InGoodeTime

Weekend Links 1/27/12

2012-01-27T12:36:00.000-06:00

I'm sharing some links to the blog posts that touched me this week. Hope you have time this weekend to grab a cup of coffee and enjoy them yourself!

For the days when your blog or your life feels small - Lisa-Jo over at The Gypsy Mama shares encouragement for those of who sometimes wonder if anyone is listening. I am occasionally surprised when someone I didn't even know was reading makes a comment about my blog. More often, I just sit and wonder if anyone ever reads it at all!
Organizing magazine tear sheets - Angie at Echoes of Laughter shares her tip for keeping up with all those ideas you gather from magazines without being overrun with paper. I do something similar, in that I tear out the ideas/pictures that I like and place them in 'general' folders. (Ie. a recipe folder or a decorating folder) Every few months, I go through those pages and discard the ones that no longer appeal to me, then I place the rest in my idea binders. You should see the binder for the dream home we hope to build one day!
Thanksgiving in my heart - just in case you missed our daughter, Meagan's latest blog post. I know that this journey of grief is hard to follow sometimes...but this is a post filled with hope and faith.

Aye, Matey!

2012-01-26T07:10:00.000-06:00

Tis the fearsome pirate...

Bubble Beard!

This One Is For Aunt Sharon

2012-01-25T07:13:00.000-06:00

Since you were not able to see the grandchildren open their gifts from you and Uncle Paul with your own eyes...I took pictures. I hope you enjoy them as much as they enjoyed their puzzles!

PS...I almost kept Brooke's calendar for myself! LOL!

One Potato, Two Potato, Three Potato...Soup!

2012-01-24T14:11:00.000-06:00

Wednesday night Bible study has started again making it a great night for using the Crock Pot. Jim doesn't have to scramble up food for himself and the kids, and I don't have to rush home with take out. Win - Win, I say!

I found a great recipe over at Michelle's blog, 5 Dinners 1 Hour, last week. You can subscribe to her 'Make 5' monthly meal plan in her sidebar...or be like me and just follow her blog for great recipe ideas a few times a month.

This recipe for Slow Cooked Baked Potato Soup really hit the spot...for our schedules and our stomachs! Since I did all of the preparations the morning of and she has hers stored in the refrigerator ready to go, I altered the recipe a little to fit my circumstances.

Slow Cooked Baked Potato Soup

In your slow cooker, combine:

32 ounce bag frozen, cubed hash brown potatoes

1/2 cup chopped onion

32 ounces chicken broth

1 cup water

Meanwhile, in a small bowl with a lid, combine:

1 cup milk

3 tablespoons flour

Store milk & flour mixture in refrigerator, until ready to use.

Cook potatoes on low for 6-8 hours.

30 minutes before serving, turn slow cooker to high and add milk/flour mixture.

Serve with shredded cheddar cheese, bacon bits and green onions.

I hope you enjoy the soup as much as we did! Oh, and if you have any great Crock Pot recipe ideas for me...PLEASE SHARE! My menfolk are getting tired of soups!

Our Closet Calamity

2012-01-23T17:24:00.000-06:00

As the chaos that was 2011 was coming to an end, Jim and I verbalized one wish to each other in regards to 2012...we wanted to get the house cleaned out and organized!

And just to make sure that we got the point, the day before we left to visit his parents for New Years -- THIS HAPPENED!

Total Closet Failure!

Two of the four closet shelving units came crashing to the floor sometime between us coming in from work and going to bed that night.

The week following our return home, Jim was able to reinstall one of the racks with new hardware...but the largest section was not going back the way it had come down.

I spent some time cleaning in there the weekend that Mother was in for a visit and I finished it up a week later...so this past weekend we installed in the master bedroom closet what was originally purchased to be my new housewares closet system.

Plus, while tearing down that old travel trailer weekend before last, Jim found a salvageable shelf to use too. Score!

The view from the bathroom...that shelf with Jim's shoes on it came from the old travel trailer.

These shelves didn't come crashing down in the Closet Calamity of 2011...but, this side needed straightening up too. Thanks to Bri and Meagan, my clothes have been lovingly sorted and my accessories put in order.

My side of the closet...by Bri and Meagan

And this is the Closet Maid system that I had purchased for use in the laundry room closet. Oh, how I have fallen in L.O.V.E. with Closet Maid. Jim says that the only way these shelves are coming down again is if the whole wall craters. He was converted to the Closet Maid system as soon as he opened the package of hardware and saw REAL anchor bolts for its installation!

The shared closet...part His and part Hers.
This is the new Closet Maid system...and I LOVE it!

Oh, the joy that comes from an organized closet!!

The view from the home office/sitting room/adult retreat.
Let's see how long we can keep our bench cleared off and actually use it for it's original purpose -- a place to sit and put on our shoes!

By way of full disclosure: we received no compensation from Closet Maid in the restoration of our master closet. But, if Closet Maid should happen to read this and desire to send me a new system for my laundry room closet...that would be totally acceptable to me! LOL!

Weekend Links 1/20/12

2012-01-20T14:45:00.000-06:00

If you have some extra time this weekend, I think you might enjoy perusing some of these wonderful blog posts.

Seven Ways To Keep Your Home Strong - Ann Voskamp writes about making our homes into houses of prayer.
Homekeeping & Happy Homes - Boy, do I ever need this reminder from Serena that homes are not meant to be magazine perfect all of the time. Sometimes I feel like everyone in the blogosphere has it all together, except me.
Meet My Sister - This week on the Living Proof blog, Beth Moore introduced us to her sister. In this first part of Gay's testimony I am powerfuly reminded of the redeeming love of Jesus Christ...especially in the life of a family.

So Many Things To Do And So Little Time

2012-01-19T15:05:00.000-06:00

We are three weeks into 2012...I am a little over a week into my year of 'No Excuses'...and I a beginning to wonder if there is enough time to do all of the things that I want to do!

I shared some of my daily goals with y'all last week. On top of those, I have a list of things that I want to do in 2012.

Things like:

take a photography class to finally learn how to use my digital camera. I LOVE viewing Kristen's 'Click Class' posts and REALLY want to take her class. Sigh! If I could just find time in my schedule to travel to Colorado and join in the fun! I keep looking on the Internet for something similar here in Houston (we are America's fourth largest city after all)...but so far, nada.
get crafty again. Once upon a time, in another life, when I didn't work outside the home...I loved woodworking. And pre-children, I enjoyed cross-stitching. I want to get back to doing creative things. Especially when I read Angela's posts over at Button Bird Designs.
make time for special relationships - this includes the time I want to spend with the grandchildren, but also time with friends and family. I would love to have a family reunion with my dad's side of the family this year...and my mom's side next year...and extended time with Jim's family...and so forth and so on. Regularly scheduled lunches and dinners with friends that I haven't seen in FOREVER...or since last month. Wink!
Jim turns the big 5-0 this year, and since I am pretty sure he NEVER reads my blog I'll go ahead and say it now...I want to throw a big bash to celebrate this man who stole my heart 30+ years ago and still takes my breath away every single day. (Lest you are feeling a little queasy right now, sometimes it's because he makes me so mad I cannot speak...ha!)
read for fun more - for Christmas I asked the kids to just buy me a good book (something they read and liked or something that caught their eye)...so now, in addition to what I already had on my nightstand, I have four VERY different books lined up and ready to go!
attend women's Bible study - the first one started last night and it felt good to be back...but that means one night a week that I am not at home. Thank goodness for the Crock Pot!
TRAVEL!!! Oh, how I love to travel! A return trip to NYC is already on the calendar for February. Grandmas Gone Wild, baby! And the week at the lake house has been scheduled for July...along with a trip to West Memphis for our nephew's graduation this spring. And of course, the annual trip to the deer lease for Thanksgiving...and New Year's in NE Arkansas. But I would also like to go see my friend, August, in Las Vegas this year too. (It has been too long!!!) And I never made it to Atlanta to see my niece, Naiz, cheer last year...so, I would like to do that. And, of course, I would love to go watch my Hogs play football this fall.

As you can see, my eyes are bigger than my calendar...and much bigger than my wallet! So, I have to be purposeful in making sure that I use my time wisely and not overbook myself. And yet, I also want to be intentional and make time for things that are important and that I enjoy...or else I'll look back on December the 31st and regret the things I didn't make time for!

How about you? Any plans for 2012 that you are looking forward to? Any things you didn't do in 2011 that you are determined to make happen in 2012? I would love to hear!

You Might Be A Redneck If...

2012-01-18T15:42:00.001-06:00

...your favorite Christmas present was a HOT pink handgun from your Honey!

Just sayin'!!

I'm kidding with you, Bri!

I just wanted to post this picture of your Annie Oakley impersonation!

Sometimes The Oldies Are Still Goodies

2012-01-17T15:04:00.000-06:00

Last night I made an old family favorite that hadn't seen the outside of my recipe box in YEARS! How is it that we forget to cook meals we once loved? Perhaps we just got burned out on them at one time...I know that is true of the Sausage Kale Soup these days. Since all of the kids seem to request it, we have eaten it a LOT! The only common denominator in our household is Jim and I...so we are TIRED of eating it!

But, anywho...back to last night's dinner.

I was a little bit creative with the original recipe since I am trying to use up as many of the items in my pantry and freezer as I possibly can before I shop again. I am allowing myself to stop at the store every few days, but, I am only allowing myself to pick up two items that are not staples to round out a meal. Call me crazy. I guess I just like a challenge when there really doesn't have to be one!

So, here is my latest version of an old family favorite:

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

1 1/2 pounds of chicken tenders, boiled and cubed

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/2 can chicken stock

flour tortillas

mozzarella cheese, shredded

Combine chicken, cream cheese, cream of chicken soup and 1/2 can of chicken stock in medium sized mixing bowl. Stir until thoroughly mixed. Spray a 9" X 13" baking dish with Pam. Layer tortillas on bottom of casserole dish. Top with chicken/cheese mixture and add another layer of tortillas. Pour about a quarter cup of additional stock (or water, if no stock is available) into the mixing bowl, thinning any leftover soup mixture. Pour over the top of the tortillas to keep them soft during backing. Top with shredded Mozzarella. Place in a 350 degree oven for 15 - 20 minutes or until bubbly.

This recipe came from my Aunt Camille, who is an extraordinary cook. She rolls her mixture into the tortillas making individual enchiladas...but since I get home after 6, I found the ten to fifteen minutes saved by layering it like a casserole was worth it! It was still delicious...plus the boys don't have to be as 'polite' in their serving sizes! They can take a whole corner without the other complaining that 'he got more then me!'

Also, I normally begin with a whole chicken...but we had chicken tenders left over from the 'Chicken Enchilada Soup in the Slow Cooker' that I made last week. (If you click on that link you will be taken to Tiffany's page at Eat At Home. It's really delicious!)

So, how about you? Any old recipes you may need to dust off and reintroduce to your meal plan line up?

They're Creepy And They're Kooky

2012-01-16T11:47:00.000-06:00

"...mysterious and spooky,

They're all together ooky.."

(although I do look a little scary at that angle!)

No, not us...

"The Addams Family", of course.

The girls and I made our annual pilgrimage to the Hobby Center last Friday night to see The Addams Family Musical from Broadway Across America.

Bri loves Lurch!

It was a blast! We laughed out loud...a lot!!! I have noticed that it is when we really have no expectations of a production other than just taking in a show that we enjoy it the most.

Do our girls fit right in or what?
What does that say about our family?

The girls and I enjoyed an evening of 'girl time'...including dinner at Pappasitos and lots of conversation. The play was wonderful and the seats (not our normal ones since I waited so late to buy tickets) were the front row of the gallery. The usher even showed us a convenient side door which made us feel like celebrities with our own private entrance.

I would have loved to have seen this show on Broadway with Brooke Shields playing Morticia...but this one was still great! My favorite quote of the evening came from Morticia when Wednesday asked them to act like a normal family for one night..."What is normal for the spider is a calamity for the fly." Just goes to prove my theory that there is no such thing as a 'Normal Family'!

Scar Tissue

2012-01-15T17:55:00.001-06:00

It always seems to take me by total surprise...the RRRIIIPP that occurs when a band aid is removed from old wounds.

It seems to come out of the blue really. A comment from a friend. A question from a relative. Or maybe even a statement made by a total stranger.

But along with the revealing comes pain. That is always the same.

A couple of weeks back, my sister ripped off the bandage from a very old wound with a question that took my breath away. I couldn't even form a response for several moments...it seemed like an eternity at the time.

I was stunned...and surprised...because I thought I had found healing in that area. It sent me reeling, begging the Father to reveal the truth to me.

I struggled for almost two weeks...wrestling over the reason for the intense pain.

And then on Thursday night, as my mind was overwhelmed with the pain and my body couldn't find sleep; I felt an answer come in the wellspring of my heart. "It is true that some of this pain is from a deep wounding that hasn't completely healed, but most of it is now a scar. Just as I still bear the scars of the cross, you still bear the scars of this."

I soon feel asleep as I thanked the Lord for His willingness to bear the scars of Golgotha for me and as I asked Him to bring deep healing to the wounds as only He can.

Then on Friday morning, as I read through the day's Scriptures, I came across this:
"(Jesus)...healed their diseased bodies, healed their hurt and bruised lives." Matthew 9 from the Message

I felt the Lord telling me that not only do the open wounds hurt when they are uncovered, but sometimes when we stare at our scars...all we can see is the ugliness and remember the pain that caused them. That was what I had been doing since my sister's question. I had been staring at the scars and feeling again the pain that accompanied them.

And then I read this quote from a friend's Facebook page:
Never be ashamed of the scars that life has left you with. A scar means the hurt is over, the wound is closed, you endured the pain, and God has healed you.

As I allowed my eyes to take in the whole picture, the ragged edges of the scar became less noticeable and I was reminded that the scar was not only a testimony to the goodness of God, but also was part of what made me into the person that I am today.

Do I wish this wounding had never happened? You bet! But this is where I have to choose to walk by faith and not by sight. Trusting that this wounding hurt Him as much as it did me...and that He is able to redeem it and make it (and me) into something beautiful indeed!

I've edited this post to include Michelle's "Hear It On Sunday. Use It On Monday" link. Visit her webpage to see what other's around the blogosphere are sharing.

No More Excuses

2012-01-14T22:04:00.000-06:00

"If it matters, you make the time.

If it doesn't, you make excuses."

Ann Voskamp @ A Holy Experience

I read those words from Ann's blog just a few days before heading off to northeast Arkansas for Christmas with the larger Goode family. I was still in holiday mode though, with no real goals or ideas for the New Year in mind.

And yet, they continued to twirl and whirl through my thoughts.

I didn't even have to try to memorize the quote, it just stuck. Something deep within grabbed hold of it and wouldn't let it go.

After spending the New Year's weekend with Jim's family, we headed back to Texas where we had a few days to get ready for my mom's visit. Another Christmas celebration and a Cotton Bowl Watch Party later, and it was time to say goodbye.

So, in total, I have had about six days so far to think about my goals for 2012. We have several BIG events that will crowd my calendar this fall...someone turns 50, a new grand baby should be arriving the next day and that's just the beginning!

