Audrey's Party

Sadly, my computer is rebelling right now, so this will have to do for Audrey's party post. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

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It's Somebody's Birthday!!

Happy first birthday to my sweet baby girl! It is so hard to believe it has been a year since she was born. Why does time keep speeding up? Anyway, this time last year I was at the hospital minutes away from Miss Audrey's arrival. :) How she has changed our lives....and we are loving every second of it. Just like everyone told us, having a little girl is so different from having boys. Her daddy is enjoying "daddy's girl," and I am loving having a baby to dress up with dresses and hairbows!

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Happy Anniversary to Me!

 Jeremy and I on our wedding day

Yesterday was my and Jeremy's 8th wedding anniversary. At times it is hard to believe it has been that long, and at others, it feels like it has been forever. I am so blessed that God placed Jeremy in my life. He is a loving husband and father, a wonderful Christian man, an honest hard-working provider, and just fun to be around. ;) He is my best friend. I truly believe that God gave us to each other to have and hold forever adn always.

My parents took this week off as their vacation, and decided to come down and spend a couple of days with us. Since they were coming yesterday, we decided to go out last night (which is something that rarely happens.)  After mom and dad got here yesterday afternoon, I got my shower and Jeremy came home a little early and we went to town to run a few errands. Our all-in-one printer had died, and we needed another one, and he had a couple of jobs he needed to look at. And it. was. hot. Let me tell you. The a/c in my car is not working right, for some reason, and it was just blowing hot air back in. So after we got done with all that, we came back home to freshen up and let me nurse Audrey one more time before bedtime. We got cleaned up and got the kids settled, and headed out to Santa Fe. Yummy. We were both in a steak kind of mood, and it was good. Salad, steak, loaded baked potato, and yeast rolls. My only regret is that I got sprite instead of sweet tea. It was nice. We don't get to go out very often (remember, I mentioned that not long ago), and I can't remember the last time we actually did something for our anniversary. I know we didn't last year. Anyway. It was nice for me to just get out of the house for a few hours and not look at the same ol' walls I see every day. :)

Still happy and going strong after 8 years. :)

My Own v. 2

Since I put myself out there with a Corri original last week, I figured why not do it again. So for your enjoyment (and my inner torture?), here is a poem I wrote a couple of years ago I wrote for my grandparents for their fiftieth wedding anniversary.


Love beyond measure, good deeds untold
While walking through life, each others' hands hold.
Their fair share of thunderstorms, sorrow, and pain,
But also of sunshine, laughter, and gain.
Their goodness and values will carry on still
By those families sprung up from Bowers Hill.
Wealthy the best way, in family and friends,
Their love's part of a circle that never shall end.
In a world where so many marriages turn cold,
They have proven that true love, as it matures,
                 turns to gold.






Let me know what you think. :) If I get some positive feedback, I might get up the courage to post originals fairly regularly....maybe. ;)

My Own

I found my old poetry notebook (wow) from when I was a kid/teenager and while some of them are quite embarrassing, I thought I would share one of them with you, just for kicks. Hope you enjoy.

(written at age 16)


Looking at my life
And seeing where I've been,
Remembering what I've done
With my family and friends
My life has been a full one,
Yet there's still an empty place.
I'm not quite sure exactly what
Can fill this empty space.
I think it's to go places
That I've never been before.
That's the only way of knowing
What my dreams have laid in store.
I wast my self to be set free
And fill my soul's desire.
My mind's become inquisitive,
My heart is now on fire.
Only God, my Lord and Friend,
Knows what's in store for me,
And only He - my God - and I
Control my destiny.
Someday I'll do the things I want
And see those places far,
But for now my soul rests here, at home,
Where my friends and family are.

What a Weekend!

If you have missed me the past few days (you have, right?), we were in Thach with my family for our annual 4th of July festivities. We stayed busy busy, but we had a lot of fun. :) And here are pictures to prove it. ;)

Stylin' in Moma's shades

Tyler lazing in the pool.

Jeremy and Troy

Jeremy tossing Ty

Audrey multitasking - swimming and eating her toes.

