CHRISTMAS

I'm typing this on my new netbook!!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

THANKSGIVING 2009

We had the whole family here for Thanksgiving!!! Megan and Travis arrived the Saturday night before Thanksgiving. The rest of the gang from out of town arrived Wednesday night. On Friday we took the kids to the zoo. On Saturday we hit the mall. There was a lot of game playing during the weekend. Lots of food, family, and fun!!!

ANNOUNCEMENT

just in case there are any of you who don't know yet... I'M GOING TO BE A GRANDMOTHER AGAIN!!!!!! Mandy is having #3! I think I have given her plenty of time to tell everybody that she wants to tell herself, so now I'm making my announcement!

CHOCOLATE WITHDRAWAL

I think I'm having chocolate withdrawal! I woke up this morning thinking about it and I still am! We had SO much candy left over from Halloween that we've been eating it ever since and still had a lot until last night. Emily and Bossy came over and we gave it all to them. I'm SO glad to have it out of the house so I'm not tempted by it because if it's here I'm gonna eat it and I certainly don't need to be! I wouldn't throw it away because I spent SO much money on it! I'm always afraid I won't have enough candy on Halloween so I always over buy, but I don't think I've ever bought as much as this year! We only had 8 trick or treaters. All that sald, it's a good thing we don't live really close to a store or I might just run out and get a candy bar right now!!!

THANKSGIVING IS COMING

I'm excited because all of my kids, their spouses, and my grandkids will be here for Thanksgiving! We are going to have SO much fun! I can't wait!

UTAH TRIP

The Utah trip was fun! We got to see Megan and Travis and a lot of Steve's family. Megan, Emily, and I got in some quality time shopping, our favorite together activity! We went to the Park City Outlet, as well as a mall, and the Quilted Bear. For those of you who don't know what the Quilted Bear is, it is a store where they sell mostly handmade items. I always go there when I go to Salt Lake City. Actually this time I went twice! I love to go there!

INTERNATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL

Went to the quilt show on Saturday with Angie Hulse. She came down from San Antonio for it and stayed with us since her mom and dad don't live her anymore. We had a good time!

FALL DECORATING

I did a little bit of fall decorating today. I'm hoping this will make the fall weather come to stay!

OUR TRIP TO DALLAS

We left Thursday around noon to go to Dallas. Thursday evening we went to the fire station open house there with Mandy, Matt, and the kids. Friday we went to the mall and just hung out until that evening when we went to the state fair. Then Saturday morning was Gabriella's birthday party. We came home Saturday afternoon. It was a fun trip! Natalie and Matt and Emily and Bossy were there too.

LESLIE'S PARTY

Does anyone want to carpool with me to Leslie's party? Call me if you do!

NO MORE PAINTING

Today was probably my last day to paint with Jan and the gang, since Jan is moving to St. Louis really soon. I'm happy for her that they finally sold their house and she can be with Jim again, but I'm sad for me. I will miss her a lot! She has made me promise to go and visit her and I hope she will do the same!

SURPRISE

Yesterday after painting, I decided to stop in at the McDonalds in Pecan Grove to grab something for supper. While I was waiting in line I saw what I thought was a squirrel at first, running right beside the building. On closer inspection, I saw that it was a fat mouse (or Steve suggested maybe a rat). This turned my stomach so, I almost got out of line, but I REALLY wanted one of those mushroom and swiss burgers. They are SO good!!! I mentioned my sighting to the person at the window and she said she would tell somebody. Marvin Zindler I need you!!!! Steve said since it was outside it's no big deal. I say where you see them outside, they are probably inside too. I hate mice! The only creature I hate worse is a snake!!!!!

I LOVE PUNS

Got these off of someone else's blog. (thanks Rick)

Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent.

A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, "I'll serve you, but don't start anything."

Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: "Does this taste funny to you?"

What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh.

A dwarf, who was a mystic, escaped from jail. The call went out that there was a small medium at large.

I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did! My favorite is the last one.

MY WEEKEND

The game was a wipeout, we got rained on, and the shoes I was wearing were killing my feet, but I still enjoyed the weekend. I like going places, I like staying in hotels, and I like eating out.

NEW ORLEANS

We are going to New Orleans this weekend to see BYU play Tulane. As I said before I'm not a BYU fan, but I'm going along for the trip. I like to go places and I've only been through New Orleans before. I'll get to see at least a little of it this time.

PAINTING

I'm going to paint at Jan's today! I haven't painted since before my surgery in May. We do decorative painting on wood. It's really fun!

RAIN

Rain still seems like such a strange thing after all the drought we've had this summer. This morning I heard a noise and I thought for a minute and then I thought could that be rain? I looked out the window and sure enough it was! I don't know how long it's going to take me to get used to rain again!

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

We started our Labor Day Weekend early. We left Wednesday night to go to Plano. We stayed there until Saturday. We enjoyed seeing the grandbabies and Mandy and Matt. Steve's sister Sally and her husband Gary were there to see the BYU/Oklahoma game. We took them around to some of the sights in Dallas and Fort Worth. The game was Saturday night and we drove home afterwards. We got home at 4:30 am. I'm not a BYU fan but it was a good game and I LOVED seeing Oklahoma get beat!!!!! HOOK 'EM HORNS!!!!!

CATCHING UP

Just spent the last 7 hours or so catching up on everybodies blogs. I guess you'd say I've been out of touch for a while!!!!! I can't believe it took that long to catch up! I guess it shows how much time I have on my hands.

DOCTORS, DOCTORS, DOCTORS

It seems like all I've been doing lately is going to doctors and treatments! I'm ready to get back to the real world! I've been out of comission for TOO long!

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

we went to austin over the weekend to see natalie graduate from ut with her masters in social work!~!!!! i'm SO proud of her~~~~~!!!!!!! \
we stayed in house with a great view of lake travis! the WHOLE family was there and i loved that!!!!!
i have to say it was hard for me physically and mentally but i had to be there.!!!!!!

for the last 2 weeks or so i have been out of comission. i woke up one morning with what felt like a bladder infection so i call the dr. and made and appointment. here i am a little over 2 weeks without quite a few of my female body parts that i didn't know i still had. it's a long story and if you really want to hear it all i will tell you but right now i'ts all kind of grossing me out to tell about it. anyway the word of the day is THANK YOU LORD AND BENIGN!!!

ANXIETY AGAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!

ok, so the general anxiety from my anxiety disorder has been over for a while!!!! the drugs did their job! now i have this female thing going on and i'm probably going to have to have surgery for it so now i'm having situational anxiety!!!!!!! when will it ever end!!!!

I'M BORED........

any suggestions? (and please don't say clean the house or something awful like that. no matter how much it might need it.)