Outside of those long range plans, the following are the things that I want to make time for in 2012:

Read through the Bible in a year - My friend, August, brought this one to the forefront for me when she set up a closed group on Facebook to help encourage each other in this area.
Exercise 30 minutes a day - I'm not there yet, but it is on my To-Do list every day and I managed more days than not last week. Unfortunately, it has been the total opposite this week!
Weekly Meal Plans - This is a time consuming job that I don't necessarily like...BUT it saves me so much time during the week to already know what's for dinner. And the stress it relieves is worth the time and frustration I feel at the time. The only meals I plan are breakfast and supper. For breakfast, I choose two things that I can switch out every other day. For supper, I look at our calendar to see how many nights we are home. I then plan that many meals minus one...because I know we are going to either have a night out OR have left overs at least once a week.
Eat breakfast every morning - Like exercise, I'm not there yet...but I'm doing much better since I took the early morning guess work out of it.
Spend more time with the grandchildren - My ideal would be to spend time with one grandchild on an individual basis every month with at least three group outings spread out through the year. I know that doesn't seem like a lot of time, but remember that I still have children at home too. Of course, this doesn't include family gatherings or holidays.
Remember to count my blessing - I know it sounds rather lame, but for now that item is actually on my To Do List! I know that it should be easy to count 1,000 gifts...but I have neglected the discipline of taking the time to notice and record His Grace Gifts to me. My goal right now is to record at least one a day. By December 31, 2012 I want to at least have 365 entries.

There are several more items that I am trying to do 'most' days...from the boring things like setting up the coffee pot before I go to bed (boring but oh, so appreciated on a cold morning!) to the wise things like taking my vitamins (which I have always been terrible about doing).

I know, I should probably take it slower and only add one thing at a time. But I have given myself the space to focus on one thing (right now it is the morning Scripture reading) while keeping the other important matters on my mind. Even in the Scripture reading, I missed most of the first week. But it is excellence that I am striving for, not perfection.

How about you. Have you made any changes for 2012? Goals? Resolutions? A game plan? I would love to hear all about it!

(I hope to be able to share more of this journey with you soon. We had very heavy rains here last week and it did a number on our home Internet. Don't get me wrong, I would rather have the rain than Internet these days...but, it is hard to post during my lunch break at work as we are, thankfully, busy again.)

"Tis The Season

2012-01-08T16:58:00.000-06:00

I bet you thought I was never coming back, didn't you?

Well, to be honest, I was beginning to wonder myself.

Not that I didn't want to drop in and tell you all about our holidays...but because I just haven't been able to find the time.

You see, we just finished our last family 'Christmas' gathering.

After posting all those holiday pictures, we headed to northeast Arkansas to spend some time with Jim's family. We ate, opened presents, watched some football, ate some more, played games, watched more football. It was a short trip, but we enjoyed the time with his parents and his brother's family. We rang in the New Year with a very competitive game of Catchphrase and still managed to make it to church later that morning. Good thing there was no Sunday School or I would have been yawning! We made it home Monday night just in time to watch Oklahoma State play in the Fiesta Bowl.

Then my mom drove in on Thursday evening, we had the three grandchildren all day Friday (actually Bri did, but at our house), we opened gifts with Mother that evening and then watched the Cotton Bowl. She and Bri helped me with a home improvement project on Saturday before we sat down to watch the Houston Texans in their first ever playoff game. I didn't get to see much of it as Mother wanted to go out to visit Desi's grave site. We made it home in time for warmed up Sausage Kale Soup and (you guessed it) another football game - New Orleans vs. Detroit. She left after breakfast this morning and should be arriving home soon.

Well, I had planned to share a few things with you that have been on my heart and mind this holiday season...but I think I've probably overstayed my welcome already today...so, I will see you in another day or so!

Hope your 2012 is filled with Blessings and Joy!

Treasures of the Season: Part 4

2011-12-30T07:21:00.000-06:00

On the weekend before Christmas, we made our second annual trip to Santa's Wonderland to see the lights. It was such a treat for me to have ALMOST the whole family there for the trip. We were only missing Jim and Matt. I won't bore you with a lot of commentary...I'll just let you enjoy the pictures!

Maddux, Davin and Brooke with their light-up swords.
This was worth the price of admission!

We even got to see a REAL reindeer before he headed back to the North Pole to help Santa with the flight around the world.
52 points! Jim says it looks like his horns are attached to a Great Dane!

My babies!
I couldn't convince them to get a picture made with Santa...but they did agree to one in front of the Texas flag in lights.

Brooke had her picture made with Marshal Frost.

We ate LOTS of kettle corn!

We went on a hayride to see the lights.

We went on a pony ride.
Look at that smile on Davin's face.

Maddux kept yelling out, "Yee haw"!

And Brooke waved to the crowd like a true Rodeo Queen.

We then went to pet the animals.

Or kiss them, as the case may be.

Then we stopped for a funnel cake the size of your head!

And warmed up with some hot chocolate or hot cider...whichever you prefer.

And then it was time to head home.

And God bless us all...each and every one!

Hope you enjoyed my walk down memory lane. Thanks for letting me share the things I treasured this holiday season!

Treasures of the Season: Part 3

2011-12-29T07:30:00.000-06:00

Each December brings with it an opportunity for Jim and I to co-host a party with these two amazing people for our amazing employees!

Alison & Porter Bentley

We have the best time visiting.

Jim, Zheng, Shirley and Jonathon

And apparently, so do they.

Meagan, Derrick, Heather, Billy, Our Waiter, Chris, Dona & Trey

<>We have some fun by drawing for door prizes.

Ricardo, Ezequiel & Aida

Five Years!!! Way to go, Jesse!

And we celebrate those who have stuck with us through the years!

But mostly, we just have a whole lot of fun!!

Treasures of the Season: Part 2

2011-12-28T16:14:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving is a special time for our family. We travel back 'home' to southeast Arkansas to hunt and visit with my family. We are not all able to make the trip anymore (this year we were missing Bri and Matt), but we try. Since the majority of both of my parent's families are in the area, we generally get to see most everyone in one visit.

Thanksgiving Day is hosted by my sister, Rosa, and my brother-in-law, Steve, at their cabin in the woods. (Kelli pointed out the other day that their cabin looks eerily similar to the Santa pictures cabin!)

My Little Sister, Rosa: Hostess Extraordinaire

Rosa usually prepares most of the meats, including her delicious stuffed chickens which you have to be first in line to get some days!

The Jenkins Clan: 2011

This is Arlee & Lurlene Jenkins' crew...minus at least fifteen people! We are a mob of chaos to try and get in a single photo. Even in this one, we couldn't convince Maddux to get off of Uncle Steve's tractor for even one shot.

Uncle Bobby, Ray, Brandon, Glen & Will discussing the morning duck hunt.

We catch up with one another...

Time to eat!
Mrs. Bertha, Steve, Brian, Jana, Shelly, Taylor and Derrick

...and we eat! Boy, do we eat!!! This is just the meat and side dishes. In case you missed it, the dessert table is seen in the picture above with the boys talking.

The Bolins and the Goodes

It is one of my favorite times of year because I get to be with those I love!

Standing: Derrick, Meagan, Will, Brian & Kelli
Seated: Fonda & Jim
Front Step: Davin, Brooke & Maddux

Treasures of the Season: Part 1

2011-12-27T21:19:00.000-06:00

The tree was decorated.

The stockings were hung.

The fire was lit.

All was ready for the family to gather and celebrate.

Meagan, Derrick and Davin.

Kelli, Matt, Brooke and Maddux

Bri, Josh and Blue

Brian

William

Jim and I

Hoping you and yours had a Merry Christmas and are looking forward to a Happy New Year too!

From Our Family To Yours...

2011-12-18T15:12:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas!!!

Let's Go Razorbacks!

2011-11-25T07:26:00.000-06:00

Today is 'The Battle For The Golden Boot"!

Arkansas Versus LSU

We will be fighting it out deep in Death Valley...but I BELIEVE!!!

Woo Pig, Soiee!

Razorbacks!!!

Happy Birthday To My Thanksgiving Baby

2011-11-24T08:07:00.001-06:00

She wasn't born on Thanksgiving...but her birthday has landed on it for the fourth time now. We will be gathering with family to celebrate the blessings that the Lord has poured out on us this past year. And we will say an extra 'Thank you' for her.

We love you, Kelli! Hope your birthday is a blessing!

Mom & Dad

Things That Make Me Smile

2011-11-22T07:51:00.004-06:00

In no particular order...just photos that make me smile.

Brooke in her new dance wear that Pappaw and Nonna got her for her birthday. I love seeing her poses!

A bird sitting on the mailbox outside my doctor's office after my last visit.

Looks good enough for a Spring postcard, huh?

The 'Texas Smile' Cactus

I don't know if you can see it very well or not, but in the middle of this prickly pear someone painted a blue smiley face. Earlier this year the road was closed for some bridge work and when we were able to travel this way again, there was the smile. And it still makes me smile every day when I pass it!

Our dogs, Allie and Hoss, sunning with me on a beautiful autumn afternoon. If we had known that Hoss was going to come along eventually, we probably would have named them Salt and Pepper...because they are never apart!

Hope you were encouraged to smile today too!

Easiest Rolls EVER!

2011-11-21T07:43:00.001-06:00

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago...when I didn't work in an office most days but stayed home with my children...I loved to bake. But, as much as loved it...I just couldn't do bread...or rolls. Still can't! My husband will tell you that I have a missing bread gene. I burn the frozen garlic toast. My 'homemade' biscuits are inedible unless they come from the Pillsbury Doughboy!

But, these Refrigerator Spoon Rolls are Foolproof! I tell you, anyone can make them! I have had this recipe for so long that I have no idea where it originated. The texture of the rolls is closer to a sourdough consistency than a yeast roll...but they are delcious smothered in butter or just all by themselves!

Refrigerator Spoon Rolls

2 packages of dry yeast

2 cups of warm water

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 egg, slightly beaten

1/2 cup cooking oil

1 teaspoon salt

4 cups self-rising flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water.

It will look like this.

Add all other ingredients and stir until well mixed.

The finished dough.

Place in an airtight container and store in refrigerator until ready to bake.

As needed, spoon into greased muffin tin, filling halfway. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Dough may be kept in the refrigerator for up to one week. Don't use too small of a container as dough will continue to grow a little after mixing.

I need to take a picture of the finished product. I keep forgetting. I would rather eat them than photograph them!

Hope you and yours are enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving week!

Wonderful Wednesdays

2011-11-18T07:39:00.000-06:00

A "shout out" to my Wednesday Bible Study Group. We began in July with Cindi Wood's study, Frazzled Female and decided to keep going through the fall with Victoriously Frazzled. We ended our studies this past Wednesday with lunch at Texas Land & Cattle where we laughed and talked of how our lives have changed since we started this journey just four short months ago. We spoke of our 'one thing' that we wanted to take from this time together...and then we made plans to return after the holidays.

Vivian, Brenda, Jenifer and Fonda

We haven't decided what the next study will be...but I, for one, can hardly wait!

Guess Who Came For A Visit?

2011-11-17T07:39:00.000-06:00

Look who rode home with me last Friday!

Maddux with his chocolate milkshake face.

Brooke posing with her cherry slush.

Their Daddy was taking their Mommy out for her birthday. It isn't until the 24th, but she will be in Arkansas with us while he has to stay home and work. So, the kiddoes came out to visit Nonna and Pappaw for the night.

The first thing on their 'to do' list was to go with Pappaw...

...to see the new calf. We have discovered that he is a bull and his name is Jed. (I will let Brianne tell you why his name is Jed.)

The kids were enthralled with all the cows. Until they got too close that is!

Next on the list was to ride the four wheelers.

Maddux still hasn't quite gotten the hang of the 4-wheeler with the pedal.

...but look at the smile on Brooke's face!
This was her first time to ride by herself and she was absolutely beaming!

Maddux decided to hang out on the Ranger while Brooke was riding.

And then Brooke wanted a picture with Pib.

And all of that happened in the first fifteen minutes after we arrived. Needless to say, when their Mommy picked them up the next day...Nonna took a nap and still slept good on Saturday night!

Brooke Turns 4

2011-11-16T07:28:00.001-06:00

I know I mentioned Brooke's 4th Birthday last month, but I wanted to share a few pictures from her party.

She had a blast blowing out the candles...

...and even got to lick the icing from the Hello Kitty's on her cake!

The Goode and Ham clans all gathered to celebrate. See, we are a party all by ourselves!

Then it was present time!!!! Her favorite part of the day. She had requested all clothes for her birthday this year. She is turning into quite the fashion plate.

I had to share this one. Her Aunt Sarah bought her My Little Ponies, but she wrapped them in a very special bag. Can't start them to young on their designer clothing, I guess!

After all the presents were opened and she had said her 'thank yous', she celebrated by throwing the tissue paper in the air. I think that means she had a great day!

A Weekend Getaway

2011-11-15T15:15:00.000-06:00

During October, I snuck off for a little weekend getaway with some of my dearest friends.

We chose to sneak away to L'auberge Du Lac in Lake Charles.

We chose Lake Charles because it is so convenient to the Houston area.

See? Just 132 miles. We can do that in just under three hours from our house!

I went with the rest of the Grandmas Gone Wild crew...Stacy and Robin. (I apologize for the crazy eyed look...but this was the only picture of all three of us!

We also let the guys tag along...so I was able to take my Best Friend along as well.

It was a relaxing weekend filled with pool time for the girls, golf for the guys and lots of chill time.

I actually made it out to the man made beach one morning for some quiet time!

This was the view from my beach chair! Okay, it is not the same as the view from the hotel balcony in Santa Monica... the view of the Gulf of Mexico on South Padre Island...or even the one from the house on Lake Conroe...but it was still a view of the water.

And of course, when you travel with friends you always have to eat!

We tried out many of the hotel restaurants and on our last night, we went to Porter's favorite restaurant, Steamboat Bill's. It must not be a big secret...it is voted #1 for Seafood after all. Plus there were articles from Southern Living, Coastal Living and USA Today declaring it's wonders. I had the boiled shrimp and they were DELICIOUS! More flavorful than most of the places you visit.

All in all, it was a wonderfully relaxing weekend spent with some of my favorite people. And I can hardly wait to do it again!

My Weekend At The Biltmore Estate

2011-11-13T22:16:00.000-06:00

From the book cover:

Falling in Love Could Cost Her Everything

From the day she arrives at the Biltmore, Tillie Reese is dazzled - by the riches of the Vanderbilts and by Mack Danvers, a mountain man turned footman. When Tillie is enlisted to help tame Mack's rugged behavior by tutoring him in proper servant etiquette, the resulting sparks threaten Tillie's efforts to be chose as Edith Vanderbilt's lady's maid. After all, the one rule of the house is no romance below stairs.

But the stakes rise even higher when Mack and Tillie become entangled in a cover-up at the town orphanage. They could both lose their jobs, their aspirations...and their hearts.

