24/365 Project Life

Finally! After several weeks of waiting and building patience, Matt was able to close on his & Mallorye's house. They are now official homeowners...how exciting!

{Ms. Philhours, Matt, & Mallorye....transferring the dream}

23/365 Project Life

With Quentin overseas, sometimes I just need a little help in the handy man area....a couple from our church came over tonight and trimmed my shrubs and repaired my dryer. It's incredible to see God's love fleshed out in such a tangible way.

{The Love Of Christ}

22/365 Project Life

After a mild panic....we found ourselves at David's Bridal getting alterations to Mal's wedding dress that doesn't fit. Luckily, they assured us that all would be fine! And yes, those are the shoes she'll be wearing....her Tom's for the wedding day.

{Just A Glimpse}

21/365 Project Life

Every Saturday will find me staring at these knobs...it is my normal....my life.

{Normal Is A Setting On The Dryer}

20/365 Project Life

I don't wear a pony tail often, but this was one of those days....which was great because it showed off my new "I Love My Soldier" t-shirt :)

{Pony Tails & Tees}

19/365 Project Life

I work late on Mondays & Thursdays so the boss' grandchildren are usually there...what better way to spend break than pushing this adorable little girl on her swing?!

{Break Time with Bethany}

Project Life 18/365

Well..this was my attempt at getting a picture of a very pretty full moon...obviously I need some work on this type of photo...lol

{Full Moon}

Project Life....caught up :)

I'm all caught up with my Project Life blogs....you'll have to look on the appropriate date for the pictures since I backdated all the posts.

....and since that took a while...you'll have to wait a few more days for the devotional God wrote in my head....

Project Life 17/365

Lucky for me, Matt has a Netflix membership...so I get to watch a ton of movies with him and Mallorye...tonight selection? The Book of Eli...which was really good...but ya gotta hang all the way to the end (& overlook a ton of foul language)

{The Book Of Eli}

A Wee Bit Behind....

So...I'm a few days behind on posting my Project Life photos...but I have them...just need time to upload them. It has been a crazy few days....

I had an amazing weekend....Saturday was spent helping Mallorye & Matt with packing in preparation for their new house that he'll be moving into soon (she'll join him Dec. 11th) and of course Sunday was an amazing, fabulous, day in the Lord. I felt God's presence stronger than I ever have and couldn't stand for it to stop...so after church, I went to the park where I snapped a bajillion pix of God's handiwork...all while He wrote a devotional in my head to match those pictures (I'm working on typing that to share with all of you). I also shared my faith witha complete stranger...this was a first for me. I've shared Christ with people I know...family, friends, etc....but never just with a random person I come in contact with. Exhilirating! God strengthened and renewed me Sunday....

...because He knew that I would need it Sunday night.

I got a call from my sister after I got home from Small Group that we needed to take my dad to the ER for what we initially thought was a stroke. It turns out we were wrong and his former addiction had took hold of his life yet once again. My dad needs prayers. He needs Jesus to be real to him. He needs me to love him unconditionally....so this week I've been busy caring for dad and listening to him tell me the same story for the 100th time...busy showing him Jesus' love....but I promise to upload photos soon and a devotional...

....in the meantime...say a prayer for my little family and especially my dad :)

Project Life 16/365

This is Mallorye's last first day of school picture....which is very sad. Today she started college at ASU...a new chapter in her life. I'm sure she thought I was insane at taking a picture of her...since she is in college...but hey, I'm a mom and I gotta capture the moment...lol.

I'm happy to report that her first day of school was a success. She got out of both of her classes in 10 minutes, which she thought was super (I told her not to get used to that).

{Mallorye's first day of college}

Project Life 15/365

Oh my goodness....this day will require another post. All I can say is God is good. All the time. I felt His presence today stronger than I have in a long time, which prompted me to take this (plus a gazillion more) picture to capture the majesty of God's creation.

