Real Friends - Real Life

This morning at the hotel breakfast as I was filling Big Spring up with butter and preparing to pour syrup over San Antonio and Austin I was thinking about the fun we had, these two chicks, and all the life we've prayed each other through so far. Real friends doing real life together:

2 parents' funerals

3 weddings

1 divorce

More pregnancies than children

10 career changes

5 moves

18 bad hair cuts

 1 kid through basic training

4 graduations

2 grandkids

13 Break ups

11 Fat pants

 

7 Fatter pants

5 Skinnier jeans

2 Fender benders

19 Overdrafts

78 % Debt Free

 

23 Girl's Weekends

3 Houses Bought

2 Houses Sold

718 Super Honest Opinions

1102 Confidence building white lies

17 Job Interviews

 

4 Horrible jobs

5 Dream jobs

2 business ventures

936,254 texts

753,185 emails

 

IT'S NOT ALWAYS PRETTY, BUT IT'S REAL...

 

 

Hurricane Lessons

Lately, I’ve been thinking that if hurricanes had guts,

I would not like ol’ Harvey's. No ifs. No ands. No buts.

 

I do not like the damage. I can’t comprehend the loss.

And I realize that we’ve just begun to measure all the costs.

 

I may not have a money stake along the Texas Coastal Bend;

I really took it personally because he messed with my friends.

 

From those whose duty called for them to stay and face the winds.

To ones who watched the water rise up in their home again.

 

A fireman, a cop, a teacher whose natures are so giving;

And the one whose home is gone, but is thankful to be living.

 

Yep Harvey was dirt bag, a windy, rainy fool.

Blew in here and then became The Grinch who stole Back-to-School.

 

I’ve felt everything from Texas pride to super sad.

From overwhelming shock and awe - to spittin’ fightin’ mad.

 

But God’s ways are not our ways – and that’s what’s really great!

He works things for our good it says in Romans, Chapter eight.

 

I know you’ve seen the stories. Maybe mankind’s faith restored.

Countless selfless acts and the provision of the Lord.

 

I think, for me, the lesson that I will take away

Is how God can use someone like me - just as I am today.

 

Dudes with boats, a business man, rugged dump truck drivers

Pet lovers, brisket smokers and, of course the pole climbers

 

Never think the work you do is not worthy of the call.

If we just are willing, God can use us all.

 

And so from now on I’ll be me and do all I can.

I may not save the world, but I can always lend a hand.

 

Who knows? It may be that someday the skill set that I bring,

For someone might just fill their most desperate needed thing.

 

So thank you Lord, for using Harvey to teach us a thing or two

Please use me to serve others and let that honor You.

New Ballgame / New Home Base

Well, most of you know we have moved to San Angelo. I am working at Sonora Bank learning to be a loan processor and Mr. G has just recently been honored to become a day-time caregiver for an amazing little boy. We are finally unpacked ... mostly. I have most everything like I wanted. I am not done with the bedroom yet, but I am planning big stuff so that will need to wait for a bigger paycheck.

Here is the sneak peak of what I/we've done so far....

***NOTE: THIS DOES NOT GIVE YOU A PASS ON ANY PROMISED VISITS. IF YOU SAID YOU'D COME DOWN YOU BETTER!!

A grouping of things that make me smile, near the front door. The mirror and happy arrow are things I got with my birthday gift card from the FNB Stanton girls. The "It's Never Too Late for Happily Ever After" canvass was painted by my sweet friend Heather. There is a wooden sign with one of my favorite bible verses - Jeremiah 29:11. A newspaper clipping of my grandparents' (Daddy B & Granny) wedding  announcement. The license plate is from Mr. G's old Mercedes. There is a little horse on a rock that I got when we went with Gran & Papaw to Arkansas to dig for gold when I was a little kid...

 

 

This is the little office area. You may recognize some of the wedding decorations. The home base was used as a guest book at our wedding. It takes the place of the dried bouquet which I never loved dried, but still had to be convinced to let go. The placement on this was all Mr. G and I love it!

 

The kitchen....crosses and the big ol' G

from the kitchen looking into the living room and out the backdoor...

