Time For Some R & R

I am happy to report that starting tomorrow...Spring Break will be underway! No more having to get out of bed at 5 AM! Do you know how glorious that will be?  We don't have any immediate plans to do anything special or go anywhere. Chris does have tickets to go to the practice round of the Master's next Wednesday in Augusta, GA.  His brother won 4 tickets in an online contest, so he's very excited!  Abby and I might drive over to my mother-in-law's house with him on Tuesday and spend the night. They're all planning to leave for Augusta (my mother-in-law, brother-in-law, Chris, and a family friend) very early on Wednesday morning.  Abby and I could just hang out at the lake all day long by ourselves, which sounds very tempting! We're just going to take things as they come.  Then, Brittany will be coming home next Friday for Easter, so I can't wait!  No boyfriend tagging along this time...YIPPEE!

Chris and I went out for a LONG walk at the park this morning.  When we got home, he checked his e-mail. The company I mentioned that he's been waiting to hear from wrote him. The H.R. Director said she hoped he was having a great week and that they were getting VERY close to finalizing their hiring decision.  She said she would be in touch with him by the end of the week, so we're extremely encouraged! I have never prayed so hard in my life!  If this job pans out, I'm going to have an amazing story to share with you about a 'sign' that I believe God gave us about this particular position. I can't tell you how much all of your prayers have meant to us...THANK YOU BUNCHES!

"Every movement of God can be traced to a kneeling figure."~D.L. Moody

Enjoy your Thursday!

Headin' Down South!

Abby is on Spring Break all next week (WOO HOO!) and we have some fun things planned! First of all, we'll be celebrating my hubby's birthday a day early later tonight. I've whipped him up a yummy birthday cake and we'll be grilling out steaks. Abby and I have been putting our heads together to try and figure out a good April Fool's joke to play on him. I know...we're not very nice, are we? Then, Brittany runs at Auburn tomorrow evening, so we're going to drive over and watch her compete. It will be the first time I've seen her race in a collegiate track meet, so I'm excited! I hope I don't embarrass her too much with all of my hootin' and hollerin'!

On Sunday, Chris, Abby, and I are going to head down to a place I've always wanted to visit...Savannah, GA., also know as "The Southern Belle of the Georgia Coast". I can hardly wait to get a big dose of that Southern charm! If it's anything like Charleston, I know I'm going to love it! It's so rich in history and beauty. I hope to be able to see lots of gorgeous old homes. Doesn't this picture just make you "ooh" and "aah"?

Let's not forget about the massive oak trees that have Spanish moss hanging from their limbs.

I definitely want to take a nice, long stroll through Forsyth Park...I've heard it isn't to be missed.

The one thing Abby is really pumped about is the ghost tour we're going on! Now, I'm a big ol' chicken when it comes to things like that, but I've decided to step out of my comfort zone and GO FOR IT! It's a 90 min. walking tour that takes you around to some of the eeriest places in Savannah. I plan to take my camera and see if I can capture anything that I can't quite explain. Oh, I'm not worried, I'll have my Army Airborne Ranger hubby to protect me. I say..."Bring it, you ghostly ghouls!"

So, I will be out of the loop around here until next week sometime, but I should have plenty to share with you when I return! HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY...see ya soon!

Fun While It Lasted

As I mentioned in my previous post, Brittany left yesterday to head back to college in Alabama. She was home for 4 days for Spring Break and it went by much too fast! I still remember that look of excitement on her face when she pulled up next to us at Buffalo Wild Wings in Auburn, AL. on Saturday. We'd decided to meet her about halfway so that I could drive her the rest of the way home. I worry about her driving 5 1/2 hours by herself, though she's done it several times before. Anyhow, she pulled in beside us and waved to me through her window. We jumped out of our cars and embraced like we never wanted to let go. It had been 8 LONG weeks since I'd last seen her and it felt so good to give her a hug! We all went inside to eat an early dinner and shared lots of laughs, as always! Then, Chris drove her car back and the girls and I followed behind in his car. We yakked and giggled the entire way!

When we got home, Brittany had to show us the huge amount of beads she'd collected at a Mardi Gras parade in Mobile. She put them all around her neck and jumped for joy! I think she was excited to finally be HOME, again!

The next several days were spent going shopping and out to lunch. There isn't anything quite like the jubilation you feel when your child has been away from you for so long and there's so much you want to do with them. Seems like there wasn't quite enough hours in the day. You realize that your time together is fleeting and you try hard to make every moment count.

I, of course, couldn't pass on the opportunity to snap a few pictures of my beautiful girls.

