{Where Has The Time Gone?}

Wow....two months have passed since I've written a blog. There is no way I can completely recap the past few months, but I'll try to hit a few highlights.


First, the last time I wrote on the blog I was facing some big things;


(1) My mom had her PET scan come back irregular and had to have some follow up testing done. Mom is 4 years in remission from colorectal cancer and we really don't want any relapses (who does?) I don't have to tell you, that I was fearful, but praise God! her follow up tests came back all clear and we are still cancer free :)


(2) My best friend from high school and I were toying with the idea of starting our own photography business...that was 2 months ago....since then, we've shot a wedding, booked 3 additional weddings, & have 5 other family/children bookings. We also have a website and we're awaiting the arrival of our business cards. We're having a blast offering cutting edge photography and capturing the personality of our clents. Check us out at BRAG Photography! Just don't be too hard on us...we're still learning :)


I also left my job of 12 years to begin a new adventure. This was such an agonizing decision for me. I loved the people I worked for and with, but knew that God was calling me to move. He opened a door for me in the same line of work, but with an added bonus...I would also have an opportunity to work with Camp Hope, a treatment facility for women struggling with addictions. What an amazing privilege! I'm loving the new job and my stress level has decreased dramatically. I miss the people I worked with, but I'm making new friends..new relationships...and being obedient to God.


Blake finished up track season as 10th in District in the High Jump and 3rd in the Mile Relay.

{Blake competing in the High Jump at PHS}

We celebrated Easter in the rain...and little Daniel was saved on Easter morning. Praise the Lord!

{Caleb hunting Easter eggs in the rain...don't ya love his umbrella set up?}

And speaking of rain...it has rained her for the past week and more is on its way. My mom lives in the neighboring town of Pocahontas, which has been completely isolated by the floods. The waters are over the doors of the local WalMart and stretches 5 miles outside of the river (Black River). The Black River is considered flood stage at 19' and today it reached 29'...it just blows my mind. I have never seen anything like it. Please pray for our area....Arkansas was also hit with devastating tornadoes just before the floods began. It's devastating...absolutely devastating.

{Elnora Free Will Baptist Church...this is my grandma's church)}

So...that's the quick update...now to see if I can stay up to date ;)

Being Still....

That pretty much sums it up.

The end of February and first of March have proved to be challenging, but I'm waiting...believing...being quiet...and still...before my God.

{Project Life...Week 6}

It's that time again...Project Life Tuesday...on Thursday..because I'm so not with it this week. AND..I don't have any pictures of my layouts because...well...I don't have them done..yet...but I do have the pictures, so that's a start!

Sunday 02-06
Celebrating the Super Bowl with our Small Group....the guys yelled at the television while the girls played cards...These are the newlywed/engaged girls...Brittany, Mallorye, & Melissa. We love our small group and are enjoying just doing life with these people.

Monday 02-07
Freshman night at Doc Paynter's Court. Blake's girlfriend, Taylor, is a Jr. High Cheerleader...these girls did a great job cheering our boys on this year to a Conference Championship.

Tuesday 02-08
I voted "YES" today for the millage increase for the Paragould School District...money that will help build a new school and improve some of the older facilities.

Wednesday 02-09
Snow Day #3...Mallorye enjoyed catching snow flakes, while Blake tried to fake a snow angel with a broom (lol)...Matt, Mal, & Luke came down later and pegged our windows with snowballs. All in all....a great snow day!

Thursday 02-10
A crock-pot full of homemade stew is just what the doctor ordered for the sickness going around in our house.

Friday 02-11
No Picture Today....

Quentin took Blake to the Arkansas Sportshow and I'm using this as a backdrop for their tickets.

Saturday 02-12
View from The Austin Hotel in Hot Springs, AR

Me, Quentin, Matt, & Mallorye went to Hot Springs to watch the Mrs. Arkansas Pageant...Mal is considering competing next year and we thought Matt should see what he was getting into...lol.

So, hopefully I will get back on track next week and be on time!

As always, there is some creative people out there...so go check them out on Jessica's blog...right here!

{Project Life...Week 5}

I'm a few days late posting, but I've been busy with life this week and for that I won't apologize :) Anywho...better late than never...Week 5 of Project Life!

Left side of my layout...

....and the right side.
Exciting, I know. Now for the good stuff. The daily pictures...that's really what you want to see anyway. (insert drum roll)

Sunday 01-30
I've mentioned that we host small group (Life Group) in our home every Sunday night...the children go to Mallorye & Matt's house with one adult and I try to have an activity for them to do that goes along with the devotional that they will be going over. The kids seem to really enjoy it and it makes it pretty easy on the adult leader. I love that we're ministering to both the adults in our group...and their children.

Monday 01-31
Blake had a ballgame tonight...not just any ballgame....but a game against crosstown rival Greene County Tech. These games are always intense, but this time our boys had something to prove...GCT triumphed in an earlier game in the season, but not tonight! PJHS won this round 44-26 maintaining bragging rights!

Tuesday 02-01
I was scheduled to work late today, so Mal skipped class to come and work on our Project Life albums before I went to work. I normally wouldn't encourage skipping class, but she wasn't going to miss anything this particular day and I kinda like hanging out with my daughter :)

Wednesday 02-02
I receive a text reminder every month to perform my monthly breast self-exam...they are always so light-hearted and funny and this one was soooo cute!

Thursday 02-03
My desk at work. This is where I spend most of my time it seems. You'll notice my phone and water bottle are in easy reach and beside my phone is my scripture memory cards.

