Crazy Mixed Up!!!

The title for the blog is because there will be a variety of things talked about in this blog that are totally unrelated.  Now I know most of you thought from the title that I was going to talk about myself.  LOL

First let me say that I love remodeling.  Not that I am actually doing any of the work, but I love it.  We (by we, I mean my Uncle Harold) is taking a closet and making us a half bath. I am thrilled to pieces.  If you are a multi bathroom family, you might not be so thrilled, but we are a one bath family right now; and it doesn't always work.  I have loved watching the process of our little house transform right before our very eyes.  The only problem is before we get through with one thing, I want to do something else.  LOL

This is the end of our home before our improvements began.  The poor wreath did not help at all.  LOL

This is the finished product of our remodeling.  New siding, new windows and new doors.

Our flowers were very pretty this spring.  I have loved watching them bloom.  I have raised my windows (only since I have new ones) and let the cool spring feeling air come in, but I noticed our pine trees are brimming with yellow balls of pollen...so maybe no more raised windows for us.

 Our daffodils that we planted the first fall we moved here were gorgeous this year.

 We planted this daffodils our first there as well, and my cow (which I love) was a yard sale find for only $1.

 Up close and personal with the flowers.  They had such vibrant color this year.

Our gorgeous yellow bell bushes.  They always seem to show off.  My grandmother planted these when she lived there.  If I am not mistaken, I think these are cutting off her mom's bushes.  My great grandmother died at age 91 in 1979 (I think), so I think that it is pretty cool these bushes are a product of some that she had.  Family heritage in a plant.  I must admit that we haven't been that diligent about working in our yard.  The reason is, every time we had the yard looking great the house with all the rotten siding made it look horrible.  It seemed to be a wasted effort.  But now that our house looks great on the outside, I am excited about planting and doing more things outside.

My father in law seems to have improved on his new dementia medicine.  Sometimes a little too well.  I say that because hurdles that we have over come before like, no driving and someone else handling finances has resurfaced.  We thought these were things that were firm in his mind, but the medicine has worked so well that we are facing these hurdles again.  We have found (thanks to my sister in law) that typing a letter to him works.  He will reread it over and over again, so things stick in his mind.  This has saved us from having to repeat ourselves.  I was proud of him today as he realized that the time, day and date was wrong on the clock.  You would have to leave here to know how many times a day Mark and I tell him the day and the date.  We are thankful for any progress he makes.

Our sweet niece Anna just found out that she is having twins.  We are super duper delighted.  They are due in September.  Some of you may know that Mark and I lost twin girls on September 15, 1994.  I would be so excited if her twins were born on this day.  We can't choose these things, but I can hope.  She found out that they are identical, so we are getting two of something.  We are so excited for her and Mitchell.

We are so happy for Anna and Mitchell on their expectant arrival of twins.  We will be praying hard for the safety of their arrival.

I have had a noisy visitor at my house lately.  I can't really say much because I feed him, so I guess he won't go away now.  Meet...Chicken and Dumplings.

This is our neighbor's rooster who spends more time at our house than his.  He is funny!! He eats birdseed along with Willy (our squirrel) and the birds.  He doesn't crow in the morning, he waits to around 3 pm.  I love watching him strut around our yard.  He is a hero though.  A week ago, a hawk swooped down and almost had a small hen, but Chicken and Dumplings ran over and spurred and pecked that hawk.  He let the hen go, and Chicken and Dumplings carried her to safety under the grape vine.  A true hero in his own right.

Fun Day!!!

Yesterday Mark and I decided to go the movies.  Note that this only happens a few times a year.  There is never nothing we want to see.  But Big Momma's Like Father Like Son was coming out and I really wanted to see it.

I loved the movie...it was so funny.  The only thing that I didn't like was the price of the movie and popcorn.  It cost us around $35 to see the movie and have popcorn.  This is really why we don't go and see that many movies.  We could have went and ate a nice dinner or bought an outfit.  Geez!!

Then after the movie, while we were already in Mayfaire; I decided to spend my Valentine's gift card.  I was happy I did...SALES!!!  My first stop was Bath and Body Works.

