The Best News Ever

As you all have probably already figured out, my HUGE NEWS is that my wonderful little sister is now officially engaged!!!

Things didn't exactly go the way I planned though... I've been trying for nearly an hour now to upload even one picture with absolutely no success whatsoever. Oh, and I didn't even think about telling my Aunt that I was going to post about the 'surprise' last night, so I jokingly told her that she "stole my thunder!" Just kidding!!!

I'm just so incredibly happy for my sister right now, and everything went SO perfect when Michael asked her to marry him. I'll tell that story another night... Actually, I'm hoping Laura Belle will actually write about it, so I can just copy it - tee hee! It's not so much out of laziness that I want to do so. It's just that she tells the story SO much better than I would (I'd butcher it for sure!)

I did write Laura a letter and gave her just a little something of a 'congratulations' for her engagement, since I was nearly speechless when she called me Saturday night with the big news! I hoped that she didn't think I wasn't excited - my typical reaction would be to scream, jump up and down, and maybe even cry... But Laura said that my reaction was just fine. And little did she know that ever since I've been getting tears in my eyes, and just grinning from ear to ear every time I think about her finally getting that ring that she so deserves!

I'll write more about Laura's wonderful engagement soon, and til then much love to you all and God Bless!


**Oh yeah! And Dani did guess right on the 'huge news!' Granted, it was after my Aunt Tanya left a comment basically saying what it was... All the same, Dani - you get a cute little beaded necklace if you would like it! **

I used to make them all the time, and just recently found a stash of about a dozen that were completely done, just waiting to be given away! I would have posted a pic of them up, but again... the Internet's just not going to cooperate! And if anyone else would like one, I'll be more than glad to oblige :o) Just let me know! Thanks for playing along with my teaser yesterday! All my love...

"Huge News...!!!"

Don't you just hate it when someone posts a blog with a heading like that... and there's not really any 'huge news' so to speak of?

Well, I really do have huge news!

Except I can't tell you all what it is yet...! Well, I guess technically I could. But it'll be much funner to post about it when I have some pics to go along with it.

Plus the exciting news isn't really about me directly, but to someone very, very close to me.

So, nope - I'm not telling right now what that "huge news" is (sorry, I know that's just a cruel tease!)

**But I'll tell ya what - ya'll are more than welcome to guess, and if someone actually does guess what this huge news is about, I'll send that person something extra special - promise! :o) **

I'm still on hubby's computer, so I won't be responding thoughout the night (I'm too sleepy to stay up late anyway). But I'll be posting about this again tomorrow evening/night - providing I have pics of course, which I'm sure I will!

So, good luck guessing (if you so choose to do so) and sorry about keeping ya'll in suspense! I'll make it worth the wait ;o)

Much love to you all and God Bless!

4th of July Fun

Happy 4th of July Everyone!!! Today was such a fantastic day, and now that I've figured out my hubby's computer enough to put my memory card in it, I'm sharing some pics from today!

We went out to my parents for lunch... I wasn't feeling the best this morning (#&@$ female troubles!) and staying busy made me feel better. I realized right around 11 that we were going to be quite a bit late, as I had gotten so busy that I'd lost track of the time! So we got there just a bit later than actual lunch time, but we had so much fun all the same!

Livia loved running around with the triplets and everyone else! In these photos, she's being chased by her 'Nana' (to her exteme delight!)

" Don't let her get me!"

Looks like Liv got away :o)

Whew! OK, now for a 2-second rest... All done!

What a funny face, Munchkin!

You'd think that after running around & around for several hours, Livie would be at least a little tired...

Nope, Jax was the only tired one around there today!

We thought it would be cute to get a pic of the 3 of us...

Livia obviously had other ideas! (Can't you almost see the little thought bubble above her head: "I'm outa here!"...?)

With Liv having a blast out at my parents with tons of family and friends, Perry and I decided to go on a 'little walk.' Honestly, that's what it started off as!

We walked to the end of the road, and asked Perry which way he'd like to go: over to the milk house or 'around the block' ? The 1st option was pretty close & would make for a very short, easy walk. The other is quite a bit longer! But Perry hasn't spent a whole lot of time out in the country, so he thought, "How hard could it be?" He soon found out that "walking around the block" is a whooole lot different out in the country! In many ways...

