And They Wakeboarded Happily Ever After

For some reason I figured that as soon as I got up on a wakeboard I would be able to do some tricks. I tried a butterslide and you can watch the aftermath yourself!

Anniversary Plans

Doug and I are going on a cruise for our anniversary in September!

If you don't have something nice to say...

I have found that most of society is OUT TO CRUSH YOUR DREAMS!!!

Well, I might be exaggerating...a little.

In all seriousness, why do people insist on telling you why your plans will not work? Yesterday I was talking to some women about having children. I told them that I would like to have 4 or 5 and the immediate response is "you get back to me when you have had your first and lets see what tune you will be singing then." This happens all the time to me on many different subjects as I am sure that it has happened to you.

People always seem to want to tell me what I will and will not like. STOP TELLING ME WHAT I WANT!!!! That is why the phrase goes "I want..." NOT "what do you think I will like best?"

I seem to be angry as I write this but I am not. I am frustrated with individuals who think that they have the right to make others feel like their dreams are inferior or won't work. I am sad to say that I am sure that I have done this to others as well. We all need to watch what we say when we are listening to someones dreams... otherwise they will never share with us again!

Pink Hair

Lies Women Believe

Some friends and I started a small group that gets together once a week. We are currently going through the book

and it has been awesome so far. God is revealing such incredible stuff to all of us that we did not know about ourselves. We put this group together so as to have a safe place to go with our "junk," get prayer and to encourage each other to be more intimate with the Lord by being more intimate with each other.

The first week we started I considered using a highlighter to mark the things that really stood out to me.... I very quickly realized that this would be a futile cause for I would have highlighted the whole chapter.

There is a challenge at the beginning of the book to question everything that you think/do with
1. Is that true?
2. If it is not do I live like it is true?

We have deceived ourselves into believing lies that we don't even realize are lies. It is easy to think "no I don't have any issues with being deceived." Deception is just that.... you don't realize you have been lying to yourself. This book encourages you to search your heart on different issues in which people are deceived.

I would suggest this book to anyone... most of the stuff I have read applies to men as well!

Even if you don't ever read this book I challenge you to ask yourself "Is that true?" as often as possible. Make sure that your thoughts are of the Lord and don't let Satan slip lies into your head!!!!

Hi Ho Hi Ho It's Off To Work I Go!

I posted several times about how much I struggled with not being able to find a job so I figured that I would joyfully proclaim that I have a job now... or maybe a yob... it might be a soft "j."

Capture the Flag..... missed it by that much!

I am not sure that there is much to be said other than that I did not retrieve the flag from enemy territory after a very valiant effort if I do say so myself!!!!

Easter

Yesterday was Easter and we had a sunrise service in the back pasture with the Baileys, Ezzells, Griggs, Pullens and my mom. It was beautiful but... COLD! It was also wet. The Baileys and Ezzells showed up in Easter Sunday dress such as sandals and thin flowing dresses. We all wrapped in blankets and shivered as we worshipped. We decided that next year we are definitely going to mow beforehand and also build a fire.

After that we all went in and had a huge breakfast together. I love having such a close "family." I, unfortunately, went back to bed at 8:30 because I had a very bad headache. Later we did the leavened bread hunt as we have done every year since I can remember. The only difference was that adults did not participate. This is the first year that I have not "hunted." It was kind of sad but I am sure that we will do it again in years to come. Things are a little crazy right now so Easter was a little thrown together this year.

Conversation? with Mags

"Mags you need to eat your food fast. If you don't finish by the time Nana gets here you don't get to go to the office!"

"Nonnie, everyone calls me a slow po. They all say that I am just a slow po at everything. I am a slow po at eating, a slow po at playing.... I am just a slow po"

"You are not a slow 'poke' Mags"

"It's not my fault... everyone just attracts me!!!"

"Everyone 'distracts' you?"

"Yeah"

"I am sorry dude but try to finish quick!"

Great Falls National Park

Mom and I are in Maryland with Jess and Jen for a few days. Mom, Jesse and I went to see Great Falls yesterday... we had sooo much fun!!!!

Birth "Control"

Before you get your panties in a wad and start posting nasty comments... please realize that I am thinking aloud and I am not even sure how I feel about this subject!!!