I love them both to pieces and there's no better feeling in the world to me than having my family together, again! Unfortunately, as they say..."All good things must come to an end." I had told myself that I was not going to cry when Brittany left. I felt pretty upbeat about everything...then she gave me one of those "death grip" hugs. We pulled away and I took one look at her and the tears started flowing! I held it together fairly well as I watched her back out of our driveway and wave goodbye. As I turned and walked inside our quiet house, I lost it. Yes, I had myself one of those "ugly cries"...red nose, swollen eyes, the whole nine yards. I'm convinced that "letting go" will never become easy for me...no matter how hard I try!

Have a Happy St. Patty's Day!

I Almost Forgot!

I was thinking the other day about something I forgot to share with you that happened on our Orlando trip. Well, we were all standing in line one morning to enter the gates to the parks. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a man walking up on the left side of us with his family. He looked like he was trying to break in line. There was a lady in front of us with a baby stroller and she was talking to another woman, which left an opening. Well, as soon as she passed through the turnstile, the man made his move and stepped right in front of us! I couldn't resist saying something to him. He had his back turned, so I tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. I said, "Excuse me, sir, but we were in line before you." He immediately countered, "Oh, no...I was here before you!" Chris and I both chimed in and informed him that we had seen him walk up with his family while we were waiting in line. We went back and forth several times, then he conceded and got in line behind us. He said, "Sorry 'bout that...I don't want to hold you up." I gave him a curt, "We appreciate it", then we went on in. Oh, did that ever get my goat! I can't stand for someone to try and break in line! I might be little, but I'm not easily intimidated! :)

Now, on to other news. Bet you'll never guess who's taking Brittany to the prom. C'mon now...who do you think it is? OK...time's running out! It's...drum roll...PATRICK??? Yep, you got it! At the end of last week, she went out to her car to head on to school only to find that he'd written, "Brittany + Pat+ Prom=?" all over her windshield. He even left her a single red rose, a note, and a bag of her favorite candy tucked under her windshield wipers. She sent me a text soon as she got to school and wrote, "You have to admit, Mom, that was pretty sweet!" She tells me that they're going as "just friends", but I'm not 100% convinced. She tells me all the time about how sorry he is for the way he treated her and that he makes her very happy and is so kind to her. So, I ask...what do you do when your daughter is 18 years old and is old enough to make her own decisions? Sometimes, you just have to bite your tongue and go with the flow. I don't think I'll ever have warm fuzzies toward Patrick, but I will do my best to tolerate him. It's situations like this that make me long to move away...far, far away...QUICKLY!

I'm off in a bit to pick up a locker strip to decorate Brittany's locker on Saturday afternoon. It's a tradition for all the seniors at her school and something all the kids look forward to seeing on Monday morning! So, I have to get a bunch of photos together and get to work. I'll try to remember to post a picture of it once I'm done. For someone who's "craft challenged" like myself, this could be quite an undertaking! :) Wish me luck!

Orlando Highlights...To Sum It All Up

Well, I think I just might be able to wrap up the last bits and pieces of our Orlando trip. Hope I haven't bored you too much! Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Our last day at the parks was another memorable one, though we were all beginning to feel the effects of sore feet from all the walking we'd done! Nevertheless, that didn't seem to stop us or slow us down...off we went!

We, of course, couldn't resist having our picture made with the famous "Jaws"...it's been our tradition for years! In fact...look at this picture I found when the girls were little. I think it was our first time to visit Universal. Seems like it was just yesterday!

The girls convinced us that this would make the perfect photo, so we couldn't resist.

Thought I'd throw in another picture of Hogwart's Castle!

Before we left the parks, the girls and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to have Donkey harass us and Shrek make us laugh. Oh, and they did just that! Shrek's big ol' hand weighed a ton!
On our way out, Abby had to "ride the waves" one more time! Hang ten!
We decided to hop on a ferry and go to some of the swanky hotels nearby. This one was out of this world! It's the Portofino Bay Resort and it looked like a little Italian village. Absolutely gorgeous!Their flower arrangements were breathtaking!We, also, checked out the Hard Rock Hotel, which was quite impressive, too! The walls were lined with rock~n~roll memorabilia. Here's Elton John's boots. I think I need a pair of shoes like that in my wardrobe!Here's a neat sculpture outside of the hotel...

So, all in all, it was another great vacation that we'll tuck away in our memory banks forever! Hope you have a bright, warm weekend! Enjoy it to the max!

Orlando Highlights Pt. 2

As the school year begins to wind down, I'm finding it's becoming increasingly more difficult to find the time to sit down and compose a post. Today, I have to pick up Brittany's graduation announcements, get some pictures developed for a scrapbook she has to make for school, write several Senior Letters to some of her classmates, and attend her track meet at 5 PM. Oh, and I'm still in the midst of attempting to write Brittany a Senior Letter...talk about hard! There's so much I want to say to her. I'm already up to page 6! So, that's why I've not been very consistent about blogging lately. I suppose you might say there's bigger fish to fry. :) Thank you for your continued support and understanding!

