Touched.

see these rings

Happy Tuesday! Oh my gosh, why can't it be Thursday?! I'm zonked from staying up late to watch the Olympics.  I love the Olympics.  I love the patriotic camaraderie we all seem to have surrounding our team.  We cheer them on from our couches and become experts in every sport every four years. Outside of the Olympics, I would never watch most of this stuff. I'm just not sports oriented.

I will say I'm tired of the bashing NBC has received over delayed viewing. HOWEVER, I will also ask why they only put the gymnastics very last? Let the pool people stay up until midnight, I need my sleep!

Speaking of sleep, guess who visited my house last night. Katie was suffering from a migraine so mom brought Macy to my house while she helped Katie out until Roger got home.  Little Miss wanted to pitch a hissy fit until we went outside on the glider, where she immediately passed out.

Property of Leen Machine

I opened my mail box and found the most wonderful present of all - a letter from my friend, Paulene, written on a card she designed especially for me! Ok, maybe not only for me, but inspired by our friendship, which I cherish greatly.  She is sharing these cards with everyone!

Visit her blog here and download these free printable for you to share with people you love and care about.  You can never tell someone enough time how much they mean to you.  And I believe having it written down is even better because it's something you can tangibly hold on to and read over and over.

I remember when my ex deployed, I carried his letters with me in my purse and would read them over and over. I'd print out emails, too, but seeing his handwriting was so much more special.  Especially when I was missing him so much and he was so far away.  ... *sigh*  So go, NOW, and print these cards out to send to someone you love!

Love... Macy Love. :)  You know you wanted to see more pictures of her. Just admit it.

OK, I think I've bent your ear long enough (or crossed your eyes long enough??) anyway - go enjoy the rest of your day/week. And thanks for visiting my blog today. You've made my day! :)

Muffin Monday

Muffin and I are exhausted after staying up so late to watch the Olympics. She was nice enough to let me sleep until the alarm went off this morning. I don't think she was awake, either.

Have a great week and go Team USA!

posted from Bloggeroid

Friday's Letters - 4

Dear Paulene, Thank you for understanding my passion for Lizard's Thicket. No where else can you get carrot raisin salad and it is just so delicious. It was also super awesome catching up with you and seeing how totally happy you are in life. You inspire me every day! I'm very thankful for your friendship! :)

Dear voters, I spent most of this week trying to call you to say your card bounced back in the mail to us. I really want you to vote in November, so can you please work with me and get your address corrected?

Dear Muffin, seriously, what is up with all the new habits you are forming? You are 11 - 12 years old? Why are you now destroying my sequinned flipflops and licking the floor? It's bizarre, weird and kinda creeps me out. Can you please go back to being semi-normal?

Dear Twitter, You are keeping me up in the middle of the night, reading what people are doing all over the world. It's really creating some sleep deprivation that is screwing my system up. 


Dear Macy, your poor little tummy has not been happy... well... pretty much since you were born. I hope this clears up soon and you sleep better at night. Hearing you cry breaks my heart.  But you are still incredibly cute and adorable. :) 

Dear Olympics, OH MY GOSH, you are starting TONIGHT and I'm so excited! Can't wait can't wait can't wait! :)  I have a Twitter list of a dozen Olympic-themed tweeters just to keep up with all the action! Gymnastics are my favorite but I'll sit around and watch about anything. Have I said I can't wait!? EEIIIKKKKKKKK! :)

Join the fun here! 

Thirty Things on Thursday -1

As I was stumbling around on blogs that I've discovered from Friday's Letters, I found someone posting about Thirty Things.  I think I'm a bit late on this, but I loved the concept. More info about the original Thirty Things is located here. 

I don't typically take time to evaluate things too heavily.  But, this could be fun.  A new game for Thursdays, if nothing else. :)  Here is this first question:

1.   List 20 random facts about yourself.

Wow. That's a lot. Here goes nothing: 

