HAPPY BDAY MSU!!!

This just made me proud to be a BULLDAWG!!!

http://old.alumni.msstate.edu/events/130/flash_redirect.html

A few notable things

Last week has been a little crazy with hubs coming home, basketball, Awana grand prix, etc.

• Awana Grand Prix - this was Hannah first adventure into the world or making a car to race it. I let hubs take over in this area except I did help in the naming of the car. She was soooo excited about this, and little did we know how excited when it became actual race day. I was thankful hubby was able to be there. It was originally the week before when he was out of town, but thanks to a "little" snow it was postponed til this past week. I had to rotate between Emily racing her Hot Wheels car in Sparkys and the BIG ONE. Sadly I think I missed Emily's little race. Hannah car - THE BEDDAR CHEDDAR - performed well. It came in 2nd and 3rd in all its races. The one thing she most wanted was the Novelty Award. There were 3 divisions in which you could win something -- the actual race, car design, and novelty car. Guess what - she won 1st in novelty. Oh you should have seen her face. You would have thought Ed McMahon had shown up and given her a giant check. Hubby just want everyone to be afraid for next year. We will give Jim Prater a run for his money.

• UPWARD Basketball - one word for you OVER!!!! It was a good year with great coaches. Hannah is learning some good fundamentals of the game. She had a great last game with 6 points. Emily made 3 baskets this entire season and SADLY I missed everyone of them because of the trasporting Hannah to her games. THANK YOU Hubby for taping her score in the last game.

We are just happy hubby is home. Maybe if I remember I will take a picture of the sign we held up at the airport. We did get someone asking if hubs was in the service. I said no, but that he was on a mission trip. The man did say that was good too. I don't know if hubby will post this picture or not, but here is the little boy named after him in Kenya. Many of you heard of the story last night about that came to be. Hubby was able to do a baby dedication there and able to lead the father to Christ during the dedication. The mom was already a believer. After the service they changed the baby's name to my hubby's name. So he now has a little African spiritual son. You should have heard the entire church awe over that.

HOME!!!

Dear hubs is FINALLY home!!! About 10:05 we saw him walking down the terminal. The TSA lady would not let us go beyond the red line but we got close. We had our signs and could see him grinning a mile away. It is could to have him back home and with presents!!

I have looked at some of the pictures and can't wait to hear all the stories.

Coming Home

They are will be home TODAY!!! They were able to catch an earlier flight and hopefully be home earlier. This will probably require some moving around of some things, but I don't care - I WANT TO SEE DEAR HUBBY!!!!!

Look what is coming!!!!

http://newarkadvocate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080215/UPDATES01/80215043

Oh the joy what is coming our way!! I'll take a grande mocha frappaccino light!

Check this out

One of Hannah's assignments in school was to do a Valentine's Acrostic. Check it out here. You can see more of here work there as well.

Look what I got!

Look what was waiting for me when I got home today! Thank you dear hubs - I LOVE YOU!!

Still doing ok

We are still missing dear hubs. He will be home is less than a week!! We are planning on meeting him at the airport. They are doing well. The girls got a postcard from him when he had a layover in London. That was fun. I guess you need to do something to kill a 9 hour layover.

We have had a messy couple of days, but they have been nice and relaxing at home. Since we homeschool, we don't nessecarily get a snow day. I did not teach piano yesterday or take anyone to basketball or ballet. We ate brownies and watched American Idol in front of the fire. Fun times!! Only thing missing - dear hubs.

Yesterday was a nice surprise. Two of my neighbors came over and shoveled my driveway. That was fabulous. I had thought about doing it and could have, but thank you Peter and Todd!! Maybe I can bake them some cookies or something.

Oh, I almost forgot. An exciting thing happened when we got home from church Sunday afternoon. It was sooooo windy, it blew our grill OFF the deck! As many of you know we don't have a wimpy grill - Hubs, Master of the Grill! Another thanks to neighbors with teenage boys! Hopefully the grill is ok. Hubs will have to check it out when he gets home.

