tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232266972024-03-12T20:19:00.941-05:00Mother, Daughter, Sister, Friend...Me"To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me."
-Isaac NewtonJillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.comBlogger719125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-4407538595193011482012-08-11T22:15:00.002-05:002012-08-11T22:15:36.910-05:00A Series of Unfortunate EventsI have no cell phone today. I didn't break it or drop it in the toilet or anything. It's simply.....gone. Here's how that Unfortunate Event came to happen.....<br />
<br />
I have spent much of this past week preparing for a garage sale. Let me tell you, that is a LOT of work. Sorting thru all the <strike>junk</strike> gently used items, pricing it all, organizing it all, advertising, making signs......this is not "easy money", folks. So last night was the big "night before" and I was outside in the garage and on the driveway making sure everything was ready for this morning. I had my cell phone with me because I was expecting a call or text from my neighbor to let me know she was bringing some things down, and she couldn't just see me from her house. I set my cell phone on the back bumper of my van, which was sitting in the driveway, and told my husband, "I'm putting my phone right here - don't let me forget!" That was Unfortunate Event #1.<br />
<br />
Band Son had a big band fundraiser last night - a lock-in event that went from 10:00 p.m to 7:00 a.m. this morning. They call it a "Rockathon" because they rock in rocking chairs all night (and play rocking chair dodgeball, rocking chair volleyball, rocking chair races, etc.). He had to bring his own rocking chair, which I assumed would be transported to the school in the back of Hubby's truck. Instead, Band Son loaded his chair into the back of my van, never seeing my phone sitting there on the bumper. That was Unfortunate Event #2.<br />
<br />
I was inside making signs with Drama Daughter when Hubby took Band Son to the school. I was still thinking that he was taking his truck. Sometime after he got home I realized I needed my phone, remembered where I left it, and went outside for it. It was not where I left it, and I then realized that Hubby had driven my van to the high school, forgetting that I had told him to remember my phone was sitting on the back bumper. That was Unfortunate Event #3.<br />
<br />
And so the search began. Surely it couldn't have made it far, right? With flashlights, we searched the driveway. We searched the street out in front of our house. We searched all the way down our neighborhood street to the intersection with the very busy street. We searched the intersection. Every so often we would call it from Hubby's phone to see if we could hear it ringing. No luck.<br />
<br />
When daylight came, we searched again. The phone is gone. Gone gone gone.<br />
<br />
Fortunately I have insurance, and my replacement phone will be here on Monday. I only had to pay my deductible - $130. We made $207 at the garage sale. Our profit is now $77. Dammit.<br />
<br />
<em>**Just for grins, this evening before it got dark we took an old cell phone and put it in the exact place I had left mine on the van, and drove the exact route, watching for when it fell off so we could search that area. We made it all the way to the high school and back home and that sucker never fell off!! WTF??</em><br />Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-52646133044472060112012-07-28T23:16:00.001-05:002012-07-29T01:14:34.414-05:00Some things.I am a Christian.<br />
I am proud to be an American.<br />
I am a sinner.<br />
It is not my place to judge anyone.<br />
I believe that the sanctity of marriage is between a man and a woman. <br />
I do not hate gays; some people that I love very much are gay.<br />
I believe God loves gays just as much as He loves everyone else.<br />
I believe everyone has the right to peacefully stand up for what they believe in, whether I agree with it or not.<br />
I believe that I have the right to peacefully stand up for what I believe in, whether other people agree with it or not.<br />
I believe people should have all the facts before they get all up in arms about something.<br />
I <strike>believe</strike> know that the Holy Bible is God's Word.<br />
Disagreement does not mean judgement and condemnation.<br />
I believe there is too much hate in this world, and that makes me sad.<br />
I do not get involved in politics because I do not know enough to wholeheartedly back any one person or party.<br />
I am tired of being made to feel guilty for any of this.<br />
<br />Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-49301886777155755202012-07-20T00:20:00.000-05:002012-07-20T00:20:13.869-05:00The HangoverI felt horrible all day today. I slept until 11:00 a.m., and when I got up my eyes were puffy and red, my head hurt, and I was exhausted. <br />
<br />
Did I go on a bender last night? <br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
I had a big cry.<br />
<br />
They say <a href="http://www.tranquilityisyours.com/cry.html" target="_blank">crying is therapeutic</a>. Excellent stress relief, reduces your risk for heart attack, blah blah blah. But I am of an age where crying absolutely wears me out.<br />
<br />
I've always been a cryer. Even as a kid, sappy TV shows or Hallmark commercials would make me tear up. When I watched the finale of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068098/" target="_blank">M*A*S*H</a>, I bawled. Movies always get to me - even ones that don't make most people cry. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093748/" target="_blank">Planes, Trains, and Automobiles</a>? I bawled. And don't even get me started on the real tear-jerkers, like <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120338/" target="_blank">Titanic</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098384/" target="_blank">Steel Magnolias</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101921/" target="_blank">Fried Green Tomatoes</a>.....I could go on and on. The most recent one to get me was <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477302/" target="_blank">Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close</a>. I renamed it Extremely Sad and Incredibly Sad. I was a mess for hours. I won't even watch <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332280/" target="_blank">The Notebook</a>. I already know what it will do to me.<br />
<br />
I always cry at weddings. I cry if I see a baby be born on TV or in a movie. I cry at sad endings and happy endings. I cried when I sent my babies off to Kindergarten, and cried at all major milestones of Drama Daughter's senior year of high school. I cry in church. I cry when I read a good book. I cry when I hear particular songs. I cry during any dog or horse movie. I cry when I see soldiers reunited with their loved ones. I cry during <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gspElv1yvc" target="_blank">this commercial</a>. I cry when I think about my grandmother. Sometimes? I just cry.<br />
<br />
Last night was a doozie - not your average dab-your-tears-with-a-Kleenex-and-sniffle-a-few-times cry, but an all-out sobbing, snotting mess. No worries - today I am fine. God has a way of working everything out, and comforting me when I'm at my worst. I have been cleansed.<br />
<br />
But damn I'm tired.<br />Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-44856104797556218452012-07-15T00:17:00.000-05:002012-07-15T00:47:33.474-05:00The Foolish Fearless<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s hover" id="line_1"><em><strong><u>When We Were Young by Take That</u></strong></em></span><br />
<br />
<span class="line line-s hover"><em>When we were young the world seemed so old,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s hover"></span><span class="line line-s hover" id="line_2"><em>Careless and cold,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s hover"></span><span class="line line-s hover" id="line_3"><em>We did what we were told in our lives,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s hover"></span><span class="line line-s hover" id="line_4"><em>When we were young.</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s" id="line_5"><em>Had the world by the tail, good would prevail, starships would sail,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_6"><em>And none of us would fail in this life,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_7"><em>Not when you're young.</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s" id="line_8"><em>We were drawn to whoever could keep us together,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_9"><em>And bound by the heavens above,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_10"><em>And we tried to survive,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_11"><em>Travelling at the speed of love.</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s" id="line_12"><em>When we were young,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_13"><em>When we adored the fabulous,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_14"><em>When we were young,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_15"><em>We were the foolish fearless,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_16"><em>Never knowing the cost of what we paid,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_17"><em>Letting someone else be strong,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_18"><em>When we were young.</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s" id="line_19"><em>In a moment of grace,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_20"><em>A long leap of faith,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_21"><em>There's still more glorious dawn awaits my life,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><em><span class="line line-s" id="line_22">I'm here with the lovers</span></em></div>
