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.

Photo Challenge #2

Someone you adore--5 reasons why...

I adore BigJoel because...
   he makes me smile.
   he makes me feel safe.
   he has a servant's heart.
   he is smart.  (He "knows things.")
   he loves the Lord.
   he is an amazing dad.
   he is my best friend.  Ever.

Ok, so that was more than 5, but I couldn't help myself.  I just love that guy!

Just Part of the Job

Sometimes, BigJoel's job stinks.  Like when he has to miss important events such as HannahKate being presented as part of the Homecoming Court at the Hometown High School football game.  Or when the fire alarm (which is excruciatingly loud, by the way) goes off in the middle of the night and I can't figure out how to make it quit.

But there are other times, when the job has its perks.  Like when I get to travel fun places with him.  Or more recently, we had the opportunity to go to Game 5 of the World Series.

So I've never been a huge fan of baseball and attending the World Series was certainly not on my "Bucket List", but I am a huge fan of spending time with BigJoel and this definitely goes on my "How In The World Did I Get Here? List" of interesting experiences stemming from Joel's job.  

It was really quite amazing to be present when a team actually won the World Series...even if it wasn't my team.  We'll get 'em next year, Rangers!  It was a great run.  You made me actually enjoy baseball which is almost as impressive as making it to the World Series.  Can't wait until Opening Day in April.

Photo Safari~First/Beginnings

This summer, in an attempt to keep the girls from getting bored with their new found freedom from school, BigJoel came up with the brilliant idea of a "Photo Safari". (Hallie actually coined the name.) The premise is that we decide on a theme and then drive around town taking pictures that depict our own interpretations of the theme. We will choose the best ones and compile a scrapbook at the end of the summer. Since this was our inaugural "safari", we chose the theme of "First/Beginnings". Here are some of my shots...since its my blog.

The corner of "First" and Park

The sign at "First" Baptist Church

This used to be a minor league baseball stadium. Joel suggested it because there were lots of "Big Innings" there...its a stretch, I know...

HannahKate~our "First" daughter

This one isn't really that artistic, but it is Joel and I standing in front of the restaurant where we went on our "first" date 25 years ago. That was the "beginning" of an era. Its actually not a restaurant anymore, but at least the building is still standing...

Front doors are the "first" thing you see when you enter a building.

So our "first" Photo Safari was a success. We managed to get out of the house and have a great day just being together...and it was free! I think this might be the "beginning" of a really fun summer.

Sometimes, Life's Not Fair: Part 3

Previously, in "Sometimes, Life's Not Fair":

Part 1

Part 2

*******************************************************

Today, BigJoel is here.

The Las Vegas Strip.

Today, I am here.

The Interstate That Runs Through Hometown.

Yep....

Its Official

...Well, at least about as "official" as anything gets with the life we lead around here...

The girls and I have been planning to spend a month in Peru this summer working at the children's home with Elizabeth. But as of this past week, Joel will be joining us for part of that time! Can I just say how excited I am?! Actually, I can NOT~because words are totally inadequate to express my feelings. So instead, my heart is doing a little Happy Dance. (Fortunately for you, that is not nearly as frightening as if I myself were doing the Happy Dance.)

I'm Always "Right"

Joel and I have a "tradition" of taking one-armed pictures. Someone asked me one time why I am always on the right and he's always on the left. I think the person thought I might be hiding some secret scar or blemish on the left side of my face, but the simple truth is that Joel has the longest arm and he has to hold the camera in his left hand to push the button.

Instead of writing about every piddly detail of our recent cruise, I thought I'd just share the one-armed shots we took. After all, who really wants to hear about the extravagant food, relaxing in the sun, and how many times Joel visited the soft-serve ice cream machine?

On the tender (which is really just a little boat) riding from the ship over to CocoCay.

In "our secret spot" on the beach at CocoCay~the sun is in my eyes and I'd really appreciate if you'd keep the comments about my granny-gardener hat to yourself.

In the lobby of the Atlantis resort in The Bahamas. Man, it was fancy!

No pics of the soft-serve ice cream machine, but here we are in front of Ben & Jerry's~with a cherry on top.

People are often gracious enough to stop and ask if we'd like them to take a more traditional picture of the two of us; but honestly, the one-armed shots are always my favorites.