Remember you can check up on hubs at his blog. Updates are not often, but I did put up something today.

Later peeps!

p.s. why is spell check not working?

We're doing OK

Many of you have asked and wondered, but so far the girls and I are doing ok. We are just trying to stay busy as if we are not already. Today was exciting. We went to the Midland to see Cinderella's Mice and then on to Coco Key. Now, that was alot of fun. The girls had friends there and had a great time. I also had fun hanging out with the homeschool moms and enjoy adult conversation. If you have not been to Coco Key it is alot of fun! Maybe we can have a class party there?

Dear hubs is ok - I just miss him! As I type he is in the air on to Nairobi.

Lil' Dears Big Day

Sunday was very exciting day Emily. When she woke up she could not wait to be baptized. She told me she didn't want to do anything except get baptized. It was an exciting for all the family. Dad got to do the baptizing, mom took the pics, and Hannah was excited to give her mission offering for Kenya. Also, for those wondering, I did not fall this time.

We let Emily choose the restaurant for lunch - Red Lobster. Her favorite for popcorn shrimp.

HAPPY BDAY DEAR HUBS!!!

In honor of hubs 40th birthday, I thought I would share 40 places/states he has taken me.

1. Mississippi
2. Anniston, AL
3. Savannah, GA
4. Atlanta, GA
5. Augusta, GA
6. Charleston, SC
7. Jacksonville, FL
8. Panama City, FL
9. Gatlinburg, TN
10. St. Augustine, FL
11. DisneyWorld
12. Myrtle Beach, SC
13. New Orleans
14. Salt Lake City, UT
15. Las Vegas, NV
16. Grand Canyon
17. Phoenix, AZ
18. Nashville, TN
19. Memphis, TN
20. Dallas, TX
21. San Antonio, TX
22. Cincinnati, OH
23. Cleveland, OH
24. Lynchburg, VA
25. Toronto, Canada
26. Cancun
27. Birmingham, AL
28. Lexington, KY
29. Auburn, AL
30. The Greenbrier (WV)
31. Niagara Falls
32. New York City
33. Washington, DC
34. Greensboro, NC
35. Hoover Dam
36. Columbia, SC
37. Buffalo, NY
38. Greenville, SC
39. Indianapolis, IN
40. He has given me the world, and I will go anywhere as longs it is with him!

I LOVE YOU HUBS!!!

We're all ready!

Last night was an exciting night for the dear family. Emily was saved. She has asked many questions over the last year. So, last night when dear hubby got home she asked him to help her ask Jesus into her heart. She could not go to bed until she talked to him. It was all very exciting. She even woke up her sister to tell her. She is very excited about being baptized (which is this Sunday). I will post pics soon. Hopefully this time I will not fall down the steps.

Coffee of the future

Dear hubby has done it again. I love him so much. Yesterday he surprised me with a little present. A Keurig coffeemaker. I am the only one in the family who enjoys a good cup of coffee. I would enjoy it every morning, but I don't enjoy the making of it for one cup. I have been looking at some of the fancy machines that use the little pods, but I have been content on what I have. The one maker I have is fabulous Braun. I actually won it on a TV show about 11 yrs ago. Anyway, I am now the proud owner of one the fancy one cup coffee makers. It never has to be clean. I don't know how much water it holds, but all I have to do it choose what cup I want and what flavor I want from my wide assortment of k-cups I know have. No more counting spoons, cleaning the filter, or waiting. Hot cup of coffee in 60 seconds! It will even make hot tea and cocoa.

Hubs tried out this coffeemaker at the office and Wally and Shawn want one.

Some of you may think that in my last post I may be doing the encouraging for more gifts - NO! I am enjoying being a blessing to my hubby and thinking of ways to bless him. We are having fun!

Anyone for a cup of coffee?

UP for a Challenge?

