More L2Ls Photos

The kids entertained themselves in the food court of the adjoining mall by riding the escalators up three floors and back down three floors...who needs an amusement park?

The glass elevators were another ride much enjoyed by the children.

Here is some of our youth group and our youth minister at the end of the row.

Grabbing a quick bite to eat between events.

Awaiting the Speech event in which Callie and Lyric were entered.

Look who we found in the hall in his PJ's! Brooks Busby!

He was accompanied by this motley crew! Ha, ha!

This is Cornerstone and the one time I had a twinge of regret while in Atlanta. They were good, but this concert was going on during the Hall and Oates concert in Montgomery. JJ and I really wanted to go to Hall and Oates, but I had already committed to Lads. (heavy sigh)

All dressed up for the Awards Ceremony!

Lads to Leaders 2009

Grace was ecstatic to be at Lads! She was showing us the anti-gravity bed!

Our group walking across the stage with our banner.

Grace receiving her certificate for Oral Bible Reading. She scored 15 out of 15...Perfect!

We enjoyed lunch with an old family friend, Mrs. Jo Anne Norris. She is a sweetie! Grace and Callie were getting a little love!

Again, our banner.

What a great weekend we had in Atlanta with our youth! For those of you who may not know, L2Ls is a convention of Christian youth that happens every Easter weekend. We work on many categories like Oral Bible Reading, Song Leading, Debate, Speech, Scrapbooking, Art, Centurion of Scripture(memorizing 100 verses), etc... all year long, then we come together in five locations to celebrate the achievements of our groups and compete in some areas. The kids get awards and get to walk across the stage in front of about 3000 people while they are applauded...it is great and they love it! There is a convention in Atlanta, Memphis, Nashville, Indianapolis, and Orlando and the grand total of people attending is between 15 and 16,000! It is way cool.

We stay at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Atlanta (which is a delight in itself for our kids) for two days and one night and pack in a whole lot of activity. The photos will depict a lot of what we did.

We were worn out puppies when we arrived home early Sunday morning about 1:30, but it was worth every minute.

I am....

...Taking a break from taxes.

I have been up to my ears in tax work for months now and am finally seeing light at the end of my IRS nightmare tunnel. I am for Mike Huckabee's idea...get rid of the IRS and pay a flat tax. It would sure make my life easier!

...Drinking my third cup of coffee.

I normally have one (if that), but burning the midnight oil (see above) and getting up at 6 am to get the kiddies off to school is taking its toll.

...Thankful that my husband is on his way home today.

Normally, I am accustomed to his being away, but he has been home so much lately, that I have really been missing him while he traveled this week.

...Thinking of and praying for Ashley.

Enough said.

...Happy that Micah and I are having a better time with our relationship.

It has been tumultuous and riddled with conflict for so long and though it is far from where I would like it to be, we are finally beginning to communicate and understand each other...at least for today. He can so charm me when he puts his mind to it and I love being charmed!

...Glad that Gracie has been bitten by the "cleaning bug".

She has become a little white tornado. She goes through the house cleaning and singing...it is so pleasant to hear her enjoy doing her chores and even some of ours! She makes my heart smile and she is still small enough to sit and cuddle with me.

...Grateful for my Callie.

She is so obedient and thoughtful and has a very tender heart. She notices when I am not at my best and tries to make me feel better. She is my sunshine and I smile more because of her tender, loving care of me.

...Finally feeling better and so glad to be so.

I have been sick for so long and it feels good just to wake up feeling good!

OK, now it is back to taxes, then to Fort Dale's Rummage Sale this afternoon and evening. Tomorrow, I take the wee ones to Montgomery for "Women of Virtue" and "Men of Honor" and then I have some free time to, guess what? Finish the taxes with my darling husband! WhooHoo!

The good tax news is, and I am so excited about this, I have a new program for my computer and I will use it to do my 2009 taxes! Yea! No more being overwhelmed by receipts. I will input each month and push a button on my keyboard next year and my tax information will be printed out! So this should be the official end to my whining about taxes. Aren't you glad?! I know I am!!

It Doesn't Take Much To Confuse Me

How is it, that I see my blog address on so many of my family's blog rolls and I only have one "follower"? (Thanks, Kristen!)

I know it shouldn't matter, but did you read the blog address at the top? See, I have all this imagined control and when I can't change something....it makes me nuts!

Ergo, this post....

I promise, my next entry will be better.

Some things just confuse me and it doesn't take much. : )

Can You Name That Style?

Nantucket

Wine Country Style

Arts and Crafts

These photos are the result of a quiz I took at www.sproost.com. The quiz gave me an idea what my decorating style actually is. Most of you probably know your style, but I have never been much into decorating, so this was really helpful to me. The best part is that I feel it is very accurate!

I will be gearing all my decor towards these ends in the future.

Thanks to my blogger friend, Abigail, for passing on this site!

It is Time for the Hummers to Soon Arrive!

Two juvenile hummingbirds that Michael caught at the feeder. If they had been older, he would probably not have been able to get his hands on them.

The patient Master lies in wait, his little targets are distracted by each other.

Standing close so that the hummers can get used to his presence.

Last year, on a Sunday, after church, we were all outside under the carport on a beautiful day when two little hummers began feeding. Michael wanted to just see how close he could get to them.

After several minutes (that seemed much longer) he was able to catch both of the little beauties in his hands! I took one of them and we took pictures. Boy, were they fussing at us for holding them, but what a magical experience to hold one of God's full-grown creatures that is so tiny!

We let them go after only a minute or so, and one of their feathers was left in my hand. I kept it in a ziplock bag with my scrapbook material. One day the feather and photos will enter the pages of our family memories, but today, I thought I would share the experience...in honor of our beautiful little hummingbirds and their anticipated arrival.

Out Of The Mouths Of Babes

My two little girls posing on the fire truck.

My shirtless, 11 year old son, who saved the day! Our volunteer FD-great guys!

Our burning shed, although small, the contents caused quite a blaze!

A couple of years ago, Michael was burning some brush in the pasture. He had his trusty garden hose turned on full blast to monitor the flames and keep them at bay.

In a moment of inattention, the flames traveled too close to our old shed at the edge of our property. Before we knew it, the shed was ablaze. Inside the shed, old paint cans and who knew what else was quickly igniting and the flames became uncontrollable.

Michael told me to call the fire department because by now, the flames are over 30 feet into the sky and lapping at the tree limbs! I dash into the house and grab the phonebook. The Town Hall was listed, Police listed, Ambulance listed, everything but the Fire Department! I am in a panic! I am hysterically screaming, "Why do they not have the Fire Department listed, when they have every other emergency number in this book?"

It is then that Micah (11 at the time) calmly takes my arm and says, "Mom, dial 9-1-1." Duh! Who had the foresight to teach him that? Thankfully, I did. Even when I couldn't think calmly enough to dial the simple emergency numbers, my son could.

The Fire Dept. came at just about the time Michael got the fire under control. Yes, it was highly embarassing to both of us on many levels, but thankfully no one was harmed and we all got a good laugh about it, and still do.