What were we thinking?

Monday, our family decided to go hiking. That alone should have clued us in that something was wrong. Since Honey said we were going to get out of the house, he said I could pick where we were going.  That, again, should have given us a clue that all was not right.  Petit Jean State Park was our choice of torture. 

I have to tell you our dog HATES riding in the vehicle, so we gave her 3 pepperoni laced Benadryls to help with her car sickness.  She kindly waited until we got there 2 hours later until she threw up... But wait, that wasn't the best part.  It was slightly crowded, but we finally found a place to park and a table to eat lunch at...  Yep, it started down pouring rain!  Waiting it out a few minutes, we were thankful it was a short burst of rain - just enough to help the humidity move it.  Don't you just love it!

As you can see all looked well at the beginning of our hike.  It was beautiful and God constantly was reminding me of not only the beauty He had created, smidgen of lessons He wanted me to get. I kept telling Him I just wanted to enjoy the time with my family... that and please let me make it to the end without fall on my face or anyone breaking anything. 

 

The hike to Cedar Falls was strenuous and they weren't kidding!  The 95-foot falls was beautiful and we really enjoyed just the time to rest and watch all the other people playing under the falls.  By the time we finally hiked back out of there, the kids were calling to the dog to encourage her to finish, and I was calling to the kids to encourage me to finish!  The poor dog was so tired  she was begging to get back into the truck so she could lay down and rest. I think she slept all the way home and was all too glad to see her doggy pillow!  Our only reprieve was the stop at Dairy Queen in Russellville on our way back home... Ahhh!

Okay, just to tell you, the whole trip was not torture.  We laughed many times, were able to relax, met some interesting people (a Gulf War vet, a quilter, some super energetic parents carrying their children in baby backpacks, laughing children, a few people with dogs).  We didn't talk much because we were concentrating on where to step and looking around. It seemed just a TAD bit harder than it was 10 yrs. ago when Honey and I went for our 10th Anniversary, and I'm not so sure that we're going back for our 30th in ten years, but you never know!   


Have you gone hiking or on an outing with your family recently?  Leave me a note and tell me a little about it if you please or leave me a link to your blog if you've already posted about it.  I'd love to hear about it!

What's going on at our house: Pictures

Look what is happening at our house!

  

Those cleaned kitty litter containers become great storage containers for the garage: electric cords, plumbing items, pet food, garden seeds and tools, etc.

 

Honey and Youngest - cleaning out the yucky garage.  *Sigh* Momma is much happier and I didn't even ask them to do it!  There is WAY too much junk in there! I'm just thankful no one stopped this time thinking we were having a garage sale!

EEK!  It's an invasion of the Basketball head people! 

(there is more than one use for a worn out basketball!)

  

Lenten Roses

These leathery shade beauties are 

members of the buttercup family.

 Dandelions

cheap childrens' play toys...

Rosemary

I love fresh rosemary in my Italian

Peasant bread and sauces.

Lilies of the Valley

These Lillies actually came from the farm my mother grew up on in KS, during the depression.  I love how they've thrived at my house and are spreading like crazy 

A cute little Princess

  

Ahhhh! Finally the Weekend!

I usually don't post on Saturdays, but I just had to share these pictures that just summed up Friday!

Tex & Honey watching a game on TV

Super Band!

Okay, I'm a mom, so I just have to brag just a bit. This last Saturday, the VB Highschool Band (of which Caleb is part of) went to the 2008 Broken Arrow Invitational, Broken Arrow, OK. Claire and I joined Treasia, a good friend whose son was also in the band, to watch them perform. We're so glad that we did! The weather was perfect and just a slight chill at night. There were 30 bands performing representing 4 states and there were some really impressive. Two bands had a Christian Theme: Jerico and Between Heaven and Earth and the story of each was very clear! The VB Band was the only band that performed without Drum Majors, but that is another story. In the initial Preliminaries, VB placed 4th and took 1st in their AA class, taking 1st in Musical, and Visual Performance, and General Effect. They advanced to Finals Competition (12 bands) and we were just astonished that they placed 3rd!!!!!! Last year they placed 5th, and there were so many really good bands there this year. We loved seeing all the exciting costumes and watching the wonderful formations and songs. What a great way to top off the weekend! Way to go Band!

Weekend Away makes my heart race

He stood there grinning and showed me the papers... tickets to Talladega Superspeedway. My first thought was when and who was going to go with him. There are so many guys that would jump at the chance to go with him, so I asked him... "YOU! I want you to go with me!" I could see the honesty in his eyes, but still I gave him 2 weeks and plenty of suggestions - Mike, Les, Jeff, his dad... but still he insisted he wanted me to go. See, this is not the first time he's won tickets to Talladega, but the 4th time since 1995, and I had yet to go with him. Something always kept me here - injury or new baby. Finally it was my turn, and I'm so glad I went. I had never been to Alabama before. We had 4 wonderful days to ourselves! Kids gladly stayed with friends and didn't want us to come home, though Grandma and Grandma were a wee bit tired from keeping Connor for us. I'm not going to bore you with all we did, but here's a hint

the Talladega race

watching the movie Fireproof at 10 p.m. eating at Hardrock Cafe in Memphis time to laugh and talk

staying on McCollough Blvd.

(dear friends with this last name)

getting up at 5 a.m. to go to a NASCAR race

began reading The Shack

trying new places to eat

beautiful sunsets

lots of walking!

Sonic Sweet tea & SoBe Green Tea

being among enemies in a friendly land

(Old Miss and Alabama were playing football this last weekend)

We're so thankful to our dear friends and Dave's parents who took our children without a blink of the eye and gave us much needed time.