My West Texas Girl

My daughter says some funny stuff:

We were driving down 280 in Birmingham (between Lakeshore and 459, for those of you that know) and Abbie asked Jim, "How do you know where you're going?" After Jim and I laughed, she said, "It all looks the same."

Jim explained that you have to know where you're going and watch for the turns. He also made some smart-aleck comment about it coming right up on you and being surprised by the turn.

Abbie then said, "There's just too many trees."

Yes, Sweetie, that's a common complaint from those of us that live in West Texas.

It's Me!

Yep, it was me on the big screen Wednesday night. Check it out.

I'm Writing, I'm Writing....

Kenny has been complaining about seeing a mouse on and off for a few weeks and we just blew it off - until Wednesday. Sitting at dinner (we can see our backyard from the table) Jim and I both saw a rat! Not a mouse. A rat ran across the patio and went into the flower bed.

Needless to say, that just won't do.

Jim got a rat trap (larger and meaner looking than a mouse trap) from his dad and set it. We think that it (they?) are living under the deck so Jim put it near there. To be clear - I glanced at the trap. I did not look at it directly with my glasses on. I did not want to see it that well. I was also unclear as to where it exactly was placed in our yard. I did not want to see it that well.

Jim baited it with tortilla that was going into the trash and waited. Jim saw the bugger stick his snout out from under the deck! He (not we) found the tortilla gone later and the trap pulled halfway under the deck. Jim baited it again. Caught a mouse. Jim took care of Little Mickey while I was in another room. Jim baited it again. Caught another mouse and I left the room while all was going out to the trash.

Yes, plastic bags are useful for some things.

The trap has been re-baited but nothing has bitten. Jim (my dear hubby who knows me so well) explained that they may have moved on. I'm accepting that explanation.

Now They Have Stripes

I only have time for a short story so I can't continue about the Tooth Fairy Family....

Last Thursday night Abbie went to TaeKwonDo for the first time. She has been asking for awhile but I have been rather hesitant. She seems too young and I hate to over-schedule my kids. She already does dance, yall! (Recital alert! Be ready for pictures on blog!) But Thursday we decided she was ready.

She loved it! It helped that they worked with weapons that night. She had some kind of sticks that I couldn't understand and Kenny had a "Bow Staff." She was thrilled that she could make her own sticks!! They both could make their own weapons!!

Abbie told me that Daddy was going to make her some and of her own (jabber, jabber) sticks and "I'm going to decorate them with rainbows! No. That isn't very weapony. OOOO! How about a Ninja on one stick and a Ballet shoe on the other."

A Tooth Fairy Tale

Mrs. Tooth Fairy: I really think we are going to have to go to the dentist to have those front two teeth pulled out! They aren't coming out....

Mr. Tooth Fairy: Does Dr. E even do that?

Mrs. Tooth Fairy: I don't know. How much do we already owe Dr. E? I heard that Dr. L pulls out kid's teeth so that the ones behind can come in.

Mr. Tooth Fairy: She has one that's already broken through.

Mrs. Tooth Fairy: I know. What do you think we should do?

Mr. and Mrs. Tooth Fairy had this same discussion for several days. Granny Tooth Fairy threatened to take her to have the teeth pulled by some unknown dentist.

On WATS Day at the Tooth Fairy Family's church....

Mr. Tooth Fairy: Is that Dr. L?

Mrs. Tooth Fairy: I can't tell from the back. I think it is.

Mr. Tooth Fairy gets back in the truck.

Mrs. Tooth Fairy: Did you ask Dr. L if he pulls children's teeth?

Mr. Tooth Fairy: I wasn't sure that was him.

At this point, Mr. and Mrs. Tooth Fairy refrain from having the same discussion again - should they or shouldn't they take her to the dentist. Until the Tooth Fairy Family is eating together and Mr. and Mrs. Tooth Fairy see the offending teeth.....

to be continued

Two Things

Firstly, I lost my glasses last week. We looked all over the house for them! We looked in all the logical places - my desk, my bathroom, my bedside table. Then we (Jim) looked in all the illogical places - the refrigerator, the car, the freezer, the laundry room.

They were just gone. I was so disappointed! I couldn't read the paper, my book, do a puzzle and what I wrote for my talk was basically a blur.

I went the next morning to buy some new glasses at the Wal-Mart. They sell a pair for $7.98 that I like and they seem to last. Until I lose them. So I got some just like before - it's all good.

It was that afternoon that I found my other glasses. Now I have two pair just alike - except the new ones have a scratch on them. Whatever.

Secondly, I haven't posted about my "other" new blog. Yes, we have a Coffee Group blog - Espresso His Love. There are some things to read and soon there will be more! Go check it out and then add it to your Bloglines! You never know what will be there.....

I Got Here As Fast As I Could...

Jim and I went to the Mesquite Rodeo this weekend and it was so much fun! Are there really people who don't like the rodeo? Yeah, it's violent (so is every other sport) and, yeah, they "use" animals.... Whatever. I do like me some rodeo.

