Riddle Me This.....

Why does my 8-year-old son act like a 14-year-old girl? Are there hormones involved? Why all the drama? The sad thing is I know that about the time HE outgrows this - my 4-year-old daughter will start.

I'll explain about the hole later. It's a long, sad tale. *sigh*

Where Were You?

Well, it's finally here. We are 5 years away from one of the worst days in American history. I remember someone saying that we would all know where we were on that day - just like the day Kennedy was shot. Here's where I was:

We were living in Monticello, Arkansas and Kenny was 3. I was up getting ready for my Tuesday morning Bible class. It was a large, interdenominational group and baby-sitting was provided. Both things were greatly appreciated by me let me tell ya! I had walked into the den and turned on the TV - I think Kenny had the TV on in his room at the time. I saw Katie and Matt on the Today Show talking about a plane having crashed into one of the Towers. It was tragic but it was New York City, ya know. I called Jim on his way to work and was telling him how horrible it was when the 2nd plane flew into the 2nd Tower. I'm sure you felt the same kind of shock I did. I couldn't BELIEVE it! It was just too unreal. I remember Matt's voice - his disbelief. I remember MY disbelief - How could this happen??!!!

I still went to study that day. There were probably 25 women (normal number) there and we were sitting in a large circle when someone came in and told us a plane had crashed into the pentagon. We had a special prayer for those people and went back to our study. We were all feeling a little unsettled but kept going. By the time study was over, we were all ready to be in our own houses. I was still thinking "crashed" it became "flew into" later.

After watching TV for a short time, I called my mom, then I called Mimi. I didn't know why talking to them was soooo important, but it was. They were safe in their respective cities. I tried not to think why anyone would want to bomb Abilene (Dyess Air Force Base) or Bham (large city with lots of people and planes) but I did. I was glued to the TV. I talked on the phone constantly with my friends. I wanted us all to be safe. I watched TV for 3 days and then tuened it off. It makes me cry now to think of all the suffering I didn't share in because I could turn it off. It breaks my heart that I couldn't help those hurting people, that I got to turn it off and go on with my life.

Abbie was born 9 months later.

To this day I can't believe that their are people with that much hate in their hearts. I can't believe they worship a god who encourages murder. I can't hardly think of them as humans - simply evil. I know God wants me to love them. I know God wants me to pray for them. So, pray for them today. Pray for the families of ALL the dead from that day. Pray for remembrance so we never forget. Pray for healing of hearts. Pray for Jesus to work among them. Pray for Jesus to come quickly.

Shannon is hosting a Mr. Linky so you can read more remembrances if you like.

I Love A Parade

This is Katie Saylor!!! Wow! All the contestants ride and one of these girls is crowned the Rodeo Queen! That would be so cool if she wins! My kids love knowing the Queen. Her dad was riding behind her in a carriage - not very he-man, Guy.
This man is riding a steer - that's a bottle of water. We're God-fearing folks out here, yall!
Girls on horses - it's a MUST!


All the Fair execs (yup, these are the people who run it) ride in the front in old cars and straw hats.

This is our friend, Mike Rickard, he came over to say hi!


Yall, I just had to show you some pictures from the West Texas Fair and Rodeo Parade. That's one of my favorite things about living in a small town - all the parades. I have more (including the man on the toilet) but Blogger won't cooperate! Check back by later and maybe there will be more!

Top Ten Things I Said This Week That I Haven't Said In 3 Months

1. We don't hit our friends.
2. That's having good behavior. I like your good behavior.
3. That's being a helper. Thank you for being a helper.
4. Look at _________, he/she is sitting on his/her chair!
5. Ring around the rosie.....
6. We don't push our friends. (Favorite response: "I'm sorry I did that. I won't do that again." - just turned 2!)
7. We share.
8. Let's take turns.
9. Let's use our spoon to eat our yogurt. (Seems like I have to remind my kids to use utensils sometimes, too.)
10. Somebody needs diaper change!

Tag Me, Baby

Well, I've been tagged! Just one more glimpse into my extra-exciting life! Holly, has tagged me to find tha nearest book, turn to page 123, go down 5 lines and write the next 3 sentences. After following those very specific directions, list the title and author. You all know I write at our desk. It has no books just lots of bills that never seem to be filed (not my job, mon.) I did find one located on the file cabinet NEXT to the desk (note the irony.)

"I wasn't trying to nail him," Chee said. "I was looking for information."

"And you tried to trick me?"

Sacred Clowns by Tony Hillerman

Excellent murder mysteries written by Hillerman - set in the Four Corners region on an Indian Reservation. I've read several and always enjoyed them.

I'll try to write about my week tomorrow. We had out first day at school and it went.

Monday, Monday

I've caught some little bug and I've spent most of the past 2 days in bed - not on the computer. I did sign up for BooMama's Labor Day Love Link. So, head over to BooMama and read a few of the other favorite links. She is giving everybody a chance to play - maybe you're next!

