Just a thought ...

Have you ever just sat and thought ... about nothing ... about the future ... about ... whatever ...
I am saying this because I was talking to my uncle tonight and his BABY girl is now a married woman ... his last baby is out of the house and making a life of her own ... He was at the verge of tears recalling himself walking his baby down the aisle and giving her away to a man that wants to make a life with her.

I had a thought .... What will I be doing when Piper is getting married ... will I be bawling hysterically? Will I be gleaming with radiant pride because she has a man like her father that loves her no matter what? Will I be begging her to think about it because I don't get a good vibe from this man she is about to marry? Will her daddy be there to walk her down the aisle? Will my parents live to see her start her own life?
Will my boys find themselves godly women to share their lives with? Will they be blessed?

I have had my fair share of experience with men that weren't who they wanted me to believe they are .... I have had 2 failed marriages in the last 12 years .... and nathan walks into my life and totallly changes me look on love and relationships.

Back to what I was saying ... I do not want my children to experience multi marriages, broken hearts, cheating, lying or affairs ... I want my children to have a spouse that they will love for the rest of their lives, be blessed with children, and live HAPPILY in the Lords care.

The thought of my babies already out of the nest and moving on with their lives is WAY to much for me to handle at this point but I know the day is coming ... I know my birds will have to fly away and make their own nest ... Breaks my heart to think that it will happen WAY before I can prepare myself ...

Thought to ponder ... eh?

4th of July ...

I has been a quiet 4th this year ... it is the first weekend of the month ... so I am childless .. We did have lunch today with the family (children included) ... We had some AMAZING steak and the trout that we caught in vacation. Of course ... dad cooked it and it was AMAZING. Then ... we went to my cousins house for a kiddos birthday and we had all of my mom's side of the family there ... it was nice ... other than Nathan had to work and he didn't get to go ... But ... what do I
do? He provides an amazing home for us ...

The kids all went back to their father, Jaret spent the night with my parents and here I am .... ALONE .... and I kind of like it!

The Story of Nathan and I

It has been asked that I post the story of Nathan and I ... So ..

I have a friend, Tina Hedger, that was convinced she had the man for me!! She started telling me about him in August of 2005 and I was REALLY in no mood for a man at that point considering I was seperated from the last husband and I was swearing off men COMPLETELY! I was trying to work and make a life for 4 people ... 3 of which are my children ... being a single mom with 3 kids is possibly the most difficult thing. Tina and I started talking more and she would bring "this guy Nathan" up more and more. About January she had started making plans to introduce us. I wanted NOTHING to do with it!! So .. in February, she and her husband Stewart hosted a Superbowl Party and I, of course, was invited and apparently so was Nathan! I was in the bathroom attending to a bloody child of a friend and when I walked through her living room to get further supplies for the child, I caught a glimpse of this handsome, TALL fellow that I instantly knew was Nathan. I went back to the bathroom where Casey, another friend was ... and I started chewing her out for "tricking" me into coming so that I would be forced to meet him .. she played the innocent part like she knew NOTHING ... hmmm ... still don't know if she knew or not ... but oh well ...

Well, as soon as I had the guts to come out of the bathroom, Stewart takes me by the hand and leads me to where I was face to face (well ... ok ... face to chest) with Nathan. I said hello and had to walk away because I thought my nerves were gonna make me vomit! He was cute and he had a smile that could melt an iceberg!! By the end of the night I was talking to him and he had asked me if I would like to have dinner with him the following night. Monday came and he was helping Stewart with their fence. So I went to Tina's and met him there .... He realized that it was after 6 and apologized and asked if I would meet him at his house so that he could take a shower and get ready ... I said sure and he took off out of Tina's house like his pants were on fire! I had to get directions from Stewart as to where he lived and I left about 20 minutes later. I got to his house .... his house that read BACHELOR ... and we went to dinner ... Texas Roadhouse for our first date!! It was GREAT! We sat and talked for hours like we had known each other all our lives.

Before I knew it ... he asked me to move in with him .. I was paying rent and he had a house but it seemed that we stayed with him more than I did at my apartment! So ... we packed up my apartment and moved myself and 3 kids into his house. That was a change!! We had some less than thrilled people (his ex wife and my ex husband) ... but ... I knew I loved this guy and that I wanted to be with him. We had no plans to marry anytime soon ..... This was in September. In December I was having all kinds of issues with my stomach ... so we thought .... I worked for the Canyon CLinic so I had them do a "test" .... a TEST that determined my future .... it told me yes ... so ... Yes it was gonna be ... I was gonna be Nathan's wife ..... I was pregnant.

Telling Nathan was interesting ... he turned white, blue, gray, ashy ...... then he sat down and looked at me with that look you get when you are suddenly punched in the stomach! I was crying of course ... he took my hand and sat me in his lap and hugged me ... I remember exactly what he said. "It is all going to be ok ... a little unexpected but not unwanted. It is going to be ok!" He went to my dad ... told him of the circumstances and explained to my dad that we were not marrying because I was pregnant .. He wanted to marry me because he LOVED me!! So ... December 23rd of 2006 we were married.