A good friend of mine pointed out that the second word in birth control is control. I had never really thought about breaking down the term and analyzing it. We hear so much about how God is in control over everything and that we should not hold on to any hidden "closets."

Interesting that we talk so much about how we need to put God in control of our finances, relationships and our purpose and yet when it comes to having children, we want to schedule them to fit in our time frame.

-We don't have enough money
-We are not in the right place emotionally
-We need some more time to be together
-We don't have a big enough place
-I need to lose some weight
-We want the kids to be 2-3 years apart
-We can only handle one child (2,3,4,5,6...)

The list can go on forever and I am sure that you can add some of your own that you have said in the past. Why is it that we can't handle the idea that God is in control? Many people have gone off of birth control and not had children for years. Is it just because the sperm was not capable of meeting the egg? No, it is because God knows the best time for you to have a child.

But wait, other people have had sex one time and have gotten pregnant immediately. A friend of mine said that when it comes down to it, if you have sex without protection you are going to get pregnant... it's just science.

So, by thinking this way, we are saying that God is not in control...science is! Is God surprised when someone gets pregnant? We might not think that it is an ideal situation but God knows and designs every conception for a purpose. Who are we to say that God does not know best?

Another friend of mine said that if God does not specifically tell you to have a child... you are not doing anything wrong. The Bible says to "Be fruitful and multiply" Gen 1:22.
My question was, why are we waiting for God tell us to have children rather than listening for God in case He says to wait? God's command in the Bible should be the command to go by... bottom line! Although we should be listening for further instructions just in case He does change the rules for specific individuals.

Also, there are no references to birth control in any way (wait for awhile, don't have sex in marriage etc.) that I know of in the Bible. If you know of something please share. If this is a correct statement, we are regularly doing something that is not portrayed in our manual for life.

By controlling our births we are saying that we think we know the best time to have children better than God does.

Seems like a pretty lofty claim...

Canada?

Today I went to the doctor to find out if I am still plagued with Candida Albicans. I have been on the Candida starvation diet for 10 weeks now and I have been taking lots of meds so I figured it was time to see if my efforts have produced any results.

When the man walked into the room he greeted me with "Hey, whats going wrong?"

I started laughing and proceeded to say that only a doctor would change the common greeting of "What's going on?" to "What's going wrong?"

He stared at me with a deadpan expression and then repeated his question. Okay then...not one for jokes. I told him that I have Candida and that I would like to get better. He then asked "Where is Candida?"

Now, the condition is pronounced Can-deed-a so when he asked where Can-did-a was I told him that it was right above the United States. He did not laugh and then asked again where my Can-did-a is... in the legs, arms, intestines etc.

All in all, the man knew way less about Candida than I do and it was a complete waste of my time. AKA no report about the Candida status!

Swimming Lessons

Our resolve not to turn on the air this summer is now being put to the test... at least for Doug! Last night he had to take a shower because he had been drowning in his own sweat all day. But when your power bill goes from $100+ to $53.67 just by pushing up the lever... you learn to appreciate the breaststroke, the freestyle, the butterfly........

Todays one and only complete thought!

I was thinking about how much I miss blogging and then wondered why I have not done so in a month. Then it dawned on me... I have neither the time nor the brain power to perform such a task.

A-MAZING!!!

You have got to see this.....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM0gd_0wIcA

Blessings

Things I take for Granted...

-Spending the rest of my life with my best friend
-Having a job so that I am able to pay my bills
-My closest friends
-My church
-Being involved in a life group
-The way that I was raised
-My family
-The love of learning/reading
-The ability to have children
-Having two cars
-God's unconditional love
-Forgiveness
-Having too many towels
-My parents

"Lord, help me to remember who gave me all of these things and to cherish every person, moment, and blessing that you bestow upon me"

Cats, Dogs and Women

The other day one of my coworkers nonchalantly said that he had a cat... and a dog. A cat AND a dog?!!! I promptly informed him that you can't be a cat person and a dog person. You have to pick one or the other.

He informed me that he was just appreciating all forms of women.

My ear doth hear a strange sound... oh yeah... it was Bryan still talking.

