HUSBANDS AND RAZORBACK FOOTBALL

Well ladies and gentlemen, college football season is upon us.(like I care) I couldn't care less, but my lovely husband is so excited, it's kind of like Christmas to him. He is an avid Arkansas Razorback fan. I love him, but he has a little problem we like to call ESPN. He has gotten a little better with much counseling/gripping from me. I know that's terrible that I would gripe, but that's just the kind of girl I am.

I must admit that even though I'm not one for the football, I do like to be a supportive Razorback fan wife, because if I can be anything it's supportive.
(Yeah right)
When Saturday rolls around I start throwing temper tantrums and pulling my hair out, because I know our whole day is going to revolve around some stupid ballgame. After 10 years of marriage you think I would just get used to it, well, I'm sorry to disappoint, but I'm not that big of a person.


But, I do try and do my part. I always put out our Razorback garden flag, and this year I'm having a Razorback apron and pillows made(only to be used during football season.) So, you see I can be a little supportive.

Now that we live in TN, John still has his devotion to AR and is brainwashing/teaching our kids to be AR fans. And as long as AR isn't playing TN they root for TN, which John says,"he never thought he would do." just didn't seem very loyal. Anyway, pray that I keep my sanity in the midst of all this SATURDAY FOOTBALL MESS. GO PIG SOOIE!

I KNOW IT'S EARLY

I just got this in the mail today.

I ordered it a few weeks ago and it had been out on backorder.

I know it's a little early for snowmen, but I just can't help myself.

When I get time I'll put everyone's name on it, you may have taken note that those aren't our names.

My zebra print bag I showed you last week also has come in, it's more like a tote than a bag.

I plan on having it monogrammed in red, I'll have pics after it's done.

UPDATE: the repair man came yesterday and looked at my washer, he said it's fine. He said I just need to run it once a month unloaded with bleach. For a washer that cost that much money you think you wouldn't have to do things like that.

The King James fellowship was great! Lots of new faces. Jonathan, Jessie, and Mary Klaire are here and the girls are having a good time. We always have a good time when they come and visit. It's about 1:15 and I'm tired so that's all for now.

LOOK ALIKES

For some reason people are always thinking I look like someone they know. I don't know what it is, but they are always telling me they have seen someone who looks just like me somewhere.

I have a friend at church and people are always telling us that we look like sisters. They call us by each others names and we have just started answering them instead of correcting them. What is worse than that is sometimes our husbands have gotten us mistaken for the other from behind. That could become a real hairy situation if you know what I mean.

Also, there is a girl from my hometown who people mistake me for. She worked for the hometown newspaper and was a year ahead of me in school. One day I had went into the donut shop in town and the lady behind the counter said, "you forgot the newspapers last week." I looked around and realized there was no one else around and said, "are you talking to me." She said, "yes, you forgot the newspaper last week." I said, "I have no idea what you are talking about." She must have thought I was just joking with her and then I realized who she thought I was. I said, "you must be thinking I'm so and so." She said, "you're not, if your not you must be her twin sister??"
I'm sure she felt pretty crazy then.

Not 2 weeks later, I was at Jonathan and Jessie's wedding, when one of the retired elementary teachers came up to me and sat down and says, "I don't know if this the appropriate time and place, but can I talk to you about putting something in the paper." I thought, you have got to be kidding, and I said, "Mrs. so and so, you must think I'm so and so, but don't feel bad this happens to me alot." She said, "your not, well you look just like her." Bless her heart.

Now today I got a message from a one of my friends from high school. This is her message in her own words...
MINDY! I was at the doctor's office yesterday and saw your identical twin! I sat down beside her and said, "Girl are you not even going to talk to me?!" She said, "I have no idea who you are." She looked sooo much like you that my stupid self says, "MINDY! I cant believe you!"
Anyways, she teaches at Brookland School and her name was &*&*((&.
I'm serious, I should have taken her picture!!! :)

That is way too funny, I'm sure Jinger got a good laugh at that. If you know her you know she is hilarious!

I wish I pics of these girls and could let you compare for yourselves. Maybe I'll get those later.

BUSY BUSY BUSY

I have alot things I need to do today because this weekend is going to be pretty busy. Our friends from Arkansas are coming Friday and staying the night with us. They are picking up their daughter Mary Klaire,(who most of you know as Landon's true love..lol), and then heading to our house. So, that means I have to find sometime today to get the house straightened up.