My thoughts:

This book has been on my 'To Read' list since last September when I visited with my friend, Jeanene, in South Carolina. She took me to Asheville, NC to tour the Biltmore Estate...and while we were there, she mentioned this book that her sister-in-law had just read. I have looked for it each time I visited Barnes and Noble, and it finally showed up on the shelf a few weeks back. I must say, as I read the accounts of the estate I could envision so beautifully the Tapestry Gallery with it's many conversation areas; the wall of windows that floods the basement servant's area with light; the laundry room with its many drying racks; and my favorite, the overflowing library that literally took my breath away with it's beauty. (I might have even shed a tear at its glory!)

Though this is a Christian romance title, it is not 'heavy handed' with the religious aspect like I sometimes find them to be. The faith of the main characters, while obvious, was described in personal relationship with the Lord rather than public displays of religion. The novel dealt with a few tough topics without going into details, which I like in a book. I don't need to read every detail of an injustice to feel its effect. I do have to warn you though that the description from the book jacket is not exactly accurate. Tillie has been serving at Biltmore for some time when we meet her at the beginning of the book. In fact, she has moved up to become Head Parlormaid. And Mack (who begins as Useful Man and then moves up to Footman) doesn't make the scene until Tillie has been chosen to try out for the position of Lady's Maid to the new Mrs. Vanderbilt along with Lucy, the Head Chambermaid. And the part about being 'entangled in a cover-up at the town orphanage' is better described as 'uncovering'.

I can't imagine a life in which servants stream to and fro constantly cleaning and cooking and dressing the guests of a large home. Nor can I imagine being a 'lady's maid' as a life calling that is seen as a huge accomplishment. However, I felt for Tillie as she struggled between fulfilling her mother's dream for which she had worked so hard over the years and following her own heart to a destiny that many considered a step backwards.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book and will probably read another of Deeanne Gist's novels. Perhaps it was the familiarity of the setting that drew me in...but I don't think so. I think it was just a well crafted story!

A Bittersweet Shout Out

2011-11-10T15:14:00.000-06:00

I received a phone call from Brianne this morning with the news that she got the job she applied for at PacSun! She has experienced a few bumps in the road lately that mean she needs a job while finishing school next year. And she really enjoyed working retail, plus it gives her a much more flexible schedule than office work.

My first words were, "Yay! Congratulations!" Followed closely by, "But that means you won't be able to be with us in Arkansas for Thanksgiving." After all, when you are hired to work a seasonal job for Christmas you ABSOLUTELY CANNOT miss Black Friday...which begins at 9 PM on Thanksgiving Day at the Outlet Mall where she will be working.

So, it is with bittersweet emotions that I send this shout out to our 'Baby Girl'.

:-) Congratulations on getting the job you wanted...

but I sure am going to miss you at the Thanksgiving table! :-(

Love you, Bri!

Mom

Pumpkin Spice Sheet Cake

2011-11-09T15:51:00.000-06:00

I have a confession to make. It may sound un-American to most of you but...I'm not a big fan of pumpkin. There, I've said it! What a relief!

I try to like the tastes of fall, I really do. The other day I even bought Pumpkin Spice Coffee Mate for my morning cup of coffee...but I wasn't able to finish the cup without pouring in a little Half-N-Half to cut the flavor. And if I had my ruthers, I would take a huge slice of sweet potato pie over pumpkin at Thanksgiving dinner every time.

But...last month I found this recipe over at Tiffany's blog, Eat At Home and I want to share the delicious goodness with you. (Plus I REALLY don't want to forget it once the fall season ends!)

Pumpkin Spice Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

15 ounce can of Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin

2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs, beaten

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, beat the pumpkin, sugar and vegetable oil. Add eggs and mix well. In a small bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Slowly add to pumpkin mixture (or you will be covered in a cloud of flour, trust me on this one). Beat until well blended. Bake for 20 - 30 minutes. Cool cake completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

5 tablespoons butter, softened

3 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 3/4 cups powdered sugar

3 - 4 teaspoons milk

Beat butter and cream cheese together. Add vanilla and blend until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar and mix thoroughly. Add the milk one teaspoon at a time, until frosting reaches spreading consistency.

This cake is not too sweet, but absolutely delicious! I have made it twice in the past month and the boys love it.

Fall Sunflowers

2011-11-08T12:45:00.000-06:00

Some days a girl just needs to add a little beauty to her surroundings.

At Home

At the Office

Treat yourself to something that makes you smile...just because!

Thursday Night Lights And The Heart Of A Mom

2011-11-05T07:09:00.000-05:00

Thursday night lights.

A chill in the air.

Surrounded by a sprinkling of maroon and white.

The field is lit by the Texas sun setting to the west.

I shield my eyes in search of the only one this Mama's eyes want to see...#66.

We arrive at the stadium with three minutes to spare...yet the game has already begun.

I am disappointed.

Don't they understand the significance?

I'm not quite ready for this season to end.

It is the end of his JV years.

While I sit in the stands, snapping pictures like madwoman...not wanting to forget a single moment...his dad snacks on his usual -- nachos with chili and cheese.

"Are women the only ones that are nostalgic?", I ask, knowing the answer before I ask it.

"It's not like it's his last game, Fonda. Next year is Varsity."

I know My Hero is only speaking the truth. But in this Mama's heart, it is the end of another season of life.

Next year comes the pressure of making the playoffs.

Next year's team carries the hopes of a small town on its shoulders.

Next year means our baby boy is a Senior...and our high school football days are seriously numbered.

So, I settle into the stands with my thoughts and my camera...and I record these moments through a lens and treasure them in my heart. Because I don't want to forget a single thing.

Breaking the huddle.

Head to head on the 'O' line.

Holding that line.

The last play of his JV years.

Good game!

That Bulldog Spirit.

One Dog.

One Pack.

Walking off the field with Coach McNeil.

Discussing the game with Dad & Josh.

That was a nasty looking mark on his forehead.

Sideline picture with his sister.

Two of his biggest fans.

All smiles after a great win!

Waller Bulldogs - 33

Magnolia West Mustangs - 14

And, yes, he is intentionally going for the Clay Matthews look.

Nice Surprises

2011-11-04T12:14:00.000-05:00

Jim and Bri have been bantering back and forth over the past month guessing as to whether or not Lady January was expecting. Our herd of three were taken to the vet in early October for vaccinations, worming and a general check up. Jim began noticing signs after their return, but wasn't sure. Then on Wednesday evening he made the declaration that we were expecting a calf.

Imagine his surprise when he walked into the pasture on Thursday afternoon to see this.

A freshly born calf! I raced to the truck to grab my camera and by the time I made it back, Mama was nudging it up for it's first walk.

It was so cute on it's wobbly little legs!

She then moved it to the back corner to soak up some sunshine.

For some reason, Lady Jan loves to birth babies on the afternoon of the coldest nights of the year. Last night we saw temperatures bumping the freezing mark and I was a little worried about our newest family member.

But when I walked out to check on it this morning, I found it lying in the hay.

Mama wasn't too happy with me out there taking pictures, even with my long range lens...but this calf just looked too cute to pass up!

So, Jim was right about our expecting a new baby on the farm. We're just beginning to wonder why the vet didn't mention it!!!

Weekend Wrap-Up

2011-10-31T13:50:00.000-05:00

From a 'Reading Wrap-up' to a 'Weekend Wrap-Up'. I only have a couple of moments, so that is as good as it gets today! But, I really need to get more creative with these blog post titles!

Thursday night we attended William's last home game of the season. The Waller JV Bulldogs took on the Stratford Spartans at the 'Big Field', as is tradition for the last home game. We are down to one JV team now, so the games begin at 5 instead of 6:30...but we were able to make it before the first quarter was over. We had rain Thursday afternoon, so that really slowed down my commute. But it made for some fabulous football weather!!! The cold front started moving through at about halftime. The Waller Bulldogs pulled off a great win of 21-14. Will had a teriffic game with his name called over the loud speakers a few times AND he was captain for the defense. (He played both sides of the ball.) The good thing about havin only one JV team is that we always finish early enough to go out for dinner after the game! Celito Lindo is our restaurant of choice...so Meagan, Davin and I went over and got a table while Jim picked up Will from the field house and Derrick joined us when he got off of work. It was a great Thursday night. This week will be our last JV game and it makes me a little sad...but excited for Varsity next year too!

Friday was a rough day for me. I just wasn't feeling up to par, so I stayed home from work and took it easy. I finished reading a book and watched some television...and that was about it for me. Will had Maroon Man Friday night, so he was out. Brianne and Josh hung out with me for part of the day. I finally got to feeling a little better once Jim got home from work. He and Josh headed to the deer stand and got footage of the world's smallest six-point. Brian came in from visiting with friends. Afterwards we grilled some steaks and watched a movie. I picked Will up after the football game and that completed our Friday!

Saturday was filled with more football, rescue teams and Miss Brooke's 4th birthday party!!! Our beloved Razorbacks managed to eeek out a win over the Vanderbilt Commodores. It was a nail biter to be sure...but I had a feeling all year that Vanderbilt was going to give us quite a ride. Bri and I left for Kelli & Matt's a little early so that she could stop and pick up a gift for Brooke. We didn't get very far before I ran over a piece of sheet metal that sliced my tire. We limped into a gas station and waited on our rescue crew. First to arrive was Josh, Will and Jesse. It took awhile for us to find all the parts to change a tire...they can really hide a jack anywhere these days. (mine is located in the framework of the back seat!!) Soon after Jim and Brian arrived, handing me his keys so that we could get on to the store. As we were pulling out I told Bri that we really should have taken a picture. Five strapping gentlemen to rescue two damsels in distress! How lucky we were!!!

Our little diva had a blast at her birthday party!! It was a Hello Kitty party (you can see a few pictures here). It was family only, but once you pile in all the Goode's and Ham's you have a party!!! She received lots of clothes...just as requested! Dresses, jeans, boots, dance wear, jackets with matching scarves, leggings galore...Kelli has herself a little fashion plate that is for sure! After cake and ice cream, we sat around for a visit than headed home so that William and Jesse could go about their evening plans.

On Sunday morning I awoke to another rough morning, so I didn't make it to church. But I had matinee tickets to see Memphis with Derrick's mom, Teri...so I slept as long as I could, got up, took my medicine and headed out for the afternoon. It was a great musical and I really, really enjoyed it. I thought that it would have used 50's music for the soundtrack, but it was all original pieces and they 'fit'. It was a thoughtful and engaging storyline which made you truly 'feel' for the characters. It was an afternoon of good conversations and sharing a love of theatre...what more could I want?

I stopped on the way home to pick up chicken for dinner, which we shared with some of Will's friends who were visiting. It is always amusing and enlightening to hear teenage boys engaged in conversation! I finally got caught up on Biggest Loser last night as well...so, I think I am now set for the new week's television schedule!

Well, that was our weekend. What about yours?

Reading Wrap-up

2011-10-30T05:19:00.003-05:00

I haven't been able to do a lot of reading lately. Doing two Bible studies at once tends to leave little room for any other reading. But in addition to reading When Crickets Cry, I have managed to read the following in the past few months.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee:
One of the best loved stories of all time. To Kill a Mockingbird has been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than thirty million copies worldwide, served as the basis of an enormously popular motion picture, and was voted as one of the best novels of the twentieth century by librarians across the country. A gripping, heart-wrenching, and wholly remarkable tale of coming-of-age in a South poisoned by virulent prejudice, it views a world of great beauty and savage inequities through the eyes of a young girl, as her father -- a crusading local lawyer -- risks everything to defend a black man unjustly accused of a terrible crime.

What can be said about To Kill A Mockingbird that hasn't already been said? I don't know how I went for so long without reading it...but I am sure it comes as no surprise that I LOVED it. And since I finished it just before going to see The Help at the movies, it was perfect timing.

Heaven Is For Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo:
Heaven Is For Real is the true story of the four-year old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from conscienceness and enters heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. The family didn't know what to believe but soon the evidence was clear.

Colton said he met his miscarried sister, whom no one had told him about, and his great grandfather who died thirty years before he was born, then shared impossible-to-know details about each. He describes the horse that only Jesus could ride, and how 'reaally big' God and His chair are, and how the Holy Spirit 'shoots down power' from heaven to help us.

Told by the father, but often in Colton's own words, the disarmingly simple message is heaven is a real place, Jesus really loves children, and be ready, there is a coming last battle.

This one was totally outside of my normal reading realm. Meagan suggested I read it, then Rosa told me that I HAD to read it...so, I downloaded it to my Nook and finished it in a weekend. I am usually quite skeptical about people's accounts of dying and going to heaven. This book, however, ministered to my heart, especially as I read the chapter of the little boy meeting his sister who had been miscarried before he was born. I cried...and then cried some more as I thought of our little ones that await our arrival too. The greatest comfort we have had in these losses is our belief that they are in the arms of Jesus.

Sweet Talk by Susan Mallery:

Don't ask Claire Keyes. The twenty-eight-year-old piano prodigy has never had a regular boyfriend, much less a real romance. Her music career has left little room for friends or family - which is just part of the reason she hasn't seen the family bakery or her two sisters in years.

But now Nicole is sick,and Jesse is AWOL. Despite the fact that Claire can't boil water, she's determined to play caretaker. Connecting with her sisters tops her to-do list...along with falling in love, or at least in lust, for the first time.

I downloaded this to my Nook from the "Steals N Deals" section. I just wanted something fun to read at the pool while we were away last weekend. At 99 cents, how could I go wrong? I didn't realize until I was finished the book that it is part of the Harlequin Romance family of publishers. There were some 'adult themes' that I rarely read these days, but the storyline of the estranged sisters had me hooked from the beginning. As I was downloading the picture for this post from the Barnes and Noble website, I found that this was the first in a three book series. I will probably be reading the other books in the Bakery Sisters Series soon!

Okay...I'm done with my book talk for at least a day or two. Maybe!

Hello, Kitty!

2011-10-29T22:08:00.000-05:00

Guess who turned 4 years old today?

Our beautiful baby girl...Brooke.

She is our little Diva! But look at that sweet smile.

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!!!!

When Crickets Cry: A Novel Of The Heart

2011-10-28T17:02:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I recorded my thoughts on the books I have been reading. I don't dare call them book reviews. That would imply that I had a degree in Literature or some other sort of expertise. I just want to remember what I have read and the effects it had on me, if any.

This is my second book to read from author Charles Martin. The first is one of my all time favorites, Chasing Fireflies: A Novel Of Discovery. A beautifully written account of a young man trying to find the family he never knew while at the same time trying to understand the family that took him in as a child. It wasn't an easy book to read at times, but it was an encouraging book overall.

From the book cover:
A man with a painful past. A child with a doubtful future. And a shared journey toward healing for both their hearts...It begins on the shaded town square in a sleepy Southern town. A spirited seven-year-old has a brisk business at her lemonade stand. But the little girl's pretty yellow dress can't quite hide the ugly scar on her chest. The stranger understands more about it than he wants to admit. And the beat-up bread truck careening around the corner with its radio blaring is about to change the trajectory of both their lives. Before it's over, they'll both know there are painful reasons why crickets cry...and that miracles lurk around unexpected corners.