OUT WITH THE ANXIETY - IN WITH THE MANIA!!!!!!

today i spent quite a bit of money. i really had fun shopping since, i haven't felt like going for a while. shopping sprees are a symptom of mania though(as many of you know). it's always something!!!!!! i'll probably be loosing my credit card again when steve finds out the extent of my shopping fun!!!!

THE GOOD NEWS!!!!!!

the last post was the bad news now for the good news........DAY NUMBER 2 OF NO ANXIETY!!!!!!!!!

I HATE WEDNESDAY NIGHTS!!!!!!!!!

every wednesday night steve goes to his church thing and i just sit around home being lonely!

9:45 AND ALL IS WELL

still no anxiety and it's almost bedtime!!~!!!! God is SO good!!!!!! i had a lady come up to me in fulshear today and tell me all about how good God was. i was wearing a cross and that got the conversation started. (it really wasn't much of a conversation on my part). i didn't understand everything she said but i really had to wonder if it was a message from God even though i was on exactly the same track today!!!!!

STILL NO ANXIETY!!!!!!!

it's 3:25 now and STILL NO ANXIETY!!!!!! i'm must have said "thank you Lord" at least a million times today, because i know that ALL good things come from God!!!! i did a little shopping and got my nails done to celebrate!!!!! steve says i shouldn't think that it's over, because if it comes back i'll be disappointed, but i can't help it!!!! the dr. said it would probably take 10 days to see any results and it's only been 7!!!! i think it must have something to do with all those prayers ya'll have been sending up for me!!! keep it up!!!! i always need them!!!

ANXIETY FREE!!!!

i woke up this morning ANXIETY FREE!!!! pray, pray, pray that it continues!!!!!

A GREAT SURPRISE!!!!!

yesterday afternoon there was a tiny little knock at my front door. i couldn't imagine who it was. most everybody comes to the back door. i went to the door and when i opened it who did i find standing there but oliver and gabriella!!!! they came to surprise steve for his birthday. they had already been to steve's work to surprise him.

OUR EASTER

our easter was a different one. we only had 1 of our kids here. it was emily, our baby, (sorry emi but you will always be my baby) and her boyfriend. we still had our typical easter dinner (ham, deviled eggs, potato salad, and etc.) just a smaller version. no stuffed bunnies and we didn't even dye eggs. we ate in our easter decorated dining room. (one day leslie you too will eat in one of my holiday decorated dining rooms!) emily and basillio hunted camoflage easter eggs with money inside. (they seem to like money better in their eggs when they get older). it took them a while to find the eggs and they had to have hints for the last few. steve hid them READLY hard, in fact, so hard that he had to write down where he hid them so he could remember. there was still the usual easter candy, too. (reeses peanut butter eggs and peeps and NO i didn't eat any of them.) i did buy an easter dress for myself. it brought back SO many memories of all the easter dresses, easter shoes, and hair decorations i bought in the past for my 4 girls. they all had long hair that i REALLY loved to fix. (sorry nat). easter was such a fun time for me and i think for them, too.

GOOD NEWS AND HOPEFULLY GOOD NEWS

first the good news: i have now lost 26.8 pounds! (that's even after the vacation from weight watchers i took in north carolina!)
now for the hopefully good news: the dr. is changing my anti-depressant to one that is supposed to help more with anxiety. he says i should see a difference in 10 days. i want to ask all of ya'll to keep me in your prayers the next 10 days especially!

OUT ON MY BACK PORCH......

i'm out on my back porch and it's a beautiful, sunny day!!!! i'm thinking "now how could anyone be anxious on a day like today?" that someone would be me, of course. i'm not anxious right now, actually, but i spend most of my time when i'm not anxious being afraid that it's going to come back. so basically, i'm anxious about being anxious! sounds stupid, i know, but in my mind that's just the way i think! i'd like to change it, but i don't know how. i try to tell myself to enjoy these times, but the anxiety seems to always be in the back of my mind. i wake up in the morning wondering how the day will be. i don't want to get up in the morning, because i'm afraid it will be an anxious day. i do have the pills, but i don't like to take them, because i want to try to overcome this myself. they make me sleepy sometimes and so i'm afraid to take them if i'm not at home, so i stay at home most of the time. (doesn't help to overcome anxiety).if i feel like i just can't stand it anymore, i take one. i make myself suffer more then i have to, because i don't take them.

OH SHUCKS!!! TOO BAD!!!

can't find any smaller ones in the attic! OH SHUCKS!!! guess i'll just have to by some new ones! TOO BAD!!! just ordered them online. they will be her in 2-3 business days!!!

JUST BECAUSE SHE'S SO CUTE!!!

GOOD PROBLEM

have you ever had a good problem? well... i do. all of my pants are TOO BAGGY! that's right i said TOO BAGGY! i'm going to have to go look in the attic where all the clothes are stored from when i lost weight last time! WAHOO!!!!

GOOD FEELINGS AND GOOD COMMENTS!!!

i'm feeling good this afternoon without the help of pills! thanks for everybodies supportive comments! keep praying for me please!

ANXIETY IS THE PITS!!!!!!!

i have been struggling a lot with anxiety lately. that is the reason why i haven't been posting much. i don't like taking my tranquilizers, so i suffer much more then i have to. i'm always afraid of getting addicted, even though my dr. says i never will because i'm so afraid of it. in fact, just writing about it is making me feel a little anxious, so i'm going to stop. i'll post another day when i'm feeling completely better. i'm going to the dr. on monday, so maybe things will get better after that!

I FORGOT

oh yea... i forgot to say that i went to 2 museums in franklin while i was there. i went to the historical society museum. it was all about the franklin area and it's people. i found a bit about some of my ancestors there. i also went to the tartan museum. i am of scottish decent. i saw the anderson clan plaid and crest. anderson is my maiden name. i also learned about some scottish history there.

NORTH CAROLINA

ok.... so we went to north carolina for 2 reasons: 1. to go to the wedding of my son-in-law's brother and 2. to visit with my mother and sister and her family there. it was nice that we were able to do both in the same trip. i left on monday march 23 and returned on saturday april 4. mandy and matt and the grandbabies also went there on the 23rd. i got to spend monday-thursday there with them and my mom and sister's family in franklin, which is where they live. my dad was born and raised there so it's always a little blast from the past when i go there. steve and emily came on thursday. friday was the rehearsal dinner in ashville, which is a little over an hour from franklin. saturday night was the wedding in ashville also at the biltmore estate. i don't know if any of you have heard of it, but it is a huge, gorgeous mansion built by the vanderbilt family. they don't live there anymore. they have tours of it now. it is the largest single family residence in the united states. the father of the bride is the business manager at the biltmore. the wedding was beautiful and we had a great time. our son-in-law was the best man and oliver, our grandson, was a daisy dude (or some name like that) and he threw flower petals along the path of the bride. he was adorable in his black vest, pants, and tie! steve, emily, and mandy, matt, and the grandbabies left on sunday. i just hung out with my family for the rest of the week.

