Summer, Summer, Summertime!

Yesterday was a GOOD DAY. Bobby and I decided to go swimming, but thought we'd see how the girls liked the pool. As long as I've had Jewel, (8 years...she was 3 when I adopted her) I've never seen her swim. She does, however, LOVE LOVE LOVE playing under the waterhose! We thought she would LOVE the pool.

Um, wrong! She is NOT a graceful swimmer at all! Bobby took her in the shallow end and she KERPLUNKED her way back to the steps. It sounded the way you'd imagine a sumo wrestler to sound when he swims. Poor Jew Jew Beans!

Ok, one pup down, one to go.

When Wookie was a tiny pup (less than 3 months) I took her for a walk at the county lake (back in GA). For some reason unknown to anyone but that Noodle, she jumped into the lake when we got to the edge. She was the cutest little puppy and swam a perfect little mini circle right back out. She has hated water since! She is too much of a "pretty girl."

So, you can understand why I had my doubts about Wookie and the pool getting along famously. She clutched Bobby and put her sweet little head on his shoulder as if to say, "Please, daddy, don't do this."

He let her go in the shallow end, and she did a perfect little doggie paddle to the steps. Much like me, she does her best to swim without getting her hair wet. Soooo precious!

So, yes, I tortured my pups for the sake of photography. These will make cute scrapbook pages, so it was totally worth it! And besides, the girls got treats for their brave efforts!

Finally, it was OUR swim time! We stayed in the pool ALL day! What a blast! PopBob and Grammy joined us for the afternoon. Bobby made drinks for us, and we ended the day at The Backdoor.

I am LOVING summer vacation! I hope August is an eternity away!

I attended the funeral service of a young woman who is the sister of a dear friend of ours. She was a beautiful Christian girl. I never had the pleasure of meeting her, but my husband grew up with her and her brother and his memories are fond.

I am heavy hearted today. Even though we know she is with the Lord this very moment, it's hard sometimes to find the joy when a young person passes.

You just don't realize how much you love someone until you see them hurting either physically or emotionally. It's difficult to want so badly to somehow just wipe it away for them and make it like it never happened. We certainly wish we could do that for our friend and his family today.

We know that God is good all the time. He knows our every need. It's so easy to forget that when times are dark, but praise God-His word is true even in the darkest moments. ESPECIALLY in the darkest moments.

We will certainly be praying for this family in the many days, weeks, and months ahead. Those are surely to be the most difficult.

I am so proud of this little community...my little "New Some Place." They don't hesitate to turn out by the hundreds when one of their own is in need. It really is a family.

I couldn't help but thinking today, as I stood just two feet from that tent, two of my family members on my right, and two of my close friends on my left: this will be me some day. This will be ALL of us some day.

Just as certain as we all took a first breath, we will take a last. I am so thankful that Jesus saw fit to pay the price for my unworthy soul. I am so thankful that my home is not this world, and that the best part of my existance is yet to come!

One of my favorite songs was sung at the service today. It's the Chris Tomlin version of Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone). I think I will close my post for today with the lyrics of that song.

Amazing grace

How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost, but now I'm found

Was blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace my fears relieved

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed

My chains are gone

I've been set free

My God, my Savior has ransomed me

And like a flood His mercy rains

Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me

His word my hope secures

He will my shield and portion be

As long as life endures

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow

The sun forbear to shine

But God, Who called me here below

Will be forever mine

Will be forever mine

You are forever mine

Around Town

Just wanted to quickly share a few pictures I took for a challenge called Around Town. Due to the non stop rain, I didn't get as many pictures as I wanted, and didn't get them posted to the challenge in time. These were my favorites, and they are all of the courthouse.

Again, the weather was yucky this day, but oh well. What can you do?

I'm really working on keeping the camera with me all the time and trying to see photos from perspectives I wouldn't normally.

