We have been so blessed with things no amount of money could buy, and to be upset about not getting our "dream home" would truly be acting like a spoiled brat!!

My mom is coming this weekend, and she hasn't seen the house.

Will I take her by this house and show it to her? You betcha!

Will I be excited as I walk her through it? Oh yeah!!

Will I tell her all of our plans and where I am placing furniture and which bedrooms the kids will get? Of course I will.

Will she pick at her place to live in the house for when she gets old and gray so I don't have to send her to the nursing home? Oh, you KNOW she will!!!

But. .. what if the deal falls through and we don't get the house? Then that is okay too because that just means it was not God's will, and THAT is where I want to be, right smack-dab in the center of it!!!

I'll keep you guys posted. . . look for part 3 . . . whenever that may be!

Real Estate Soap Opera -Part 1

This post can get very long, so I have decided to break it up. I want to start from the beginning. For as long as I have known Jon he has wanted to develop real estate. I can even remember back to our early days of dating, he and I riding around looking at houses. It's just always been his dream.

About 3 years ago God provided us with a decent-sized savings account, a book given to us by a friend of Jon's Dad, and an amazing opportunity which included meeting a complete stranger on the courthouse steps who educated Jon about the world of flipping houses. He was one of these guys who talks alot about what he knows. Jon soaked in all he could, like a sponge. God's hand was all over it. . . and we have absolutely no doubt about that!!

During that period of time, Jon and I started talking about sacrificing and sacrificing things in order to, as Dave Ramsey says, "Live like no one else today, so you can live like no one else tomorrow." We decided to look for a foreclosed home and sell our current home we were living in. We were just assuming in order for it to be sacrificial it had to be smaller, in a less desirable neighborhood, etc., etc.

Well God blessed us again. He provided us with a sacrifice home that was about 500 square feet bigger and in a nicer neighborhood . . . all with a lower house payment. On top of that, after putting our house on the market for 2 weeks, we had a contract (I didn't have my real estate license at the time). Jon often teases me about this being a sacrifice home and just how much I've sacrificed *smile*. I just always tell him it is the favor of God. Praise His name!! This is the home we have been living in for the past 2+ years.

I should back up a minute and say at some point when we were living in our old house . . . this must have been before we talked about sacrificing things in order to build our business. . . we purchased a little over 6 acres. It again was a total God thing. It was land that had been foreclosed on, and we literally got it for half of what it was worth. Once we started talking about buying a "sacrifice house", we decided that after we built the business up we would sell the "sacrifice house" and build our dream home on our land.

Okay. . . back to present day. . . back in January, I saw this house in the MLS that I knew had been foreclosed on with a local builder. . . in a very nice neighborhood, bigger, all the bells and whistles. I told Jon we should go and look at it, just to dream and get ideas. We did and then took his parents by there. They were both very excited, as were we. I really needed Jon's Mom to help me convince him to take a chance, and she very much thought it was a chance worth taking.

However, at the price it was listed we were afraid the bank would not come down to what we needed for them to. So, Jon did what he does best, he started researching. He told me the only reason he was even considering purchasing another home for us (not the business) was that because NOW is the time to buy. Interest rates are super low. The market is flooded with foreclosures. All at this time, we were still in "dream land." I knew us buying another home for ourselves was very far fetched and not really a reality.

One morning Jon told me he found a house he wanted to go and look at. It was in one of our towns nicest, more established neighborhoods, and was a good bit cheaper than the house we had looked at originally. We looked at it and I fell in love with the floor plan. I absolutely loved the neighborhood and it was only 2 miles from his parents. Jon, at that time, wasn't quite as enamored as I was. He was really unsure as to why I liked this house more than the previous one. This one needed LOTS of elbow grease and a really good face lift. The other one was move-in ready. It literally looked like a house that could be a feature home . . . very, very, very nice. I would just tell him, "This one seems more feasible to me, and I just can see our family living here."

So, I did what I do best, I started putting the pressure on him, "Have you called a lender? Have you called a lender?" We were concerned with us being self employed what a lender would say about us carrying 2 mortgages until we sold/rented/leased our current home. Jon went back to the house by himself a 2nd time, and this time he returned home just as smitten with the house as I was. So, so many things would really have to fall in place for us to get the seller to come down to what we needed them to, us to get financing (remember our business is in real estate, which things really aren't selling right now), selling our house. We were still in "dream world."

I will continue with Part 2 tomorrow. Until then I want to leave you with this scripture.

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Malachi 3:10

Celebrating All Things Tiffani

Today, is such a very special today. It is my dear, sweet friend, Tiffani's birthday. Most of you know her already and know how truly great she is. So . . . in honor of the big 3-4, I have decided to make a list of 34 things about Tiff.

1. She is super funny.

2. She has an amazing voice.

3. She is one of the most thoughtful people that I know.

4. She is a wonderful mother and encourages me in so many ways to be a better mother.

5. She makes you feel like a million bucks.

6. She is beautiful, both inside and out.

7. She is a great writer.

8. She is fabulously creative in so many ways.

9. She has such a heart for God.

10. She knows movie lines like the back of her hand.

11. She is very warm, friendly, and makes you feel like you've known her your whole life after meeting her within minutes.

12. I think she's seen every musical known to man.

13. She is a superb bargain shopper.

14. She has GREAT hair . . . yes, even with her bangs:)

15. She is a great teacher . . . both to her kids and our Wed. night kids. She gives me so many ideas and I am inspired by her gift to teach.