I'M BACK!!!!!!!

i am FINALLY back!!!! i had a good time but i was SO ready to get home! now i'm trying to get caught up on emails (i had 177) and blog posts (i had over 100)!!!!!

NORTH CAROLINA

i'm in north carolina visiting my family. my mother and sister and her family live here. steve and emily are coming tomorrow. we will be going to the wedding of my son in law's brother on saturday. it is nice that we are able to do both in the same trip. my daughter and son in law are here too with the grandbabies, of course. i am enjoying spending time with my family. i'm coming home on april 4.

TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN

i haven't been posting because i've been having a rough time lately in the mental dept.(lots of anxiety). my meds have been changed, but haven't gotten things just right, yet. also i went to louisianna for 3 days with steve on a business trip. it was total relaxation while there, so i enjoyed that. just hanging out in the hotel room reading, doing needlework, and etc. no housework either! eating the local food.(which i'm sure hasnt't faired well with my weight watchers). it's so hard to eat right when you are eating at restaurants. got to go shopping a couple of times, too. i haven't stopped reading yall's blogs, though.

YEA, WEIGHT WATCHERS

went to weight watchers today and i've lost 6.8 more pounds for a total of 18 pounds!

JUST SPOILN' THE GRANDBABIES

i'm in dallas now. my grandbabies are still as adorable as the last time i saw them! we went shopping at the outlet mall this morning. fun! fun! i have my credit card back now, but i didn't overdo it.(for those of you who don't know, steve had to take my cards away when i started being manic. i was spending like there was no tomorrow!) just bought a couple of things for me and some for mandy and emily. nothing for he grandbabies,(if you can believe that), because i already brought some things for them with me. tonight we are going to go out to eat at a REALLY good mexican restaraunt!

GOIN' TO SEE THE GRANDBABIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i'm going to dallas to see the grandbabies today!!!!! (and mandy,too. i hope you don't ever feel left out when i say i'm going to see the grandbabies!) i'm so excited, even though it's only been 2 weeks since i saw them last! it really seems like longer! i'm SO happy that they live close enough so that i can see them this often!

PS TO LAST POST

finally got to talk to the dr. he said he thinks the new med is causing me to be restless and not manic. it is a side effect. so now i have to take another med for that! crazy huh? he also said the new med should help with the depression too and that it will just take time! just what i wanted to hear!!!!!!

MIXED UP!!!!!

so now i'm not just manic i'm depressed too! i've been trying to call the dr. for 3 days and still haven't been successful! what to do? it really doesn't seem possible that i could be both but it feels like it! not doing well!

THOUGHTS OF A MANIC DEPRESSIVE

please don't call me crazy,
because crazy i'm not,
i wish you could walk in my shoes
and give it a shot!

if i was crazy,
i wouldn't have to feel
and deal with all the things
with which i have to deal.

most of the time i'm down
as low as low can be,
then something makes me up
so high that i can't see,

can't see all the foolish things i do
and all the things i say,
that i will feel regret for,
on another day.

they call it an emotional rollercoaster,
that's not what i would say,
because riding on a rollercoaster
wouldn't make you feel this way.

rollercoasters are supposed to be fun
and give you a thrill!
this thing i'm going through
doesn't have any appeal!

i try to think of the highs
as God's gift to me
to make up for all the lows,
but sometimes it's hard to see

why God would choose this way
to test and try me,
and make me into the kind of person
he wants me to be.


God let me look to you
and trust you evermore,
so i can learn to realize
just what this all is for!

carol beck


]

CHURCH

church didn't work out so well today. i got up and got ready, even though i felt kinda weird. i drove there just fine, but after i got there and after we sang some songs, i thought i was feeling sleepy. this really scared me, because i was afraid of driving home while sleepy. so i just left right then and went and got a coke to help me stay awake, if i got sleepy and then drove home. i was just fine, of course! i should have stayed, but i'm just SO afraid of having to drive sleepy, like i've done several times since i've been on these new meds! i don't know what i'm going to have to do to get over this anxiety about sleeping! i get anxiey about it every night around bedtime. i just try to do something else and forget about it. sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

UTAH PICS 2

UTAH PICS

A BUSY WEEK

i've had a busy week getting back into the swing of things after the trip. tuesday i just stayed home all day and did laundry, unpacked suitcases, packed up valentines decorations, and etc. wednesday i had an appointment with the chiropractor. thursday i went to weight watchers. i have lost a total of 11 something pounds! not too bad for 3 weeks and a trip in that time. i didn't count points while on the trip, either. i also had dessett a couple of times. (you have to have cake at a wedding don't you?) i also went to a luncheon with the mormon ladies. friday i had another chripractor appointment and an appointment with my new therapist. i really like her! it's kind of a long way to go, but i'll do it because i really need it! she's in richmond right by terry high school. a busy but mostly good week. i called dr. parikh about the anxiety attacks i'm having almost every night. he upped my giodon and told me i might just have to take klonopin for the anxiety for a while. i don't like taking klonopin, because i know it's highly addictive, but i know my dr. knows what's best for me. he says i'll never get addicted, because i'm too concerned about getting addicted. besides he says it's only for a short period of time. i guess i'll just have to deal with taking it! it's better then the alternative! my mania has been manageable so i'm happy for that! i'm planning a trip to dallas next weekend. mandy's husband is going to be out of town. i'm sure we will have a lot of fun and i get to see the grandbabies! what more could i ask for?

HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN JIG A DEE JOG

we are home again and i'm as happy to be home as i was excited to go. nothing makes you appreciate home more then being away from it! i'm just chillin' today, while the cleaning lady cleans! (sorry for bragging, but i love my life in that sense!) it was a really fun trip, even though i had 4 panic attacks and a few melt downs! i forgot to take enough meds and thus the reason for 1 of the melt downs, i think. the mania is pretty much under control. it's mainly just the anxiety i'm dealing with now. i'm really appreciating our warmer weather. like i told lori in a comment, "it's a nice place to visit, but i wouldn't want to live there!" (even though we did live there several years and i had 3 of my kids in wyoming and 1 in colorado. i was younger then and could take the cold better, i think!) i do have some pics i'll post later when i find out how to upload them from my camera!

