My dear sweet hubby, Ron, and I have been married for 20+ years. We began dating during my freshman year at Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville. He is my college sweetheart. We have ministered together in various ministries during our lives together. We pastored for 10 years in Florida. We moved to TN in 2000 to Co-Pastor with some friends of ours. The Lord has given me a fabulous provider whom I love more than any words I write could ever express. He is now the CEO at our denomination's publishing company, Randall House Publications. I am honored to support him.
Our oldest child is named Michael. He is now officially a teenager, although I don't think I'm old enough to have a teenager. He is a very sweet and considerate young man. He is my thinker and my reader. He absorbs every piece of new information that he comes across. He loves playing soccer, riding his bike, skateboarding, reading, watching the History Channel, the Military Channel, ESPN and any documentary on TV. I am privileged to be his Mother.
Lauren is our youngest child. She is just 15 months behind her brother in age. She is wise beyond her years. She has a sharp-witted tongue (which sometimes has to be tamed), a quick sense of humor and a heart for people and animals. She loves organizing anything and everything. She loves being with her friends, singing, talking on her cell phone and playing soccer. I am blessed to be her Mother.
Just the knowledge that a good book is awaiting one at the end of a long day makes that day happier.
- Kathleen Norris
1. Post eight random facts/habits about yourself. Choose eight others to "tag", and include the guidelines in your post.
2. Let your "taggees" know that they've been tagged!
3. Enjoy learning more about your cyber-sisters/brothers.
8 random facts or habits about me...are you sure you want to know?
1. I would much rather be cold then hot. That's really strange since we lived in and loved living in Florida for 11 years. I would go back there in a heartbeat - just as long as the air conditioning works properly!!!
2. I love to read. Quite often I have two or three books going at once. I got my love for reading from my grandmother - who I miss more than any words could explain.
3. I love for everything to be perfectly arranged and everything in it's proper place - however, my house is a cluttered mess and covered in several layers of dust. Don't try to figure it out - I haven't figured it out myself yet. siggghhhhhhhhh
4. I thoroughly enjoy watching college football. I don't mind watching ANY game but really prefer to watch only Florida State!!! GO NOLES!!! My vehicle looks like one of those tacky cars covered with bumper stickers. It's not quite that bad but a person certainly can deduce that I am an FSU fan just by looking at my truck!
5. I can never be satisfied with my hair - the color OR the style. Two months is about my tolerance level for any style. I get bored very easily with it.
6. I buy magazines but rarely look at all of them. I still have a Real Simple magazine from June that I haven't even opened yet.
7. I am scared of the water but would rather be on a cruise ship then anywhere else on the planet. I could live on a boat. It all began when Ron surprised me with a week long cruise a few years ago. Now I want to go at least one cruise a year. Come to think of it I think it all started when I was a child and the greatest Papaw in the world would take me and my cousin, Derick, to the lake and spend the day in the boat. Good times and such GREAT memories!!! I just never learned to swim. WEIRD, I know!
8. I am a huge TV addict. I'm sure that's not a good thing - but that's the way it is - and I love it!
The title to this entry should convey to you the feeling of panic we felt yesterday when we could not find where Lauren was playing soccer after school. PANIC!!! ANGER!!! FEAR!!! WORRY!!! We have been playing musical soccer fields with Lauren's school soccer team since the season began. We have a schedule but it contains no more details than the school we are playing and the time of the game - which I suppose we should be grateful that we have THAT at this point. Lauren's game was supposed to start at 4:00 yesterday afternoon. She calls us at 3:30 and says "you know where we are playing tonight, right?". (The girls are provided a way to their games from the school and then the parent's pick them up at the game location) I told her that yes, they are playing at Hunters Lane at 4:00. She said "no, it has changed. we are playing at Stafford Middle School in Madison". Keep in mind that this is 30 minutes before the game is to start. So, I called Ron to tell him so he could look it up because I was in the car on my way home from picking up Michael at school. When I get home he tells me there is no Stafford MIddle School in Madison. To make a long story short we did not figure out where they were until 6:00. Of course, since the game had already started while we were driving all over Madison from one school to the other noone was answering their cell phones. It was very unnerving to be driving around for 2 hours not knowing where your child was. It ended up that we did play Hunters Lane but because they don't have a soccer field we played them at STRATTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. At least it was in Madison - that much was right. Ron had a "little chat" with the coach after the game ended - which is when we arrived. And today I emailed him with a "little chat" of my own.