Audrey at Moma Kat and Grandeddy's

Ty at Moma Kat and Grandeddy's on the 4th.

Tenleigh loving on Troy.

Audrey and Papa

Troy and Charity needed a drink.

The boys and Addison watching the fireworks.

Hanging with the Matlocks.

Audrey was trying to get the fireworks. :)

Debatable best seat in the house...Daddy's shoulders

Other best seat in the house...top of the van.

Now This is how you watch fireworks.

 

Buddies. :)

Where I'm From

Just found this great idea from Mary over at Owlhaven. If you want to join in on the "Where I'm From" fun, click here for the format and some more information about how this started. :)

Where I'm From

I am from hay fields, John Deere and Massey Ferguson, and Chevy trucks.

I am from Bowers Hill, where there was volleyball on Saturday nights and chicken stew on the Fourth of July.

I am from lightning bugs on summer nights, beautiful fall maples, and fruit trees and grape vines on the hill.

I am from church on Sundays and sticking to your guns. From Bowerses and Holts, Abernathys and Raneys.

I am from the singers and the music makers, the cut-ups and the storers of useless information. The baby-lovers and respected elders. The flash and fizzle tempers, and the peace-makers.

From "Remember who you are" and "You can do anything."

I am from loving God and following His Word. From loving your neighbor as yourself, doing what you can when you can, always telling the truth, and forgiving your brother.

I am from small town, USA, with Moma Kat's home cooking, and home made ice cream on hot summer nights.

From all those surprise "over the hill" roasts at the clubhouse, swimming and a picnic every Thursday with our friends and family. From learning to play softball in the yard with my dad, and Moma Kat reading "The Monster at the End of the Book" complete with Grover's voice. From playing Ninja Turtles with my brother, and kicked in doors.

I am from spiral bound, sticky paged photo albums, and pictures in frames all over the house. Pink shelves with birthday girl figurines and Grandsam's handmade treasures. I am from singing favorite songs in beautiful harmony with those you love. I am from knowing there was always someone there, and hugs and kisses from everyone when it is time to say goodbye.

More Graduation Reflections

Ok, this time I am thinking in the opposite direction.

At one point during the graduation ceremony Friday night, I leaned over to Jeremy and said."Just think...in 13 short years, it will be our oldest baby walking across that stage." He looked at me and told me he was thinking the exact same thing.

Ironically, it has been 13 years since Jeremy graduated high school. The class that walked this year is the one that replaced Jeremy's class of '98. Ty's class will be the one to replace this year's class. It is one endless generational circle.

It all boils down to....they grow up too fast. ;(

This was also hit home to me that same night when I went to check on the boys before I went to bed. I always go in there to make sure they are covered up and not half hanging off the bed or something. When I got in there, Ty had his frog (his lovey) in the headboard of his bead instead of being snuggled up with it. I almost cried. I know, he is 5. But he loves his frog, and not only sleeps with it every night, but carries it all over the house when he is awake (which results in endless hunting for it on my part.) And yes, he did snuggle up with it the next night. But the growing up has started. And while I don't want to stop it - I do want to see him grow and learn and eventually become the wonderful young man I know he will be - I would like for it to slow down. Just a little. Please?

Ty, 2 months old, with his frog

Graduation-time Reflections

Man how the time flies.

We are planning to go to Jeremy's cousin's high school graduation tonight. Then I realized it has been almost a decade since my own high school graduation. Nine years this year! Where did the time go?

In some ways it feels like a million years ago. In others, it seems like it was just yesterday that we were getting our diplomas. So much has happened since then. I have:

~Gotten married
~Finished college
~Built a house
~Delivered 3 babies
~Babysat SEVERAL more
~Gained family and friends
~Lost family and friends

And so much more. It's amazing how much you can pack into nine years of life. Wonder how full the next 9 will be??

So to Haley and all the other young'uns who will be graduating in the next couple of weeks, congratulations and best wishes. Live every minute to its fullest. Love to your heart's fullest extent. Pack in as many memories as you can. But keep things simple. It makes everything mean so much more.