Friday's Feast #41

Appetizer
Name something you would categorize as weird.
the Yearning for Zion polygamist cult that was just raided in West Texas

Soup
What color was the last piece of food you ate?
brown (It was a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup!)

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy being alone?
8 - I enjoy time to myself, but not ALL the time.

Main Course
Fill in the blank: I will _________ vote for ___________ in _______.
I will NOT vote for HILLARY in NOVEMBER.

Dessert
Describe your sleeping habits.
Pretty wacky; I stay up late, get up early (not by choice!), and take a nap during the day (most days, but not all).

MP3 Shuffle Meme

**Scroll down for an update on Bubba's Mom**

As much as I love music and my mp3 player, I just had to get in on this meme! I found it over at Julie's blog - ilovegoaliesplits. If you want to play along, be sure to leave me a comment so I can come by and read yours! I love to see what kinds of music people listen to!

SONG 1: "I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)" by Brad Paisley

What comes to mind when you hear this song? my brother in law!! HA!

Rate the singers looks out of 10? 10 - he's a cutie!

What year was it released? 2002

SONG 2: "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" by The Georgia Satellites

Best instrument in the song? electric guitar

Third line? "But each time we talk I get the same old thing...."

Genre? Southern Rock

SONG 3: "You Give Love a Bad Name" by Bon Jovi (for you, Stacey!)

Would it be good live? Oh, it was!!!!!!!!!

What's the name of the album? Slippery When Wet

Last word: name

SONG 4: "White Wedding" by Billy Idol

Spell it without vowels: Wht Wddng

Write the opposite of each word in the title: Black Funeral

What sort of event would you play this song at? a party

SONG 5: "She's No Lady" by Lyle Lovett

Is this song heavy or soft? soft

Have you seen the artist live? no

How many times have you played this? no idea!

SONG 6: "Tonight I Wanna Cry" by Keith Urban

Is it a well known artist? yes

How many songs do you have by them? 5 on the mp3 player

How long does it go for? 4:19

SONG 7: "The Nearness of You" by Norah Jones

Remind you of anything? it reminds me of someone special to me

How would you dance to this? slowly

Did you buy it or download it? bought it

SONG 8: "Winner at a Losing Game" by Rascal Flatts

Name the song something different: "You'll Never Love Me Like I Love You"

Does it use a riff or a chord progression? Umm....what?

Rate the album out of 10: I don't have the album, but I bet it's good!

SONG 9: "Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day

How did you learn about this song? can't remember, but probably D...

Are there any meaning to the lyrics? From Wikipedia: In this melancholy ballad, Armstrong revisits his painful childhood and thinks about the day he lost his innocence when his father died. Like many faced with such a traumatic event, he never truly recovered, and he can't believe that twenty years have passed since that September day. As Armstrong associates pain with the month September, he would rather not deal with anything related to the month, prompting him to sing, "As my memory rests, but never forgets what I lost... Wake me up when September ends..."

Describe the video: I've never seen the video, but it was nominated for Best Rock Video at the 2006 MTV Music Awards.

SONG 10: "Wrapped Up In You" by Garth Brooks

Seen any DVDs of the artist? many

Favourite song by him? "To Make You Feel My Love"

Any explicit lyrics? NO!

SONG 11: "Higher" by Creed

What would your best friend think of you listening to this song? she'd love it!

Your mum? she'd think it was noise

Favourite line? "At sunrise I fight to stay asleep, 'Cause I don't want to leave the comfort of this place."

SONG 12: "I Think I Love You" by David Cassidy

It comes on the radio, what do you do? turn it up and sing!

Favourite part of the song? "I THINK I LOVE YOU!"

Mood it puts you in? happy

SONG 13: "It Aint' Me Babe" by Johnny Cash and June Carter

Does it suit the number 13? not particularly

What would you say to the artist if they were here right now? "I think you are one of the greatest artists of all time, Mr. Cash."

When would you listen to this song? anytime

SONG 14: "Who Knew" by Pink

If you could listen to one more song, would it be this? probably not

What artist should cover it? I'd like to see David Cook do this on American Idol.

What do you think of when you hear the name of it? That we never know what's going to happen in the future.

SONG 15: "The Cowboy In Me" by Tim McGraw

Best part? The whole song is good!

Best lyric? "We ride and never worry about the fall, I guess that's just the cowboy in us all."

Worst lyric? All the lyrics are good!