 

 

The entryway...My favorite George Boutwell print, the key holder given to me as a gift by my college roommate, Karen - she include a note about home and hanging your keys and it's been hanging by my doors for over 20 years. The brands are my Papaw's and my Great-Great Grandfather's/

 

More wedding decorations turned home décor

 

 

The guest bath. I love that shower curtain.  For real. The wall hanging is pretty fancy. $1 paper string placemats from the Dollar Tree. There's one behind the toilet, too. I am seriously thinking of going back and looking for coasters of the same material to fill in a bit...or maybe not...

 

Like all good dramas, I'm gonna leave y'all with that cliffhanger!

Thanks for taking the tour! Much love.

June/July Book: Present Over Perfect

I took a couple of months to read this book, not because I couldn't have knocked it out in a weekend. I took so long because we had 3 birthdays, 2 anniversaries, a family reunion, a two bedroom apartment to pack up, job search...Get the picture? LOL! I couldn't have picked a more perfect time to read this book. This may come as a shocker to some (HA!), but I can get really caught up in the details. I makes lists, schedules, plans, and scripts for my life. Often missing the big picture and the important things. I also may or may not try to impose the script on my close family and I may or may not let them in on it. Of course, if someone should go off script they are added to another one of my lists...and not the good one!

 Shauna Niequist addresses all that. She talks about saying no to make room for yeses. She talks about how we are to be stewards of our lives. They are God's gift to us and ours to him. She also talks about...and this hits home...how we even try to control our faith walk. We try to complicate salvation. God's plan does not need to confer with my lists. His presence is perfect... perfect just the way it is if we listen and wait.

New Sheets & Marriage

A little while back I unintentionally bought some very high-quality sheets on-line. We needed new sheets. I loved the pattern and I really loved the price and so without a concern for thread count, I ordered them.  Everybody knows that thread count is what really counts in serious sheet shopping (say that three times real fast!). The purchase was on impulse but as is my heritage also on sale! I guess I got lucky this time, because these sheets, with their crazy turquoise design are so soft and dreamy, and when you fling them out to make the bed the thread count is so high that air gets caught underneath and they gently float down to mattress. I had no idea they were going to be so wonderful and every time I make the bed it brings a smile to this frugal girl’s face.

Because I am not as young as I once was and because I am trying to drink more water and live healthier my bladder can no longer wait the extra 40 minutes for the alarm clock. Every morning, I am fleetingly annoyed by this interruption of my sleep. At approximately 4:25 AM, I roll out, joints popping and go take care of business. I don’t know if it’s the sound of my creaking body, the grumbling, or my sudden absence; but Derek is usually awake when I return. Then as I climb back in bed, lifting my long and unruly hair off of my neck, he lifts the covers with his left arm and stretches out the right so that I can nestle down alongside him. We snuggle, discuss the coming day, sometimes pray, sometimes lightly sleep. It’s a great way to start the day.

We will be celebrating our first anniversary at the end of the month. It is clear to me that, like those sheets, I had no idea what a great deal I was getting. I knew I loved him. I knew I liked his looks [grin]. I suppose, instinctively I knew I needed him. Still, I had no idea how quickly or how much I would come to rely on, care for, care about, honor, and respect this man. I am constantly amazed how we just fell into step together. I do the dishes. He takes out the trash. We both cook. We didn’t have a family meeting or make a chore chart. We just did it. When we pack to go to the lake, he backs the car around, I start bringing out lawn chairs and packing the cooler which he loads while I check the flashlight and gather the bedding. It is so comfortable and efficient and right.

I am sometimes amazed, but he feels the same way about me, and the best part is that he makes sure I know it. He tells me I’m beautiful and he looks at me the way you look at something you adore. He tells me he loves my mind, and he shows it with intelligent conversations and shared wit. He respects me and he demands that those around me are also respectful. He is both my prayer partner and prayer warrior. There are no walls between us, and when we start to notice the mortar being mixed to begin building one we halt construction with honesty and sharing and sometimes tears. We are imperfect and blind to the imperfections. We are dorks and we crack us up.