<em><span class="line line-s" id="line_24"></span></em><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"><em>Then we burned the bridges we're crossing over,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_25"><em>Just to see the firelight,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_26"><em>And the innocent are getting over being old tonight.</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s" id="line_27"><em>When we were young,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_28"><em>When everything was what it seemed,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_29"><em>When we were young,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_30"><em>And everyday was how we dreamed,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_31"><em>Never knowing the cost of what we paid,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_32"><em>Letting someone else be strong,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_33"><em>When we were young.</em></span><br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s" id="line_34"><em>And when you look at yourself tonight,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_35"><em>Are you someone you recognise?</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_36"><em>You can take back what you've given away,</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="line line-s"></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_37"><em>But it must be the last time.</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><span class="line line-s"> </span><br /><span class="line line-s" id="line_38">When we were young...... </span></em></div>
<br /><br />
<span class="line line-s">As I prepare to send my daughter off to college, I've been thinking a lot lately about when I was her age - when I was young. Times were so different, and yet, they weren't. We didn't have many of the technological advancements that we do today, and I truly believe life moves at a faster pace now, but I bet she has the same thoughts and feelings that I did when I was 18 years old. I adored the fabulous. I was the foolish fearless. I was travelling at the speed of love, and so is she. Like her, I had the world by the tail and never believed that I would fail. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="line line-s">I was so naive - I didn't think I was, but I was. I thought I knew everything and my parents didn't understand - the world seemed so old. I wonder if she feels that way, too? </span><br />
<br />
<span class="line line-s">I've lived a lot of life since then, and thankfully most of my memories are good ones. But if I didn't have the bad ones too, I wouldn't be who I am today, so I am thankful for them as well. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="line line-s">And yet I want to protect her from anything bad. From heartbreak. From fear. From being told no. From loneliness. From sickness. From pain. It doesn't work that way, does it? One time when she was about 6 or 7 I said to her, "Why can't you go back and be my baby again?" and she said, "MOM! I've got to LIVE!" </span><br />
<br />
That's right, baby. You've got to live. And I've got to let you spread your wings and do just that. Cherish every moment in your life, and know that I'll always be here when things get tough. I'll always understand. Because once? I was young.<br />Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-78411664276784298392012-07-09T01:37:00.001-05:002012-07-09T01:39:39.660-05:00Reunited and it feels so good.....Thoughts/Observations on my 25-year high school reunion:<br />
<ol>
<li>It's GREAT to see old friends - some of whom I have known since elementary school! I laughed a lot. And hugged a lot. And laughed a lot.</li>
<li>We've all grown up. I don't just mean we've gotten older (which we have), but we've GROWN UP. We've evolved from shallow teenagers into doctors, lawyers, car salesmen, policemen, businessmen and women, teachers, parents, and more. No one cares if you're gay. No one cares if you're overweight. No one cares if you don't make as much money as they do, and no one cares if you invented Post-Its. We're all just.....grown-ups. </li>
<li>For the most part, the women are aging better than the men. Or maybe we just hide it better. </li>
<li>People that were assholes in high school aren't necessarily assholes anymore.</li>
<li>I was not the only one who had insecurities about going. I was not the only one who was really glad I got over them and went anyway.</li>
<li>I was surprised at the wide range of children's ages amongst us - we are all basically the same age, yet some of us have children in high school and college, some of us have toddlers, and one of us is even pregnant with her first! Also, some of us have been married for years, some just got married this year (or plan to), some have never married, and some have been married and are now divorced. Such different lives we all lead, and yet we all came together to celebrate our common high school years, and we had a great time doing it!</li>
<li>I don't have to drink to have a good time. I don't have a problem with people who do drink (in moderation), but I've decided I'm just not a drinker anymore. </li>
<li>I am also not a roller skater anymore. However I thought having our reunion at the skating rink was brilliant! Most of us grew up there!</li>
<li>Time really does go by so. fast.</li>
<li>I hope we're all around to do it again in 5 years.</li>
</ol>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluntSjlT_QhvCzEiaDKByHW3RPUG3cJmlilmDOe_iYKU6JdihzB02rZZeUQTJD6KHvDNlGrg-jwmLF6Wc-5gr21_xdqwlwhfhm4jdn2Cz3tfuZbA4ReBED9rW0ltdzWFFPbpb9w/s1600/reunion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluntSjlT_QhvCzEiaDKByHW3RPUG3cJmlilmDOe_iYKU6JdihzB02rZZeUQTJD6KHvDNlGrg-jwmLF6Wc-5gr21_xdqwlwhfhm4jdn2Cz3tfuZbA4ReBED9rW0ltdzWFFPbpb9w/s320/reunion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-40702248731917827892012-07-06T00:47:00.000-05:002012-07-06T00:47:46.201-05:00Who I am is quite enough......I have never felt beautiful. Growing up I was teased relentlessly about being skinny, about being short, about being a nerd, you name it. In middle school I was, like many kids that age, awkward. Braces, acne, and bad perms. In high school I was still the skinny one, with skinny legs and skinny arms, who could never get a tan. If a boyfriend told me I was beautiful, I loved it. But I never really believed it.<br />
<br />
On the eve of my 25th high school reunion, I am so wanting to be beautiful. I got a pedicure today; I'm getting a haircut tomorrow. I still haven't decided what to wear. I want my classmates to be amazed.<br />
<br />
But I know there is One who <u>knows</u> I am beautiful. The One who made me. The first time I heard this song I cried, because it spoke to my heart. Let it speak to yours. If you have ever doubted your beauty, doubt no more. God made you perfect. He made me perfect, too. And we ARE beautiful.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/_Vu_nmZ1pXc/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_Vu_nmZ1pXc&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_Vu_nmZ1pXc&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-35747692319717135462012-07-04T23:19:00.000-05:002012-07-04T23:19:45.976-05:00As long as I'm living, my Baby you'll be.As a mother, I've seen my children go thru a lot of things. Navy Son broke his arm and busted out his front teeth. Drama Daughter had to get stitches in her forehead when she was just 18 months old, then oral surgery to remove 9 teeth when she was a young teenager. Band Son got stitches in his chin several years ago, and has had adenoid surgery and other visits to the E.R. While it's never easy, in every circumstance I have been able (for the most part) to remain calm and be strong for them.<br />