For one, the sounds... Except for the breeze gently rustling the trees, crops, and road-side weeds, the only things we heard were the sounds of each other's voice.

The smells... Instead of gasoline, sewage, or garbage (among other undesirable city smells) it was only the smell of freshly cut wheat and fresh air.

The sights... In the city, you see a bunch of houses, people, cars, and such while on walks; out in the middle of nowhere, only country-side beauty. Here are some of the lovely sights we saw on our walk...


OK, this one's kinda more for me (teehee!)

The views are absolutely breathtaking... but the walk itself can be too! Plenty of hills, and walking on gravel the entire 2 and a half miles - that's right! Out in the country, "walking around the block" will result in a 2 1/2 mile walk!

So in the city, we go for a quick walk... maybe have a little bit of a talk... But out here in the counrty, we really talked and loved our long walk. And it's so wonderful to get to spend this time alone with my husband. (not that we don't love Livia to death!) Every time we get time like this together, I fall in love with him all over again.

After we got back to my parents', nearly everyone was gone! We soon packed up and left ourselves, and it came as absolutely no surprise whatsoever to me when both my angels fell asleep on the way home (luckily I was the one driving!)

Livie-Bug asleep in her carseat

Perry woke up as soon as I put the camera up to my eye - he said that he could tell someone was watching him sleep and it woke him up! (That's a Marine for ya!) He did get that picture of Livie sleepin' away for me though!

After a little time out at our house, we drove to Perry's parents for a little visit, and to leave Liv with them while we attempted to go see some fireworks. Again, we headed out just a little later than we should have, and by the time we got to where we were planning on seeing a show, they were over! Haha!

We didn't much mind though. In fact, it was really quite enjoyable getting to drive around just the two of us. And we knew his parents were certainly enjoying our little daughter!

Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures from our later adventures, but it's just as well - as I'd probably be at this computer for another hour!!! Haha!

Well, I'm off to bed. Hope you all had a lovely day as well - much love to you all and God Bless!

Happy 4th of July!

Oh, what a glorious, wonderful day! Though I haven't had a chance to actually blog of it yet, I'm sure all of you know that sweet Elise had her baby boy!!!! I stayed up as long as I could last night in my hubby's stinky garage, but finally gave in & went in the house for a little rest.

Would you believe that Dani gave me a call this morning to let me know the wonderful news?!!! She read to me what Lucy posted on her blog - that Mini Boy Blue was finally here! I'm still tickled pink about that special phone call! Dani, you do sound just as sweet on the phone as you are in blogger-world! I just LOVE your lil' southern accent!!!

And when I finally got to look at Lucy's blog (Elise's Mum), the pictures nearly took my breath away - what a gorgeous little boy he is indeed! Welcome to the world, little Blake :o)

I just got done mixing cookie dough together before I stole away to the hubby's garage again... I'll survive the stink for just a little while (I think...!) But I wanted to post just a couple of other little things before I scamper back inside to finish up my chocolate chip cookies. I'm making them for the lunch-time get-together we'll be going to over at my parents' tomorrow - wait, technically, today. It's after midnight, of course! I'm so excited for the day ahead!

Why the excitement? Well, today is the 4th of July - also called Independence Day. It's the day we celebrate our country's freedom (or at least shoot off a bunch of fireworks... do kids these days even know the reason we celebrate this day? Anyway...) I'm really looking forward to seeing family, friends, and Jax! (my parents' 10-week-old Collie pup)

As I'm still on Perry's computer, I found just a few pictures that I took last year on the 4th of July...

Kendra holding Liv with her kids at her side

Nolan Maggie & Garrett at the sliding glass door

Trilby holding Liv

It was such a very hectic day that I only took 3 total pictures - none of them great, and not one from out at my parents! (Rats!) Well, this year will be a bit different, thank goodness. No strict schedule, but we'll still get to see both sides of the family. Hopefully the weather isn't too terribly yucky :o)

I'm looking forward to a very fun day indeed - we don't have an absolute exact plan, other than lunch out at my parents. Tomorrow is Perry's 1st official day of vacation, and he is just so happy to have a break! And happy to be able to spend some extra time with me & Liv.