My Thoughts:
Though there were a few things that were a little too neat in the story, it was a good read. Of course, I am usually biased toward a good Southern novel. And what could be more Southern than a Southern Living Book of the Month Selection?
It is a story of the healing power of hope...not just for the physical body, but for the wounds of the heart as well. Each of the characters have faced their own tragedies, but the Lord weaves them together to bring each one to a healing that only He can accomplish.

Though this one may not make my all time favorite list...it was still very good.

And Charles Martin may be my new favorite author!

Still Here!!!

2011-10-27T16:07:00.000-05:00

Hello, Blog-o-sphere!

I noticed on my site meter report that several of you have been checking in this past week and I feel bad that there has been no new news! Don't you just hate visiting a blog for an update and listening to the crickets chirp?

Well, we are all still here. Some of us a little more so than others. I have been having horrible computer problems this month. Our Internet at home has freaked out on us and will only let us view one or two pages before booting us off. I think with the addition of Brian's computer and video game we have overloaded our ANCIENT router! I really need to get on the telephone with AT&T this week and get the issue resolved, but I haven't made the time to do so yet. It may mean a new router...but that is fine by me so long as we can all log on and get something accomplished!

My work computer came down with a critical illness after a power outage a few weeks back. It worked, but would not allow communication with any printer in the whole office! It did that a few years back and Geek Squad was able to get me back online, but without access to print labels. Go figure! I decided that enough was enough and ordered a new computer which did not have a strong aversion to printers...label or otherwise! Well, it took a week to receive, a week to load the software and get hooked in to the network...and then I left town for a few days. Believe me, after all that computer drama, I deserved a few days away!!!

And that is why I have not posted in over two weeks.

Aren't you glad you asked?

Football season is winding down. Two more games...one tonight and another next week. I will post pictures soon of our Football Frenzy Tailgate Party last Friday night. We had a blast tailgating with the Waller High School Cheerleaders. Sweet girls...and Davin is their #1 fan! He doesn't even like going to a game if they are not going to be there!!!

I'll have a few pictures from our weekend getaway to share too. But only a few, because I really took it easy and didn't take many pictures at all.

So, next time you stop by for a visit...maybe I'll have something to share and it will make those dang crickets shut up!!!

Sunday Showers

2011-10-11T16:01:00.001-05:00

On Sunday morning we were greeted with a sound that was uncommon yet very familiar. One of my favorite sounds on earth...rain softly falling on the roof. There was no thunder and lightening show this time. Just a slow and steady rain that lasted throughout most of the day.

View through my windshield as I returned home from the corner store.
(Well, we call it that even though it is several miles and many corners away!)

There was not just a few puddles on the sides of the road, but the ditches were filling with the bounty of the clouds overhead. The new pond is actually finally seeing some water! Jim says we are about a third of the way to full. The grand kids can hardly wait for it to have enough water for fishing!

What a glorious sight!

Thank you, Lord, for the showers of blessing!

Are there any among the idols of the nations who give rain?

Or can the heavens grant showers?

Is it not Thou, O Lord our God?

Therefore we hope in Thee,

For Thou art the one who hast done all these things.

Jeremiah 14:22 (NAS)

Parent Night 2011

2011-10-10T15:59:00.000-05:00

Friday night was Parent Appreciation Night at the Waller Bulldogs football game. All the parents of any student participating in the game were given free admission and were asked to join their student on the field.

As you can see, it was a beautiful October night...and perfect weather for some football!

It was also Breast Cancer Awareness Night (hence all the pink instead of maroon).

Here is a picture of our Maroon Man taken on the field prior to the game. Isn't he handsome? When I posted these on Facebook, one of our high school friends commented how much he looks like Jim. I think it is the hair!

Will was involved in the Cheerleaders pregame performance. He is the black shirt underneath that third pink pom pom from the left. (His cheerleader is the one in the air.)

Jim wasn't able to make it to the game. He was on a hunting trip with some of our clients. And, in all honesty, had I not attended the Cheer Booster Club meeting on Monday night, I wouldn't have known that we were supposed to be there either!

Boys!! Anywho, here is a picture of Will and I on the field waiting for the Maroon Men to be announced.

It was also Tribute Night to the First Responders who helped during the wildfires. They were spread out along most of the field. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!

Okay, so he does kind of look like his dad in this photo!!! I am so proud of him and his willingness to get involved with extra curricular activities. Will really does have a lot of school spirit. It wasn't a good night for the Waller Bulldogs on the scoreboard...but we had a great time anyway!

Football Update

2011-10-07T14:00:00.000-05:00

Another Thursday night has come and gone with no football updates from me. This will be short and sweet...I promise!

On Thursday night, September 29 the big game against our rivals (the Brenham Bears) was cancelled due to RAIN!!! That's right...RAIN!!! Enough to leave puddles on the sides of the road. I have never been so happy to miss out on a football game...because we got RAIN people! Soaking RAIN with God's spectacular special effects of booming thunder and flashing lightening! Woo Hoo! So, when they finally called the game, we went to eat at our favorite Mexican restaurant to celebrate!

Last night the mighty Bulldogs met another set of Bears...the Montgomery ones.

(As a total aside, can I just say that between me wearing the maroon & white and being surrounded by Montgomery's purple and gold I nearly broke out in hives! Not to mention the guy I had to walk by four times who was all decked out in his Alabama gear! Oh my goodness!)

Okay...back to the game. I have not a single picture to show you because I forgot my camera. And even if I hadn't, I was the lone Goode fan in the stadium so I had to pay close attention. Jim is gone on a dove hunt, Brian was waiting on a friend to arrive at our house, Bri was in class, Meagan & family were getting ready to leave on a weekend get away and the Lozanos were at an event for her work. Just his Momma there to cheer and holler and send text messages when something good happened!

Good things did happen...he got his first SACK of the season! And he rushed the quarterback several times, making him throw the ball into deep coverage. It was a terrific game that went back and forth in scoring. In the end it was Bulldogs 14 - Bears 22...but that last score came with less than two minutes on the game clock.

Great job, Bulldogs!

And thank You, Lord, for the fabulous football weather we got to enjoy last night!

iPhone Dump

2011-10-06T16:40:00.000-05:00

I borrowed this idea from Lindsee over at Living Proof Ministry's blog.

In honor of the late Steve Jobs, founder and former CEO of Apple...creator of my iPhone WHICH I LOVE...an iPhone photo dump.

[I hope these are all new pictures to the blog. I forget sometimes which ones I posted here and which ones I have posted on Facebook.]

Our room for our 30th anniversary trip to South Africa.
Let's just say that those beds stayed like that until bedtime.
I can't sleep if I can't touch My Hero!

Davin's monster face.
This look tells me that the photo opportunity has come to a close!

Bri playing on her phone.

I took this picture at a red light by the office just for Jim.
At the time, his Blazer was in for restoration in the same colors as this one!

Summer's Bountiful Goodness!
Just looking at that picture makes my mouth water for fresh tomatoes!

Shy Maddux!
This picture was taken back in June. We had just returned from South Africa and I wanted to spend some time with my grandchildren. I asked Kelli if I could treat the kids to a movie and dinner while she had some time off.
Her time off lasted about five minutes...because as soon as I took this picture, he realized Momma was gone and threw a FIT right there in the middle of the lobby. I had to call her back to pick him up, so Brooke and I watched Mr. Poppers Penguins alone.

Fourth of July Breakfast platter.
It was our first day at the lake house for vacation and this was served alongside the breakfast casserole.
Doesn't it look festive?

Brooke - posing with bread in her mouth.
You bring out a camera and this girl is all in!!
Eating or not!

The great Texas sky

The great Texas sky at sunset.
I have a friend serving halfway around the world who posted on Facebook that she missed the Texas sky...so I snapped some pictures throughout the day to share with her. A taste of home for a weary traveler.

This guy met me in the bathroom one morning in August. I texted this picture to Jim.
Yes, the picture is blurry! I didn't know how to make the camera on the iPhone go to close up and the closer my hand got to him -- the more I shook! He has now gone to Scorpion Heaven...if there is such a place.

Stacy and I with Jon Reep -- the 'Hemi Guy' from the Dodge commercials.
We saw him at the Houston Improv a few months ago.

A close up of a praying mantis that was on our deck in early September.

Davin's perception of Will's last football game against Spring Woods.
You should see all the pictures I have on my phone of the bleachers and the cars driving past the stadium.
The iPhone, so easy that a 4 year old can do it!

Thanks, Steve!

Remembering Our Little Ones

2011-10-04T11:25:00.000-05:00

Saturday arrived all sunny and beautiful here in the Greater Houston area. It was a nice day for a walk. Kelli, Bri and I joined Meagan at her M.E.N.D. Walk To Remember. I was prepared for an emotional day. Just putting on the t-shirt with Desi's name, birth date and precious footprints was enough to put me over the top!

Brianne, Me and Meagan with a picture of Desi just before the balloon release

Kelli, Bri and me with our balloons

What I did not know before attending was that Meagan had also listed the Baby that Jim and I lost in October of 2008 as a name to be read at the memorial service. It was a touching service where way too many names were read. Our family had three...Baby Goode, Baby Rodgers (2009) and Desi Elise. We were each presented with a beautiful Christmas ornament in the shape of an angel and our little ones name printed on the ribbon.

We then heard from the speaker of the day, Rebecca Rainey Mutz. Rebecca lost a little girl, Molly, after 7 days of life three years ago. She has since lost a son (Micah) who fell asleep in her womb, given birth to twin girls (Piper and Lily) and had two miscarriages. She has a little too much knowledge of the pain that was felt in that room on Saturday. Yet she still gave us a message of hope!

After she spoke, the children in attendance walked to the front of the auditorium and sang "Jesus Loves Me". Precious!!!

We then walked outside and gathered our balloons. Two white (for the miscarriages) and one pink. After taking a short walk through the parking lot with time to reminisce on the ones we have lost...we all gathered for the balloon release.

So many balloons. So many tears. So many broken hearts. So much love!

"If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there;

If you're kicked in the gut, He'll help you catch your breath."

Psalm 34:18 from The Message

Lazy Saturdays

2011-10-01T06:11:00.001-05:00

Guess what we are doing today?

Jim is heading out bright and early for the Opening Day of Bow Season. He has been looking forward to it for months...but honestly, once he saw these monsters on his GameCam Wednesday evening...it has been more like 'Chomping At The Bit' than waiting. We shall see! Y'all wish him luck!

At 11 o'clock our beloved Arkansas Razorbacks will be kicking off against the Texas A&M Aggies at Cowboy Stadium in Dallas. My beautiful sister and nieces will be there, along with her dashing husband...but alas, we will miss this year's game in person and will get to see precious little of it on television.

BECAUSE at 1 o'clock, Meagan, Bri, Kelli and I will be attending a M.E.N.D. event, Walk To Remember in honor of Desi. M.E.N.D. (Mommies Enduring Neonatal Death) is a Christian support group that has wrapped it's arms around Meagan during this loss. This is one of two events they hold each year and we wanted to be there to show our support of them as they have supported one of our own.

And while we are there, Jim, Will and Brian will be attending the Waller County Fair Junior Livestock Auction with friends. I hope that we will be able to join them before all the fun is over. I love watching those exhibitors show off their prizes!

And maybe we can stick around to watch the Mutton Bustin' contest too! Little kids riding sheep! Who doesn't grin from ear to ear watching that?

Well, I guess so much for a Lazy Saturday! What are you doing today?

Waller Homecoming 2011

2011-09-29T14:55:00.000-05:00

(Warning: This is a longer than usual post...but I decided to include the whole weekend's festivities in one post instead of writing three or four!)

Last week was Homecoming week at Waller High School. So, instead of just football pictures, I have included photos from the week's activities.

Thursday night was JV Maroon football at the field of the Spring Woods Tigers. My camera was acting up a bit, so I didn't have a lot of pictures that turned out.

Will during pre-game drills

Will waiting on the sidelines.

Wanted: Popcorn Thief Davin!
He ate nearly all of my popcorn and ran off with my Diet Coke!

Will taking the field

Will had twisted his ankle the day before the game, but he was able to play. The team has shrunk due to players moving up to Varsity to fill in for the injured, so Will played a lot of defense this game too. One of the hardest plays to watch was when he was on punt return. He went in to block the punt but ended up with a 'Roughing the Kicker' call. It hurts a Momma's heart to listen to the crowd complain about her boy. I don't know if I am ready for Varsity next year!!!

The Bulldogs pulled off another victory 30-10 against the Tigers. Woo Hoo!

Friday morning, I got up early to snap a few pictures before he left for school. Will had a date for the Homecoming dance! Now, I know that I have a very handsome son, so the date was not a surprise. It was that he (unlike his older brother) let his sisters make a Homecoming mum for his date. The girls were over the moon excited to get to make another mum.

When they were in high school they would not trust a boy to provide their Homecoming mums. No, sir! The Goode Girls mums had to be top of the line!!! They worked for weeks to get it just right. This one did not take weeks...but it sure turned out cute!

Waller Bulldog Mum 2011

I just LOVE that white feather boa around the mum!

Will with the mum
Look how long that thing is!

Sorry, that picture was taken with my iPhone at dark thirty before he left for school, but I had to show you how big and how long that mum is! Did I mention that my girls like the bling? The only thing that mum didn't have was flashing neon!

I didn't get to see Will again until Friday night at the Varsity game. Not only does he play Junior Varsity, but he is also a Maroon Man. The Maroon Men are there to help the cheerleaders and to involve the crowd in the game. Among other things they:

...prepare the 'Dawg House' for the team to run through at the beginning of the game and at the half...

...run the flags ahead of the players as they take the field and after every touchdown...

...throw swag to the crowd...

...they also help the cheerleaders with stunts, but I noticed that mostly (since the majority of them are also football players) they stand around and talk about the game.

Oh, and Will's date? It is that cutie pie right there in the middle. No, not one of the brunettes. Not the blonde either...it is the gray headed one. Wilma, the Waller mascot...or the girl in the costume to be exact.

The hometown really showed up in all their maroon and white glory to cheer the Bulldogs on to a 42-7 victory over the Spring Woods Tigers!

I even sported the colors...even though maroon makes me break out in miniature hives sometimes! (Especially this week as the Arkansas Razorbacks prepare to take on the Texas A&M Aggies!)

As long as there is a Bulldog on it someplace, I think I can bear it though! (Josh snapped this picture just as I stuck out my tongue at him.)

Saturday was another full day for Will. Saturday morning was the Waller County Fair Parade that he had to march in with the other Maroon Men. After two late nights of football, I didn't get up and go. Who has a parade at 9 AM on a Saturday?

Saturday night was the dance and he wouldn't let me get a picture of him all dressed up in his jeans and boots. This is the one thing I don't like about being the mother of the boy...you don't get pictures! After the dance they headed to the Waller County Fair with friends to watch Jack Ingram perform. All in all, I think he had a good weekend...but boy, was he wiped out on Sunday!

Lord, I Believe. Help my Unbelief!

2011-09-26T11:34:00.000-05:00

"Why?" My dear friend looked at me from across the table, her eyes filling with sincere tears of empathy. "Why has God allowed your family to suffer so much? I just can't understand how He could take a child like that."

