Our 9-year Anniversary

WOW! 9 years ago, two young kids said their vows and entered into this crazy thing called "marriage". On this journey we have had our ups and downs. Sometimes we didn't even know if we were going to make it. But we have survived by the grace of God. Over these years I have learned several things:

1) Love is Not a Feeling, it grows through happy times and through difficult times.

2) We may not be at the place in our lives that we thought we would be after 9 years of marriage. If we were on my time-table, we would have at least one child possibly two...but the Lord knows what we need and when we need it! HIS ways are higher than my ways!

3) Friends are a blessing from the Lord! During 8 years of our marriage we have had one set of friends that have stuck with us (and we with them) through EVERYTHING. We love them dearly and wouldn't trade anything in the world for the friendship we have with them.

Here we are with our neices and nephews (at that time):

Happy Anniversary Honey!

My Birthday

Well this weekend I celebrated another birthday. I turned 28 on Saturday the 7th. My plan was not to do anything, but those plans got changed. I got several calls from friends and family wishing me a "Happy Birthday". Then I got a call from my sister, who was heading to Branson for vacation and Camryn's Nataional Dance competition, saying that my parent's were in a bad car accident. They too were headed to Branson but were about 40 minutes ahead of Andrea and Camryn. They were in the Bee Branch area about 15 miles south of Clinton, Arkansas, when a big SUV turned right in front of them and they hit that SUV going about 55 miles per hour. Daddy had a mild concusion with a completely sore body and Momma had sore ribs (bruising the next day) from her seatbelt and the airbag. She also had a spot on her shin that was swollen. Praise the Lord they were not hurt more than they were. Their car is made to crumple up and not jam the engine into the cab of the car. You can see pictures of their car at: http://new.photos.yahoo.com/alicia652/albums
I drove up to get Momma and Daddy and all their stuff from there car and took them back home. They rested and drove on up to Branson on Sunday. They took their time, taking breaks to stretch and walk around so they would not get too stiff. They got up there around 3:00 p.m. yesterday. Pray that they will have a good time and that their bodies will heal quickly from all the soreness.

Well on Wednesday at lunch I am headed to Dallas, TX for the Premier Jewelry National Rally. I am pretty excited about it, but I have lots to do before then to get ready!

I'll post pictures from Rally after I get back!

Changes

It amazes me to think that in just about a month John and I will have been married for 9 years. I'm pretty sure that where we are now in life is not where that young 22-year old guy and 19-year old girl thought they would be 9 years down the road. We have gone through many things and had to rely solely on the Lord to get us through most of it.

If you don't know, John's major in college was Physical Education. If you know him that is not surprising. He LOVES sports and working out at the gym. For a while now he has wanted to find a job at a gym so that he can get his foot in the door. He also has a correspondance course to get certified as a personal trainer. That is what he wants to do when he grows up. The Lord has provided an opportunity. Starting Monday, June 18th, he will be employed at JP Fitness here in downtown Little Rock. He is really excited about it and I am to. JP Fitness is not one of those gyms that is focused on looking at yourself in the mirror while lifting as much weight as you can to impress all your testosterone friends while grunting. JeanPaul (the owner...hence the name JP) was on the Governor's Fitness Council when Mike Huckabee was governor (not sure about now). Anyway, this gym is focused on health.

So changes...
1) No more Dillard's discount - Darn!
2) I guess I'll need to really start working out, because I'm not sure that it looks really good if your husband works at a gym and I don't at least try to be at a healthy weight! ;-)
3) We will be able to ride to work together - haven't done this in a LONG time

God's timing is always interesting to me...especially since it doesn't always match up to my timing....But I do know that over the years I have learned that HIS timing is ALWAYS perfect.

So for now, I'll just keeping Believing GOD!

Happy Birthday

Happy 31st Birthday John!

Been too long!

I know you all think I have probably dropped off the planet. No, I just haven't sat down long enough to blog. Since I last blogged, me, Camryn, Andrea, Belle and Billie went to the SEC Women's Gymnastics Championship at Alltel Arena. The girls had a blast...the Hogs did not as they did not place in any event. Oh well...we enjoyed ourselves anyway...Here are a few pics:



Calling those HOGS.....WOOOOOO PIG SOOOOOIE!!!! RAZORBACKS!

