#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.... 

Easter 2009

I've been meaning to update about Easter last week but I've been sick all week and haven't felt like it. We were able to go to my parent's house last Saturday and have Easter dinner with them. It was so good to be together and enjoy good food. Shelby and Eli hunted eggs while we tried to keep up and take pictures. Eli hid them for Brice with a little help from Philip. After we had dinner with the family the kids came home and played while Philip and I were a little lazy. Philip was getting ready for Sunday so I can't say he was very successful in that lazy thing, but I was.

Easter Sunday was very good. We had a good church service and a good lunch with a friend from the past. Philip's really good friend and mentor, Jim Doremus, has a son and daughter in law that live in Jackson. They came to visit LifeBridge and we were so excited to see them. I had never met Chris' wife, Jocelyn. She is so sweet and we enjoyed visiting with them over lunch. Chris leaves soon for another deployment to Iraq. Please spend some time praying for both of them. Chris has been before but the first time he wasn't married and I'm sure it will be difficult leaving Jocelyn. We are hoping to see more of Jocelyn at LifeBridge or at least hear from her from time to time during this next year.

After lunch we just came home and enjoyed the day. No one wanted to go back to school or work on Monday. We needed another day! We have no more vacations from school until summer. Man, it's hard to believe that the summer is almost here. Time flies.

Having a busy weekend with soccer and church stuff. Big news to be reported tomorrow about the building plans! Can't believe we are at this point! I will actually be able to sit in worship tomorrow. I think it has been about 7 weeks since I have been able to be in there! I'm looking forward to it. Until next time.....

#10 (From Facebook's 25 Random Things)

#10 I love my mother's cream corn

There are so many things that mother cooks that I love but one of my favorites is her cream corn. Some times we call it fried corn but either way it is so good. My nephew, Zach, and I can't get enough. Every time we get together as a family we are looking to see if she has made it. She has given me the recipe and I have made it a couple of times but it's still not as good as hers. It is a lot of work too. Cutting off all that corn takes time!
My mom made cream corn for our Easter dinner and I just had to take a picture to go along with my blog update. Doesn't it look good???!!! Look at all that butter around the side.... YUM! Mom, I'm requesting this for my birthday! I don't care what else we have, I just know that I want cream corn.

Some other favorites of my mom's cooking: Frozen cranberry salad, sauteed vegetables (the ones with cabbage), shrimp stroganoff, gumbo, seafood bisque, and so many more. Thanks mom for all the good cooking for all these years. It's nice to be able to "go home" and have good food.

#9 (From Facebook's 25 Random Things)

#9 I wanted to be a physical therapist

When I first went to college I didn't know what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I don't think many college freshmen do. I knew that I loved science so I decided to claim Biology as my major. By the second semester with little thought, and probably less prayer, I decided that Physical Therapy was where I wanted to land. It was much easier way back then and I was very interested in it.

When I was in college I didn't study like I should have. I was more interested in the social scene. Philip says I was just looking for a husband. Well, maybe he was right! Anyway, I was not a good enough student to just study the night before a test. I needed to take time each day to study along the way. I didn't do that. I took Human Anatomy and Physiology my first semester, Sophomore year. I made a D. A big, fat D! I decided it wasn't for me. I wish so many times that I would have just started over. Taken it again and done better. Instead after a couple trys at different things I landed into Elementary Education. I did really well and went through my student teaching with flying colors but it was never wanted I really wanted to do. I'm so glad that I have a college degree to fall back on but I just wish some of the time that it had been physical therapy. I still would have been a stay at home mom but I think that I would have worked in the field for a few years and really enjoyed it. I probably would have even worked somewhere part time and loved it. Don't get me wrong, I love where I am in my life. Working part time for a really good friend and being home with the kids in the afternoons and when they need me other times. I just hope that when my kids get to college that they can remember the lesson that I learned! I will try to remind them often. :)

#8 (From Facebook's 25 Random Things)

#9 I love to be lazy.

Do you ever get a day when you can just stay in the bed with covers pulled all the way up and watch TV, movies or read? I don't get to do it much, but I love it when I get the chance. I had one of those days last weekend. It will probably be the last chance I have for a long while. Our soccer schedule is heating back up. But last Saturday for several hours, my family was busy with other things and I just watch 2 Lifetime movies and had a blast. It was beautiful weather so the kids were all playing outside and Philip was reading and watching other preachers preach. (I don't get that, but he loves it) Philip even cooked dinner so I wouldn't have to get up.

I don't have a picture of me being lazy because it doesn't happen often! I guess there is a reason for that. If I did it too much I would be worthless!