Winter Ramblings

So awhile back my Cowboy and I were at a restaurant and saw a scene that absolutely infuriated both of us.

On Valentine’s he took me out to dinner and this scene was repeated, much to both of our disappointment.

I know technology is a huge part of daily life for most of us.  I get it - Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, texts, emails – there’s a lot going on today, but when you are out to dinner with your family – put the phones away!

Seriously!!!

Let me set the first scene for you…

Parents with three two kids eating lunch, dad glued to his phone and mom glued to her phone.  The kid in the high chair keeps throwing the toy on the floor.  While your first thought may be that the child is acting out and needs to be punished, my thought was that the poor little guy was just trying to get his parents to play with him and his new happy meal toy!  But no go, parents would just pick it up, hand it back to the boy and then go back to their technical devices.  Meanwhile the baby in the stroller is trying to hold up his own bottle to feed himself…

Hello?!

Does anyone else see the problem with this?

If you have been blessed to have children you need to Wake Up and realize that moments with them are precious and few!  These kids are not always going to want you to play with them and be around them.  There will come a time when your kids grow up, move on and don’t want you around as often – are you prepared for that?

Then, why are you wasting time playing on your phone when you could playing with that child?!

 

Scene number two – parent out with two kids…

Mother type figure dressed for “fun” and her two little girls (9-10) are taking care of themselves – thank goodness it was a buffet.  Probably the most nutrition those kids get.

Sorry, I know that sounds ugly, but it frustrates my Cowboy and I, when people who have been blessed with children choose to ignore those kids who are right in front of them just to see the latest “happenings” in the virtual world.

I just want to snap my fingers or clap my hands in front of their faces and say “hey, these people, here in the REAL world right in front of you - your kids – they are more important than what’s going on with that phone – put it away for awhile!”

I think I feel better now – sorry! But thanks for “listening.”

I am out of work right now, so it feels good to be doing something. Even if it just updating my personal blog (which I haven’t done in forever!).

In that vein – I am frustrated with being out of work, but know that God has a plan and I just have to keep praying about it and wait for God to show me the way.

Is anyone else incredibly tired of the winter weather?

I know, I know there are some of you out there who just love it and your kids love it and the winter wonderland playtime is special, but I just can’t take it!!

My poor Cowboy works out in this mess every time and we ARE VERY tired of this winter weather!

Feeling lost and frustrated...

I know you are not supposed to compare yourself to others…

I know that each person is an individual and therefore stands “alone” so to speak…

But sometimes when you see people doing so much better than you are it is so hard to not to think…

1.       “What am I doing wrong?”

2.       “Why isn’t this working for me?”

3.       “Am I always going to suck at everything I do?”

4.       “Will I ever be successful?”

5.       “Why do I seem to fail at almost everything I try?”

I know God loves me.

I know my husband loves me.

I know my family loves me – some of them anyway…

 

What I don’t know is where I am supposed to be, how to get there, and why I can’t seem to get ahead no matter how hard I try… I mean seriously – what is wrong with me?!

Winter 2013

Ice Storm December 2013

Okay, so I remember as a kid I used to beg for snow days and hope for "winter weather."
I understand now why my parents used to say hearty "NO's" at all my hopeful wishing for a "White Christmas."

I am beyond tired of this winter weather mess that keeps us from doing things that need to be done.  But I am extremely grateful for the Lord's protection for my sweet husband as he works with the AHTD to make the roads safe for travel.  And I am grateful for all those working to keep the power on.  Thank you.

I will be glad when temps warm up and the threat of more winter weather has been completely removed from our forecasts.

I kinda feel bad reading all the FB posts of all the ambitious folks who have been doing so much the last couple of days - getting laundry done, knitting, baking, etc.

I on the other hand have accomplished so very little - making sure my cowboy is taken care of, watching some holiday movies and doing some reading.

Someone needs to teach me how to knit, so that I could at least be a bit productive while watching the holiday movies...  Or maybe I just need to read a book and try to learn on my own?  Would that even be feasible?

