10th Annual

We realized on our "camping trip" this year that this was our 10th annual family camping trip.  My parents, my sister and her family, and my family (10 total) have set aside one weekend a year to get together and enjoy each other's company away from the hustle and bustle of life. 

This year we visited a place close to home.  I have many, many good memories of going there as a child to swim.  Lake Tiak-O-Khata, like our original family of 4, has grown over the years.  Cabins, tennis courts, a nature trail, and of course the lake/swimming area are all beautiful.  Unfortunately, the swimming area was closed but no worries-before we left we booked a weekend in June for the 11th annual camping trip!  My kids will get to enjoy the same swimming hole I used to (but with a bigger, better, and safer slide!)



As usual, I took lots of pictures and as usual, Blogger is giving me a frustratingly difficult time getting them on here like I want them to be!  I have not the time nor the patience to post all the pictures today.  If anyone knows why Blogger is rearranging my pictures at random, please tell me!  I'm sure it is something I'm doing, but it's driving me crazy.  Really. 


So, I will leave you with just these few pictures....



If you will look closely, you can see Gogurt in a kayak.  This was by far my kids'number one favorite thing to do. 

The four grandkids sitting down for a brief rest on the nature trail.  Notice Gogurt's boots.  His tennis shoes were back at the cabin drying after an accidental but funny fall off the pier.  Note to self, jumping from a pier into a kayak doesn't work. 

And here's the whole crew posing for our group shot before we left.  We have done this every year and every year it is alot more difficult than you would think.  Picking out the spot, setting up the camera, getting everyone positioned, Brad running to make it into the picture.  One year we need to make a video of us just trying to get this shot.  It would be very entertaining. 



 There's several more pictures I wanted to share, like the one of Gogurt with the shorts he split down the rear-end after sliding down a bank and getting hung on a rock.  Bless his heart, his rear hurt for several hours, but we all got a good laugh out of it. 


All in all it was another successful trip.  Good food, good family, good weather.  Looking forward to June already!





A Backstage Pass

Last night when I was blogging about the fair, it was late and at that moment I didn't know where my camera was and didn't want to go looking for it. 

This morning I have a picture to share with you. 

But first let me tell you a little about how it came about:

On Monday night of the fair, the Miss Neshoba County Pageant is held.  Just so happens, one of Hannah's good friends won. 

On Friday night of the fair, John Michael Montgomery performed.  Now, I was one of JMM's biggest fans back in the early/mid 90s.  I even had a poster of him on my wall.  My sister remembered my infatuation with him and between Hannah and her mother, they arranged for Miss Neshoba County to take me backstage after the concert to meet JMM. 

Yes, JMM has gotten older but then again so have I.  No, his concert wasn't like I remembered it being in Starkville in the 90s, but still, meeting the man was pretty cool. 

Thanks Sewanna and Hannah for remembering me and setting up this little meet & greet through Jordan.  I'll never forget it!

THE FAIR 2011

How do I explain the Neshoba County Fair to someone who has never been?  Like I heard this week, the fair is so many things to so many people.  To kids it's the midway.  To teenagers, it's young love (the old saying is if a relationship can make it through the fair, its made to last).  To young adults, it's party hard.  To the older generation, it's family, family, family. 

So how do you explain the fair?  You can't really.  Its something you have to experience.  Growing up and going to the fair produced alot of great memories for me.  But as happens, life goes on and taking a week out of your life as an adult to go to the fair isn't as easy anymore.  After graduating college, Brad and I moved out of state, and although I do remember leaving Louisiana late one night and arriving at the fairgrounds around midnight, (hey, right on time!) we didn't do that but once.  Then the kiddos started arriving and the fair just wasn't a priority at that time in my life. 

My desire to go back to the fair actually started last year.  I was in Wal-Mart doing a little shopping and my cousin called me on my cell phone.  I went to the dog food aisle (cuz I can't shop and talk at the same time) and stood there and talked to her.  She was at the fair, and the sounds of the fairgrounds were all around her.  I swear I could almost smell the sawdust through that phone!  It was right then and there I knew I had to get back. 

