Recent Randoms

Well, it's another rainy/stormy day here in Oklahoma!  I was hoping for sunshine but no such luck today.
Today's post is just randomness that took place over the weekend and early in the week here.

The BOYS were in town!  Well, someone representing the Cowboys organization was in town.  I went stalking around but never found out WHO was on the bus.  I do know they were in town for a fishing tournament that we have each year.

Saturday, we spent part of the day working at the new house doing some clean up work before we get ready to paint.  We took a little 4-wheeler break to rest a bit.

I found this perfect log that I need for an outdoor table!  It already has legs built right in so it's perfect, dontcha think?  I don't think Allan was excited as I was about finding this since HE'LL be the one to figure out how to get it up near the house.

After we finished up at the house, we went to Mom and Dad's.  They had some tree damage from storms earlier in the week so Allan took his trusty chain saw and did a bit of clean up work for them.

I've said many times about how pretty Mom's flowers are and they are just gorgeous!  And...so is my Mom!

We have new neighbors!  Down the road a bit from our new house we discovered these llamas have moved in!  They are so friendly!  I pulled over to take pictures and they just posed for me!

Sunday was our Senior Sunday Luncheon to honor our one graduating high school senior.  We enjoyed a great meal and a wonderful time celebrating Tanner and his accomplishments.  He's a great kid!

Monday evening, we enjoyed a visit with old former neighbors of ours.  Alpha and Clancy lived next door to us 20+ years ago when our children were babies and preschoolers.  They are just wonderful people and it was so good to see them.  They now live in Seattle so they're far away to get to visit very often.

Oreo just cracks me up constantly!  He is so shy and hates to have a camera pointed at him.  I don't know why but he just hides when he sees me pointing something at him!  I have to work fast to get pics of him.  The pic on the left is before he realized what I was doing and the one on the right is afterwards.  He REALLY thinks I can't see him!

Finally, please continue to pray and keep OKLAHOMA in your thoughts.  There is still so much to be done to repair and rebuild lives.

Heartbreak in the Heartland

I have just been at a loss for words this week due to the devastation that our Oklahoma has endured.  I'm sure y'all have seen the news this week of the destructive tornadoes that our state has experienced.  I'm so thankful that my friends and family near the affected areas are safe but I'm so heartbroken for those who weren't so fortunate.

Oklahomans are tough people.  We have withstood other tragedies and risen to the occasion to take care of our people.  This time, it is no different.  As I watch the news, I see more and more reports of heroism and bravery that makes me proud to be an Okie.  Teachers protecting children, first responders not hesitating to jump in and save people from the rubble...many, many other acts of bravery.  These people probably wouldn't consider themselves heroes at all, but just doing what needed to be done at a time such as this.

There are many ways people can help...financially, donating goods and services, donating time spent on the ground sifting through debris, but mainly just pray.  Pray as you're doing these other good deeds that need to be done.  So many people lost absolutely everything.  The families that lost children are, to me, the ones most in need of prayer.  I cannot imagine. 

Mother's Day 2013

I'm a little late in the week doing my Mother's Day post but I just haven't had the time until now to do it.  I hope everyone had a great day with your moms.  Colby was able to come home last weekend but Ashley had to work.  It was a busy weekend for her at The Vintage Pearl.

My Dad's birthday always falls around Mother's Day so we tend to combine our celebrations each year.  Last Saturday, we all gathered at Mom & Dad's house for a cookout.

Dad has always been the family griller but this time he passed the torch to Colby. 

He grilled burgers, hot dogs and smoked sausage and did a great job!

Colby & cousin "K" had a fun time together.  My nephews didn't get to come this time.

After lunch, Colby got the mule out and we had a fun time riding around in it.  "K" had to have a turn driving and she did a great job!

My aunt and uncle were able to come for lunch.  We hadn't seen them in quite a while so we really enjoyed our visit.

My brothers and I went in together and got Mom this beautiful planter and pot of flowers along with a yellow rose bush too.  They were so pretty and I'm really wanting to get this same planter for myself! 

The weather was so nice that we stayed outside practically the whole time. 

Me and my Daddy!  I love him so much and hope he had a wonderful birthday.

Sunday, my Bible School kids made cards for their moms & grandmas.  They turned out so cute!  I just love handprint crafts!

Anddddd...I made one for my mom too!  She promptly put it up on her fridge when she got home.

My kids gave me a new Vintage Pearl state necklace and I love it!  It has our hometown stamped on it in a heart shape.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!

I was so thankful that Colby was here for the weekend. I love him to pieces! I never get enough of time spent with my kiddos. 

And, I missed having this sweet girl home for the weekend.  I love her dearly too!  I'm thankful that God gave me these two to be their mother!

Bibles & Birthdays!

It's a chilly day here in SE Oklahoma today!  We JUST thought Spring was here to stay last week with our 80+ degree weather.  I'm seriously hoping this is the last of our winter weather!
Last weekend was a busy weekend. Even though I was suffering with a migraine I still had to carry on with some things that had to be done.  Migraines are evil.  That's just all there is to it...evilness.

Saturday, our church had our annual Lectureship.  We've been hosting this for 14 years now!  We had a couple of great speakers and then a wonderful fellowship meal afterwards.  The best part of the day was a baptism after the last lesson!

 After church, Mom, Dad & I went to my niece's birthday party.  It was a wild time to say the least!  When we first got there, I noticed this big card on the table.  It was our instructions on a new version of the "Happy Birthday Song" that "K" wanted us to sing to her.  She is too funny!

The kids played outside for a long time so that helped to wear them down a bit...NOT! 

We got them inside and served pizza, cupcakes, ice cream and drinks.  "K" is all into Monster High stuff so that was the theme for her party.  It's hard to believe she is now 8!

It's so hard to get a decent picture of a group of wild kids on a sugar high so this is the best I could get.  While she opened her presents, most of the guys headed to the media room to watch a ballgame.  Since they did this, I think they should have been on some kind of clean up duty or something to make up for escaping the festivities. 

Before turning the kids loose outside again, I tried to get a few family pics of us with the birthday girl.  She's really not a fan of taking pictures and it's evident in some of them...haha

I think this should be their family Christmas card next year.  "K" is being her typical self, Stacey is gorgeous, and Doug is looped up on pain meds since he'd been to the ER that morning for kidney stones! 

A little better

Mom & Dad with "K"

"K" and Aunt Cheryl

It really was a fun time even though I was feeling horrible.  I love birthday celebrations and think everyone needs to have a day that's all about them!  Happy Birthday, "K"!