SONG 16: "Who Am I" by Casting Crowns

How many times could you listen to it without getting sick of it? over and over

Spell the artist backwards: Snworc Gnitsac

How much would you pay to see it live? Not sure.....but I would pay to see it live if it wasn't unreasonable.

SONG 17: "Renegade" by Styx

First word? Oh

Last word? man

Put both in a sentence: Oh, what a handsome man!

SONG 18: "Teenage Wasteland" by The Who

What does this song make you think about? the TV show CSI:NY (it's their theme song)

Remind you of any friends? no

What genre best defines the artist? Rock

SONG 19: "To Make You Feel My Love" by Garth Brooks (odd - I just mentioned that above)

Buy or download? bought - I own the Hope Floats album

What's one thing that could be improved? nothing - this song is beautiful and perfect

What decade was the artist in their prime? 90's

SONG 20: "Friday I'm In Love" by The Cure

What part of the song stands out?

How much do you love the artist? I wouldn't say I LOVE them but they have some good songs.

Has anyone in the band died? no

Wow! That was fun! Everyone should do this one!

Update

Thank you to everyone who has asked about Bubba's Mom and how she is doing - I am happy to say she is doing GREAT! The second surgery did the trick - she is CANCER FREE once again! She starts 5 weeks of radiation treatments next week, so keep her in your prayers. But it's all downhill from here - she's beat it again, by golly! What a woman!

Wordless Wednesday - Angelic

Ten Things I Love About My Life

I missed Ten on Tuesday last week, being at Bon Jovi and all......but I'm back! Here are Ten Things I Love About My Life:

1. I have a wonderful husband who works hard for his family and loves me and the kids more than life itself.
2. I have smart, beautiful children that amaze me every day.
3. I am close to my family; they mean the world to me.
4. I have the best BFF in the world who loves me for who I am.
5. I have always been able to be home with my kids.
6. The little job I do have now is flexible - I pretty much go in when I want and leave when I want.
7. I get to go to Disney World at least once a year.
8. I get time to myself to do what I want to do, or just do nothing.
9. I don't have to watch my weight.
10. As great as life here is, I know that my life in Heaven for eternity will be oh so much better than this!!

Monday Memememe

Yep, you read that right.......I've been tagged for TWO memes by Stacey over at Jamee Forever! That makes this a memememe post!

Meme #1

Here are The Rules...
1) Pick up the nearest book of at least 123 pages.
2) Open the book to page 123.
3) Find the 5th sentence.
4) Post it and the next 3 sentences.
5) Tag 5 people.

"Did He bellow a word that incited mountains to rise out of nothing? Did He speak with a smile when He told the hummingbirds to 'be'? Did one long roll of His laughing words spill daffodils across a meadow? So much to wonder about."

From Take Flight! A Sisterchicks' Devotional by Robin Jones Gunn & Cindy Hannan

Meme # 2

The Rules:
1) Link whom you tagged and list these rules on your blog.
2) Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3) Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving a comment on their blog. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

7 facts about Bubba's Sis:

1. I have 742 songs on my mp3 player.
2. I hate to cook.
3. I secretly want a tattoo.
4. I weighed 90 pounds when I got married. Two children later I weigh 100 pounds.
5. I do not pluck, tweeze, or wax my eyebrows - they are completely au natural.
6. I once danced with a professional ballet company.
7. I live 4 minutes away from the home I grew up in.

Now I'm supposed to tag a bunch of people, but everyone I know has already done these, so if you want to play along, go ahead! Leave me a comment and I'll come by and check it out!

Camera Critters #2

Hey there, Delilah. She's the other critter that lives at my house - she adopted us when we moved in here last year. I've never been much of a cat person, but she sure is a sweetie!

Would YOU want to know?

Bubba's Mom's oncologist is trying to arrange for her to have the test to determine if she has the breast cancer gene mutation. Heredity accounts for about 10% of all breast cancers, and abnormal BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes explain a large number of these cancers. Bubba's Mom is the only one in her family lineage (that she knows of) to have breast cancer, but since she was originally diagnosed at a young age (37) and has now had it three times, it is worth testing to know if she does have that gene mutation. It is an expensive test - about $3000 - but her doctor is trying to have her tested as a case study so there will be no cost to her.

If it turns out that Bubba's Mom DOES have the gene mutation, then there is a 50% chance that I have it, too. If I have it, there is up to an 85% chance that I will develop breast cancer before I am 70. It also means that I could pass it on to my daughter.

