More Office

My office partner received flowers yesterday from her husband. They sure helped to cheer the place up. That is a view of my corner of the office now.

Addison

She has found her feet. We were waiting for Mommy to get done with a meeting.

Maple plant

It finally has blooms on it again. You will remember this plant, Mom.

Yesterdays message

I guess Tessa thought someone was being a grumpy guss.

He beat me!

Susan, this was the bird I rather screamed in your ear about. Sorry about that! I see that John posted his shots of this same bird already.

September 1, 2008

Mom, not long after our phone call the rain found us. I am rather curious as to how much we have had already. This time at home has not been long enough. We all have to face going back to the normal routine of work and school. Tomorrow will be my first full day with Liz. She is the other person hired to do what I have been doing. Now we will finally start to figure out what kind of a routine will work for us. OK, I guess I should get back to working on the scrapbooks. Have a great week!!

August 30, 2008

This was actually a pretty great day. The morning was nice and cool and so John and I did the yard work them. I am not sure the neighbors appreciated my mower before 9am but I did not want to do it when it was hot. John started to pull the weedy flowers out of the right side of the bed. Next year they will all be back. Addison is getting dedicated tomorrow at the Church that Alicia and Gregg have been going to on and off. The rest of this weekend is up for grabs. NO plans, just whatever comes our way. My car has not been repaired, but now we know what it is and can plan for it. (all $500 of it!) Time to get ready for a movie. Hope all is well with everyone!

White Cake Lie

Have you ever told a white lie? You are going to love this, especially all of
those who bake for church events.

Alice Grayson was to bake a cake for the Baptist Church Ladies' Group in Tuscaloosa , but forgot to do it until the last minute. She remembered the; morning of the bake sale and after rummaging through cabinets, found an angel food cake mix & quickly made it while drying her hair, dressing, & helping her son pack for Scout camp. When Alice took the cake from the oven, the center had dropped flat and the cake was horribly disfigured. She thought, 'Oh dear, there is not time to bake another cake.'

This cake was important to Alice because she did so want to fit in at her new church and in her new community of friends. So, being inventive, she looked
around the house for something to build up the center of the cake.

Alice found it in the bathroom - a roll of toilet paper. She plunked it in and covered it with icing. Not only did the finished product look beautiful, it
looked perfect.

Before she left the house to drop the cake by the church and head for work, Alice woke her daughter Amanda and gave her some money and specific
instructions to be at the bake sale the moment it opened at 9:30 and to buy the cake and bring it home.

When Amanda arrived at the sale, she found the attractive, perfect cake had already been sold. She grabbed her cell phone and called her mom.

Alice was horrified - she was beside herself. Everyone would know! What would they think? She would be ostracized, talked about, and ridiculed! All night,
Alice lay awake in bed thinking about people pointing fingers at her and talking about her behind her back.

The next day, Alice promised herself she would try not to think about the cake and would attend the fancy luncheon/bridal shower at the home of a fellow
church member and try to have a good time. Alice did not want to attend because the hostess was a snob who more than once had looked down her nose at Alice
because she was a single parent and not from the founding families of Tuscaloosa but, having already RSVP'd, she couldn't think of a believable excuse to stay home?

The meal was elegant, the company was definitely upper crust old South and, to Alice's horror, the cake in question was presented for dessert! Alice felt
the blood drain from her body when she saw the cake!

She started out of her chair to tell the hostess all about it, but before she could get to her feet, the Mayor's wife said, 'What a beautiful cake!' Alice still stunned, sat back in her chair when she heard the hostess (who was
a prominent church member) say, 'Thank you, I baked it myself.'

Alice smiled and thought to herself, 'God is good.'

"Little Sister"

Yesterday I was called to the front desk, and here is what I found. Everyone that has seen these flowers has had to comment on how beautiful they are! I just enjoy looking at them! The person that gave them to me continues to amaze me! Thanks Juls!

August 16, 2008

This will be a quick entry. I have survived the first week of this "new" job. I have to say it really wasn't so bad. Learning as you go sometimes isn't fun. Like yesterday, I had the "joy" of filling in up front, which meant answering the phone. I guess it would have been nice to know how to use those phones, but no calls were lost and I learned where some of the buttons on it were.