I wonder does updating my blog count as being productive?

Hello Readers!
 
Well three weeks of Baptist Health's Ultimate Fitness Challenge have been completed.  I worked through an injury and lost virtually no weight at the weigh-in on the 8th of April.
 
The next weigh-in is April 22nd.  I hope for better results then.
 
I will say when I started this journey, I expected soreness, tears and change. I have encountered all three - my trainer makes sure the workouts are not only beneficial, but intense and I have had to change my eating habits so that I am making healthier food choices on a consistent basis.  As for the tears, yep, I have broken down in the fitness center, when I was really feeling the burn and wondering "can I do this?"  Thankfully for me, my amazing husband was there with me to tell me "yes baby, you can!"
 
I am the blogger for my team (Black Team) in the challenge... I have been better about keeping up with that blog, than I do with this one sometimes!  I usually write on Friday after the week has been completed, but I had to turn the one for this week in early.
The blogs are posted below for your reading pleasure (beginning with the most recent).
 

UFC Black Team Blog Week 4 (4-16-13) (Early)

Is it Friday yet?
No?!  Okay, then that means two more workouts to go this week! I can do this.
Next Monday is another weigh-in and challenge.  Am I ready?  Not yet, but I am getting there.
I can say with absolute certainty that the number “100” has taken on a new meaning for me as I push through workouts.  Can I get an “Amen!”?  I have also found that some of the equipment we work out seems to be more evil than others – but that’s okay – they are just more challenges to be conquered.
Sometimes, it’s hard to do what I know is right concerning food choices, but I am doing my best and reminding myself that “no food tastes as good as being healthy will feel.”
My awesome trainer, AD told me that when I get tired I need to focus on a mini-goal.  So I have set one and whenever I am struggling through part of a workout (especially the elliptical - hurting and feel ready to fall off), I just say a little prayer, and conjure a mental image of accomplishing that mini-goal.  I made it 20 minutes on that machine the other day – Yay me!
This journey is a process that shows progress and with the Lord on my side I can do anything I set my mind to.  We all can! 

UFC Black Team Blog Week 3 (4-12-13)

Happy Friday!
What a week!
The weigh-in and challenge were Monday.  Congrats to all for great successes so far! Black team didn’t win the challenge – but that’s okay.  We did our best and now we know some areas to train in for improvement.  Congrats to the green team for knocking the ball out of the park!
Soreness continues, but that means muscles are being worked, strengthened and improved.  Several mantras keep repeating like a broken record in my head with “No pain No gain” being one of the most prominent ones.
Gotta work really hard all next week on food choices and work outs before the next weigh-in on the 22^nd.
Be sure to support us with prayers, words of encouragement and coming to cheer us on if possible! 

UFC Black Team Blog Week 2 (4-5-13)

Are y’all praying?
I know I have been!  It’s Friday!  And that means week two of the challenge is complete!  A round of applause please?!  I for one am incredibly proud of myself and the other contestants.  This week has not been easy, but sometimes the most important things in life are not easy to achieve and this goal is certainly important!  Monday is the second weigh-in and challenge.  I am nervous.  I want to see a pay-off from all of my hard work, but I know that whatever that scale shows, I have been doing my best and that is what matters.  I also know – it’s time to kick up a notch… I am going to really start working on my food intake and clean up what I eat – it’s not about “dieting” – it’s about making healthy food choices.  I am going to slightly modify a great quote I have heard – “Nothing tastes as good as being healthy feels!”
Let’s do this thing! J