1. My family is awesome. I am so very blessed to have the family I do and I try not to take it for granted. 
2. I am very thankful to have God in my life and have made an effort to become closer to Him. I am no where laughably near being where I need to be, but I'm praying and working on it. :) 
3. Our military are heroes in my book. I pray for them and their families.
4. Being an aunt is one of the best things I've ever accomplished in my life and not really had to do anything to claim the title! Love it! My nieces are great. 
5. I'm a chunky monkey. I haven't always been a chunky monkey and I'm taking baby steps to change it. Please say a prayer that God gives me the strength I need because this is not where I should be in life. It's not easy to change bad habits! 
6. Speaking of unhealthy...I'm a beefaterian. The only meat I eat is Beef. 
7. Yes, this means I don't eat bacon. Or fish. Or chicken. (Keep asking, I'll keep saying nope.)
8. Writing is a passion of mine. Love it. Have three pen pals across America and two guys I'm sending letters to overseas right now. 
9. I write a monthly column for a local "magazine." It's not glossy - it's newsprint - filled with nothing but columns from writers covering topics from the law, car care, internet tips, cooking, politics, storytelling, history, etc. 
10. I honestly enjoy people, what makes them different, special, their stories, talents, skills and so on. 
11. I am VERY PROUD to be Southern. I was glad to get my Southern accent back once I lost it in college. It makes me mad when people portray us as uneducated just because we have a drawl. 
12. I really enjoy quotes - quotes about any and everything.  I look up quotes for inspiration frequently.
13. Every Monday, I post a new picture of my furbaby, Muffin, who has been my sidekick for about 11 or so years. She's my companion, my buddy... 
14. I do wonder sometimes what's wrong with me that I haven't found my mate yet. I laugh when people say, "We'll, if he's in his 30's and never married, something must be wrong with him!" but really, those types of comments kinda hurt. Because I'm 36 and never been married. 
15. Everything makes me think of a song, a cheer, a marketing jingle... the girls in the office just love it. I sing and cheer all day long - whenever someone says something that sets off a song in my head. 
16. If I don't know the words to a song, I'll substitute the word, "Meow." So I meow a lot, too. My niece, Macy, will end up saying, "Meow," as her first word since that's how I sing to her all the time. 
17. There is a special place in my heart for people with disabilities. 
18. I'm very blessed with friends in my life - I just wished some of them lived closer. My friends range in ages from their mid-20's to their 60's and I think that's awesome. 
19. Christmas is my most all-time favorite season. Love it love it love it. I used to love my birthday, but I'm loving it a little less. 
20. I didn't realize how hard it would be to come up with 20 things to say about myself. Not that anyone is still reading because seriously, who finds this interesting? OH! but I thought of one more - I enjoy photograhy! So there, a true 20! 

Wow. I'm kinda glad that is done.  I'm really sorry I have bored you with this. Next Thursday, I guess I'll try to work on the next question.  Here is the complete list below.  

2.   Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3.   Describe your relationship with your parents.
4.   List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5.   What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6.   What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7.   What is your dream job, and why?
8.   What are 5 passions you have?
9.   List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrasing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misundertand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for.

Catch Up

I finally have a moment to breathe and caught up on my blog reading.  I hate it when I put it off, but enjoy seeing all the cool entries all at once, too. The photos, recipes, updates on life, inspirations - makes for a fun block of time. :)

Image from  http://paulenecruse.blogspot.com 

One thing I didn't want to miss - nor do I want YOU to miss - are these awesome printable bookmarks by my friend, Paulene. VISIT HER BLOG here to print your very own colorful bookmark and share one with a friend!  Yes, this would be Paulene that I saw this weekend. I'm sometimes amazed that I personally know such talented people.  She is super talented, nice and a really good friend. 

PS - don't try to print from that picture to the right. That is what she used to promote it on her website. Just click the picture or the link above and GO TO THE actual download page for crystal clear printable. 

____________________________________

On a totally unrelated note, I've been following all these countries on Twitter who are part of the Rotation Curation project.  Each week the country is represented by a new tweeter! It's a great concept, began by @sweden and now I believe there are fifty or more countries involved. It's been so cool to see photos from all over the world in real time. One guy (@travisbutler representing @WeAreAustralia) even took my random directions for his next 5 turns (left, left, right, left, right) and took a picture of where he ended up. How cool is that? Pretty neat.  

Anyway, so I have been taking more pictures of my drive into work and sharing periodically with the world because so many aren't from a countryside type of environment.  You know, where public transportation is non-existent and the cows are grazing on the hillside? Anyway, here are a few recent shots.  Extremes within one season: 

Same road. One on the way to work and one on the way home from work.  Love the shadows on the road cast by the clouds in the second picture.  Of course, it ended up storming fiercely later that evening... 

Anyway, I can't sign off without leaving you with one more Macy photo to just make your day! 

Muffin Monday

Muffin demonstrates the stages of a proper body curl.

Hope your weekend was a good one and that your upcoming week is even better.

On a serious note, my prayers are with the people of Colorado. May God give them strength, comfort, healing, and peace.

posted from Bloggeroid

Friends and family filled

Yesterday was just wonderful. I spent my morning cuddling my sweet niece, singing and rocking and watching her just be cute.




We played and snuggled most of the morning. Until time was running out and I had to kick it into gear...I was heading to Cola town to visit Paulene! Went to my favorite restaurant, Lizards Thicket! Thankfully, she understand my obsession.



Hated it was only three hours, I really wanted it to be longer. The strong storms that periodically blew through addled my brain. Especially seeing straight down lightning behind her head we were saying goodbye. But the visit was wonderful, she's doing so well and is so happy! Great visit!