The catch to all that is ... there was never a formal proposal ... Nathan had ordered my ring and it got set back in the shipping ... so it never showed up for him to do the whole proposal thing ... he had an amazing plan for it ... but with my luck ... it never happened ... The morning of December 23rd the Fed Ex man delivered a package at 11:15 AM ... this was the package that Nathan had been waiting for! It contained my ring. I was standing in the kitchen when he came around the corner with a ring in his hand ... kids in tow .... I took a deep breath and .... took off down the hallway and jumped into the bed and threw the covers over my head .... For some reason all the kids staring at me made me embarrassed! (haha) .. so he came in, shut the door and pulled the covers off my head ... He looked so cute with his concerned look ... of course I was going to marry him ... of course I was going to accept this beautiful ring that he had made for me ... so ... in the few minutes we had alone ... he asked me to be his bride and I said ... YES ...

We were getting married at 3 pm THAT DAY!! Whew ... talk about close call!! I already had a ring for him ... mine ... was finally there ... everything and everyone important was there ... that is all that mattered! I was off to my parents to finish getting things ready and I wasn't feeling really good ... I put it off to being newly pregnant and just dealt with it ... Nathan and I were married at 3 pm on December 23rd with no problems .... it was a short, yet sweet ceremony ... Nathan had to be back to work at 3 am the next morning so needless to say ... there was no honeymoon and actually still hasn't been .. but he has a plan for either Vegas or a trip to a beach!! All in the timing!!

The morning of December 29th, I woke up to something horrible ... I had lost the pregnancy. I was sitting in the bathroom floor when Nathan came in ... I was crying hysterically and telling him I was so sorry ... he couldn't figure out what in the world had me so upset ... I was finally able to tell him that I had started to bleed and with his big arms .. he wrapped me up and told me it was going to be okay ... That is all he has to do now ... take me in his big arms and I know that it is going to be okay!

Inspiration ...

I love to read others blogs ... especially Stephanie's! She has such a way about her! Anyways ... she has inspired me to write in mine ... It has been a while ... so I will attempt to update without making this too boring!



The boys went to Houston/Galveston with my parents and had a great time!! It seems that they LOVE the beach! After they got back (just 48 SHORT hours later) ... we were packed and in the cars headed for Branson MO. I had NO idea about how AMAZING the scenery is outside of the Texas Panhandle! They have TREES and MILLIONS of them!! We stayed on Lake Taneycomo in Branson and it was the most beautiful lake I have ever seen! The water was sooo cold and so the breeze coming off the lake was cool! Which was a WELCOME change because it was over 100 degrees while we were there with 100% humidity.

I am not going to bore you with ALL the details but I can say ... it was a BLAST!

CRAZY

I swear this little girl of mine has done lost her DAMN MIND! She is CRAZY! I find myself saying things that I NEVER imagined ... such as ... "Please don't lick the cat!" "Why are you licking the bottom of your shoe?!" "Piper .. if I have to say it AGAIN .. I am going to spank you!" Among many many many other things that I say in a day to her!

She wears me OUT! I really feel bad for her teachers!! She has the energy of the Energizer Bunny plus some!

My LIFE

Okay ... as MANY of you know ... I have 3 children EACH with VERY different personalities! Jaret is very quiet, Brandan is very sensitive and Piper .... well ... she has NO quams about embarrassing me in public. So today ... we went to the library for their little summer reading program (which kind of sucked actually) and after that was over we were in the mommy section looking for a book for me .... She is standing there and all of the sudden I hear a explosion coming from her! SHE BROKE WIND!! It was LONG and LOUD .... I couldn't help but bust out laughing and everyone in that area looks at us. She hid behind a book shelf so they knew she was the guilty party!

I LOVE MY LIFE!

Just a thought ...

As I sit here ... listening to my precious husband sleep .. I realized just how lucky I am that I have a wonderful man who loves me and takes AMAZING care of my children!

The most FANTASTIC weekend!

Ok ... I know there are SOME people who want to hear all about the fantastic weekend that I had ... and then there are some ... that would rather me just SHUT IT!! ... well ... I have to tell you!! The George Strait concert was absoLUtelY amaZING!! He is an absolute THRILL to watch on stage!! He is STILL mighty handsome for a man that is in his 60's!! Ok .. so ... we went to the stadium as SOON as the doors were opened so that we could look around. I am not a Cowboys fan but the stadium is AWESOME!! We were sitting in the VERY top!! You would get dizzy if you stood up because of the way the seats SLANTED! (haha) ... But ... we had the best seats because there was a BIG screen TV right in front of us ... So instead of paying hundreds for the floor front row tickets ... we got the best ones!

Lee Ann Womack, Reba McEntire, and Blake Shelton were also there ... WHEW!! Oh ... and while we were looking around ... I turned around and Blake Shelton was within my reach riding on a golf cart!! I SOOO could have jumped on that golf cart had I been able to react!! I had my camera in my hand and was sooo dumbfounded that I couldn't even take a picture! WHEW! He is YUMMY up close!!