Buy 3 and get 3 free.  WOOHOO!! I was in smelling good heaven.  I got the whole Hawaii Coconut collection.  I got some for my birthday and I love it.  I also got the Dancing Waters and Bali Mango.  I am going to smell like a fruit salad. LOL

Then it was over to Belk's to spend my other gift card.  I had planned on buying sandals or some capri's.  That did not happen.  I barely made it through the front door before I had my purchases in my hand.

This was my favorite purchase an Etienne Aigner bag for only $7.50.  It may be last year's bag, but it will be this year's bag for me.  When you can get a $68 bag for less than $10, then that is a great deal.

I next got a gray beaded bracelet and earrings to match at outfit that I already have for next to nothing.  You take 50% off the listed price, which means I got the earrings for $5 and the bracelet for $6.  I love it!! Plus I still have money left on my card.

After I spent my Valentine's gift, we went and ate Hibachi, and meet some of the nicest people that sat at our grill.  It was such a fun day and it was beautiful out to make it even better.  A day spent with Mark is always a great day.

Surprise!!!

This was the beautiful surprise that I got when I went around the house.  Nestled at the end of our house between a bush was this yellow daffodil.  Such a nice surprise.  I just had to pick it!!!

Last One!!!

Frank Buckles turns 110 year old today.  WOW!!!  What is more amazing is that he is last surviving  American veteran of WWI.  He currently lives in Charles Town, WV and lives independantly.  He still drives...not sure how well, but he is able to care for himself and get around.  What a blessing is that?  He lied to get into service at the age of 16.  He was captured by the Japanese in the 40's and spent 3 and half years in a prisoner of war camp.  While in the prison camp, he became malnourished and weighed under 100 pounds.  He served in the army for 28 years.  Today, I salute Mr. Buckles on his service to our country and fighting for us.

 Frank Buckles at age 16.

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. BUCKLES!!!

THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE

Valentine's, Birthday and Babies!!!

Today started with me and my friend Kelly celebrating my birthday.  Yes, I said birthday!! She had the flu when my birthday rolled around and we didn't get to celebrate together.  So today was the day we hit the town and celebrated the big 4-0.  We did a little shopping and ate at Flaming Amy's Bowl, which you can see my thoughts on that on my new blog, Port City Restaurant Report.  We had a grand time, and she showered me with gifts...she is greatest friend. 

After returning home, Mark and I exchanged gifts and I was surprised with roses and gift cards.  I love him so much!!

Later went to Nikki's Hibachi Steak House for dinner.  I love it there, and especially the half price hibachi entrees from 4 to 6 pm.  We had a nice dinner and enjoying each other's company.

On the way home, we got a phone call with wonderful news.  Our niece Anna and her husband are expecting not one baby, but 2 babies....she is having twins.  We are so excited.  I can hardly wait for September to get here.  We love you two!!!

This has been a day of celebrating birthdays, Valentine's Day and new life!! We are so very blessed.

EMERGENCY!!!

I went to the emergency room tonight for my swollen lip...again.  This was after I had been earlier today to the Urgent Care for the same thing.  As I check in they call to the back with these words, "I have a 40 year old female..".  A 40 YEAR OLD....okay, so maybe turning 40 hasn't exactly hit me yet.  My birthday has come and gone, but the age 40 has come to stay....whether I like it or not.  I keep saying that I just had my "BIG" birthday, but I never actually say the number...denial...I know.  Even though some say, "You don't look 40."....well, I am.  Usually these are 80 some year old women squinting through bifocals and cataracts who are ranting about how young I look.  I have a whole year to get use to the new age, but tonight it just kind of hit me between the eyes.  As she hung the phone up, I almost forgot my real emergency, except that the breath was leaving me due to the fact that my mouth was swelling shut.  So, tonight there was a 40 year old female in room one.  Oh yeah, that was me.

They Have My Life!!!

It started when I was in elementary school.  I fell in love with the prairie life, or the pioneer life after reading the Little House on the Prairie books.  There was something facinating about that way of life.  Raising livestock and your own vegetables, making bread, sewing clothing, making quilts, tending crops in the field and going fishing with a cane pole.  Then reality set in and prairie life didn't look so appealing.  I mean going to an outhouse, no air conditioner, no running water, no electricity, getting up at 3 am and going to bed at 6 pm and no internet...what was I thinking.  Maybe I need to be a 21st century rancher with a helicopter.