{God's Handiwork}

Project Life 14/365

You can find this site after every swim party....Blake's shorts laid across the porch railing to dry. I don't mind though...I know too soon these days will be gone. Today, he celebrated the end of summer and beginning of school with our church youth group at a Pool Bash....gotta love Summer! {After The Swim}

Project Life 13/365

The wedding day is getting closer and Misty and I went to the Paragould Community Center to try to get a layout for the reception....ideas were plentiful....

{Paragould Community Center...aka ...Reception Site}

Project Life 12/365....and a brief post

We'll start with a Picture Of The Day......

{Blake...1st Day of High School....9th Grade here we come}

This was a different kind of 1st Day for us....

Obviously, Quentin isn't here to share the morning with us and that makes it bittersweet, but I know he's thinking of Blake as he starts high school today. He would probably roll his eyes along with Blake and tell me I make too big of a fuss over the first day and ask me why I have to take a million pictures...lol.

Second, for the 1st time, I only had one child to get up and ready for school. Mallorye doesn't start college until next week, so this morning was all about Blake. (I did make her get up and take a picture for me and snapped one of her and Blake...I was nice and didn't post it...lol)

It was different kind of morning, but I'm so excited for Blake (and let's be honest...I love school routine) He's growing into a wonderful young man and I know that he's going to have an incredible year. My prayer is that he will impact his school this year for God as he grows closer and more mature in his faith.

So....bring on the school year!

{I think this is his "quit-taking-pictures-mom-I'm-not-a-little-kid-anymore" look}


{Yes, my freshman is taller than me...he's taller than everyone!}

{On his way....we live just a few blocks from the high school}

Project Life 11/365

{Matt "teaching" Chyna to play guitar}

Project Life 10/365

Just call me Mother Of The Year....yes, I procrastinated yet once again, and went tonight for a marathon school supply shopping trip....

{School Supplies}

Project LIfe 9/365

Matt finding a light-hearted moment while helping Mal pack up her room...sadness.

{Matt...need I say more}

Project Life 8/365

Sundays are one of my favorite days of the week...a day we spend with our church family...and we always go out to eat after church. This Sunday we went to Ta Molly's with the whole gang....Me, Blake, Mallorye, Matt, Matt's parent's Bryan & Leisa, Jr & Brittany, Randy & Theresa, and Brian & Cindy....tons of laughs!!

{Mallorye & Brittany sharing some laughs}

Project Life 7/365

Blake and I spent the day at my Aunt Liz's house helping her clean up from her ceiling falling in due to the intense heat. Cord was busy sewing some curtains for his horse trailor and then took Blake driving....taught him to drive a standard....but not to sew...LOL.

{Cord showing his domestic side}

Project Life 6/365

I've been driving 2 hours to Collierville on a routine basis for almost a year so that the kids could be seen by an Orthopedic Surgeon at the Campbell Clinic....first with Mallorye when she broke her ankle and had to have surgery and then with Blake for fractures in his feet caused by rapid growth ....Today...we graduated! Both kids are officially released!

{Blake passing the time on his cell phone, while he waits for Dr. Ishikawa to check the progress of his feet}

Project Life 5/365

I began writing for Army Wife Magazine last October (2009), and most 12th days of the month find me here...at my laptop...finishing up my articles by the 12th deadline. I'm normally NOT a procrastinator, but I write better under pressure...LOL!

{Army Wife Magazine deadline...Interview with a fellow Army National Guard wife}

Project Life 4/365

Inspired by a book I read a few years ago, The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright, I began writing my own Wednesday Letters to Quentin. Sometimes I have much to say and sometimes very little, but I always write them on Wednesday. There are some days that I don't feel like it, but it has become a part of my routine and an expression of my love.....even on the days I don't feel it....Now that he's in Afghanistan, these letters have become even more relevant, more special, more transparent, more necessary, more heartfelt.

{The Wednesday Letter.....aka Deployment Letter #22}

Project Life 3/365

Raising money for our local Mission Outreach, the Weiner Mobile was at a local grocery store today...and of course we had to go see it....and take pictures!

