20 wishes and redneck update

I am listening to a book on CD right now called 20 Wishes. It's not the deepest book, but it's a cute storyline, and I'm enjoying it. The book's premise centers around a group of people making a list of 20 wishes that they want to have/achieve. They don't have to be practical, or even likely. They just have to be things that the person making the list REALLY would like to do or have happen.

So, I've been thinking about what I would put on my 20 Wishes list. Then I thought... why not just MAKE a 20 Wishes list?! So, I've begun formulating it in my mind. I am going to add a list to the side of my blog with my 20 wishes on it... it will be a work in progress for a while. So far, I want to visit all 50 states (layovers don't count!), and visit Italy. So, look for my list in the near future!

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Also, look for my HILARIOUS pictures coming (probably tomorrow) of our redneck bonfire. To say people went above and beyond would be a HUGE understatement! It was a lot of fun!

If pride goes before a fall, I shouldn't be falling ANY time soon!

I just downloaded all my pictures from my cell phone, so here are some random shots...

Bub winning a soccer trophy last year...

Sis shoveling snow during a snowstorm...
The next few pictures are from a visit the kids and I made to Uncle B's several months ago... here is Bub and Uncle B playing Rock Band (look for future posts with a possible video)

At Uncle B's apartment, B and I realized the kids had been quiet for WAY too long... here's what we found when we went in the guest bedroom. If the picture isn't clear enough... Sis has Bub's mouth taped shut and has him tied up with a belt. Nice...

Since Don didn't make the trip with us, we kept texting him pictures of us to keep him from being lonely. Sis asked for this "tattoo" (with ink pen) to send to her Daddy...

Sis took this picture of me the day I got all my hair cut off...

I took this picture of HER the day she got all HER hair cut off!

A self portrait with Fredbird to show the kids... too bad it's so blurry you can barely tell it's us!

Bub was at Nana and Papa's house one night, and he and Papa wanted to show me that he could now ride the motorcycle with Papa because Papa bought him a helmet... I still said "no."

Here's our first day in Florida... notice the dorky Disney buttons we are wearing on our shirts.
The last picture is to PROVE that I have no pride! I believe I've mentioned before that I have a pink hardhat where I work (because I'm prissy? Surely not!). Then the safety guy brought in new safety glasses that he's thinking of making everyone wear. Talk about UGLY! I think in the military, they would call that style "birth control glasses." So, I got silly and decided to model them with my hardhat on.

Did I mention I have no pride at all?

Otherwise, why would I possibly show ANYONE this picture?

Nope. No pride.

None.

At all.

Zilch.

See?

I'm hanging my head in shame now...

Before and After

Before

AfterStunning photography, isn't it??

The Shack

So, I've joined the throngs of other people who have recently read The Shack. For a novel, it was great! It was an easy read on one hand, but really thought-provoking on the other.

While I don't necessarily agree with all the doctrine mentioned in the book, it really made me think outside the box of normal "religion." In that way, it reminded me of Blue Like Jazz (another great book). I think it would be a really good book who are questioning "religion" and are looking for something more. I think out of the whole book, there were 2 things I pulled from the book.

1. Religion isn't what it's all about. At all. It's a personal relationship with God that is the key. There is a commercial on the Christian radio station that runs regularly for www.notreligion.com. That's what this reminds me of.

2. Forgiveness is what we're called to do to those who hurt us (and don't necessarily deserve it). And it's really the only way we can move on. And deepen our relationships with God and others. That's hard for me to hear... and do. This book showed this in a really personal way.

I have to say that this is probably the first time EVER I've highlighted a passage from a fiction book, but here it is:

Jesus now spoke again. "Mack, I don't want to be first among a list
of values; I want to be at the center of everything. When I live in you,
then together we can live through everything that happens to you. Rather
than a pyramid, I want to be the center of a mobile, where everything in your
life -- your friends, family, occupation, thoughts, activities -- it connected
to me but moves with the wind, in and out and back and forth, in an incredible
dance of being."

www.theshackbook.com

Who Needs an Awesome Photographer?

My Friend Becca has a photography business, and she came out to our house this past weekend to take numerous family photos for us! I got the proofs today, and I was amazed! If you live in my area, I would HIGHLY recommend calling Becca for reasonable, amazing photographs. Here is the link to Keller Photography if you want to review her photos (including my family's). Her contact information is found on the main page. Enjoy our proofs!

http://kellerphotography.zenfolio.com/

You might be a Redneck if...

Don and I are having our annual church bonfire at the end of this month. This will be either our 4th or 5th year (can't remember), but last year was the first year we had a theme. I'm slightly embarrassed to say that the idea of last year's theme came from a haircut I got. As my hair guy was blow drying my new 'do, I commented that I could TOTALLY pull of the feathered look from high school. Thus the theme of last year's event was the '80's. And boy, did people pull out all the stops! It was awesome! Here are a few of the fun looks:

So, our dilemma became what to make THIS YEAR'S theme. We all agreed that we couldn't possibly beat last year's (since the '80's were so close to all of our hearts!), but finally a friend came up with a close second... REDNECK!

So, now I am struggling with what to wear for the huge event. Does anyone have any ideas? I'm pretty sure I know how I'm going to do my hair (if I can figure out how to get my roots temporarily black), and I've bought plenty of temporary tattoos for my neck. But clothes??? I think the biggest problem is coming up with something that my pride will let me wear! I mean, I could wear daisy dukes and a bikini top, but THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN!!!

I could use some suggestions. And if I've offended any of you rednecks out there, this is all in fun. I apologize. And please send me a picture of your favorite outfit! :)

Monkeying around

So, the kids were "stuck" in the car for a bit of time yesterday afternoon as we ran errands. They had some of Sis's stuffed monkeys with them (they're all a family, according to her) that we had picked up from another location. So they started playing "monkey house" with them.

The monkey kids (the twin boys, both played by Bub) had just been at school. Only one returned home, so Mama Monkey (played by Sis) wanted to know where the other brother was.

Sis: Where is your brother?

Bub: He got a suspension at school.

Sis (whispering to Bub): No, not a suspension. He got a detention!

Bub: He got a detention at school.

Sis: Oh, he's getting a spit bath when he gets home!

Bub (muttering quietly like a teenage boy): Yeah, like THAT'S a surprise!

Sis: What did you say, Mister?

Bub (sweetly? sarcastically?): I said, Yes, Mother, I thought that he would probably get a spit bath when he returned.