I can see where it is hard to get the work done when I seemed to be running to show apartments all the time. Once there is a second person, that will really help.(I just hope we are able to work together well!!!) There it is in a nutshell, and now to get on with the rest of the day. Run a few errands, find Tessa new shoes, then go to Alicia's and help put up that Trampoline. Gregg put his back out and could really use all the prayers he can get. It is a bad time of year to be barely able to walk!!

Brenna and her fathers.

I have not really been able to get on the computer as it has taken John days to work with the photos. I am frustrated with the ones that I took. I did find this one that I like. I hope everyone has a great day!

July 30, 2008

We had run out of squirrel feed. This is what happens!

Finally

Papa John finally holds Addison. I thought it was never going to happen. It was one of the quiet moments Saturday. Miss Addison really hates her bottle and I have to say I am not impressed with it either!

July 21, 2008

I have not felt like writing much in, well, a long time!! I could not really say why, lack of time or just in a different frame of mind. The fun of our family vacation still lingers and I look forward to the wedding but sad that the summer will be just about over! I have more photos from the trip, but John has done such a good job of sharing that maybe I will just let it be. The two I am placing here were from our day of driving a bit off road before going to the Chateau! I like the shot of Dad manning the vehicle and Jerry making sure we were going the right way.

I will be glad when I know the outcome of the job situation I face. The present position I have held will be over August 31. There are other positions opening and I have expressed interest. No matter how many times I am told I will get one of them, I will not believe till the lady in charge tells me. I really do not like change and would have been happy to just keep doing what I was doing. Oh Well!

The surprise last week, was finding out I had lost 9 pounds in about 2 weeks time. I had not done anything do it, expect quit drinking those high calorie energy drinks, like Vault! I started to walk in the mornings again. I think that might be the best part of the day, all quiet and cool out!

I am waiting for 5pm to come around. I will then take Tessa's friend home. They have played the wii and are not watching a movie. Toys are everywhere and as you know, it drives me crazy. Tessa wants to move into Brenna's room. I have been ordered to paint it. She wants it decorated in Camp Rock things. I guess we will see what I get done! Hope everyone is doing well! Till next time...

Thursday-July 10th

Julie was not feeling well and stayed behind with the boys. We all piled in the Suburban and drove south of Belfield on highway 85. The first stop on the way was Amidon. Tiny little town, blink and you will miss it. The attraction for us, this police car parked with a dummy inside. I do NOT know how long it has been there, but apparently for a few years. Jerry though he would be silly and the photo speaks for itself. The poor dummy in the car is starting to slide over in his seat. I know that the photo is NOT great as I took the shot through the window.

Strange Sound at my window.

Early this morning, while getting ready for work, I hear this strange sound at the dining room window. The pictures will tell the rest of the story.

Flour Explosion

John, my darling klutz, somehow tripped and fell or something and my flour container exploded. I could do nothing but laugh at the mess as he rubbed his shin and said bring me the vacuum.(He never uses this instrument!). Can you see his footprint on the carpet? Boy what a mess and this is after he is almost done cleaning!

The bird was blue

While home on lunch yesterday, I was surprised to see a blue bird eating the squirrel feed under the tree. The description I gave a co worker sounded like a blue jay. John caught it again just before we went to bed. I sure hope I catch it again!

June 18, 2008

I have been waiting for these Iris's to open up for days. This morning the pinkish one was and the other one almost. I am happy to see that I have some that are a different color. The pinkish one is called Invitation and the other one I believe is True Blue. Have a great day!

The Wait is Over.

I have been waiting for a few days for this new Iris to open. Two years ago we planted 16 different new iris and were disappointed that only one bloomed last year. This year more seem to be getting ready to show their stuff. The one in the photo was the second, the first being one that is plain white. I am not even sure John took a photo of it, I know that I did not. I just looked and there is a shot of it. AnyWHOOO! I was hoping this new Iris would NOT be solid purple, as I already have many like that. I will let the photo tell you the rest, and yes, I like this one!

Wondering WHY?

Tessa was wondering why Daddy had to work late so much this week? I wonder why I am still putting up with this cough and such. I know that inhalers give me the shakes and hopefully soon I will cease to need it. Alicia picked up the pictures that were taken of her girls three weeks ago. She brought them to work so that they could see, I on the other hand have to wait until I am healthy enough to be around. Tessa wishes we could go for a drive to night, the weather is not nice and she likes to be out in it. I want one simple little thing tonight, SLEEP! I paced until late, did some dishes and finally somehow feel asleep. How was everyone else's day? Have a great weekend!