<br />
But on Monday, Band Son - who is also my Baby - had oral surgery to remove his 4 wisdom teeth, plus 4 other teeth for braces. Drama Daughter had this same surgery and I got her thru it just fine - she was a trooper. But Band Son struggled - the anesthesia made him very, very sick. And I found myself having a hard time holding it together. <br />
<br />
I've seen my children throw up dozens of times. It comes with the job of Mom. But Band Son was throwing up lots and lots of blood. And his face was turning purple because he was choking on the gauze. And as I held the trashcan for him and stroked his curly hair, I wasn't grossed out - I was heartbroken for him. I wanted to curl up in that dentist chair with him and just hold him and tell him it was going to be OK. I wanted to take his place so he didn't have to do this at all. I wanted to be that mom in the book "Love You Forever" that holds her full-grown son in her arms and rocks him and tells him, "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living, My Baby you'll be."<br />
<br />
Navy Son has been grown up and gone from us for 8 years. I'm used to not having him around. My second Chickie is going to leave the nest this summer, and I'm doing my very best to get used to that idea as well. That leaves my Baby Chick here with me. My Baby Chick that I must protect at all cost so that nothing bad ever, ever happens to him. Seeing him go thru this agony this week is ripping my heart out. (Don't tell him that, tho!)<br />
<br />
Why is this so hard?<br />
<br />Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-38573525710045568432012-07-01T22:57:00.000-05:002012-07-01T22:57:37.019-05:00And just like that, she started blogging again.I haven't blogged in a long time. Three years, almost. I got caught up with building <a href="http://www.magicalgetaways.vpweb.com/" target="_blank">my business</a>, being a Drama Mama, being a Band Mom, and just LIFE. I've kept up with most of my blog friends on Facebook, but Facebook has me spoiled to posting quick statuses that don't require much thought, and I'm realizing that I really did enjoy having this blog as an outlet to just WRITE. And so, here I am. I'm back in the Blogosphere. Expect future postings about my kids - they are older now, and so amazing - and how it feels to be sending my daughter off to college, leaving only one chick in the nest. Some days I don't feel like I'm aging well - Mom wasn't kidding when she said everything changes when you hit 40. I worry about stuff - some worries are valid, some ridiculous, but late at night I have trouble distinguishing between the two. I'm seeing life differently than I ever have, and that's a good thing. <br />
<br />
Life is good.<br />
<br />
Life is very good.<br />Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-81979796194699340602009-09-19T21:42:00.002-05:002009-09-20T12:51:03.186-05:00It's Not Easy Being GreenThe cheerleaders were jumping about and shaking their pom poms. The band was playing. The football players were standing proudly. The students were cheering and pounding on the bleachers. This was the scene at the high school pep rally. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, someone dressed entirely in lime-green spandex - even covering his head and face (think Fluorescent Green Power Ranger) - came running and dancing out onto the floor. The students laughed and applauded, and the principal quickly grabbed the pep rally crasher and escorted him out.<br /><br />Now, had this happened when I was in high school, the offender would have likely received a D-hall, everyone would have had a good laugh, and that would have been the end of it. But it happened last week at Daughter's high school.<br /><br />The Green Man, as he has come to be known, was suspended for three days. AND! He got a ticket. Yes, as in a citation from the police. Something about disrupting educational time. It's costing him $500.<br /><br />Find this ridiculous? Well, you're not the only one. The students rallied behind Green Man, and one day last week, everyone wore green to support him. This is a school with over 3500 students. That's a lot of green.<br /><br />I don't know the fate of Green Man. I have to say that if I were his parents I'd be fighting this one tooth and nail. Yes, he deserves to be punished. Some kind of detention, or even a day of suspension. But a $500 ticket that will go on his record? That just seems a little extreme.<br /><br />I think back to the things we used to do in high school and how it would be handled today. Like the massive, school-wide game of Assassin we played when I was a sophomore. One student - I don't even remember who - was the "Godfather", and the students paid money to play. Each player was assigned another player to "assassinate" - we all carried suction-cup dart guns around with us all day, and if you saw your target in the halls, you could "shoot" at them. If you hit them, they were out of the game and you then got their person to go after. You could also fire in defense if you were drawn on. The last person standing won the pot. It was a lot of fun.<br /><br />If that happened today, it would likely go down as an act of terrorism. All students caught with suction-cup dart guns would be expelled and thrown in jail. It would be all over the news.<br /><br />What do we have to blame for this "zero-tolerance" attitude they have in schools today? 9-11? Maybe. But gone are the days when a couple of guys could have a fistfight after school then be buddies again the next day. Today both kids would be arrested. No disruptions whatsoever are tolerated, for fear that they be a serious threat rather than a fun game or prank.<br /><br />Yes, these are the time we live in now. While I certainly want my students to be safe at school, it does sadden me a bit that punishments are so harsh for kids just being kids. I think the Green Man was kinda funny.<br /><br />I'm just glad he wasn't nekkid.<br /><br /><embed height="450" name="PaperVideoTest" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="300" src="http://kiah.vid.trb.com/player/PaperVideoTest.swf" salign="l" flashvars="&titleAvailable=true&playerAvailable=true&searchAvailable=false&shareFlag=N&singleURL=http://kiah.vidcms.trb.com/alfresco/service/edge/content/3dd4cbeb-c14f-45ba-85a1-cf7f7ff8160e&propName=kiah.com&hostURL=http://www.39online.com&swfPath=http://kiah.vid.trb.com/player/&omAccount=tribglobal&omnitureServer=39online.com" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" menu="true" bgcolor="#ffffff" devicefont="false" wmode="transparent" scale="showall" loop="true" play="true" quality="high"></embed>Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-88431639807921137222009-09-08T23:18:00.004-05:002009-09-08T23:40:18.422-05:00Scary StuffI am not one to follow politics very heavily - certainly not enough to spout my political views, because I'm not really sure what they are. However, when I heard about the uproar over <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/">the President's speech to America's school kids</a>, I had to ask, "Why?"<br /><br />Since then I have seen and heard the following:<br /><br /><ul><li>Obama is a liar.</li><li>Obama is going to brainwash our children with his political agendas.</li><li>Obama is going to tell kids to have abortions.</li><li>Obama is the "Anti-Christ".</li><li>Obama is going to ask children to "pledge allegiance to Obama".</li><li>Obama being compared to Hitler</li><li>Friends who also don't understand all the hooplah being called Socialists</li><li>The speech today being called an "indoctrination"</li><li>Being "un-friended" on Facebook because I simply asked why people were opposed to their children hearing the President speak to them.</li></ul><p>Scary stuff, indeed.</p><p></p>Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-50144993120506990242009-09-07T21:21:00.000-05:002009-09-07T21:27:12.322-05:00My Love Affair with Chuck Norris, Or How I Spent My Labor Day Weekend<div>I have a "thing" going with Chuck Norris. We meet up twice a year, usually once in the summer and once over Labor Day weekend, and spend time together in the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Piney</span> Woods of Texas. We especially enjoy morning walks <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">thru</span> the woods. It's such a peaceful time, and we love being together. It's perfect. I saw her just this weekend, and I'm counting the days until I can see her again.<br /><br />Wait. What? Yes, I did say "her".<br /><br />Chuck Norris is a HORSE!<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaYHJKYsFmSG-_O0wCR7iqTgcZuc8oZVzKtc-pCG5JfC09tlWCVPBREe2HPj7hDJhJXJ_QshjoK00jBCmlF3L3jjdbkLMLItJF0AAsgsnTtyP0QWoyfU0C3gvVVieMh6uj4Cccw/s1600-h/039.