I'll be doing this while waiting for the Frigidaire repair guy to come and check out what has happened to the door on my washing machine, that is not even a year old yet. Instead of these people making SET appointments they say they will be here sometime today between 12pm and 7pm.
Do they just expect me to sit here all day and wait for them. What kind of business are these people running? Back to said washing machine, it's not really tore up or anything, but there is a black piece hanging down in the glass part that cannot be good, and needs to be fixed before it really becomes a problem. Hopefully, they will get here in time for us to go the ballgames.

Saturday after the company has gone, the kids have a birthday party to attend.(mental note: don't forget to get b-day presents) Then finally Sunday is Building Fund Sunday at church and thank the Lord it's a turn-around service, which means we will have morning service then lunch and after lunch have a short service of popcorn preaching and singing and then be done for the day, then I'll be ready for some nice sit back and relax time.

FALL, WHAT A LOVELY TIME OF YEAR!

It's getting close to fall, and I'm SOOO excited. I love the fall. I know it's still pretty warm out, but I am so tempted to start putting out all my fall stuff. To help with my fall fever, I decided to go ahead and change my blog background to something fallish.

I just can't resist the pumpkins, scarecrows, hay, leaves... you get my drift. There is just something about fall. There seems to be a different feeling in the air, and has anyone else noticed, but fall also seems to have it's own familiar smell.

I love going to the fairs, football games, pumpkin patches, having hayrides, and weenie roasta. I miss living in the country because we used to invite everyone out and have a hayride and a marshmallow and weenie roast. Maybe eventually we'll be able to do it again. I can just see us starting a bon fire here in the middle of town and every fire truck in town showing up to put it out. It wouldn't be the first or second time that we have had fire trucks here, but that will have to be a later post.

Fall also means that it's time to start school again. Somedays I'm ready to jump right in and get things started, and then other days I dread the everyday routine. I am getting excited about starting our field trips with the other homeschoolers at church. I have been pondering on what would be fun and exciting for them. Does anyone have any great field trip ideas? Like I said, I AM READY FOR THE FALL!

YOUR WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN MY WAYS

I just want to say that I love the Lord and His word. I needed to say that. I know I'm not in a testimony service, but sometimes it just needs to be said.

God has been working on me here the past couple of months about my walk with Him and about being a Godly mother(of which I am a poor resemblance).

This morning He woke me up about 7am. Now don't tell me God doesn't have a sense of humor, because anyone who knows me knows I love to sleep in. Well, here lately when God has something He wants to talk to me about, He wakes me up between 6 and 7am and He gets my full attention, because after everything is settled and He has finished dealing with me, then I go back to sleep. Sleep sweet sleep.

I know there are some things He is wanting to do in my life and through me, I just have to be obedient and let Him have control, this is hard for me. I have always felt like I have to be in control of any given situation to be comfortable. I know this is just one of my many flaws, because Lord know I have MANY. I know that if I let Him have control of my life and my family that He will not let me down. The Bible clearly says in Jer 29:11, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Everytime I read God's word or hear someone else read it, I start tearing up here lately. I know this is because His word is alive and speaks directly to me. I understand that He only wants what is best for me and that He knows the way better than I ever could.

So, I'll just keep on praying and with His grace and mercy, I'll become the Godly woman that I know He wants me to be.

I LOVE TO SHOP

This weekend I was able to go to Arkansas and do some shopping. I love to bargain
shop. There is just nothing better to me than being able to go into a store and get something great on clearance. I just can't bring myself to pay full price for anything, mainly, because I know the next time I go shopping, whatever it was I felt I needed, will almost always be on sale, this weekend was no exception.

I always get the kids new tennis shoes for the fall, we only wear sandals and flip flops during the spring and summer time, but when the weather starts to get cool, we pull out those tennis shoes.

Well, back to my shopping story, I love to go to Kohl's because when they have a sale they usually have a pretty good one. I was able to get Landon's tennis shoes on clearance for $15.99! You can only imagine how excited I was. I also was able to get one of John's preacher friends a pair of new dress shoes that were originally $75. for only $7.50, only more excitement! We went to lunch at Cracker Barrel, where I was able to get a new Yankee Candle(which I love) on sale for $14.99(they are originally $23.)

Another great find of the day was at Hobby Lobby where I found a new rod iron scrolly candle holder that I plan on decorating with fall flowers and pumpkins. I'll put up before and after pics when I get it made.

