Happy Holidays!

It's been a while - I've had internet issues! We had family pictures made the Saturday after Thanksgiving - the Tuckers were here anyway, and Mom came up for the pix. She brought Patti with her, and Patti was a big help - holding purses, setting up the pix, getting the kids to smile/look at the camera/be still! I think these are the first pictures we've had made since...I don't know when! The Tuckers have had pictures made, but we haven't had any of the six of us.

A sweet friend emailed me and was very encouraging. It was almost like someone said, "you are just fine the way you are - you don't need a man to complete you." I should know that, and I do. But sometimes it's hard to really feel it. Thank you sweet thing for encouraging me and inspiring me to get out there and do things.

Another holiday! I'm not really scrooge, but not the opposite either. I'll admit - I didn't put up my big tree or much else this year. I have a little tree in the kitchen but I didn't dig out the ornaments, so I'm hanging my Christmas cards on it! Lovely. I have a little tree at the office too. Maybe next year, I'll have a brunch/lunch one Saturday to refresh my friends out shopping! I need to wrap my presents - I hope the two I'm waiting on UPS to deliver arrive!!! I'm excited about going to Fordyce for Ethan's program, then to Ashdown, back to Fordyce for Christmas!, then back to Ashdown. Mom, Patti, and I may go somewhere - Jefferson, TX or Dallas maybe. Then it's back to work!

I'm trying to enrich my life in 2008 - read my Bible through, take several classes for my masters, pick up my clarinet again, and try to meet some other singles and make a difference. Find my spot. I'm not sure the kiddos are really my strength though. Oh, and keep my house and office straightened up and organized, and maybe "do" something with my den (get it decorated).

The Highlights

Ahh, what a great few weeks! Thanksgiving was, of course, a wonderful holiday. Mom arrived in Searcy on Tuesday before the Thanksgiving. We left Searcy Wednesday morning about 9:00 a.m. in Mom's van. We stopped by the Key Lime Cottage (I had ordered the YUMMY friendship bread, pumpkin bread, and pumpkin cupcakes!!! awesome!!!!) because I thought we needed to take some snacky/breakfast food. We stopped in West Memphis for a late breakfast/early lunch at Cracker Barrel (one of the three times we ate at CB on this trip) before heading on down the road. I drove and it wasn't too bad until we hit Hattiesburg. It rained off & on the whole time, but then on the radio we heard the tornado warnings. And then the tornado watch. We heard what county the tornado was in, but since we don't live there we had no idea where it was. So Mom got out her trusty AAA map, only to discover that we were IN the county, and in the storm's path. Hmm. We filled the tank with gas and finally decided just to keep going because the storm was morning east and the further south we went the better. So, we head out. We called the Eyrichs to ask about the storm and they told us to keep coming too. It was really pouring rain, very windy. I told Mom to watch the skies! The traffic slowed to a crawl, people had their hazard lights on, it was wild. But we made it through!! It didn't last very long, but I was sure ready to get to Long Beach! We ate, talked, caught up on the latest. We prepped food (whatever they told us to do), looked up recipes, got the Pina Colada cake on, etc. Thursday morning, Mom & I got up quickly and showered and dressed. We headed downstairs and chopped some more, crumbled cornbread, whipped cream, etc. More people arrived, and we ate about 2:00 p.m. It's been a while since I've been so stuffed. We managed to sit around and check out the sale papers while planning our "Chicks Day" attack for Friday.

Mom & I didn't get up to hit Michael's at 6:00 a.m. I didn't need anything that bad. But I did get up and around in time to hit Tuesday Morning, Stein Mart, etc. We came home to unload (again) and eat Mr. George's delicious oyster po-boys for lunch. Then we headed out again. We finally gave up and limped back to the house for leftovers.

Saturday morning, we took our time getting around before heading to Mobile. We met old friends of ours Phillip & Ann at Cracker Barrel for lunch, then we shopped at the new Eastern Shore Mall until dinner (do you notice a pattern here - shop & eat, shop & eat?). We went to Stix - sushi and hibachi grill! Mom & Mrs. Sue had never tried sushi before, so Elissa made sure we ordered several things for them to try. It was great! The show was wonderful and the food was way too good.