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378842258707009426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaYHJKYsFmSG-_O0wCR7iqTgcZuc8oZVzKtc-pCG5JfC09tlWCVPBREe2HPj7hDJhJXJ_QshjoK00jBCmlF3L3jjdbkLMLItJF0AAsgsnTtyP0QWoyfU0C3gvVVieMh6uj4Cccw/s400/039.JPG" /></a> I met her about a year and a half ago, shortly after the REAL <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Norris">Chuck Norris</a> donated her to <a href="http://www.campallen.org/">Camp Allen</a>. I go to Camp Allen for weekend retreats twice a year - a Summer Camp for Moms and a Labor Day Family Weekend. And I always ride Chuck Norris. She's my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">favoritest</span> horse in the world - so well behaved and gentle, but enough spirit that she doesn't just plod along in line during the trail ride - we meander from the course a bit, and sometimes trot or even lope along. She loves me. And I love her.</p><p> </p><p>We spent this Labor Day weekend at Camp Allen, the family and I, and we had a GREAT time! Two other families from our church small group went, too, and we enjoyed all the activities and even some relaxation time together. It was a nice getaway to finish up the summer.<br /></p><p>We arrived Friday afternoon and got checked in and signed up for our various activities. Friday night at the pavilion by the lake they had a hoedown! The kids learned some rope tricks and enjoyed a friendly tug of war with the other kids before we had a delicious BBQ dinner. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcm06RVlY0Sz06NrYCvRmiECMCSUhh-V5qwxzRznxeVtDs6ZRLHZcfUl4EIWlHLTGq_ZRV-pku2ZRDTULvlYkgEFGOFsFF1LAVHlXwHz-3cqh7nBsZQQnPdWinRFiS0ESd8l-L2A/s1600-h/004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378849909119470786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcm06RVlY0Sz06NrYCvRmiECMCSUhh-V5qwxzRznxeVtDs6ZRLHZcfUl4EIWlHLTGq_ZRV-pku2ZRDTULvlYkgEFGOFsFF1LAVHlXwHz-3cqh7nBsZQQnPdWinRFiS0ESd8l-L2A/s400/004.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rLEb_Ceihufx-E1DwwNUvAEnGx4zzE3mjuqfJdFrqPv1nEQybvgpIAQpZGGPOj6mEqCV7v5VU4SDUQtKVR1ToN5ILgc7ZyU8RI9t93sMlqkjMoC9yEkDTQrQS1vIe2l9vNTMyg/s1600-h/006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378850221025905826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rLEb_Ceihufx-E1DwwNUvAEnGx4zzE3mjuqfJdFrqPv1nEQybvgpIAQpZGGPOj6mEqCV7v5VU4SDUQtKVR1ToN5ILgc7ZyU8RI9t93sMlqkjMoC9yEkDTQrQS1vIe2l9vNTMyg/s400/006.JPG" /></a> After dinner we enjoyed an evening of square dancing and line dancing - cowboys' favorite ways to dance! </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFoZGpdNBrgnNe4-I3LmXrJJdUGBD76ApfJcOxF3N4aMM1mdIpHJJ51MgpzlbW9tBrbmyDxuV1vxbmq76dsgJcSyBGX-ATg5EbbKXJIRU78wSgjFV7dAptsDNR2nuUvJZ4aWXnng/s1600-h/024.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 290px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378851600606880946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFoZGpdNBrgnNe4-I3LmXrJJdUGBD76ApfJcOxF3N4aMM1mdIpHJJ51MgpzlbW9tBrbmyDxuV1vxbmq76dsgJcSyBGX-ATg5EbbKXJIRU78wSgjFV7dAptsDNR2nuUvJZ4aWXnng/s400/024.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 330px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378851591994519506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRg9ISk0pkypF4OrUNplV0E_qJHHTY01ge34AKR6ZIm1i_Ql6yYo4xVmjYosyjKzoAUa8aR2PTkdfHvlVBsbZzMUQiBETduPZtO6MeR0UuGwD3KmrHjk8jeeAtXAbiypZzBgw4w/s400/019.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MFoH5FuCqj_30y8wuDvQxTJoS6xVF931pq6mcdYcirbGUsVzqnMjxVAjZVXfAiPDDjrvO_RSvXUWMbqKIEd1EvLKQWbm2jHv70MNMJchmpVZ7MUbgXCcdtcPk3lAcSVvjIjoqA/s1600-h/032.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378851608735651042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MFoH5FuCqj_30y8wuDvQxTJoS6xVF931pq6mcdYcirbGUsVzqnMjxVAjZVXfAiPDDjrvO_RSvXUWMbqKIEd1EvLKQWbm2jHv70MNMJchmpVZ7MUbgXCcdtcPk3lAcSVvjIjoqA/s400/032.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p>Saturday morning Hubby went fishing, and the kids and I rode horses. It was a magic moment when Chuck and I were reunited - as soon as they brought her out of the stable our eyes met and it was magic! </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFPn9CtgKYEYEyMdEB5PiqvEFcxH9jTav5Rch4Jeq0IQrwNXzDFJ9yCMcU0nC07c5QIH8KbydzyP4DcrLD7m9K6WjikDizUEp81w6sasskUBXT7gdbPG5gzqAWg958cMgvOyJUQ/s1600-h/040.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378903058146516130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFPn9CtgKYEYEyMdEB5PiqvEFcxH9jTav5Rch4Jeq0IQrwNXzDFJ9yCMcU0nC07c5QIH8KbydzyP4DcrLD7m9K6WjikDizUEp81w6sasskUBXT7gdbPG5gzqAWg958cMgvOyJUQ/s400/040.JPG" /></a><br />The kids enjoyed the ride, too. Daughter rode <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tealight</span>:<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEjrCt1FMRLW9LKNdbVaUAPu60D-T1VRbVNtLHC3xlfr_jOgI2cPl7JP8U1p1z6409hbqPoiOGT8fuP6HBejSfuvPgPw4kcGiLz6ov2Uu2ELfgUFAVsBtQrM3yqLNALTJGmwEQQ/s1600-h/041.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378904690681120914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEjrCt1FMRLW9LKNdbVaUAPu60D-T1VRbVNtLHC3xlfr_jOgI2cPl7JP8U1p1z6409hbqPoiOGT8fuP6HBejSfuvPgPw4kcGiLz6ov2Uu2ELfgUFAVsBtQrM3yqLNALTJGmwEQQ/s400/041.JPG" /></a><br />And Little Son rode Junior:</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUo-U91cHEBEMffEOpNN8_GGHm6clScHu3jdyc3yJwdVJjBziJGhpha5_d2XjQqCrOrCt-GcZingylNdwh6-bA9Z4-DdvweDc3NLpd7gJ5IyVMCd9KYwKor21V2PpsX987vrr-A/s1600-h/043.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378910703300303538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUo-U91cHEBEMffEOpNN8_GGHm6clScHu3jdyc3yJwdVJjBziJGhpha5_d2XjQqCrOrCt-GcZingylNdwh6-bA9Z4-DdvweDc3NLpd7gJ5IyVMCd9KYwKor21V2PpsX987vrr-A/s400/043.JPG" /></a><br />It was a beautiful ride through the woods and alongside the lake - what beautiful views!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinL16aMm1mHchVyxM4VZCUV_ZSE2qmOwJ_bXms5kpLFJpCst6tfVK3ObDlYFVLORR-u4VlOmBDbdyN10q7be0FdMESYa7TDCIQnt4UIfuLa2ho1Uot6ccs0lB1PwlXampHuJQO3A/s1600-h/050.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378911106269405922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinL16aMm1mHchVyxM4VZCUV_ZSE2qmOwJ_bXms5kpLFJpCst6tfVK3ObDlYFVLORR-u4VlOmBDbdyN10q7be0FdMESYa7TDCIQnt4UIfuLa2ho1Uot6ccs0lB1PwlXampHuJQO3A/s400/050.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigac2CbUjM2KcG9IHuexDf94Z7xOseTiZy9yZSIjsXq1lk2EG2XFMtW7ABjoyGfMn9m9GqVhfUwPt-bT7Qk905bVorjyEL_oaljhbYpERLUPhjP1BqHNs_HadAFtyutbfQLp76Dg/s1600-h/047.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378911357151956610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigac2CbUjM2KcG9IHuexDf94Z7xOseTiZy9yZSIjsXq1lk2EG2XFMtW7ABjoyGfMn9m9GqVhfUwPt-bT7Qk905bVorjyEL_oaljhbYpERLUPhjP1BqHNs_HadAFtyutbfQLp76Dg/s400/047.JPG" /></a><br />After a delicious lunch, we decided to try our hands at archery. Hubby and the kids are quite good! Me? <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Notsomuch</span>.</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYl7M5N1op3rJN8nGtuBmvbWIXMBtC52Xbkdf3iqATSFOzlHXTFhb4mnkrsQWkGMqbEAnQi4LIppJWFO6eM5AozlGsq4-hfu7YGQrReJ9itpVphA3gwOZB7NFqBIJS1g1gHe4rww/s1600-h/055.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378912245011489874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYl7M5N1op3rJN8nGtuBmvbWIXMBtC52Xbkdf3iqATSFOzlHXTFhb4mnkrsQWkGMqbEAnQi4LIppJWFO6eM5AozlGsq4-hfu7YGQrReJ9itpVphA3gwOZB7NFqBIJS1g1gHe4rww/s400/055.JPG" /></a> (Notice my funky hyper-extended elbow - that made for some nasty bruising on my left arm from the bow string striking it whenever I released. Ow!)</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitY-27UxfNHLi18GfI8DQkCMu_OrqQOLD2ZF-7xoACBka89RQsYjN5DLvreYgSZ5-JFKSdLRgpxCRIvZXpf1iI07Ycwb0p7MbAr7a7TZDS7RxFVxv_8z5EyJsQ6VEwc0F2S01SNA/s1600-h/061.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 323px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378912239669519218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitY-27UxfNHLi18GfI8DQkCMu_OrqQOLD2ZF-7xoACBka89RQsYjN5DLvreYgSZ5-JFKSdLRgpxCRIvZXpf1iI07Ycwb0p7MbAr7a7TZDS7RxFVxv_8z5EyJsQ6VEwc0F2S01SNA/s400/061.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBTjTxMczMNaP6VfQBTjZCII1Pz670YBkwQf7qkmf3MK2vrMo57uESYngu6F3PLrYqT1IbooWOFJ2G8TgwtSwXyaZF33kAfo5s204yJo7GqVveE0snr1vJxgsHwMllII4kIsHIg/s1600-h/058.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378912228045237362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBTjTxMczMNaP6VfQBTjZCII1Pz670YBkwQf7qkmf3MK2vrMo57uESYngu6F3PLrYqT1IbooWOFJ2G8TgwtSwXyaZF33kAfo5s204yJo7GqVveE0snr1vJxgsHwMllII4kIsHIg/s400/058.JPG" /></a> Then we did some <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">canoeing</span> before dinner.<br /><br /></div><div></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBs4cPUK3373hw2p7snIRK5QprRWk9kKCsgAQYAGkX3g6g8bxx4I8beB0qKBhga8yayBEAeT-DGcByU2096R85J2P2QP63NxlRpwnbp8Z__70IqEh9MveJHlTrRoDPaEbViPvEA/s1600-h/63.