UFC Black Team Blog Week 1 (3-29-13)
The UFC Spring 2013 Kick-Off was held Monday, 3/25/13 and wow!, what an hour it was.  I think the weigh-in was a bit daunting for all of us, but I for one am glad we are underway.
The first challenge was indeed a challenge!  I don’t think any of us will ever look at water in the same way again – but huge kudos, to my teammate, Megan who took on the first challenge and won it with flying colors, lasting five minutes with those glasses of water!  You go girl!
Our first work-out with the Black Team Trainer, AD Abston, was Monday evening and let me just say - wow! – what a work out!  Oh wait, I’m sorry that should say, OW! – what a work out! J
This is going to be quite a journey; I can already feel that much.  But it is one that my teammate, Megan and I are very excited about.
What is that old saying??  “No Pain No Gain.”  Well in our case, it’s going to be “No Pain No Loss.”  We are going to push through the pain and come out lighter and feeling healthier and ready to take on the world!
Workout numbers two and three were successful as well.  AD makes us “feel the burn,” but that’s okay because he alternates the muscle groups that get worked out.  So while our legs felt like Jell-O on Monday, they were given a bit of a break, to allow for our arms to be worked out on Wednesday.  The third workout on Thursday was all about Cardio and a total body workout.  That’s the way it’s done! 
If you know us (and even if you don’t) please keep us in your prayers and be sure to give us a word of encouragement as you see us sweating it out in the fitness center.  (Because you never know – there could be a few tears mixed in with that sweat!) 


 
As I continue on this journey,  your prayers, tips & suggestions and support are greatly appreciated.
Have a blessed day! :-)

I Think I Can... I Think I Can...

Wasn't it Thomas The Train who's motto was "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..."?  Well, that is my beginning motto as I start Baptist Health's Ultimate Fitness Challenge.

Monday (3-25-13) around the lunch hour was the first Weigh-In and Challenge for the Spring 2013 BH Ultimate Fitness Challenge.  And our first work-out was Monday evening.

Three teams of two (six contestants total) are competing to win by losing the largest percentage of weight.  We are all women, so you know there is going to be some fierce competition. 

But the greatest competition is within myself - to get over my own hurdles and push through the pain, and soreness from the first day, keep my head up, my smile on and just keep working.

I am so excited to be participating in this program.  I am looking forward to the amazing health benefits that I will reap from being selected to be a contestant in this challenge.  And I want to win!  But at the same time, I am scared - what if I don't do as well as I want to do or what if I let myself or my family down?

I just have to keep telling myself - "I think I can!"  and let that evolve into - "I KNOW I WILL!!"

Please keep me in your prayers as I participate (and succeed) in this 12 week program.  Any words of encouragement will be gladly accepted as well! ;-)

My wonderful husband and super mom are jumping on the bandwagon and working out as well - so this family of mine is getting healthy!  Can I get a Woohoo!? :-)

I am excited!  We are going to be healthy and fit and feel better... And you know how I know that??  Because the Lord is going to give us the strength to accomplish our goals and going walk us through each exercise we have to do.  He is our Lord, our Protector and our Strength - we will be fine!

Wish me, my family and the other contestants Luck?! 
Thanks! :-)

Happy November!

 

It’s all over Facebook and Twitter right now to do the “Thirty Days of Thankfulness” and I think that is a great idea.

I am grateful for so many things every day that to single one out to post about each day can be challenging (maybe that’s the point…).  Also, it can be trying for me to remember to go and post to either site (or both) each day my about gratefulness.  So, I have decided to write this “Blog of Blessings” and list my Thirty Days of Thankfulness right here and then post links to it on both my Twitter and Facebook!

 

My “Thirty Days of Thankfulness” looks like this:

1.      Thankful for My Salvation

2.      Thankful for My Sweet Hubby

3.      Thankful My wonderful Church family

4.      Thankful for being able to worship the Lord with other believers

5.      Thankful for my job (yes, it has its’ trying days – but it is a blessing!)

6.      Thankful / grateful for the time I had with my daddy.  I miss him and love him so much! I know he is watching over me and I will see him again someday! (Happy Birthday Daddy!)

7.      Thankful for the knowledge that God makes available for/to us. Proverbs tells us to seek Wisdom… Never stop learning!

