Toby Mac

This is the newest addition to our family. This is "Toby Mac", Grace's new dog. It goes again my very grain to have a dog in my house. Most of you know I am NOT an animal person. I feel very strongly that If I am going to love, train, feed and care for something it is going to be a child not a dog. All you animal lovers are snarling at me about now. But, it is just how I feel. Children have the potential to grow up and become productive members of society. They can provide care for others especially their parents when the roles are reversed. Dogs on the on the other hand have the potential to grow up and become...Well, dogs.

That being said, I will tell you that I really like this little dog. He is quiet, sweet, and totally house broken. He doesn't bark, chew on things, pee on the carpet or drool. So, as dogs go he is a good one.

I am still having issues with whole thing. However, my daughter LOVES animals and deserves the chance to have one of her own. Lord, what we do for the love of a child.

ALWAYS!

Yes, to those of you who ask. Yes, She always poses. Grace almost never takes a candid picture. You have to catch her totally of guard in order take a picture she isn't posing for. She has always done this. I have pictures of her at Christmas when she was 17 months old. In them she is tilting her head and holding her arms up. Posing evidently comes natural to this child. I guess it is a good thing. But, it often borders on the line of cheesy! Maybe I should put her in beauty contests. I really detest that whole venue. But for what ever reason it comes totally natural to my child. The ridicule I would have to endure from my friends if I were to become a pageant mom is more than I could stand. Cant you see me now....

Taking Grace for her spray tan. Taking Grace for highlights in her hair. Taking Grace to a voice coach. Taking Grace to get her nails done. Taking Grace for dress fittings. Dear Lord she would LOVE it. No one else would have a life. But Grace would be in her glory!

Second verse, same as the first.

Yes, I know I keep doing this. I take her picture. I post on my blog. Its the same thing over and over. But is seems to me that she is changing day by day. Sometimes I hardly recognize her when I see her from across the room. She seems so much older than my heart feels she should be. Other times its like looking at myself thirty years ago. She is much thinner than I was (thankfully). She is changing and growing up so quickly I am afraid if I don't take her picture and document it I will miss it.

My new luggage.

I got new luggage for Valentines day. Yes, I know this doesn't sound very romantic. But if you knew how much I love matching accessories you would realize just how wonderful this gift really is. I already had the makeup bag and overnight bag in this pattern. Today I got the large suitcase and the carry on with matching jewelry bag. I was soooo excited. I absolutely love animal print on anything. Add to that the fact that "everything" completely matches and I am in love with my new luggage! Did I mention that the pattern stands out making it much easier to spot it on the luggage conveyor at the airport or on a cruise. I am thoroughly thrilled my present. And I am pretty happy with the man who gave it to me.

You do the math.

Normally, I really don't notice the financial aspect of having five kids. But, when you go to get simple Valentines gifts and end up spending over $70 you tend to take notice. Sadly most of the items in there gift baskets came from the Dollar Tree. Yet it still cost that much. If you think about it that comes to $14 per kid. So in reality its not much to spend on a child at all. It's when you add it all together that you feel pinch. Oh, well their only young once and I absolutely love putting every ones basket together.

Dag gone it!

I am soooo aggravated. I have a cold! I detest being sick. I managed to stay well all winter. At least until now. I feel like crud. My face hurts, my throat hurts, my ears hurt, and I can't sleep for coughing. Which would explain why I am up at 2:34 am.

Oh well, that's enough complaining. I am praying that I will feel better by the time I go to crossing guard.

Vanilla Noel Bean

Ok, typically I don't care for vanilla scents. But this is different. It smells wonderful! My boys beg me to put on the lotion just so they can smell it. Candy cotton is what Isaac calls it (he has always said it backwards). And he is right it does smell like cotton candy.

Robin Lieser bought me a bottle of the lotion for Christmas five years ago. I have been addicted ever since. I get the lotion, bath gel, body spray and any thing else I can find. Bath and Body Works only carries it seasonally so I stock up at Christmas each year. Its heavy scent lends itself to warmth and winter. So in the summer I switch to a more citrus scent. It works perfect.

I am very scent oriented. I have always associated smells with very vivid memories. I like to purchase a new scent of lotion and bath gel for special events. I wore "Jessica" at my wedding and on my honeymoon. Now every time I smell anything with Jasmine I am reminded of that time. If I am going on a cruise or vacation I will pick a specific scent just for the trip. It helps me to capture the memories in a unique way. And if I ever want to recreate a certain feeling or time I just put the lotion or spray on that I wore then. I still buy Coppertone suntan lotion even though there are better ones out there. I just can't resist the smell of it. As soon as I put it on memories of long afternoons at Big Ridge Park flood my mind. It is wonderful. And now Vanilla Bean Noel brings back all those wonderful Christmas memories with my boys and "candy cotton."