There are a lot of opinions on this matter, and I already know how I feel about it. My question to you is: Would you want to know if you had the breast cancer gene mutation?

Friday's Feast #40

Appetizer
Name a color you find soothing.
blue

Soup
Using 20 or less words, describe your first driving experience.
I failed my first driver's test and was mortified. I was too nervous and made silly mistakes.

Salad
What material is your favorite item of clothing made out of?
denim

Main Course
Who is a great singer or musician who, if they were to come to your town for a concert, you would spend the night outside waiting for tickets to see?
Without a doubt, BON JOVI!

Dessert
What is the most frequent letter of the alphabet in your whole name (first, middle, maiden, last,
etc.)?
R

Have you ever....???

I borrowed, well, copied, this from Valtool, who copied it from Stacey at Exceedingly Mundane this afternoon. Feel free to do the same and let us all know so we can come read yours...

Have you ever…

(x) Gone on a blind date
(x) Skipped School
( ) Watched someone die
( ) Been to Canada
(x) Been to Mexico
(x) Been to Florida
(x) Been on a plane
(x) Been lost
(x) Been on the opposite side of the country
( ) Gone to Washington , DC
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers
(x) Recently colored with crayons
( ) Sang Karaoke ….
(x) Paid for a meal with coins only?
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t?
(x) Made prank phone calls
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose - or other places!
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced in the rain
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(x) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(x) Watched the sunrise with someone you care about
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) Gone ice-skating
( ) Been skinny dipping outdoors

Priceless

Concert ticket: $50

Gas: $95

Hotel room: $95

Dinner: $16

Parking: $20

Concert T-shirts (2): $80

Seeing Chris Daughtry and Bon Jovi in Dallas with my BFF............


Beyond Priceless.

Best. Time. Ever.

Camera Critters Premiere!

My good bloggy friend Misty Dawn has started a new meme called Camera Critters! All you have to do each Sunday is post a photo that you have taken of an animal - any animal! I'm starting it off with a photo of my FAVORITE animal - my baby, Jax.

A New Addiction

No feasting today, but I've found something else to keep me busy:

Sporcle Games

Go ahead. Try it. You'll be addicted, too.

What's in a name?

PAK Dictionary of Names

You gotta check this out - go to the website and type in your first name; you'll get an amazingly accurate personality profile! Here's mine:

Your name creates a very sensitive, inspirational, and idealistic nature. You have an appreciation for all the fine and beautiful things in life, and could excel in music, art, drama, or literary undertakings, where you could find an expression for your deeper feelings that you would not find otherwise. As a result of your love of the out-of-doors, you would experience the most peace and harmony out in the quiet of nature. Your sensitive nature causes you to lack self-confidence, and to withdraw from arguments or turmoil, as any discord reflects quickly through your nervous system. You cannot stand pressure and desire to work where there is no confusion. This name restricts proper verbal expression; as a result, you are often lonely, craving understanding of others. Yours is a very deep, reflective nature, but others would never know it as you keep your deeper feelings within. Tension resulting from the use of this name would affect the heart, lungs, and respiratory organs, or the nervous system.

I did other people I know and theirs was eerily accurate, too. How accurate is yours??

Wordless Wednesday - Pooped

Brain Fart

I remembered to call in the refill I needed on my prescription.

I remembered to get everything we needed at the grocery store.

I remembered to pay the bills.

I remembered to schedule a repairman to look at my non-working oven.

I remembered to actually be here when the repairman showed up.

I remembered to program the DVR to record Hubby's TV shows he likes to watch.

I remembered to write the article I promised to a local magazine (which included interviewing an event planner who, to the tune of $1000, will throw a lovely birthday party for your little girl!).

I remembered to get something out for dinner tonight - and to make it!

I remembered to water the yard.

I remembered to feed the dog.

I remembered to feed the cat.

I remembered to sign the kids' report cards.

I remembered to drop off the dry cleaning.

I remembered to put gas in my van.

I forgot to pick up the prescription.

So I probably won't be sleeping tonight.

SIGH.

