Let Me Off Of This Ride

Growing up one of my favorite things to do was go to the Carroll County Fair. I loved the smell of popcorn and cotton candy and enjoyed riding the scary rides. I can remember riding the zipper, super loop, octopus or spider and the barrel ride. I am sorry to say I can't remember whether I rode the barrel ride at the fair or if it was a ride I rode at Dogpatch U.S.A. but it is so similar to a carnival ride that I am including it in the fair "scary ride" category. The barrel ride looked like a barrel (hence the name reference). You would walk inside the ride and stand with your back against the wall, as the door shut with approximately 30 people inside the barrel the barrel would begin to spin very quickly as rock music began blaring very loud. As the ride spun around faster and faster your entire body would be stuck against the wall and for fun I would try to lift my hand or foot from the side of the wall but just couldn't. Once the ride started going super fast the floor would begin dropping out from underneath you and all you could see is a black bottomless hole as the music seemed to get louder and louder only intensifying my fear. After spinning for maybe 3 minutes the ride would soon end and the barrel would slow down as the floor would come back and meet my feet until finally I was able to stand up and gain composure. That ride was so scary to me but for some reason I would ride it more then 1 time per visit, just call me a "thrill seeker" or "crazy", it is one of those adjectives!!!

Well I can honestly say the above long story of my past is a perfect description of what I have been experiencing for the past 2 weeks. Personally, I have been struggling with some things and I honestly feel as if I have been on the barrel ride. I feel like things are just whirling around me and the floor keeps leaving me and then meeting my feet as loud music is blaring and I find my self breathless. This ride hasn't been pleasureable and I want off. It is not a ride that I want to ride again. Isn't there a saying about how sometimes you have to experience the worse before the best comes???? Or something to that effect?????? I sure hope so because I can't take much more stress or blah or I might explode!!!!!

Great Giveaway

While following one of my favorite "crafty blogs" I happened upon a great site that is offering a phenomenal giveaway and I had to bring it to your attention. Everyone check out the blog " Women Who Do It All" for your opportunity to win a free cricut. Yes, that's right, a cricut! Kayleigh and I are hoping to win it, but we thought we would pass on the opportunity to all of our friends!

Good Luck and if you win, please let Kayleigh and I come over and borrow it!!!!!!

Click on the link below for your chance to win the free cricut:

http://womenwhodoitall.blogspot.com/2010/03/exciting-news-two-optional-extra.html?showComment=1269391254018_AIe9_BGUGlzjBi_e_p7FqSwB6Rl08AGu217ILmuJJi_QIYcOt-ZhPCmEJCiJyq_-ov0xvh2ERdCXEoYGe3ERvpkU241TMKHglgSqLrh4ObuKioV9V-Dnftcj_OrTPN2EVoRVzLz2q046fdtrnCsLPB5PEJp2txcjWVGtAGnpIJ3o9HnU4jEGQTapws3ZW5vG7Gj-SmkGKJRnfmjqUpgTfkUGUYUQGZSLphO0w8DeC13CqQ5Z0O5Ou2Xaicu2eWO_cHgaiP01HG51#c6761686901111375428

A Few of my Favorite Things

As I spend time at home cleaning, organizing, and spending time with my 3 favorite people I have started thinking about a few of "my favorite things" at home, hence the title "A Few of my Favorite Things".
Here goes:
1. the smell and feel of clean sheets
2. nap time - not just the resting part, but the vision of Kambree all snug in her bed with her head on her pillow and her cute little bottom poking up in the air.
3. a garage piled high with clothes that are too small - that means we have made it through another season and my kiddos are growing up and older and I have been able to spend every season with them.
4. Kennedy and Kayleigh running inside with the scent of "outside" looming in our home - now their aunt Brittney absolutely hates the smell of outside and it is not my favorite scent either, but it is the "idea" of it. My kiddos are healthy and they "love" to play outside.
5. the phrase "but mom, the street lights aren't on yet" - at our house you can play outside until the street lights come on during the weekend and holidays but some times I want them to come in earlier and that is when I hear the phrase "but mom, the street lights aren't on yet". I love that phrase because even though we don't live in the neighborhood of my dreams, we live in a neighborhood where my children have friends and enjoy playing outside until the street lights come on.
6. something new - as I clean and organize I love to redecorate. By redecorate I mean moving a lamp from my bedroom to the living room, or moving a piece of furniture to a new spot to make a room look different. Now, I do have a gift certificate to Kirklands that is burning a hole in my wallet and I am sure it will be spent by Friday but I do not have to buy a lot of new things to make my home look new. I know, too much watching HGTV!!!!!
7. My job - I don't make a lot of money and there are some days that I wish I could redo or not have to do at all, but I work at a job that allows me time off sporadically throughout the year. I am given the opportunity to rejuvenate, veg-out, or both and I do LOVE that!!!
8. My best friends - I have met lots of great gals in my life, but there are 3 who mean the world to me. My momma, Brittney, and Jill. They have seen me through all of the "ups" and all of the "downs" and there have been a lot of "downs" lately and I LOVE them dearly!!!!!!!!