Friday Fun Zone

OK GO Treadmill Dance

I saw this one someone else's blog and had to post it. Sorry if it's old hat to you!

How do people think up this kind of thing?!

Somewhere There's A Place

Well, I'm reading another book and it set me thinking...... Annie Freeman's Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish is a tale of 4 women celebrating the life of their dead friend. The dead friend is sending them back to the places in her life that have great meaning for her. It made me think - where are my places?

Of course, Harding comes to mind. I would love to wander on campus again and sit in a Harding swing with my sweetie. He came along LONG after I left there and we never went up there while we lived in Monticello. Outside of Searcy is Camp Wyldewood - I worked there for 3 summers. That place means a lot to me and I would love for ALL my friends to go to Bee Rock. I've tried to explain the burning of the cross to people but it doesn't translate well. Lisa, tell them it isn't bad! Do they still do it? Does the guy still say, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani!" (Mark 15:34) I would love to back there and take all my bestest friends.

Where are your places? Places that mean so much to you. Places that made you who you are. Places that if you close your eyes - you're there.

Reading is Fundamental - Part Cinco

In some ways short term memory loss is a good thing. When Jim does something annoying, I usually forget it. Kenny missed out on an antibiotics shot because I swore last time, he'd have one this time! When you (whoever YOU are) does something hurtful to me, I usually forget it.

Aside: This does not apply to my children. I. Will. Remember. and I will hate you/pray for you.

So, I'm a little embarrassed that I can't remember the fiction book I read 3 books ago. I'm sure it was from the library - I've checked my account and only books listed are the ones checked out now. I've racked my brain - I just can't remember. So I read something that I liked (pretty sure) then I moved on to a non-fiction. It was Naked by David Sedaris and it was recommended by Amy. She called it "snort-Diet-Pespi-out-of-your-nose" funny and I thought it would make me laugh at least. It did. In the first chapter, the author talks about his tics as a child. These tics put Monk to shame! I did laugh out loud then and later in the book. It's autobiographical and the author tells about his aimless life and his hilarious mother. I must say that the mother is the most outrageous character in the book. Coming from my background - any mom who smokes, drinks, and cusses like a sailor is odd. One who raised this family is past odd. It was an interesting glimspe into Sedaris's life and he has written several other books. I would definitely try another one of his.

So we have come to the end of the summer reading season. I have read one non-fiction for every fiction book I've read. I will go back to reading whatever now that I have met that challenge. There are a few non-fictions I'm still looking forward to reading - maybe I'll write abut them.

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I've been tagged, too. There's a book meme going around and my friend, Steve, thought I should give it a try. Now because of my short term memory loss - I just can't play. I can't remember 3 books ago let alone all my reading life. I'm listing others who have played - check them out! Amy, Steve, and Dee.

Signs of the Coming Apocalypse

1. Gas is below $2.50 and I'm thrilled!! I call people on the phone and tell them where to go for cheap gas (Albertson's on Buffalo Gap)
2. It's August in West Texas and the high got all the way to 84*.
3. My power bill falls below $4oo! (Not yet but I keep hoping....)
4. Denise Crawford Waldrop in the ACU Leatureship Book (picture included)

Laughing and Crying - My Favorite Emotion

I'm catching up on my blog reading and I just finished reading PreacherMike's last 5 entries. The whole breast feeding thing just made me laugh!! Yes, I breast fed my 2 kids. I was even luckier to get to use a breast pump for 8 weeks while Kenny was in the hospital. Hey, Rabbi, try pumping, driving back and forth to the hospital, and fixing something for dinner and see if YOU wanna have sex! Ya big goober!

Even funnier than making fun of such an unattractive man is following this link. Men Who
Breastfeed and The Women Who Love Them is wrong is soooo many ways.
I even went to the video, (Milk Men!) and laughed and laughed! Just the sight of all those hairy nipples......

The Queen of Denial

It's official - I have big kids. One in 3rd grade and the other in Pre-K - they aren't babies anymore. You know, Abbie's been my baby for awhile now but she had her 4 year old shots on Friday. Her birthday was in the spring so I guess I was just in denial.

Denial that I could still pick her up. I tried to pull her in the bed with me this morning and almost pulled my back out.

Denial that I can still shop in the Toddler section. Yesterday she got a new outfit for being brave and it was from the Big Girl section. (More selection - more teen styles)

Denial that I can ignore her changing body (50th percentile in height and weight.) When she tried on her new pants, I said her heiney looked good in them. She promptly stuck it out and tried to see it over her shoulder in the the mirror. Yeah, just like we do.

It's sweet and wonderful. It makes me sad. It makes me happy. It's just being a mommy.

I used up the last of the baby wipes this week, too. It's official.

Friday Fun Zone

Slo-Mo Home Depot

I don't know if this is some kind of social commentary or what but it's interesting. I like the music, too. If you get the chance, link over to YouTube to watch the Agent Exit Interviews.