Ten Favorite Actors/Actresses

For your viewing pleasure, I included pictures with my Ten on Tuesday list for this week - enjoy! Here are my Ten Favorite Actors/Actresses:

1. Matthew McConaughy (or is that McCon-A-Hottie?)






2. Johnny Depp (Captain Jack Sparrow - 'nuff said.)





3. Reese Witherspoon (I loved her in Sweet Home Alabama and Walk the Line)





4. George Clooney (Loved him on the small screen, love him on the big screen.)





5. Dennis Quaid (Did anyone see him in The Big Easy? He can call me "cher" anytime! Hubba hubba!)





6. Ashley Judd (She was awesome in Double Jeopardy. And isn't she adorable?)





7. Hugh Grant (He's got so many good movies I love!)





8. Owen Wilson (I think he's hilarious!)





9. Gwyneth Paltrow (She was BEAUTIFUL in Shakespeare In Love!)





10. Kevin Costner (He's in three of the greatest baseball movies ever - Bull Durham, Field of Dreams and For the Love of the Game.)
    

War is Hell

That's the title of Bubba's Mom's post on her blog today - a day that her Giant Quilt of Love isn't keeping the chill of cancer out so well. Go by and give her some lovin' if you have time.....

Redneck Woman

Spent the whole day outside in the gorgeous weather today!

Babies Having Babies

There was a sad and disturbing story in the local news this week about a 14-year-old girl who gave birth to a "near full-term baby" in the bathroom at her junior high school, then killed the baby when she tried to flush him down the toilet. The baby boy was born alive; apparently some other students heard him crying and ran to get help. By the time teachers and the school nurse arrived, it was too late. It is a truly tragic story, and I'm sure things like this happen all too often in society today. But there are a few things that I just don't get:

• No one knew this girl was pregnant, even her parents. How on earth can a 14-year-old girl be pregnant - apparently pretty far along - and NO ONE notice??? Now she is saying that she did not know she was pregnant, but I just don't believe that. You can't have a baby living inside of you and not know it.
• How could she go into the bathroom at school and just give birth? I've had babies, and it's not an easy-breezy process, let me tell you. How could no one hear her? How did she know what to do?
• Did she really think she could just flush the baby down the toilet and....what? Go back to class? Pretend nothing happened?

My daughter is 14. I can not even imagine. Has our society made sex so acceptable that even children that young think it's OK? I'm not trying to be judgemental, but 14-year-olds getting pregnant is a problem. If you were a pregnant teen, or have a pregnant teen, I'm sorry if this offends you. But likely you aren't happy about the situation yourself. And I certainly hope anyone in this situation would handle it better than this girl did. Because that was a life - God's creation - killed because his mommy was still a baby herself and didn't have the sense to do the right thing. And now she could be facing murder charges. Tragic, indeed.

Hawaii Chair

Found this over at Jenny On the Spot. Prepare to laugh. And laugh and laugh and laugh. Who doesn't want to stay in shape while they're sitting down??



I gotta get one of these.....

Friday's Feast #39

Appetizer
Invent a new flower; give it a name and describe it.
It would be a big ol' garish flower with bawdy colors and it would be called the Blooming Idiot.

Soup
Name someone whom you think has a wonderful voice.

Katie Lady has a beautiful voice!

Salad
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how clean do you keep your car?

6 or 7 - it's not filthy, but it's not squeaky-clean either.

Main Course
How do you feel about poetry?
I have written poetry all my life - it is a beautiful art form, and a great way to express your feelings and emotions while exercising your creativity at the same time!

Dessert
What was the last person/place/thing you took a picture of?
See that Wordless Wednesday picture down there? That would be it! I didn't pose him at all - just found him sleeping that way.

A Giant Quilt of Love

Tomorrow Bubba's Mom goes in for her second breast cancer surgery in two weeks - after her surgery on Good Friday, the pathology did not show clean margins, so the surgeon is going back in tomorrow to take out more tissue. This is her third fight with breast cancer - it is a scary disease that not only has physical ramifications, but also plays mind games that can make one an emotional wreck. When Bubba's Mom got the news this week that there was still cancer in there and more surgery needed, she was rightfully scared and upset. The word quickly went out amongst all our friends and family (don't you love e-mail??); and the love started pouring in. People called, e-mailed, even came by to see her to say they love her and are praying for her. All week there has been a constant flow of caring thru her house and into her heart. She told me tonight, "I feel like I've been wrapped up in a giant quilt of love!" What an awesome feeling! She can go into that surgery tomorrow morning with peace, knowing that there are so many people praying for her and thinking of her, and that Jesus is holding her in the palm of His hand. And the surgeon will get ALL that cancer out this time, and she will be a three-time champion in beating this damn disease! Go Mama! I love you!

Wordless Wednesday - "I miss my sister."