Now, let's see...I can hardly remember where I left off! I know I mentioned how on Monday of our trip, we decided to sleep in and enjoy a little pool time. Well, that afternoon, we went back to the parks and rode nearly every ride there, time and time, again. Here's some more pictures for you to enjoy.

Here's a shot of Brittany and Chris I took when they were riding the Incredible Hulk Coaster. They're on the front row...AGAIN!

Here's a picture of Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls. I tell you, when you come out of that hole at the very top...it's straight DOWN! It really takes your breath away, but it was a BLAST!!!

The three of us girls wandering through the streets of Universal Studios trying to figure out what kind of trouble we're going to get into next! :)

Brittany and Abby decided to try on various hats/headgear in one store we went in. Pretty snazzy, wouldn't you say?


Here's the first glimpse of Hogwart's Castle at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter which is due to open in June. We will definitely have to go back next year to see it!

This is one of our favorite shows to see...Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue! Those folks can SING!!!
Here's Chris and the girls after another long day of fun in the sun! When we came back to the parks later in the evening, we were greeted by a teenage boy who gave us 4 "Fast Pass" tickets. They allow you to go to the front of the lines without having to wait for 30 mins. to an hour to get on a ride. We had the best time running around and hopping on every ride we could in 2 hours! That kid made our day!
Well, I really thought I was going to be able to wrap everything up today, but I still have some things I'd like to share. So, stayed tuned for the final chapter! :)

Orlando Highlights Pt. 1

It's been awhile, hasn't it? I've missed you all! I really needed to take some time and just enjoy my family without any looming responsibilities hanging over my head. Needless to say, we had a fun Spring Break in Orlando for 5 glorious days!

We got there on Good Friday, which was also Chris' birthday. We went out for a nice dinner at Macaroni Grill. It was so crowded when we walked in and we were told we would have about a 30 min. wait. Well, Chris looked over by the bar area and there was an empty table, so he motioned for me and the girls to grab a seat. We plopped down like we owned the place! We did get a few ill looks from some of the patrons who were waiting on tables, but no one ever said a word to us. That's what I get for being married to such a bold husband! :)

The next day, we got up bright and early so we could be at the parks by the time they opened at 9 AM. We were one of the first visitors to walk through the gates. Brittany, immediately, found the ride she wanted to go on...Rip Ride Rockit. It's a new roller coaster that goes straight up...and almost straight down! No, thank you...momma's a big ol' chicken when it comes to rides like that! The wait was pretty long, so she and Chris rode it later in the day...and they loved it! To use Brittany's exact words...it was "AWESOME!"

There they are on the front row! Yes, Chris recorded the entire ride! You couldn't pay me enough money to get on that thing!

Chris and Brittany talked Abby and me into riding Jurassic Park's River Adventure. My poor heart was going thumpa-thumpa-thumpa the entire time because I knew what was coming...an 80 ft. vertical drop in total darkness! Yikes!!! Here's what you face after the plunge...lots and lots of water!!!

On Easter Sunday, we went back to the parks and stayed until 10 PM. We did meet up with some close friends of ours for dinner. Their daughter runs cross country and track with Brittany and they went to Disney for Spring Break. We had such a nice time!

On Monday, we all decided to sleep in, then sit by the pool until around noon. Abby and I splashed around in the water and Chris and Brittany sat out and sunned themselves. It was nice to have a break from rushing off to the parks the first thing.

Here's Abby just chillin' out!

Brittany, actually, decided to get in the water and risk getting her hair wet! Miracle of miracles!

That's about all I have time for today...I'm still trying to catch up on so many things! I'll finish up about our trip in the next day or two. All I know is that I'm so happy we went and shared that time together. All too soon, those kinds of opportunities will be a thing of the past. Have a great Monday!


P.S. Brittany set a new school record on Saturday in the Sprint Medley! She now has 5 school records to her name! :)

Checking In...And Checking Out

I'm BAAACK, but only for a little while. Things just keep getting crazier all the time! Here's a quick wrap-up of the past several days.

Brittany did well in the County Track and Field Championships. She was awarded medals in two events, placing in the top 8 in the 4 x 800 and the 3200m. We were so proud of what she accomplished, especially in that cold, blustery weather! I don't know how she does it!

Here she is after the start of the 4 x 800...

She was on a mission to bring home some more hardware!