8.      Thankful for Prayer – So comforting to know God hears us All The Time! “Lord please heal our country!”

9.      Thankful for my family

10.  Thankful for my friends

11.  Thankful for our Veterans and all those who have or currently serve in our Armed Forces – the debt of gratitude owed to you for your service can never be fully expressed or repaid.  Thank You for Your Service!

12.  Thankful for God’s love for each of us

13.  Thankful for time spent with loved ones

14.  Thankful for the democratic process of electing government officials (even though I really don’t like who was elected this time and fear for the future of our great country!)

15.  Thankful for Forgiveness – Thank you God for forgiving each of us of our sins and for teaching us to forgive those who sin against us

16.  Thankful for my wonderful mommy and the teacher, mentor, mother, and friend that she has always been and continues to be. (Happy Birthday Mom – I love you!)… Also very appreciative of the Twilight Series! ;-)

17.  Thankful for the ability to express my feelings and Christian beliefs verbally and in the printed word without fear of persecution (and yet fearful for how long we will continue to have the rights our forefathers worked so hard to procure for us)

18.  Thankful for the Great Instruction Book of Life (The BIBLE) and aware of the fact that I need to be spending A LOT more time with it on a daily basis!

19.  Thankful for parents who raise their children with an understanding of proper public behavior, right vs. wrong, and a Love for God! (Thanks mom and dad for teaching me these things and more – Thank You Lord for giving me awesome parents!)

20.  Thankful for answered prayers (and those that seem to have gone unanswered) – for everything happens in God’s timing and with His Love for our Best interest.

21.  Thankful for the beauty that surrounds us daily

22.  Thankful for “Thanksgiving Day” – a day set aside simply to be grateful for all of the great blessings that God has given us

23.  Thankful for a healthy body that allows me to do the things I want to do and thankful for the health of my sweet hubby, wonderful mom and all of our family and friends

24.  Thankful for the food on my table, the roof over my head and all the blessings the Good Lord bestows upon me and my family daily

25.  Thankful for a Christian radio station (shout out to @KLove) that plays great Christian music and provides inspiring and uplifting words of encouragement on a daily basis

26.  Thankful for Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection – God’s love for his children is such a precious gift!

27.  Thankful for babies – they are such a precious treasure – a gift from God – and can bring a smile to your worst days

28.  Thankful for uplifting Christian music that helps me worship my God and maintain a grateful heart for God’s blessings

29.  Thankful for the silly moments spent with loved ones that just make me laugh and smile

30.  Thankful for knowing I am loved, by God, my sweet hubby, my family and my dear friends!

Bonus – I am THANKFUL every day for waking up and I am thankful for those of you taking time out of your day to read this!  I hope your day is blessed! J

 

Trying something new...

Hello friends and readers!

Well my first year of marriage is flying by!  I have been married just over ten months and I must say that I love it! And I love my husband! And I love and Thank the Good Lord Above for bringing my Sweet Cowboy and I together.

In April my hubby and I were privileged to attend a Marriage Conference presented by Family Life.  It was such an amazing experience. A wonderful weekend that taught us many things and opened our eyes.

We have lots that we are doing right and things that we need to work on - we are and will always be a work in progress, but with God, we can do this.  We love each other and the Lord and that is what matters most!

For the last twelve weeks or so I have been participating in a Wellness program through my job.  And I have started losing weight and getting more fit.

In an effort to boost my willpower, determination and motivation, I have joined "MyFitnessPal."

If I can ever figure out how, I hope to put the ticker you see below on my Blog Page.  I am hoping this will help be an encouragement for me.

Before my sweet hubby and I decide to have children, I would like to be at a healthier weight, so that I will be better (read healthier) mommy to our children!

Thoughts, suggestions and prayers are always welcome as I continue on this arduous journey.

I will be trying to walk four times a week and I will be trying to continue with my healthier eating habits.

I would love to get my hubby walking with me, but work may not allow that right now.  It's okay - we will figure it out!

Smiles,

~ Athena ~ :-)

Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter

Thirty days of Wedded Bliss… - LATE and The END

Thirty days of Wedded Bliss…

Okay, so I didn’t meet my goal on this Blog… My apologies… Please forgive me.