This morning, when he pulled back the covers for me to settle in next to him, and as the sheet floated gently around me, I felt the smoothness of his body next to mine. I inhaled the scent of him and admired his muscular chest. I was hypnotized by the rhythm of his breathing and his lightly stroking my hair. I was flooded with gratitude. I appreciate the prize because I have trained hard for the race. This time of year, ironically near Independence Day, has become a time of reflection and personal review. Honestly, I am not always confident in the direction and my decisions. However, this morning, in the embrace of my husband and high thread count sheets I was assured that I am blessed and highly favored by the One who is the greatest designer. So very, very blessed, indeed.

May Book: Audacious

 

 

We are currently making big kid decisions about our future. I am, as always, struggling with worrying about what others may think of my choices. I don't know another strongly independent human who has had as much trouble embracing adulthood as I have. Ask my parents, rarely if ever did I rebel. This is good for the parents, not so much for the people pleaser child. This book is not so much about rebellion as it is about living Audaciously. It is about living boldly as we are designed to do. It is about seeking God's will and going for it, knowing that he will catch you. And trusting that if he doesn't catch you, you will still walk away a better person.

Beth Moore has such a great Southern sense of humor and paints the most creative word pictures. I relate to her on so many levels. She also talks about her desire to be accepted and the problems those desires created. Reading this was good for my soul, uplifted my heart and reassured and reminded me that God did not call any of us to a life of ordinary.

I was very pleased this month to be able to put into practice audacious living and loving the Lord. There is a woman in our town who I know as a customer and community member. We are Facebook friends, but our friendship doesn't go much further than that. She posted, asking for prayers for a family situation involving custody of her grandson. I couldn't not answer. I felt as if every word of the prayer I typed in reply was whispered in my ear. I was worried, because as I mentioned we are not close. Would she think I was butting in where I didn't belong? Did I overstep by pointing out both sides of the situation?  I still don't know for sure, but I feel that it was well received. She told be that it brought her comfort. I also have faith that the child is in God's hands and all of this will work for God's glory. Acting boldly for Jesus is exhilarating!!

Mrs. G Goes to Town (Formerly called "People Suck, Pass the Wine")

 

I've learned in life that sometimes a girl just needs to go "to town". I grew up in the country, mostly. We would go to town and get everything from horse feed to new undies to groceries. We tried to do it all in one trip, because driving back and forth can get costly, even if you only live a few miles out.   I live in town now, but I still call going to run errands "going to town." That may just mean a quick trip to Dollar General or may mean driving 20-30 to the city with a Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby and/or liquor store. Often, I don't need anything more than some alone time. Sometimes I have a list. Usually, I come home with a story and I am seriously considering combining these stories into a humorous book. You see and hear the darnedest things and these things can't be made up. The following is from today's trip to town:


The Shoe Depot:

I don't care for this store and it is proof that I may be insane, because I keep going in there expecting different results. Every now and then I find something in there that I might probably buy. The problem is they never ask if you need help. And you do, because this is the type of store where each box just has one shoe and you have to ask them to go get the other one. Also, they only have out a few sizes of each style. There are signs everywhere that say there are additional sizes in the back, but I can never find a person to ask to go get them for me.


I was fully prepared to buy this pair of shoes that is almost exactly like the worn out pair I was already wearing, but...

Sally's Beauty:

I bought an eyebrow thingy and a foot scrubber dilly. These were the nicest girls today!  I could have just hung out with them if I hadn't had other things to do.

Wal-Mart:

Well. Where do I begin? Actually, today wasn't too bad. Except I saw people I knew and hadn't seen in a long time. I wasn't really prepared for a class / family reunion. Which, shame on me, I should have been, because it's the same way every dang time.

I did face a moral/social dilemma while I was there. What would you do if you saw a couple of boys in the 5-8 age range who had climbed up on a display of TVs and were preparing to jump off? Should you say something? Well, I think you should and the first few words were already leaving my mouth when their adult person rounded the corner and loudly threatened them with whatever. I wondered what she would have said to me if she'd showed up 30 seconds later after I had told them to get their little booties down. Would she have been thankful I'd saved her a trip to the ER and from paying for broken TVs or mad at me for daring to get on to her little darlings?