He went on to tell me that some women are needy, always begging for attention, need tons of affirmation, love to play (again... attention), always jumping in your lap, and are sad and depressed when you leave.

And by saying "you leave" I believe he was referring to himself for in the eyes of Bryan he is God's gift to women... and animals apparently.

Then again other women are stand-offish, independent, will scratch you when they feel like it, pretend that you are not there and like to poop in private.

There you have it folks... the complete guide to understanding women.... go buy yourself a cat and a dog. Before you know it, you will have women eating out of the palm of your hand... literally. Just ask Bryan!!!

Very Late Pictures

We went to Hershey, Penn. while we were in Maryland. We had such a BLAST!!!!!!!! Here are some pictures in honor of Noelle who says that my blog is boring because I do not embellish my stories with visual aides!

Nighttime Lights

As we were sitting at the dining room table after playing a game tonight, Doug saw police lights through the kitchen window. Jeny, Doug and I promptly did our civic duty and became gawking bystanders peering through three different slats in the blinds (according to height).

As we were diligently observing the spectacle, one of the two police officers literally kicked in the door. Gasps and awes from the audience. There was one woman outside at the time. We watched as they ran into the house and started flipping on lights looking about. The ambulance and the fire truck showed up as they were going through the house. The people in the house came outside and picked up their groceries...what????? Now we were totally confused! Jeny, Doug and I all had different conclusions to the mystery on Stewart Loop although we came up with the stories as we were watching and before the last bit of info seen at the bottom of this post.

Jeny's story of the not so graceful old lady:
Jeny believes that there was an old woman inside and she fell down the stairs. She had locked the door and was not able to get up when her family got home so the daughter, just arriving from the grocery store, called the police and they kicked in the door to get to her quickly.

Doug's story of the child stabbing:
Doug believes that there was a small child inside who was upstairs when his mother got home. When he heard her knocking he started to run down the stairs and as he took the second to last step he tripped and stabbed himself with the knife that he was playing with. He was trying to move quickly so as to put the knife away so he would not get in trouble. The mother called the police who kicked the door down to get to him faster.

My story of the intruder:
I believe that as the woman got home she noticed a few signs of disturbance outside of her home... the front light was no longer on although she was sure that she had left it on and the two car toys had been moved of the small patio and placed to the left of the front door. She then heard some rummaging about inside and, not wanting to take any chances, called the police and waited for them to arrive for she was scared there might be an intruder. When they arrived they felt that it was necessary to kick down the door so as to take the intruder by surprise.

Reality:
Then the fire truck left while it seemed that the police filed a report. A woman was carried on a stretcher to the ambulance without alarm or rushing. She seemed fine but left in the ambulance without the lights on and then the police left as well. Not quite as exciting as we imagined but the reality was a much better ending to the story than Doug and I came up with although Jeny's story was completely plausible.

Potbelly Anyone?

Last night Jeny fed Adler two muffins before dinner so that he would not eat very much pizza... without Jesse's knowledge. Adler usually eats three or four pieces and she wanted him to be a little more healthy. As the guys got home with the pizza Jeny and I left to go out to dinner. When we got back Adler did not have on a shirt and was running around. Jesse pointed to his stomach to draw attention to it when we realized, much to Jenyfer and I's horror, Adler's stomach was twice it's usual size and HE HAD AN OUTIE!!!!

Yes my friend, just as a pregnant woman in the later stages of gestation.... his belly button had popped out. font-After we had left the house he continued to eat a serving of yogurt, two slices of pizza and two hard boiled eggs! He threw up twice and went to bed early... poor thing... although it did not phase him a bit as he continued running around and laughing. Man that kid can eat!

Oh so Long Lines and Lot's of Traffic

We are in Maryland right now visiting Jess,and the boys. We have been going downtown to the D.C. mall for the last two days and have been in lines and lost at least 30 times as long as we have been enjoying exhibits and museums. Jess and I got up this morning and waited in a line for tickets to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. We left the house at 5:30 and Jess dropped me off at 6:30 so that he could drive around and find a parking spot. Only 700 people can go in a day and each person can get 4 tickets for a specified time throughout the day. The line was extremely long and when the booth opened at 8:00... over 2/3 of the line was turned away. I felt terrible for them!!!! The Bureau was awesome though. I saw millions and millions of dollars while I was there... I might be exaggerating slightly but you would not appreciate the story as much if I didn't.