#31

After all of the recent news reports on the ice fisherman in Ohio I am rethinking #31 on my bucket list. Let's just say the whole idea is on thin ice, LITERALLY!

It is happening way too fast.

My girl is growing up way to fast. She is my only girl out of five kids. My days of pink ruffles are fading quickly. I love the women she is becoming. She has such a clear idea of what she wants and what she likes. Very much unlike myself at her age. Yes, some would say she head Strong. Ok, everyone would say it. But I prefer think of it as assertive and self secure. I pray that she carries that attribute with her through life and allows God to use that to His glory.

Oops! I forgot.

Thanks be to Cherdo I realize that I left a few things off my list.

41. Learn to speak a foreign language.
42. See the Great Wall of China.
43. Spend Christmas Day serving food at a homeless shelter (actually I should do that on a regular basis.)
44. Para sail
45. Go sailing

I really think this list is endless. Thank the good Lord I plan to live a long life. I better start taking better care of this body!

My Bucket List

I have been kidding around for about a year now that I needed a bucket list. Well, I am forty and I can't think of a better time to make one. Here goes:

1.Go to New York
2. Go to a Broadway play
3. Do a forty day fast
4. Go to Vegas
5. See the Grand Canyon
6. Drive a Harley
7. Get a tattoo
8. Learn to scuba dive
9. Go to Egypt
10. Take a cross country road trip
11. Go to D. C.
12. Go to the Amish country
13. Learn to play the piano
14. Go shopping on Rodeo Drive
15. Learn to fly a plane
16. finish my degree
17. Learn to snow ski
18. Organize my pictures
19. Go to Canada
20. Go to Europe
21. Go to Alaska
22. Climb a mountain (any will do)
23. See the Swiss Alps
24. Watch my children and my grandchildren graduate from college
25. See the Holy Land
26. Go on an overnight train trip
26. Go to Hawaii
27. Go on a safari
28. Swim with Dolphins
29. Be a contestant on a game show
30. Own a convertible 1968 VW
31. Skate on a frozen pond
32. Go to Germany
33. Go on a mission trip with my children
34. Own a farm (again)
35. Travel along the western seaboard.
36. Go to Italy
37. Write a book.
38. Start my own company
39. Find the secrete to doing laundry effectively.
40. Fully understand the depth of my salvation.

We are in shock!

What could she possibly be thinking?

It finally snowed. We played outside most of the day. The morning was spend creating the perfect snowballs. Then proceeding to have one incredible snow ball fight. The afternoon took on a life of its on as the entire neighbor came out play. There was sledding and snow-angels. The evening ended with a giant snowman, complete with Mohawk. I'll give you 3 guesses whose idea that was (the first two don't count).

On the road again.

We are off to the farm. We are headed to Alabama for the weekend. The kids are looking forward to riding their horses and I am looking forward to riding the 4 wheelers. Fred and Elijah are planning to do some target practice with their new guns. So you prayers warriors please pray for protection for all of us.

We are planning to go look at some vehicles while we are there. Hopefully, we will be driving home in something new. I am very excited. Not about getting something new. I am excited about getting OUT of the mini van. I just feel so out of place in that van. It's just not me! I am not trying to say anything bad about those who drive mini vans. I wouldn't do that considering about 75% of the people I know drive one (it's a homeschool thing.) But I never have fit the "homeschool" mode anyway. I am thankful that it has been a good and safe vehicle for out family for 6 years but I am so ready to move on!

We are coming home Sunday. And Lord willing and the creek don't rise I will be coming home with a little more class. lol

Isaac is 7!

My precious Isaac turned seven years old today. He got everything he asked, for so he was one happy camper! He was so proud of his new DS Lite and his Guitar Hero game. And as always he received new mini cars to add to his collection. He is such a good kid and buying for him is always a joy. He is so grateful and takes good care of his things. I am very proud and extremely grateful that God blessed me with such a great kid.

Hello Darlin, It's been a long time....

Facebook has taken over my life. It is so addictive! Every time I sit down to blog I end up on facebook and forget about the blog! After a week on facebook I can now confirm that I have learned things about myself that I never new before....
The eighties movie that best describes me is "Breakfast Club." The Disney Princess that I am most like is Sleeping Beauty. I can beat all my friends, except Christy Cox at Guess the Sketch. And my best Hollywood Hunk match is Zach Effron (gross). So as you can see I am a wealth of useless information. And I owe it all to facebook.