UTAH UPDATE

having a great time, mostly just hanging out at the cabin! (i have pics to come latter of every room! it's awesome!) there have been a million people here, at least, and they are all related to steve! i got to go shopping yesterday at the park city outlet mall! that was fun! there is lots of snow here and it's snowed several times since we' ve been here. you have to have a four wheel drive vehicle or chains to get to the cabin! i helped oli build a snowman! (more like a snow pile since the snow wasn't sticking very well!) of course, spending time with my grandbabies is the best activity of all!

UTAH UPDATE

we got in aroud noon and then went to lunch with megan and travis at my fav place, chuck o rama. then we did a little shopping for ski and cold weather stuff. we had to pick up my niece, who lives in omaha at the airport, and then we went to my other niece's shower (the one whose wedding was the main reason for our trip). yesterday megan and i went to the beauty school, where my niece went, and got facials, hair deep conditioning, and i got a scalp treatment. we went to lunch at a really yummy soup, salad, and sandwich place and then went to a movie that afternoon. the movie was PUSH. i really liked it! boy, these kids really keep you on the go! last time i came here, when i got home i had to sleep for a day to catch up! last night i fell asleep pretty early. we were going to watch some tv but i didn't make it! i'm lovin' every minute!

I'M SO EXCITED I CAN'T SLEEP!

i woke up at 3:42 am and i can't sleep anymore! i'm like a kid on christmas morning! i'm SO excited about going to utah! we're going to have SO much fun playing in the snow, relaxing at the cabin, and visiting everybody! i can't wait!

SMELL THE ROSES

HOT AIR BALLOONS

this pic reminds me of when we lived in riverton, wyoming where natalie was born. they had a hot air balloon rally there every year.

JUST THOUGHT THIS WAS A BEAUTIFUL POE,M

"All I want is a family,
Like everyone else I see.
And I won't understand it
If it's not meant to be.

Cause I would die for that.
Just to have one chance
To hold in my hands
All that they have.
I would die for that.

And I want to know what it's like
To bring a dream to life.
For that kind of love,
What I'd give up!
I would die for that.

Sometimes it's hard to conceive,
With all that I've got,
And all I've achieved,
What I want most
Before my time is gone,
Is to hear the words
"I love you, Mom."

I would die for that.
Just to have once chance
To hold in my hands
What so many have
I would die for that.

And I want to know what it's like
To bring a dream to life.
How I would love
What some give up.
I would die ...
I would die for that" ~Kellie Coffey

GNO

went to girls night out last night or gno as they call it. it was a hoot!!! we shut the place down. they almost had to kick us out! the people who worked there asked if we had marijuana in the brownies that liz brought. i guess we were so crazy they thought we were high!

BICYCLING

went bicycling for the second time today with jan and jawan. it's really fun and not hard on my legs at all! it think it's the company that makes it SO fun!

THIRD DAY AND COUNTING PAIN FREE WITH MY LEG!!!!!!!!!

UPDATE ON THE CRAFT ROOM

jan and angie came over this afternoon and we worked on the craft room again. we got it where we are ready for the stuff in the attic next time. i'm so excited that i can now use my craft room for the first time since we moved into the house! i know where pretty much all my supplies are or i can find them easily if i don't because they are in clear containers!!!! LOVE IT!

PAMPERED CHEF PARTY UPDATE

i seem to be doing a lot of updates today!! anyway, the pampered chef party was fun, even though only two people came. we had great conversation and even greater food!!! found WAY too many things i want to earn from it! sorry ya'll missed out! i guess it was a bad night.

UPDATE ON MY LEG

i can't remember if i've told ya'll, but i've had this excruciating pain in my leg for the past few years when i stand on them very long. i'd gone to the medical dr. and they couldn't figure it out. they just said probably just my weight.(then why didn't i have it in both legs i ask?) anyway, i finally decided i would try a chiropractor as a last resort. you see, i never used to believe in chiropractors. i thought they were all quacks (even though steve's cousin is one). since the insurance will pay, i decided why not give it a shot. i started going last week. he told me i had a pinched nerve caused by a movement of some kind (i can't remember what he called it) of my hip joint. it was causing lower back pain, too. i hadn't seen much improvement until yesterday. i went the whole day without pain, until it started hurting a little bit at night. today i haven't had any pain, so far! i'm ecstatic!!!!! it hasn't felt this good in years! GO CHIROPRACTORS!!!!! another myth disspelled!!!!!!

WEIGHT WATCHERS UPDATE

went to weight watchers today and i'd lost 7.8 pounds this last week!!!!!! YEAH ME!!!!! YEAH WEIGHT WATCHERS! the best weight loss program in the world!!! i don't usually praise myself very often, but i think this deserves it!!!!

PAMPERED CHEF PARTY

don't forget about my pampered chef party tonight at 7:00!

FAMILY TRADITIONS

Family Traditions
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Yesterday at 11:21am
Traditions are very important to children. Have you experienced the following? You do something once and it becomes that thing we "always do". One year we made and decorated cut out cookies before Christmas. The next year the kids bugged me to death to make those "cookies we always make". One way we know traditions are important is kids are so invested in seeing them continue.

When I was growing up my mom made a very big deal out of holidays. She still does. Her house is decorated in pumpkins and scarecrows for Halloween, red hearts for Valentine's Day, pastel eggs for Easter and flags for the Fourth of July. Everyone decorates for Christmas but my mom puts up shamrocks and served us green oatmeal on St. Patrick's Day. She believes in celebrating!

One Valentine's Day, when I was a snarky teenager, we had wrapped presents on our breakfast plates along with decorative napkins. I asked the following question as only a teenager can ask, "If the Easter Bunny brings Easter baskets, who brings the Valentine's presents?" My dad, at the top of his game, quickly replied, "The Valentine's Cow, of course". The Valentine Cow visited us for many years after that and continued to visit us when I had children of my own.

One day this week the Valentine's Cow will buy candy and cards. She'll make cookies and pack everything in boxes to send to our college boys. My daughter's gift has already been purchased. Celebrations and traditions are important. You have them, too. Think about what they are, talk about them and celebrate the things that make your family unique. A Valentine's Cow is pretty unique and while I'm not sure I appreciate the bovine reference, I am happy to continue the tradition.
Kathy

(I do pretty much the same things at my house except no Valentine cow and never any green oatmeal I have to say!)

MANLY CARD

if any of my friends or family out there in blogland want something from pampered chef just let me know and i'll shoot you the info!!!