If I Would A Rich Man

I've often commented how my life would be different if I could win the lottery. We'd get a bigger house, a ranch, send our children to Abilene Christian Schools, have Starbucks everyday - you know, regular stuff. I know one of our close friends would hit us up for a donation for ACU and we'd be good with that (especially if that friend got a promotion.) We'd get an unpublished phone number and take the kids to DisneyWorld.

That's why I find this article so fascinating. I can't imagine living a depressed life when I had lots of money. I can't imagine living in a trailer either. I can't imagine not using your winnings to make MORE money. I can't imagine my husband sitting down (that's what the ranch is for - to keep him busy.) I want to reach out to this man and tell him to follow his dream! I want to tell him to move where he has some anonymity and that the world still has a place for him! I want to tell him to put himself out there in a non-financial way! It makes me sad for him.

Well, rest easy friends, our family doesn't play the lottery. We see the big signs that say "$14 million" and my son usually mentions it but we don't spend our money that way. Jim and I KNOW it's a tax on the poor - who are the target players. We KNOW it's a waste of money - even if there are commercials on TV that tell us how we're helping Texas public schools.

Maybe once......

Say A Prayer

It's just the second week of school and Kenny already has strep throat. The doctor said yesterday that in the second week it was the kids who like school. They come in with strep. In the third week, it's the kids who DON'T like school - they come in whith abdominal pain. (In an attempt to get out of school.)

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Well, tonight the Coffee Group speaks for the first time! We've talked plenty before just not in front of a crowd. Say a prayer of peace for all of us. Say a prayer that our words will be a blessing. Say a prayer that God is at the center of tonight.

I've Always Pronounced It Talledega

Well, I'm still laughing to myself. I keep thinking of how everything about that movie made me laugh! Yall, last night got me some Ricky Bobby! I know that there are people out there that don't like that kind of humor (I don't understand why ANYONE would watch the Waterboy) but Will Farrell ALWAYS MAKES ME LAUGH. That guy is so honest and becomes the crazy character he's playing! (See: Anchorman and Old School) He doesn't care how stupid he looks and he looks so stupid! One of my favorite parts last night was one of the MOST predictable - they ran. I won't explain it and ruin it for all you women out there who are dying to see what you think is a guy movie.

Most of the movie (I can't use the term"film") takes place in North Carolina and Talladega, Alabama. It was nice to see those places. The wind was blowing at Talladega - I told Jim it must have been filmed in the spring. You know, there NO air blowing in the summer in the Deep South. All those pine trees and the woods, as we always called it, were pretty.

Shake and Bake!

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Let me recommend one of the funniest blogs I read, BooMama. She has listed some of her most famous postings and this is one of my favorites! If you get the chance to read her, you'll come away laughing!

Tea Partay

Which part of this video is the MOST disturbing? White girls attempting hip-hop? Men wearing pants with whales? The word "Topsiders" in a rap song?

It's hard to decide.....

Wages of Sin

Does anybody else want to put this guy in front of a wall and shoot him?

Related info: We have been notified by mail of a s*x offender living in our neighborhood. YUCK! Now I really have to keep my child on MY block.

Now the LORD observed the extent of the people's wickedness, and he saw that all their thoughts were consistently and totally evil. Genesis 6:5

I Enjoy Being .....

CAUTION: GIRLY POST AHEAD!

I've never considered myself a girly-girl. I always leaned that way but rejected the title because I thought me would make me lose IQ points. I've been trying to keep the ones I have. I was in a jock sorority in college. I couldn't even throw a ball. They made me play one softball game - the girls told me that our sorority would have to forfeit all sports if someone didn't take the field. Now, I'm pretty sure that wasn't true.

Since I've moved to Abilene, my life has changed. I got my first pedicure 18 months ago. I've never looked back! I can't go out of the house without painted toenails. And, please, let them have some kind of cutesy design on them! Jim has put dots on them and I've had flowers, so far. Next month the toenail guru of South 27th is putting coffee mugs on them! I can't wait.

Yesterday I reached another milestone - eyebrow waxing. NEVER done it before. They look great and the pain is gone this morning! It felt like a bandaid - that's on there REALLY good. I'm sure I'll continue to do it every so often. Just to keep the shape.

Eyebrow waxing - $10
Pedicure - $22
Turning into a Girly-Girly - Priceless

Did He Just Say It's Time?

It's finally here! School's in session for my 3rd grader! He'll be gone for 8 hours a day! Oh yeah, he's getting a quality education. The best in Abilene or at Thomas Elementary.

Kenny reports a great first day and said he's thinking of spending the night up there. Our new teacher is young and unmarried and Kenny likes her already. Abbie wants her to meet Uncle Billy. Abbie doesn't realize how her life would change if Uncle Billy were to get married.

There are lots of papers to fill out and Kenny says he may even eat lunch there sometimes! This would make my life easier - no lunches EVERY morning. He's psyched to earn tickets for special privileges. He loved all the books in the room (many of which he'd already read.) Hurray for Ms. Kaufman!

The entire household has exhaled.