Simply the Best--Day 30

I tease BigJoel about a lot of things~like when he does "math" inside his head, or watches all 30 hours of the Barrett-Jackson car auction on TV, or that he's such a softy when it comes to our girls. But in reality, he is the BEST husband, the BEST father, and my BEST friend. I was reminded of that again tonight, for reasons I'd rather not share (except to say that I'm an idiot~just because you can put on your wedding rings that you haven't worn in two years due to "retaining water", doesn't mean that you can get them off again). The man's a saint, I tell you.

Simply the Best--Day 28

The BEST thing today? I got new tires on my Jeep. Seriously. The tread on my tires had worn so thin, that the last time we had the oil changed, the dealership wouldn't renew our roadside assistance plan until we got new ones. It didn't seem like the tires I had were all that old, but they were out of alignment/balance so badly that it took both hands just to keep the car going straight down the road and not shimmy off into the ditch. Evidently, this is a problem and diminishes the life of the tire. A lot.

So we took the Jeep in yesterday and had new tires put on and a front-end alignment done. I cannot tell you what a difference it makes! No more shimmy. No more shake. Just smooth sailing down the open road. Even at high rates of speed (of course, no higher than the law allows).

I had no idea I would be this excited about new tires. This might mean I'm old and boring; but then again, maybe I'm just appreciative that I have a husband who cares enough for us to sell his motorcycle in order to buy new tires and keep us safe on the road. That's a pretty good deal~he traded in two old tires and got four brand new ones! He's the BEST. I just love that guy!

Simply the Best--Day 15

Home pants, movies on the new TV and time with BigJoel~the BEST way to spend a Friday evening.

Simply the Best--Day 2

As I've contemplated how I might possibly blog every day for a month on the topic of "Best" for NaBloPoMo, I've decided to interpret the writing assignment very loosely. Some posts will be about doing my best. Some will chronicle the "best of" from 2009. And in some posts, I'll just share the best part of my day. Like now...

Joel has been gone for a week. Its the first time since he started traveling~actually now that I think, it might be the first time in 24 years that we've been apart on New Year's Eve. The girls and I had a great time with friends, but it just wasn't the same without BigJoel. So when he rolled into town Friday evening, it was definitely the BEST thing that's happened all year! I just love that guy.

18

Last Monday was our 18th wedding anniversary. 18 years. Man, that sounds like a long time~and yet I still cannot believe that God blessed me with a man like Joel. I love that guy like crazy =)

Weekly Pic--Way Back When

Me and BigJoel~Homecoming 1985

This, HannahKate, is why you choose your boyfriends carefully, even in high school~because one might still be around 24 years later =)

Goodguys Don't Always Finish Last

Last week, the Goodguys Rod & Custom Show was at the Texas Motor Speedway. BigJoel looks forward to this every year and if his schedule permits, we do our level best to make it out to see all the amazing hot rods, muscle cars, and my personal fave~the rat rods. The weather could not have been more beautiful and we had the most wonderful day. Here are two of my favorites from the show.

Can you tell I like "surf wagons"?

I must admit that I'm not as much of a die-hard fan as Joel. I had a great time, but after a few hours, everything started looking pretty much the same. However, the cars weren't the only "old" things at the show drawing a lot of attention:

This lady's shorts were very short. The picture doesn't fully communicate just how short they were. I was trying to be discreet in taking the photo. (Discreet and I think she could've beat me up.) But I'm pretty sure I have underwear that cover up more than that. And she was much older than me. In other words, she really should've known better.

Overall though, it was a great day. Perfect weather, awesome cars and spending time my very favorite "good guy"~BigJoel.

Big Shoes

A father is someone we look up to no matter how tall we grow.

~Unknown

Happy Father's Day!

Daddy

Poppy

BigJoel

Our Camping Trip--Yes, I Went Camping

A few weeks ago, we had a somewhat last minute invitation to go camping with the Millards and the Scheuchzers.  I've mentioned before that I'm not exactly the outdoorsy, rough it, kinda gal...so we rented a camper.  We packed up and headed to Beaver's Bend in Broken Bow, Oklahoma.  Our traveling band included three vehicles pulling trailers, six adults, eleven children and about a hundred bicycles.  Broken Bow is only a little over two hours away from Hometown, but with an entourage like that you can imagine that it took quite a bit longer...