PAMPERED CHEF PARTY

ok.....so the stampin' up party was SO much fun that i've decided to have a pampered chef party. rosie (emily's boyfriends's sister) sells it, so i wanted to help her out and there are some things i've been wanting to get from pampered chef, anyway. it will be wednesday, february 4 at 7:00 pm. everyone is welcome and don't feel pressure to buy. i sincerely don't care if you do or don't. i just want to have fun! (you know girls just wanna have fun!) oh, and the food she's making sounds really yummy. it's going to be ceasar salad pizza and non-sinful brownies(not the correct name, but something like that). they are both low-calorie. (since i'm going back to weight watchers now). hope to see you her!

SO GLAD YET SO SAD

just found out yesterday that jim hulse got the job in st.louis, so they will be moving there! jan will stay until the house sells, though. i have such mixed emotions about this! we have grown SO close, since we have become related by marriage (the marriage of our children). jan and i craft together and just love hanging out togeter, too! steve and jim have always hit it off and share the love of sports, also! i guess there will have to be some all night crafting slumber parties after jim leaves and some other marathon crafting going on! we will definitely go visit them and we hope they will come back to visit us! we are making plans for that. steve and i would like to go visit when the astros play the cardinals. navoo, (or however you spell it), isn't too far from there and steve would really like to go there. maybe sometime when megan and travis are there we could go there or vice versa. we are very thankful we had this time to get to know them! we believe the reason why they came here was so megan and travis could meet and now i guess there is a reason why they have to go to st. louis. they will be sorely missed, though, by many people here!!!!

CRAZY CAROL

i haven't been much into blogging posts lately. i've been manic and i can't sit down for very long a one time. i just keep thinking of stuff to do. i still haven't even posted my pics from my trips to dallas, so ya'll don't even know what i did there! ha!ha! hope to be able to chill out soon and do it! i've also started organizing my craft room with the help of THE CRAFTING QUEEN and my hero jan hulse! i'll let you know how that turns out. wish i would have taken a before pic so i could do before and after!

JUDAS ASPARAGUS

The Children's Bible in a Nutshell:
In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, 'The Lord thy God is one, but I think He must be a lot older than that.

Anyway, God said, 'Give me a light!' and someone did.

Then God made the world. He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet.

Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden.....Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars.

Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he was Abel.

Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or something.

One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a rain check.

After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat.

Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable.

God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then he gave them His Top Ten Commandments. These include: don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbor's stuff. Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy mother.

One of Moses' best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town.

After Joshua came David. He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me.

After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets. One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed up on the shore.

There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry about them.

After the Old Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the star of The New. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born in a barn too, because my mom is always saying to me, 'Close the door! Were you born in a barn?' It would be nice to say, 'As a matter of fact, I was.')

During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Democrats.

Jesus also had twelve opossums. The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him.

Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount. But the Democrats and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead.

Anyways, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again. He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminum. His return is foretold in the book of Revolution.
* * * * * * *

STAMPIN' UP PARTY TONIGHT

my stampin' up party was tonight. we had a great time! there were 8 people there. we made valentine cards and learned the kissing technique and rockin' and rollin' technique. we also had valentine treats! for those of you who missed it wish you could have been here!!!

JOY LIST

Make a joy list. Anything goes, from losing yourself in a great novel to laughing with friends. Whenever you feel the pressure mounting, pull it out for an instant reminder of the things in life that bring you pleasure. "We are what we think about," says life coach and best-selling author Gail Blanke. "Add up the good, and embrace it."

read this on someone else's blog as well. i think i'll give it a whirl!!!

DON'T FORGET!

don't forget about my Stampin' Up Party tomorrow night! Hope to see you there! Call if you need directions.

OUR BATTLE WITH SATAN

I wanted to say basically that God isn't a game to think you can claim and dis. He is serious, there is a war to fight to hold onto Him. I don't even understand these feelings rushing through me. These feelings of good anger. This feeling that I want to kick the crap out of Satan. That I am disgusted by what Satan has done.

this came from another blog. i thought it was interesting the way he described our battle with satan.(i refuse to use a capital letter at the beginning of his name like i do at the beginning of God's name even when i am not using capital letters).

STRESSED?

had to steal this one from kenzee, but not after next thursday! i start back to weight watchers then!

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BEING A MEME PART 3

you should have know i'd have more of these after this week:

-when gabby says my name
-when i ask oli if he loves me and he says yes
-when i see them wearing the clothes i have given them
-when i see them playing with the toys i have given them
-when i do crafts with oli
-when oli wants me to watch his shows with him and points out things to me in them
-when gabby says umh (meaning yes) in her own special way
-when gabby slides down the slide and says wheeee (i taught her this)
-when they do pretty much anything i taught them
-when gabby waves bye everytime she leaves a room
-when i get to spend special one on one time with them
-when oli came in the bathroom right after i got out of the shower and said "meme, your hair!"(i
thought he'd be scared for life by the sight of my grotesque naked body!)
-when i get to babysit them
-when i get to play outside with them
-when i sing songs, do poems, or do fingerplays with oli
-when oli goes out to my car with me and helps me carry stuff in
-when gabby smiles (her smile could light up the world)
-when i play ball with oli (he's going to be a pro baseball player someday if he can just get the
catching down! or maybe a pro basketball player! he's got the skills!)
-when they show how smart they are (i'm sure they get it all from me! ha!ha!)
-when other people notice how adorable they are
-when they won't go to other people (not including their parents, of course) but they'll go to me

to be continued........

WHAT A CLASS ACT

whatever your politics (and i'm NOT going to get into that!) you have to admit that laura bush is a class act. she has stood quietly behind her husband through thick and thin! (and there's been a lot of thin lately!) i can't imagine how hard it must have been to watch and hear the man that she loves berated and put down like george bush has been! i have a lot of sympathy for him too but he chose the job and she didn't chose to be in the spotlight! she always had a smile on her face and appeared to be content in whatever situation and graceful. on top of all of this she is beautiful! this lady is one of my heros along with her mother-in-law barbara! well....to get right down to it, i love the whole bush family! they are just good people!

I'M IN HEAVEN

i guess you're all wondering if i fell off the face of the earth, well almost! i am in heaven! i'm spending the week in dallas with my grandbabies and luvin' every minute of it! (right down to the last dirty diaper! no kidding!!!) i love these babies to pieces! when the babies are asleep mandy and i play! we have been doing some card making and scrapbooking! we've even managed to get in a little shopping! (it's a bad job but somebody has to do it!) i'll be sending pics of my activities at some point, right now i'm just having too much fun!

i wanted to share this with those of you who are raising children. i know i can still benefit from most of it myself! i think it is AWESOME!!!!!

Real Resolutions for Moms by Karen Ehman


I will put my Bible before the television, the radio, the telephone and even before good Christian books, for my children will know my priorities by the way they see me spend my free time.