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378912757356879922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBs4cPUK3373hw2p7snIRK5QprRWk9kKCsgAQYAGkX3g6g8bxx4I8beB0qKBhga8yayBEAeT-DGcByU2096R85J2P2QP63NxlRpwnbp8Z__70IqEh9MveJHlTrRoDPaEbViPvEA/s400/63.jpg" /></a><br />The evening's entertainment was magician <a href="http://www.johnstarmagic.com/about.php">John Star</a> - he was very funny and entertaining!<br /><br />Sunday morning Hubby went fishing again, the kids went to an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orienteering">orienteering</a> class, and I went and rode Chuck again. Then Hubby and I shot some skeet before we ate lunch and headed for home.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_H92UgB4XeB21kS-GHHTe0RDOwSI993Q66zYpwPW_L1YXmrvtUVeOLLn1oqNnpV4yKw0xAQJKZYc4HY9iAaJb65cvMoa_boX7xy6hjMWzPrHgqdLMTMimhFI1uhbBSPFZcM6PQ/s1600-h/074.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378914558847785586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_H92UgB4XeB21kS-GHHTe0RDOwSI993Q66zYpwPW_L1YXmrvtUVeOLLn1oqNnpV4yKw0xAQJKZYc4HY9iAaJb65cvMoa_boX7xy6hjMWzPrHgqdLMTMimhFI1uhbBSPFZcM6PQ/s400/074.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0BzSVvvjCuVvEcfqtIDWQ6k0LLkALhPQBTgfOGRPBxlDw-JIc_E2G-XIXtri1DJ_3GRoTMINWRDpd0dQssosB3iD5YIhdJ7uBX1jO0C0NkKodXWiMWjGSQrenc6pn5RmiU95ww/s1600-h/071.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378914549291872594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0BzSVvvjCuVvEcfqtIDWQ6k0LLkALhPQBTgfOGRPBxlDw-JIc_E2G-XIXtri1DJ_3GRoTMINWRDpd0dQssosB3iD5YIhdJ7uBX1jO0C0NkKodXWiMWjGSQrenc6pn5RmiU95ww/s400/071.JPG" /></a><br />I hit 5 of the 25 rounds I shot. Hubby hit 1. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hee</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">hee</span>. (To his credit, he is an excellent marksman - it just wasn't his day.)<br /><br />So we're back at home now, getting laundry done and preparing for back-to-work and back-to-school. It will be many months before I see Chuck Norris again - there is a Camp Allen "Holiday In the Pines" weekend in December, but we didn't get signed up in time, so it will be summer before I get to ride her again. Sigh. Until then, we'll always have Labor Day weekend.......Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-10951415434966291442009-08-31T17:00:00.005-05:002009-08-31T21:13:47.296-05:00Texas HistoryPart of living in the Great State of Texas is that our kids learn Texas History at school. They take it in 4th grade and again in 7th grade. I even took it again in college because it was so much more interesting to me than any other history course offered. I got an A.<br /><br />I really love Texas history. I'm proud to be from such a great state, one that was once its own country and is rich in culture and heritage. Texas brings us the amazing stories of the <a href="http://www.thealamo.org/main.html">Alamo</a>, the <a href="http://www.sanjacinto-museum.org/">Battle of San Jacinto</a>, and <a href="http://www.spindletop.org/">Spindletop</a>. We have great heroes like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_houston">Sam Houston</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Crockett">Davy Crockett</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_F._Austin">Stephen F. Austin</a>. It's cool to be a Texan.<br /><br />So this year Little Son is in 7th grade, and taking Texas History. He's in a magnet school for Gifted & Talented kids, and they go quite deep into the subjects they learn. He brought home a letter today from his Texas History class that goes something like this:<br /><br /><em>"Dear Parents,</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>This year we would like to offer your 7th graders an opportunity to enrich their study of Texas History with a field trip to Dallas and Fort Worth."</em><br /><br />Let me stop right here a minute. We live in HOUSTON. That is over 200 miles from Dallas/Fort Worth. That's quite a field trip. When I was in 7th grade we went to the San Jacinto Monument. It's 20 minutes away.<br /><br /><em>"Students on this field trip will travel via coach bus to Dallas to experience the historic buildings and costumed interpreters of the Dallas Heritage Village, visit the Fort Worth stockyards, ride a steam train with the Grapevine Historic Railroad, visit the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame, explore the assassination of President John F. Kennedy at the Sixth Floor Museum, and enjoy corn dogs, fried Oreos, and other Texas delicacies at the Texas State Fair."</em><br /><br />The letter goes on to explain their itinerary, rules, fees, etc. I'm wondering where they're going to spend the night. Don't see that in the letter. Wait a minute. All this is going to happen in ONE DAY.<br /><br />One day?!?! Seriously?!?<br /><br />Now I know these educators are trained professionals, and experienced in taking children on field trips such as these. But I am having trouble wrapping my mind around them driving 200 miles to Dallas, doing all that stuff, and driving 200 miles back home in one day. Granted, it will be one VERY LONG day, but still. I just don't think it's gonna happen. They're gonna have to skip something. Hopefully not the corn dogs and fried Oreos.<br /><br />Little Son, of course, really wants to go. No matter that we have family in Dallas, have been to Dallas dozens of times, have done some of that stuff already, and can do ALL that stuff on our own (and on our own time schedule!). He wants to go with his class. And I don't blame him.<br /><br />So Hubby and I are talking about it. They're going to have to leave very early in the morning and get home very late at night. If Little Son is willing to get up that early to go, I know he must really want to do it. Altho I'm sure he's planning on sleeping on the bus.<br /><br />Oh wait - here's something in the letter about what they'll do on the bus....<br /><br /><em>"In keeping with our studies of Texas History, we will watch the HBO series 'John Adams' based on the book by David McCullough."</em><br /><br />Wait. What?!?!? Isn't that American History??Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-35231269067162092112009-08-29T22:59:00.002-05:002009-08-29T23:25:51.816-05:00Hiatus TerminusWhere has the time gone? I have neglected my blog for a long time. Even considered just deleting it. Just couldn't seem to find the time for it. But then it nags at me - niggling at the back of my mind - I WANT to write again - I NEED a creative outlet - and so here I am. Back again.<br /><br />So what have I been doing the past five months? Here's a brief summary:<br /><ul><li>I've grown my <a href="http://magicalgetaways.vpweb.com/">business</a>, and am happy to report that it is going extremely well. Much better than I ever anticipated, actually! </li><li>I've enjoyed a summer of not having to drive kids around here and there - in fact, most of the time we had no routine at all, and that was nice. Now the kids are back in school and we have routine again, and that is nice. </li><li>I've learned to knit. </li><li>I've had the flu. Might have even been Swine Flu. Don't really know.</li><li>I've reconnected with old friends on <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.facebook.com">Facebook</a>, and gotten to know new friends better - in fact, many of you I met right here on my blog! I love you all, and I'm so glad we've gotten to know each other! I've met some of you "in real life" and hope to meet more of you in the future! </li><li>I've accepted the position of Treasurer of Daughter's High School Drama Booster Club, and gained confidence that I actually CAN do it and not screw it all up!</li><li>I've discovered how much my dogs love going to the dog park, and how much I love taking them.</li><li>I've watched Daughter learn to drive.</li><li>I've watched Little Son grow to be not-so-little anymore.</li><li>I've enjoyed a visit from Navy Son, and realized again how proud I am of him.</li><li>I've toobed down the Guadalupe River, bumping my butt on rocks at times because the river is so low right now due to the drought we've been having all summer.</li><li>I've enjoyed a weekend retreat with my <a href="http://usogirl.blogspot.com/">BFF</a>.</li><li>I've sent Navy Son off to his sophomore year at the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.usna.edu">Naval Academy</a>, Daughter to her sophomore year of high school, and Little Son to 7th grade. I feel old.</li><li>I've celebrated as many of my friends have turned 40 - and prepared myself for that day in October that I will join them.