Ten Things I'd Fix In My Home (If I Had the Time and Money)

I have only lived in my home for 7 months, and I absolutely love it. But, as with any pre-owned home, there are a few little things that need fixing, or that I would like updated. Here's my Ten on Tuesday list for this week - Ten Things I'd Fix In My Home (If I Had the Time and Money):

1. new carpet
2. new oven and microwave
3. paint the kids' bathroom
4. replace my sliding glass patio door with French doors
5. my office has French doors off the master bedroom, but also has a regular door into the hall - I would like to wall in that hall door so the room is only accessible from my bedroom
6. fix the small leak in the roof over my bathroom (we have a bucket up in the attic catching drips!)
7. fix up my back patio - maybe with a nice deck and lighting and nice outdoor furniture
8. remodel/reorganize the master closet
9. new toilets
10. repair the two zones of the sprinkler system that don't work quite right so ALL the lawn gets watered!

Play ball!

"I love Opening Day. I think we all do, whether it's the players, coaches or front office. It's just a special day in our American culture. It's weaved into the fabric of what we are, and I think it's a great day." - Padres manager Bud Black

Today is Opening Day for Major League Baseball - a day our family really looks forward to! The Astros are in San Diego tonight (can you take your pets to PETCO Park?), then Chicago, so their Home Opener won't be until next Monday the 7th. Bubba and Bubba's Dad will be there - it is a tradition that they go to the Astros' Opening Day game every year, and have since Bubba was just a little kid (now he's a big kid).

The Astros are a new team this year - we've lost a few players, including Craig Biggio who retired at the end of last season, and we've gained some new ones, including second baseman Kazuo Matsui, who is on the D.L. and won't get to start playing until mid-April. He is recovering from surgery to repair an anal fissure. Bubba and I think that there should be a big promotion at Minute Maid Park when he returns - a giveaway of inflatable doughnut cushions for the first 10,000 fans! It could be sponsored by one of the local hospitals. It's brilliant.

So buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks, and root root root for the home team - it's time to PLAY BALL!

*An interesting fact - the song "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" turns 100 this year! Read about it here.

Friday's Feast #38

It's the last Friday's Feast for March - so dig in and enjoy!

Appetizer
What does the color dark green make you think of?

Emeralds

Soup
How many cousins do you have?

I have three true first cousins - my mom's sister has two children and my dad's sister has one.

Salad
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how honest are you?

If I said a 10 would you believe me? If I said a 2 would you?

Main Course
Name something that is truly free.

Love

Dessert
Using the letters in the word SPRING, write a sentence.

Special People Really Inspire Natural Greatness.

Laugh and the world laughs with you.....or looks at you like you're crazy...

To me, one of the greatest things in the world is laughter. It always feels good to laugh - a giggle or a chuckle can be fun, a belly-laugh refreshing, but the best is the laugh-til-your-sides-hurt-and-the-tears-are-streaming-down-your-face laugh. You know the ones I'm talking about - the ones that border on hysteria and you feel like you might pee in your pants. Those are the best.

Last night we went out to dinner because I just didn't feel like cooking. We were all tired, and we settled into the booth to look at our menus when our waitress walked up and asked us for our drink order. And she sounded exactly like Roz from Monsters, Inc. When she walked away the giggles started. Then I started talking like her and the belly laughs began. Then every time she would come to our table and talk to us, Little Son and I would look at each other and try to stifle our laughter until she walked away. Soon we were laughing so hard we couldn't even finish our meals. I literally had tears in my eyes. It was a hilarious evening.

So when's the last time you had a really good laugh??

Doing the Write Thing

Daughter's dream for when she grows up is to be an author. She loves to read, she loves to write. She does both as often as she can. Back in September the students at her school were asked to submit their writings for the Do the Write Thing Challenge, a nation-wide youth anti-violence program (click the link and check out the website - it's pretty cool). Last week Daughter received a letter in the mail from Harris County Judge Ed Emmett telling her that she is a School Finalist out of 17,876 submissions from 175 schools (only one boy and one girl were selected from each school)! She will be recognized at a ceremony at Minute Maid Park in May (obviously on a day the Astros aren't using it!) and has a chance to go on to the State and possibly National level!

That girl just amazes me. We are so proud!

Wordless Wednesday - Spring!