I will make my prayer requests known before God and my children, enlisting their help in the process and informing them of the outcome, for by letting them help when I petition our Lord will they learn of a living God who still answers prayer.


When times of crisis, conflict or confusion arise, I will hit my knees before I hit the phone knowing that by my example my children will discover that although friends are important, God alone is the one who holds the solution to life's every problem.


I will erase the words "luck" and "lucky" from my vocabulary and will instead by my speech point my children toward the One who orchestrates every detail of our lives ad brings all good things to pass, for by this my children will learn of an omniscient God.

When bad things happen, I'll neither grumble nor complain, but will instead help my children see that in the scope of our lives even the bad times are allowed for a reason, for by this my children will learn quiet trust in their Master.

When normal childhood mishaps occur, I will remember that although difficult, it is still easier to remove grape juice from off-white carpet than to erase harsh and unloving words hurled at a child whose chubby little fingers have failed her, for by this my children will see a God who understands when our best efforts fall short.

When my children have witnessed something ugly in me, unkind words, an angry temper, "harmless" gossip, biting sarcasm or even my infamous "mommy pout" when things don't go my way-I will confess it as sin before them seeking their forgiveness, for by this my children will develop the much needed habit of wiping their spiritual slate clean before God and man.

I will teach my children the importance of cleanliness and order while at the same time remain sensitive to the fact that a skinned knee or hurt feeling is more crucial than a spotless floor or uncluttered counter, for by this my children will learn to value people above things.

I will make time for the lonely, the sick, the elderly, the difficult to love, and will bring my children along, for with each afternoon visit, each ride to the doctor, each raked lawn or washed window they will have the opportunity to serve Jesus by serving the "least of these."

I will make our home a haven of rest and retreat from the outside world and welcome place for my children's friends, for with each impromptu backyard soccer game, each video viewed on a rainy day, each cup of hot cocoa or chocolate chip cookie, my children will have the opportunity to practice the act of Christian hospitality thereby learning to share all God has given them.

I will by my actions and my speech let my children see a mom in love with their dad, for by this my children will sense family stability at a time when marriages all around them are crumbling.

I will not require of my children obedience, honesty, patience or kindness without first being willing to submit to the same rules whether in speed limit, miscounted change from the grocery store or when answering a toddler for the fourteenth time, for by this my children will see a mother who is also learning and not a perfect parent to whom they'll ever measure up

In all things will I remember that more is caught than is thought.

saw this on laura's blog and thought it sounded like fun:
put an X in front of all the things that you have done
( ) gone on a blind date
( ) skipped school
( ) watched someone die
(X ) been to canada
(X ) been to mexico
(X) been to florida
(X) been on a plane
(X) been lost
(X) been on the opposite side of the country
( ) gone to washington, dc- although i would really like to!
(X ) cried yourself to sleep- numerous times! what girl (and probably most guys if they'd admit it)hasn't
(X ) played cops and robbers- i'm sure my big brother forced me to a some time or another
(X) recently colored with crayons- i have grandkids! (although i did it before them and would even if i didn't have grandkids!)
(X) sang karaoke- the first time was on a cruise and fortunately nobody was there except my family because i sounded really bad! (and steve always says he thinks i sing good!)
(X ) paid for a meal with coins only- only when i'm out of bills
(X) done something you told yourself you wouldn't- all the time especially having to do with eating!
(X) made prank phone calls- and i've toilet papered houses with my own kids!
(X) laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
( ) caught a snowflake on your tongue- can't recall ever doing this. you gotta remember i've lived in texas most of my life
(X) danced in the rain- used to do it quite often as a kid. loved it!
(X) written a letter to santa claus
( ) been kissed under the missletoe- my husband isn't romantic
(X) watched the sunrise with someone you care about- i'm sure it has happened before
(X) blown bubbles- once again, i have grandkids and i also taught preschool for 15 years
(X) gone ice skating- once but only once! that was enough!
(X) been skinny-dipping outdoors- don't ask because i'm not telling! my kids aren't going to believe this! i can't even believe i'm admitting it!
( ) gone to the movies alone
i'm not going to tag anybody because it might put them under pressure to do this and it's a really long one. so do it if you feel like it!

STAMPIN' UP PARTY

I'm going to have a Stampin' Up party on January 27 at 7:00pm. I want to invite all of y0u come. It's going to be a lot of fun! Even if you've never stamped before come and try it out. We are going to be doing some Valentine cards. Hope you can make it! <3

MANIC/SPIRITUAL DEPRESSED/NOT SPIRITUAL

i find that when i am manic i am very spiritual and when i am depressed i am not. as you can tell lately i have been very spiritual and also very manic. i wish i could stay on the very spiritual side. i finally called the dr. on friday and he's changing my meds. hopefully that will get things under control. this up and down thing isn't a good thing, although there are perks to being manic. i get a lot done and life seems to be so much better. there are bad things too. i spend A LOT of money and that doesn't go so well with steve. i have A LOT of anxiety and that really isn't fun either. sometimes i say and do stupid things. (even more so than usual!) i can't thing of anything good about being depressed, though!!!!

PS: A VALUABLE LESSON

"... when the gospel is deeply grasped, our need to win arguments is removed, and our language becomes gracious. We don't have to ridicule our opponents, but instead we can engage them respectfully.

People who live in the moral-performance narrative use sarcastic, self-righteous putdown humor, or have no sense of humor at all. Lewis speaks of "the unsmiling concentration upon Self, which is the mark of hell." The gospel, however, creates a gentle sense of irony. We find a lot to laugh at, starting with our own weaknesses. They don't threaten us anymore because our ultimate worth is not based on our record or performance."


Carol's comments: I wish I would have read this the other day!