We went to church on Sunday, and then ate at a casino (it was a buffet and yummy - and we didn't even have to walk through the casino!). We had planned on leaving and getting on down the road, but the weather reports were calling for more bad weather. So we stayed another night with the very hospitable Eyrichs!!! And on the way home Monday, guess where we had dinner?!?!

More later - it's time for Bunco!

Another Super Sunday.....and I'm almost glad that I'll be gone next week! I know, that's bad. I am so far out of my zone in Children's Worship Training and the cradle roll class. The helpers today in the class had more experience that my age. And in CWT, the kids just look at me. Sigh. As someone pointed out, I'll never meet anyone in children's classes and in women's classes.

But it's been nice to hear in the past week:

• at least two people are praying for my future and future husband maybe
• that I'm doing a good job from several bosses

I guess I haven't really missed being in "big church" since Noel's talking about "happily ever after" - a series on marriage. Yeah, you know there aren't any fairy tales or happy endings for the singles. :-) I guess I just get tired of always listening to couples, marriage, children topics. I know, I know - I'll probably need to know that stuff sometime. Maybe. I'm starting to wonder. Yes, I do hear that biological clock - no need to point it out thank you very much. No need to pout about being an older mom when you're younger than me. No need to point out that you waited so long for your husband when you're younger than me. Let me tell you all about waking up to a cold & lonely house, coming home to a cold & lonely house, eating alone, going to sleep in a cold & lonely bed. (no, I don't want to spend a fortune heating my house this winter, so it is literally cold, but also figuratively cold.) Just for the record, I do like hearing about your families - I don't want to think that I get sick of hearing the latest tricks the kids are doing or anything! I have actually learned a lot just by listening to people at supper club. And I realize that I'm the odd man out in most situations. Just a little disclaimer!

I am looking forward to going back to Mississippi for Thanksgiving this week. Mom is coming here and we'll leave Wednesday morning, after stopping by the Key Lime Cottage for some yummies to take! We'll share Thanksgiving with the Eyrichs and friends, then shop the day after Christmas! Mom & I will head home Sunday after church, but we probably won't make it back to Searcy until Monday. Mom's still getting her strength back and we'll both be tired from the holiday. I'm looking forward to spending time with Elissa and her family. Hanging out with my best friend is always fun. Luckily, I always feel at home with Lis and her family. I'll miss seeing the Tuckers, but they will be here the next week-end. Yeah!!!

Falling..........

Leaves mean I get to rake my yard. Whew - I'm tired from that good exercise today. Of course, I need to exercise since I've been eating way too good the past week or so.

Last Friday (Nov. 9), I got up ridiculously early (3am) to catch a flight at 6:30 am from Little Rock. I flew from LR to Memphis, and then Memphis to Gulfport. I must have had the "middle seat" syndrome because I had the middle seat for all the flights except one. And that flight didn't have a middle seat! I got to Gulfport, got my bag, and waited on Elissa to arrive. I waited outside on a bench, in the sun, and got sleepy. We went to the Harbor View restaurant for lunch, and went to Tuesday Morning while waiting on our order. She gave me a choice - go back to work with her (at a credit union) or stay at the house and rest. Duh. Rest I chose. So I ate (a fried shrimp po-boy) and watched "Speed" with her Dad before he went back to work. I rested a while, then made some hot tea and watched TV (what a treat!). I ended up watching the riveting show of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Tryouts. We went to the Trans Siberian Orchesta concert in Biloxi and sat way up in the nosebleed-we-need-oxygen-section. It was a loud, blinding at times, show. It was pretty much the same show as last year, except the opening song wasn't near as good. With TSO, you have to wait until the end to hear the really good stuff and it was a long show with no intermission. But we enjoyed it.