Dance Fever

All who know me know I love my reality TV. I don't watch the real cheesy ones - my favs are Survivor, The Amazing Race, American Idol, and Dancing With the Stars. I never miss an episode! The challenges each of the competitions provide intrigue me, but not to the point of ever wanting to try it myself. I wouldn't last one day on Survivor, I'm too much of a chicken to do most of the stunts they have to do on The Amazing Race, and even tho I love singing into the hairbrush in the bathroom, I know I don't have a good singing voice. BUT, then there's Dancing With the Stars. When I watch that, I want to do it SO BADLY!! I have danced pretty much my whole life, but never ballroom dancing, and when I see them training and performing all the different dances, I yearn to get on the dance floor and try it myself! Perhaps one day I'll get up the gumption to take lessons - with or without Hubby, I really want to do it. The only thing that worries me is those high heels.....

This season of DWTS is off to a great start - the twelve couples all danced last week and this week, and their combined scores will be tallied for tonight's elimination. One man and one woman will be sent home. My prediction is that Monica Seles will be the woman leaving tonight - she is just....well....bad. My favorites of the women are Marlee Matlin (amazing!), Shannon Elizabeth, and Kristi Yamaguchi. They have all three impressed me so far! Priscilla Presley didn't do so bad, either (but man, she has messed up her face!), and Marissa Jaret Winokur is not very good, but has great enthusiasm! As for the men, I think either Penn Jillette will go home, or Adam Carolla - they are equally bad and obnoxious. My favs of the guys are Mario (never heard of him before, but he can dance!) and Jason Taylor, and I just think Steve Guttenberg is the cutest! The Cristian de la Fuente guy is not bad, but not great either, IMO. He's more of a goofball than a heartthrob to me.

I'll be tuning in tonight for the results show (right after I watch American Idol!) - we'll see if my predictions are right. And I'll live vicariously through all the dancers for another week....

Beautiful

To any woman - myself included - who has ever doubted their beauty:

Special Thanks

A special, heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who offered their condolences to us this week. It means so much to know that people care about you, and that they celebrate with you when you are up and grieve with you when you are down. The past few days have been full of mixed emotions - through the happiness of Daughter's birthday and the joyous celebration of Easter there has been that underlying sadness for Misty. Even Jax - our other schnauzer - is missing her. But we will get past this and be OK. Just wanted to say thank you to everyone for your kind words. They truly mean so much.

Happy Birthday, Beautiful Daughter!

Today we put aside our sadness to celebrate Daughter's 14th birthday - and what a beautiful young lady she is! We spent part of the day at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, checking out the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibit, then headed over to the zoo for a few hours of animal watching out in the gorgeous spring weather. This evening we topped it off with a celebratory dinner with our BFF's! Tomorrow we will celebrate with family and she will get cake and presents and be made much of. Oh, it's good to be 14!

I love you, Baby Girl! You are a beautiful, unique, amazing young woman who knows exactly who she is and is true to that to the core. Happy Birthday, Sweetie!

Misty

“Many years ago when an adored dog died, a great friend, a bishop, said to me, "You must always remember that, as far as the Bible is concerned, God only threw the humans out of Paradise”- Author Unknown

We lost our beloved Misty today - tonight we are grieving and heartbroken, but we know she is free from pain and waiting for us in Heaven. A good friend sent me this poem tonight:

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here,
That pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of
Our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of
Food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those
Where were hurt are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our
Dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except
For one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be
Left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and
Looks into the distance. Their bright eyes are intent. Their body quivers, Suddenly
They begin to run from the group, flying over green grass, their legs carrying her faster
And faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling
Together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face;
Your hands again caress the head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet,
So long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together…..

Wait for us, Misty - we'll see you again someday.

Thank you, Bubba's Mom, for your beautiful post today.

Friday's Feast #37

It's a Good Friday Feast - Happy Easter, everyone!



Appetizer
Given the choice, would you prefer to live in the country or in the city?
definitely the country




Soup
Who is the cutest kid you know?
The obvious answer to this is MY OWN! But excluding them, it is definitely my nephew DREW BEAR!




Salad
Fill in the blank: I couldn’t believe it when I heard ___________.
I couldn't believe it when I heard that Carly was in the Bottom 3 on American Idol this week!



Main Course
If you could star in a commercial for one of your favorite products, which one would you want to advertise?
Bath & Body Works bubble baths and shower gels



Dessert
What type(s) of vitamins and/or supplements do you take on a regular basis?
None!

Wordless Wednesday - This is serious!

Unfortunate Timing

For the past three years we have been at Disney on or around the kids' birthdays (both in March) and celebrated there. I know, I know - the poor things. They haven't been able to have a real birthday party with their friends in years. They are really deprived.

