Life is full of sometimes, always, and nevers.  I don't like to commit to the always in most cases because it locks you into place, except when it comes to God-because God is always.  Nevers are not good because you can't be open minded and spontaneously change your mind, like I sometimes like to do.  Sometimes are safe because it leaves you with options.  So, in honor of sometimes, here is my random post.

Sometimes.... I just look at my family and could almost just cry.  I sometimes can't fully understand and grasp the amount of love that I have for each of them and the love they have between themselves....not to mention the love that they have for me.  It's overwhelming if I just sit and think about it.  I try to sit and think about it and appreciate every morsel of it.  Honestly, pictures are where it's at!!  I am just like everyone else and I take things for granted.  I don't want to.  I try not to, but it happens.  Life is busy.  Life is tiring.  When I look back at pictures, I can see it and feel it and taste it.  I love it and cherish it and hold on to it.  Maybe that's why I love pictures so much.




Sometimes.... Junior High Kids get in a big circle at the football field for a picture.  Sophie is in there somewhere.  She showed me where but I can't explain it to you.

Sometimes....a six year old asks lots of questions and Daddys teach them alot.  Sometimes you just don't know unless you ask.  

Sometimes....you have to wear a choker to the football game because your sisters do.

Sometimes....you don't catch the biggest fish or the most fish and you are totally okay with that.

Sometimes....you just have to bait your own hook.

Sometimes....you have to cheer on those Scrappers.  (That one is almost an always, except sometimes...we don't go to the games.)

Sometimes....you just have to dress up in poodle skirts and go to parties.

Sometimes....you run into friends that you know and love and you have to take a picture.

Sometimes....you make good grades on your tests and you get to go to the trampoline park for a celebration.  Sometimes though you have too much excitement and you end up with a migraine and it really sucks.

Sometimes....you celebrate friends and birthdays because friends are special and birthdays are special.

Sometimes....you go to a movie at the park and it reminds you of the good ol' days at the drive-in.

Sometimes....you have to eat at Waffle House for your three year anniversary because you can't leave town because you are in so many different activities that it limits your free time.

Sometimes....you get to go to the rodeo.

Sometimes....you are twinkies with your kids and they actually think it's pretty awesome.

Sometimes....you have a competition while fishing to determine who gets to pick where we eat supper.

Sometimes....you get to go to birthday parties and eat cupcakes.

Sometimes....you practice and you practice and you practice and it actually makes you better and you can even see the improvement in yourself.

Sometimes....you just need a hug.  Even if it's on the playground and everyone is watching.

Trying to play catch up, I'm throwing a few random thoughts together. 

 

1.  Life is a bowl of cherries.  I don't even like cherries.  But I learned how to tie a cherry stem in my mouth without using my fingers years ago.  I can't think of anything that's good for now.

 

2.  When the circus comes to town, I am always disappointed.  Maybe because my mother took me to  The Barnum & Bailey Circus when I was little and that it my norm.  I didn't even bother to go this year when the "circus" came to town.  Sophie was invited to go with Madison.  She reported that a magician and SpongeBob were there.  What????  They had fun so I guess that's all that matters. 

 

3.  Prayers work.  I started a prayer journal several months ago.  Although I don't write it in as often as I intended, it's pretty cool to look back and see the praises too for answered prayers. 

 

A few weeks ago, a friend of Sadie's (Kelli) and a classmate of mine (Nova), were in a serious car accident.  Nova's oldest daughter, Kayla, and step-son, Sawyer, died in the accident.  Nova and Kelli are still in the hospital, but are recovering now from their injuries.  Sadie was extremely worried about Kelli and Nova.  She sent me several text messages during the day for the first few days in a row, just to ask me to pray for them.  Sadie told Sophie about the accident, which brought back memories for Sophie of her Daddy's accident.  Sophie was so worried about Nova and Kelli and had never even met them.  That night I sent the girls to bed, they asked me if they could pray together.  I left them alone with their request.  Sadie posted on Facebook after they had prayed:  "Feeling so blessed right now.  Sophie prayed with me.  Her words: 'God, please take care of Kelli and her mom.  And Daddy, please take care of Kayla and Sawyer...'  Bless her sweet heart.  God is in this house tonight." 