And speaking of Liv... Lately, she has really taken to a babydoll that my parents got her for Christmas of this past year. She cuddles it, carries it around, takes it on our walks, and even plays with it during car rides! Here are some very recent shots I've captured with my cell phone of Livie and her little dollie...

Last night, Liv even took her in her bath! (It's ok - the doll is actually made for taking baths with toddlers) I did get a few cute shots with my good camera, but obviously haven't downloaded them. I don't want to muck up Perry's computer too awfully much! And with all those pictures I shoot, that wouldn't take long!

So, that's about all I know for now. Hope everyone is doing well out there! Much love to you all and God Bless

Me

I found an old picture
Thought "Who do I see?"
I have seen her before...
But who could she be?

Her eyes look so peaceful,
Her smile so serene
And she looks oh-so-young
Perhaps just a teen?

I feel like I've known her
For years upon years
Known all of her joys
And all of her tears.

But where does she come from
And who does she know?
What will she go through,
And how will she grow?

Will she crumble in trials
Or give in to pain?
Or is she someone
Who'll try, try again?

Will success be her friend
Or will it elude?
Will so very much
Depend just on her mood?

For some reason I'm sure
She will be just fine
That she'll laugh and learn
And grow over time

I know that someday
That she'll turn out just great
And one day - through God
Find a perfect mate.

She'll live life so happy
So full and complete
She'll love all though Christ
A love you can't beat

How could I possibly
Know all of this?
How could I foretell
Her perpetual bliss?

It then came to my mind
Like a brightened light
How I knew the girl
In this pic, black & white

How I knew of her life
Of what she would be
I knew of it all
Because she is me.

Picture our Love...

And it would look like this:

Our 1st Valentines Day together

Our 1st year dating... Just spending time together

A special fun & date night

^--Pics we used with our wedding invitations--v

Not your typical engagement shots, I know. But remember - I'm a country girl!

I found all these old pictures of me & Perry on his computer, and figured I'd put them up for a Wordless Wednesday... But then I realized I'd want to say way too much about all of them for it to be a true WW!

I also found some individual pics of Perry & me, and thought I'd share those as well:

One of my favorites of Perry, driving in his old Mustang - great memories riding in that car to all sorts of adventures and fun.

And this one's Perry's fav of himself. I must say that I'm quite partial to it as well!

Here's one Perry took of me down by the river... Photoshop helped with the sun flares, but everything else is the real deal.

A photo that I totally wasn't ready for, and I didn't think would turn out very well at all... Glad I wasn't too hasty in deleting it!

Hope you all enjoyed taking a look at me & my hubby from our early days together. I guess that we're both young enough that neither of us has really changed much! And speaking of much... Much love to you all and God Bless!

Computer Update...

Good news and bad news on my computer.

Here's the good news: I do know what's wrong with it, and my awesome computer friend is going to fix it up for me... But the bad news is that the hard drive is shot. Which means that anything I didn't have backed up is gone for.ev.er. Yeesh.

More good news is that I just backed up all my pictures on Friday or Saturday. And I do believe that the only pictures I didn't have backed up are still on memory cards (and CDs from my wonderful Aunt Tanya! Thank you, THANK YOU, THANK YOU Tanya!!!)

There are also a couple of Jax pics that I edited & didn't back up, but luckily I emailed them out - so I actually do have copies of them! I've racked my brain, and I really can't think of any pictures that are forever gone. Which is a very good thing, since I've taken a lot of great ones lately!

Listen to me go on & on about a stupid computer when there are MUCH more important things going on in the world... Like Elise going in to be induced with Mini Boy Blue!!!

THAT is why I am going through withdraw without my laptop! Kidding, kidding! Honestly, my excitement about Elise having Mini is what will keep me scurrying into my hubby's garage to use his computer at all hours! I'm praying that all goes well for Elise. Please keep her & her family in your thoughts and prayers as well.

Well, that's about all for now... I should have my computer back again in a week or two, and until then I'm very blessed to have a husband who will gladly let me use his machine... as long as I don't fry his hard drive! Haha!

Much love to you all, take care and God Bless!