I realize that every time I blog now, I'm having to begin with, "So, I haven't blogged in a while..."  So, how 'bout we just skip that part.  I'll just post a few highlights since last time and maybe I'll be more consistent from here on out...or maybe not.  Probably not.


Anyway, here's a little about what's been going on the past 5 months...

January

In January, Hallie and I did the JiggleButt Run 5K.  She was actually just planning to do the 1 Mile Fun Run; but everyone else wimped out me, so I made her do the 'big race' with me.  She wasn't happy about it, but we both made it to the end so we'll call it a success.

Also, all Hallie wanted for her birthday was to see her friend Brianna...which is easier said than done, since Bri lives in Mississippi now.  So we loaded up and drove and drove and drove.  It was great to see our friends and we even got to spend a little time at the beach.

And the only OTHER thing Hallie wanted for her birthday was a guinea pig.  So after three years of persuading, we agreed and welcomed Cupcake into our family.

December

In December, BigJoel and I went on an anniversary trip to New Orleans.  It's where we went on our honeymoon twenty years ago.  So much fun!

November

In November, BigJoel and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary.  I cannot believe how the time has flown.  I still love that guy like crazy.

October

In October, we went to a concert at House of Blues and even sprang for reserved seats instead of standing room.  My streak of sitting behind tall people continues... 

The show was still probably one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.  JohnMark McMillan, Gungor, Chris August and David Crowder Band.

BigJoel and I spent a day at the Mecum Auto Auction.  It was really a lot of fun.  He makes everything fun.  I just love that guy.

Finally, we went to see NeedtoBreathe in concert at Cowboys Stadium...oh, and Taylor Swift was there, too.

September

In September, we went camping at Beaver's Bend with Elizabeth, Mr. Gary and Mrs. Cheryl.  Know why this picture is blurry?  Because it's so dang humid that the lens fogged up.  How's that for fall in Oklahoma?  Oh well, we had a blast anyways.

One Man's Trash...Is Probably Another Man's Trash, Too

Despite the 106 degree heat today, BigJoel and I finally made a consolidated effort to reclaim all my school things that have been socked away in the deepest, darkest recesses of our garage, which meant purging the place of all unnecessary items.  
Cleaning out things that are too valuable to throw away, but not valuable enough to merit a place indoors is tricky.  (I gave up a long time ago hosting any delusions of earning extra income through garage sales.  I'm waaaay to lazy and prone to procrastination to pull that off.)
So I always begin with a heart of stone and declare, "If it's out here, we don't need it.  Throw it away!"
Then I soften ever-so-slightly to, "That's too nice to throw away.  Let's donate it." (The 'Donate' boxes then ride around for weeks in the trunk of my car before I finally need the space and they find their way BACK in the garage.)
And finally, before I know it, I've pretty much gone through every box--laughed, cried, sighed and moved everything from one side of the garage to the other.  We sweep, reorganize and put it back where it was to begin with.
It's a vicious cycle...but when you have the kind of treasures we do, one can't be too careful.
Here's an example:

The May 1985 issue of Seventeen magazine...the year I graduated high school.  I thought for sure it would be worth something someday.  Now I'm just fascinated by how the "New American Style" has come, gone, and is actually coming back again.
Other things I unearthed today:

• corsages from both my senior prom and BigJoel's
• a Texas Tech yearbook from 1990 that doesn't have either of our photos in it
• salt and pepper shakers that survived my house fire when I was 15
• letters from BigJoel when I was a summer missionary on the Texas coast in 1987
• small bride & groom stuffed bunnies--the "bride" is made out of scraps from my wedding dress
• a gold record
• my college diploma
• my autographed copy of "The Last Voyage of the USS Pueblo"

...And those are just to name a few.  Now do you see why I have such a difficult time parting with things? Treasures, I tell you.  Priceless treasures.
*sigh*