I really need to get moving this morning- family reunion for lunch and I need to start cooking. One of the big mamajamas. Some of the best food...and lots of chicken buckets. :( But lots of family I don't see very often and that's the point, right?

I invited my friend, Sara. Her family is in Mexico and Michigan so she doesn't get to do family reunions. I took her to one a few years ago, because everyone needs to experience a family reunion. Especially one with Southern food! So many folks were tickled to have a new "family member."

Well, since this stuff isn't going to cook itself, I suppose I should get moving...

posted from Bloggeroid

Friday's Letters - 3

Dear co-worker, thank you for not killing me on the way to Columbia for training. I had already texted Donna to come looking for me on the side of the interstate if I didn't call her Monday night.

Dear God, thank you for not letting my co-worker kill me on the way to Columbia for training. And thank you for the beautiful scenery (considering it was an interstate drive...)

Dear Bobby the Mechanic, thank you for checking to see if the second car problem was covered under warranty.  There is no way I could have afforded it, so free was wonderful! I'd never known if you hadn't checked. YAY! 

Dear Toyota people:  I know you want excellent survey ratings, but telling me, "Everything below an excellent is failing," isn't the way to get honest high scores. But you did fix the car for free and didn't have to do that, so you'll probably get high scores. I'd appreciate an outlet in your waiting room, however, and something on tv besides "Let's Make a Deal."

Dear Boring Verizon Guy:  I tried to make you laugh, even though I was the customer, and you still remained totally deadpan. No personality. No humor. I feel certain you are married and here I am, can't find a decent date to save my life, and I actually do have a personality. *sigh* Life isn't fair.

Dear God, THANK YOU for giving Macy a really good check up this week. How can she get cuter every week? Is that possible? Must be, because she is. I have much to thank You for, actually, but that's between me and You. 

Join the fun here!

Thursday.

So I'm sitting at the Toyota place, hoping they are going to get Millicent (what I named my car) back up and running at top speeds. My visit here had started with two strikes.

1) They don't have outlets in the waiting area for my phone; and
2) The tv was set on "Let's Make a Deal" when I got here. Seriously? People actually watch this?

On the positive side, the guy that helped me is adorably cute and covered in freckles. And he isn't a red head! Just freckled. Cute!

Thankfully, the car is covered under the warranty so this shouldn't cost me anything and I get a free wash! A clean Millicent with a new wheel bearing (sp??) and new tires is a happy Millicent! (my old car, bless her heart, was named Bertha...sometimes Beulah... and was just a work horse!)

Guess I'll hang here and catch up on the local news. Wish ya'll were all here to entertain me! :)

posted from Bloggeroid

Muffin Monday

Good morning, my friends. At least, I'm assuming you are reading this on Monday morning and not Sunday night...

Regardless, check out Muffin's new favorite spot, my recliner. You know, the only seat without towels down to keep it from becoming furred up. I think she knows this and made this her new spot for this very reason. :)

Have a great week...hope you'll stay cool!

posted from Bloggeroid

Friday's Letter - 2

Dear Dad, Thank you for letting me borrow the truck all this week.  I have enjoyed your sense of humor as people try to figure it out...

Dear Grace, I'm so thankful we got together this week under the disguise of delivering Thirty-One orders.  Seeing people I don't get to see often, yet think so highly of, really makes my day. 






Dear Ellie, Sister Beth and Donna, thanks for coming to visit Macy.  She'll grow into her wrist rattles soon, I'm sure, and we'll be left wondering how she grew so quickly. 




Dear brother, I hope your 41 year, beginning this past Wednesday, brings about huge joys and blessings.  I'm thankful you are my brother (even if I never tell you things like that!). 


Dear Internet, thank you for teaching me the correct way to toast coconut and pecans (top of picture) so they don't end up a burnt greasy mess (bottom of picture).  My O' Susanna pies thank you, too. 






Dear Macy, Here is a new picture of you from this week. You keep changing, growing, being adorably cute, and stealing my heart.  I love how you watch everything, do these funny half-smiles when you start to doze off to sleep, pitch a screaming mimi when you are hungry and prefer one brand and one brand only of passies. :)

You are welcome to write your own letter & link up here!

Happy (Belated) Birthday, Brother.

Happy Birthday to You!! Happy Birthday to You!! Happy Birthday, goober older brother!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday to You!!  (Since we didn't sing to you last night... )

Clay, my older brother. My only brother! What can you say about Clay? *laugh* heaven help, so much. He's just hilarious. He's rarely serious unless he needs to be. He is a hard worker, super talented, artistic and logical at the same time. He has a big heart for animals. Can make an amazing cheesecake, pecan pie, and about anything you put on the grill.

He is 100% our father, made over again. Well, ok, about 90% our father, with enough of our mother to make him a perfectionist. So all of Dad's construction skills with Mom's perfectionist tendencies.