We were gathered for a small group Bible study and everyone knew that I had spent the morning at Desi's graveside for her balloon ceremony.   These three women (along with many others) had been earnestly praying for us since this whole nightmare began.

I took a deep breath and searched deep in my heart before replying. How was I going to 'explain' the loss of our granddaughter at thirty-two weeks of pregnancy? How could I begin to rationalize the heartbreak that I have witnessed in my daughter's eyes since that fateful August afternoon?

"I don't know why. I just have to believe that someday God will be glorified through all of this. I cannot see His glory right now, but I am beginning to see how He has been preparing me." I then began to list some of the circumstances that our family had endured over the past few years and how they had helped to equip me during our current trial of loss.

To me, this is one of those BIG QUESTIONS of faith. You know the ones I'm talking about.   The ones that do not have easy answers. The ones whose answers sometimes sound simple when spoken BUT are often very difficult to flesh out.

So, imagine my surprise when that very evening, the Lord sent the following words to me during a Ladies Bible study at church.

"God may not always answer our questions, but He will always answer us." Beloved Disciple by Beth Moore (Video Response Sheet/Group Session 2)

Beth went on to quote Psalm 65:5, 'You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Saviour." Notice He doesn't say that He will tell us everything we want to know. But He moves on our behalf with awesome deed of righteousness. (Can I get an 'Amen'?)

My thoughts went back to earlier in the video when she spoke about Moses on the mountain with God. (Exodus 33:21-23) God set Moses in the cleft of the rock, placed His hand over him and then passed by. Moses was told that he would not see God's face, but he would be allowed to see His back.

Beth drew a parallel between us and Moses, asking if we had ever considered that it was so dark because God had His hand over us right now. She went on to add that though we do not get to see His face and know the answers to why right now, perhaps...with time and a little distance...we will be able to see an answer as we gaze upon His back.

I still can't answer my friend's real question. I don't know why children die before they get the chance to live. I don't know why this happened to us. And, in all honesty, I'm not sure that I would be satisfied with the answer if I did know, since it wouldn't bring Desi back.

So, I hold on to the faith that the God who has held us through heartache and loss in the past will hold us now. I trust that He will work all things together for our good because we love Him and are called according to His purpose. (See Romans 8:28)

There is a tradition that I have heard practiced in various churches and forms throughout the years. The Pastor or other leader will stand before the congregation and greet them with the affirmation, "God is good." The congregation will then reply, "all the time!" More often than not, the Pastor will follow up with the words, "And all the time."  To which God's people declare, "God is good!" That simple truth, filled with things deeper than my mind can even conceive, is what I find myself clinging to when the answers don't come.

He may not always answer my questions, but He always answers me. The proof is in the fact that He sent me that very statement...just when I needed it most.

Linking up with Michelle at Graceful for:

Bulldogs VS Falcons: 2011

2011-09-22T17:06:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday, the Foster Falcons came to Waller to play a little football.

The Bulldogs and Falcons took turns pushing...

...and shoving...

...and hitting pretty hard.

But since last year's contest involved two ambulances and Life Flight and this year's game didn't even require a medic...it was all good.

I can't remember the final score, but I think the Dawgs fell by two touchdowns. Ouch!

This week is Homecoming and I will try to get pictures up before too long!!

In Memory of Desi

2011-09-21T16:42:00.000-05:00

Today was the doctor's estimated date of delivery for our sweet princess, Desi. In memory of her, a few of us met at the cemetery for a balloon release.

Her final resting place is called "The Garden of Innocence"...a lovely place filled with flowers and trinkets that will tug at your heart strings.

Meagan chose soft pink balloons on which she wrote the things she misses about Desi. Bri wrote notes to Desi on hers, Jim's were sent up with prayers and mine...

...it is hard to see in this picture, but mine were sent up covered in her Nonna's kisses.

I couldn't get them all in one picture, but those dots are some of the balloons with the tranquil moon resting in the center.

It was a beautiful way to commemorate our sweet princess, Desi. Meagan will be posting more pictures this week on her blog, Desi's Song, I'm sure.

A Family That Shoots Together...

2011-09-17T07:20:00.001-05:00

...laughs together? ...endures wildfires together?

Sunday, September 3

Bri's shotgun skills were honed by a little bit of sibling competition.

The goal is to shoot in turn. If you hit a skeet that someone else misses, they are out.

It is a fierce competition. I always get knocked out by the third round.

Will won this competition pretty handily.

So, next we moved to my kind of competition.

Target practice with a .22 rifle. I need time to aim and think!

Bri won this one...hitting 5 of 5 targets in the semi-finals and 4 of 5 in the final round! That a pretty good marks woman, if you ask me.

Here are a couple of my favorite shots from the day:

Mountain Man Brian

Will - up close and personal!

I know what you are thinking. How can we stand all of this excitement?

Well, this is basically what we were doing on Monday afternoon when the wildfires broke out too. Does that sound exciting enough for you? Ha!

Beginner's Luck?

2011-09-16T07:56:00.000-05:00

Sunday, September 4

While Josh was offshore, he contacted Bri to let her know that they had been invited to go Teal hunting with friends the weekend he came home. Bri had never bird hunted before...hadn't even shot a shotgun...so her dad decided to give her a little lesson the week before her big hunt.

She studied his stance...

...learned how to load the gun and operate the safety...

...and how to use the open sights.

Then she braced herself for her first shot.

She even hit more skeet than she missed!

Fast forward to Sunday, September 11, where she limited out on her very first Teal hunt!

Her daddy was so proud!!!

Two birds are awaiting a trip to the taxidermist!

She is her daddy's girl.

I Wanna Be A Cowboy, BABY!

2011-09-15T07:36:00.003-05:00

Saturday, September 3

I mentioned in last week's wrap up post that I had been to see Kid Rock in concert at the Cynthia Woods Pavilion with Robin and friends. I wanted to show you just how close Section 103, Row C, Seat 16 really was!

Yeah, Robin got us great seats! This was without any kind of zoom used on my cell phone! One row of seats, the walkway and the security guards between me and Kid!

So close, that we could really feel the heat!

It was a spectacular show! We had the best time and I would highly recommend his show to anyone who enjoys his music. You can check out Robin's pictures here if you would like to see more. (She actually remembered her camera so her pictures are much better than mine!)

Close Call

2011-09-14T13:55:00.000-05:00

Many of you have called or sent emails to ask how close to our home the fires came. Here is the lastest map released by Waller County. The fire area is in red. I have roughly marked the location of our house with a purple star on the left hand edge of the map. We estimate the nearest fire line to be between 3/4 to one mile away, as the crow flies.

Too close for comfort, that's for sure!

Bulldogs VS Rangers: 2011

2011-09-14T07:56:00.002-05:00

On Thursday, September 1...the Terry Rangers came to Waller to play a little football.

Will started out the game playing pretty aggressive. It ALMOST felt like fall as the temperatures were in the mere mid-90's at 7 pm.

He was pretty easy to spot for the first half as his left shoulder pad was hanging out of his uniform for most of that time!

And then came a hit that stretched him out a little farther than he wanted to go.

So, he spent the second half on the bench trying to stretch out a groin strain. But while he was playing, the Bulldogs pulled off a sweet touchdown that Brian captured on camera.

The final score was
Waller Bulldogs 7
Terry Rangers 13

It came down to the final moments...again...but this time the Bulldogs were not able to pull out the Win.

Since it was a home game, we got to see Wally, who graciously stopped and had a picture made with Davin. (Sorry, I had to take this with my cell phone as we had the long lens on the camera!)

Davin was so thrilled!

A (Rather Far Off) View To A Wildfire

2011-09-13T07:36:00.001-05:00

I didn't take many photos. I didn't get any the first few days because: (1) the fire was not as close as the last one, so we thought we wouldn't be affected AND (2) when we were evacuated, we were sure it would only be for a day at most. I finally got my head about me around Wednesday and started snapping a few pictures.

It is hard to be prepared for the views that sometimes catch you by surprise...especially when you are driving. Thank goodness for my trusty iPhone. I think most of my pictures were taken on it.

The Riley Road Fire: Taken from 362 around Howell Road at 11 AM on 9/7/11

Our home is located roughly two and half to three miles from where this picture is taken just to the left of the tallest tree. A little too close for comfort. Things looked to be coming under control when I snapped this picture as we were going on our daily recon mission. But it wouldn't stay that way for long.

Riley Road Fire Spreads To 1488: Photo taken from Joseph and Rice Road around 3 pm
This photo was taken from roughly two miles away from the new flare up...but our home is no where near this end of the fires.

We were going to check on the neighborhood as we went to pick Will up from school when the south end of the fire flared up in just moments. It was a scary sight as just after I took this picture a school bus rounded that curve!

Riley Road Fire: 9/7/11 at around 10 PM
This is the view of the fire at night from roughly the same place as the first picture was taken.

Things were looking very promising as we returned to the neighborhood on Thursday morning.

Riley Road Fire: 9/8/11
Photo taken from 362 near Howell Road

As you can see, the smoke plume was no longer black but a white color. We REALLY, REALLY thought that we would be able to go back home within the next 24 hours at this point. But, as was the pattern of this fire...the mornings looked calm but the afternoons found higher wind speeds and flare ups that lasted into the night.

Riley Road Fire: 9/8/11 afternoon
This picture was taken at 362 looking down Reids Prairie...the street into our neighborhood.

Things were not looking so good for the home team here. The smoke was horrendous. We couldn't even tell where the fires were because we couldn't see the plumes. Our home is about three miles down this road. And did you notice the 'Burn Ban' sign under the speed limit? Yeah, someone needs to tell this wildfire that!

The smoke at our house on 9/8/11 (the game cam date is off by one day)

It is hard to see in the game cam picture alone...but when you look at the prior photos you can really tell how smoky it was at our house that day. BUT look at that nice cool 67 degree temperature! Too bad we missed all of those beautiful fall-like days worrying about a wildfire. It is now back in triple digits!

Riley Road Fire: Photo taken from the Waller City Limits on 9/9/11
This is what it looked liked from our hotel.

Still quite a bit of smoke on Friday...but we were just sure that they would be letting us back in within 24 hours!

Not quite, but we were able to go home Sunday evening at 5 pm. Someone was very wise and turned off our air conditioning before heading out the door. Jim or I neither one can remember doing it...maybe Derrick did. All I know is that because of that the smell of smoke is very faint inside our home. Thank goodness!

It took us until this morning to get the house cooled back down...but it was so worth it!!!

This last picture is from my drive into work on Monday morning. I found myself in this military convoy of about ten trucks hauling heavy equipment.

Military Equipment being moved out on 9/12/11.

You can still see the haze in the air...but what a wonderful sight to know that the heavy work is completed and that we are now on the downhill side of these forest fires!

We aren't totally out of the woods yet, but we get closer with each passing hour. This thing had so many names...The Magnolia Fire, The Tri-County Fire, The Riley Road Fire...it seemed like a mythical hydra for a little while, they would stop it here and three more would break out there. We are thrilled to be home but we know that so many of our neighbors are still in limbo or worse yet, suffering loss. Please continue to keep this area in your prayers!

We Are Home

2011-09-12T14:26:00.000-05:00

...at least for now.

We were able to return at 5 last night. Jim and I rode out to the house to make sure that all was secure and that we had electricity before heading back to the hotel to load up and check out. Other than our poor cows being without water for days...all was well. Ladies January and March along with Sir Loin slurped and slurped, faster than the water hose could keep up. Jim had to go into the pasture with them to hold on to the water trough because they kept turning it over trying to get to the water at the bottom! We then turned them into the green grass in the front pasture and they decided to forgive us for deserting them in the chaos.

Jim and I had the BEST night's sleep in a week. There is no place like your own bed for getting some good rest. We were up kind of late trying to get the house in order. As I told you the other day, we had just finished dinner when we were evacuated. All of the food was put away, but we didn't have time to finish the dishes. We just threw what we could into the dishwasher and started it before heading out. I had to throw out four very delicious looking Strawberry Napoleon's that were left behind in the rush out of the door. Sad!

I joked on Facebook this morning that I was apprehensive about leaving home and maybe I should pack a bag JUST IN CASE. In all honesty, we were so apprehensive about leaving and not being able to get back in, that Jim elected to work from home today. Although our home is safe, the wildfires are not out...only contained.

As I was driving in this morning, I found myself in the midst of a convoy of military heavy equipment that was being moved out of our area. Sounds like good news, at least.

However, in the last hour there has been word that five new fires have erupted as the winds have picked up and the heat has returned to the Houston area. I can feel my stomach begin to churn again. I think I may have an ulcer by the time this is over! I am glad that Jim is at home just in case we are evacuated again. I guess I will be packing that bag tonight just to be on the safe side!

That's where we are in our little world. I am going to try and post some pictures of our vantage point of the fires for tomorrow. Hope you are all safe and sound and enjoying wonderful fall weather!

Time Marches On

2011-09-11T11:39:00.000-05:00

The skies look relatively blue today. There is still a slight haze of smoke lingering just above the tree lines and you can smell a bit of char in the air. We have just returned from another recon mission to lay eyes on our neighborhood for ourselves. The parking lot of the Holiday Inn remains crowded with cars and people discussing their situations. Other than that you would never know that our world has been turned upside down by a wildfire.

The world goes on. There are 9-11 remembrance ceremonies on every television station and we all stop to reflect on where we were a decade ago as we heard the news. (Driving in to work, stopped at Bellaire and Beltway 8...when the second tower was hit and we all KNEW it was no accident.)

Many prepare for the first game of the NFL season. Even I have found myself double checking my Fantasy Football team and making substitutions as news of Arian Foster being out today flood the airwaves.

There will be a meeting at the high school today at 1:30 and 3:00 to update us on the status of the wildfires. I am torn between going for first hand information or just hanging out at the hotel with my family and watching football...since I know the information will soon be all over the Internet anyway.

That's what is going on In Goode Time today. Hope you are enjoying a relaxing Sunday with your loved ones...and maybe a little football thrown in as well. Here's to your team...unless your a Colts fan, in which case, "Go Texans!"

And The Blogging Family Grows

2011-09-10T11:43:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Meagan started a blog. She has titled it Desi's Song. If you would like to read about her journey of loss and healing, please click the title in my sidebar (to the right of my posts). It will take you directly to her page.

Thanks for all of your support!

Love,
Fonda

The Week That Just Keeps Going...And Going...And Going...

2011-09-09T19:20:00.000-05:00

What is up with our out of control life? I haven't been able to post all week due to the craziness of it all. So, here is a (not so) quick 'Week In Review'. I will try to post pictures later.

Last Thursday: We had a slow day in the office as Porter and Jim were both out dove hunting for Opening Day with a client. They had a successful and fun filled morning. That evening we went to watch Will play in the JV Maroon game against Terry. The weather was nice, the company was great...but Will pulled a groin muscle and had to sit out about half of the game. It was a nail biter, but this time the suspense did not end in our favor. The final score was Waller 7, Terry 13. We ended our day with a great Mexican dinner after the game.