It is not that I didn’t want to write about the Love of my Life and how wonderful it is being married to my sweet cowboy. I did!

However, time has seemed to not be on my side in this endeavor.

Since I did not write daily (as planned and hoped) I will now write a summary…

Our first two months of marriage have been incredibly busy with our Honeymoon, a funeral (I miss you Grandma), a dear friend’s wedding (Congratulations and I/we love you Kris Kris {And Eric Stewart}!), an awesome linen shower (Thank You Adopted “Grandma” Claudean and 8&40 Partners for this special event held during your great meeting), getting back into the swing of things at work, Church, Bible Studies, meeting great new people and making new friends and various projects around our home.

We were invited to the weddings of two very special couples, but unfortunately had conflicting obligations and were unable to attend their happy nuptial days – but we know they are now happily hitched, just as Eric and I are happily married! =) We wish all three newly married couples a lifetime of Love, Happiness and Marriages Centered on the Lord!

Eric and I have been married for almost 11 weeks now. It has been such an amazing time. It is fun to continue to learn new things about each other and grow together in our marriage as we each grow as individuals and in our relationships with our Great Lord Above who brought us together.

Everyday we are thankful to the Lord for bringing us together and we are thankful to the earthly angels that the Lord worked through to make that happen. We are blessed!

I will have to ask Eric for confirmation, but I think some of our most enjoyable time spent together is when we are preparing supper. We usually try to prepare supper together most evenings (if we are both home from work at a reasonable hour). It is fun trying new recipes and modifying our “usual” dishes to find different and tasty new flavors.

Things are not always cupcakes and roses. This is life we are talking about after all – it has its ups and downs, but I have heard it said that “it’s not the hits that matter, but rather how you take them” or some variation thereof - that could just be my interpretation of the actual quote.

Eric and I are so thankful to have each other and our family and friends that when we are faced with problems we take them to the Lord and we talk them out. Often times we will ask others to help us in prayer (Thank You My Dear Friends and Prayer Warriors!) because we know that “where two or more are gathered…” and it brings a sense of comfort to know that our “peeps” have our backs!

Over Labor Day weekend I was privileged for my sweet hubby to take me on my first official Lake Camping Trip! I have never been camping at the lake – it was AWESOME! I am very much looking forward to our next trip – it was so peaceful and so nice to just get away. I am definitely to do some more “getting away” with my hubby! Okay – minds out of the gutter people – I simply meant that it is nice to be away from the majority of civilization and just be with my hubby… (And the occasional friends we stop and see).

Anyway, I may have veered off track in this “week’s episode,” but I have a slight headache and I started this entry nearly a month ago and still haven’t posted it… I am SO BAD!

Sorry y’all!

Simply said, I love the Lord, I love My Sweet Cowboy Husband, and I love my Family and Friends!

Thank You Lord for my Blessings!

PS – What do you think about the idea of a “Weight Loss Blog?” I need to re-jump-start my weight loss efforts again…

Our First Thirty Days of Wedded Bliss

Wednesday July 20, 2011


Greetings All!

Since it has been quite some time since my last Blog, let me re-introduce myself, I am Athena M. Baxley. Yes, that’s right – I have a new last name! I am now a married woman! =)


I apologize for my Blog being so behind. A very good friend recently pointed out to me, that I very much needed to get back into Blogging gear and get some serious writing done. She also expressed surprise that I did not do a Pre-Wedding Blog, similar to that which I did for my birthday. Frankly, I didn’t think about it, but I also wouldn’t have had the time. Planning a wedding keeps one quite busy – but in a VERY GOOD WAY! =) So, her suggestion (which I very much liked) was to write a Blog about my first thirty days of marriage. It follows…


I will have to back up some to pull this off, so please bear with me. I am going to combine the first several days into this first Blog and will then Blog daily regarding what I am going to call “Our First Thirty Days of Wedded Bliss…”


On Sunday, July 3, 2011, I had the ultimate pleasure and distinct honor of marrying my best friend, the love of my life, my sweet cowboy, Mr. William ‘Eric’ Baxley. Eric and I met on July 3, 2010 thanks to some wonderful mutual friends who set us up on a blind date. We are both eternally grateful to these friends! I truly believe, as does Eric, that God has led us to be together. We are meant to be, guided by the Good Lord above to each other in His good timing.