I will be entering several photos in the MS Wildlife Extravaganza again this year. I'm certainly not expecting anything, but I've challenged myself to submit SOMETHING each year. I'm sticking to it! :)

That's it for now...just a quick blog update!

Go Fish!

It was a pretty dull weekend around these parts for ME, but the hubs had some fun with his buddy, Jay! The guys left Friday night for Shell Beach, Louisiana for some fishing with the Fishing Magician charters. Bobby and I went for his birthday last month, and had scheduled this trip within days of returning home. However, since the battle with the stones, I decided I'd best not take this trip. Lucky for Jay! He gladly took my place and lovingly told me I could get sick anytime. :) What a pal! They caught their limit of speckled trout and had a great time.

I'm still not convinced that Emily wouldn't love it if she was catching fish every time the bait hit the water! :) Maybe one day we can convince her to give it a try. To make it a fair trade, I will garden with her one Saturday morning...bleh.

This was my first time in the new house alone for a night, and it was weird. I never knew our house made so many noises that sounded JUST like a raging lunatic burglar doing his best to enter! Thankfully, I had my vicious fluffy girls to protect me! Yeah right! I'm sure they'd gladly hand me over to the lunatic burglar in exchange for a belly rub!

Tonight, Bobby took the trout out of the fridge and cooked some up for me and his mom. It was very good. I think I will permit him to go again VERY soon! :)

If you're ever down Louisiana way look up the Fishing Magician. Johnny Nunez is awesome, and you can tell him we sent you! http://www.rodnreel.com/fishingmagician/

Out of (automatic) Focus

I'm working on my photogaphy skills. My challenge this week is flowers (thanks twopeasinabucket.com). The idea is to get as close as you can to the flower and lower the aperature as low as possible and still have the flower in focus. It allows the background to be blurred. I think it looks amazing compared to automatic focus.

These are the shots I got today. Im going to keep working on this throughout the week and will post my best.

It's Over!!!

I totally had myself worked up over something that ended up not being *that* bad. Don't get me wrong, I woke up in A LOT of pain, but it's managable with the meds. I'm very sore...think having a horse kick you in the kidney. It even hurts to breathe, but it's OVER!!

My mother in law took me in for the procedure around noon today. She was great. When I woke up in recovery, the first thing I asked was if they could go get her. They wouldn't, of course, but told me that they would be taking me to her very shortly.

Isn't it weird how HEAVY your limbs feel after anethesia? God, I DO love an anethesiologist though. I *heart* they way they make you feel NO pain!

When I got home, my sweet husband had flowers and balloons for me. He even had the couch set up for me: remote controls, laptop, heating pad, drinks...he is so thoughtful!

My furry children new something was wrong. Especially Jewel. She would not stay off of me. She is a sensitive girl and knows when someone is upset or feels bad. Wookie, however, is NOT liking that she's not the center of attention right now. And she really doesn't like that my "sick" table is in her way. *sigh* drama queen!

Here's a little slide show of some pics that Bobby took today. Enjoy!

Happy Mother's Day!

Like all holidays, Mother's Day is a little bittersweet for me. We need to remember that it isn't all warm and fuzzy for everyone, and not everyone can appreciate their mothers. However, we can all forgive, and I've learned that by forgiving, I am honoring my mother in the best way that I can.


To those who can relate I'd like to say: FORGIVE. Pray without ceasing until you are able to forgive, because carrying unforgiveness will eat you alive from the inside out, AND learn to appreciate the mature women in your life that love and mother you (or others) that they did not birth. They are out there. You know the type...the women that could mother a rock, because they are THAT good at it. Seek them and pray for God to send them into your life.

I am so blessed to have such a wonderful mother in law (I hate attaching "in law"). She has loved me more in the past three years than I ever believed possible. I thank God for her. She is amazing.


Enjoy the photos!