They were sitting up there on the top shelf! Geesh!!

One final thought on Wal-mart for this trip:

The word CROSSWALK is pretty self-explanatory. It is a designated area for you to WALK aCROSS safely and autos should yield the right of way. It is not called a Parenting Area, a Pause for PDA Zone, or a Stop and Dig in Purse for Keys Section!!! Grrr... Keep it moving, people!!

Dickey's Barbecue Pit: (this is where it gets good!)

When I "go to town" alone, my favorite stop is Dickey's. My favorite thing is Bangers & Mash. It is wonderful and they have super great tea. Today, probably my 217th time at the place, I went in and placed my usual order.  This is the conversation (words unspoken are in italics):

Dude: oh, hey. Didn't see you there!
Me: No problem, could I get Bangers and Mash to go, please?
Dude: Sure!
Teen Queen: Did you want cheese on that?
Me: Yeah, okay. Uh, what meat did he put on there?
Teen Queen: Brisket. Is that not what you ordered?
Me: No. I ordered Bangers and Mash that has sausage
Teen Queen: HEY! She says she ordered Bangers and Mash!
Dude: I know, that's what I made.
Teen Queen: She says it has sausage.
Dude: Nope, brisket is how I always make it. You can get any meat, but I always do it with brisket unless they ask.
Me: I order this all the time it's always sausage. That's why it's called Bangers!
Dude: Let me go ask. (comes back with older lady)
Woman: Hun, Bangers and Mash can come with any meat. Did you specifically ask for Sausage??
Me: I always get this it's always sausage.   (Later I wished I'd said: Uh, yeah...when I said BANGERS I specifically ordered sausage.Why don't you take a stroll out of this little town or pick up a book every now and then? ) 
Woman: No, you have to specifically say what kind of meat you want.
Me: (Calmly Smiling, Keeping Cool) then why don't y'all change the damn name to Meat and Mash???
Teen Queen: (calls out) Hey, fourth employee/manager-type, what's in bangers and mash?
Number 4: Spicy Sausage and potato casserole (without hesitation)
Dude & Woman: Whoa! Seriously?
Dude: (looking at me) Thanks for helping us clear that up!
Me:  No Problem  LIKE, YIKES, SCOOBY! I DIDN'T KNOW YOUR MENU WAS A MYSTERY! .




Seriously? BTW, I kept the wrong order which wasn't as good as the other might have been. AND I got free onion tanglers because of the mix up!

Liquor Store:

It's Domino Night, so I had to make a final stop. I am 45 years old and still kinda feel like I'm doing something bad every time I go in. I think I'm afraid I might bump into somebody from church. HAHA! Any-who, not much can go wrong at the liquor store if you aren't sensitive and just accept, as I have, that any time you ask for help, the "dumb-ass" at then end of the response is implied.

Do you have the little mini Fireballs?
Right over there, [sigh] dumb ass
or
This looks good. Do you mix it with something?
Most people mix with coke or sprite [sigh] dumb ass
or
Okay, Ill take two of these.
You just could get the bigger one for less,[sigh] dumb ass

Look lady, be nice to me. I've been "to town" I have a good reason to drink!!!

Heart of a Winner

Heart of a Winner

 

Where do you look to see who won when the game is finally through?

Do you look to the board at the end of the field where the lights shine 5 to 2?

 

Do you look to the stands to the cheering fans to see if they’re cheering loud?

Do you wait for the coach to give a high-five and tell you – you made him proud?

 

The place to look for the champion that always passes the test…

Is to close your eyes and look inside to see if you’ve done your best.

 

Because in the end it doesn’t matter whether you dropped or caught the ball.

The important thing when you look back is did you give it your all and all?

 

It’s true the game can be scary, but honestly, here is the thing…

Did you face your fear and move forward? You can’t hit the ball ‘til you swing!

 

Did you work hard and give your best effort? To winning there’s really no scheme.

Just learning the art of doing your part, and working to play as a team.