 Also, if every rancher/pioneer had luck the way the Ingalls family had luck, then NO THANK to the ranch life.  Those poor people always had one disaster after another.  The only other family that had worse luck was either the Walton's or the Evans Family from Good Times.  Urban family, country family and pioneer family...all with bad luck.  Then I grew up and found that those things are just life...no matter what era you lived in.

 I still have my dreams of looking out my window at snow capped mountains and red barns, but they are just dreams.  For one thing I live on less than an acre of land...not exactly a sprawling ranch spread.  My vision of snow capped mountains and red barns are only in my mind.  No cattle rides or branding parties in my future, unless I visit a dude ranch on vacation. 

For the life me I don't really know why I would even like to live on ranch.  For one thing I am scared to death of a horse...which I think is essential to living on a ranch.  I want to believe that if I was living on a ranch that horses would be my friend...not sure about that.

After all my dreaming, I stumbled upon this lady's blog who is living my life.  Well, not my life exactly but the one I have dreamed about since the 5th grade.  Meet Ree Drummond and her family who live on a cattle ranch in Oklahoma.  Well, Oklahoma was not my dream spot, but she is living on a ranch.  She has a fantastic blog that gets over 2 million hits a week...I have 12 followers and my daddy.  Her daily life is so fasinating that I can't wait to see what happens next, and yes, they have disasters as well.  They didn't have any water for the longest time due to the snow and ice and that is needed for cattle to live I learned.

After reading post after post on her blog, I thought...this lady is living the life that I have dreamed about.  Clad in jeans and boots she goes out with her husband to feed the cattle.  Which brought me to another question.  Can you live on a ranch and wear capri's and flip flops?  Not a fan of my feet being hot, and I think that I look cutier in capri's than jeans.  So after I weigh in on my likes and dislikes and being afraid of horses, maybe the ranch life should and always just be a dream.

THE BIG ONE!!!

I was totally shocked this past Saturday as I walked into our church fellowship hall.  I walked in totally expecting to go to a friend's birthday bash.  Instead, I found out that I was at my own 40th Surprise Party.  In spite of the dreary horrible weather, lots of people came out to help me celebrate this milestone.  I hadn't even thought about a party.  I thought that me and some of my friends would get together and do lunch on my birthday, which by the way was yesterday.  It was a great festive celebration complete with a great meal.  Lots of well wishes, cards and gifts.  My parents and some ladies at church really pulled one on me. 

Then on Sunday night, Mark and I went to Nikki's Steakhouse and Sushi to celebrate this BIG time just a little more.  The waitress bought me fried cheese cake with a sparkler in it.  She would not sing to me though.

Monday found me at the mall to get my massage, my present from Mark.  Heather spent an hour making me totally relax and release stress and knotted muscles.  It was a great massage, and something I now what to do once a week. LOL  After my great massage, Mark and I went out to celebrate a little more with Fish and Chips at the Fox and Hound....delish!!

Tuesday was the official big day.  I started the day off at Scrunch Hair Salon getting highlights and hoping  to look a little younger. LOL  My parents along with my aunt and uncle and Mark celebrated my official birthday dinner at Midtown Seafood...my choice.  I had crab legs and oysters.  Everything was great.  I didn't officially turn 40 until 8:48 PM last night.  That is the time I was born 40 years ago.  My dad use to pick on me growing up and tell me that I wasn't official until that time.  When you are 10 or 16 you don't want to hear that, but at 40 I gladly waited to be officially 40 until 8:48 last night.  Watch out 40's here I come!!!

My big 40 balloon.

                                     My official 40th Birthday picture.

 Crab legs for my 40th birthday dinner.

 And oysters for the birthday girl.

 My sundae!!

I love the napkin at my surprise party!!

Heather, who gave me the best massage ever.

Thanks Mark for this gift.

Welcome!!!

Yesterday my husband, Mark, join the blogging world with his own devotional blog.  I am so proud of him for embracing the blogging world.  He also joined Facebook in the last couple of weeks.  He is moving up in the world.  He has lots of great devotions and insight to God's Word, and I am thankful that God is using him in this new aspect of a ministry.  Enjoy the blogging Mark!!

Time Marches On!!!

