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K.D.

This is my nephew, K.D. Isn't he a cutie pie?

Taking the Curves in Stride.

Take the test to see what kind of car you are... www.tomorrowland.us/sportscar
I'm a Miata...I like to soak up the sun. My tastes are down to earth.
Life is a winding road and I take the curves in stride. Let others compete...I will just enjoy the ride. Not sure this is really me...but I hope so.

Dirt Therapy

Sometimes there is nothing like a little dirt therapy. Digging in the Earth and admiring God's awesome plan. Makes me happy to beautify His planet. These are wave petunias and will be cascading down the pots in a month or so. It is so pretty!

I'm a Nut!

You Are a Pistachio

You are funky, freaky, and a total character. You're very different than anyone you know. There's no way you're changing the way you are... Which is good, because no one wants you to change.

What Nut Are You?

My Favorite Place

My favorite place...I just haven't found it yet.

Chia Pet

Auntie S has given TDawg a new nickname: Chia Pet. I'm not sure if TDawg is gonna like it.

Nostalgia

Discovery channel is having Alaska week. Brings back memories. Sometimes I miss it. I think it is mostly because I was in my 20's and it was BK (before kids)...so there were fewer responsibilities and a lot more disposable income. It still holds a special place in my heart and I would love to go back some day. In the meantime, I paint it every so often.

Her name is Olga

Thanks to Cletus for scanning my old license picture and making it into a wanted poster. I wrote in an earlier blog that the name he gave me was Helga, but it is actually Olga. All I can say is...it must have been a bad day.

Cletus and His Toy

Devastation ?

Cletus just learned that he is a Colon. I am not surprised that he is a Colon...but apparently he didn't know. He also found that out recently that he is an Eeyore. It's ok. I knew that too. And I still love him dearly!!

Pegasus

I just love Pegasus. He looks awesome with my homemade pottery in the background. It would have been so much fun to be an art teacher. Maybe that will be my retired career? Gotta have a creative outlet when you are a tax accountant (yes, even I think it is boring!)

An Anniversary of Sorts

I had to get my drivers license renewed today. Could they have taken a worst picture of me? Egads!! But then again, does anyone really like their license picture?? Well, I must admit that it isn't the worst drivers license picture of me. That would have been in 2004. I looked like a Helga the Hungarian immigrant farm worker. Seriously it was BAD. My best friend told me that it was the worst fake I.D. she had ever seen. And proceeded to laugh her way off of a chair when I told her it wasn't fake. Even the lady at the DMV said it was a horrible picture!! Anyway, it occurred to me that I have been in the Rocket City for twenty years now. The original plan was to stay between four and six years, while Cletus finished college. He finished but we never left. I never could have imagined that we would stay. But we not only stayed, we thrived. I'll never be considered a local, but I've almost been here longer than anywhere else. It has been a wild ride so far. But I'm expecting that we remain, and be able to say: I remember when...

Junkin' Weekend

What fun! I went up to Franklin with the wild women. Isn't it interesting what people sell at a yard sale. I started pondering the story behind each item. Was it a (less than perfect) gift or an impulse buy? What made them think they just had to have it...and then let it go. Just a thinking. I am no different. I came home with an eclectic bag of goodies. Pajama pants and socks (both new), earrings (never worn), a leopard print purse (Neiman-Marcus never used...how could I say no?), a lighthouse (for Cletus' desk), a 1950's sports magazine (also for Cletus), a Braves pennant (for TDawg), and address book (still in the plastic). I also pick out a skirt and a dress. I got the clothes home and tried them on. What was I thinking? Neither one looks like anything I have in my closet. Hmmm. And my treasure of the trip:a stone Pegasus, that reminded me of my mother. I had a great time! Much talking and fun and chow and ice cream with my adopted sisters. How could we all have been so different when we were high school age, but so close now? Don't know. I'm just happy I know then now!!

TDawg & Buddy

The day it rained at Samford.

A New Chapter

A new chapter, professionally speaking, will begin on May 5th. I handed in my two weeks notice this morning. Quitting a job seems like it would be easy...but it is rather like jumping off of a cliff. You know that you have a soft place to land: a new and exciting job opportunity. But the free fall is a little un-nerving. I'm sad to leave friends here. But excited at the possibilities and challenges ahead.

Pondering from Cultivating Contentment

When my heart is restless, I often chase an impulse without giving it much thought. I turn to activities, hoping that the busyness will drive away my dissatisfaction. Possessions are a tempting, though temporary, a salve for the restless heart. Sometimes I just need a change of scenery (road trip) or something different: new furniture, new wallpaper, new paint. Sometimes I try to reinvent myself, hoping my new look will put my restlessness to rest. But I, as a child of God, was made for more than this world has to offer. My yearnings, longings, craving and hopes are telling me something: there isn't enough love, peace, hope, friendship, and intimacy on this earth to completely satisfy me. On this side of heaven, I will always want more.

I'm A Comma!

You Are a Comma

You are open minded and extremely optimistic. You enjoy almost all facets of life. You can find the good in almost anything. You keep yourself busy with tons of friends, activities, and interests. You find it hard to turn down an opportunity, even if you are pressed for time. Your friends find you fascinating, charming, and easy to talk to. (But with so many competing interests, you friends do feel like you hardly have time for them.) You excel in: Inspiring people You get along best with: The Question Mark

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

Very strange morning!! I have just been in tears several times today., including now. That is not like me at all!! Not sad tears...but awesome and overwhelming tears. I cried all the way to work just thinking about all the wonderful friends I have. I was totally overwhelmed thinking about all of the people who have prayed for me and my family. I am just so grateful to be blessed with these ladies in my life!!! My God is an AWESOME God! He has blesses me with exactly what I need!