 

I know you’ve heard it before, it’s really just more of the same

It’s not win or lose that matters, its how you play the game!

 

So where do you look to see who won when the game is finally through?

Just look inside and know with pride the heart of a winner’s in you!

 

 

 

Routines & Ducks That TNKA

There is freedom in routine. I know that sounds like a contradiction, but knowing what I am doing and when frees my brain to do other things. For example, when my home is presentable, I don't stress that someone might drop by. If my clothes are planned the night before, I don't have to worry about what to wear in the morning.  It also gives me the power to say no to things that are good but are meant to be someone else's blessing, not mine. Routines make the ordinary stuff, well...ordinary. I feel calmer and more relaxed and in turn more creative and read to TNKA!

I have recently revamped my routine and shared it with a few people. The response is pretty much split between the "I'm not sure how we are friends" group and the "I absolutely love it!" group. I know for some (okay, most) people it appears to be waaaay over the top. Others embrace the concept. Either way you may be inspired or at least get a good laugh. I would like to note that this type of insanity is hereditary - my mother is worse! LOL I grew up with these lists posted on the bathroom mirror - so if you make fun of me then you are calling her out, too; and that "ain't cool"! Here is my new morning routine:

The basic morning plan. There is little room at the end of each activity in case something goes a little longer than I estimated. I am not stopping in the middle of dusting a table just because my timer went off!  

 

Each day is assigned a room or area where I spend the 15 minute cleaning time. This assignment was done pretty random. The first day I did it was a Tuesday and the bedroom had reached white trash levels of clutter. That was my method. Something else might work for you and I will probably tweak this in the future. Fifteen minutes may not seem like a long time, but you'd be surprised how much you can get done if you are prepared and have a plan of attack. I have a set of personal rules that if followed, make everything else go smoother.

 

 

I don't really like "rules", but I didn't know what else to call them. Anyway, these are more like goals than rules at this point. They do make life easier and healthier, though. A lot of these things came from www.flylady.com and from the book "Sidetracked Home Executive", by Pam Young & Peggy Jones. I have also been blessed to be surrounded by positive Mary Kay leaders for almost 2 decades. 

 

 

Don't know if that's true, but I do feel more on top of things. Not that my ducks are in a row, but maybe they've quit Kung Fu fighting for a little while!

I Never Thought I'd Be Ex-rated

Anyone who says divorce is taking the “easy way” out has never been divorced. I can assure you that there is nothing easy or simple about it. While there is somewhat less of a stigma associated with the severing of the marriage commitment in 2017 than there was 30-40 years ago, I feel that divorced people generally carry their own burden of self-loathing and doubt.  I know I did. Prior to leaving and after I was out of the situation I continually questioned myself. Did I try hard enough? What could I have done differently? What’s wrong with me and what did I do to make him fall out of love with me. I Googled: “How to save my Marriage.” I bought the book, The Love Dare, and made a good ways through. I watched “Fireproof”.” I prayed and cried and even went to couples counselling. Although, to be honest, by the time we made it to couples counselling my mind was pretty much made up and I mostly needed him to have a mental health care option when I left.

When we were dating, I feel like I was afraid of ending up alone due to past hurts and a low self-confidence that I forced something that never should have been because of impatience and fear. I don’t think many people go into a marriage wanting it to fail. Happily ever after is still the expectation. Even knowing there were issues I still believed it could be better. I am not a quitter and I hate to be wrong. I am very serious about my faith walk. According to the bible, there are only two acceptable reasons for divorce and even then, “God hates” it. This weighed on me heavily. Looking back at pictures of myself during that time, the weight was both literal and figurative (See Below). I finally had to come to a place where my tolerance for unhappiness outweighed my self-inflicted punishment for my unwillingness to wait on God earlier in life.
 