Friday 02-04
...and this is where I live. An aerial view of my neighborhood courtesy of Google.
We really enjoy our neighborhood...it's quiet (for the most part), a great neighborhood to take evening walks, it's close to pretty much everything, and we live just a few houses down from Matt & Mallorye (which I think is pretty wonderful).

Saturday 02-05
I spent the day with a kindred spirit...my friend Kellie. We met back in 2002 through an online group and have been friends ever since...we share a love for scrapbooking, singing, and most importantly God. I always leave Kellie's refreshed and wondering why we don't get together more often. Her and her husband, Terry, are the real deal and I love them :)

So, 5 weeks of documenting my daily life...I think it's almost a habit!

If you enjoy checking out my pictures, I bet you'd like others too...so go to Jessica's blog and check out other Project Lifers.

{2011 Project Life...Week 4}

Week 4 of Project Life and I'm still lovin' it....and still caught up! It's challenging to come up with a new picture every day, but I'm enjoying it. This week, I had a day that was exceptionally picture heavy...so, what to do...add an insert :) And once again I'm linking up with Jessica for Project LIfe Tuesday...check it out by clicking the button above and see all the creative people out there...there's a bunch!!

This is the left side of my layout...

...and the right side...

the first side of my insert.....

....and the flip side...

Now for the POTD's....

Sunday 1-23
Lunch at TaMolly's with friends from church...The Grahams, The Qualls, and the Wesleys

Monday 1-24
Blake had a ballgame against Batesville at home...he had quite a fan club tonight with about 13 people coming to watch him play...we won :)

Tuesday 1-25
I finally finished editing some wedding pictures I had taken back in the fall...it's a good thing the bride and groom were patient! This is the first wedding I've photographed in a LONG time and it was definitely a learning experience.

Wednesday 1-26
Bethany, my coworkers daughter, came to visit the office today. She was in a great mood and those pigtails...is there anything sweeter?! I think not!

Thursday 1-27
Now that Mal has moved out, I've started the process of turning her bedroom into my craft room...starting with paint (I cannot handle the pink)...This was the 2nd sample Quentin had painted and I still haven't found the color I want. Thank goodness for Valspar's $3.00 samples!

Friday 1-28
Game night with Mallorye & Matt...I whipped everyones tails at a game of GOLF.

Saturday 1-29
We spent the day at mom & Jack's where Blake enjoyed riding the 4-wheeler...

So, how was your week? Did you capture any memories?

{All About Basketball}

I'm sitting here after midnight, wide awake, and thinking about all the projects that I have looming....but this is basketball season...and life is mainly consumed by practice schedules, traveling across NE Arkansas, ballgames, and more...but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Blake has really shined this year and has been the leading scorer on many games. At 6'4" he's proving to be a force to be reckoned with. He's an incredible defensive player with arms that seem to reach for miles and pick off passes easily. It has just been amazing to watch him this year...and every game he gets a little bit better.

He's also had quite the fan base this year and most games he has at least 5 or 6 people that have come to watch him and at times as many as 15. I know that has to make him feel good to see all these people in the stands cheering him on.

The fan club.....mostly family...or those that might as well be :)

Blake getting the ball in bounds....

Blake (24), Chase (34), and Dylan (22)...going for the defensive trap. These boys do a phenomenal job of pressing the other team and trapping them.


Love his intensity.....


...it's about teamwork

Blake gets to go to the free throw line quite a bit...and has a decent percentage. I tell him all the time...these are the gimme shots...always the same distance...always undefended...and always should result in points on the board...{he laughs at me}

one of my favorite pictures.....

The season is quickly coming to an end....only 4 more games! I can't believe it's almost over. Right now the boys are sitting 1st in conference with an 8-1 conference record and an overall record of 17-4. Monday they face they're rival and toughest competition....and we're hoping for great things :) It will be an intense game...but I think we're ready.

So...for a few more weeks....it's all about basketball!

{Project Life 2011...Week 3}

Ahhhh...week 3 of Project Life.

I'm not as happy with my photos this week...they lack creativity...but..I'm pleased that I'm still caught up and haven't given up :)

I'm also really enjoying seeing others Project Life albums and being inspired by them...so far this experience has been very rewarding and inspirational...Check out more Project Life inspiration at Jessica's blog.

Sunday January 16: We started a small group in our home & have been overwhelmed at the response. We thought we would start with just a few people...but God had other plans and we started with 10. These are the newlyweds of the group...The Wesleys & The Lawrences.

Monday January 17: Ugh...late for work! I'm supposed to be there at 7am, but just couldn't get motivated this morning...

Tuesday January 18: I took Bessie to the "doctor"...my dash instruments had quit working (again), I needed new headlight assemblies, and the driver side window decided it didn't want to roll down anymore...I am ready for a new car!

Wednesday January 19: Quentin carrying in our provisions for the "big snow storm" that is coming later that night. Blake was home sick, so we stayed in from church.

Thursday January 20: "The Big Snow Storm"...lol...we got maybe 3" of snow, but that was enough to close school for 2 days. This was taken at Reynolds Park Lake late afternoon.

Friday January 21: Blake & Josh (our youth pastor) enjoying a hockey game in Memphis. This was Quentin & Blake's first time to go see a hockey game and they loved it! They sat 3rd row from the glass and were super excited when a fight broke out right in front of them. Men!

Saturday January 22: Misty & London came by to visit for a little while tonight. Isn't London just the cheesiest?! I love this family and have missed getting to hang out with them the past few months, so this was a very welcome treat.

Another exciting week in the life of the Bales' family....I have a couple posts I'm working on for later this week...so stay tuned :)