Me time!

Last week was a busy one. I finished my Communications class on Thursday with a final speech. I was sure glad to get that over with! Friday was fall break for the University. I was able to sleep in. I was such a yuck day - rainy. It was nice to just stay in.

Saturday morning I left for Nashville. It was "me" time. I had been waiting for this day for quite some time. I was going to the Grand Ole Opry for the very first time!!! The trip down was uneventful. I listened to a book on cd and really enjoyed just driving by myself.

I arrived in Nashville around 3:30 and checked into my hotel. My friends send me a text message to see if I had gotten in yet. Several people that I knew were also going to be going to the Opry that night and we had made plans to meet up before the show! I showered and went to pick up Katie (she came in from Georgia) and we headed to the Opry.

I was just amazed at the place. She took my picture in from of the sign (see above) and then we toured the museum. To see all that history in one place left me speechless. If you have any kind of love for country music, like I do, you need to see it - even once. There is so much there to appreciate. So many legends that have come before the great musicians that we have now. If it weren't for these folks...there would be no country music!

Okay, anyway, it was time to finally get in line. I got to see my other friends (Dianne & Melinda)!The reason for being at the Opry was #1 to see Rodney Atkins (of course) and to see Craig Morgan get inducted into the Opry as a member. The show was aired live on GAC and it was really neat to see how the tv show is aired. I later watched it and it was completely different than what I saw that night.

John Conlee giving Craig Morgan his Opry Award

I saw many different artists that night besides Rodney & Craig...legend Little Jimmy Dickens, Larry Gatlin, Jeanne Sealy, Jack Greene, new artist Kristy Lee Cook (making her Opry debut), Hal Ketchum, the Whites, Chuck Wicks, and many others. It was the most amazing experience.

Little Jimmy Dickens


Larry Gatlin

Kristy Lee Cook

Chuck Wicks

I stayed in Nashville for the night and drove home Sunday. The weather was perfect and traffic couldn't have been any better. I arrived home at 2:30 and was exhaused. I don't sleep well when I am out of town, but I completely enjoyed my time away.

While I was away, Tristan had a race Saturday night. It was a memorial race that was 150 laps. Tristan came in 2nd and was able to lead for 5 of the 150 laps. The race was between him and another driver. I guess it was a pretty close race. Too bad I missed it.

We had dinner with my sister-in-law and her fiance' Sunday night.

Well, it's back to reality - work today and a new class starts tomorrow. I had a great weekend and can't wait to go back to Nashville in November!

AU Homecoming

AU's Homecoming was Saturday. We had an office decorating contest and although ours was by far the best we didn't win. Pretty sore subject. I will put a picture up later.

Homecoming was nice. Cold but a great turnout. Tyler decided he wanted to go with me to help out. The poor child - there is no hope - he looks just like me.

Have a great week!

Take me back to the 80's

I decided to go to Walmart the other day. I usually don't shop at Walmart because Meijer is closer but right now I am mad at Meijer (long story - no one wants to hear).
Anyway, as the boys and I were walking from one side of the store to the other we passed something that I thought I would never see again. At first, I thought they were socks...but nooooo they were LEGWARMERS!!! Seriously.

I never figured out the purpose of the those in the 80's - so why are they back? Any clues...anyone? Since the legwarmers are back, does that mean so are perms and big hair?

Beautiful day

This was probably one of the most beautiful weekends that we have had in a long time. It will probably be the best one that we will have until next spring. The temperature was just right and the sun was shining all weekend.

We had two football games Saturday afternoon. Caleb's team won their game and finished with a record of 3 - 3. Last year they finishe 0 - 6, so this year was so much better. Caleb made two amazing plays at the end of the game - he was quite the hero. It took me several minutes to get to him - he had several "fans" (parents) congratulating him on his big plays. We will start the tourney either on Wednesday or Saturday.

Logan's team also won their game and have another one next weekend. I didn't make it to that one since I was at Caleb's game.

Saturday night found us at the races. Tristan has been racing in two classes (blue and gold). He typically races in blue but has been practicing in the gold class - kind of getting his feet wet for next year. He did great. He finished 5th in blue (he spun out with 3 laps to go - he said it was spin out or hit the wall, so he chose to spin out). He finished 1st in gold! Way to go, Tristan!!

Sunday, I worked on homework and was able to not only catch up on what I needed to, but I was able to get ahead for the next two weeks! I feel so accomplished with getting that done! Now, I can spend more time with my boys this week!

Thanks to everyone that has been praying for my family. I sincerely appreciate it. My family is so important to me and although I can't be close to some of my family members because of distance, that doesn't mean that I am not close to them. Life has been very difficult lately for many in my family so again, I thank each of you that has sent a few prayers their way.

And to my family, all of my family, I love you! You may not be related to me by blood, you may just be my friend, you may be my co-worker, you may be in my life because of strange circumstances, still, you are still my family. I love you!