Girls Weekend 2014

Girls Weekend 2017

 Most of the time, the contrast of my current life and my former life brings me feelings of joy and gratitude. Other times I feel guilt for having it so good (this comes from the devil)…Still other times I feel a sense of grief for the part of my life that was spent unhappy and unsure. For example, I wish when my cell phone rings I didn’t still feel a panic about answering quick enough (There was never physical abuse, but there were control issues.) I hate that my parents who would be the greatest grandparents ever will never have their own grandkids. Then I remember that all of that got me where I am now, and I realize in spite of myself, I’ve found happiness. I believe I am with the person who I am supposed to be with. I don’t have to wonder if Derek loves me. I know it. And that has given me the freedom to start becoming a person I love. It sure wasn’t the easy road, but the destination is worth it!

 

This Working Out Thing Ain't Working Out!

True Story:

I love these different work-out you find on Pinterest (what the heck, DRINK!):
PERFECT '10' IN JUST TEN MINUTES A DAY:
1) 25 jumping jacks. Okay, no problem. I took PE in elementary school. Check.
2) 20 Mountain Climbers. Not 100% sure, but it's either this or that and either way is good for you. Check.
3) something like 1 min Thunder Grabs. - I have no idea, but it has to be some sort of cardio. So I'll just move to get the ol' heart a pumpin'. Check.
4) 25 Hindu Hops (or some other weird description) - by this time I'm certain they are just making crap up. So, I do the same. Let's see, I haven't wiggled this body part yet. I'll go with that. Check.
5) 20 Black Deaths - I don't freaking think so! I am usually talking out loud to myself by now. "Not doing any exercise with death in the title. Nope. I am duu-unnn. Heading myself over to the kitchen for some refridgerator squats, then I'll be couch planking...mumble, mumble"



Y'all. I really am on board with this whole exercise thing. Most of the time. But I also love to laugh. Here are some of my favorite Exercise memes:

Easter Dresses

 

When I was growing up, I remember that Easter dresses were kind of a big deal. Sometimes they were also an ordeal.  When I was a toddler, my mother attempted to make my dress. I shouldn’t say attempted – she succeeded, but from the stories I’ve heard it got pretty ugly before it was done. You can’t tell it by the pictures, though. She is smiling, kneeling down by me in her stylish horn-rimmed glasses. I am holding a giant inflatable Easter bunny. Our dresses match - a beautiful purple and mine has a cape.

Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. –Luke 12:27

 

I am pretty sure that was the last attempt to sew an Easter dress. Most years procuring a dress meant a whole Saturday of shopping. Not just locally. No, Easter dresses are special and require a trip to the big city nearby: Texarkana, Temple, Midland, or Lubbock – depending on where we lived at the time. Dad never understood what a near Herculean task this could prove to be. Every year, we were greeted at the end of a long day of shopping with, “Good grief, what took y’all so long?” and “I was worried sick and about to call the law!” (Remember, this was before cell phones.) Still, it was usually worth the effort. It was on one of these trips that we discovered THE dress. It was a pale pink, cotton-candy like creation, with lace and a dotted-Swiss, organza overlay. Up to that point in my young life it was the fanciest article of clothing this tom-boy had ever loved.

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. – Proverbs 3: 13-15

Sometimes it was more about the accessories than the actual dress. New white, patent leather sandals with little white lace trimmed socks were the standard for many years. However, I wasn’t afraid to take a risk, like the year I wore a white sundress that I layered with a yellow tank-top (for modesty’s sake) and YELLOW Huarache sandals. Oh yes, I did!! Then there was what I refer to as, The Year of the HAT. This particular year, we ordered dresses from the Sears catalog. I chose a navy and white horizontal stripe with a HUGE white sailor collar. It was the 80’s, so of course there were also big shoulder pads! It actually wasn’t too bad. The problem was the lady in the catalog was wearing a huge straw hat with a white hatband/bow. I thought it was amazing. Several times, my mom asked if I was sure about the hat. I insisted it had to be. At the time, I thought she was concerned about the money – it cost almost as much as the dress. Now, looking back at the pictures I see now that my mom had probably already come to accept what I had failed to yet realize - I simply look like a dork in a hat. Bless her heart, she often tried to tactfully save me from myself (there’s a whole other story about a perm! Yikes!!).