THE JOYS OF OCD

MY DREAM GARDEN

i want to do a garden in the back part of our backyard beyond the pool fence. i want a winding path and different points of interest along the way. (sorta like the pics above) we already have a little hill back there that was made from the dirt they dug out when they were making the pool. i want the path to wind around it, too. i already have some of the things i want too put back there somewhere like a wishing well, wheelbarrow, and quite a few cement and clay animals. my biggest wish is that we could have a gazebo back there. steve says there isn't enough room! (we have an acre lot and the house and pool probably only take up half of it! how much room does he think the gazebo would take?) he has agreed that we can do the garden sometime, though. i hope we can get started soon! i can't wait to walk down my garden path and look at all the pretties! oh yea, i would want some flowers, too. they'd have to be ones that could take care of themselves, though, or we'd have to run the sprinkler lines back there. i am a terrible gardener! i never remember to water my plants until they start drooping! steve has to water them or they'd all have been dad long ago! i would like to have some kind of little fairies back there, too. maybe part of it could be a little fairy garden! wouldn't that be cute? oh, and i forgot to say benches along the way, too, so you could sit for a while. i already have these, too. steve has put them by the horse shoe pit, volleyball court, and trampoline. see! he already has the stuff he wants back there, so it's my turn now to put the stuff i want! i can't wait. right now i never go back there. steve likes to go back there and just walk around and check out his territory, i guess. that's probably why he knows exactly how many trees we have on our lot. (it was 100 the last time i knew and he has added some since then and had to cut a few down for different reasons) all of the trees were already on the lot when we moved here except the few that steve has had planted. actually the lot was what first attracted us to the place and then when we saw the house we knew it was the right place for us! we love it here! it is so quiet and peaceful. hardly any traffic. we even see deer here sometimes! (usually in the very early morning before i get up, but i have seen them quiet a few times. they also come out at night) we have been very blessed but steve has worked VERY hard for all that we have! i just hope he doesn't work too hard and have a stoke before he gets to retirement! (strokes run in his family at an early age. his dad died of a stroke at 61 and his grandfather at 59! steve will be 55 in april! i don't want to be an early widow! i can't live with the man, but i certainly couldn't live without him! i would be lost!) between his job and his church calling he is one busy man! then when he is at home he feels guilty if he isn't always doing something! i tell him all the time he needs to learn to relax and that it's ok to relax sometimes!!!! i don't think he believes me though! his dad was the same way. the family owns a ranch and he not only worked on the ranch, but had another full time job as well. his dad only lived a few years after he took early retirement from his full time job. (the ranch was also a full time job, actually) it always makes me sad that he didn't have more time to enjoy his semi-retirement. (he would have never retired from the ranch) steve says his dad wouldn't have had it any other way. do any of you have any other idea for my garden? i like to hear them.

5 THINGS TAG

5 things in your purse:
1.wallet
2.planner
3.keys
4.phone
5.brush

5 things in your workroom:
1.craft table
2.futon
3.shelf
4.chair
5.bed-needs to be gotten out of there so i have room to craft

5 things you always wanted to do:
1.be able to paint
2.be able to draw
3.write a book
4.play the piano (i took lessons for 4 years when i was a kid, but i need a refresher)
5.play the guitar (i also took lessons for a little while but didn't stick with it long enough to learn much)

5 things you are into:
1.blogging
2.crafts
3.decorating
4.crossword puzzles
5.reading

5 bloggers you want to tag:
1.jennifer
2.liz
3.leslie
4.laura
5.lori

A VALUABLE LESSON

i learned a valuble lesson today! sometimes it's best just to keep your BIG mouth shut! (even if you are just dying to answer back). i've always known this really and i've never been very good at it! i try to do it with my husband. nothing will stop an argument like silence! (if they don't get mad at you for not answering). also when you say something out of anger just to get back at the person that's bad too! (another thing that i already knew but did anyway!) i caused a mini crisis by doing these things and almost lost a friend in the process!

PATIENCE-NOT ONE OF MY VIRTUES

“Love can only be patient when it is first grateful for what is right now.”

It is true: I can love only when I am thankful for the now. When I embrace the present as a gift, a time and place not to be afraid of, to resist and fight, but a place to welcome as a wise bestowment from a kind Father.

Love cannot be patient when I am discontented or my fears (of failure, of bedlam) drive me to micromanage. Patience can only grow in the soil of gratitude. Lack gratitude, then lack patience, and, ultimately, lack love.

Henri Nouwen suggests that

“[t]he word patience means willingness to stay where we are and live out the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will
manifest itself to us.”

Patience is only a possibility when we mindfully invite this moment to rest here, and not hurry on. And we can, because we know that this moment brings us something, something yet hidden, that will reveal itself as a gift for which we can give thanks.

Nouwen offers that “patient people dare to stay where they are. Patient living means to live actively in the present….”

I reflect on and concur: Patient pilgrims linger in the present, thankful for what is. Patient people dare to accept people where they are, grateful for who they are now, appreciative of works of art not yet finished but still deeply loved. Aren't we all just that?

Deep breathe. Love is patient. And it can only be patient when it is first grateful, receiving the present as a present... grace.


isn't this awesome! it came from the same blog as the last one HOLY EXPERIENCE..

GRATITUDE

To initially enter into thankfulness requires purposeful intent, a daily, proactive effort to maintain. To recognize our life for what it is --- recognize: see, re-think, thank -- we’ll have to have the mental and spiritual fortitude to cognitively re-create the world. To re-cognize how God continually creates beauty good in all things, the ugly too.

We can’t blankly, inattentively, stumble through the day – mindlessly moving from one mechanical task to the next – and maintain habitual gratefulness.

And that’s what we endeavor. Not simply the feeling of gratefulness -- fleeting, that -- but the virtue of gratefulness – a lifestyle of giving thanks in all things.

The emotion of gratitude flaps about according to the weather. Obliging, sunny hours, and it basks. Stormy days and it hangs, limp and beaten. The vulnerable feeling of gratefulness falls prone to circumstances.

The virtue of gratitude, however, determines its own weather. Regardless of forecasts, skies or daily events, virtuous gratitude gives wholesale thanks. “In everything, give thanks!” The robust virtue of gratefulness rises above circumstances.

And the virtue of gratitude necessitates vigilance. We’ll have to take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.

In the mess of my day, it’s clear: a lifestyle of thanks isn’t the realm of dim-witted pollyannas. Only the spiritually attentive and mentally robust can re-cognate their days, see their day with God-eyes, and hike their way to the heights of life-gratitude. Isn’t the joy worth the daily effort of the journey?

Because re-cognizing ourselves into gratitude is to enter into the exploration of God right here.


this was taken from the blog "holy experience".

DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS

This is a post from another blog I read:

Will Texas Secede the Union.... again?

from French Lique, Texas by Dixie's Whimsey

Over the Thanksgiving Holiday I received this email from one of my very dear friends, who also happens to be a very-very Texas Gal, born and bred in the country, on a ranch, in South Texas... and while this is "tongue-in-cheek", it's not too far off the beaten path of what some real Texans really think... If you doubt the truth of these words, click here to read Texas Sucession Facts. Texans are a different sort... even down here in French Lique...

* * * * * * * * * * Here's the email...

Hmmmm, let me think about this a minute.....Maybe History can repeat itself.

From The People of Texas

We Texans love y'all, but we'll have to take action since Obama won president over McCain. We'll miss you too. Texas has given all those complainers plenty of time to get used to the results. After seeing the whiners along the campaign route, the folks from Texas are considering taking matters into our hands.

