Houston Rodeo - Rascal Flatts

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Charles and the kids went to the Rodeo last night. I didn't feel good, so Johnny took his best friend in my place. I absolutely love Rascal Flatts and it sounds like it was a wonderful concert.

Want some snow???

People here in Texas were in shorts today when I went to the store this afternoon. That's not the case where my brother and his family live. They live in Indiana and look how much snow they got a couple of days ago!!!

Tracy McGrady's 41pts vs Hornets[Rockets 18 win streak]

Woo Hoo!!! GO ROCKETS!!!!!

North by Northwest trailer (Alfred Hitchcock)

I watched this movie this weekend. Cary Grant is wonderful. He and Jimmy Stewart are my favorite actors.

Sunday afternoon nap....

Found the baby taking a Sunday afternoon nap....

It's Azalea time.........

I love this time of year when the azaleas are in bloom and you can hear the birds singing! I love Spring!

TAKS day.........

Today was the infamous TAKS day. I was a hall monitor for the entire 4th grade at one of the schools that I work at. I loved it! I worked with about 100 kids. I escorted them to the restroom, or to the nurse and relieved teachers as they stepped out. I got a bunch of hugs, broke up a fight and put my arm around a kid after someone had just made fun of him. I got to look the kids in the eye and smile and tell them that they were going to do a great job. It honestly made me think about going back to school and getting my teaching certificate. I always did want to be a teacher.

The Other Boleyn Girl

Saw this movie this weekend with my BFF Lainey girl. It was a great movie. It was about King Henry VIII.

More broken bones..........

Oh my goodness...........my sweet child has break number 4 and 5. He flipped backwards on a friends' bike and broke his left wrist and his right elbow!!! AHHHHHHHH.......right before the TAKS test! Thank goodness he can still write with his right hand.

Michael Buble concert at the Toyota Center

Saw Michael in concert this last Saturday night. It was wonderful.

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BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN SISTER

BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN SISTER
by Maya Angelou

A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ
that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean livin''
I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.'

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say.. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain..
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow!'

Mike Huckabee Ad

This is great.............

Michael Bublé

ooh baby........I get to see him in concert this coming Saturday night!!! Can't believe it.

The City of my childhood....

This is the most beautiful picture of Albuquerque that I have ever seen! Look at the mountains that I took for granted! I lived there from the time I was about 4 until I was 16. Is this God's majesty or what? Enjoy this breathtaking view of "my city"

Here is the history of Albuquerque......

Albuquerque was first settled by Spanish missionaries and settlers in the late 1600's, who settled on land left empty by Pueblos, who had been recently decimated by plagues brought by the incoming Europeans. The settlers and missionaries were killed or driven south to El Paso by the Pueblos in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, because of harsh treatment by the missionaries and settlers. in 1692 Diego de Vargas returned with an army and re-took Santa Fe, which is the oldest town in the area, being in existance before the arrival of the Spanish, and in 1706, his successor Governor Cuervo y Valdés announced to the King of Spain that he had founded a villa where Old Town Albuquerque is today, and named it after the Duque de Alburquerque. Spanish villas continued to grow through the years, and in the 1800's Anglo settlers began to arrive, after the land that was to become the western states came under American control. With the arrival of the railroads the population began to grow at a faster rate. Historic Route 66 passed through Albuquerque, and many people suffering from Tuberculosis and other lung ailments settled in the area because of the mild climate. Since WWII the population has continued to grow rapidly, and outlying villages have become fairly large towns, while Albuquerque has continued its growth east and west.

Brock Gill Promo 2007

This guy was at Fellowship last night. My kids said that about 50 kids got saved.....how cool!!

Mrs. Miniver and the German Soldier

Today I woke up feeling lousy, so I stayed home from work. I went back to bed and slept for about 3 hours. When I woke up, I worked on a quilt and watched this 1942 movie. It was set in England during the beginning of WWII. It was an incredible movie. It lasted almost 2 1/2 hours. I was on the edge of my seat for some of it and my mouth fell open during some scenes. It was also very moving. The very last scene is where they are at church and they sang..........."Onward Christian Soldier" Brought me to tears....I also listened to some wonderful music by Vic Dimone, Barbra Streisand, Sammy Davis, Jr. and old blue eyes. I took Johnny to breakfast and Amy to Starbucks after school. Over all, I had a wonderful day even if I did wake up not feeling well.

Cannon ball in the baptistry

This is priceless!!!

The best part of my day.....

Today something really cool happened at the school I was at. I was walking down the hall when a Kindergarten class was in the hall. A little boy recognized me and smiled from ear to ear when he saw me and held his hand out! I held that sweet baby's hand all the way down the hall and talked to him about his day. It totally melted my heart. Even though I work at two different elementary schools, I really don't get to work with the kids. I think I will see if I can start reading stories to some classes every once and a while. I love kids so much. That is why working at a school doesn't even seem like a job. I am so thankful for my new job. I love it.