Just felt like sharing my bargain finds, although they were not as good as my $1.25 lamps, I still think I did pretty good.

GOD IS GOOD GOD IS GREAT LET US THANK HIM FOR OUR FOOD

These are the cutest little prayer plates. I have a few of them and just love them.(we have the firetruck one, too) They all have a different prayer on them and are great for the kids to help remind them to "bless their food", before they just gobble it down.

THE THINGS PEOPLE WILL TRY TO SELL

Today, Tracy and I were searching on the internet for some different things. We saw these cutesy pillowcase dresses and thought they were adorable.

Then low and behold we came across these crazy things... Now, I don't why in the world anyone would even think up something like this, but sure enough here they are. We thought it was joke, but it's not. I couldn't make this up people..Not to be crude, but I just have to keep you informed of what's out there in the big wide world..There are somethings that just shouldn't be reusable!

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

Today, I thought I would share with ya'll A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS. Great, now I'll be singing that song all day.

I came across this bag the other day online and had to buy it. I am hoping Laura will monogram it for me:)

I am about to redecorate our bedroom in black and white and this is the comforter that I am planning on using.




I am also doing the bathroom in black and white and would show you the pics of the shower curtain and towel set that I just purchased, but for some reason I can't get the pictures to pull up. They basically look alot like the comforter.




Last but not least, these are the lamps that I got at Decor Direct, Friday. I got them to go in my bedroom to help complete the black and white theme. I couldn't believe it when I saw them and they were only a $1.25 a piece!!!! Now, I have the daunting task of trying to find a black shade for them, but for $1.25, I'll suffer and try to find them.

BABIES AND BICYCLES

My youngest child, Sawyer, has learned to ride his bicycle with NO training wheels. He is 4 now and he thinks he is a big boy. Don't tell him, but I'm just not quite ready to let him be a big boy just yet, after all he IS my baby.

Now we can say we have successfully taught all 4 kids to ride their bikes without their training wheels. It just seems like yesterday we were trying to get this boy potty trained and now he's big enough to do things all by himself.

Every since I can remember he has always wanted John to carry him to bed and tuck him in. Well, the night of his 4th birthday, it got time for bed and John went to pick him up to take him to bed and he looked at John and said, "I'm 4 now, I can do it on my own." I literally thought John was going to have a breakdown and start crying uncontrollably on me, but he didn't. He wanted to, but he didn't...

You know how everyone is always saying, "enjoy it while it last because they grow up fast." They weren't kidding, these people knew what they were talking about. Before we know it they'll be asking for the keys.

CONSIGNMENT FINDS AND FOOT FUNGUS FEARS

Today, Tracy, Kayla, Kailey and I went to Union City shopping. We went to a few stores and then we went to a consignment shop. I am really not one for consignment, but every once in a while I do find a few things. Well, today was one of those days.

The store we went in was having a red tag $1.00 sale, which meant everything with a red tag was a $1.00. I found Kailey a couple of shirts and then I ran across these.



They are YELLOW BOX shoes and they were just a $1.00 AND they matched the shirt I was wearing perfectly. WOW, who would of knew. Now, this is the first time I have ever worn used shoes, especially by someone I don't know... I went to the car and put them on, seeing as how they matched my shirt.

I came home all excited and telling John about my great find and you know what he said to me? Did you spray those before you put them on? Now, he has me all freaked out about wearing these shoe without first having them sprayed. Gee, thanks.

Oh, Holy Hills ladies, we went and picked out some new fabric for aprons. We got some christmas material, so get your pocketbooks ready.... these are going to be really cute.

GETTING READY FOR HOMESCHOOL

My house has been turned upside down all day. I have been trying to organize everything for the kids upcoming school year. They each have a file box and their own shelf, which helps alot. I am almost finished getting their curriculum, I just have to finish getting Landon's and I need Easy Grammar grade 5 for Evan.

When I first started homeschooling I was soooo nervous. I wasn't quite sure I could do it, but now going into my 4th year, I find myself giving other new homeschooling moms advice. Wow, I never thought I'd be confident enough to do that. I have slowly found my way, and by trial and error, I have come to figure out what curriculum and schedule is just right for my family.

I must say many thanks to Mrs. Ann, this wonderful lady was a real big help to me. I know without a shadow of a doubt that God places the right people in our lives at just the right time. She helped me more than she knows and I have to say she was right. She told me from the very beginning that I could do it and that I would find exactly what was right for MY family. Again, thanks Mrs. Ann.