Buddy is on TV

Buddy is famous again. He was on TV on Saturday night. The local NBC affiliate covered the opening day festivities of Miracle League Baseball. Homer (Mascot for the Stars Minor League team) was there. He got a bear hug from Buddy and blew me a kiss! Too funny!! We had a great time and the kids enthusiasm was so contagious!! This is Buddy's first year of ML baseball and he loved it. I'm looking forward to all nine games!! :-)

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Thought I would get my hair cut tomorrow. I have been persuaded to let my color go back natural, which now seems to be quite gray. I should expect to eventually look like the picture (my sissy and her hubby). But that just doesn't quite fit with my being 29 (still). So I am having issues with this.

Hope

My pastor mentioned this the other Sunday and it just has been coming back to me repeatedly this week. He said that you can live 40 days without food; 4 days with out water; 4 minutes without air...but only 4 seconds without hope. It makes me think of all of the incredible people I know who are facing seemingly insurmountable odds...they are living day by day, with incredible grace and hope and courage. They are a such a blessing!!

Visit to the tootsies doc

Well, I am going to live...good to know. I just (as usual) need to behave myself! For those of you who know me, I know you are thinking: 'good luck with that!'. I have "Bam-bam feet" (thanks Kim for being so eloquent) in other words, long foot (size 10), short toes and almost no arch. I'll skip the picture on this one. I also found out today that I walk all wrong (shouldn't someone have mentioned this to me earlier). So, I am tearing stuff. Not exactly the medical term for it. But the good news is that if I behave myself...it should get better. So, no more going barefoot...AT ALL! Bummer. I just love to be barefoot. The doc actually whinced when I told him that I play basketball (on the concrete driveway) in my barefeet. Yeah, that's a big no-no. So I'm no long shoeless Joe. I'm in heels from the moment I get out of bed now. No flats, no flat sandles and no flipflops. Guess I'm gonna have to go shoe shopping...I know it sounds good to some...but I intensely dislike shoe shopping. Has anyone seen flip-flops with heels?

It is all in a name

Probably a good thing that my mother didn't name me after my grandmother, "Grace". I seem to be seriously lacking in the art of balance and gracefulness (yes, I hurt my foot...again!). Then again, my dad wanted to name me "Bonnie"...and call me "Bon-bon". Oh dear, that would not have been good! Never really have liked my name but I realize that it could be worst. And by the way, I would have been Scott, if I'd been a boy. I wonder if others are satisfied with their names...do they like their name? do they feel that it suits them? do they know what else they would have been named?

Bookscrappin'

My first attempt at Bookscrappin'. Thanks to Sherrijello for "dragging" me along. I didn't think that I would like it. I was thinking of pages and pages and pages to do. Too overwhelming and my attention span is dwindling by the hour! But then I saw the mini books. This I can do! Pretty much finished it in the evening we spent at Whitney's. Thanks again for being such a gracious host. I had great time!!

Bright Lights Big City

Well, we went to the big city on Friday. We had a great time on the gawgeous campus of Samford University. It poured on us and we were under a tornado warning for awhile, but thankfully everyone was safe and sound. Thanks for the traveling mercies! T-dawg did very well. He was one of 100 in the state to participate. So just being there was quite an honor. The questions were really tough! He only missed two questions in eight rounds of competition. I was quite impressed with his ability to remain calm and do exceedingly well! GREAT JOB!!

Philosophy by Cletus (my husband)

Before you criticize another person, walk a mile in their shoes………….then you will be a mile away from them………..and you will have their shoes.

The Clampetts are Headed to the Big City

The whole gang is loading up tomorrow to see T-Dawg participate in the National Geographic Geography Bee. I'm just excited that everyone is able to make time to support T-Dawg in this awesome opportunity. We have to drive to the big city...I hope we don't get lost or mired in the severe storms that are headed our way. Praying for traveling mercies! It will be a blessing regardless of the weather.

Update on Happy

Well, my co-worker went after the system head-on and won. She was awarded with an apology. I'm not sure it was heart felt...but at least she got one!

Buddy the Shining Star

From Sunday's paper...my shining star: Buddy (the TALL one in the Auburn jersey). What a blessing people like Coach Mike (pictured center) are. I love Coach Mike's advise: "Volunteer at a Special Olympic or Miracle League sporting event. You'll see my students and others like them, and you'll see the joy and the happiness they experience participating in their sport. They'll impress you, and if it doesn't move you, you need to get your pulse checked."

Easter Eggs

Buddy did the green egg and I did the other egg using pieces of paper toweling dipped into the different colors.

Easter Egg Hunt

Me and Buddy at the Egg hunt for Autistic kids. I think this is one of my favorite photos! We had such a good time!!

Philosophy

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well-preserved piece, but to skid across the finish line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil and shouting GERONIMO!

Complainers

I am doing a study on contentment. It has been a blessing. The best part so far are the three rules...don't complain, don't compare and don't compete. Much easier said than done. But it has led to an interesting people study. Why DO we run away from contentment and search for something we really don't need and usually don't even want after we get it? I know someone who never seems happy. She is discontent with the way her life has turned out. And yes, some events were way out of her control. But instead of learning from it, she is "content" to just wallow in it. She never says anything positive. And thinks I'm nuts if I don't agree with her view. "Well, I don't care for it..and I don't know why you would like it!" My goodness, what a miserable existance. Contentment is learned and happiness is a choice. And even though I get in trouble at work for it...I choose happiness!