The Lake House Trailer

I bought this movie this weekend. It one of my very favorite movies of all time.

The Look

Ok, I think this is hysterical! Play it again..........

Becoming Jane

I bought this movie this week. Amy and I watched it last night. It was wonderful.

Hot Air Ballooning In Albuquerque, New Mexico

This is a cool video. Every time that I see a Hot Air Balloon, I think of my childhood. Every year, my Dad and I would chase them. The International Hot Air Balloon festival is held in Albuquerque every October. There are also some wonderful pictures of Albuquerque in this video. I loved growing up there. My Dad worked for the F.A.A....Federal Aviation Administration. He worked on the computers that the air traffic controllers used. I loved the culture and the scenery and the climate in New Mexico. I miss the mountains. I hope you enjoy seeing a little part of my childhood...

Who Am I Casting Crowns

Johnny is in our youth choir practicing to do this for their musical. Isn't that cool?

Silent Worship - song from movie Emma 1996

Amy and I went to Red Robin for dinner Friday night and rented Emma. It was a wonderful movie. She and I love those sort of movies! It was such a great 'girls night'.

Don't Blink by Kenny Chesney

They sang this song at church Saturday night. We are doing a series now about what you would do if you knew you only had 30 days to live..........something to really think about....

Casa Blanca - As Time Goes By

Johnny and I watched this movie this last weekend as he recuperated from having his wisdom teeth out. I absolutely love this movie.

The Game Plan

We rented this movie last night. It was great.

German Coast guard trainee

hee hee

Thank you.............

This is neat..........

Honk!

We went to the high school last night to see this play, called, "Honk". It was wonderful! We know the main character from church. It was absolutely fantastic. It was the classic tale of the Ugly Duckling. All of the kids worked so hard and it was wonderful! I love plays!

Monster trucks

Johnny got to see the Monster Trucks this weekend........

Hitch Dance Moves

Amy and I went to my sister's house last night to watch Hitch. This was hysterical!

The Evil Eye......

If this doesn't make you laugh, nothing will..........

No power.....

Last night our power went out from 9:00 pm until 12:30 pm today. Over 12 hours without electricity. I played on my laptop until the battery died. Then about 11:30 last night, my kids were in rare form. We listened to music from several diffent cultures! At one point, we watched my beautiful daughter lip sync and perform to Queen's "My Shirona" Her brother worked the spotlight (I mean flashlight)......I must say...It was quite entertaining. I can't imagine where she gets this goofiness from!!!???!! She even performed to opera music. We laughed until we could not laugh any more. I am so very thankful for happy, goofy children.

Today, as I waited for the power to come back on, ...I read. I read for over 3 hours and I must say that I am very glad there was no power. I am reading a book that God is using to minister to me more than I could have ever imagined. It was by no mistake that I had no power this weekend.

Enchanted - That's How You Know

Disney's Enchanted (trailer)

The kids and I had a fun last day before going back to school tomorrow. We had hamburgers, went to see Enchanted and then went to Starbucks. The movie was great! It was actually better than I expected. The kids loved it.

New York City Ball Drop 2008

I was actually able to stay up to past midnight. Today I am watching the Rose Bowl Parade, playing on the computer and wanting to quilt. I am going to make a big pot of black eyed peas with cornbread....yummy. Happy New Year!!!

Me and the kids.....

Miss Jessie

While we were in Arlington, we went to see Miss Jessie. I have known her since I was about 3 or 4 years old. My parents were friends with her and her husband from Albuquerque. She just turned 93 yesterday. Today we went to see her on our way back from Arlington. I asked her where she grew up. She said that New Mexico became a state in 1912 and her family wanted to move to New Mexico. Her family lived in Sherman, Texas until after World War I. Her father loaded all of the horses and the Model T and all of their furniture on a train headed to New Mexico. Her mother and the other 5 kids came on the train 2 month later. She remembered at age 10 (1924)cooking for the entire family and being in charge of the younger kids and making sure that they churned the butter every day and picked cotton. If the younger kids in her charge didn't finish their chores, she would have to finish them. She is an amazing woman and I just love her. She is such a blessing in my life.

Next time that I am there, I hope to interview her on video tape. She has such a keen memory and can tell you many things from before the 1920's.

I took this picture last Spring Break.

Wunsche Bros Cafe Reunion

Last night we had a reunion at Wunsche Bros Cafe in Old Town Spring. My grandfather, John Allee (my mom's father) used to come to Spring to the Wunsche Cafe back before the 1920's. Jeff framed a picture of my grandparents from 1916 and brought it with us last night. The manager was thrilled to death to get it and hung it right away. If you are inside looking at the front door, it is hung to the left of the door. Their names are John and Ila Mae Allee.