Well, there you have it!

Happy Birthday Mommy!!!

Today is my mother's birthday!

Happy 56th Birthday!!!!!

I absolutely can not wait until my mom moves back to Arkansas and we can celebrate her birthday together!!!

Love ya Mom

Spring has Sprung!!!

I LOVE Spring!!!

My favorite part of spring is "spring cleaning".

I know, I know- Crazy isn't it!! But I love to rearrange furniture, clean out closets, and reorganize my home.

I recently have been bitten by the "craft bug". Kayleigh and I have been frequenting Hobby Lobby and I have become a follower of several phenomenal blogs and I have been so inspired. There are a couple of ideas that Kayleigh and I are going to have to test out - we will post photos when our projects are complete!!!

I LOVE Spring!!!

Scripture That Must Guide Me

I have been struggling with several things personally and have begun asking myself very hard questions. Each night as I study my devotional and read the Bible several answers keep appearing in my reading. I have found one verse that I have been using as a guide and it has been helping me really search for what I "want" and what I "need" in my life.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8

What a Great Night - Part 2

Tonight I had the opportunity to spend time with my 13 year old son - Mom/Son time. Kambree is still with her daddy (I am missing that girl like crazy!!!!!) and Kayleigh is staying the night with a friend (the child begged me all week long and I finally caved) so I thought I better take advantage of an evening with Kennedy. I told Kennedy we would do what he wanted but he had to let me run a couple of errands too! We ran to Barnes and Noble so I could grab a couple of goodies (baby shower decorations and a new curious george baby for Kambree since that is her new favorite show) and then dinner at Chick-fil-a. We ate and talked about a new school project that Kennedy needs to work on this weekend where he will have to create a "simple machine" that really works without electricity (obviously his teacher is not aware that I have absolutely zero skills/ability with simple machines so we will be researching the internet and hoping that utube has some step by step instructions) and then headed to the 5:10 movie. Kennedy has wanted to see "Cop Out" and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. The theater was packed with people waiting to see "Alice in Wonderland" but our movie only had a total of 8 people so we got to sit back and prop our feet up on the bar on the front row of the raised seats and enjoy a movie together. Kennedy and I haven't been to the movies sisterless/daughterless since I can remember. It was fantastic to snack on popcorn and hang out together. After the movie we ran a few more errands and then headed home so he could play his new basketball video game that Warren got him for his birthday.
How blessed I am to get to spend time with my kiddos individually and all in the same week!!!

What a Great Night

Last night was one of the Best Monday Nights I have had in a while. Kambree is gone for the week with her daddy visiting her Great Grandmother who is celebrating a birthday this week and Kennedy was gone for a 2 day 1 night field trip so that left just me and Kayleigh at home alone. It has been a very long time since Kayleigh and I have been able to spend "mommy-daughter" time together so I was very greatful to have the opportunity. Our big plans were to lay in bed and watch "The Bachelor Finale" and "After the Final Rose" because we love reality television and because how often do 11 year olds get to stay up until 10pm on a school night (Never at our house - so this was a huge perk at our house). I straightened Kayleigh's hair with my chi (if you have ever seen Kayleigh's hair then you know this can be a daunting task - 1 hour later she loved it and I thought she looked fantastic for our evening) and we dined on Taco Bell (one of our favorite spots - we even ordered "fruitista breezes"). After dinner I helped Kayleigh get her homework done so we would be free from 7-10 pm to relax in bed. We put our pajamas on and just hung out for 3 hours together, totally uninterupted by a 13 year old brother or a 1 year old sister and it was heavenly. Now we did have to finish up chapter 5 of "The Cabin Faced West" during the first 3 commercial breaks (because apparently Kayleigh's teachers didn't get the memo that no homework on Monday would be fantastic) but after that we were good. By 10 pm Kayleigh was very tired so we called it a night and went to bed. I had so much fun and hope for a mommy - daughter day again real soon!