Friday: A quite night for Jim and I as Bri was out with friends and Will had to Maroon Man the Terry game in Fort Bend County. Jim and I finished up the irrigation system to the new food plot at the 17 acres. (What a romantic evening alone, right?) Will had the privilege of donning the 'Wally' costume for the game. He had a great time...but I will be honest with you that in this Texas heat, he didn't smell great when we picked him up! When you wear Wally, you have to bring him home and give him a bath. Let's just say he got a strong dose of Fabreze!

Saturday: While Jim and the boys trimmed limbs down at the 17 acres, I headed to the Katy/Richmond area to meet up with friends. We had tickets to see Kid Rock at the Cynthia Woods Pavilion! (Thanks, Robin!) We all gathered at Robin's for pizza before the limo picked us up for the ride to the concert. Fun! Fun! It was a great concert and we had AMAZING seats! I can hardly wait to show you the pictures I took on my cell phone with NO zoom! So close!

Sunday: I arrived home just as the family was beginning to stir. Jim made a delicious breakfast and then we headed back down to the 17 acres to shoot skeet and target practice with my new 22 rifle. It was Bri's first time to shoot a shotgun...and the pictures are priceless! Will won the skeet contest...and Bri won the target shooting contest.

Monday: Jim and Derrick took the morning to play a round of golf. The weather was much nicer, but the winds were wild! I spent the day cooking ribs and all the trimmings and desserts. In fact, I made so many appetizers that we weren't even hungry when it was time to eat. So, we decided to go back to the acreage to do some more shooting.

While we were shooting, Brian received a phone call from a friend who told us that a fire was burning about 10 miles away from us. We thought little of it and finished our competition before heading home to eat. We had just finished eating and were getting ready for dessert when a police officer pulled into our driveway and told us that we had 15 minutes to evacuate.

We grabbed clothes, a few pictures and pieces of memorabilia before heading out. Oh, yeah, and we grabbed Wally! We didn't have time to evacuate the cows or even to load up the motorcycles, four wheelers or the boat. We went to Meagan's and Derrick's to spend the night and really thought we would be back home the next day.

Well, we are still out! The fires are still burning and in fact have recently flared back up. Jim and I spent most of Tuesday and Wednesday sitting just outside of the evacuation zone trying to get a visual for ourselves of where the fires were.

Wednesday night we celebrated Brian's 21st birthday!!!! We plan to celebrate without the wildfire stress hanging over our heads as soon as possible!

Thursday we went into the office, but still made two trips out to Waller to check on the status.

Today I made the trip to Waller by myself. The skies were clear blue and all was looking to be almost over. I even watched the big DC10 fly over with the first load of flame retardant to smother the fires. THEN about three o'clock, the winds picked up and the fires began spreading again.

We no longer think we will be back home in 48 hours -- short of a miracle. We have taken up residence at a Holiday Inn for a few days to give Meagan and Derrick a break and to be closer to the house just in case things change and we can get in to check on the cows.

If anyone is still reading...thanks for keeping up with us! I hope to get pictures posted next week. I just need my card reader...which is at the house that I haven't been able to get to in four days!

Talk to you all soon!

Needing More Margin

2011-09-01T07:09:00.006-05:00

We like to tease Jim that he may meet a stranger, but he never parts from one. For instance, a few years back we were in San Antonio with friends for the Pro Bull Riding Ford Tough Series. After the night's event we went to an Irish Pub to hang out. Next thing I know, I look over and Jim has turned his chair around to face the table behind us. He is hanging out with a couple of guys in town for an international seminar...a couple of Russians, an Aussie and a young man from Scotland. And he sat there with them for over an hour! I told you, he may meet a stranger but he never parts from one.

And then there is my sister, Rosa. When we are visiting with her family back home and go out to eat, we tease her about her 'politicing'. She is making her rounds "shaking hands and kissing babies". I don't mean that in a bad way either, she knows a lot of people and is genuinely interested in their lives.

And lastly, my dear friend, Stacy, who can talk to anyone and learn their whole life's story in a matter of minutes. Honestly, if we go to eat at the same restaurant more than twice she usually knows the names of every member of the wait staff and they know hers!

I consider myself to be a social person too. I love getting together with family and friends. While I am not as outgoing as my husband, my sister or my friend, I still need to be around other people or I begin to feel antsy. But if I spend TOO much time with other people, I need some solitude.

Even on our most treasured family vacations, I need some solitude. Heck, even if Jim and I spend too much time together I get to where I cannot string two thoughts together! That is why I took a morning to stay back in camp during our South Africa trip...and I often turned in while Jim was still visiting around the campfire.

If there is one thing I know to be true about me, it is that I need space in my life. And that brings me to my second Personal Commandment:

#2: Leave Some Room For Margins

An article at Intentional Parents Blog describes 'margin' as follows: "Margin is the space you leave around the events in your life."

Jim and I have been talking a lot about 'slowing down' lately. I don't know how we are going to do it with football/holiday/hunting seasons all upon us. But we both agree that we need some space to breathe.

I call it needing margin...like the margin on the pages of a book. Otherwise all the words would overwhelm me and I wouldn't even know where to begin. It is okay to fill the margins of a book with notes from time to time, but when there is no 'white space' there seems to be no place to just be.

The difficult thing about margins is that they have to be made intentionally. Just as I have to tell my Word document where to begin and end...I have to guard my calendar from becoming too full. We keep a very full schedule during the week with work and football practices/games. It is for that reason that we are consciously committing to leave at least one weekend a month completely unscheduled. I can't do it for all of us and I am not sure that we will stay at home the whole time...but we need space to do the things we want or to not do a thing if that is what we need.

I also try to spend a little bit of time every day in solitude. Whether it is just my quiet time in the morning or going to bed a little before Jim to do some reading, I know that I need some time to process and to contemplate.

I realized at the beginning of the year that I needed margin in my schedule as a time management tool, but I am learning that it is a much bigger issue than just making it to appointments on time. It is a way of life that helps to keep me sane!

July Birthdays Are So Overwhelming

2011-08-31T15:12:00.000-05:00

As I was downloading pictures from Will's last game, I realized that I had never posted pictures from our July birthdays! We have a lot of them...so it can be a little overwhelming. Somewhere...on a memory card in one of my cameras are the pictures from Davin's official birthday party. But these are the pictures from our ONE BIG family birthday celebration.

Davin turned 4 year old!
What a sweet smile!
He was so excited about getting his very own Funfetti cake!

Brianne turned 22!
She celebrated with her very own chocolate pie...from which she proceeded to eat with a spoon!
Don't worry, there was another one for us to enjoy.

We also celebrated:
Kelli and Matt's five year anniversary (Kelli got new baking pans),
Matt's birthday (he wasn't able to attend so I sent him home some mint chocolate cookies to have later),
and Derrick's birthday (he had to come from work later and I didn't get a picture of him with his very own Key Lime Pie -- my first time ever to make one, and it was pretty dog-gone good, if I do say so myself).

See, I told y'all we have overwhelming July birthdays. And that doesn't even count mine which we celebrated at the lake house!

Here are a few more pictures from the day.

Brian and Maddux watching Rango
Maddux loves hanging out with his uncles.

Brooke Bear posing for the camera but refusing to take her eyes off the movie!

Will, chilling in the floor with the kiddoes...but with his cell phone ever at the ready!

I know that this is old news now...but I still want to remember. Things changed drastically for us in the days after these photos were taken...but we are getting through them just as we got through the celebrations...TOGETHER!

The Many Faces Of Number 1 Son

2011-08-30T07:22:00.000-05:00

Truly, I never know what I might find on my camera! When I went looking for football pictures, I found this:

Brian...in all his quirky glory!

...and I love it! Only my son!

It's A Long, Long Way To El Campo

2011-08-29T16:09:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday was the first official JV Maroon Bulldog game against the El Campo Ricebirds. We have played El Campo since Will was in Junior High...but because of the alternating years for each team, this is the first time we have had to GO TO El Campo.

Since Will decided to start on JV Maroon rather than be third string on Varsity, he is on the same team for a second year in a row.

Even as I contemplated on how to tell you HOW FAR AWAY this game was, I could only hear the faint tune of Supertramp singing '...long way home...you took the long way home...' in my head! So, it was LONG, y'all!

We left the office at 4:30 in hopes of making the 6:30 scheduled start of the Maroon game. Being the first game of the season, and the fact that the White team played one minute shorter quarters as a concession to the Ricebirds, we arrived just as JV White Bulldogs were wrapping up with a victory of their own.

And then it was time for the JV Maroon Bulldogs to take the field!

The Pregame Huddle:
Complete with a prayer for strength and safety

You could tell by the look on these boys faces that they were ready to play some football! We had a few scattered showers the night before, so the start of the game was mildly pleasant. But, being typical southeast Texas, that all changed about halfway through the game when the heat and humidity kicked in full force.

How can it be hotter after dark than during the day? I don't get it!

Ready To Take The Field

Will is #66 this year...so watch for him in the pictures! This was him lining up for the punt return.

Will is READY for some football!

But this was him on the Offensive Line:

Took Him Slap Off His Feet!!!

During the first play #81 got past him, but the next three Will pushed harder and harder until he finally knocked him clean off his feet. Let's just say that the next play found #81 so aggravated that, from where I sat, it looked like he took a swing at Will.

Lots Of Water Was Needed As The Temperatures Were In The High 90's...Even At 7 PM!

I don't know why, but we always get several pictures of this boy drinking water during a game.
Will played a little defense as well on Thursday night. It was good game, with the Bulldogs leading up until the fourth quarter. The pressure of being down by four points with seconds left on the clock brought out the best in our guys. Will had his best play of the game, when with twenty something seconds left to play, he opened up a hole the size of Texas for his running back to make the game winning touchdown.

It was amazing to behold...we were so amazed, we forgot to take any pictures!

Final scoreboard:

Bulldogs 26
Ricebirds 24

Great game with lots of suspense and a worthy opponent. Then, as we walked to the truck, Jim and I turned to each other with simultaneous recognition that we were going to have to make this drive again next year...since Varsity will be playing here in 2012!!!!

We "took the long way home, the long way home, long way home"!!!

I Am What I Am

2011-08-25T08:19:00.004-05:00

You may remember that back in April I posted on reading Gretchen Rubin's book, The Happiness Project. I have recently been reminiscing on her "12 Personal Commandments" and thinking of my own. I may not make it to twelve...but as one of these truths impresses itself on me, I will share them with you here on the blog. I am just looking to establish a visual reminder of my criteria for my thoughts and actions.

#1: Embrace The Woman That God Has Created Me To Be

I know this is pretty much a re-phrasing of Gretchen Rubin's number one commandment to 'Be Gretchen'. But, I want to do more than just accept who I am...I also want to fulfill the purpose for which He has made me.

Accepting who I am means not worrying about what others think of me...even if my 'ten' does sound more like 'tea-in' or 't-n' as my eldest son likes to point out. I am a living, breathing misfit. You know how it is: When I am back home in Arkansas I am accused of having a Texas accent. But here in Texas all I ever hear is, "where are you from because we know it is not from around here".

Even deciding what to call a meal makes me have to stop and think at times. Back home it is: Breakfast, Dinner, and Supper. Around here it is: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. My dad teases me all the time about calling 'Supper' dinner!

I need to accept that even though some things are great ideas for someone else, they are not always a great idea for me. Take scrap booking, for instance. It looks like fun and I love looking through someone elses'...but mercy, if I spent thirty minutes on something and all I had to show for it was one matted picture and a few trinkets on a page? Well, let's just say that I would never finish the first book! I would rather read...or make my album on Shutterfly! (I Heart Shutterfly!!)

Even more than embracing these surface areas of my life, I want to earnestly seek to be all that God has called me to be. I used to think that meant my passion for and position in women's ministry. And though that passion is still being used by Him, I am beginning to see that it is more about WHO I am than about WHAT I do. I know, you have probably heard it a million times before yourself...but that really is where I want to be most comfortable. Knowing that I am loved, accepted and forgiven? Living in those three truths alone would be a home run! Throw in that I am valuable, cherished and redeemed...now that's a Grand Slam!!!

And so, it is with these things in mind that I have come to recognize my Number One Personal Commandment: EMBRACE THE WOMAN THAT GOD HAS CREATED ME TO BE

Oh, and the title to this post? I am closer to Merle Haggard's version of the song than that of the Jonas Brothers!

The Words I Can't Seem To Find For Myself

2011-08-24T15:05:00.000-05:00

Click here to see Ann Voskamp's post from yesterday at her blog, A Holy Experience. She says so beautifully what I was struggling to say last week in this post.

If You Saw A Heat Wave...

2011-08-23T09:42:00.000-05:00

...would you wave back?

I just heard on the radio that the Greater Houston area is expecting triple digit temperatures today...FOR THE 23RD DAY IN A ROW!!!!!

The previous record of 14 consecutive days was set in 1980.

Oh, and those triple digit temperatures? They are supposed to last at least through the rest of this week!

My goodness it is hot out here!

Joy For Beginners

2011-08-22T14:57:00.000-05:00

I haven't said much about it here in the blogosphere, but I have been reading more this summer. This past weekend I finished this book:

From the book jacket:
At an intimate, festive dinner party in Seattle, six women gather to celebrate their friend Kate's recovery from cancer. Wineglass in hand, Kate strikes a bargain with them: to celebrate her new lease on life, she'll do the one thing that's always terrified her: white-water rafting down the Grand Canyon. But if she goes, each of them must promise to do one thing in the next year that is new, or difficult, or scary - and Kate gets to choose their challenges.
Shimmering with warmth, wit, and insight, Joy for Beginners is a celebration of life: unexpected, lyrical, and deeply satisfying.

(If you click on the title above it will take you to the book's Amazon page.)

I really did enjoy this book a lot. But then I usually do enjoy character driven novels, especially when the characters are friends. There is just something about getting a sneak peek into the lives of women and their roles in friendships that draws me in...and oftentimes reveals new things about myself in the process.

This was the second book in a row where the story is laid out through the eyes of one character at a time. And as in the last book, The Imperfectionists (by Tom Rachman), the other characters become more multidimensional when you see how they interact with others rather than just through their own eyes.

I found myself drawn to the characters of Caroline and Marion the most. I think my personality is a cross between the two of them, so it was like seeing myself through the eyes of someone else. A little scary, really!

Here are my "Favorite Quotes" from Joy For Beginners:
"...in the currency of friendship, empathy is more valuable than accuracy." -- the older I get the more I find this to be true. Yes, as a friend I want you to speak the truth to me...but, PLEASE, season it with empathy and not judgment!

"Believe in the future and be kind to the past." -- I might need to tattoo that on my forearm so I can see it all the time!

"...Caroline realized with a sense of small quiet surprise that the roles in her well-stocked bookshelf of life were leaving, had left, one by one as they had come...There was an almost literary irony, she thought now, in how Jack had gone rampaging through his life this year, cleaning the shelves in one sweep, when the reality was they were already emptying, quietly and efficiently, on their own...He had jumped out of the cycle only to go back to the beginning, filling his hands again." -- oh how many times have we seen people short circuit the cycle only to find themselves right back at the beginning again? And how many times has that person been me?!?!