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to do something fun with Elissa and Mrs. Sue - strip wallpaper and paint a bathroom! The bathroom was a pepto pink and is now a more subdued and elegant cream and taupey-gray color. It was fun and I felt I really contributed - since I was the tallest and could reach the high points! :-) That evening, we went to Emeril's restaurant (yes, we had to walk through the casino to get there!) and it was yummy! I had barbequed shrimp, shrimp & grits, and Mississippi Mud Pie, along with cake-like cornbread and a potato roll. Remember I'm not big on chicken (see a previous post). Sunday, we went to church and got to visit with people. Then we went to a chinese buffet for lunch (the sushi was good!). Elissa, Mrs. Sue, and I did some shopping before heading to the church that evening. We went by Sonic for ice cream, and then enjoyed the ice cream in the Eyrich's new travel trailer - it was so nice!!! After church, Mr. George went by Church's Chicken. Yes, I did eat some fried chicken, but it was easier since it was fried! We finished up painting in the bathroom before bed.

On Monday, Elissa & I just hung out mostly. We picked up lunch and then went to the beach and ate in her car. It was so relaxing to just sit in the sun, listen to the waves and the gulls. Then she took me to the airport and I came home. I went to the restroom downstairs and the ladies room was on the right. After I went through security, I went to the restroom. I went right (I did glance at the sign).....and it was the wrong one!!!! Oops.

This was another busy week. Tuesday & Wednesday I was in LR for a training. Thursday, we had our program review with our new district staff and our new FCS state leader. This is where they come and we go over what we did last year, and they check everything out to make sure we're doing what we should. It went very well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They were all very nice, complimentary, and encouraging!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a relief.

I guess I've told you all the food except for our office Thanksgiving lunch - which was Prime Rib from Eagleview. We had it catered this year and it was SO good. Which was why I raked leaves today....to burn off just a few of those extra calories I've consumed!!!

Super Sunday

Wow - what a day! I had the opportunity to help out with Children's Worship Training this morning. Yes, I got up in time for the early service! After, of course, I got up, ate breakfast, then realized that I had an extra hour (I had forgotten to turn my clocks back!). This was my first time in CWT and it was interesting. I sat on the row with Hannah Ferrie, Mallory Gowen, and Gracie Metheny. Mr. Brent asked the children what made them happy. Hannah's first response - her mom. I was impressed with CWT - and the kids were so cute.

While the kids were going to class, I headed to my cradle roll class. Luckily, I had already set up. I kept hoping I'd have help - and I did. Alice Jewell, Pat Berry, and I managed to corrall 9 little munchkins. Two of them cried the whole first half, most didn't want to sit, and the other kept throwing the toys. But we survived! We did have several visitors and some new children that had moved up. I'm almost glad that I'll be gone next week. But I have full confidence in Mrs. Jewell - I wouldn't have made it today if she hadn't been there!!!!

I made a 15-bean soup last night and had some for lunch, along with some cornbread. Yum! I think that will last me ALL week. What cheap eating for the week.

Tonight's worship was Singing Night! That is always a favorite of mine - and I was glad I wasn't running the powerpoint. Mike Wood took requests - and the PPT operator got to find the songs and put them up. And there were so many requests that we only sang the first and last verses. Oh but the singing was so wonderful, uplifting, and encouraging!!!! We even had a few guest songleaders. I think Jalen or Jaden Montgomery was by far the audience favorite. He came up, stood on his stool, and led "Blue Skies and Rainbows." His way of remembering the verses (he's only 6)? He drew a picture that was projected. Way too cute - and he did an excellent job complete with applause. Glenn Olree led two songs - he has a great voice and did a wonderful job! Warren Casey led several songs also. We finished with "The Greatest Command" and "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" - a great ending to a great service.

So I'm ready to face another week - a short work week for me! I'm taking off Friday & Monday and heading to Long Beach, MS. I'm ready for the break and to see the Eyrichs again. I'm going to be cleaning house this week - I want to come home to a nice, clean house next Monday night!