Click here for more history on the Wunsche Cafe.

We laughed until we cried and enjoyed each other so much.

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Christmas Day at Mom's

Jeff and Tonya and the kids drove in from Indiana for Christmas. We all went to Mom's for Christmas Day. Judy drove up with us also. It is the first Christmas that all of us have been together. It was a wonderful day!

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Merry Christmas

Ever seen real REINDEER????

They had real reindeer near a mall close by. One was Donder and older. The other one was Rudolph junior. He was only 18 months old and was in trouble when we saw them. The owner said that he had been a bad boy and was trying to stand up on the pen so they had to put a collar on him. He was going through his terrible 2's. How funny!

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It's About the Cross - Christmas Music Video

Three Years ago today.......December 16th

Three years ago today, my Father passed away. We were planning to spend Christmas with him and my Step Mom in Oklahoma City. It was the hardest thing that I have even been through, but with the prayers of so many people that love me and God's grace and strength I got through it. Of course the first time after that when I heard The Old Rugged Cross and How Great Thou Art, I would burst into tears. The first Father's Day after that and of course his birthday were very, very hard. It does get easier, but I think of him and miss him every day. I have his robe on and am drinking coffee this morning from his favorite coffee cup. He was my best friend. I could tell him absolutely anything and miss talking to him. He gave me my love of music. He and I would sit at the organ and play a duet and sometimes sing together. He was so very loving and funny. As much as it hurts today, I am so very thankful that I will see him again in Heaven.

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Taking pictures on a warm December day...

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Christmas Decorations

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Karen Carpenter - Merry Christmas Darling

An old classic

Frank singing "Jingle Bells"

As I was driving back from my Mom's on Sunday afternoon, Amy was sitting in the front seat with me and she requested the Frank Sinatra Christmas Music!

I recorded this video this morning just so you could hear the song. Sorry that it is a bad picture........I just did it for the fun arrangement of Jingle Bells.....Frank Sinatra style!!!

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Christmas Memories...

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Houseboat (1958) Trailer - Cary Grant and Sophia Loren

Johnny and I just started watching this movie.......

Thanksgiving 2007

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Thankful

The First Thanksgiving

First Thanksgiving

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast which is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. This harvest meal has become a symbol of cooperation and interaction between English colonists and Native Americans. Although this feast is considered by many to the very first Thanksgiving celebration, it was actually in keeping with a long tradition of celebrating the harvest and giving thanks for a successful bounty of crops. Native American groups throughout the Americas, including the Pueblo, Cherokee, Creek and many others organized harvest festivals, ceremonial dances, and other celebrations of thanks for centuries before the arrival of Europeans in North America.

Charlie Chaplin - The Circus - 1928

The kids and I started watching this movie tonight.......as I read about it I discovered......For the scenes with the lions, Chaplin made some 200 takes, in many of which he was actually inside the lion's cage. His looks of fear are not all merely acting.

My baby's new baby........

We bought our dog a new toy this weekend. It is a little bear. Ok, so I posed the dog and the bear..........you just have to say........"awwww"

Look.....her tongue is sticking out......

Region Choir Concert

Last night we drove to Brenham for the Region Choir Concert that Amy was in. There were several different High School represented. They had practice all day and then gave an incredible performance last night. What an awesome experience for these kids and they did wonderful. I am so proud of both of my kids and so very pleased that they each have my love for music.

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A little Turkey Humor....

Since Thanksgiving is next week.....this is perfect....

Veteran's/Remembrance Day Tribute - Military Slideshow

Thank you to all of our Veterans...past, present and future.

Bikes and Skateboards

Last night the guys went to see some really cool bike tricks and skateboard tricks.

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Sense and Sensibility trailer

Amy and I had another girls night. It is another movie based on a Jane Austen book. It was just wonderful.

New Starbucks flavor.........oh my goodness.......

Ok, you HAVE to try the Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino at Starbucks! It is to die for!

Feelin' So Fly - Toby Mac

I took Johnny to Sonic for breakfast this morning. This group is a Christian Rap group. He and I were dancing in the car to this song! So glad no one saw us! We were "gettin jiggy"...As we ate breakfast I quized him with 131 spanish term flash cards. He told me that I was his best friend........one question........does it get any better than this? .......I think not.

International Quilt Show

Yesterday, Amy and I went to the International Quilt Festival. It was wonderful! The display of quilts was more like an art gallery showing. It is amazing what people can do now with fabric. Some were painted. Some were done by computer design. The quilt with Nelson Mandella won the $10,000 grand prize. It was spectacular! I walked for about 7 hours and was exhausted, but it was so worth it. The best part of my day was having Amy with me. She has gone to all of the quilt shows with me and shares my love of quilting. What a blessing! She made her first quilt when she was 9 as a school project and did a wonderful job!