Three days ago, Chris had an upper GI endoscopy. We got so aggravated because they told us to be there at 10 AM. Well, he didn't get called back until almost 11 AM. Thankfully, his procedure took less than an hour. He was so funny when I went back to see him in recovery. He kept saying over and over, again..."Those are some GOOD drugs." I think he meant every word of it, too! :) Why didn't I think to make a video of him with my cell phone? Talk about some good blackmail material! His doctor told us that he has a moderate to severe case of acid reflux and that the lining of his esophagus and stomach were severely inflamed. He thinks it might be due to the H-Pylori bacteria, so he took a biopsy to find out. We should get the results in about a week. Apparently, it's the main cause of stomach and esophageal cancer. My understanding is that if he tests positive for the bacteria, I will need to be tested, too. A round of antibiotics over a two-week period is the usual course of treatment.

On Tues., our realtor held a luncheon at our house for local realtors. We had to be gone for 3 hours. She had about a dozen realtors stop by and they all gave positive feedback about our house. They said the only downfall is the road we live on, which can be quite busy. We're just trying to stay positive and trust that the right folks will come along soon.

Tomorrow is Chris' birthday, as well as Good Friday. The girls are on Spring Break all next week, so we're jumping in the car and heading down to Orlando for some fun at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. We wanted to do something special for the girls since the school year is rapidly coming to a close. Abby is mega-excited! That's all she's been talking about for the last week or so! I'll be sure to take lots of pictures to share with all of you! Let's just hope that I live to tell about it! As you may recall, I am not a big fan of roller coasters, by my family INSISTS that I ride them! Oh, no...I'm in BIG TROUBLE! :) Sorry to say...but this one will most likely be a NO-GO!

Unfortunately, I probably won't be posting, again, until my girls go back to school after Spring Break ends. I know I haven't been too good about visiting all of you lately, but I hope you understand that this is a very busy time for me. I'm trying to juggle everything at once! Please don't forget about me while I'm away...I, for sure, won't forget about you! Have a BLESSED Easter!

All Good Things Must End...Pt. 4

I think I owe all of you an apology. You see, today, I don't have one solitary story of how I made a complete fool of myself on the slopes. No, those days are gone...for now, anyway! I'm so sorry to disappoint you! However, I do have lots of pictures to share with you on our final day in Vail and some of the surrounding towns. Hope you enjoy them, though I'm sure it won't be nearly as fun as reading about all of my "skiing antics". LOL!

On Wednesday morning, we decided to drive over to Avon, CO. for breakfast at Denny's. That was the best bargain we found during our entire stay and the food was so good! Once we finished, we drove over to Beaver Creek, which is another ski town with some fun shops. This is the view we had on our way.
When we got there, we did some walking around and browsing in all the shops. Abby, of course, couldn't resist striking a pose by this statue of an ice skater.
Here's a few pictures of the girls...and me!

This car was built completely out of Lego's! Neatest thing I've ever seen! The creator must have been a genius! Can you imagine the time and patience that must have taken?
After we left Beaver Creek, we headed south towards Frisco and Breckenridge. Check out this breathtaking view!
We're entering Frisco...it was the quaintest little town at the foothill of the mountains.
In Breckenridge, we found this building named after Abby. :) Bet you didn't know she was famous!
Once we got back to Vail, we decided to ride the gondola to the top of the mountain. See that mountain the girls are looking at? That's the one that Chris said was a green slope on our last day of skiing, but Abby and I decided to bail after suffering a few falls. I'm so glad we did...Brittany said it was pretty scary to ski down!
The view from the very top...it was SO windy and COLD!
Pictures of the girls taken at the same location...
Abby being her silly self in Vail Village...
Here's a couple of views we had when we left for the Denver airport bright and early on Thursday morning. Oh, the handiwork of God! I have probably said this a thousand times over, but this was truly one of our best trips ever! As we were going to the airport, I asked the girls what their favorite memory of the entire trip was. Brittany said, "It would have to be watching you fall down all those times, Mom...that was SO hilarious!" Abby said, "It was definitely when you fell down on the conveyor belt at Gopher Hill!" Hmm...I think there's a common theme going on...mom + falling=laughter. You know what, I think that's something they'll always remember and, for that, I'm very grateful! I hope they remember me as a mom who sought to have fun, no matter the cost!

For me, my favorite part of our trip was simply being together...I cherish those moments more and more all the time. Brittany made a comment that, next year, she wants to go to the beach with a bunch of her girlfriends. I recall feeling that same way when I was her age. However, I'm a mother now, and hearing that does make me sad because I know that all too soon, times like we just shared will be a thing of the past. So, for now, I choose to seize every opportunity I'm given to let loose and have fun with my girls. Making memories...to me, that's what matters! I'm holding on as tightly as I can!

"Life gives us brief moments with another...but, sometimes, in those brief moments, we get memories that last a lifetime."~Author unknown