Eric and I have both been through a lot in our lives and as we have talked about our histories we have found that there have been several opportunities in our lives that our paths could have crossed because we were in the same places at the same times, but it wasn’t time yet. We just weren’t ready yet.


Now that God has deemed us ready to begin our lives together, I feel honored that He chose such an amazing man for me.


Ok, ok, I know – enough drifting – back to the point… Right?!


On July 3, 2011, my sweet cowboy and I Tied the Knot! Our day was special and wonderful and just what we wanted thanks to some very special in our lives! Thank you to those family and friends who stood beside us and with us and helped make our wedding day about us and what we wanted! We are forever grateful and love you all so much!


After a ceremony that included a Memorial Tribute to our family members who watched from above, me being walked down the aisle by my Uncle, my mom giving me away, the braiding of a Cord of Three Strands, Vows, Rings, the lighting of a Unity Candle and prayers, we were married!


We took some photos, then proceeded to our reception where the fun continued with the introduction of the Groom and his Bride, Mr. and Mrs. Eric Baxley, and the introduction of the wedding party. Introductions were followed by a very special “father”/daughter dance. My father passed away six years ago, so all the men who have had an impact on my life were invited to share in a special dance with me that was representative of a “father”/daughter dance. Then my sweet husband and I shared our first dance as a married couple, to Colin Raye’s “One Boy One Girl.” Then there was the mother/son dance.


There was food, dancing, visiting, photos, toasts, the cutting of the cakes (absolutely beautiful and delicious cakes), the tossing of the bouquet and garter and more dancing (our DJ played some awesome music!). Such a wonderful time!


After we left the reception in the truck which had been very artfully decorated in cake icing, we headed to destinations unknown! =) Well, we knew where we were going, but no one else did!


July 4th, 2011 was our first full day of Wedded Bliss. We checked out of the motel we were in, and headed out again. Leaving one state, to travel through two others, just to end up in a different section of the state we left. It was such a beautiful trip. We loved seeing different parts of the country than we had seen before. We both love to travel, so this was a great way to start our honeymoon!


We got checked into another motel – this one we planned to stay at for a few days. There was some sight-seeing to do here!


On July 5th we had a great day out and about and seeing Ruby Falls – a magnificent and beautiful place. Then we had a lovely dinner on a riverboat cruise. The evening ended with a call from my mom telling me that my grandmother (who had not been well for the last year or so) had gone on to be with our Lord in Heaven. We told her we would be home right away – but she wouldn’t hear of it – she told us to continue our honeymoon and have a good time; because that is what my grandmother would have wanted for us.


On July 6th we were again out and about with more sight-seeing, this time we were at the amazing Lookout Mountain and Rocky City. Followed by a ride on the Incline Railroad… Has anyone figured out where we were yet? We were in Chattanooga, TN and oh my, it is absolutely beautiful there! The day was rounded out by a quiet dinner at the Cracker Barrell… =)


On July 7th we checked out of our motel and headed out again to make our way to Missouri. We went through TN this time, instead of dropping down into Mississippi and Alabama like we did on the way to Chattanooga and skirted the outside of Nashville – such a lovely city! Waved to it as we passed and said a silent hello to my sis and her hubby! We got into Kentucky and stopped at a Visitor’s Center and picked up brochures to see what there was to do… Found some things close to the area we were going to be near, but then as we pulled into the area we had been talking about staying in, we saw it – the sign we had been looking for – CASINO! We drove a few more miles into Metropolis, Illinois (and went to the Visitor Center there for brochures and directions) and then found our way to Harrah’s Casino! =) We were so happy, because we had originally wanted to stay in a Casino on our wedding night, but they were all booked… Anyway, being new to the Casino, Eric got comp tickets for dinner and there was a promo going on for a drawing… When he drew he won five bucks in free play – it was his lucky night! We played for a couple hours and didn’t lose all our money! Then, we had a lovely dinner at no charge to us, except for the tip, of course. Then, we drove into the downtown part of Metropolis, Illinois (home of Superman) and found the giant statue of Superman! Oh yeah! Color me happy! It was AWESOME! I totally took pictures! =)