Here is our solution:

#1: Let Barak Obama be President of the United States . (All 49 states.)

#2: The Republic Of Texas elects it's own conservative President.So what does Texas have to do to survive as a Republic?

1. NASA is just south of Houston , Texas . (We will control the space industry.)

2. We refine over 85% of the gasoline in the United States .

3. Defense Industry. (We have over 65% of it) The term "Don’t mess with Texas ," will take on a whole new meaning.

4. Oil - we can supply all the oil that the Republic of Texas will need for the next 300 years. Yankee states? Sorry about that.

5. Natural Gas - Again we have all we need and it's too bad about those northern states. John Kerry will figure a way to keep them warm....

6. Computer Industry - we currently lead the nation in producing computer chips and communications: Small places like Texas Instruments, Dell Computer, EDS, Raytheon, National Semiconductor, Motorola, Intel, AMD, Atmel, Applied Materials, Ball Semiconductor, Dallas Semiconductor, Delphi, Nortel, Alcatel, Etc, Etc. The list goes on and on.

7. Health Centers - We have the largest research centers for Cancer research, the best burn centers and the top trauma units in the world and other large health planning centers.

8. We have enough colleges to keep us going: UT Texas, A&M, Texas Tech, Rice, SMU, University of Houston, Baylor, UNT, Texas Women's University, Ivy grows better in the south anyway

9. We have a ready supply of workers. (Just open the border when we need some)

10. We have control of the paper industry, plastics, insurance, etc.

11. In case of a foreign invasion, we have the Texas National Guard and the Texas Air National Guard. We don't have an army but since everybody down here has at least six rifles and a pile of ammo, we can raise an army in 24 hours if we need it. If the situation really gets bad, we can always call Department of Public Safety and ask them to send over a couple Texas Rangers. (OH NO, DON'T FORGET THE LARGEST ARMY BASE IN THE FREE WORLD, FORT HOOD !!!)

12. We are totally self sufficient in beef, poultry, hogs and several types of grain, fruit and vegetables and lets not forget seafood from the gulf. And everybody down here knows how to cook them so that they taste good. Don't need any food. This just names a few of the items that will keep the Republic Of Texas in good shape. There isn't a thing out there that we need and don't have. Now to the rest of the United States under President Obama: Since you won't have the refineries to get gas for your cars, only Mr. Kerry will be able to drive around in his 9 mile per gallon SUV. The rest of the United States will have to walk or ride bikes. You won't have any TV as the space center in Houston will cut off your communications. You won't have any natural gas to heat your homes but since Mr. Gore has predicted global warming, you will not need the gas.

Signed,

The People of Texas

Have a nice day!

********************************

PS... I wasn't born in Texas, but I got his as fast as I could... *wink*wink*smil

A LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP

a lot of people blog about their pets frequently. basically i can catagorize my relatioinship with my cats as a love/hate relationship- they love me, i hate them! well......i don't exactly hate them 100% i guess. if something happened to one of them i would be sad. (at least for a day or so), hey, i'm just a sentimental person. i was sad when my daughter got rid of her dog even though i never particularly liked the dog. it was a good decision for them though. also i wouldn't have anybody to talk to during the day. i guess i'd just have to talk to myself 100% which i do all the time anyway. it can really be embarassing if you do it out loud in a public placem though! (am i talkin' to any of you out there? do you feel me?) i think if i didn't have them soon the saddness would turn into- the joys of not having a pet!!!!! please, please don't anyone turn me in to the humane society! i might get put in animal prison and have to spend the rest of my life cleaning up after all those fuzzy creatures and fixing everything that they destroy!!!! am i a hard-hearted person or just tired of the negative side of pet ownership i ask? i do think kittens and puppies are adorable (if that counts for anything) but they do always grow up!!!

CAROL NEEDS...

1.Carol needs to be grounded in some very basic things-Sounds like a good idea to me!
2.Carol needs Assessment Information Request-?????
3.Carol needs a 1995 a retired Tony Carter teapot of a chaise lounge with the gramaphone on a small table-hmmm. Sounds very interesting!
4.Carol needs our help-That's for sure!
5.Carol needs to change-I need to change my evil ways baby!
6.Carol needs a power source-I sure do!!!! I'm tired way too much!
7.Carol needs more busts-I sure do! Mine are way too small!
8.Carol needs eyes in the back of my head, Elasti-girl arms, and a magic wand-Not a bad idea! I really could of used these when I was raising kids though!
9.Carol needs the alternative GNU classpath class-I'm confused!
10.Carol needs prayers-Amen!
I saw this on another blog and thought I would try it out. You google your name and needs after it. These are the first 10 responses to mine. Try it! It's very enlightening and surprisingly quite a few of them were true!

GIVE ME A BREAK AND OLD HOME WEEK

Sugar Grove Church of Christ
11600 West Airport Blvd.
Meadows Place, TX 77477

i've been having a lot of anxiety lately and been manic a lot, but today i've been pretty even tempered! it's so nice to have a break from the tightness in my stomach that comes from anxiety!
i went back to my old church today (even though it's 45 min. away). i'm giving up trying to find one closer to fulshear that i like. none of them feel right! it felt just like going home! i think i made the right decision. i also think i had guidance with this decision!

DISCUSSIONS, DINNER, DANCING, AND DECORATING (I BOUGHT STUFF FOR DECORATING)

so steve had to go to this thing last night for church. it was a thing for the young men and young women about missionary work. they wanted people to volunteer to be people who weren't members of their church that the kids were coming to talk to about the church. the people were supposed to ask them questions. who could be better suited for this them me?(besides i didn't want to stay home alone all afternoon and night!) i thought hmmm........ this could be fun! so i prepared some really good questions to ask them with scriptures to back them up. when i got there i found out that we were supposed to only ask them questions about the topics they were assigned to talk to us about! drats!!!! i had some really good questions that i don't think they would have known the answer too. when i saw how nervous some of them were i decided that would have been kind of mean though. when i told josh jones, their bishop, about my questions he said "well.......i guess you'll just have to talk to me about them!" i don't think he thought i would say yes, but i said "i would love to!" he said he'd have us over for dinner some night and we could discuss it! i told you i love to debate! the biggest treat of the night was the dance though! steve had to chaperone for that. it was really fun to watch all those teenagers! dancing sure is different these days!!! oh yea, we got to stay for dinner too and they had a potato bar! yum yum! i'm always up for food! (and it shows!) actually the dance wasn't the best part after all now that i think about it. they had some neat shops down at the town square. i love town squares because it reminds me of the town i grew up in. i only had time to go to one of them though! i'm going to have to go back sometime to go to the other ones!

DARLING PICS OF GUESS WHO?????