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.

A Little Me Time

soaking my tired feet

Last night I relaxed with a friend, Jenny, for a little girl talk and pampering...both of which I needed desperately. I think as women, we often put ourselves on the back burner to care for everyone else around us. At age 35, I'm finally realizing the importance of "me time." I need to connect with other women. I need to relax and feel the stress of life fall away.

We didn't do anything elaborate.....ordered pizza, lounged in our PJ's, soaked our tired feet, pedicures/manicures, and talked....but what a difference it made. We laughed and we cried. We learned alot about each other and the great thing? The entire night cost us each less that $10. That's my kind of fun!

I'm already looking forward to doing this again...and I may even have to invest in my own foot bath!!

pretty piggies

National Anthem, Demolition Derby, & Sandals

...sure they go together!


Ok, so about 2 weeks ago my husband got a call from one of the guys at the National Guard Armory wanting to know if I could sing the National Anthem the first night of the Derby. In a weak moment, I said yes, not even thinking about what I was getting myself in to. I mean, I knew I would be there...hubby had to judge and I usually help in the concession stand...but this is the National Anthem and you don't want to SCREW IT UP!


Well, this week I got a little panicky about the whole thing and called in reinforcements! My best friend, Lisa. She was a lifesaver and didn't seem to mind that we got a few laughs at her expense.


Enter Exhibit #1
The Sandals



Lisa was totally not thinking when she got ready for the Derby. It has rained for the past several days and well...the Derby arena was just a muddy mess. We literally had to walk across about 10 feet of 3" mud to get to the platform where we would be singing. Luckily, one of the Guardsmen took us back across on his 4-wheeler! (thank you, Fred) Needless to say, Lisa's sandals and toes didn't fair too well in the mud and mire.


I talked her into staying and watching at least one heat...I think she was ready to kill me...lol. She was so not prepared for the smoke, the noise, the being hit and rolled over. I have to admit..it's pretty redneck...but ever once in a while you gotta let that hick out! It's a whole lot like football for cars...last one standing (or in this case, the car still moving) wins.


It was a fun night for me. Just hangin' out with some friends ...Amy, David, Kim, Colette & Co., and Lisa. Everyone said we did great on the National Anthem and I didn't see anyone leave while we were singing. Thanks Lisa!!


*side note
my kiddos were at the Paragould vs. Tech football game...crosstown rivals...Paragould won 20-0 Yeah Paragould!!

More Stampin' Fun

Here's a few more pix of the Christmas in July of the wonderful people I shared the night with...I also share my life with these people and I think they're all pretty great!

Me..showing off my tri-fold card!

My good friend, Misty...we go way back and there's probably not anything she doesn't know about me...and she still likes me!! We're currently going through a Bible Study together and holding each other accountable to be a Proverbs Woman...tall order for me. She's the organized one of the bunch and resident speed stamper.
JoAnn, another great friend...just went to Myrtle Beach with...and the other partner in my current Bible Study. JoAnn is one of those extremely crafty people that can make something out of nothing..kinda like a Stamping MacGyver.
Micah & Lisa. Micah is Mallorye's friend (Lisa's daughter) and she loves to hang out with us old folk and do a little stamping. Lisa has been my best friend for a LONG time and also knows everything about me and still loves me. We have one of those tell-it-like-it-is relationships. She also happens to be a Stampin Up demonstrator!

The brownies I didn't eat! Even though they were calling my name...LOUDLY...I did not cave! I remained steadfast and had fruit and water. Yeah. I really wish I had a better attitude about it and could enjoy eating healthy....but do you see that plate of brownies?!

Goodbye to a Beloved Friend...

This weekend I had to say goodbye to one of my dearest friends.

This friend has been my confidante the past two years.
Gone to work with me.
Caught countless tears.
Gone to church with me.
Sat in doctors offices with me.
Brought me comfort at my most desperate times.
Made me laugh out loud.
Challenged me.
Stayed up late and gotten up early with me.

And so much more!

My red and white Bible that I purchase when Q deployed to Iraq. I'm so sad! I left it outside at the Prayer Wall at church on Mother's Day and it rained on it. It is completely ruined!! One of our pastor's tried to dry it out, but to no avail. I'm going to try to at least transfer my notes to another Bible, but this one was so special to me because of the time in my life it represents. Maybe it was time. But right now, I'm mourning the loss of my dear friend.

Home Again, Home Again

A picture of my "cabin mates"...(back row) Kellie, Baby, & Michelle..(bottom row) Me & Doylene.

I'm home from my scrapbooking retreat...completely wiped out! I had a blast hanging out with old and new friends, had some great food, got several layouts done, and a ton of laughs. I promise to post pix in the next day or so...complete with a rundown of our fab weekend...but for now...I'm headed to bed!!

Boxes, and Bows, and Presents...Oh My!

Wow! That is alot of presents...over 100!!


Mallorye and Ashlyn...troopers to the end!


"We wrapped ALL these??" Jennifer and myself...after losing our mind wrapping presents!!

I got a distress call from an old friend this afternoon. Problem? She has 7 children and a ton of presents to wrap and not much time to get it done! I actually enjoy wrapping gifts, so we made a date...we "wrapped" it up in 2 hours! I am quite impressed and we got a chance to catch up and just hang out.

Don't forget it all the busyness of the holidays to do something nice for someone...the blessing really is your own. Merry Christmas!

Dreams Do Come True

Waiting with mommy for our turn!

Monday I had the awesome privilege to see an answered prayer! One of my best friends, Amy M., and her husband Steve, adopted their son. We have prayed for years...so many that I've lost count...for this to happen...and have seen dreams shattered when they were so close to coming true. But not on Monday. Monday, Samuel became a permanent part of their home. They've had Samuel since he was 2 days old as foster parents, so this was so exciting to see it all come true. It's been a long, hard, heart-wrenching journey...but their family is complete. Congratulations guys!


Samuel's FAMILY!! Mom, sister Callie, sister Colbie,& Dad with Judge Halsey...the lady who granted our dream.

Addicted To Scrapbooking

I admit it...I am addicted to scrapbooking and rubberstamping! This past weekend I had the privilege of spending the day with one of my very best friends, Lisa, in Memphis at the newly opened Arhiver's store. Oh, let me tell you...I was in heaven!! So many things to choose from and the paper choices...I'm a bit of a paper addict in case you haven't noticed. They also have a sweet little spot called the $1.99 Spot....which is as it's name declares, whatever you find in that section is only $1.99. I found several good bargains in those bins, but couldn't outdo Lisa...she bought every K&Co Mini Album they had...for...you guessed it...$1.99!!! How awesome is that!! They have classes and workshops going on all the time, so we took time out from shopping and made some cute picture frames. Will definitely be CASE'ing these babies! Too cute and so easy!

After spending 3 hours in Archiver's we stopped for lunch and I had the best burger at The Red Robin! Even my mouth wasn't big enough for this big bad boy...I think it was called the Whiskey BBQ Burger...something like that. Anyway, it was yummy.

Then on to more shopping at another scrapbooking store called Eclectica. We didn't purchase anything here...not that they didn't have plenty that we liked....we just spent way too much at the first stop!! I'm sure I'll be making many return trips to Memphis for some retail therapy! It was just great to hang out with my bud, no kids, no hubby, no stress...just us and our favorite hobby!