In the National Museum of Natural History there is a section for Western Culture. The first display is of a human skeleton grabbing onto the horns of a goat skeleton... man taming the wild! As Doug walked up to the display next to me I, very calmly and with a slight hint of awe, told him that they dug up the remains of the two specimens exactly as they were displayed in the exhibit. I then tried to turn very slowly with a straight face while he stared with the most tender and trusting look at the display saying "Really? That is so cool!" I guess I did not turn fast enough cause he punched me before my face was completely hidden. I laughed so hard I disturbed all of the reverent exhibit observers around me but I could just not contain myself!!!

Doug and I got incredibly lost on the way home. I thought it was kinda funny but Doug definitely did not! After a long trip to see D.C. in it's entirety we are now home and Jen and I are going grocery shopping.

Pictures from the honeymoon

And sooo......
This is a little on the late side but better late than never... I guess???

We went to Amelia Island in Florida and it was beautiful. They happened to be drudging right out the back door of our bed and breakfast but what is a memory without an interesting story attached?!

I told Doug to run and jump... I think this one is my favorite picture!!!

He had just called me Jezebel for having painted toenails and exposed ankles

Leftovers was on the menu

Uh... no comment!

This is out our back door! We heard them 24/7!!!

This was what was out our back door after you stepped over the piping.

After lunch one day.

I think Morgan and Jimmy wrote this... take a guess who wrote each part!!!

On the docks

Shocking

We are all in Florida right now visiting some relatives and going to Sea World tomorrow. On the way here we stopped at Boston Market to eat dinner. I had just taken Bren to the bathroom and was headed back to our table when Doug turns around and grabs the front of my shirt in a not quite so appropriate area as he asked "what is that?" in a loud voice as we were standing next to the table.

I was so taken aback that I had no idea what to say. Noelle and I just looked at in amazement and horror. Apparently there was a large wet spot on the front of my shirt, compliments of the drool doctor, and he was wondering what the spot was and had not realized what area he had grabbed!!!

Wedding Pictures

These are only a few of the wedding pictures but Doug has them all on his computer and I figure a few is better than none!!!!












The day of the wedding was amazing. Most people said that it would fly by and that we would not get to enjoy it... they were wrong!!! I was able to relax and enjoy my friends and family all day long. This was due to everyone's efforts to make things go smoothly and also to all the planning that we had done ahead.

The ceremony was beautiful. Doug cried when I walked down the aisle and then seemed to be a little tense as I took my place beside him. So I proceeded to play thumb war with my unsuspecting victim (we play it all the time) and won easily. I smiled beautifully as I whispered "sweetie...I won!" I watched the reality of the situation dawn on his face as I fiercely choked back the laughter. I would like to say that the game loosened him up but I think that it only distracted him further.

The reception (I will post pictures later) was the best I have ever been to. Imagine that... I am biased about my own wedding.

The plan was to leave the reception on Doug's jet ski. I had bought white pants and a shirt for this very purpose... cant ride a jet ski wearing a wedding dress! As I ran into the bathroom to change into my "riding" clothes I was horrified to find that I had not packed a bra (my dress was a corset itself). Now, this might be something that would happen to most people but I am a planner and planners do not forget very important articles of clothing such as a bra.

The shirt that I had bought for the occasion was very thin and we were to run down to the lake... not the right circumstances for winging it!

I left the bathroom in search of one of my bridesmaids to steal the necessary equipment for running but I bumped into my adopted mother who happens to be a very proper, genteel southern woman instead. This is obviously only a facade to hide the crazy things that she does.

Now this woman is one of my favorite people in the world but this day I was truly shocked by her behavior. She proceeded to ask me what size I wore. I kept telling her that I needed to find one of my bridesmaids. I finally told her what size and she, with slight chuckle, said "you can have mine."

I laughed and we went back to the bathroom where my mother was waiting. I quickly changed and found my husband to make our departure. It was successfully carried out and the poor woman (who I have very carefully not named) finished out the night bra-less with none the wiser.

