#14 (From Facebook's 25 Random Things)

#14 I used to play in my attic when I was a kidMy attic, as a child, looked a lot like this one.  It wasn't full, but had lots of boxes and old stuff.  It was mostly Christmas decorations, probably.  When I was still in elementary school my sister had an accident that involved the garage door being torn down. (won't go into that one here) After that, we decided to enclose the garage and make it a "play room" complete with pool table.  I loved hanging out in that room.  One day I decided I wanted to see what was in the attic.  It's one of those doors that pulls down from the ceiling with the folding ladder.  I went in the attic and decided it was pretty fun.  I took toys up there and had my own little special get away.  I remember playing school up there and reading, probably even took my meals up there.  I asked my dad the other day if he knew that I did this.  He doesn't remembering knowing about it.  You know it gets pretty hot in an attic and when I opened the door to play, I'm sure I let all that hot air into the house.   Not very smart.  But when you aren't paying the bills, you don't really care.  Fun childhood memories!!!  

#13 (From Facebooks 25 Random Things)

#13 I've always thought my sister was beautiful (still do)


This is my big sister, Melanie (with her sweet husband, Woody) Melanie is almost 7 years older than me. I was born two weeks early and my mother missed Melanie's dance recital because of me. I'm sure Melanie and my mom have forgiven me but I'm reminded of that fact often. My sister is loved by many. She is a wife to Woody (for 25 years), a mother to Zach and Hannah, an aunt, a daughter, a friend and my sister. I love her very much.

I've always loved being with my sister. I looked up to her so much. We used to play together a lot when we were little.

We had our favorite foods that my mother used to make. And dreaded some days when she made certain things. We went on several camping trips through the years and even survived sharing a bed in a small camper.

Melanie is a beautiful person inside and out. Look how cute she was as a little girl. I can remember wanting to be just like her when I got older.

I know I probably drove her crazy, wanting to be in her room all the time and wanting to know what she was doing and who she was with.

I don't ever remember her getting mad at me or yelling at me. She may have, but I don't remember. Maybe I blocked all that out because I only wanted to remember the good parts. From the picture below, you can tell I wanted to be with her all the time. I couldn't even let her take a birthday picture without me.

Even during her "awkward" years, I thought she was pretty. The picture below looks like our mother had a few "awkward" years too. Ha Ha!!

When Melanie was in high school she was on the dance team. Of course, I thought that was awesome. I used to sit down on the gym floor of the basketball games close to the cheerleaders because they knew my sister and I thought they should know me too. I'm sure Melanie could have killed my mother for letting me do that.

My sister has been there for me through the years. From broken hearts, to health issues, from the births of our children to moving out of town. She is there to listen with me, cry with me, laugh with me and now working at the church with me. I never thought in a million years that my husband would be my sister's pastor. But, she doesn't treat me like her pastor's wife, to her I'm just her little sister.

Thank you, Melanie for being there for me, for praying for me and for supporting me. I've always thought you were beautiful and I still do.

#12 (From Facebook's 25 Random Things)

#12 I wish I had a small, inside dog

Growing up we always had small, inside dogs. You know the type that love on you when you come home, the type that will sit in your lap and cuddle with you.

This is my dog, Sugar. I picked her out. She was a rat terrier. She was so sweet. She lived until she was 14. She always loved me and I loved her. The pictures above are of her when we first got her. My mom took me to pick her out. There were multiple cages of puppies. I remember sticking my hand into one cage and Sugar came right to me and licked my hand. I knew I wanted her right away. She ended up sleeping with my brother every night but I loved having her around.

Sugar protected me, went on walks with me, helped me out of the woods once, took naps with me, and loved me.


When we were talking about getting a dog several years ago the first thought I had was a small, inside dog. Well, Philip had other thoughts. He said, "If we are going to have a dog, it's going to be a big dog." He didn't necessarily say it had to be an outside dog but it had to be big. We looked at the Animal Rescue League several times but just didn't feel good about any of them. Then right before Thanksgiving, 4 years ago, we found Bear.

He belonged to a friend of a friend who was moving and they couldn't take Bear with them. He was house broken and everything. Well, he stayed in the house for about a week and then he went outside, never to return to the comforts of the house. Philip couldn't stand the dog hair all over the house. He is a wonderful dog. He never barks unless someone scares him or he hears an animal at night. He loves on us so much. He really thinks he can sit in your lap. He will try if you are sitting on the ground. He loves to play with the kids and has even endured Eli trying to ride him like a horse.

We really are glad that we have Bear but it's just not the same as that sweet, small, inside dog. The kids and I have tried to talk Philip into it but he won't budge. Oh well... move on....

#11 (From Facebook's 25 Random Things

#11 I love my dad's advice

My Dad with my Mom

I know most little girls think there dad is the best.  You consider him the "rock" of your family.  I was no exception to that.  Yes, my dad got on my nerves. No, my dad didn't give me everything I wanted. No, my dad wasn't cool.  BUT...my dad loved me and he gave me everything that I needed and he helped me along the way to do what he felt was best for me.  I love the picture above.  It is of me, at the beach, when I was only a year old.  You can see someone is holding my hand.  It is my dad's hand.  He was helping me and guiding me along the way.  He has always and still helps me along the way.  Even now, when I am a grown woman and wife and mother, I still ask him for his help.  Some times it's just to bounce ideas off of or to seriously ask him for his advice.  I don't always take it but I do listen to him.  Philip and I have asked many questions over the years.  We have both learned a lot from him.

I'm a big worrier.  Always have been.  I can still remember when I was in elementary school my mother was out of town one week.  My dad was having to take care of me and my sister and brother and work.  I was worried about something (don't' remember what) and he came in my room and read out of the Bible where it talks about worrying.  He told me that if God takes care of the birds outside than he can take care of me.  He was always encouraging that way.  To this day, if you go upstairs, next to the treadmill you find his Bible and devotion book. He has pictures on the desk of people he is praying for.  He is a great example to me.

My dad is a reader.  He is always reading something whether it is a book, newspaper, magazine or something on the Internet.  It is very seldom that we go to my parents house and he doesn't have a stack of clippings from the newspaper or magazines for us to read.  He is a very smart man and I love him alot.  I will probably never know how many people he has helped throughout the years.  But I do know that he is willing to serve wherever he is needed.

I'm proud to have him as my dad and I love his advice....