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. – Proverbs 31:30

These days I hardly ever wear a dress to church, that is, except for Easter. There is something about the promise of hope, the celebration of the resurrection, and the newness of spring that requires dressing up. Today, as I reflect on the solemnness that is Good Friday, I rejoice, because I know Sunday is coming!!

 

(this was originally written in 2014)

Bump in the Night

The other night while getting ready for bed, I found a bump of unknown origin in a place I cant see and won't mention. I was concerned. I did everything I could to see this bump. I turned and twisted and even did some very unattractive yoga type poses by the mirror to try and get a look. By this point the bump is feeling irritated - probably from the pulling and rubbing. I had to know what it was! I grabbed my cell phone and snapped a picture. I zoomed in and studied it for a... bit. Probably a bug bite, maybe and in-grown hair but definitely (in my best Schwarzenegger, Kindergarten Cop voice) "It's not a tumor!" I deleted the picture, brushed my teeth and went to bed. I completely forgot about the whole thing.
The next afternoon, I was looking for pic for my blog. THAT PICTURE SHOWED UP IN RECENT PHOTOS!!! It scared me!
"Sweet Mother of Pearl! What the hell is that?" I yelped. Then I remembered. Then panic set in. Had I accidently shared that???
Nope. Thank you, Lord. (and the people all said, Amen) Apparently, just because it is deleted, doesn't mean your phone doesn't know you took it. Your phone knows things. Your phone is ashamed of you.

Aggie Spring Weekend 2017

We planned to leave on Friday morning. I got out of crochet class on Thursday evening, heated up and ate leftovers. Mr. G turned to me and said, "Let's go tonight." I replied, "okay."

That's of one the things that we love about each other...crazy ideas and a partner that's ready to roll. Don't get me wrong sometimes for the sake of the budget, one of us will have to tap the brakes, but for the most part we are off and running when the mood strikes.

We drove 6 hours (taking turns) and arrived in College Station around 3:15AM. We found a motel and food and hit the sack. We were told at check-in that we had until noon to check out. At 10:40 the next morning, we got a call to tell us we only had until 11:00. Grrr.... No time for a shower. Just brush teeth, brush hair and go. Now I like to think of myself as low maintenance, but I am not NO maintenance. We drove over to our friend's house and they weren't home. I changed clothes in their garage all the while praying they didn't have security camera! Ain't nobody wanna see that!! HAHA!

We headed to Duddley's Draw, Mr. G's version of Cheers. Truly, everybody knows your name. We shot pool, watched sports on TV, caught up with old friends, and yes...we had a few drinks. I managed to land reasonably priced tickets to the baseball game verses Auburn. It was my first visit to Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park!! It was his 200+ visit.

Love this picture of the team praying before the game!

Love this picture of my best friend doing what he loves. If you have a choice, I strongly recommend being married to your best friend. I have girl friends that I'm super close to and I know I am very blessed. However, when you pick someone to do life with, it's really helpful if you actually like that person.  

I was trying to catch a shot of the sun setting on Kyle Field which is visible (it's across the street, duh!) from the ballpark. It was really a neat shot...

 ...even more so when I zoomed in and realize I had managed to catch this dove in flight. There were a pair of doves that sat on a high wire. Pretty good seats to watch the Good Guys in Maroon

The final score was 2-1 them, however we won the next two games to win the series. Our one run was a result of a "BIG FLY" outta Olsen. Anytime the Aggies hit a homerun, the bubbles fly! There are so many tradition that are carried out during the game...Including, keeping up with the ball count when the opposing pitcher is struggling (the Aggie faithful chanting :Ball Five, ball five, ball five...ball six, ball six, etc).

This was Parents Weekend and the Maroon & White spring Football game. It was also the annual Crawfish Boil at Duddley's. Our friends live about a mile from Northgate, so we walked over.  It was my first time to eat crawfish. It was not my first time to drink a little drank.

                                                                                                                                                         

On the way back, we stopped in Morgan Mill. It sure was good to see Mom and Dad and we had a really good visit. We walked down to the barn to see the new baby calves and we did a little front porch sitting. Their place is pretty peaceful and a nice restful way to end a busy weekend.