{The Weiner Mobile....and I know you're totally singing the song now}

Branson 2010

A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege to take my sister Tiffany and her oldest son, Daniel on vacation with me and Blake. It was such a crazy week leading up to vacation. Mallorye and Matt were supposed to go with us, but he had a business trip to Jordan that ended up delayed and prevented them from being able to join us. I think God works in mysterious ways and it was a great weekend for me and my sister to bond with our sons and each other.

The ride to Branson was filled with tons of laughs....we played the ABC game, stopped for a photo op in Cotter, and surprisingly, it was the adults that needed potty breaks!

{bridge at Cotter, AR}

{Daniel & Blake at the Lookout Point in Cotter}

{Daniel & Tiffany...yes, the sun was in our eyes, but at least it was pretty weather}

{Me & Tiffany....after years of just tolerating each other...we now have an incredible bond as sisters and friends}

Friday night we went to an amazing show....The Kirby Van Birch Show. I was absolutely amazed at his illusions and kept trying to figure out the tricks of the trade...to no avail. Daniel got a landing light and helped land the helicopter. I think one of my favorite parts was the sawing the girls in half...I mean really...how do they do that???!

Saturday we spent the ENTIRE day at Silver Dollar City. Tiff hadn't been since we were little kids and Daniel had never been, so this was an experience. I'm happy to report that we rode EVERY SINGLE RIDE...at least once.

{Blake's airbrush tattoo}

{Daniel & Tiffany in front of Wildfire...his 1st upside down roller coaster...we actually got a video of us riding this which was super cool}

{Me & Blake on the Lost River....I look like a drowned rat...which was the look of the day for me...oh well...I had a blast anyway}

{Daniel & Tiff on the Lost River...I don't think they got as drenched as I did}

We ordered pizza that night and enjoyed the pool and hot tub at the hotel.

Sunday we had breakfast at the Baldknobbers and then headed to the Titanic Museum. Tiffany & Blake were able to hold their hand in the frigid water for over 7 minutes! It was very educational and very emotional....just thinking about what those people went through. After that, we headed to Springfield to the Bass Pro Shop where we looked at the aquarium and dreamed of the things we'd love to buy....we met Tiff's cousin for dinner and then headed home. We went through an Amish community which was pretty neat to see them headed to church in their horse & buggy.

Unfortunately, vacation came to an abrupt halt with food poisoning! Which hit me & Tiff on the way home. The things we do for fun! All in all, it was a great weekend and I LOVED hanging out with my sister.

Project Life 2/365

Mallorye picked up her Senior yearbook today and of course we spent the afternoon recalling memories of the last school year.

Project Life 1/365

After 12 years of not having a ring...my husband let me purchase myself a wedding ring. I got this at Kay's and absolutely love it.

Happy Anniversary...18 Years :)

August 8th.....a day to celebrate 18 years of marriage, and once again we're separated by 8,000 miles and a couple of oceans, but I know you're thinking of me....just like I'm thinking of you.

I remember our wedding like it was yesterday. You were so handsome in your white tuxedo and I was so nervous, but seeing you at the end of that aisle, smiling at me, gave me courage. Courage to become Mrs. Quentin Bales and I have never regretted that.

We've had our share of ups and downs, trials and triumphs, but the one constant has been our love for one another ...unconditional, unending. Even during our most trying times, our love has been the glue that holds us together. I'm so thankful that you've been patient with me, have loved me, and have encouraged me.

I love you with every breath within me and can't wait for us to be together again.
HAPPY 18TH ANNIVERSARY

TO AN AMAZING HUSBAND...FRIEND...HERO

Ram Pride

It's no secret that I'm an organizing freak, so when the new digital sign at the school went up, you can imagine my excitement. Now it won't quite matter as much when Blake forgets to bring home a note telling me of upcoming conferences...because I can see it on the sign! I love this!!

My boss, being a PHS graduate, is a huge supporter of our Paragould Rams and each year purchases an ad for the sports program. The last couple of years he's used the children of employees in the ad and here's this year's crew...Blake's the tall, skinny, boy on the end :)

The future of Paragould