In just 14 short days, the phrase "39 and holding" will have new meaning to me.  I don't think that I will be holding on too strongly (after a while you look ridiculous).  I have dreaded this upcoming birthday all year long for some reason or another.  40 somehow seems to say old or at least something negative to me.  Then as the time approaches closer, it doesn't seem to bother me as bad.  Maybe this is because in the last 3 weeks someone thought I was around 30 or 32 (and these people were not bribed either. LOL).  Now they could have been lying, but I will take it any day of the week.  I have been told that age is only a number...and I guess that is true.  I have small goals set before me to accomplish this coming year...the year that I embrace 40 and make it the best year ever.  You might as well embrace it, because it is going to come; and I had rather face it with a good attitude than a bad one.  If you are going to turn 40, at least you don't have to look 40.  But what does 40 really look like???  I see people all the time who are probably 40 or older and they don't look it.  What is age really?  The amount of years you have spent on this earth.  I had rather people talk about what I did with my life rather than my age, and when they talk; I hope they think that I have touched other people's lives for the better.

Rocky Point vs Rocky Top!!!

For months me and our Associate Pastor's wife, Bethany, have been trash talking each other on Facebook about who is the ultimate Yahtzee champ.  We decided to have game night at their house one Saturday night.  Let me say that I call Bethany, Rocky Top, because she is from Tennessee...didn't want you confused.  I'll admit that I was a little nervous, because most of the trash talk had come from me.  LOL  I am very competitive, but not a sore loser...just a rub it in your face kind of winner.  Mark and I get pizza and off we go to Brock and Bethany's.  They have 3 adorable children, so we are not without presents to keep little ones occupied while I whip up on their parents.  Bethany already had this part figured out as well...movie and popcorn.  Dinner was delicious...pizza and her girls made some taco dip (delicious) and she had the best dessert ever.  First of all, let me say that when I came in...she had Rocky Top playing.   I was not intimidated one bit, then she brought out this University of Tennessee cup out that her head could fit in...still not intimidated.  I was here to bring Rocky Top down (trash talk still going on LOL).  Lindsey came over to play with us, and maybe to console Bethany afterwards.  I was concerned a tad on the first game when I didn't get my bonus at the top.  Then the dice rolled out of my hands like I was in Vegas.  Only I was at the Tharpe's house, and what happens there...doesn't stay there.  I walked away the Yahtzee Champion!!! Although they didn't have me a trophy handy, that is okay...I can buy one.  Rocky Top went down, but not without a good fight.  All kidding aside, we had a great time with them.  It was so much fun, that we declared we had to have monthly game night.  I promise that to beat ya every time.  LOL

 I think they brought the children out hoping to distract me or something...DIDN'T HAPPEN!!

 Deacon gives me his winning smile, but I press on to WIN!!!

 Brock tries for a Yahtzee...FAIL!!

 Bethany shakes those dice hard for a Yahtzee...NOT!!!

 Rocky Point is not intimidated by Rocky Tops tricks.

 Tallying those losing scores!!!

 My first Yahtzee of the night!!!

Another Yahtzee for the YAHTZEE QUEEN!!!

We did have the best time with The Tharpe's and with Lindsey.  We will have to do this again.  I will try not to rub it in so bad every time I win.  LOL  Thank you guys for having us over.  Thanks for the laughter and the friendship.

Servant!!

 Tonight at church, we had a Deacon Ordination Service,  This was a very special service for us.  Mark was ordained into the Gospel Ministry on November 29, 1992.  That was just 2 months after we were married and it was on his 33rd birthday.  Tonight he was ordained as a deacon at Riley's Creek Baptist Church.  We have now been married 18 years and he is 51 years old.  God has led us into a different aspect of ministry for the time being.  To be a servant and serve along side our pastor to minister to the needs of the people of our church.  We have both been honored that the congregation of RCBC elected Mark to serve in this role.  What a great honor for people to entrust this office in the church to you.  I love the fact that RCBC does the Deacon Family Ministry.  We have 16 families that were given to us to minister to, and to help with their needs.  We look forward to getting to know our families.  Most of our families go to the second service, while we go to the early service.  We look forward to helping with the growth and the needs of our church. 