Evan is going into the 5th grade which seems unreal. He just started kindergarten the other day.

Kailey will be a 3rd grader this year and I am excited about it more this year than I was last, since her reading has improved. At first I thought their is no way I can teach her to read. I thought it was just the fact that I couldn't teach her. I could just see her at 19 years old wanting to go to college, but reading on a kindergarten level, all the while blaming me the mother for failing her miserably. But, many tears and prayers (for both of us) later, she is doing much better.

On to Landon. Landon will be a 1st grader this year. He is testing on a 2nd grade level but instead of pushing him on through to 2nd grade, John and I have to decided to take it slow and let him just be a 1st grader. I am very impressed that he is doing so well.

Last but not least, Sawyer, this boy wants to be in school so bad, he tells everyone he is a preschooler, which is true. Just one more year and he will be in kindergarten. I don't know if I can take this, he's just a baby for Pete's sake.

IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH

I have been sick for 3 weeks, which is something pretty unusual for me. I am never sick. The only time I go to the Dr. is if I'm pregnant... which I can proudly say that I haven't been in 4 years, which is a real accomplishment for me and for the dr. who performed my husband's "surgery". For the 1st 6 years of marriage I was pregnant.

Back to being sick, I have had this cough and congestion, snotty nose, and my left is ear is clogged, which is really about to drive me crazy. I can't hear anything out of it and I feel like I'm talking inside my head. I went to the dr. yesterday, and he said, he is treating it like it is a mycoplasma.(WHAT) What in the world is a mycoplasma? Anyway, he isn't sure if it's that or allergies. He gave me a prescription for a zpac and heavy duty cough medicine and said if I'm not better by Friday to call him and he'll call me in some steroids.

Now, I'm really starting to get nervous, because this has lasted way longer than I think it should and none of the medicines, prescribed or over the counter, seem to be doing anything at all.

Do any of you have any idea what could I could possibly have and how in the world I can unstop my ear? I think I could handle being sick, if my ear wasn't like this.. I first thought it was a sinus infection, but he ruled that out. Please Pray People. One perk of being sick though, is my husband has done alot more without having to be asked, PRAISE BE TO JESUS!

Oh by the way, I am home alone for the 1st time in I don't know when. Everyone has gone to church and I decided to stay home until I feel better. I never really appreciated the quietness until it became a thing of the past, now I miss it, it's kind of like an old friend. I really need more me time... because I am suddenly excited about being alone, and my family is just right next door. That's how much free time I have people, my idea of a break is everyone going next door,to the church, which is in the same parking lot as my house.

Sorry, you can tell I'm alone and don't have anyone to talk to, this post is as long as my to do list!

YEARBOOK YOURSELF

The top pic is Evan doesn't he look alot like John.







This is funny as all get out. Tracy has this posted on her blog today, if you haven't yet, go check it out. What's so funny is I looked liked this in 1990 just darker hair and John's 1998 pic looks like his senior pictures.

I CAN I CAN

Today, I am feeling very domestic. These feelings come and GO pretty frequently for me. Sometimes, I'm like Betty Crocker cooking all our meals all week long and sometimes I'm like my Aunt Pam and ordering all our meals out. Every once in a while I start feeling like I should be living off the land, you know, the way our grandparents used to do it. Well, since today is one of those domestic days, I'm thinking of a new venture, CANNING. Now, I have never canned a thing in my life, but I know it has to be doable(is that a word?)because women have been doing it for centuries. So, now off I go looking for canning recipes and trying to decide what it is that I want to can. I'm thinking something along the lines of peach preserves. Well, off I go to buy mason jars, do any of you have a good canning recipe or any canning tips or suggestions...

SPIRITUAL GIFTS TEST

Spiritual Gifts Test Results
On Sunday nights at church, we are studying spiritual gifts. Well, I found this site and took the spiritual gifts tests by Baptist Press. These are my results. If you would like to take the test, go to, www.spiritualgiftstest.com


The Results Are In!

Scroll down to see what your top score(s)(out of 24 possible points) are!
Let us know what your top 3 gifts are and then click on the Definition link to learn more!

Note* Prophecy, Healing, Miracles, Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues are not included in the Spiritual Gift Discovery Survey because their presence in the life of a believer tends to be self-evident.