My dad

Have you hugged your dad lately? I haven't seen mine in a few days but am going to stop and see him tomorrow. I almost lost my dad thirteen years ago to a major heart attack - the doctors told us he wouldn't make it to the end of the year. Ten years later - he was having another major surgery - to have his heart reconstructed - including 7 bypasses. Again, doctors weren't sure he would make it. He has also had a pacemaker/defibrillator placed in his chest - we almost lost him with that one - but again, he defied all odds! I love my dad and I don't tell him enough! He is an amazing man!

If you haven't hugged your dad or your parents or your family....go do it today :)

What a weekend!

Last week was not good...so I was glad for the weekend.

I spent Friday night hidden away working on homework.

Saturday afternoon found me at my son's football game. It was a much needed diversion from the stresses of the week and my school work. Last year, his team didn't win a game. His coach doesn't focus so much on winning and losing - but on the team work. He develops the children's abilities and teaches them the fundamentals. It is so refreshing to see - because so many of today's coaches have lost sight that that is their job. He is an intense coach, he expects them to come to practices and games and give 100%, as he should expect it. But he encourages them, he congratulates them and he praises them. He doesn't focus on what they have done wrong - but what they have done right and how they can improve upon that and how they can use their team-mates to do it even better next time.

My son (#57) plays defensive end and is usually all over the field - taking out opponents left and right. Saturday was no exception - he played his heart out. This year their team has won 1 game so far. Third quarter and they are down 7 to 12. The coach puts my son in on offense as well as defense at the beginning of the 4th quarter. It was amazing to watch these kids come together. They pulled off the win 14 - 12! Way to go Wolverines!!!

Back home Saturday night and back to hiding to do more homework (I am a little bit behind and need to play catch up). Sunday found me back in hiding working on homework again, but I was also doing laundry and the boys were helping with other housework. I ended up getting caught up on my homework and getting my laundry completely down. My kitchen is clean and my kids are fed!!

WOW!!! I feel great!

What a day - go make a memory

I had one of those days...the kind where you think it just can't get any worse and it does. The kind where I just need to sit and hug my boys and make a new memory.

When we finally got home from the football game and they were working on homework we were talking about things that they used to do. Some of my favorite and not so favorite memories are:

The way Tyler used to say flyswatter..."flaaashwater". He sounded like he was raised straight in the heart of the south. I am still trying to figure out the south of where!

The way when Tyler was little he would want to watch the ultrasound video of Caleb and he would say "I want to see my little brudder's heawt beat". On the video the doctor check Caleb's heart and he had turned the volumn up so you could see Caleb's heart and hear it beating. Tyler loved watching it.

The way when Caleb was a baby and Tyler would let him suck on his chin...gross I know but still one of my favorite memories.

The sound of my boys laughing - the big deep belly laugh. Even to this day - I love hearing them laugh.

The way, when Tyler was a baby, he would want to sleep beside my and would fall asleep rubbing my face.

The way Caleb had to have someone playing with him all the time - he still does.

The deep blue of both of my boys eyes.

I laughed when I thought about the time Tyler stuck the toy arrow (you know the kind with the suction cup on the end) to the TV and tried to remove it with his mouth - unsuccessfully. This was an emergency room trip! He ended up with a large whole in the back of his throat - it healed on its own.

I laughed again when I thought about the time I had to pull off of the side of the road because Caleb had stuck a jawbreaker (the mini-gobstopper kind) up his nose and couldn't get it out. With a little innovation - mom to the rescue - out it came! Thanks to the big brother for that idea.

My heart hurt when I thought about the time Tyler got hit in the back of the head with a metal baseball bat by a friend not paying attention and it was a trip to the emergency room. Fortunately it was only a knot and nothing major. Just a major scare for mom!

Both boys have broken their collar bones in the last three years - but again, we are fine.

My point is - my memories with my boys are priceless and wonderful - whether they are good or scarry. I need to remember them and love them. Hug your babies, hug your family. They are too important to let the days slip by without letting them know it.

Go make some memories.

Let it go

I woke up this morning to the song by Tim McGraw "Let it Go". The words I woke up to were I know, I know I know I've been forgiven. They made me actually wake up and think. Have I really been forgiven? Do I really let things go?

As I drove to work, I heard it again. We all get caught up in our lives. We get frustrated when things don't go right. But we need to just let it go. We need to remember that we answer to a higher power. We need to look to the Lord when things get us down. Seek Him for our answers. Trust Him. I don't do that often enough...especially now.

Things are very difficult for me right now but I am managing. Or so I think I am. I try my best to let things go. To make the best of every day. To enjoy my time with my children and my husband because they are very important to me. They are my rock and if it weren't for them I would be lost. But more importantly if it weren't for Him I would definitely be lost. Lost in a different way. I need to turn to Him instead of "managing" on my own.

I do know that I have been forgiven, but I do need to do a better job of letting it go or giving it to Him.

Can you let it go?