 

 

4.  We have made it two whole months without Molly being sick.  The last set of tubes were put in the end of July.  This past weekend, snot was dripping again.  I think it is allergies. 

5.  These next few photos were from when we went to the zoo in July.  Honestly, I was quite disappointed in the zoo too.  It has been a few years since I have been, but I remember it being better than it was.  I won't give up on it quite yet.  They were doing some remodeling, so we will chalk it up and give it another chance.   

6.  Next year I would like to plan a trip to the beach with my girls.  I don't know if Larry would want to go or not, but I am willing to let him stay home if he would rather.  I don't really like the thought of a family vacation without the whole family, so we will see.

7.  I didn't know penguins could live in Arkansas. Now that I know, I think it would be cool to have one for a pet.  They have less hair that cats, like none, and I don't think a penguin would pounce on my lap uninvited.  I shouldn't be allergic to penguins.   Hmmmmm, I wonder if the zoo would take a trade-in for a green eyed black cat?

8.  Larry and I have been married for 1141 days today.  It seems a lot longer than that.  He is a good man and a good Dad to all three of the girls.  I am so thankful he is in our lives.  I love him. 

9.  As much as I love summer and love the warmer weather, I admit I am looking forward to Fall.  I do not like when it gets too cold to be outside, but cooler temps I welcome anytime now.  I can't wait to make the first pot of potato soup.  Sophie can't wait either because she has been asking for it now for about 3 weeks straight.  It's not long now sister!!!

10.  The girls and I had a craft day this weekend.  We free handed some creations.  Molly even got to paint too.  She made her hand prints and her feet prints.  I loved all of our creations!

One Flaw in Women

Someone sent this to me via email. I think it is very powerful and very true and good enough to share with you.

Women have strengths that amaze men.....

They bear hardships and they carry burdens,

but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy

and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in..

They stand up to injustice.

They don't take "no" for an answer

when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel

and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about

a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member,

yet they are strong when they

think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss

can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you

to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what

makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love.

They have compassion and ideas.

They give moral support to their

family and friends.

Women have vital things to say

and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

Giving Thanks and What are these?

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I know I'm a little late, but I had the familia thing going on...and work....and life.... So, I hope everyone had good food and spent quality time with their loved ones and ate too much, like I did.

I really wanted y'all to tell me what these are. Sadie noticed them in the pasture when she read the electric meter for me the other day. It appeared that they were growing on some kind of vine, but the vine had already died. They are tiny little.... i don't know what they are.

Sophie said they were wallermelons. Sadie said they were pumpkins. Papa said he thought they were gourds.

I could say yes to any of the above. But I'm not really sure. I didn't think gourds are green at any time. I thought they were kinda yellow or some type of pale orange color. They do look like tiny little watermelons, but I don't think that's what they are. It would make sense if they were pumpkins because I have dumped many rotten pumpkins and pumpkin guts in the pasture over the years. But do pumpkins start out green like that?

Anyway, to my thanks, I am so very thankful for everything right now. I am in a happy place and I so hope to stay there. Life is good. God is good.

Sadie is growing up so fast and I am very proud of her. We recently had a boyfriend quandry. Without going into too many details, I guided without demanding and gave her room to make her own decision on something that concerned me. It was a major decision in a ten year old's life. Without pressure from me, she made the decision that proved to me that she truly does listen to my sermons and benefits from the lessons I try to teach her. It is looking as if I may not have to lock her in the closet during her teen years. She has a pretty good head on her shoulders. I just hope the hormones don't mess it up!