Definition Administration/Ruling - 21

Definition Discernment - 23

Definition Evangelism - 8

Definition Exhortation - 9

Definition Faith - 7

Definition Giving - 20

Definition Helps/Serving/Ministering - 9

Definition Knowledge - 16

Definition Mercy - 6

Definition Pastor/Teacher - 2

Definition Teaching - 9

Definition Wisdom - 16

HERSHEY PIE

I thought I would share this simple and easy recipe with everyone. I know everyone is always in a rush and most of us don't have the time to prepare those great dishes that take hours. So, I am giving you this one for the next time you are in a pinch.

HERSHEY PIE

6 HERSHEY CANDY BARS, MELTED
1 TUB COOL WHIP
1 GRAHAM CRACKER OR OREO PIE CRUST

MELT CHOCOLATE IN MICROWAVE. NEXT, MIX CHOCOLATE AND COOL WHIP. POUR INTO TO PIE CRUST AND CHILL. IF YOU WANT YOU CAN ALSO TOP WITH EXTRA COOL WHIP AND DRIZZLE WITH CHOCOLATE SYRUP. QUICK, EASY, AND DELICIOUS. ENJOY.

Brain Test

Here is a little something I came across while I was reading blogs. It is suppossed to tell you which side of your brain you use most often. www.mindmedia.com/braintest.html

mindy, you are somewhat left-hemisphere dominant with a balanced preference for auditory and visual inputs. Because of your "centrist" tendencies, the distinctions between various types of brain usage are somewhat blurred.

Your tendency to be organized and logical and attend to details is reasonably well-established which should afford you success regardless of your chosen field of endeavor, unless it requires total spontaneity and ability to improvise, your weaker traits. However, you are far from rigid or overcontrolled. You possess a degree of individuality, perceptiveness, and trust in your intuition to function at much more sophisticated levels than most.

Having given sufficient attention to detail, you can readily perceive the larger aspects and implications of a situation or of learning. You are functional and practical, but can blend abstraction and theory into your framework readily.

The equivalence of your auditory and visual learning orientation gives you two equally effective sensory input systems, each with distinctive features. You can process both unidimensionally and multidimen- sionally with equal facility. When needed, you sequence material while at other times you "intake it all" and store it for processing later.

Your natural ability to use your senses is also synthesized in your way of learning. You can be reflective in your approach, absorbing material in a non-aggressive manner, and at other times voracious in seeking out stimulation and experience.

Overall you tend to be somewhat more critical of yourself than is necessary and avoid enjoying life too much because of a sense of duty. You feel somewhat constrained and tend to sometimes restrict your expressiveness. In any given situation, you will opt for the rational, and learning of almost any type should be easy for you. You might need certain ideas explained to you in order to fit them into your scheme of things, but you're at least open to that!

WOE IS ME

Today, I was noticing that Evan had a few pimples on his face. He is only 9 years old which seems to me, a very young age for this. I'm beginning to think he is a hypochondriac... he is always asking us if whatever is ailing him at the time is going to kill him and if we have ever had it. Well, you can imagine all the crazy things he might think will kill him. So, when I notice the pimples, I say, "Evan you need to make sure you wash your face really good or you'll get acne." Of course, he's says, "what's that and will it make me die". I tell him no. John gets in the car and the first thing Evan says is, "Dad, have you ever had AGONY," which John replies, "Yes, everyday." This is John trying to be funny. So, everyone make sure you wash your face, we don't want you to get AGONY.

THE EARTH IS THE LORD"S

God is good. I think of all the things HE has made just for me to enjoy. All the beautiful things I see are just constant reminders that God loves me and that His hand is guiding me in ways that I cannot see.

These are some pictures I took while we were in the mountains and yet, more reminders of His goodness.

The earth is the LORD'S and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Psalms 24:1
That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth. Psalms 83:13

ONLY IN AMERICA

Only in America

Nothing is funnier than the truth...

1. Only in America... can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance.

2. Only in America... are there handicap parking places in front of a skating rink.

3. Only in America... do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.

4. Only in America... do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke.

5. Only in America... do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.

6. Only in America... do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put all our useless junk in the garage.

7. Only in America... do we use answering machines to screen calls and then have call waiting so we don't miss a call from someone we didn't want to talk to in the first place.

8. Only in America... do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.

9. Only in America... do we use the word 'politics' to describe the process so well: 'poli' in Latin meaning 'many' and 'tics' meaning 'bloodsucking creatures'.

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