June 5, 2008

This little guy has decided that he likes to live in my flower bed. GRRR! This year I barely have time to worry about it. Those flowers are going to have to take care of themselves. I guess I better get ready for work.

Baby Toes

The polish is wearing off, but she still have cute little toes. I was holding her while John tried to get the shot.

Pretty Pink

I wish I had more of these. The bunnies were really hard on the tulips this year.

One Month Today

Miss Addison

Growing up much to fast!

How the fight started!

Officer, this is how the fight started...

I rear-ended the car in front of me. I admit that. It was
my fault.

So, we both pull over to the side of the road, and slowly
the driver of the car I hit gets out of his car. . . and you know how
you just-get-sooo-stressed... and life...sometimes life seems
like...suddenly funny?

Well, the driver of the car I hit is a DWARF! He gets out
of his car and I get out of my car.

He is frowning and scowling and he storms over to me.
Right up close to me he looks up in my face and says, 'I AM NOT
HAPPY!'

And I don't know what possessed me, officer, but I looked
down at him and I said, 'Well, if you're not Happy -- which one are
you?'

.... And that's when the fight started

Time slipping away.

Does anyone else have this problem, not enough time to get everything done? By the time I get home from work I just want to sit and relax, but how can I when the house screams 'clean me'. I noticed this lovely pair of finches at lunch. They had finally found our bird feeders. When John got home I told him about it and you know what he was doing from then on, YEP, the camera came out. I was working on supper and all John could say was, that smells deceptively good. I still am not sure I like that remark. Hope all is well with everyone. Have a great day or night depending on where you are at! John took the photo of the finch with my camera. I guess he just like testing it out. The eagle was shot on Sunday, I sure wish we could see the mate when we are out there. I took this shot also. Looks to be a bit windy up there in the nest.

5-9-08

Visit to Mariah's class

I was asked to come and see Mariah's little program. I have to say that it was all very sweet. Her teacher did a really nice job. Most of the photos and video I put on Alicia's page. Addison slept through this and did not wake up till Alicia was trying to shop at Target. This door in her room shows all the photos of children by month of their birthday. You know me, I had to take a photo of the section showing August. I am hoping to somehow share some of those 'recipes' in that cookbook. Funny stuff! Have a great day!

5-8-08

Too Small

There is this little flower that grows in my garden. Very small and probably invisible to most. Even trying to get a good shot of it was impossible, doesn't mean we did not both try. This is not important in the great scheme of life. I guess it is just one of the few things that we enjoy trying to do. John seems to do most of the posting these days. I thought I would show the other side a bit. This little flower is no bigger than a thumb nail.

My Morning Message fro Tessa

Addison

The little miss is finally here. She is such a beautiful baby. This photo is when she was just a few hours old.

It has BEGUN!

Today I finally found my crocus and the bunnies have NOT eaten them.

What keeps going through my head!

I don't know if any of you are like me, but sometimes music gets stuck in my head and will not leave. I heard this song on the radio(actually my mp3) and had to find it. The artist is Nicol Sponberg and the song is Resurrection. Here the the lyrics that will NOT go silent.

I'm at a loss for words, there's nothing to say
I sit in silence wondering what led me to this place
How did my heart become so lifeless and cold
Where did the passion go?

When all my efforts seem like chasing wind
I've used up all my strength and there's nothing left to give
I've lost the feeling and I'm down to the core
I can't fake it anymore.

chorus:
Here I am at the end I'm in need of resurrection
Only You can take this empty shell and raise it from the dead
What I've lost to the world what seems far beyond redemption
You can take the pieces in Your hand and make me whole again, again

You speak and all creation falls to its knees
You raise Your hand and calm the waves of the raging sea
You have a way of turning winter to spring
Make something beautiful out of all this suffering

chorus 2:
Here I am once again I'm in need of resurrection
Only You can take this empty shell and raise it from the dead
What I've lost to the world what seems far beyond redemption
You can take the pieces in Your hand and make me whole again, again

You have a way of turning winter to spring
Make something beautiful out of all this suffering

chorus

Prayer for Mac-N-Cheese