Have you seen a cowboy in starched Wranglers and a white shirt? That's all I'm sayin'.

Well, while we were there the people who weren't from Texas were asked to stand. I remained seated. I then thought maybe I was from Alabama - I mean, I am from Alabama. I'm a girl from the true Deep South. I still remained seated. Jim told me to stay seated. Jim should know - he a Native Texan - born and raised! Did I get my citizenship when I married a Native?

While debating, the announcer had all the Texans stand (I stood) and turn to the (poor, sad, uneducated) outsiders and say, "Howdy! Welcome to God's country!"

I suppose when I can say that - I really will be a Texan.

A Flower For You, Too

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

"Mischief is your middle name, but your first is friend. You are quite the prankster that loves to make other people laugh."

I like Snapdragons and I saw a bed of them this past weekend in College Station. I thought a flower for my birthday would be nice.....

That's Just Crazy!

Well. You just never know what the day will bring, do ya? I was online and decided to check my bloglines; they are completely overloaded because I never read them. I clicked on Rocks In My Dryer (who posted much more than I do) and she was talking/writing about her new favorite CD. A guy named Matt Maher. She loved his music and made it sound really good.

Well. Just this morning at the Wal-Mart I was looking at the Christian music CDs cause I wanted something new. Should I even buy a CD or just download? Just download the songs I want? How's that download thing go again? I ended up buying a WOW 2008 CD - there always a good variety of music that way.

Well. Shannon linked over to Matt Maher's website cause he was giving away CDs to the first 100 bloggers who went over and signed up. Now, some of you know that Shannon has 100 people every hour so I thought there was no way I could win anything.

Well. I did! Can you believe it? Cause I'm still amazed! Follow the links to hear some music and hear Matt talk about his writing.

Big Doins

So, I've been traveling again with my peeps - the Coffee Group. We went down to A&M Church to present at their Ladies Day! It was a great day. They just loved on one another and laughed their heads off. We had a wonderful time just being with them.

While we were there we decided to start a Coffee Group blog. I know what you're thinking, "You never write on this blog! When will you write on another one?!" (Yes, I can read your minds....) Yeah, I don't know yet. It will be easy after we travel - there are several stories I don't want to forget.... Now, writing something appropriate past that; we'll just see.

My other big news is my hormones. TMI? If you get emails from Sarah, you've already been prompted to nag me into seeing the doctor. Thank you. I called. I'm waiting. I'll be proactive in trying to move my appointment up early next week.

Hormones make women feel things. Mine made me feel like I was having a nervous breakdown. Fun, huh?

I'll link you over to the new blog as soon as it's ready and I'm going to see the doctor.

Easter Weekend 2008

I hope you enjoyed the videos - they are very inspiring to me....

I wanted to put up some pictures from the weekend. Kenny, Jim and I went to LTC in Dallas for Bible Bowl. Kenny was in 3 events - Bible Bowl, Drama and Chorus. I thought that he did well in Drama and Chorus. I heard the Chorus practice on Friday night and thought there was no way they weren't going to be awful on Saturday afternoon. They were great! On the key. On the note. No touching of hair or face. It was really very sweet.

The drama was funny, too. Kenny did a outrageous accent and R tore off his pants (sorry, no picture available.)

Lastly, a shot of Abbie on Easter. She looked so sweet! A friend at church (mom of boys) said she looked like a catalog ad and she did! After MawMaw told her she needed a hat, I dutifully went and bought her one. The minute we sat down she wanted to take it off - I told her she had to wear it until she went to class. Girls and Clothes - it starts early!

OH, one more thing! Notice the bunny teeth on Abbie? They will not get loose enough to pull them out! It is driving me crazy!

It's Sunday!

Sunday's Coming

I had this up last year but it still needs to be heard! Say a prayer of thankfulness today cause if God hasn't done anything else in your life - He brought Sunday!

I Really Didn't Want My Age On The First Page!

I signed up for MySpace yesterday. Then, I deleted it. MySpace wanted to know why I was deleting my page. I don't know.....

Yall know I work for Big Brothers Big Sisters, right? I don't write about it much. There are confidentality issues and I got enough things to write about without mentioned BBBS very much. I work in Match Support - it's my job to make sure that the matches are going well and growing. I work in our PALS program. These Big Brothers/Big Sisters are all teens from the local high schools that go to eat lunch their a 4th or 5th grader every other week.

Is that too much information?

One of the things I'm asked to do for work is to review any MySpace pages that my matches have. They all have MySpace pages. This week was the first time one of the Bigs (teens) had told me that her Little (5th grader) had asked to be a friend on MySpace. So I truly had an obligation to see what was on Big Sister's page. I learned that I can review the page without having a page myself. Also I couldn't figure out how to make my page private. I was appalled that some guy named "Tom" wanted to be my friend! Then I remembered that I had seen "Tom" interviewed on 60 Minutes - he began MySpace.

So, I deleted the one I set up.