I had an amazing weekend! I am still wore out from it!! I have to say ... I would SO do it again!!

Dallas weekend

I am telling you that ANY plane that I have been on lately is a plane that HAS to hit turbulance and BOUNCE down the tarmac! I left out of Amarillo last night WHILE the tornado sirens were BLARING! The pilot came on and warned us that it was a rough landing and he "anticipated" the same going out ... OH LORD! There was some anxiety about that one! Needless to say ... getting out of Amarillo was ONE BOUNCY exit! It got better after about 30 minutes of dropping and bouncing ... I wanted to be SICK! I landed in Dallas with no further problems.

I am here until Sunday and we see George Strait, Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton and Julianne Hough tomorrow night .. I am TOTALLY stoked! Nathan is at home having manly time and we have blown up the text messaging!

Of course ... I will post pics as I can ... still trying to figure it out!

Baseball game

Nathan and I went on an excursion this week ... We took a QUICK trip to Dallas to watch the Yankees/Rangers game Tuesday night ... WHEW!! Hang on cuz I am about to fill you in with as much detail as I can in few words. We flew out Tuesday morning after we dropped the kids off at school ... Southwest Airlines .. And I am POSITIVE that Captain Kangaroo was flying this airborne rocket! We landed in Dallas and I am not sure if he was trying to make me sick or if he just had no idea as to how to control the speed on the jet. We BOUNCED on the runway and then ... OOPS! There was our turn .. so he took at a high rate of speed and I am pretty POSITIVE that we went around the corner on two wheels! Oh .. and let me not forget .. the brake check at the gate .. I was standing up and almost went into the seats 2 rows ahead! LORDY! Finally got off the plane and of course .. who is waiting for us then my girl KAREN!! Of course .. so happy to see her!! We get to the car and off we go ... Karen ... I have to say drives in the Dallas traffic like she stole her car!! But I can say .. she is a very defensive driver ... We got to her apartment, put Nathan to bed (He hadn't been to sleep yet because he came off the night shift to head on this trip) .. so we left him happy and snoring all alone in her apartment and we hit the mall! Karen and I together ANYWHERE that money can be spent is very ... VERY dangerous! We did our damage and within 3 hours!! That is some power shopping there!! We had a lunch date so we went back to get Nathan and get to Garland to meet Michael for lunch ... We had a great lunch, many laughs! ALways many laughs when you get Michael and I together in the same room!
After stuffing ourselves to misery .... we were off to the game ... The weather was taunting us BUT ... we were determined to see this game! After a 2 hour rain/hail delay the first pitch was thrown at 9:30 pm. We had a long night, little sleep and a VERY early flight home. We left the game, went back to the apartment, went to bed and was up and at the airport by 6:30 am .. Then ... THEN ... we find that OUR flight has been CANCELLED! UGH ... Do these people have any idea that we are trying to get somewhere???! Somewhere IMPORTANT! Needless to say, the cancellation of the flight put us back an hour so we TOTALLY missed Brandan's kindergarten graduation ... I was sad ... But Nana and Papa were there so he really didn't seem too upset ... We made it home, we have all the children home and in their own beds ... and I am WORE OUT! I will have pics up as soon as I can figure it out ...

May 25

When did I become the mother that says ... "Piper, why are you licking the bottom of your shoes?" The thought makes me want to vomit and the sight of her LICKING the bottom of her tennis shoes totally makes my skin CRAWL! EK!

The days are slowly coming to light that I will be home with all 3 children AT THE SAME TIME for 3 months!! WHEW!! It has been MANY months since that has been the case and I think that I may be bald by the end of the summer!! Piper is HIGH MAINTENCED!

The boys are looking forward to the summer since we have a BUSY one planned! I am excited to get out of town .. but I am not sure I am ready to be locked up in a moving vehicle with them for 2 WHOLE days!!

The Start of ANOTHER addiction!

I am sure that most would say that I already spend WAY to much time on the computer ... BUT ... this is a cool new thing that I want to try!



I am preparing for a vacation that I am hoping the kids will remember. We are heading to Branson MO with my parents and my oldest neice, Ryanne in June and we have 5 days FULL of things that I hope will "enrich" the children. Riding the Showboat Branson Belle, the Duck ride (amphibious vehicle), Silver Dollar City, the Scenic Railway, and of course ... Ripley's Believe It or Not. I am excited because I have never been there so I am looking forward to seeing all this as well. The boys are off to the coast with mom and dad too as well as Ryanne so they can see the beach. I am not sure my kids know what a beach is because this will be their first time!

I will be back with more .. My eyes seem to be BURNING so I am going to go and remove the contacts and place the spectacles on ... I can't type very well with my glasses on .. so ... until later

I will have LOTS of pictures I am sure and I will have them posted as well as what the kids thought of their summer.