After that, we went back into Kentucky, Padukah, that is, where we found a room for the night.


On July 8th, we checked out and headed out again, finally getting into Missouri. Growing up I was a huge fan of Designing Women, so I was particularly excited to see Poplar Bluff, Missouri where “Charlene” always talked about being from on the show. We stopped in Branson for the night and took in the Hollywood Wax Museum – more great photos from there!



Saturday July 9th – Happy Birthday to me! Eric and I had a wonderful breakfast and followed it with a round of miniature golf on the strip in Branson. Mom met us in Branson, where she gave me my birthday gift. Then we did some shopping at the Factory Outlet Mall there. Eric got mom to help him distract me, so that he could get me a birthday present and card (there wasn’t much time before the wedding to shop for my b-day) and surprised me with them before we left the mall! I have the sweetest hubby ever! And I have a great mommy! From Branson, it was on to Springfield, where we checked into a room, changed clothes and headed to visitation for my grandmother’s funeral.




Sunday July 10th – After the complimentary hotel breakfast, making a trip to the local Walgreens to print some pictures, and a quick swim, we got ready for my grandmother’s funeral. It was a beautiful service both in the funeral home and at graveside. A local church that one of my aunt’s attends held a dinner for the family after the funeral which was very nice and we enjoyed the opportunity to fellowship with each other.



Monday July 11th – We checked out of the hotel and headed home. After about a five and a half hour trip we were safely back in Little Rock! Then the task at hand was to unload the vehicles and get back into routine.



Tuesday July 12th – Wednesday July 20th – We have been back to work and “back in the swing of things” for just over a week now. Sunday the 17th of July made two weeks since we said “I Do” and we are so happy!



Wednesday July 20, 2011 – 17 days ago today I married the man of my prayers and dreams! *Sigh* I Love My Sweet Cowboy Hubby!



Now, in reviewing what I have written – it appears as though I have written a small novel, not just a Blog entry, so I am going to end this one now and will try to write a much shorter version tomorrow! =)


Have a blessed day all! =)

The Holidays...

1-12-11

So this was my first "The Holidays" with my hubby-to-be...

We had a great time!

For Thanksgiving we went to Houston where I got to meet quite a bit of his family - LOVE them! =)

Then we got to go to Galveston (my first time)...  Such a beautiful place - but it was cold, so no water play this time! :-)  Eric's sweet Aunt Gail, took lots of pictures for us.  They are great!  Some are posted on FB...

On the way home we stopped by Athens to see my Uncle Kenny!  That was awesome!  I loved getting to go to church with him and meet his wife, my sweet Aunt Clarice and see one of their grandsons...  It was so wonderful!

For Christmas, we did Christmas Eve lunch with my sis and her hubby to be! =)  Awesome!

Then Christmas Eve dinner with Eric's parents, aunts, and grandpa.  A very nice evening.

Christmas Day Eric and I spent some time together vegging out and being together then had Christmas supper with my mom!  It was wonderful! =)

For New Year's Eric and I went out and had an absolute BLAST ringing in the new year!

The third of Jan was our six (6) month anniversary!  It feels like I have known him forever... A feeling I cherish.  I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with this wonderful man! =)

Eric's birthday is next week and we plan to celebrate! =)  Hopefully there will be no winter weather precipitation to spoil our plans!

I enjoy so much our time together and planning our wedding and future with him.  He is so special and wonderful.  I have truly been blessed!