Nostalgia

I have been reading some of my previous posts. I am now overcome with nostalgic feelings about blogging. How I miss blogging. I know that nobody reads my blog and that the few who did quit as soon as I slowed down to about one post a month. No, I don't blog for the sake of others reading what I have to say. I blog because I truly love going back and reading about my experiences in life, my thoughts, my perceptions and just how darn funny I am!!!

I am sure that I have said before that I think that "You are the funniest person that you know!" I believe this wholeheartedly and I laugh out loud every time I read my posts from the past.

Blogging to me is what a journal is to others. I hope that I will get back to it one day so that I can have these little snippets of who I am throughout my life as we are ever changing and growing!

Start Blogging Again

Okay y'all... so we decided to start blogging again and nobody is blogging except for Jeny!!!!

I am a little behind but here are some pictures of the Washington shower and when I get the wedding photos I will put them up as well!!!!

Doug and I took turns opening presents!


Mama Pullen wrote down all of the names and the gifts given!




Everybody who helped!



Jen did the decorations...thanks Jen!


I look positively befuddled... I could not figure out what it was at first!


You would think that she was stabbing me.


Did Doug have more fun playing with the wrapping?!!!!

Medicinal Conspiracy

I experienced the most disturbing bodily function humanly possible last night!

As I was slowing down for the night and getting ready for bed I gathered my 9 pills that I am required to take. I grabbed a large glass of water and headed to the computer to look up a few wedding things before going to bed and proceeded to ingest my prescriptive poison.

After taking eight of my nine pills I saw the light at the other end of the tunnel (can you tell I don't enjoy taking pills?!). With my last pill I very successfully caused a road block by lodging it in my throat. I drank the rest of my water trying to coax the little guy to loosen his grip and fall with his brothers and sisters into the acidic pit that would inevitably become his fate. My efforts were in vain for he would not falter.

I continued playing on the computer and ignoring the little lump in my throat that was inhibiting the ability to swallow, be comfortable and think clearly. After a few minutes of this I felt a bubble of air welling up inside of me.

My burp charged up my throat as if on a mission. When it reached just the right location, the little capsule around the pill, that was so desperately holding on, simultaneously melted. The result of this catastrophic coincidence was a very large burst of powder spraying into my mouth.

I immediately gagged, threw up in my mouth, swallowed by reflex and then ran to the kitchen to get some more water.

Moral of the story... do not take any form of pills ever for they are conspiring to ruin all forms of enjoyment and relaxation!

Who sprung the leak?

I am thinking that I might be slightly emotional right now!!!

Let me give you a slight background on my emotional habits... I don't have any. At least not in the crying area.

Tonight I watched a movie with my girls called Bridge to Terabithia. I not only shed a few tears on the sad part... I bawled like a baby for 20 minutes!!! I am talking serious crying with all of the symptoms from snotty nose to the dull headache. My crying episode did not stop until the movie was over and the credits had rolled.

This whole evening just took me off guard! No need to fear though... I have my emotions back under control (I think)!!!

Back out of Whack

This morning I went back the chiropractor as a follow up for my rib (I have already been back to get my rib set). My appointment was for 10:30 but Mom came and woke me up at 7:15 and asked me to ride along for her appointment. The guy asked if I just wanted to go ahead and get adjusted so I didn't have to come all the way back which was totally nice of him!

He rubbed his hands down my back and then poked me in my sacrum as he said

"That hurts!"
"Ouch!"
"I called it" he replied with a slight hint of glee. I guess when you are a chiropractor, and all you do every day is crack backs, you have to entertain yourself somehow. He is really good though. He can feel your muscles and then tell you where you hurt before you get around to it.

When he checked my rib he found that it was still out of place in the front. He made me feel my rib so that I could see how much it was sticking out compared to my other ribs. Apparently you can dislocate a rib and then put it back in the front or back but the opposite might not go back into place depending on how tight your muscles are. When it is out in the front it will shift your sternum over and then mess up your whole back.

He popped my rib back in place in the front and I was on my way!!!

Boring Blog

My engagement ring!

Noelle has very kindly informed me that my blog is very boring because I never post any pictures and that is why people do not read what I have to say. Here you go Noelle... this post is specifically for you!!!!


Not much of a start but it will have to do!!!