But this year is different! This year we have no March trips planned, and I told the kids they could each have whatever kind of birthday party they wanted this year. Little Son didn't want much - no friends from school or anything, just dinner and go-karting with the D Family. Unfortunately, it got COLD for his birthday, and I was NOT going to drive a go-kart around a track with freezing wind whipping in my face - a sure recipe for snotcicles. So he decided on laser tag instead, which the kiddos fully enjoyed after a delicious dinner at the best hamburger place in the world - Tookie's (another place I would definitely take a tourist around here!).

Now it is Daughter's turn, and she decided on a pedicure party at the local nail salon - fun music, food, and fancy pedicures for everyone! She invited six girls. But this week is Spring Break AND her birthday is the day before Easter this year, so other than Lamb, no one can come. Daughter is crushed. I've tried comforting her by telling her that it's NOT her, that it's just the time of year; I've told her I'd buy her whatever she wants, even a pony; I've hugged her and wiped away the tears and told her we can do anything else she wants. But to a 14-year-old girl, no one coming to your birthday party is pretty crushing. It is so hard to stand by and see your baby hurt. I can't fix this. She will still have her family party this weekend, and we'll make it wonderful for her, but once again she has missed out on a party with friends (the next few weekends are no-go's for rescheduling, too).

These are the times when parenting gets hard. The times your heart breaks right along with theirs. I look back at my own life and the times I was hurting and only now realize how Bubba's Mom must have felt for me. But I survived, and I learned, and so will Daughter. I just wish I could make her feel better NOW.

Ten Places I'd Take a Tourist in My Hometown

I love my hometown. I was born here, and I've lived here all my life. Hubby was also born here, and has lived here all of his life as well. We know the area well, despite its many changes over the years.

Where is our hometown? A community called Clear Lake City, located half-way between the big city of Houston and the historic seaside city of Galveston. Come on down and visit us! Here's where I'd take you:

1. NASA/JSC - my Daddy retired from here after 40+ years of work; it is the heart of our community; there's a lot of cool stuff to see here!
2. Kemah Boardwalk - for fun, and fresh Gulf seafood!
3. The Strand/Historical District in Galveston - there's so much history in Galveston, and beautiful Victorian architecture, some still standing after the Great Storm of 1900; plus there's some cool shops along the Strand to poke around in, and more delicious seafood!
4. Galveston Beach - not the prettiest of beaches, I'll admit, but still a great place to relax on a beautiful day!
5. Moody Gardens - also in Galveston; fun stuff to do there, including cool exhibits, an aquarium, and a white-sand beach.
6. San Jacinto Monument - to see where Texas won its independence from Mexico!
7. If you come at this time of year, I'd definitely take you to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo!
8. If you come later in the Spring or Summer, I'd take you to Minute Maid Park to see a Houston Astros baseball game!
9. Houston Museum of Natural Science - lots of cool stuff to see here, too.
10. The Houston Zoo - right across the street from the museum - they've really fixed it up nicely and I love animals so it's a fun place to visit!

Ya'll come on down! D... and I will show you a great time!

Kiss me, I'm Irish!

No really. I am. Both of my dad's parents can trace their lineage back to Ireland. We even have a castle there (well, it's in ruins now, but it's still there - see above)! I'm proud of my heritage, and even tho I don't really LOOK Irish, it's fun to BE Irish!

So Erin Go Bragh! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Don't forget to wear a little green!

Crazy 8's

I haven't been tagged for any memes in a while, but Michael at Valtool's Box tagged me for this one and it looks like fun!

Name 8 Things I Am Passionate About

1. Christ
2. my family
3. my friends
4. the fight against breast cancer
5. my pets
6. dance
7. music
8. Disney

Name 8 Things I Want To Do Before I Die

1. see my children graduate from high school and college
2. live long enough to see my grandchildren
3. take my nephew Drew Bear to Disney World
4. go on a Disney cruise
5. see the Astros win the World Series
6. enjoy retirement years with Hubby
7. be debt-free
8. become a better photographer

8 Things I Often Say

1. "I love you." (can't say it often enough)
2. "Fabulous!"
3. "Howdy!"
4. "Yo, Dogg" (a la Randy Jackson)
5. "Hey there, Delilah." (to my cat)
6. "Can you please turn that down?" (to Hubby watching TV)
7. "No prob, Bob."
8. "Holey moley!"