Have a great week everyone.

Day....whatever!

So since Laura asked how my experiment was going.......here goes. I haven't been writing down everything I eat or exercising enough. I haven't measured all my food, but I am getting better at "eye-ing" it. I'm eating more vegetables & fruits and making healthier choices. I can tell a difference - either from the SW or the eating! Well, at least my legs are smaller, even if nothing else is! I don't do great every day, but certainly better!

It's hard to believe that when I go to Elissa's next week-end, I won't be seeing Aunt Thelma (Elissa's great-aunt). Thelma Price passed away this week and she will be missed. She's the one who told us, "every girl needs to have a little red car sometime." I took her advice with the first car I bought - a little red Dodge Avenger. I loved that car. She was always free with her opinion, liked her coffee hot, and was a sharp lady. And she never seemed to mind that I called her "Aunt Thelma" too. I remember her 90th birthday party a few years ago - pink was the color of the poinsettias. By the time her party rolled around, they were looking a bit scragly. So, Mrs. Sue had us get magnolia leaves, hairspray, and glitter. I can still remember standing on the back steps of the church, in the dark, spraying hair spray on the poinsettias and then sprinkling them with glitter. And you know what? It worked great! Good memories of a great lady.

I'm sorry if you all missed the celebrity on TV last week. Ch. 11 had a really cool guest on Oct. 24th demonstrating a healthy appetizer - it was really early so you might have missed it. But Ch. 7 had a great guest on Daybreak last Saturday demonstrating cookies. So if you missed it, oh well. Fame is so fleeting.

I got to go out to a soybean field this afternoon while the beans were being cut. My coworker Keith left his moisture meter on his desk, and needed it. So I headed out to Worden (past Bald Knob on 64) and went a few miles down a gravel road. It was interesting to see, and a beautiful day to be out driving.

Tag

Here are the rules. 1)Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves. (2) People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules. (3) At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. (4) Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

1. I'm taller than my sister. We could wear the same size shoe for a few months back around 1985, but then I outgrew her. She hasn't tried to beat me up since.

2. If I pull my hair back and don't have my contacts in yet - when I glance in the mirror, I see a glimpse of my dad. Because I really look like him sometimes! It's weird.

3. I like Ikea. I guess my house is not as typical as most, or that's the impression I get from a lot of people. I do like to be different every once in a while. I really like my house.

4. My newest favorite food is risotto. I had my first taste of it in Como, Italy. Our first night in Italy, we ate at the hotel with our tour group. The first course was the yummy risotto. I don't remember much else, but after dinner we roamed around Como. Of course, on the way back, we had to find an ATM so we'd have euros to buy our first Italian GELATO!!! For my birthday, I got a cookbook called Risotto, so I've experimented with making it and I love it. Now if I could just find some gelato.....

5. If I could go anywhere for a vacation, I'd go to Lucerne, Switzerland. And then I'd go to Scotland and Ireland. And then, an Alaskan cruise with lots of expensive excursions (obviously I'm not paying for this!), and hop over to Hawaii. I'd get a convertible rental car and drive around the island, then fly over to all the other islands. I'd hike, sit on the beach and read, and just wonder at the beauty God created. And while I'm at it, I'd just fly to Iceland, wander around the Mediterrean, then take a trans-Atlantic cruise, end up in New York, where I'd spend a few weeks walking around, seeing the sights, before taking a train back home.

6. While I look like my Dad, I have my mother's feet. And at times, my Grandmother's temperment and bossiness. Other times, I have my Pa-Pa's quietness. And, Laura, Mom and I sound a lot alike on the phone. Just ask John.

7. I'm still wondering why Lara didn't tag me on the previous tag. Maybe it's because I'd have had to make up all the answers about my husband? Hmm. That might be interesting.....

8. And finally, if I could change one thing I'd done....I wouldn't have hit Laura with that baseball bat. Although I didn't get near as close to her head as she'd like you to believe!

I'm going to tag Lara, Bob, Elissa (I know you're reading).