Growing up with him was very interesting. He went from redneck to "refined." But he's always had this goofy sense of humor that is super quick and very hilarious. I don't think I've seen any two people work harder than him and Angela - whatever is needed is what they'll do.

Clay and his mermaid, Angela! (hahaha!)  Aren't they a beautiful couple? Happy Birthday, Clay! I hope it was a good one - we really enjoyed having the family together for the evening! :)

To Do...

I follow a few random blogs, in addition to "people blogs," and I just fell in love with this! I'm addicted to Post-It notes anyway, so this is a great way to keep organized while using my adorably colored posties!  Don't you love it?  Visit Design Fixation for more addictive things... 

This idea also came from there - The Great Wall O' Clip Boards for easy viewing and changing.  Super efficient and super cute. I could see this in Paulene's workspace.  She's cool like that.

Thanks to my wonderful parents, I have additional tabletop workspace in the house, so I'm thinking I need to get back on those scrapbooks I was making and selling at one time. I need to use up some of the millions of sheets of paper I've purchased! We'll see if I can get focused and work on it!

Muffin Monday

Even though Muffin is an indoor kitty, I think she knows it's burning up hot outside!  I think it's making her sleepy and lazy like the rest of us.  Here she is pictured in my spare bed at home. I call it my niece's bed, since she spent a few nights at my house. :)  

So thankful for a break in the weather this week, or so the weatherman says. I'll believe it when I see it. Ya'll have a good one!

posted from Bloggeroid

Due date

Today was Macy's scheduled due date. Two days ago she celebrated
her three week birthday! I guess she was a bit too excited and couldn't wait any longer to join the family.

She has already changed so much... From this to this!










I pray for many wonderful things for her. She's such a blessing!

posted from Bloggeroid

Friday's Letter - 1.

I discovered this fun concept from my friend, Paulene, located here.

Dear Macy - I could hold you for hours every day and still find something different about you minute by minute. I'm so thankful God blessed our lives with you!
Dear Sherry - THANK YOU for bringing your joy into my home, if only for one night.  My entire family glowed from just being around you that brief amount of time. I'm thankful for your wonderful friendship. 

Dear Petition - I am cross-eyed from reading all your signatures. Although, it's kinda cool to see all the different types of signatures in this world. But I cringe thinking of all the germs floating around on your paper... 


Dear Rosebud - I'm so thankful for MiMaw, who read the directions and finally figured you out. Granted, you still need ears, but I'm sure that will come in time. If I ever buy another Sock Monkey Kit again, it will be too soon.  

Dear America - I'm so proud to be one of your citizens.  I'm thankful to your many troops and their families who have fought throughout the years for your freedoms and way of life.  Happy Birthday!














You can do it too! :) 

Celebrate.

This is how I spent the Fourth of July this year:

Quality time with Rosebud the Sock Monkey. Yes, a sock monkey "kit" that included directions and two socks. Not much of a kit in my opinion.  Thank goodness for MiMaw!

Quality time with Macy, the little Fourth of July cutie! Linda wanted to hold her, too! :) 

Hope you had a happy holiday, too!

Land of the Free.

What a blessing to live in the United States of America. What an honor to tell those who fought for our freedom, those who continue to do so today, thank you.

"This country will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." - Elmer Davis

God bless you and your families, may He give you strength and safety.

And Happy Birthday, America!

posted from Bloggeroid

Who Wants a Vacation?

With all we had happening this summer, like the birth of our newest edition, we knew our yearly trek to the beach would be postponed this year.

I decided to take a week off anyway, dividing it between last week and this week, heading back after the Fourth holiday.

Let me say this week of family and friends has been awesome. I had quality time with my oldest niece, AH. She is so funny and energetic. Will crack you up. And then will snuggle up to you and make you feel like a million bucks.



I got snuggle time with my new niece, Macy. Of course I could have used more! But she is so beautifully perfect. And her doctor appointments this week turned out well. :)



Having time with Donna and Ellie is always a treat. Having Ellie ask, "Is Friend Beth coming to dinner?" Precious.

And the biggest surprise of all...Sherry shows up for a visit! Sherry lives in Alabama and I visited her lady year. That blog entry is here!  And it all still applies a year later. :)

So this week has rocked. And I still have another day before heading back to work! !!! So awesome!

posted from Bloggeroid

Muffin Monday

I've taken some time off from work, split between two weeks. Muffin is not amused at having me home for this amount of time. Here, she is laying on top of me, reminding me that 1) she's still ruler of the bed and 2) it's past her breakfast time.

Hope you are being safe in this horrible heat and taking care of your furry family, too!

posted from Bloggeroid

Shhhhhh.....

Sweetest thing you're ever seen? I agree. She had her first visit to church today and slept the whole time. She is just adorable. Already I can see her changing. She won't be little for long!

posted from Bloggeroid