Whirlwind Weekend

Wow, it has been non-stop this weekend. I'm thinkin' I need a day off to recuperate from my 2 days off!!

Friday night, Paragould High School honored our troops at the last home football game. It was a very neat experience. They fed us a bar-b-q plate before the game with all the trimmings AND dessert. The ROTC led the soldiers and families out onto the field to a crowd of cheers. We were the first family on the field, so I think it was even more surreal for us, following directly behind our nations colors. Then the band played 2 songs for us, they introduced each soldier and their family, the cheerleaders did a cheer for us, followed by a dance routine from the dance team.

Saturday was just packed! Mallorye went to her first rock concert. A group of 15 kids from school all went together (and yes, they had chaperone's). It was a general admission concert, so they got up early and waited at the gate for 7 hours!! But, it paid off...they were 2nd in line and made friends with the security guard. They fed him lunch...they had brought picnic stuff...so he had some of his staff hold 3rd row seats for them! How kewl is that??! While she was out playing, the rest of us were doing a little partying of our own. It was my nephews 8th birthday, so we had a party at the house for him...complete with pinata! Then it was on to Blake's girlfriends party...she loved her gift...and we had a great time. Quentin and I stayed and helped out. They had a haunted hayride for the kids...Q went and scared and I rode in the trailer to keep an eye on kiddos. They also played a game..body id...where the kids had to stick their hand in a bowl and guess what an item was without looking....eyes, liver, tongue, and brain...the catch? The liver and tongue were fresh from a slaughtered cow!! His girlfriend is a rancher and they slaughtered a cow that day...so it was fresh body parts! The kids had no idea until it was over...Hilarious!!

Sunday, was church...great sermon on spiritual warfare. I think so many people are unaware of how much warfare goes on in our daily lives and that we can defend ourselves against those attacks. Our pastor did a great job! Last night, we had the Stars and Stripes Welcome Home 875th Celebration...a big shindig at the convocation center. They fed us a meal, had some speakers, and then the Charlie Daniels Band performed. He did a great job...and you've never heard our National Anthem until you've heard it on the fiddle...that was incredible!!!

Can you see why I'm tired??! It was a great weekend. We had a ton of family time. It was humbling to see my husband honored in so many different venues. And it was a joy to watch my children spread their wings this weekend. Well, now I guess I need to get ready for work....

Message Board Instructions

Ok, several of you have been interested in the "how-to's" of making these fun message center's, so I decided it would be easier to just post a blog...and much quicker!! I might mention, if anyone lives in the Northeast Arkansas area, I have a friend who hosts workshops to teach you to do these and walks you through step-by-step.

Materials Needed;
26 gauge sheet metal cut in 24" square
(3) 12x12 coordinating patterned paper
ribbon or cording
(6) self-adhesive laminating sheets
Herma-Fix glue
Tacky Tape (double sided)
Embellishments of choice (optional)
Drill
Eyelet setter

Clean sheet metal with soap/water...allow to dry. Adhere the 3 sheets of patterned paper using the Herma fix. Apply laminating sheets..overlapping the edges about 1". Drill 1/8" hole in top corners and use eyelet setter to smooth sheet metal. Apply ribbon or cording to edges and seams using tacky tape. Thread wide ribbon through holes and knot to hang. Add magnets and other embellishments as desired.

Ta-Dah! Great gift!! And you did it all by yourself! Feel free to email me if you have questions!

Latest Creativity

I made this magnetic message board for Blake's girlfriend....the idea came from the Style Tile System in the PB Teen magazine. The same size sells for $174 in their book (24"x24")...I made this one for under $30 with supplies left over!! You can also write on it with a dry erase marker...it's just a super kewl gift!!

The Wonder Of It All

God is so amazing! I was sitting in the living room tonight..having a bit of a pity party because I don't feel well..and I look out the window and see this amazing sunset. It was such a brilliant red and so absolutely beautiful...as if God was saying, "see what I painted for you tonight?" Sometimes I get so caught up in myself that I miss God's blessings. I'm glad that tonight, God was able to get my attention and that I was able to stop and see the wonder of it all. I don't want to miss what God is doing around me or fail to worship God in the daily things that we so often take for granted. Tonight, I was reminded! Thank you God!!

Role Play

OK, I've decided that I'm one of those sick, twisted women, that actually enjoys housework and finds it....therapeutic and ...relaxing...{GASP}. Maybe I should explain. Q has been home now for 3 weeks and is home ALL day while I go to work each day...a little role reversal of sorts...except I don't recall staying home for 3 weeks since our babies well, were babies. Anyway, he's been trying to keep the housework done...laundry, dishes, you know the drill. And while that all sounds very good, the problem is I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I like things done a certain way and I like my routine. I've actually found myself slipping into a bit of a funk, because I don't know what to do with myself. I'm not sure when I get home if I should sweep the floor that he's already swept or just let it go. Does anyone hear me?? So, last night, I sent him to the store with Mal for a few minutes while I cleaned the kitchen and this morning I intentionally got up before everyone else...just so I could clean!! But, know what? I feel better! I think women just need to be domestic...at least a little...it's in our blood, the way God created us. Just like He made our husbands to be the providers. When we're not fulfilling our God-given roles, then someones not happy. Q still has about a month before he returns to work, so I've got to find a solution to our current role play...cause when momma ain't happy....you know the rest of the story!

Communication--Connecting on a Heart Level

The past two Sundays, our church, has been focusing on Marriage..."Duet or Duel"...and yesterdays sermon was on the topic of communication. I have to agree, that this is one of the most important things you can do for your marriage...learn to communicate.

We were hangin' out with a couple last night and they were asking us how we managed the past year with Q being deployed...so many of our soldiers have come home to find their wives have moved on without them...so, how are we different? How did we escape the true "casualty of war?" Both of us replied, COMMUNICATION! We made it a point to talk every day, even if that meant he had to get up earlier than he'd like or that I stayed up later than I needed to. We sacrificed sleep, lunch, free time...whatever it took...because we knew our marriage depended on us connecting every day.

Now that Q's home, I find that talking...really talking...is more difficult. We get so bogged down with our day to day life, kids schedules, jobs, church...that we tend to neglect each other. We have to be intentional about spending time together and communicating on a heart level. If I learned anything over the past year, it's that I cannot take my husband for granted and that we have to connect daily.

So, my challenge....to find creative ways to make time for each other. Suggestions? How do you nurture your relationship with your spouse? I'm listening.

Tide Commercial (my very own)

At Left, Blake's football pants after the game!!

Above, Blake's football pants after TIDE!

Go Mom! I can't believe I actually got all of that blood out of those white pants! Giving myself a little pat on the back!!