And I did.  This year I loaded up my two kids, one whom had never been to the fair and the other whom was so young the last time he was there didn't remember anything but the smell of sawdust (whats up with the sawdust memories?)  

Driving down Hwy. 21, I felt like a kid again.  My stomach had butterflies just like it used to in the backseat of my aunt's car.  She was my ride to and from the fairgrounds back then, and I never thought she was driving fast enough!  Didn't she know I was in the backseat about to hyperventilate just thinking about all the fun I was about to have?  Step on it lady! 

Now I was that lady in the driver's seat.  My two kids were started to get excited and nervous and to be honest, I was more nervous about finding a parking spot than anything.  It had started to rain, and I wanted to park somewhere I could get out of when it was time.  Luckily I found a good parking spot.  It was on the grass, almost at the top of the hill, and near the gate we were entering.  So far so good.  We put on our rubber boots and off we went. 

We got to the cabin and picked out our beds.  The kids were thrilled to choose bunk beds although Poptart ended up in the bed with me.  She now says I wouldn't let her sleep on the top bunk but that's not exactly true.  After she climbed up and down the ladder about 25 times, I suggested she just get in the bed with me.  She did and was asleep in no time. 

I can't explain the fair to you any more than Brad can truly explain Alaska's beauty to me.  It's just something you have to see. 

This year was a big, no, HUGE political year at the fair.  Politicians in Mississippi have said you cannot miss the Neshoba County Fair and expect to get elected.  I missed all the political speeches, and that's the one thing I really wish I would've gotten to see, but they started early and on days we weren't there. 

The horse races are another thing to see.  The harness races, then running races, and even a few mule races.  The harness races are my favorite to watch, and I have a few memories of my daddy at the fair watching the horse races.  Here's a video I found on YouTube of a harness race: 



  After the horse races are over, something extraordinary happens.  The chair race.   

Lemme just go on record:  I had no intention, and never even dreamed I would be in the chair race this year.  Until my cousin Matthew came to the cabin in somewhat of a hurry grabbing a couple of chairs for him and his wife.  And again, I knew I had to get back.  Back to that adrenaline rush of the chair race.  I started counting out lawn chairs I could find at the cabin, one for me, one for Gogurt, one for Poptart, one for Wendy, and one for the friend Wendy was bringing.  Five chairs, that's alot for one person.  Matthew offered to help, but he is a pro at the chair race and I didn't want to slow him down with my extra chairs.  Hmmm, would Gogurt help? 

I hurriedly explained the chair race, in the most positive light possible, and he agreed to do it.  We threw on our rubber boots and went to the racetrack. 

My heart was pounding - I couldn't believe I was doing this!  Plus, I was having to worry about Gogurt too.  I didn't want him to be hurt or scared, and as an old college buddy of mine who we ran into told him, "You don't have to outrun the person ahead of you, just all these people behind you."  When that gate opens, you can't back out.  You gotta go.  Right then.  It's craziness, I tell you.  Neal McCoy, who watched the chair race from backstage, called us a bunch of "crazy*** rednecks" in his concert that night.  Of course, he meant that as a compliment, and everyone in the crowd took it as such. But don't take his word for it - watch this video.  Remember, this is not the actual chair race we were in.  In fact, I think this is from last year, but this will give you an idea of what the chair race is.  Matthew's wife did video the chair race we were in Thursday but for some reason when she emailed it to me, it didn't come through.  So for now you will just have to watch this one:




The chair races were probably my favorite part of my fair experience this year.  Its like nothing you will ever do anywhere else. 

The question was posed to me this week if I thought I could stay at the fair for the entire week like I used to.  Honestly, no, I don't think I could.  I might could stay more than the 2 nights we did this year, but I don't think I could hang in there for all 8.  I would want to go home for at least a night or two to get a good night's sleep and a good shower in my own bathroom. 