I was so mad last night. I was NOT mad at Lauren. None of this was her fault. We were just mad at her coach for not communicating effectively. So, Ron and the kids went to their NYSA soccer practice from Lauren's school game. I came home and attempted to calm down. After their practice was over and they got home Michael came in the house and said that he and Lauren were going to drive around the neighborhood. I thought - MY NERVES CAN'T HANDLE THEM DRIVING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT NIGHT!! But Ron took them out for about 15 minutes. When they got back they asked me to go with them. So, the four of us went driving through the neighborhood with a 13 & 14 year behind the wheel. HAHA They really did a very good job! Michael drove first and then Lauren took her turn. I am very confidant that when it is time for them to learn and get their licenses they will do very well.
It brought back memories of when I was learning to drive. Such good memories. My Papaw would let me drive around their neighborhood the same way. As long as I live I will never forget backing his big Ford LTD out of their driveway. My cousin, Derick, was in the backseat. I backed the car out and right into the front yard of the house directly across the street. Derick was laughing so hard that he slid down into the floor. I'm laughing so hard that I can't concentrate. And even my Papaw was laughing. Good times!!! He was the most patient man I've ever known. He survived my learning to drive and then my cousin's learning to drive. Interestingly enough Derick never let me ride with him when he was taking a spin with Papaw around the neighborhood. Hmmmmmmmmmm
Oh my goodness!! Surely my children aren't old enough to be ordering their "letter jackets" for high school, are they? I don't believe it. If I squeeze my eyes shut and plug my ears will time go back so I can allow my heart to catch up?
Lauren texted me from school today (apparently East Lit is not as strict about the cell phone usage as Two Rivers Middle was) and asked me if she could sign up to get a sports letter jacket. She asked because she knew they would be expensive (WHICH THEY ARE!!!!!!!!!!!). I told her that absolutely she could sign up to get one. I told her we would make it happen. So, both of them brought home forms tonight to fill out all the things they want on their jackets. I think I am as excited as they are. Lauren asked me if I had one when I was in high school. An hour later, when I stopped laughing (at the idea of ME having a SPORTS letter jacket), I told her that I didn't have one because I didn't play sports. I am soooooooooooo glad that we have continued to encourage them in sports. Michael said he wants to find a sport to play at school in the Fall. Right now the girls play soccer in the Fall and the boys play soccer in the Spring. So, I told him that I thought that was a GREAT idea! The more the merrier! Yes, I would be on the road more - but that's fine - whatever I have to do for them.
I have downloaded the canoe trip pics from the camera to my computer. However, they haven't made it to my online storage site yet. So, when they make it there I will be able to put them up here. I ended up not going because I knew they would all want to stay a LOT longer than I could make it for. So, I hung out at home. Noone tipped over this time.
Well, it is time to eat - so I shall stop now. HOpefully I will get to the pics tomorrow.
Seeing the kids reading their Bibles on their own
Hearing the ocean
Smelling a cake baking
Remembering our wedding day
Singing in the church choir
Shopping for my family
Feeling good
Reading in the tub
A quiet house
Watching a funny movie with the kids
Seeing my kids playing a game together
Ron's little finger dance
Hearing my kids being excited about church
Watching Ron play with Faith (our dog)
Hearing Ron snoring beside me after he has been gone on a long trip
Chatting with special friends
Feeling hot sand under my feet on a beach somewhere
Game night with Brian & Kim and kids
Spending one on one time with Kim
Double Dating With Brian and Kim
A clean house
Sitting on my front porch in my new rockers
Walking on a cool evening with my family
Things I Want To Do Before I Die
Take voice lessons
Lose 100 pounds
Take a yearly vacation with just my girl friends
Break completely free from the strongholds that have a grip on me
Find a hair style that I'm totally happy with
Become a great grandmother
Live on the beach
Drive a racecar on the race track
Learn to swim confidently
Go sky-diving
Learn to knit
Scrapbook our family's life
Build a house with an inground pool
Own my own laptop
Visit Alaska
See the REAL Eiffel Tower
Take a short term family missions trip
Own a black Jaguar X-Type car
Be a REAL wife/mom who cooks/cleans and everything
Have Lasix Surgery
Bungee Jump