</li></ul><p>The summer is technically coming to an end next weekend (altho it will be summer weather here well into October). I've blogged before about how much I love this time of year - how it is so much like New Years to me. I'm looking forward to a new year of possibilities - to seeing Daughter's drama performances and Little Son's band performances, to going to high school football games and cheering for my alma mater (it's pretty cool to have your daughter go to the same high school you did!), to a fresh start in my Bible study group, to planning Disney trips for new clients, to counting the many blessings in my life each and every day.</p><p>I resolve in this "New Year" not to neglect my blog any longer. Even if no one reads it, it's a great way for me to get all those thoughts out of my head that bungle around in there so much. And believe me, there are a lot of them!</p><p>Stay tuned. I've got a lot to tell you about.</p><p> </p>Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-66033161627144539592009-03-25T22:11:00.004-05:002009-03-25T22:28:56.202-05:00Hey look! My blog's still here!With everything going on lately, I am glad to see that my blog is, indeed, still here! I can't even tell you where the time has gone. We are all finally healthy here at the Bubba's Sis house, and my <a href="http://magicalgetaways.vpweb.com/">Disney vacation planning business</a> is keeping me busy. But the best part of my hiatus from blogging is that I got to be here:<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPikBobuqNv6iz7CddExGXqt63_Dfef_8-MYGwFeBhqTTEsOQLkRqOr272gDNSmCW6dlsIPoV4klL7YubBWZMmPpJVvQON1tBqPtBPgJqZVKjBeuR7YlDymCCUZxehq_1mvtY6Q/s1600-h/IMG_0009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317330657194477666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPikBobuqNv6iz7CddExGXqt63_Dfef_8-MYGwFeBhqTTEsOQLkRqOr272gDNSmCW6dlsIPoV4klL7YubBWZMmPpJVvQON1tBqPtBPgJqZVKjBeuR7YlDymCCUZxehq_1mvtY6Q/s400/IMG_0009.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p>Paradise, indeed.</p><p>I went a WHOLE WEEK without touching a computer, people. No e-mail. No Facebook. No blogs. Nothing. Didn't look at a screen or touch a keyboard. And you know what? I didn't even miss it. </p><p>Which has me contemplating whether or not I want to keep blogging. I adore all the friends I have met here in the Blogosphere, and I keep in touch with many of you in ways other than blogging now. I can't say for sure whether it is a lack of time or simply a lack of motivation, but I can't seem to get around to putting together any blog posts lately, not to mention reading anyone else's. I hesitate to give it up, because I love having a place to share my thoughts and experiences, and read all of yours. Perhaps this blogging slump will pass and I'll be back to regular posting and reading soon. Until then, be patient with me. My mind is still laying on a beach somewhere in the Caribbean....</p><p></p>Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-34102812171750812812009-03-06T23:20:00.003-06:002009-03-06T23:42:18.261-06:00My son made his own birthday cake.Good golly - life has been so busy that a whole week has gone by since I've posted here, and I've gotten WAY behind on reading blogs. I miss ya'll! I really do! Be patient with me and I'll get back around to everyone. I still love you!<br /><br />So, the whole family has taken turns being sick. <a href="http://magicalgetaways.vpweb.com/">I've been planning a vacation for a client</a>. I've been getting ready for our OWN vacation. There have been TAKS tests and orthodontist appointments, errands to run and phone calls to make. <span style="font-size:78%;">I've spent a little time on Facebook.</span> And oh yeah - Little Son had a birthday on Monday. My baby is now 12 years old!<br /><br />Yes, he did make his own cake, but not because I was too busy to do it! Geez, what kind of mom do you think I am? He WANTED to make his own cake - he's into that now, you know. And since his birthday present from <a href="http://bubba-blog-nyc.blogspot.com/">Bubba</a> and <a href="http://katiebnyc.blogspot.com/">Katie Lady</a> was cake decorating supplies a-plenty, he was in hog heaven creating his masterpiece birthday cake! He designed it and everything - and I think it turned out great! What do you think?<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdndUR6gG3h8CEYsq0Xwli7gDeDTFz0QTV1PGykFv5nlCtV5BnhyWc4LO2koFj2Mq7lx7RjgmUBaxd-yTkSFk0foc6bXeHcDkaLTYp33HdATE_D-TkXk8jbkx04G9iXK1rJ22gQ/s1600-h/IMG_1179.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310314380025605122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdndUR6gG3h8CEYsq0Xwli7gDeDTFz0QTV1PGykFv5nlCtV5BnhyWc4LO2koFj2Mq7lx7RjgmUBaxd-yTkSFk0foc6bXeHcDkaLTYp33HdATE_D-TkXk8jbkx04G9iXK1rJ22gQ/s320/IMG_1179.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOJbGz2Nvd8TVqhol_0aHeejd_4qjbr5Rff1Ql95PmcFLIkHE32-Z8avX5kerkvveMsogisNz6kFSj7Rx9W8j5_whhhyphenhyphenVaX9LgMR_mW_EPlhT8XpN2Fy8P5u0Gh1TL5aW-TGUJg/s1600-h/IMG_1176.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310314391947299746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOJbGz2Nvd8TVqhol_0aHeejd_4qjbr5Rff1Ql95PmcFLIkHE32-Z8avX5kerkvveMsogisNz6kFSj7Rx9W8j5_whhhyphenhyphenVaX9LgMR_mW_EPlhT8XpN2Fy8P5u0Gh1TL5aW-TGUJg/s320/IMG_1176.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xKXAIBN4hRaf31SVF-F1MluISfbjQhoFdLLHsIU1c-TrqZaM_HL8TNdxR-MtLZT4H4ST6q7q1vriHISP5-R4gjVBA2FhLeSFcMNcLBI0xACNw7-0Wg_op1E_TGWM-WahOzQeUA/s1600-h/IMG_1177.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310314400996028274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xKXAIBN4hRaf31SVF-F1MluISfbjQhoFdLLHsIU1c-TrqZaM_HL8TNdxR-MtLZT4H4ST6q7q1vriHISP5-R4gjVBA2FhLeSFcMNcLBI0xACNw7-0Wg_op1E_TGWM-WahOzQeUA/s320/IMG_1177.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />It was quite detailed, with musical symbols and trombone stuff all over it. The top layer was chocolate, so labeled with the musical staff with the C note on it. The bottom layer was French vanilla - with a musical staff with the F note on it. The notes to the "Happy Birthday" song are really on top of the cake. All black and white - very classy! Oh - and it was deee-licious!</p><p>The real reason I haven't been blogging? I've been stuffing my face with cake all week.</p><p> </p>Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-39443438194375595082009-03-01T12:36:00.000-06:002009-03-01T12:54:32.924-06:00Camera Critters #47<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yT_huhmgI8lRrb2EhV1Wf0PBp3tUrq_AIQwMwaG6l2qDNZim9yvPYJkGjOrQ3hJluDP17HXXVAVw9PAOeUqZJV7wlrl59eOS0APz35-cSCXTfnYLVLsr8rl5iNd1Ecf-QJVxDg/s1600-h/Camera+Critters+Post+Header2a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308293881341202450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 63px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yT_huhmgI8lRrb2EhV1Wf0PBp3tUrq_AIQwMwaG6l2qDNZim9yvPYJkGjOrQ3hJluDP17HXXVAVw9PAOeUqZJV7wlrl59eOS0APz35-cSCXTfnYLVLsr8rl5iNd1Ecf-QJVxDg/s320/Camera+Critters+Post+Header2a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><strong>A Letter to My Dogs</strong><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QiKVuyh1OMPKi1yCxJSY6N2VbbRJaRyds8jKLdZ3K5KRWNEpG-NJbUvoDJL9Xk4UFAtarf7YDFr1_IMTjCaz6K6yS9avj0gjBINMGdyAKoLUmiQJCm5bTTCWeGVoEwcfpEdY9A/s1600-h/IMG_1173.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308293465624018914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QiKVuyh1OMPKi1yCxJSY6N2VbbRJaRyds8jKLdZ3K5KRWNEpG-NJbUvoDJL9Xk4UFAtarf7YDFr1_IMTjCaz6K6yS9avj0gjBINMGdyAKoLUmiQJCm5bTTCWeGVoEwcfpEdY9A/s400/IMG_1173.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Dear Jax and Tango, </div><br /><div>The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.<br /><br />The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.<br /><br />I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however. Dogs can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.<br /><br />For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years - canine attendance is not required.<br /><br />The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog's butt. I cannot stress this enough.<br /><br />Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door:<br /><br />TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:<br /><br />(1) They live here. You don't. (2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That's why they call it 'fur'-niture. (3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people. (4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly.<br /><br />Remember, dogs are better than kids because they (1) eat less, (2) don't ask for money all the time, (3) are easier to train, (4) normally come when called, (5) never ask to drive the car, (6) don't hang out with drug-using people; (7) don't smoke or drink, (8) don't want to wear your clothes, (9) don't have to buy the latest fashions, and (10) don't need a gazillion dollars for college.</div><br /><br />Love,<br /><br />Mommy<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />** I found this letter over at <a href="http://flemingfamilycircus.blogspot.com/">Fleming Family Circus</a> and thought it was so cute!Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-85494900095138635582009-02-26T18:05:00.006-06:002009-02-26T18:22:23.209-06:00Only in Texas........does the morning traffic report warn commuters to watch out for horses on the freeways!<br><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhREqRnRd5BSy80KoT3fWos3-wT9tpOiz-Af5xay56xqWsLQQ3cM6J7xNn_e1ZNhGCgdEFgM_Xf1GwA0MebgRKciqV35_5tx7IBoy_lylWbEZsTYFL7kCP1DmRS4VT05Vrf0j-Z-w/s1600-h/TrailRide1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307262693844151058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhREqRnRd5BSy80KoT3fWos3-wT9tpOiz-Af5xay56xqWsLQQ3cM6J7xNn_e1ZNhGCgdEFgM_Xf1GwA0MebgRKciqV35_5tx7IBoy_lylWbEZsTYFL7kCP1DmRS4VT05Vrf0j-Z-w/s400/TrailRide1.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>The <a href="http://www.hlsr.com/wh/wh_tr.aspx">trail riders</a> are coming to town! It's <a href="http://www.hlsr.com/index.aspx">rodeo time</a> in Houston!</p><p><br /></p>Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-1440317036287304022009-02-24T14:19:00.006-06:002009-02-24T14:33:10.108-06:00Good show!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVP7BNMztkQBgTm7OYPSkJLYoKIdBMtbPh2vfiSCgn5M0FbgKRUc1KFVGxFZZ5OqfNAqzVh8DykuK6XAugJYxvqQPomzAW9IQKnFofCDgi05gnXWO2AeuLUN9bkF_aX0MjF6Masg/s1600-h/IMG_1167.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306463445967162402" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVP7BNMztkQBgTm7OYPSkJLYoKIdBMtbPh2vfiSCgn5M0FbgKRUc1KFVGxFZZ5OqfNAqzVh8DykuK6XAugJYxvqQPomzAW9IQKnFofCDgi05gnXWO2AeuLUN9bkF_aX0MjF6Masg/s200/IMG_1167.JPG" border="0" /></a>I just love watching Daughter perform in her drama productions - last weekend the drama department at her school put on the play <em>Dearly Departed</em> - a comedy about a somewhat dysfunctional East Texas family dealing with the death of their daddy. Ya'll, it was hilarious. Those kids did such a great job! Daughter played a bratty little girl - one of the grandchildren of the deceased. She didn't have any lines, but exhibited some most naughty behavior, and let out one really good scream!<br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>To celebrate a successful performance, Little Son made her this peaches & cream cake:</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOysXal4Mr6yD6jCv16YPP5Fh1s_A0BAoStFYqf8YNN4v9aLAbXsVSEcBd4DPaI6Cpm-3nJ8sKliQc0OkH_t6xL7FMv4x8pEK4JUCwNN7jD1g4hYI8IbXJyXvHmUxJtWkPswE0Q/s1600-h/IMG_1172.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306463842362327506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOysXal4Mr6yD6jCv16YPP5Fh1s_A0BAoStFYqf8YNN4v9aLAbXsVSEcBd4DPaI6Cpm-3nJ8sKliQc0OkH_t6xL7FMv4x8pEK4JUCwNN7jD1g4hYI8IbXJyXvHmUxJtWkPswE0Q/s200/IMG_1172.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I have amazing kids.Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-30813887007418254372009-02-21T12:46:00.003-06:002009-02-21T12:57:01.500-06:00Camera Critters #46<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3V2q8hgLdIZ6zqFalqa_bgSqTefsEbk2SfdnHZeW9y-P0PcKWTLAf9JEBaXxXKPHUEG-CaQYorNeCE6ZeElSF23nXvdzigLHywssnvkakfuJDPqvCy6mCvi6E9EThnYk7Ui88vQ/s1600-h/Camera+Critters+Post+Header2a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305326446522525298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 63px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3V2q8hgLdIZ6zqFalqa_bgSqTefsEbk2SfdnHZeW9y-P0PcKWTLAf9JEBaXxXKPHUEG-CaQYorNeCE6ZeElSF23nXvdzigLHywssnvkakfuJDPqvCy6mCvi6E9EThnYk7Ui88vQ/s320/Camera+Critters+Post+Header2a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgk7O203oUK3b1P5CoPx_5-_29W0GJ0s0ka04H2wmNvfiXjNJhiEu5aTC_DaF4BONpa0GRHXqgHyPwdGeyxYdyyIP3Vz_0KKxRJjjqbTzRW1Q1uS_6P2sfwLHLNfWpmKIZW7GCw/s1600-h/DSC01379.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305325975329065282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgk7O203oUK3b1P5CoPx_5-_29W0GJ0s0ka04H2wmNvfiXjNJhiEu5aTC_DaF4BONpa0GRHXqgHyPwdGeyxYdyyIP3Vz_0KKxRJjjqbTzRW1Q1uS_6P2sfwLHLNfWpmKIZW7GCw/s400/DSC01379.JPG" border="0" /></a>I just love baby animals! Isn't this baby giraffe the cutest? He lives at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida - but he THINKS he lives in Africa! <br /><br /><div></div></div>Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-46152716035433058222009-02-18T13:23:00.003-06:002009-02-18T13:56:47.631-06:00Being Moses in my 4:12 Life<strong><em>"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and the attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12</em></strong><br /><br />Despite the <a href="http://bubbassis.blogspot.com/2009/01/attack-on-my-412-life.html">attack</a>, I am continuing on in <a href="http://bubbassis.blogspot.com/2009/01/living-412-life-in-2009.html">my 4:12 Life</a>. I'm reading in Exodus, about Moses. In Chapter 3, Moses has gone from being a prince in Egypt to a mere shepherd in the desert. His life is defined more by what he's lost at this point than by what he's gained. Boy, can I identify with that! I can tell you the exact moment when my life began a downward spiral into desertdom (is that a word?). Life was going along swimmingly, just like it was for Moses in Egypt, then BAM! We were fleeing to Midian. And there we've been, feeling kinda lost. But you know what? God found Moses RIGHT THERE IN THE DESERT. And spoke to him in a most fantastic way through a burning bush. I wonder, would Moses have noticed the burning bush in Egypt? I think not.<br /><br />God knows where I am. And He has not forgotten me. God will call me by name (He <em>knows my name</em>!) and tell me what He wants me to do. My current situation is only a chapter in a much bigger story - a story of redemption. God is still all about freeing His people from slavery - the slavery of sin. <em>"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32</em><br /><em></em><br />God wants all of us to be Moses - to lead people to freedom from sin through Jesus Christ. Now I, like Moses, am the first to say, "Me? You want ME to do that? Surely there's someone else more qualified!" But the Bible tells me not to doubt myself - nothing is too big for God. So when I feel afraid, I must know that I need not be. Did you know it says "Do not be afraid" 365 times in the Bible? That's one for each day of the year! Awesome!<br /><br />I truly believe God is leading me right now. He's leading me to a place I so desperately need to be. Is God speaking to you? Are you perhaps not noticing what He's saying? It sure would be nice if we all got a literal burning bush from which to hear God's voice! But we do have His Word, and by living in that Word, He is speaking to us every day. We just have to listen.Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-88433374008086249732009-02-16T13:53:00.003-06:002009-02-16T14:31:38.543-06:00Wuv, Twue Wuv....This past weekend was all about LOVE - that wonderful, powerful, scary, thrilling, mushy emotion that gushes from our hearts. Of course, when one thinks of Valentine's Day, they think of romantic love. Hubby and I don't need a special day to celebrate our love, for it is there EVERY DAY, but we did observe the holiday modestly and sweetly. He is the love of my life, and not a day goes by that we don't tell each other we love each other. <br /><br />But I celebrated other kinds of love this past weekend as well. Friday the 13th was Tango's first birthday! My sweet little black puppy has grown into a big, fluffy, goofball of a dog, and I love him so much! I truly believe pets are members of the family. Last year I grieved so when we lost our beloved Misty, and I still miss her. Tango and Jax are my furry babies - they love me unconditionally, and they bring such joy to my life.<br /><br />Friday night <a href="http://usogirl.blogspot.com/">D...</a> and I enjoyed a much-needed Girls' Night Out! There is nothing like the love of a true friend. D... means so much to me. She loves me unconditionally, too (crazy girl!) and I can always count on her if I need anything. I don't have a sister, but D... is the closest thing I've got. I love her.<br /><br />Saturday D... and I got to do something really special - meet some blogging friends IN REAL LIFE! We met up with Diana (<a href="http://forgetfulone.blogspot.com/">forgetfulone</a>) and Kris (<a href="http://kris-itsmylife.blogspot.com/">It's My Life</a>) and had the BEST time talking and laughing....it was like we had known each other forever! New friends are so fun - I love them already! I hope we can all get together again soon!