I heard so many different languages yesterday. I saw people from China, Switzerland, Africa, Moroco and many others. One booth that I found interesting was owned by a man from a country like Pakistan or somewhere like that. The pictures show the coat looking garments up hanging. I had to get his permission to photograph his booth.

I bought some really fun fabric that I am sure that I will never see again. I bought some with the Wizard of Oz on it, some three stooges fabric, and some Route 66 fabric.

The food was so expensive, but the day was so fun:

Baked Potato - $7.00
Starbucks coffee - $4.50

Quality time with my daughter - PRICELESS

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"Autumn Leaves" by Frank Sinatra

Isn't this beautiful?

Go Rockets!!!!! WOO HOO

Rockets 95, Lakers 93 (F)

The Lakers stormed back with a 12-0 run in the final minutes, but Shane Battier nailed a 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds left to give the Rockets the road win on Tuesday.

More Homecoming Pictures.......

Homecoming 2007

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I am ready for the Rainbow........

We all go through seasons of "rain" in our lives. I have been going through not only rain, but killer thunderstorms. Some days it would just sprinkle, but some days, it rained so hard that I can't see my way through. God allows things to happen in our lives to get our attention. Sometimes, we wallow in our "rain" and that is what I was doing.........wallowing. What a word! Today, God has given me such a peace that I am through with the rain. That was yesterday. Today is a new day on a new page of a new chapter in my life. When old memories of the past present themselves, you can stop and cry and wallow, or you can smile and move on. I choose to smile and move on. Wallowing is a choice. I choose not to wallow anymore. I choose to move on. I will look at the rain differently now. The next time you see a rainbow after a thunderstorm, stop and thank God for that rainbow. Thank Him for the promise that He gave to us to never flood the earth.. Thank Him for never giving you more than you can handle.

I am ready for my rainbow........

Alfred Hitchcock - Vertigo

I have been on an Alfred Hitchcock kick lately. I have watched Rear Window, Vertigo, and am still watching The Man Who Knew Too Much. I have taped Psycho and The Birds.

Bring The Rain - MercyMe

We all experience "rain" in our lives......but we know that at the end of the rain, comes the rainbow and the sunshine again....

In Hebrews, Jesus says........."Never will I leave you, Never will I forsake you"....

Family Jib Jab

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!Cousins..................too fun!

I am not alone - Natalie Grant

My Tank

Went to church tonight and learned some new things about myself. The minister talked about priorities in life. He talked about how we each have a tank. There are three lines on your tank. When it gets a little low to the first mark, we tend to get anxious or have an anxiety attack. When it gets to the second mark in reference to draining, we could have an emotional break down. When it gets really low, or to the third mark, we could possibly have a nervous breakdown. We have to identify what fills our tank and what drains our tank. What are the things in your life that fill your tank? Mine are acting silly with my kids, quilting, singing, helping others and special time with my friends. The things that drain my tank are working 2 jobs and not having any time off, and arguing with my kids. When we can prioritize our lives and only focus on what absolutely has to get done, then we can have balance in our lives and keep our tank full.

Sometimes God allows our tanks to get dangerously low to see what is really important in our lives and to fill it back up with His love and the things that really matter. He allows things to happen in our life to get our attention and to take our eyes off of us and to place them back on Him!

I needed that lesson.

Casting Crowns - Praise You In This Storm

Joy Williams - Hide

Miss Potter trailer

Amy and I rented this movie last night........simply delightful....

The dog is barking at a what??????

Yes, we have a new friend in our back yard...........a SNAKE!!! I don't know what kind it was and didn't want to find out. The only good snake is a DEAD SNAKE.

Ok, I am no stinkin snake expert, but after looking on the internet, I think this looks like a RATTLESNAKE!!! Ok, now I think it was a copperhead!

Game Night

The kids and I had so much fun last night. We made individual pizzas with biscuits, ranch dressing, pre-cooked fajita chicken and cheese...And I had to make chocolate chip cookies. I bought the game, Life and they loved it. They even tolerated me listening to Frank Sinatra music while we played.

Jesus Will Still Be There - Point of Grace

Daddy's Pipe.........

I have really had my Father on my mind alot. My brother and I have been talking about him a lot the last week. The weirdest thing has been happening to me. I wouldn't have believed it had it not happened to me personally. I can smell my Father's pipe every once in a while. I can be sitting in my house and I smell it. I can be driving in the car and smell it. I can be walking into a store and smell it. No one around me is smoking a pipe! I stop and ask anyone around me if they can smell it and they cannot. It is so very weird. I have not smelled that scent since I was a kid. It has a distinct scent. I feel such peace when I smell it. I feel like he is letting me know from Heaven that he is here with me during some things that I am going through.