All consuming.

Facebook is consuming what little free time I had. So now there is no time to blog! Those of you who know me realize that I very little free time to begin with.

A tad overwhelmed.

Ok, so I inadvertently joined facebook. Which inadvertently invited everyone I know and even more that I don't know to join as well. So, now a whole bunch of people, including myself are on facebook. What does this all mean? I will tell you what it means. It means that I have 95 new emails relating to facebook since 9:00 this morning. It is indeed a tad overwhelming. Everyone keeps telling me to give it a few days. I'll get the hang of it they say. Well, I always felt I was pretty well "connected." But this goes beyond being connected. It's down right scary. Do I need everyone to know what I am doing at any given moment? Furthermore, do I need to know what everyone else is doing and how they feel about what they are doing and where they are doing it? I think not!

So now I have a dilemma....

Do I continue to wade through the pages of wall to wall conversation in hopes of being connected to those I know and those I am quickly getting to know all to well? Or do I risk certain alienation of the rest of the world by withdrawing myself from facebook?

Way too important of a decision for me to make today. I will worry about that tomorrow. For now I will return to facebook to see what everyone else is up to. Who knows what I missed while I was gone.

Wii love it!

This little machine is way to addictive. Our entire family loves it. It use to be hard to get the kids to quit playing video games, especially Elijah. But now that Fred and I love to play it isn't hard at all. We simply refuse to quit playing that way they don't get a chance to start.

The games are a blast. I personally like the wii fit. But any of the games will do. And one has not truly lived until they have watched Fred shake his hips inside an imaginary hula-hoop.

Wow! What a blessing.

We have been so blessed. My aunt Kathy recently moved home to help care for my grand parents. She had to move all of her belongings in with them. She had just purchased a $4000 brand new Pearl River piano. My grand parents already have a piano in their home. She had no where to put it and you can not put a piano in storage. It will draw moisture and ruin (so I am told.) Long story short we got a new PIANO. PRAISE THE LORD. Grace really needed a new one. The piano we currently have is over 100 years old. And has 4 keys that no longer work. IT is out of key and no one in or around Knoxville knows how to tune. So needless to say were are so thankful for the new piano. God is so good.

We are a multi-cultural family.

Zion even knows how to pick his nose like the Chinese..... With chop sticks, of course.

Sealed with a kiss!

Have you tried this? Oh my word!! This is my new culinary love. Yes when it comes to candy I am easy to please. I absolutely love these little kisses. I have eaten 2 bags full since Christmas. Much to my delight Food City (another Lorrie favorite) has their Holiday candy on clearance. I bought 6 bags! They wont be available again until next Christmas. I figured I might as well stock up! Unfortunately at the rate I am going 6 bags wont last long. But I intend to enjoy them in the mean time.

Color of the year!

I've noticed lately that my taste everything is changing. I guess this is going to be a new season in life. That sounds better than anything else I could come up with. I have always been one to enjoy change. I often will pick a color I like and buy clothes, furniture, accessories and anything else I can think of in that color. And of course I always like to change the furniture around. But those are small things. This wind of change feels different.

Maybe, it is turning 40. Maybe, it is having to raise five kids. Or perhaps I am just bored. Whatever it is I like it. I am living for the moment so much more than I ever have. I am worrying less about what others think and more about how I feel.

With this new change comes a new outlook. I want things to be uncomplicated. I want things to be bright and happy. I might even shoot for carefree. Now wouldn't that be different, lol. So that being said I am picking my new color......PINK. Yes, I said pink. I have always been more of a red kind of person. But, this year I am going to think PINK.

Wet and Wild

Blessed be the name of the Lord!

My van is leaking "something," the element in my oven went out, and the garage door isn't working correctly. They say things happen in threes. So I am hoping that nothing else breaks. Praying might actually be more appropriate. Considering how much it cost to fix things I am definitely going to pray. I guess tomorrow is going to be fix it day at the Durham house. We are going to be gone all weekend so tomorrow is the only day to do it. Even with all the things going on the blink it has been a great week. I have so much to be thankful for. My family was so blessed this Christmas. The blessings far out way any minor problems that come up. We received so many nice gifts from family and friends. We are all very healthy. And unlike so many families we have been able to be together throughout the holidays. I guess you could say, our blessings are running us down! I am so very grateful. God has always given me way more than I could ever deserve!