We arrived late on Tuesday and each family began setting up camp.  We quickly realized our

 "advantage" over the other two families:  our children are older, and we only have two.  While everyone else was trying to feed little mouths, bathe the bug spray off little bodies and put sleepy heads to bed, HannahKate and Hallie were organizing their own bunk spaces and drifting off into dreamland without so much as a "Tell me a story" or "I need a drink of water".

  

The next morning began with BigJoel making us a gourmet breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon and toast.  We don't eat that well when we're at home!  

I have decided though, that "Oklahoma" must be the Native American word for "Really-hot-and-unbearably-humid".

The kids all had a blast riding their bikes back and forth on the road. Whenever someone would yell, "Car!" and everyone would abandon their bikes in the middle of the road and run to safety. They eventually got the idea that they needed to get the bike out of the way as well.

We all had lunch at the park's restaurant (roughing it, I know).  Again, quite the spectacle with just the sheer number of young children we had running around.  A lady from another table said to Bart, "This is going to sound crazy, but have you ever heard of the group MercyMe?  You look just like the lead singer."  It made us laugh and then our service kicked up a notch.

After lunch, we rode a little train which was nice. Then the girls decided they wanted to ride horses.  I can't really remember the last time I rode a horse, but I wasn't going to let my babies ride off into the woods alone.  We had a great time.  Hallie talked to her horse the entire time. The only problem is that now both girls want a pony for Christmas...I can't seem to make them understand the concept of city zoning laws.

Since I went on an adventure with the girls, but without Joel, I went back to the camper for a well-deserved nap.  Joel took the girls to the river to swim.  They came home laughing and telling "redneck" stories.

That night, we all cooked hot dogs and smores around the campfire.  So much fun!

The next day everyone headed to the river.  The water was frigid!  Mike was the only adult brave enough to get in with all the kids.  What a man! 

HannahKate didn't want to swim again, so she and I rented a pedal-boat.  Bart told us we'd be sorry because he'd been with a couple of the boys the day before and it was a lot of work and not much fun.  Again, what a difference a 13 year-old makes as opposed to two 7 year-olds. Hannah pulled her own weight and we had a pleasant little cruise down the river and back. 

The day was over all too soon and it was time to pack up and head back to Hometown.  So while I'm not usually the camping type, it was so much fun being with friends and family that humidity and bugs didn't bother me one bit.

  

And Just a Few More Camping Pics...

Hallie and Goldie

I told you we had a few bikes.

View from the Pedal-Boat

BigJoel "gathering" firewood.

Riding the train.  Hallie was so excited because she won the drawing from children's ticket stubs for a free cotton candy...notice how many other "children" are on the train...

And HannahKate was the only one with cell service thanks to AT&T...

Cruisin'--Part 2

The next day after CocoCay, we docked in Nassau. Unless you are going to purchase diamonds, perfume or cigars, there really isn't much to the shopping. Its either extremely expensive, or extremely cheap. And it was extremely crowded.

So we rented a little car for the day...and I do mean little.

We drove all over the island and had lunch at a fun restaurant/resort.

Joel had a conch burger....ummm, yeah....I'm glad it was his meal and not mine.

We had a nice enough day just laughing, talking and being together, but honestly, I couldn't see what all the hoopla over the Bahamas was about. Until we drove back into town and crossed over to Paradise Island. That's where the beauty, action and fun stuff is. Of course, that's also where all the people are and where everything costs twice as much.

So Nassau wasn't my favorite destination ever, but I wouldn't trade the time I got to spend with Joel that day...no phones, no kids, no worries. I just love that guy!

Cruisin'--Part 1

Back at the first of May, we got to go on a cruise to the Bahamas. I haven't really shared much from the trip, but I figure "better late than never", right?
We departed from Orlando and arrived early the next morning at CocoCay, a private island owned by the Royal Carribean cruise line. I could probably get used to waking up to a view like this!

We spent the day on the island. It was beautiful, very postcard-esque: crystal-clear water, white sandy beaches, palm trees and birds.

Lots of birds...and you know how I feel about birds!

So BigJoel and I set off down the beach to find a spot away from the other tourists...and the birds. Did I mention the crystal-clear water?

We found a thatched umbrella with two chairs and made ourselves at home.
And this was my view for the rest of the day....I'm quite certain God created the Carribbean to give us a glimpse of Heaven!