John and I went over to Hot Springs for 3 days at the beginning of April. We did the bathhouse/massage thing, ate steaks at Doe's (which for those of you who do not know...it THE place to eat steaks if ever in Hot Springs), enjoyed a day at Oaklawn (which we decided we are going to have to remember to do next race season), had a dinner and dancing cruise on the Belle of Hot Springs, and went by the Garven Gardens (we have to go back as this place is huge...forget taking pictures at Wye Mountain....this place has every kind of flower!!). Here are a few pictures from Hot Springs:

On April 21st, I took Cinderella (a.k.a. Camryn) and Princess Belle (a.k.a. Isabella) to the Disney Princesses on Ice. The girls dressed up in their Princess gowns, crowns, shoes and carried their "spectors" (septors). Earlier that morning Camryn had a dance competition so she already had her competition make-up on so I put some on Belle and off we went. I decided it would be easier to park in NLR and ride the bus that runs for events at Alltel arena and drops you off at the front door. The girls both got sno-cones in Disney Ariel mugs and a "Princess Belle" necklace. I had a great time with them and they did too! Here is one picture....but the others you can look at on the link to the right that says "Our Photos".

This summer is shaping up to be busy as well. In July, I am going to Dallas for Premier Jewelry's National Rally! Then in August and I going with my best friend, Billie, and her daughter (Isabella from above) to NEW YORK CITY!!! Billie is going on business so it is only costing me the airplane ticket, lunches (breakfast and dinner included in the hotel) and shopping money!!!

I'll type again soon!

WOW!!! A month since my last blog

Sorry guys! Not much has been going on with us so I have not blogged in a month. We are just staying busy working - Dillards, Blue Cross and Premier!

I am loving the warmer weather, the longer hours of daylight, everything is looking green again! Spring is one of my favorite times of the year! However, it is not one of John's favorite times due to his allergies. He went back to the doctor yesterday because he has a sinus infection. So bad seasonal allergies on top of a sinus infection...caused me to sleep on the couch two nights this week because even laying on his side would not stop the SNORING!!!

Speaking of allergies, Gus is apparently allergic to something outside. Because on Tuesday of this week, I came home and Gus had been out to go potty and after he came back in I noticed that he was getting these red bumps on his belly (kinda looked like hives) and bumps all over his legs and sides that caused the hair to stand out. So, I made a trip to my Wal-Mart Pharmacy to pick up John's allergy meds and get Children's Benedryl for Gus....I'm surrounded by allergy sufferers! I gave him a tablet and he seemed to be a little better. Then after I took him out that night, he reacted again....so another Benedryl tablet. The next morning he looked good to me but John said he had bumps on him when John left for work...of course, he didn't think it looked that bad so he did not medicate Gus. I came home from work, took Gus out and 2 minutes after we got back in he was covered and way worse than the day before. Well I had done my research on dog weights and Benedryl doses...so I gave him the correct dosage of 2 children's tablets and called the vet. We went in for an allergy shot which cost $15.23, and she did not charge me an office visit...not sure how much that would have added to the cost! The shot worked and should last for 4 weeks. I am praying whatever he is allergic to is gone in 4 weeks. If not and I have to continue the allergy shots, I am going to need to add him to my health insurance so that I can get these costs reimbursed! Also, I would love to claim him as a child on my taxes!

Sorry to be so long-winded, but that is what has happened for us this week. I hope that all of our friends and family are enjoying warm spring weather and are not suffering too bad with allergies!

Not much going on

Just thought I would put a little update out here on our blog. We haven't had much going on this week. John is adjusting to selling furniture at Dillards. He is always giving me a lesson on quality vs comfort vs stability...and, of course, he has his eye on new furniture. Oh well...we have to save for that!
Work is going well for me. The further along I get in this job, the more work they seem to give me. It is interesting and exciting to keep learning more and more about our company and all the new things we are going to be involved in this year.
Premier is going well. Kinda slowed down a little but I have a couple of shows booked in March and several people that want to have a show later in the spring. So, if any of you that live out of town and would like to get some free and 1/2 price jewelry, consider having a catalog show. I can send you catalogs, you gather orders then you get free jewelry. I also do not mind traveling to come do a home show at your house. Plus for those of you who I haven't seen in a while, it would be fun to catch up.
I am going with my sister-in-law, Janna, to the Beth Moore Simulcast tomorrow. I believe Beth is speaking on "Get Out of that Pit". So I'm praying the Lord will be working on me and all the ladies across the country that will be attending. HE is a BIG God and still works wonders!
Until I type again...