Small World Moments

What are they you ask? It's what I call those connections that you didn't know existed... I have had them most of my life....let me share some examples.





















In high school, I lived in the country and attended a very small school, and would run into a friend every time I went into town with my family.







Leticia at the mall







Melissa at the mall











































running into people you know every time you leave the house, running into people in places you didn't plan or expect to.



















finding people you know from one area (ie work) in other circles (ie church)







Kathryn Fraley







Anne Dixon































mutual friends that you didn't know knew each other







FB Connections:







Kathy Yezzi and Lindsay Tadlock







Kathy Yezzi and Terri Doss







Jake Vanek and Jennifer Diaz







Natalie Tibbetts and Kathryn Christenson







Celia Furness and Sarah Jackson







Kristen Danielson and Marie Biehl

ABC's of ME

I found the "ABC's Of Me" on a couple of blogs and thought it was a great way to get to know my new blogger friends and for ya'll to learn a few things about me. So if you are reading this, fill it out for yourself and leave you link in the comments...I want to learn more about you!  (And unfortunately, I don't know where it started, so I can't link back...so if you know...let me know!)





A=Age: I just turned 38 in June.



B=Book: currently, the scriptures.  But I also love The Twilight Saga, The Work and The Glory Series, and most anything by Danielle Steele and Mary Higgins Clark.



C=Career: Health Information Management



D=Dad's name: Alan



E=Essential items to bring to a party: not really the party type...but depending on the party, some sort of food or drink item either for the group if it's an eating gathering or for the hostess if it's not.  And of course a thank you card.



F=Favorite song or music: my tastes are pretty eclectic...but a few of my favorite songs--

The Streets of Heaven by Sherrie Austin

Love Story by Taylor Swift (I like most all of her stuff)

One More Day by Diamond Rio

God Only Cries by ??

Angels Among Us by Alabama

I Can Sleep When I'm Dead by John Michael Carroll

Concrete Angel by Martina McBride



G=Goof off thing to do:



H=Hometown: Waco, TX



I=Instrument you play: none



J=Jam or Jelly you like: for PB&J--Grape; on buttered toast, biscuits or crackers, Grape or Strawberry



K=Kids: yep, 4 of them.  19 yo daughter who moved out in Oct 09, but still "borrows" things and comes around once in a while; 14 yo son who is two heads taller than me (and I am by no means short) and will begin 9th grade in a couple of weeks (YIKES); 5 yo son who is a surviving twin and our miracle boy and brings much much joy and laughter to our home; his twin, who was born sleeping.



L=Living Arrangement:  married with abovementioned children plus my parents



M=Mom's name: Debbie



N=Name of best friend: Chris (my husband), and Jenn



O=Overnight Stay in a Hospital: for myself--with the birth of each of my children, and I have stayed a few nights to accompany my husband over the course of the years



P=Phobias: bridges over water...I am not afraid of heights-I am not afraid of water, but combine the two and I get completely freaked out and almost paralyzed



Q=Quote you like: I have a few: 

"One day may I laugh as deeply as I cry"

"If He brings me to it, He will get me through it"



R=Relationship that lasted longest: Romantically--I've been married 19 years. Friendships--I still communicate with friends from high school (our 20th reunion is coming up).



S=Siblings: I am the oldest of 3--sister is 1 yr younger, brother is 4 yrs younger



T=Texas, ever been? since I was born there...yes.  My dad was in the Army, so I did not spend alot of my childhood there...we moved back to stay when I was in the 7th grade.  Then 7 years ago, we moved to TN and have been back a few times to visit.



U=Unique trait: hmmm...gonna have to think about that one



V=Vegetable you love: corn probably, but I like lots.



W =Worst traits: mine or what I don't like in others?  mine would prob be overcommitting myself and then not accomplishing what I said I'd do.  In others....lying and gossip top the list.



X=X-rays you've had: true x-rays--the only ones I can think of were of my ankle and foot--my ankle when I was a child and had fallen off a slide; my foot a couple of times just due to pain (more recently, the diagnosis was a heel spur).  I have had other diagnostic imaging done....ultrasounds during pregnancy and for gallbladder pain.



Y=Yummy food you make: I don't cook a lot...not because I can't; just no need since my mom primarily handles the homemaking duties.  I like to think most of what I make is Yummy....I like to bake.  My husband requests blueberry muffins on occasion and brownies or chocolate chip cookies when he wants chocolate.



Z=Zodiac sign: Gemini (but I'm not really sure the world could stand two of me...ha!)

Caught up? Really?