Alright ladies (I know some men read this blog and you may want to try this with your wives) some of you may have heard dear hubs sermon last week and may be feeling a little convicted. While hubs and I have a great marriage, sometimes there is a need for tune-ups. You often take things in for a tune-up, visit the doctor for checkup - why not examine your marriage. Are you being all you need to be for your spouse? Are they first in your life after God? Do your kids come before your marriage?
I found this on the web and I feel it is a good challenge for us wives. Some of you may be thinking if dear hubby ask me to do this, no. God is just showing myself some things I may need to work on and there may be others out there who need this. You may not want to do it, but ladies read through it and pick out something you can you for your man. After all Valentines Day is less than a month away. Here is the challenge - http://www.reviveourhearts.com/topics/downloads/index.php?id=9471

Also if you look around there there is one about praying for your pastor's wife - goodness knows all us ministry wives could us a little of that.

My prayer is that we all have happy and exciting marriages.

Life is but a Vapor

Some of you know I occasionally list to a radio show out of AL. This weekend one of the host's 2 yr old son drowned in their family's pool. I was shocked and just thankful that I still have both of my children. His father was speaking at a Christian youth event out of state when the accident happened. His wife was home alone with their children. I cannot fathom what he, his wife, and other children are going thru. I was listening this morning and the other host told everyone one that he had said that they are closer to God more than ever and do not want Satan to get a foothold. They want Christ glorified. How many of us can say that when tragedy strike? This shows that anything can happen at anytime. We are but a vapor here on earth. We need to make the most of what we have because we do not know when it is over. Make a difference TODAY!



Let it rain, let it rain.
Open the floodgates of Heaven

The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad
Let the distance shores rejoice
Clouds and thick darkness surround him
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne
A fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side
His lightning lights up the world
The earth sees and trembles
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord
Before the Lord of all the earth
The Heavens proclaim His righteousness
And all peoples will see His Glory

We want to see Your Glory, God!
Do you want to see His Glory?
Lift your voices, lift your hands!

Let it rain, let it rain.
Open the floodgates of Heaven

It's all in the name

What Donna Means

You are balanced, orderly, and organized. You like your ducks in a row. You are powerful and competent, especially in the workplace. People can see you as stubborn and headstrong. You definitely have a dominant personality. You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life. You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you. At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

I think part of this is me, but maybe not all of it. I think I do agree with the stubborn.

Ordering Hiking Boots

I just ordered dear hubby some hiking boots for his trip to Africa. We looked at many different types with many different prices. The ones we purchased are from Cabela's. I looked at other items and just think some things are funny. OK. Since I have placed my first order from Cabela's, does that mean I have to go hunting? Will I now be one their mailing list? If you want the catalog when it comes, just let me know. I would much rather have Pottery Barn.

On another note. Basement is almost done and you can see the floor in the storage area of the basement and most of the toys are in the basement. YEAH!!

(insert title here) I can't think of one

Another year has started, and it is so hard 2007 flew by. The most exciting thing I believe that happened in the Dear family was the purchase of our new home. We love it and are very thankful for having it.





Many of you may be still wondering what dear hubby got me for Christmas. **drum roll please** - A trip to NYC with no kids. I was very excited and we had a great time. It was a quick trip, but action packed none the less. We saw as much as we could. We went to the Cyrano de Bergerac with Kevin Kline and Jennifer Garner, ate at Junior's Cheesecake and Bobby Flay's restaurant MESA Grill. I also got to see all the Christmas windows which I had been watching on HGTV for years, WTC site, Statue of Liberty. It was just alot of fun, and dear hubby is going to have a hard time topping this gift. Also what do I follow with for his birthday - the BIG 40!

I love this pic.

Happy New Year!!

Our family would like you wish yours a Happy New Year! May you use this year to be more for God than you were this past year.

I will post some new pictures soon.

the drought has ended

Finally a winning season for the DAWGS!!! I was able to watch the last half of the game, and WE WON!!! Hooray for State!! As Coach Croom said, "It wasn't pretty, but we just wanted more points than them in the end."

CONGRATS DAWGS!!!