Using Up My Stash (well, trying anyway)

I have so much scrapbooking stuff, that if I didn't buy ONE thing from now until this day NEXT year, I'd still have plenty!! So, today, I grabbed some older stuff. I made these two layouts using some older Cherry Arte papers and rubons. I even whipped out those metal embellishments from (literally) the first few months I started scrapping oh....EIGHT years ago! It may not be magazine worthy, but I'm proud for workin' the old stuff!

I'm such a product snob, that I feel as though I have to have the newest of the new the INSTANT it's available (I prefer to preorder new releases). Doing this obviously keeps me excited about the new, and I forget about the old. Trust me, the "old" is just a few months old. I can't scrap as fast as I buy, but I love trying! So, just two layouts for today. Hopefully a couple more tomorrow!

Getting Ready to Get it Over With!

I've read another book! That makes 12, so far, for 2009. I had originally set a goal of 100 books for this year, but I see now that is totally unrealistic! Maybe I will shoot for 50.

Firefly Lane is a quick read. It's about friendships, and childhood, and growing up. It's about learning how to love and losing love. It's full of emotion and is probably one of the best "chick" books I've read. I tend to steer clear of these types, but this one is different. It has some depth to it, and I will admit, my husband was concerned when I cried (ok, openly wept) while reading this book. It was touching. I recommend it!

I had my pre-op today for the lithotripsy on Monday. I'm scared out of my mind, and SO ready for it to be over with!! I think I was having flashbacks to my foot surgery while at the hospital today. I was nearly in full blown panic mode. I SO started to just walk out!

Bobby won't be able to go with me on Monday, but that's ok! My sweet mother in law will be with me, and she likes to baby! That's taking some getting used to from me. I don't think I've EVER really been "babied" in my entire life.

We are looking forward to Mother's Day on Sunday! My mother in law, father in law, and grandmother in law will join us for brunch after church. We are in the final stages of menu planning, and I have been SMART this year! I've managed a full menu of things that can be prepared ahead (mostly). I usually spend all day in the kitchen to prepare dinner, but not this year! I'm working on being more relaxed. I am excited to spend time with these two wonderful mothers...oh and presents! Presents are ALWAYS good!! :)

Well, that's all for now. I hope to spend some time scrapbooking tomorrow. I will post new layouts before the weekend is over! Have a great weekend!

More Scrappy Goodness

These are a few layouts I've done in the past week or so. I've really been inspired by the challenges at twopeasinabucket.com If you've never checked out the site, you should! Great online shopping, message boards, challenges, contests, gallery, and more. If you're scrappy, you're sure to be inspired!

That's it for now! More later ;)

So, lets talk books. I've been reading up a storm lately and just finished Jodi Picoult's newest, Handle with Care. It's about a couple who has a child born with OI (Osteogenesis Imperfecta) which is basically known as Brittle Bone disease. Picoult keeps true to her well known style of writing and includes a twist ending. Her books always leave me feeling like someone just knocked the wind out it me, and it takes a few days to recover from her books. Although I always know it's coming, I'm never prepared. If you haven't read this one, pick it up. I recommend it.

I'm currently reading Firefly Lane. So far, it's pretty good. I feel like the character development is moving a little too fast to be realistic, but I will see where it goes.

These are some of the layouts I have completed recently. Just thought I'd share a few. I've got some new product to work with, and that's always fun! I've really been inspired to scrapbook by challenges on different scrappy websites. It's helped me to come out of my comfort zone by participating in these challenges. Enjoy!

Still no stone. :( Going to see a urologist tomorrow. Hopefully he/she can get this thing out of me!

Strawberries=Summer time!

You know summer is here when fresh produce abounds. Here's some snapshots of the beautiful Louisiana strawberries we bought last weekend. I love to go ahead and wash them, cut the caps, and bag them up-that way, we can grab a handful every time we pass the fridge! YUM!

Tomorrow is National Scrapbooking Day! Happy NSD to all those scrappers! I hope to be alone in my scrapbook room for the entire day!

Still no stone yet :( but not much pain today either, so thats a good thing! Happy weekend!