"Darling girl, has anyone ever told you you need to grown down a little?" -- I'm not as bad as I used to be...but still, asking your friends to describe you in one word and having three out of four say 'serious' makes you think!

I would highly recommend this book. It is one that I could relax with but not have to turn off my brain to enjoy. If that makes sense to anyone else!

As for the other books I have read since I finished A Homemade Life:
The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman was equally as delicious as this one only set in a failing international newspaper's headquarters. Each chapter was seen through the eyes of a different colleague.

Comfort Food by Kate Jacobs was entertaining...though not wonderful. I enjoyed it more than I did Friday Night Knitting Club, Jacobs first book which was released a few years back...but it was a little too bland for me. I guess I just never connected with the characters the way I thought I should.

Canary Island Song by Robin Jones Gunn. I think I had too high of expectations for this one. Gardenias For Breakfast is one of my all time favorite novels and I was hoping that this one would be as well. I guess island life is just a little too far fetched for me. I love novels set in the south about Southern women, so Gardenias touched me deeply.

So, it will be of no big surprise to tell you that last night I started my 'classic' novel for the year...To Kill A Mockingbird. It doesn't get much more Southern than that. I can even hear the drawl in my head as I read...and it sounds a lot like me!

Until next time!

Is It Ironical Or Comical? I Haven't Decided Yet

2011-08-21T21:21:00.000-05:00

Saturday, August 20
11:30 AM

Despite my desire to stay home on Saturday morning doing nothing after a busy week, I agreed to take Jim in to Houston to pick up his 1987 Chevy Blazer from the stereo place. He has already had it painted, new exhaust put on and now had it in for a new sound system.

The plan was for me to drop him off and then follow him home to make sure that the truck made the trip. He hasn't had anything done to the motor yet and it has been sitting up for a couple of years.

1:00 PM
Jim and I made a stop at Gander Mountain before heading over for a quick stop at the office. As we were pulling into the office parking lot, my truck began to make a weird jerking motion and the Check Engine light came on.

We had one of our suite mates check it out. He cleared the code so that we could get on down the road and the truck ran fine...but the Check Engine light stayed on.

As I dropped Jim off to pick up his truck, I told him that I wanted to go ahead and drop the truck at the dealership. I had this same problem last year about this time and when it struck, I barely made it into the parking lot from Highway 6. It is the sensor in the gas pedal that goes out and so the truck doesn't register that you are giving it gas.

It takes Jim a little bit to go through the orientation of his new stereo with a technician. By the time he is ready to go, I am a little less stressed and decide that I would rather just go on home. We can bring the truck in on Monday.

So, we head out.

1:30 PM
We are driving down Highway 6 and are almost to the freeway when the Avalanche starts making that lurching motion again.

So, I call Jim and tell him that he needs to lead me in to the dealership after all. It takes me over a mile to get the truck up to 40 MPH on the frontage road! I am so thankful that I never made it to the freeway!

We make it to the dealership and drop the truck for the service department to check out on Monday.

When I got back in Jim's 1987 Chevy Blazer with no air conditioning and LOUD exhaust system, I had to shake my head and laugh. The 2009 Chevy Avalanche was supposed to be the Rescue Vehicle...but instead it had to be rescued!!!!

Ironical? Comical? A little of both? I haven't decided yet!!!

As The Nest Empties

2011-08-20T08:54:00.000-05:00

School starts Monday. Will's Junior year is upon us. And while we have been super busy with the football practices all summer, time has been slipping past me.

Thursday night was Waller High School's Open House. A time to meet the teachers, check out lockers and get a new Student ID.

How many of these have I attended over the years? I can't even count!

As we made our way along the hallways, Will saying quick hello's to friends and former teachers, I was struck by one thought.

There is only ONE more Open House to go!

Our home may still be full of activity...and boy, has football ever kept us active this summer!...but things are changing. My kids are growing up. My baby is a Junior in High School!

Where has all the time gone?

Razzle Dazzle & All That Jazz

2011-08-19T08:52:00.001-05:00

Back in June, the girls and I (minus Kelli who was on a double date with her husband and in-laws)went to see the traveling Broadway musical, Chicago.

It was only in town for a week, so we grabbed up the first Saturday matinee tickets we would get. Teri, Derrick's mom, filled in for Kelli and we had a great time.

I think this was one of my favorite muscials so far. Definately in the Top 5. I loved that the whole cast was always on stage, even if sitting in chairs off to the side. They were involved in every scene and it was great fun to watch. I do have to say that I am glad that I had seen the film version first, it made it easier for me to follow along with the plot line.

This was our second muscial to attend in 2011...and we have had a blast at both. Though I think it was unanimous that we liked this one best!

If The Shoe Fits...

2011-08-18T11:47:00.000-05:00

When Jim and I share our adventures in South Africa with others, it never fails that we get the most feedback from this hunt:

Whether pictures on Facebook or someone inquiring of us in person, the responses we get to the zebra are always a mixed bag.

So, it was with great curiosity that I picked up this box of shoes I spotted at Robin's store, Mimosa Rose, last month. (The Mimosa Rose link will take you to their Facebook page.)

As if the name were not enough to pique my interest, look at how they were packaged.

And the bling? Can you see all that bling?

Needless to say, this pair of shoes found a home! With a name like that, zebra print and all that bling...what else could a girl do?

When Scripture Comes To Life

2011-08-15T10:21:00.001-05:00

"Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." Romans 12:15

A couple of weeks ago as the ladies in my summer Bible study group got together for our weekly meeting, I brought cupcakes to celebrate some one's birthday. As we had all been bemoaning the need to shed a few pounds, I joked that Scripture did tell us to 'rejoice with those who rejoice' as well as 'mourn with those who mourn'.

Little did I know at the time just how poignant that Scripture was about to become to me.

Friday before last I was Meagan's chauffeur for the day. There were several errands that she needed to run. Knowing that it was going to be a very difficult day for her and I both, I spent some extra time in prayer...and the Lord returned that Scripture reference to my memory.

You see, Friday we went to visit a florist to order the casket spray for Desi's funeral AND to Wal-Mart to order a birthday cake for Davin's party on Sunday. Our family is trying to learn to live in each moment as the Lord gives them to us. It is so tempting to just stay in the mourning and the asking of 'why'...but there are joys that we need to make sure we do not overlook too.

So, we celebrated the 4th birthday of our sweet grandson...and we cried a bottle of tears over the grave of our sweet granddaughter.

We also offered up sincere prayers of thanksgiving for the arrival of a dear friend's new grand baby, realizing now just how precious and fragile those moments really are.

We are daring to live fully right where we are...in this hard place. Or as Ann Voskamp calls it in her book One Thousand Gifts, 'eucharisteo' - giving thanks for God's grace gifts...because all is grace!

To The Love Of My Life

2011-08-12T12:55:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday!

You are my rock!

I love you with all my heart!

I hope this birthday is filled with love and laughter and a whole lot of Goode things!!!

It Is With A Heavy Heart That I Write This Post

2011-08-03T19:27:00.000-05:00

Desi Elise went home to be with Jesus on August 1, 2011.

She was born on August 2 at 7:30 pm.
She weighed 4 pounds, 9 ounces and was 19" long.

She looked just like her big brother Davin with full lips, chubby cheeks and a head full of black hair.

It was hard saying goodbye to our little princess before we ever got to meet her.

A service will be held next week to celebrate her homegoing.

Please keep our family in your prayers as we go through this difficult time. We have a hole in our hearts the size of Texas right now!

What Do You Do When Things Are Rambling Around In Your Head?

2011-07-30T08:49:00.000-05:00

I keep finding myself planning events in my head. Whether or not these events will ever happen...I have no clue! Yet they keep rolling around in my mind.

Ideas for this.

Ideas for that.

I should really contact so-and-so about doing this.

It's not like I am not already busy enough. And it will only get crazier as football season arrives. Yet, I find myself thinking about events I want to plan for work...for family...for friends.

I have already done most of the preparations for a contest I want to hold at the office. {HINT: It is heavily connected to a certain football game that will be played on Thanksgiving weekend.}

I have an idea for a get together with friends that I haven't seen in, like, FOREVER! As well as a big family event that I would really like to pull together for next year.

So, what do you think all this means?

Maybe it is just the result of cabin fever. You know we get that here in the Deep South too. It is just that ours comes in the summer and is due to the heat instead of the snow. It is definitely too hot to be outside these days!

Well, thanks for listening to me vent. I'll let you know how things turn out...or if it is all just a mirage!

Random Pictures From Family Vacation: Part 2

2011-07-29T08:05:00.003-05:00

A View From The Hammock

Sunset On Lake Conroe

Telling Secrets

Excuse Me, Please...It's Time For My Close Up!

Until next year! Goodbye from the lake!

Random Pictures From Family Vacation: Part 1

2011-07-28T07:50:00.000-05:00

Snack Time!!!!

Diving With Daddy

Hanging At The Dock

Swimming!!!

Wiggle Eyes

Break Out The Confetti, It Is Time To Celebrate!

2011-07-27T07:27:00.001-05:00

Guess who is 4 years old today?

Davin!

Nonna and Pappaw are wishing you plenty of lazy afternoon naps with your 'Best Friend'...

...many 'Cool Car' rides...

...and lots of smiles in the year to come!

Happy Birthday, Davin!!!!

We love you!

The Boys Of Summer

2011-07-26T07:58:00.002-05:00

Brian, Will and Josh went into this year'[s lake vacation with one common goal in mind.

LEARN HOW TO SKI!!!

...and they succeeded.

Okay, let's get this show on the road!
...or the water, as the case may be!

Brian's first time up on skis!

Don't slow down NOW, Dad!!!!

Here comes Will -- up, up, up!

He's out of the water for the first time!!

Doesn't he look quite pleased with himself?

Josh is fighting to get the skis on

But then he skied for fifteen minutes straight!

Slow it down a little bit, Jim!

And now for the funny pics of the day! (Sorry, guys! These were just too funny not to share!)

I think that is called a 'WIPEOUT'!

"I'm done!"

Will getting drowned in his own wake.

Tubing!!!

2011-07-25T08:26:00.002-05:00

Jim and I picked up a tube while we were in WalMart on Sunday evening. It took Josh and Will forty-five minutes to fill it up with air at the local gas station...and who knows how many quarters...but by Tuesday we were tubing!

Jim and Derrick, in the boat
Brian, Will and Josh, in the tube

This was my first experience in a tube.
I tried to lay back like Jim...but he is longer than I am, so it didn't work very comfortably for me.
But, boy, was it ever fun!!!!
I cannot remember the last time I laughed so much!

Kelli getting ready to tube.
She had dived off the boat to show Brooke that there was nothing in the water to be afraid of.

Maddux's first tube ride!
And he is not sure about this either!

Auntie (Bri), Maddux and Kelli...tubing on Lake Conroe!
They are waving at Brooke, who was crying on the boat.

Kelli and Matt
If I am not mistaken, I think this was Matt's first ride on a tube also.

Me and Will
I made him swear not to flip me off like he did his brother the night before!
I finally figured out that it is much easier to sit on the sides than it is to lay down!

Bri, Kelli and Will
Bri didn't last long. Sitting in the bottom of the tube to keep from getting knocked off by her crazy siblings aggravated her prior injuries from the horse throwing incident.

So, we let the CRAZY two have at it.
It is dangerous to put Kelli and Will together at something like this.
Neither one of them have any fear!

Will

Brooke's first tube ride with her Mom and Dad
She smiled before it was over...but she was so ready to get back in the boat when we stopped!

Kelli, Maddux and Matt
Enjoying the last ride of the day!

Pictures From The "Jim-N-I"

2011-07-24T08:10:00.000-05:00

That's what I call our boat. The "Jim-N-I" -- as in Gemini; get it?

Okay, enough bad puns and on to the pictures.

I warn you that there are no pictures of Meagan in this post, as she was not getting on the boat 7 months pregnant with Desi. Nor are there any pictures of Kelli, because if Kelli went out in the boat...she was in the water!

Josh, Davin and Derrick
Don't know what happened to Captain Davin from last family vacation.
This year, he wanted NONE of it! He even said they went TOO FAST!
What has gotten into that boy?

First Mate Will
Again, he is the one whose job it is to get us launched and landed!
Of course, that also means he never gets left behind at the house!

Matt and Maddux
Getting ready for Maddux's first boat ride!

Captain Jim
Man, he sure is handsome!!!

Maddux enjoyed the ride...even though he wasn't real sure about it.

Since the Jim-N-I is mainly used as a fishing boat, we did not have the mandatory red flag for letting others know that we had people in the water. So, we improvised with one of Jim's t-shirts!

This was not Brooke's first ride in the boat...and she did NOT want to go!

But by the end of our trip, she was all smiles as she sat by her Pappaw!

Josh is part time Co-captain and part time First Mate.
And full time boat mechanic! Ha!

Bri wasn't able to do much more than ride and lay out to tan, due to her still badly sprained ankle.
Last year, she was fresh off her walker from the car wreck that fractured her pelvis.
Next year we are keeping her wrapped in bubble wrap until after vacation!

Brian, enjoying the shade of the canopy on a hot afternoon.
He received a few boating lessons on this trip from his dad so that he could Co-captain too.

Chillin' On The Patio

2011-07-23T08:25:00.009-05:00

After our arrival on Sunday afternoon, Jim and I did the Wal-Mart run. By the time we got unpacked and all the groceries put away, I was too tired to cook. So, some of the kids went to Popeye's and picked us up some fried chicken. We ate and jumped back into the pool.

By the time it got really dark, we were tired. So we just kicked back on the patio for a long visit.

From L to R: Brooke, Meagan, Maddux, Kelli, Davin and Brian

We had some music coming through the intercom system,
so Jim took his littlest princess for a spin around the dance floor.

Davin and Uncle Brian "sharing" a Popsicle.
I don't think Uncle Brian got a single bite.

Brianne and Josh listening to Derrick spin a tale.

Jim, Will, Derrick and I were out there too. We were just all sitting on the same side...and I didn't get up to take pictures from another angle. WalMart wore me out!!!

It is a good thing we decided to hang out on the patio, because it wasn't long before we noticed a lot of boats on the lake in front of the house. Lake Conroe had their 4th of July fireworks on the 3rd!

Thank goodness Brian took a photography class last semester! I can never get night pictures to come out right!

It was a beautiful ending to a beautiful day!

An Afternoon In The Pool

2011-07-22T14:25:00.000-05:00

Okay, let me just be upfront with you. We had a VERY UNEVENTFUL family vacation. Just what the doctor ordered! We swam in the pool and played in the lake and ate and watched movies and had a game of spades or two...but that was IT!

So, I am just posting a few pictures over the next few days so that you can see the family kicking back and enjoying ourselves!

The first thing we always do at the lake house is to hit the swimming pool and this year was no different. Here are a few pictures of the grand babies playing in the pool! Enjoy!

Brooke and Kelli playing in the water

This is a BIG one y'all.
Last year, Brooke would not get off the steps and really didn't even want to be there.
This year? Full face under water!
Yay, for our Big Girl!!!