8 Books I've Recently Read or am Currently Reading

1. Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson
2. Shoot from the Lip by Leann Sweeney
3. Pushing Up Bluebonnets by Leann Sweeney
4. Take Flight! A Sisterchicks' Devotional by Robin Jones Gunn & Cindy Hannan
5. Umm.....I don't read as much as I should anymore....

8 Songs I Could Listen To Over and Over

1. "Livin' On A Prayer" by Bon Jovi
2. "Stay" by Sugarland
3. "Sweet Child of Mine" by Guns 'N Roses
4. "Come Sail Away" by Styx
5. "To Make You Feel My Love" by Garth Brooks
6. "Whiskey Lullaby" by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss
7. "Sweet Emotion" by Aerosmith
8. "Bright Lights" by Matchbox Twenty

8 Things That Attract Me To My Best Friends

1. They love me for who I am.
2. They are fun.
3. They are not pretentious.
4. They don't judge me.
5. They love God.
6. They love my family.
7. They genuinely care.
8. They make me laugh.

8 People I Think Should Do Crazy 8's

Whoever wants to!

Who's your daddy?

It was back to the rodeo for us last night - the kids had been begging Daddy to get tickets, and boy did he deliver! Four seats on the posh Club Level on Toby Keith night! (Hubby's position at work does have its nice perks.) We saw some great rodeo action - had some good laughs - and watched a great concert. During the bull-riding competition they brought out an apprentice rodeo clown to give him his first try in the barrel (a dangerous position, indeed). He worked the barrel for the last three bull riders, and even got a tumble when a bull knocked him over and rolled him a bit! At the end of that round we got to meet this apprentice clown - it was Matt Lauer from The Today Show!! Too funny!

As always, the crowd thickened at it got closer to concert time. A man and his well-endowed girlfriend sat behind us, and when Toby Keith started singing she stood up with her beer in hand and danced. I worried for Little Son's safety. She was either going to spill her beer on him, or one of her boobs was going to fall out of that tube top and knock him upside the head. I had to keep a close eye on him.

It was Salute to the Armed Forces Night, and everyone was feeling quite patriotic. Toby Keith put on a great show, and towards the end he sang American Soldier and the whole crowd was on their feet. And that's when it hit me. Or rather, SHE hit me. The lady behind me whacked me on my hat. I turned around and she snatched it off my head and handed it to me, saying, "You need to show respect for your country!" She was holding her own hat over her heart. I stuck my hat back on my head - bad hat hair under there - and said to her, "He's not singing the National Anthem!" Then I turned around and continued enjoying the show. Toby segued right into Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue and the crowd went wild singing along. Miss Boobs tapped me on the shoulder and when I turned around she was right in my face saying, "Do you disrespect your country??" After I caught my snap from the buzz I got off her breath, I stuck my finger in her face and said, "I have a son in the military, so GET OUT OF MY FACE!" For the rest of the song I ignored her. And then we left. The kids had troubled looks on their faces, because they had heard the whole exchange, so I hugged them and said,

"Hey, it's OK! WHO'S YOUR MAMA??"

Friday's Feast #36

Time for another Friday's Feast! TGIF!

Appetizer
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 as highest), how much do you like your own handwriting?

10 - I have great handwriting!

Soup
Do you prefer baths or showers?

Definitely baths - with bubbles!

Salad
What was the last bad movie you watched?

I can't even remember the last movie I saw, much less the last BAD one!

Main Course
Name something you are addicted to and describe how it affects your life.

I take a prescribed medication every night to prevent migraine headaches; if I do not take it, I do not sleep. The doctor says this is not so much an "addiction" as it is a "dependency", so if I'm OK with it, he's OK with it. And I'm totally OK with it.

Dessert
Which instrument is your favorite to listen to?

a piano

Wordless Wednesday - Contentment

Ten Things I'm Looking Forward To In The Spring

I love Spring! It's my favorite time of year. My babies were born in the Spring, and there's always fun stuff to look forward to, so my Ten on Tuesday list was an easy one! Here are Ten Things I'm Looking Forward To In The Spring:

1. warm days
2. Houston Astros baseball
3. Texas bluebonnets
4. Bubba's Mom finishing radiation and officially kicking cancer's butt for the third time!
5. sandals (and bare feet!)
6. spring clothes
7. more daylight in the evenings
8. the return of Dancing With the Stars
9. Spring Break
10. Bon Jovi!!

What are YOU looking forward to this Spring?