Sophie is another story. I may have to lock her in a closet way before the teen years. Just the other night she was talking through her bottom lip because she was in trouble for something and she told Larry that she was going to call the exterminator on him. I had to use spell check to spell exterminator. She's three. Where does she get this?

MEN are like TEETH

I've figured it out! Men are like teeth! Before you laugh, let me explain my rational thinking.

Before you have a man (teeth) in you life, you don't miss anything. You can get along just fine eathing, chewing, and loving life. You never realize that you need teeth to help digest everything that life has to offer. Everything is just wonderful.

Then before you even realize it's happening, they just come in. Sure it's a little uncomfortable at first because it's something new. Slowly you get adjusted to them being there and you don't even notice how bad you need them and how much they help you out. They can help you take out your frustrations (biting things.) They make your smile so much better. They make you feel prettier. They become part of you and before you know it they become something that you can not live without.

But don't get too comfortable, because throughout your life, men (teeth) are going to come and go. I can not think of any one person who has had the same man their entire life. I'm sure there is a woman that exists, but I have not met her.

You try to do all of the right things to keep your teeth (man.) But sometimes no matter how much you brush and floss, there's nothing you can do. Some things are beyond our control.

When you lose a tooth (man) and it hurts. Your whole mouth (life) feels different. You can't eat, you can't sleep. The pain consumes you. Things don't taste the same. Your smile isn't the same. Everything changes!

Then suddenly you remember that you've been here before. You've lost a tooth before and you vagely remember that the pain and the frustration ends after awhile. You get comfortable with yourself and you are no longer afraid to smile. Your confidence comes back and you begin to go on with your life. You realize that your other teeth (friends and family) are still there in your life to support you.

Then BANG!!!! When you are not looking, another tooth starts coming in!

Now the sad part about this funny simile is that when you have lost all of your baby teeth, your chances of new perfect teeth just appearing in your mouth is gone. You can try to fix the ones that you have. But when it comes to a man, (cavity) you can fix it for awhile, but you eventually end up losing it anyway.

There are times when we have a bad tooth and there's nothing we can do to fix it. It won't fall out and it feels better for awhile but then starts hurting again off and on. In that event, we have to have it surgically removed.

I've lost some teeth. I've had some pulled. This is experience talking. But I still have some baby teeth left!!

Looking for my pot of gold

After the short downfall this afternoon, I couldn't resist snapping a shot of this rainbow. It was the prettiest that I have seen. Never did find the pot of gold though.

Ants

I have spent many hours mowing the grass this summer. Just as everyone else, I have always battled the ant hills in my yard. But it came to light differently to me today. I always think about the ants freaking out when I run over their mound and they immediately start scurring about to rebuild what I've torn down. Even though a nuisance, especially when they bite, and an eyesore to my otherwise beautifully cut lawn, the ant communities are interesting.

It's funny, but I imagined today the ants preparing somewhat when they heard the roar of the mower getting closer, compared to the way we would prepare or retreat if we heard the roar of a tornado coming our way. After I made the pass again, I could see the ants moving things, maybe checking on loved ones, and in a panic. I compared it to the aftermath of a town the size of ours after a tornado touched down and having to rebuild our city.

I thought about the headlines in their hometown paper reading "Disaster destroys four cities, many dead." The Queen Bee would have to hold a press conference and evacuate feet away and order the city rebuilt. The cities would be in distress because of the heavy amounts of rain and as a result all of the flooding that they have already been fighting. They have spent lots of time building higher mounds to keep them dry and functioning.

And the scare of an unknown disease that poisons millions without warning, while we spread 7 Dust on the ground. They are unknowningly taking poison covered food to their families underground and not knowing the cause of the illnesses and deaths, much compared to the diseases that we fight to find a source and a cure. Oh my...the poor ant communities, how close the trials and tribulations are to our daily lives in some aspects. In the big grand scheme of things, they are just trying to provide for their families. I hope God allows ants in heaven.