I think, I think... I am caught up!  At least with what I have permission to post (there is additional news to share, but my husband has not yet given the ok for that to be made public yet)...I'd better savor the moment..cuz it never lasts long.  I am sadly behind in most all of my endeavors. 



I have a sign on my desk at work that says something to the effect of

"The Lord placed me on this Earth to accomplish a certain number of tasks. 

I am so far behind, I will  never die!"

Story of my life, I am afraid.



Till later.....tootles!

Sprinkler Park at Johnson Park

I think I have mentioned Kraig loves the sprinkler park at Johnson Park.  We took  him yesterday....just to get out of the house and cool off a bit.  He had a good time.  Unfortunately, half of the water features weren't working, so even though the park was not really that crowded, it seemed to be because everyone descended on the ones that were.  We didn't stay long...but long enough for him to get drenched!

Random July pics

Here are just a few pics taken during the month as the situation called for...

Kraig...lounging as usual....and protected as well.

Chris is a very hands on Dad, and Kraig is a "participation required" child....

No idea....

And this event had to be documented on film...Christopher is reading of his own accord.  The fact that it is a book by/about Michael Orr (sp?) ...(subject of the Blind Side for those that live under a rock)....had absolutely EVERYTHING to do with it!

New (to us) car

We have another car.  At the end of May, the Buick Regal we had went back to the car lot we were buying it from, for reasons I prefer not to share.  Suffice it to say, it was no great loss (other than we had only my dad's van as our sole source of transportation for the month of June and part of July).  We had paid more in repairs during the 12 months we had it than we made in payments....so, even though we juggled our schedules to fit with one vehicle, it was really no great loss.



On the 9th of July, my husband had an appt (more on that later).  On the way to the appt, we missed the turn (we had not been to this clinic before, but thought we knew the general area well enough to find it...We were wrong).  So, we are in the turn lane to back track...and the van dies.  In. the. turn. lane.  The light was red. Steam pouring from under the hood.  But not overheated, according to the indicator on the dash.  And we checked the oil before we left (that van drank oil like water...so we always checked/added if needed before we ever left the city limits).   We sat there through a couple of lights, waving people past around us, on the phone with the tow truck company...and it starts.  Running rough, but it started, so we were able to get out of the intersection.  Stupid people honking at us, throwing their hands up...guess they didn't notice the flashers on.  Whatever.



So we park in the parking lot of the hospital we were near (not our destination).   My cell phone dies, so I walk back and forth a few times to make phone calls...to my mom, to the doctor's office that is not open yet (but we had to be there 30 minutes ago), and trying to find a ride.  The tow truck gets there in record time...because even though I was on the phone with the dispatcher when it started, he neglected to relay that information to the driver, who rushed because he thought we were in the intersection still. 



Then we wait for our ride.  We get home and discuss our options.  I make some calls and find a car lot willing to let us test drive 2 cars and choose one for the money I had available for a down payment.  The first car we test drive was a no go pretty much from the time we started it up....my daughter's boyfriend is pretty knowledgable about cars, and  they took us up to the car lot, so he was quite helpful.  The second car, however, was in much much better condition.  In fact, the only work it needs is some brake work, which the car lot is going to take care of. 



Here is our new mode of transportation:

It's a 2000 Mercury Sable...and so very nice.  Smooth ride, not "bouncy", functioning a/c, functioning am/fm radio and cassette tape player (apparently at one time it had a multi disc CD player, but that is no longer present)...and a sun roof.  Sweet!

I like it.  A. Lot.

It has leather seats, only one set of keys, and is still our only source of transportation, but it is better than nothing. 

July 4th Weekend

We were beyond busy over the 4th of July weekend.  The weekend started pretty awesome since we found out on the 1st that Christopher passed summer school and is now *officially* a FRESHMAN!!!!



The weekend started on Thursday, with a friend of Chris' coming to visit.  So much of the weekend was spent going and doing and taking the two of them around town.  But first Nina got to drive the car....her dream car is a Mustang....so here she is drooling....

On Friday, we went to see Eclipse (the 3rd movie of the Twilight Saga). 

Then on Saturday, we went downtown.  We took the Tram to Mud Island,

then the Trolley to get lunch.   The restaurant we wanted to go to was closed, so we ended up walking a bit to find somewhere else to eat.

On our walk, we passed a firehouse.  Of course, we had to stop...

On Monday, we went to Johnson Park...Chris and Christopher threw the football around for a bit...

and Kraig played on the playground.

And of course, we can't go to Johnson Park without going to the sprinkler park....

Kraig had a blast, as usual.  He also liked looking through the holes in the picnic table....

this was just a cool shot from under one of the water features....

Our town's fireworks were on the 4th...surprisingly enough.  Mom got a few good pics....