Next year, we will review MySpace pages when Bigs are interviewed. At least I think we should - it could really show up something about them.

By the way, it was very easy to lie about my age. Anybody could put anything.....

It's A Small World

I'm often playing the Who Do You Know Game. You know, that game when you try to find out who you have in common. In a small town like Abilene, it usually doesn't take long to find someone you both know. In a small fellowship the church of Christ, it's doesn't take very long either.

Does anybody else remember Batsell Barrett Baxter? We used to watch him on TV on Sunday mornings. He was mentioned in the funny book I'm reading A Girl Named Zippy - she had to watch him, too.

Anyhoo.

Check out Amy's blog. She is one of my oldest buddies and she lives in Denver. I don't scan or I'd put a picture of her from my wedding on here. She attended a fund-raiser in Denver for DryBones! Some of you know DryBones is a ministry supported by Southern Hills. I told her to be sure to meet Nicki because I had played Bunko with her just last month! I told Amy that she probably would be polite and not mention how loud and obnoxious I was that night. Lo and behold, there's a picture of her and Nicki on her site!

Sadly, Amy's dad passed away on Saturday night. She has gone to east Tennessee to be with her brothers and family and to bury her daddy. I'm sure she'll come back with tons of stories of her crazy relatives. She used to crack us up with those stories. This book I'm reading reminds me alot Amy telling her family's stories.

Equal Time

You Can Make A Difference

It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.

Yes we can.

It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.

Yes we can.

It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.


Yes we can to justice and equality.


Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.


Yes we can heal this nation.


Yes we can repair this world.

Yes we can.

We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.


We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics… they will only grow louder and more dissonant… We’ve been asked to pause for a reality check. We’ve been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.


But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.


Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea –

Yes. We. Can.

Barack Obama, Nashua, New Hampshire, January 8, 2008

Finally a chance to make a difference in a primary! I've been voting for many years and this is the first time my vote in a primary may effect the candidate for president! I know I'm pretty excited about it - are you?

I won't pretend to know who is the best person for the job right now. I know that I've voted Republican in every Presidential race since Ronald Reagan. I know I crossed over in a primary one year in an attempt to get the Democratic I wanted so he could run for Governor of Alabama. He didn't get the nomination - I voted Republican.

So, consider your choices. Vote your conscience. Live with your vote.

A Love Fest!

I want to tell everybody that I felt all your prayers for the Coffee Group while we were gone. It was a rough trip for me. I didn't realize that going home would be so difficult. We spoke at my old home church and when I looked out at all those ladies I knew - it freaked me out a little. I wanted to stay and hear about all their children and husbands. I heard that one is having marriage difficulties and I didn't have time to talk with her about it. I saw at least one lady I really wanted to talk with but didn't get over there to at all.

I had a hard time leaving my family, too. My family in Alabama, that is. I wanted to stay and talk some more. I wanted to go see my nephew play basketball and watch my niece in her Little Miss Cougar (all my nephews and niece's school) pageant.

But how sweet it was to come home to all of you asking about our trip. It was terrific to be with my husband again. It was hard on him to take care of everybody on 3 hours sleep. He fell asleep when I got home! My children still had lots of activities at church on Sunday night and I they wanted me to be with them - so off I went!

I thank the Lord that Mimi and Pop are here and can take care of the kids for us. They have already agreed to watch them again on Friday night (Ladies Retreat) and again in April. (My sweet hubby is taking me to the Big City for a weekend - Woo Hoo!)


Love you all and I so appreciate that keep stopping by!

For The Least Of These

I've been following Phil while he's in Uganda. He has gone to raise awareness for Compassion International. A group devoted to finding adoptees for some of the poorest children in the world. He wrote about Doreen. She is the little girl that he and Donna "adopted." Because someone sends money every month, Doreen is able to be vaccinated and attend Bible classes.

I would encourage yall to read about what's he's doing, pray for safety of all the bloggers who have gone on this trip, and prayfully consider your role in this ministry.

The king will answer, "Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me."

Matthew 25:40

Satan's Plastic Bags.....

Yall know that we all need to cut down on our usage of plastic bags....... I told yall that I have take to carrying a Big Purple Bag (my children think it's an ACU bag) and trying to use it. I have had alot of success doing away with more plastic bags.

• Shopping in the mall - I got one large paper sack (I don't know why paper containers are called "sacks") and refused all other plastic bags that every other store tried to give me. Saved 3 bags that day.


• Shopping thrift stores for an 80's costume - refused all bags given. Between Sarah and I we saved 6 bags.


• At Wal-Mart - Used my Big Purple Bag and got all but my milk in it! I really holds alot of stuff. Why do you need a bag for milk anyway? It's got a handle.... That was at least 3 bags saved.

Check out the back of Sarah's car from HEB! She spent $50.....

This is my favorite statistic from the Today show story:

If every American household took one re-usable canvas bag to the store on every trip, our country could save 10 Billion plastic bags. Enough fuel for 50,000 cars for 1 year.50,000!

That's alot of saving, people.