Sunday Inspiration

There is coming a day! Absolutely love this song

The Great Camera Debate

Ok...the time has finally come. Funds are finally available to purchase me a new camera (a digital SLR) and now that it's here, I'm indecisive.



I have had my sights on this camera....

...the Nikon D60...probably close to 2 years now. I have a friend that has the Nikon D40 and I love the picture quality, but I want to get the best bang for my buck.

That's where you guys come in...any suggestions? What camera do you just love? And why? This one has got to go the distance for me. This is Mallorye's Senior Year and daddy will be far away...not to mention I just love photography...and I'm pretty sure hubby won't let me buy another one for A.Long.Time!

So chime in! I need suggestions and fast....I'm making this purchase in the next 10 days...do or die~!

Schools In Sessoin

Yes, that's right. School is back in full swing...and while I would love to share with you the fabulous first day pictures, I cannot. Why? Because my SD Card apparently is bad...according to my computer...and I have no idea how to get those pictures off of that SD Card. (if anyone knows I would be forever indebted)

Ok...so how'd the first day go?

Great. Well, for the most part. Everyone got up on time, out the door on time, to school on time...all major accomplishments.

Mallorye got to make a grand entrance with her class to the "classic" song "Ice Ice Baby"...these Seniors...I tell ya, they are crazy! I still can't believe this is her last year. I think she was feeling a little nostalgic...I know I was. I think the only "mishap" of the day was that somehow she was in Boys Choir and had to get that changed, which ended up knocking her out of College Algebra and into AP Calculus...she's none too happy about that.

Blake insisted on arriving at school at 7:20am and was really excited. As an 8th grader this year, he's top dog in his building...lol! His "mishap" was leaving his gym bag at school...somewhere...he couldn't remember where...ugh~boys!

It's been crazy busy...as always...and already my calendar is filling up with parties and ballgames and teacher conferences and..and...and...but I love it. I love being a mom and being busy with and for my kids. Too soon these days will be gone and I'll be staring at a blank calendar wishing for something to fill my days. But for now, I'll sleep little, drive much, laugh often, and love always.

Hopefully, one of you will send me a solution to my SD Card problem and I'll post pictures with the kids version of the first week....until then...

I hate being sick. There's nothing worse in my opinion....unless you count being sick while hubby is home for the weekend. Bless his heart...he's had to take care of me ever since he got home Friday.

I have a horrendous cough....my back & ribs are actually sore from all the coughing. I have a headache and a low grade fever. I'm whiny and cranky.

Hubby's been a great sport. I just hate I've been such horrible company. Well...here's hoping tomorrow I'm all better.

Memorial Weekend Room Makeover...finally

As you know, Blogger did not like me for a few months, and I couldn't get pictures to upload to my Blog...well...we've made up :) So here is the pictures from Memorial Weekend...when Quentin & I repainted Mallorye's bedroom....

The paint colors! Hot Pink & Blush Pink...hey, the girl likes pink...

Daddy...doin' his thang! Really, he is an awesome painter! He is so patient and meticulous. However, he did totally underestimate the time it would take to paint this room...he was thinking we could be done in a day...more like 3 DAYS!

A pop of color on the inside of the closet...


These were built in drawers before paint...which tells you sort of what her room looked like before the makeover...drab. (since I failed to get a before picture)

...and my awesome paint job...yet another pop of color!

I even spray painted the hardware black...a first for me...and I think they turned out lovely...

Finished product...I also painted the letters of her name and I love that they fit exactly over her window...how awesome is that?!

Still need a few more framed pictures around the "M", but all in all I think it's great

Paper Lanterns finally hung...she's had them for a year...and by the way..the canvas with the "M"...I made that..yes I did! All by myself..and I free handed the "M" when I cut it out of my scrapbook paper...impressive, I know.

and the final verdict...Mallorye loved it! Phew!!

Next room? Bathroom or Office??

Exhausted!

What an incredibly long day!

As many of you have read, Mallorye has been out of volleyball ALL.SUMMER.LONG due to a sprained ankle that just refuses to heal. Today was our 2nd trip to the Campbell Clinic in Collierville...last week we went for our 1st appointment and an MRI ...and today for results.

Well...the MRI didn't show anything "worrisome." So, the doctor wanted to do some more tests, which today involved having a needle...a very long needle...stuck into the synovial joint in Mal's ankle. OUCH! We go back next week for another injection and hopefully will at least know what direction we're headed.

Right now they are leaning toward inflammation of the synovial joint...I have no idea what they will do for that...or if she'll get to play volleyball this year...her senior year..her last year.

I'm tired. I've been driving for over 5 hours today and I'm just pooped. So..there's the update of the exciting news of the day. Oh...and she didn't shed a tear! So proud!

The Great Lake Adventure

A few weeks ago, Quentin & I got the opportunity to hang with some of our friends at Lake Norfork. We desperately needed a weekend away WITHOUT the kids and we knew we were running out of time with the pending deployment....and as always, money was short.

Enter my best friend, Misty. She always comes through for me and often knows what I need before I even know! LOL! Her in-laws had a place at the lake we could all stay and her mom had a boat for entertainment! Perfect. Count me in.

Saturday it rained, but that was fine by all of us. We drove up the road a little ways to a little town, called Branson, MO. We did a little shopping...ate at Joe's Crab Shack...and just enjoyed not having to do anything in particular. We rented some movies for the night...and ahhh...bliss!