<br /><br />Saturday evening, instead of spending the holiday out with the crowds and the traffic and the packed restaurants, Hubby and the kids and I had a delicious dinner with <a href="http://bubbamom.blogspot.com/">Bubba's Mom</a> and Dad at their house. We had shrimp cocktails, delicious filet mignons grilled by Bubba's Dad, salad, and baked potatoes. Little Son baked a Valentine cake - white chocolate, frosted with strawberry frosting and garnished with fresh strawberries and white chocolate curls. It was deee-licious! We enjoyed just being together, eating, talking, laughing, and playing Apples to Apples. The love of my family is like a big quilt that warms my soul. I am blessed with wonderful children who enjoy family time, and with parents that we are close to. We do so much with my mom and dad and their love and support in my life is beyond measure. I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than being surrounded with the people I love the most!<br /><br />Sunday morning we went to church, and I worshipped the God I love. What's even more awesome? He loves me more than I can even comprehend. He is always with me, guiding me and protecting me, even when I can't always feel Him there. He walks with me, and sometimes He has to carry me. I will spend eternity with Him. God IS love.<br /><br />As I continue in <a href="http://bubbassis.blogspot.com/2009/01/living-412-life-in-2009.html">my 4:12 Life</a>, I am more and more in love with God. His Word speaks directly to my heart if I will only open up and let it. This week I am learning how to be Moses, and I believe I may have found my burning bush. More on that later.<br /><br />I hope that all of you had a wonderful weekend, surrounded with love, whether it be love from a sweetheart, from a pet, from your family, from your friends, or from your Heavenly Father. I love you all for reading my blog and leaving me your comments - it means so much to me, and with each one, my heart swells. Thank you!Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-83601265722338517872009-02-11T13:42:00.001-06:002009-02-11T14:09:24.058-06:00Sleeping With A Man<p align="center"><a href="http://www.wearethatfamily.com/2009/01/kiss-challenge.html"><img src="http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m296/shaunacallaghan/swak2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>We all love our husbands. We do. I love my husband more than anyone can imagine. But ladies, raise your hand if maybe sometimes - even if it's just every once in a while - you wish you could have your bed ALL. TO. YOURSELF. I mean really - the marriage bed is a beautiful thing, but don't you ever just wish that heat-radiating, snoring, teeth-grinding, cover-snatching man would go sleep on the couch?? Sure, spooning is great, until he falls asleep (which he inevitably will within 5 minutes) and gets real heavy and HOT. And he has those little muscle-spasm twitches that men have when they're falling asleep and that hand that's lovingly resting on your hip (or elsewhere) suddenly SQUEEZES and scares the bejeezus out of you! And the snoring - oh, the snoring! Don't even get me started!<br /><br />So as I'm lying in bed last night, thinking of how lovely it would be to have my bed to myself for an entire night, I doze off and have a bad dream. And when I waken, I reach out to touch Hubby - just to know that he's there. And just putting my hand on his big, heavy, warm, sleeping body is a comfort. He's there. He's always there. When I'm having a bad day, I can pick up the phone and he's there. When tragedy strikes and all I can do is cry, he's there. When I'm scared, worried, lonely....he's there. And when joy overflows from my heart and I'm giddy happy and want to celebrate....he's there.<br /><br />Seventeen years ago, when I was feeling trapped in an abusive marriage to a mean drunk, he was there.<br /><br />Through all the ups and downs of our marriage - and let me tell you, there have been many - he was there.<br /><br />When my family needs him, he's there.<br /><br />When our children need him, he's there.<br /><br />A few years ago, Hubby broke his leg when he flipped an ATV. But in treating his broken leg, a much bigger, scarier problem was discovered - his blood pressure was stroke-level high. As they were prepping him for surgery on his leg, the nurses were calling in doctors left and right and they told us they couldn't even think about putting him under for surgery or he would surely stroke out and possibly die. I was terrified, and for the first time since I've known him I realized that something could happen and he wouldn't be there anymore.<br /><br />He's fine now. With medication, his blood pressure is under control and his heart is healthy. But I'll never forget that feeling of fear that I might lose him.<br /><br />So why, oh why would I ever not want him to be there beside me? Yes, he snores. He tosses and turns and gets the covers all wadded up sometimes. He takes up more than his half of the bed. But he's there. I can reach out for him, and he's always there. And I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world. </p><p> </p><p> </p>Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-40998316246054162442009-02-11T12:49:00.003-06:002009-02-11T13:00:49.623-06:00Photo ChallengeStacey over at <a href="http://jameeforever.blogspot.com/">JameeForever</a> and Jami from the <a href="http://flemingfamilycircus.blogspot.com/">Fleming Family Circus</a> BOTH tagged me for this one, so here it goes! I am to go to my Picture Files, go to the 6th folder and find the 6th picture and post it here. Gosh, I hope it's decent!<br /><br /><br /><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJS6Umlqg7Gsls3n-N37XMtVyVP1K_l8z7L3-W71GJLZnh4pPvM2ZVJd_KvlvqQN-vqs4hprgEnDxZaJId3L12Vye2_pfJT5FzkcWldqHIEBe0AxpTl2OaA95KnkB36efRVvndJg/s1600-h/HPIM1360.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301616216754184706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJS6Umlqg7Gsls3n-N37XMtVyVP1K_l8z7L3-W71GJLZnh4pPvM2ZVJd_KvlvqQN-vqs4hprgEnDxZaJId3L12Vye2_pfJT5FzkcWldqHIEBe0AxpTl2OaA95KnkB36efRVvndJg/s400/HPIM1360.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Awwww - it's my favorite picture of Jax!! He was still a baby - so cute!</p><p>I'm not tagging anyone, but if you want to play along, leave me a comment and I'll be sure to come by and see!<br /></p>Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-83147750710607132052009-02-09T14:32:00.002-06:002009-02-09T14:37:31.088-06:00Mondays are MineI know, I know - most of you dread Mondays. Me? I rather look forward to them. Because on Mondays, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., I am HOME. ALONE. BY MYSELF. IN THE QUIET. I never plan anything for Mondays. The kids go to school, Hubby goes to work, and I cherish my time to myself. I can sit around in my jammies, read blogs and Facebook, sleep, eat what I want (I just wolfed down two Junior Chili Cheese Frito Snack Wraps from Sonic, and a handful of cherry sours washed down with a swig of ginger ale. I think I might throw up now, but at least there won't be anyone knocking at the door yelling, "MOM?!?" while I'm doing it!). I might throw a load of wash in on Mondays - I might not. I might make phone calls or pay bills - I might not. The beauty of Mondays is that I do what I want. I think everyone needs a day like that, don't you?Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23226697.post-1625068324172884862009-02-07T14:29:00.000-06:002009-02-07T14:32:33.448-06:00Camera Critters #44<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqDISA6VB8C7KvO6mu9QadeDO2DnYFlGM4f4rY3MXuIvjgZ5-z0ZrVzkyd2ISSyxN8RlJCHgZdURKYRUx6FVjPBWH82VZjssSAwlFcRMO_iyISUEJBtiS9s1ORM8an6ilr3Aueg/s1600-h/Camera+Critters+Post+Header2a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300155782576038258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 63px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqDISA6VB8C7KvO6mu9QadeDO2DnYFlGM4f4rY3MXuIvjgZ5-z0ZrVzkyd2ISSyxN8RlJCHgZdURKYRUx6FVjPBWH82VZjssSAwlFcRMO_iyISUEJBtiS9s1ORM8an6ilr3Aueg/s320/Camera+Critters+Post+Header2a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Waiting for Daddy to get home......<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_zuVMpjNsyA9IC9Az_XnBoiz91uP7IQr9kIOlW1Xtix6OLkBBZtbTnEEaXJqDDcFx2aKGxkiDQuQ7koCLzF0JFL7mswp1YSvQq2R0Of-gbjIm_k8iB6TD43Bxa2Rkv2UTi-gnQ/s1600-h/IMG_0922.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300155544805160642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_zuVMpjNsyA9IC9Az_XnBoiz91uP7IQr9kIOlW1Xtix6OLkBBZtbTnEEaXJqDDcFx2aKGxkiDQuQ7koCLzF0JFL7mswp1YSvQq2R0Of-gbjIm_k8iB6TD43Bxa2Rkv2UTi-gnQ/s400/IMG_0922.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXErYtCr8MyLz2pO4uACly9JezUOpM-RQuegg0oKwnR_myYkoiV7ZsMrBX1UfT1r5W8w2ybVo1rZBe8l_hsuMWuKED4922YwaEXG4rQGbG_8C7u_tBH8w0A2Z4uAgPWzqLgbpXAQ/s1600-h/IMG_1152.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300155187766186962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXErYtCr8MyLz2pO4uACly9JezUOpM-RQuegg0oKwnR_myYkoiV7ZsMrBX1UfT1r5W8w2ybVo1rZBe8l_hsuMWuKED4922YwaEXG4rQGbG_8C7u_tBH8w0A2Z4uAgPWzqLgbpXAQ/s400/IMG_1152.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div><br /></div>Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09255965229568186791noreply@blogger.com13