 Mark and Tracey Garner, Deacon Ordination January 23, 2011 at

 Riley's Creek Baptist Church

 Jody, Felicia, Chase and Mati McPherson

 Ronnie and Melinda Horton

 Bobby and Sandra Green

Mark and Pastor Herchenhahn

The corsage that the church gave me as a deacon's wife

There were five men ordained tonight, Dannie Rivenbark was the other man.  His wife Patsy was my second grade teacher (got away before I got a photo).   I loved the prayer that our Associate Pastor, Brock offered.  It was just touching and started the water works with me.  I loved how Pastor Herchenhahn emphasised how this office was a team effort.  That is the way our ministry as Pastor has always been.  We work together to serve the people.  This truly was a touching service.  When the other deacons came to pray over Mark, they included me...that touched me.  It is nice to know people are praying for you.  May we serve the congregation of RCBC with love, compassion and always with a Christ like spirit.

Teacher of All!!

As I have talked with people over the years, there is one thing I realized.  Most had almost no parenting in their life.  No one who was their biggest fan or helped them in the failures and success' in life.  I can't imagine that, because of the way I grew up.  My mom was constantly teaching me things about life.  I remember she spent countless hours with me on how to apply make up and tricks she had learned to have really big hair (hey it was the 80's).  She never tipped toed around the facts of life talk, which meant I was way more informed (correctly informed) than some of my classmates.  I always took for granted that every mother was doing this with their daughters.  That why I was so shocked as people shared how they were cast off or ignored with their problems growing up.  My mom and dad were always my biggest cheerleaders and always told me that I could do anything that I wanted to do.  I guess because of this up bringing that I am not afraid to try anything, whether I fail or succeed.  That was their point...at least try and do your best.  When you do your best, then you are not a failure.  I can't even imagine parents not supporting their children in the activities that they do.  My dad chased a many volleyballs in our yard, and my mom sat through a game with a blood clot in her leg before going to the hospital.  My biggest moment in my growing up years where I realized just how fortunate I was, is the night that my first boyfriend broke up with me.  As mom had voiced her concerns earlier, I was sure she was happy and on cloud nine that this was over.  As I cried my heart out in our swing, she came out to me.  I braced myself to hear, "I told you so."  Instead she sat down and hugged me and joined me in crying.   When I told my friends, most said that their mom's didn't even know whether they had a boyfriend or not.  Through the years she has been a teacher of all things, and my biggest cheerleader in my endeavors.  I am proud to call her mom, and I love her. 

It Continues!!!

The snow has decided to stay around for a few days.  Cabin Fever???  Not quite sure, although I would love to get out, but I am not dying to leave or anything.  I will say that our candy stash is emptying pretty fast, and that can't be good.  I will also admit that I might be the one emptying it out....GASP!!!  I have not got a lot done in the house like I thought I would.  It is hard to clean and be in the bed sleeping at the same time.  I guess I was really exhausted and didn't know it.  The snow in our yard seems like it is waiting around on something, and goodness...I hope not for more of the white stuff.  Hoping that we will be able to get out and about tomorrow.  Costco is calling my name.  LOL  For now I am a little restless from being inside.  Our pastor challenged us Sunday to memorize bible verses, and so far I have learned 2 this week.  Not bad!!  I have enjoyed the snow, but I am ready for the sunshine.

The white stuff stays around.

The white blanket outside is pretty, but I am finally ready for it to go away.

Looks like it might be finally slowly melting.

SNOW!!

Yesterday, we were suppose to get a light dusting of snow....NOT!! 8 inches here at our house and then last night ice on top of that.  Very pretty to look at, but I don't get out in it anymore.  We just go on the porch and take pictures.  No snowman making for us.  Just enjoyed the snow from inside.  I have cooked...a lot.  We have played games, played on the computer, watched TV and slept.  I think that we really needed the sleeping part.

 At times it looked like a white out at our house.  This picture was taken after it had only been snowing about 30 minutes.

 There were apples and orange slices on the picnic table for the birds, but the snow quickly covered them up.

 Our feathered friends brave the weather for some seeds.

A beautiful cardinal comes to feed.

Maybe he is sitting on top to get a "bird's eye" view.

 I love the way the snow looks in pines.

 This is my favorite picture of the snow.  Such purity and peace when I look at this picture.

Our bird haven...the feeders, bird bath and houses.

It snowed another 3 hours after this picture was taken.

My gazing ball sporting a snow hat.

I love the snow, and don't have cabin fever.  This is good because according to the weather man, it isn't going anywhere anytime soon.