16. She is a great encourager.

17. She makes me laugh like CRAZY!

18. She's my FAVE!!!

19. She's a wonderful person to share the ins and outs and ups and downs of life together.

20. She certainly DOES NOT look her age!!!

21. She's a great sister, daughter, cousin, niece, and wife. . . I know, I'm part of the family.

22. She makes GREAT sweet tea!

23. She is so very merciful and forgiving.

24. Did I say she is funny already? If so, this deserves 2 lines, because she is super-de-duper funny!!!

25. She has a no-kin twin . . . that's me.

26. She takes care of me. . . you know in a big sister kind-of way, making sure I know about things going on, keeping me organized . . . those sort-of "big sister" duties.

27. Adam is so blessed to have her! I hope he knows he hit the jackpot when he married her.

28. She should be the poster mom for stay-at-home moms!!

29. In fact, she should be the poster mom for homeschooling moms!

30. She's very smart.

31. She has a fierce sweet tooth . . . maybe that is why she is so sweet?

32. I love the fact that she is willing to do things she's fearful of for those that she loves.

33. She has a great sense of fashion. She makes me super proud!

34. Simply said. . . she's just plain wonderful!




I love you, Tiff!!! I don't know what I'd do without you. I hope this is your best birthday yet - Celebrate ALL week, girl! I wish you were older. . . I had so many other things to say about you *wink* *wink*

Memorization Monday

"It is He who changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men
And knowledge to men of understanding." Daniel 2:21

Weekend in Review

This past weekend my kids vacationed over at Nanna and Papa's house. I call it a vacation because they get to do whatever they want and the bug the stew out of me on the day they are supposed to go. After about the 20th time of hearing, "When are we going to meet Nanna?" I called my mom at work and demanded to know WHEN she was going to get off work because my kids were aggravating the fool out of me *wink* *wink*.

I met mom Friday evening and then came home to get ready to show my house. I've mentioned a few times our house is on the market, and we are in the process of buying another home. It really deserves a post of its own, but truth-be-known, I'm really just afraid we are not going to close on the house. Just being a little Negative Nellie I guess. . . I think it's because I want it so badly. Anyhoo, we put our house up for rent and I showed it Friday night to one girl, and I spent Saturday morning showing it to 4 other couples.

After everyone had gone Jon and I ate at our favorite pizza place here in town, then we went to pick out light fixtures for the new house. We didn't buy anything yet though. We came home, watched a movie, and then went to O'Charley's for dinner. We then went to his parents house to check up on them.

Sunday morning we woke up and I had to do my long run before we left to go to my mom's for lunch. Jon said he'd run 3 miles with me. It was cold, cold, cold, so we bundled up good.


Jon ran 9 of my 11miles with me. The last 2 Beth Moore ran with me . . . she just doesn't know it. I was listening to one of my Daniel study sessions. I got home, got ready, and headed off to my hometown to my parents house. Jon is my very favorite running partner. I love sharing life with him!

Mom, as always, fixed a wonderful lunch. We brought Max with us, and it really grosses my Mom out that the girls will let Max kiss them. We had so much fun with the girls getting kissed by Max then they'd go and kiss Mama.

After a little while we went riding around on the golf cart with the trails they'd created. Papa and Alec worked hard all weekend clearing a new trail. It was a great weekend had by all!

There truly is no place like home!!!

Hands-On Homeschooling

If anyone were to ever ask me which way I love teaching and which way my kids love learning, I would have to say . . . hands-on, hands-on, hands-on. Unfortunately hands-on learning requires:

• lots of preparation
• lots of time
• lots of organization

I will go through spurts where I am a better teacher than others. But, last week the kids and I both got to experience hands-on homeschooling . . . and I didn't have to do a thing . . . well, show up on time, but that's it.

I'm a member of 4 homeschool groups. . . I know, talk about wanting to give your kids every opportunity out there. One of the groups I'm a member of had a field trip a local veterinarian's office. It was one of our best field trips yet!!! We got to see a cat get spayed

Here are her ovaries and uterus. Thankfully I have my mom's stomach when it comes to gross things. After all, when you grow up seeing fish cleaned and deer gutted your whole life . . . you kinda develop a strong stomach.

The office manager who lead us around the vet's office was so informative. She would give the kids all of these interesting facts and then later ask questions. When they got one right, she'd give them a folder.

She made sure EVERY child got a folder. Hanna, who is super shy and speaks to NO ONE would not even make eye contact with this sweet lady. I answered the question for Hanna as she looked at the ground . . . that way every child got something.

Did any of you know that you are supposed to get your dog's teeth cleaned? Yep, once a year. We got to see a teeth cleaning be performed on a dog.

I'm not goin' lie. . . when she opened this dog's mouth it STUNK!!

Both Alec and Hanna had queasy stomachs. . . they take after their Dad. But, my mini-me, Ashley, made me proud. She was right in on the action. I often times tell her she would make a great nurse, just like her Nanna.

We then got to see all sorts of things they passed around the room . . from eyeballs, to heart worms, to huge ticks . . . it was very interesting. Here is an eyeball Ash wanted me to take a picture of.

And here is a boy part which I posted about here that we refer to in our family as peas.

At the end of the field trip the tour guide wanted to introduce us to someone very special. It was her dog who had been brought into the clinic after being mauled by another animal. They had to do numerous surgeries on this sweet dog, one that required him losing one of his legs. . . out walked this sweet, 3-legged, German Shepherd who was appropriately named,Chance. The kids and the moms went crazy over him.

One of my very favorite things of the field trip was I got to spend some time with my dear friend, Tammy.