We woke up Sunday to sunny skies and the water calling our name. I felt like a teenager again...could be because I had not been on the lake in 19 YEARS!

Misty and I in between getting thrown off the tube...

Misty & I...hanging on for dear life...we were laughing hysterically, which could be part of the reason it was so hard to hang on... I love this chick! If I need to laugh. She's there. If I need to cry. She's there. If I need to vent. You guessed it...she's there. She's who I think of when I read scripture like..."a friend that sticks closer than a brother" or "gladly lay down his life for his friends." Both are true for this friendship and it's a two-way street. There's not a thing I wouldn't do for Misty.

Ok...enough of that sappy stuff...on to the rest of our tubing adventure....

This picture says it all...I'm pretty sure we were thinking we are way too old for this. Our bodies were so tired...I'm not sure if it was from being bounced all over the place or laughing! Or trying to hoist our big bad selves up on that tube! Hilarious!!


Shannon...the show off! After watching Misty and I struggle for 20 minutes to stay on the thing, Shannon decided to show us how it was done. I personally think we weren't driving fast enough if he can ride with NO HANDS! I will give him credit...he had been battling a kidney stone for the previous 2 weeks and only the day before did he pass the thing...so a little credit...but he's still a show off!!

My hubby, Quentin....pulling himself back to the boat after also making the ride look effortless. Maybe we should've made the guys ride together to see if it was still just as easy?!

We had an amazing weekend...very relaxing...only mishap was me deciding not to wear sunscreen because I wanted to get "a little sun." I got it! And am still pulling the dead skin off of my back and arms.

This Is It

Today's the day.

Quentin goes on orders today....and for this week ...I'm a single parent. The next few months will be training orders, getting things ready for the guys to ship out to Afghanistan...so he'll be home hit & miss.

I started a blog several weeks ago just to deal with the deployment and all the emotions that it conjures up. I've kept it private...until now. I think I'm ready to open it up to readers, but No Comments. I know that people can say things meaning well, and come out...differently. So to protect me and you, I'm going to keep the comments off on that blog.

You can find my deployment blog, In Between Time, here.

17 Amazing Years

Happy Anniversary Baby!

Another year...we have seen so many challenges and obstacles in our 17 years of marriage, but with each one, we have come out stronger...better. This year has been no exception. I believe that we are a much better couple because of the fire we've endured and our perseverance & determination to keep on loving each other...even when its tough.

This next year will be equally challenging. You'll be on the other side of the globe while me and the kids carry on with life on the homefront...but there are some things I know for sure....

...that you love me, always
...that you are an amazing man
...that we are an incredible couple
...and that I will always love you...more!

Thank you for being my biggest fan..for supporting me in everything I try to do. Thank you for putting up with my mood swings...even when some of those are directed at you. I love you to the moon...and I can't wait to see what the next 17 years will bring our way! We're going to write a book someday about all of it ;)

I love you! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!

Chicago Pictures....Finally!

These are some of my Chicago pictures I've been wanting to share, but Blogger had not been cooperating. We had an incredible time at the Willow Wonder Arts Conference and gained some very valuable insight into leading an effective Worship Ministry....

Me, JoAnn, & Jenny...about to head out. We left a few hours earlier than the guys...I was so proud of Jenny...she drove the entire way...her first time driving in a big city and man, was she initiated well!!

Jenny, Me, & JoAnn...walking in downtown Chicago with our Starbucks. This was our last night and we absorbed the sights...Millenium Park, The Library, Sears Tower....my fave night was walking down the street singing Praise Songs and strangely enough, nobody looked at us like we were crazy!

Our Leadership Team...anxiously waiting to hear Hillsong...LIVE IN CONCERT....
Randy, Shannon, Billy, Jenny, Me, JoAnn, Andy, & Mike

Our team again..right after registration...this picture was courtesy of Sam Middlebrook..
Back Row: Shannon, Mike, JoAnn, Jenny, Me...Bottom Row: Randy, Billy, Andy

Amazing scenery....Jenny, Me, & JoAnn...in front of the church! I mean, can you just imagine sitting on a bench, soaking up God's majesty, while having your Quiet Time?! Amazing!

And So It Begins....

One thing that is for certain is that there is no certainty in life.

We've been gearing up for Q's 2nd overseas deployment and it seems to be moving at warp speed. He goes on training orders Monday, which will carry him through till their Active Duty orders begin. He'll be in Afghanistan before the holidays and won't be home again until the Fall of 2010.

And so...it begins.

A year of missing my husband. A year of worry. A year of trying to fill the void. A year of missed holidays, birthdays, and special moments. A year we'll never get back.

I don't want to do this again. I'm not sure I'm strong enough. But I know I have to. And I will. I will stand by my soldier, proudly supporting him and all of our troops. I will hold the homefront down. I will try to fill both my mommy shoes and daddy shoes while he defends our freedom. I'm proud of him. But none of that makes it hurt less...just makes the hurt worth it.

I've been keeping my thoughts in a private blog...not yet ready to open it up to readers, but soon maybe. For now, an occasional update will have to suffice. I'm trying to come up with a way to pass the time with two teenagers...something we can do each week and check off that we're one week closer to dad being home, but my mind is blank. I'm so open to suggestions!!

So that's the quick update. School starts in less than 2 weeks...so should have plenty to blog about then! Hope everyone has an awesome day!!