Davin diving right in!

Davin was 'It'

...as in, Davin was the ball being thrown around by Uncle Brian and Duck-Duck!

Maddux with 'Mater and Guido
Although he loved the water last year...this year?
Not so much!

But he would occasionally get to playing with Pappaw or one of the Uncles and forget how much he dislike it!

What Are Friends For?

2011-07-18T15:40:00.000-05:00

On November 16, 2001, Brian and I went to see a new movie with Stacy and Tim. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was the name of that film. Brian had read the book (and since back then, I read what they did, so had I) and enjoyed it. I think Tim had as well...and so, as Stacy and I were talking one day we decided to invite our boys on a double date with their moms.

We had a great time that evening. We laughed as we stood in line with adults dressed in character for the afternoon viewing. Afterwards, we discussed the things that had been left out of the movie and whether or not we thought it affected the story line. Stacy thought it was a great movie without reading the books, so we reasoned that in the end it didn't make a huge difference.

Fast forward to November 2002 and the premiere of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, I don't think we were able to make it opening night due to scheduling conflicts, but the four of us met up at the theatre once again for a Mom and Son double date night on opening weekend. We had a great time and deemed that this would be our tradition for the remaining movies.

Unfortunately, by the time that Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was released in June of 2004, the boys had lives of their own and no longer needed to attend movies with their Mothers. They preferred to go with their friends instead. So, being creative mothers...we took our youngest children, William and Tressa instead! It wasn't opening weekend, it took us a little longer to get a date on the calendar...but we went none the less.

Busy lives took their toll after that and we were unable to make another movie together. I went with Will, Brian and Brianne to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in November, 2005...but after that, they went without me. Preferring to go with friends or together at times that didn't work for me.

I watched The Order of the Phoenix, The Half Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows: Part 1 either on DVD or on pay per view at home.

I was determined that I was going to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in the theatre on opening weekend. Jim was going out of town for a golf tournament, so there was nothing to distract me from attending. (He isn't a 'go to the theatre' type and could not care less about Harry Potter if he did go!)

I said something to the boys on Tuesday night about going only to find out that they already had plans to go with friends to the very first midnight showing. So, I determined to go -- alone, if need be.

Instead, I called Stacy to see if she wanted to go with me. She hadn't seen any of the last three movies, so I wasn't sure she would. But she took pity on me...and so we closed out the series just as we had started it all those years ago...together!

Thanks, Stacy!

A true friend will accompany you to a movie...even when your children desert you!

Strange Squash

2011-07-15T13:26:00.000-05:00

The day after we returned from our lake house vacation, Jim came in from the garden with this little surprise.

A Siamese squash! I think this one needs a special recipe all its own!

A Homemade Life

2011-07-14T15:17:00.001-05:00

On Monday night, I finally finished Molly Wizenberg's book, A Homemade Life: stories and recipes from my kitchen table.

I was drawn in from the very first page when Molly quoted her father, Burg, as saying, "You know, we eat better at home than most people do in restaurants!" Burg and My Hero would have gotten along marvelously.

Jim says this same thing to me at least once a week...and usually even more often than that. I just love it when he falls into bed at night and sighs, "Kings don't have it any better." It makes me feel like a million bucks...because I know that he really means it.

Molly's book is a memoir written after she lost her father to cancer. Each chapter is a different memory and concludes with a recipe associated with that memory.

As I thought about telling you about the book, I debated with myself as to how much I liked it. But the more I think about it (and it has taken me three days to ponder on it), the more I realize how much so.

The stories are not all riveting or poignant. Some are simple and some are almost 'boring' (for lack of a better word). I have yet to try a single recipe from the book. Most are French or gourmet, and that just isn't my style of cooking. Even those that are somewhat universal seem to have at least one ingredient that would take a trip to a specialty store to procure. Yet...I still enjoyed it.

I think my appeal to this book is summed up in it's title, A Homemade Life. After all, no one's life story is always riveting or even poignant. If it were that person would go mad from overwhelming drama and stimulation! Either that or they exaggerated about it. And who wants to read a memoir that is a total misrepresentation?

No, Molly reveals herself...her family...her heritage...her life, without turning it into a caricature to keep you reading. AKA: Homemade.

And while the recipes themselves did not inspire me to give them a try, I found that while I was reading I was motivated to try new things that did fit into our family's dining style. I have even begun to cook 'off-recipe' from time to time. That is HUGE in our house, people! Jim cooks by feel...and I cook by recipe, that is just the way it has always been. At least until now. I even added red pepper flakes to our honey garlic pork chops the other night just because it sounded good, and it was the first time I had ever tried the recipe. MERCY!

And who can't enjoy reading an author who, when speaking about the 80's, refers to the mullet. "If you think about it, mullets really were a smart, well-meaning invention. Anyone with long hair can tell you that it gets in your face sometimes. Mullets handily took care of this by cropping the front short while leaving the back alone. With a mullet, you got the best of both worlds: long hair without having to choke on it."

Maybe I enjoyed the book so much because when I think back over my life I often associate certain memories with food. My Grandma Fulton's Chocolate Fudge Frosting summons up Sunday lunches and games of Spades...My Grandma Jenkins' homemade biscuits with chocolate syrup which I still miss every time I think about it...my mother's Green Bean Casserole with cheese that indicates the holidays have arrived...my mother-in-law's homemade birthday cakes with a candle on top (even now that we are too old to put on all of the candles without catching the house on fire)...my sister's talent of serving appetizers from ingredients she has on hand at a moment's notice...my brother-in-law's Memphis-style ribs which shout summer family picnics...and my sister-in-law's ability to serve our whole 'herd' simply but beautifully.

"...to love and be loved", that's why I cook. Thanks for the reminder, Molly!

Making Do

2011-07-12T14:44:00.000-05:00

We're back!

Actually we got home on Sunday afternoon...but, I have been trying to play catch-up at work so I haven't been on the World Wide Web much.

We had a great family vacation in which everyone was able to partake. Not all of us at once...but all of us at one point and time, at least.

We ate and swam and fished and ate and skied and ate and played pool and ate and watched Harry Potter movies and ate some more.

I prided myself on not leaving the lake house from the time that Jim and I got back with TWO shopping carts worth of food from Wal-Mart until we checked out on Sunday morning. (We were feeding anywhere from 10-17 people a day!) The rest of the crew took turns making daily trips to Wal-Mart...but I managed to stay put for the whole week! (We went through 6 gallons of milk in 6 days! That's a lot of Wal-Mart trips!)

I know I told you that I would try to post pictures while we were gone, but the wi-fi wasn't working while we were there so I didn't get the chance. I will try to do so later this week...as soon as I find my cameras! Ha!

After doing all of that shopping for the lake house, I am trying NOT to go to the grocery store at all this week! So, last night I had to get quite creative in making dinner. But it turned out so good that I wanted to share my recipe for last night's 'make do' dinner! (Yes, Robin, you can quit reading now! The rest is just a recipe!) {Wink & Grin!!!}

Taco Pasta Bake
2 pounds of ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 pound of rotini pasta (I used the tri-colored)
2 packages taco seasoning
1 1/3 cup water
1 small can of green chilies
2 cups of grated cheddar cheese
1 cup of grated Monterrey Jack cheese
Sliced black olives
Sour cream
Guacamole

Brown ground beef and onion in large skillet. While beef is browning, cook pasta according to package directions.

Once beef is browned, drain any remaining fat. Add taco seasoning, water and green chilies. Let cook down but not dry.

Drain pasta and return to pot. Stir beef mixture into pasta and fold in 2 cups of cheese.

Spray casserole dish with Pam. Transfer pasta and beef mixture to casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Top casserole with slice black olives and let stand for 5 minutes. Serve with sour cream and guacamole garnishes, as desired.

Jim said I should have used the leftover cheese dip instead of the shredded cheese...and he could be right. All I know is that we had very little left over and not one person complained about our 'make do' dinner. Tonight we are having honey garlic pork chops. Sounds good, right?

Vacation Time!!

2011-07-03T13:54:00.000-05:00

It is finally time for our family VACATION!!!

We are heading out to the lake in just a few hours for a week of sun, water, fishing, pool, laughing and probably a few arguments thrown in for good measure.

I may not post at all while we are gone...but I hope to at least put up a 'picture of the day' while we are there.

So, if I don't see you for the next week:

I hope you have a wonderful Independence Day weekend filled family, food and fun!!!

Though He Slay Me...

2011-07-01T19:18:00.000-05:00

...yet will I hope in Him. Job 13:15

Those words are on a loop that keeps playing in my mind.

Yesterday was not a great day for me...it wasn't even a good one. I have these days, a few at a time, once a month. Sometimes they last longer than a few, depending on my stress level and my spiritual health. This month, we are going on a week!

So, to put it boldly out there, last night I had a 'foot stomping angry meltdown'...over the state of our kitchen.

Yes, the kitchen!

Let me begin by telling you that I had envisioned my evening going something like this:

I would come in from work having stopped at the grocery store for coffee and the last few items I needed for making dinner. I would walk into my kitchen, put the groceries away, walk out to the garden to pick a few fresh vegetables to go with dinner and then I would prepare a wonderfully, beautiful meal to which our family would all gather around the table and declare their undying devotion to my Suzie Homemaker Skills in the kitchen. We would laugh and share about our day and bond over this meal prepared with love.

As it turned out, I came home from the grocery store to find my kitchen a wreck and all of my children mysteriously missing. Okay, not all of them were missing...but they were all missing in action for helping me get the kitchen cleaned!

So, as any woman worth her grain of salt would do, I turned on my husband...who, bless his heart, was the only one within screaming distance at the time. How that man has put up with me for thirty years, I do not know. But that is a topic best left to a post all it's own!

After my 'foot stomping angry meltdown' (the very words from my journal), followed by an intense discussion and a humble apology to my husband, I cleaned the kitchen and cooked dinner. We sat down to eat after nine at night...but we ate a hot, homecooked meal. Maybe not Suzie Homemaker style, but fresh herbs were included in the preparation!

Dinner went well and the kids helped by cleaning up the kitchen while I prepared a huge batch of squash for the freezer. I finally slipped into the bedroom to get ready for bed around eleven.

I felt the need to sit down with a new Bible study that I am starting with some ladies this summer. We will be meeting and discussing The Frazzled Female by Cindi Wood. Needless to say, I was quite frazzled at this point and I confessed it all in prayer before I began to read the first day's homework.

Y'all, I did not get passed the Scripture reading! I was in tears!

It is a story that we as women are familiar...but this time it was so fresh and so real that I felt like I was reading it for the first time.

Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Y'all, when I got to that last section, I couldn't even finish reading it aloud. In my soul I heard, "Fonda, Fonda".

As I read back through the passage, more slowly and deliberately, I saw so many similarities to my current situation.

I opened my home to these near-adult children of ours.

I am the one who gets distracted by all the preparations and want them done without me having to ask for any help.

I went running to Jim tattling on the kids much like Martha tattled on Mary. And truth be told (why stop now, huh?), I was tattling on Jim to God as I stomped around that kitchen.

I accused God of not caring about me or how I am feeling...taking care of everyone else, I should get some accolades, don't you think?

I was worried and upset by many things...I could give you a laundry list half a mile long, if you could stand to listen.

But...only one thing is needed. Only. One. And that 'thing' is not desired or recommended, it is NEEDED!

I haven't been choosing what is Better...and the things I have been choosing are quickly swept away by french fries left on the table or shoes strewn in the doorway.

I didn't get any further in the study last night. He had slain me. He laid bare my heart right before my very eyes. I jotted a prayer in my journal and retired for the night.

This morning, He spoke to me tenderly through a devotional I read...and another that I listened to on the way to work. Tears were fresh and easy to fall as He reminded me that even this pain I feel right now, it is meant for good. It is meant to bless and not curse. It is meant to heal and not to kill.

And if that wasn't enough, this afternoon I opened a birthday card from my Mother and Father-in-law. It has a keepsake card on the front that reads:

Lord, I have too much to do, but it's all important. Help me to set priorities so that I don't feel lost in the pace and the pressure. Give me the wisdom and energy to accomplish what's necessary without wasting time or effort. And help me make the best use of my day, remembering that time is a precious gift from You.

Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him. He is the One thing...the Only thing...the Better thing...and He will never leave me, nor forsake me.

Through The Eyes Of An (Almost) Four Year Old

2011-06-30T07:41:00.001-05:00

On Tuesday morning, Derrick and Davin dropped by the office while Derrick was having some work done on his car. As is usual for an (almost) four year old, Davin got a little bored after the first ten or fifteen minutes of greeting everyone. I had a digital camera on my desk, so I told him to go take pictures. And so, he did!

The first thing he did was adjust the settings, which caused his pictures to come out like this.

Once we got it back to automatic, he did a lot better.

As you can tell, his Momma and Daddy were his favorite subjects to photograph!

I enjoyed seeing the office through his eyes. It makes you wonder what else they view differently. I think we might try this little experiment at the Lake house next week with all three grandchildren!

What To Do With Zucchini

2011-06-29T07:52:00.004-05:00

Are y'all tired of me talking about food yet?

Since I finished posting our pictures and memories of South Africa, it seems like food is all I ever talk about around here!

Please bear with me as I use this blog as my memory one more time...and I post another recipe that I do not want to forget when next summer rolls around.

A few weeks ago I made the Zucchini and Feta Cheese Souffles from Better Homes and Gardens website. Jim watched me doing the prep work and told me that I was getting far too complicated in my cooking. He insinuated that I was trying to be more like Amanda E., our Master Chef South Africa...and he was absolutely right. I loved how special she made us feel at her table each evening. Not everything has to be gourmet, but she presented it in such a fashion that you thought it was.

And so, with Amanda in mind, I give you:

Better Homes and Gardens Zucchini and Feta Cheese Souffles
2 cups shredded zucchini
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
4 eggs, separated

Place shredded zucchini in a colander, sprinkler with the salt and toss lightly. Let stand for 30 minutes. Rinse and drain. Squeeze out excess liquid; set aside.

In a saucepan melt butter. Stir in flour and mustard. Add milk. Cook and stir until bubbly. Remove from heat. Stir in zucchini and cheeses. In a large bowl, beat yolks with fork. Gradually stir in zucchini mixture.

In a mixing bowl beat whites with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Fold half of the whites into zucchini mixture. Gently fold remaining whites into zucchini mixture. Spoon into 6 ounce greased souffle dishes or custard cups.

Bake in 375 degree F oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until a knife inserted near center comes out clean. Serve immediately. Makes 6 side dish servings.

And, might I add that as soon as Jim tasted it all of that 'complicated' talk went right out of my husband's head! It suddenly became a "Keeper" recipe and he suggested that it would be best served at an Adult-type meal. Will ate two custard cups worth, but Bri and Brian weren't thrilled with it. Of course, neither of them are big egg-eaters either. Brian said it was 'okay', but he likes the stuffed summer squash better...and Bri...well, she just gave hers to her daddy to eat!

I'm still waiting on those summer squash recipes from you guys! Heaven knows that we have them running out of our ears right now!