Speaking of a good night's sleep, one morning I awoke around 7:30 a.m.  which is extremely early for the fair.  The only people up that early are old people or people with young children.  I guess I fall into the latter category, but since my young children were still asleep, I just laid in bed enjoying the fact I had woke up at the fair and didn't have to get out of bed until I was good and ready.  At 7:50 a.m. (I know cuz I looked at my phone) someone, yes, someone much, much younger than me, came to bed.  For the night.  Or should I say for the day.  I couldn't help but grin and think, "only at the fair." 

Overall, my 2011 fair experience was a good one.  Got to see lots of family I don't normally see except at Thanksgiving, Christmas, a wedding, or a funeral.  We ate lots of good food as well.  But most importantly, I felt I was handing down a tradition to my kids, who are already asking to go back next year.  

As I said in an earlier post, the fair is kind of a "farewell-to-summer celebration."  Neshoba County schools start Thursday.  However, my kids have all this week to rest up.  They start school on Monday the 8th. 

Thanks for reading and who knows, one of these days, I just might run into you at the fair.....

Trail of Honor 2011

Last year a neighborhood friend of ours told us about going to the Trail of Honor.  At that time I had no idea what he was talking about but made a mental note to find out more about it. 

Of course, I forgot about it over the course of the year, but luckily saw a commercial for it.  I immediately got online and found out some more information.  We made plans to go and ended up not just going one day but two days!

Never heard of the Trail of Honor?  Here's what I know: 

Hundreds of motorcyclists (some starting in California) ride across the country in route to the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.  They ride in honor of POWs and MIAs.  Along their route, they schedule different stops. 

Fortunately, one of their stops is in Jackson.  Sponsored by Harley-Davidson, the Trail of Honor is almost right in our backyard. 

We went not knowing what to expect really.  But we knew with all the Army played in our house and all the camo worn in our family, somebody (namely Gogurt of course) would enjoy this look back at our military's history. 

Another reason we were going is for Brad to ride in a Huey.  Unlike myself, my husband and children tend to enjoy their feet off the ground, not me, I prefer solid terra firma underneath my feet!  So off we went, to get Brad a flight and along the way figure out what this Trail was all about. 

We parked in a parking lot a couple of miles away and was shuttled to the Harley-Davidson store.  We were let off at the front door.  When we entered the store we browsed by each table, picking up free Mississippi magnets, coloring books, and various other items they were giving away.  There were veterans there telling their stories and at one table there was a light machine gun you could pick up and hold.  The boys were drawn to the tables with guns and artillery, especially the ones they could actually handle.  I was always sure to point out the "Do Not Touch" signs on a few tables right as they would be reaching for it.  Please, please do not pick up and then drop an original Civil War gun-thing.  Please, please. 

After seeing the inside, we went out the back door and started on the Trail.  Well, we actually went the wrong way and was beginning at the end.  I overheard a worker-guy say something about this being the end of the trail and we asked where the beginning was.  So we had to backtrack and walk back to where we were.  None of us had seen the sign and arrow, "Start Trail Here."  We saw it this time, and we started the trail. 

The very first thing was a turkey shoot.  For $10 you can shoot a BB gun at a target.  Everyone who shoots gets a free flag.  A big one!  You can choose between a Mississippi flag or a US flag. 

Right down from there started the French and Indian War.  You could stop and talk to him, in character, and he would tell you about this war, his weapons, and their living conditions.  Walk on from there and you will see another re-enactment from another war, and so on and so on.  The trail winds through the woods and it takes about 2 hours if you stop and see everything and hear all the stories.  You will hear cannons going off, pistols being shot, and at times you actually feel like you are walking through a different time. 

In addition to the trail, they have exhibitions going on in the front of the building throughout the day.  We saw the attack boat from the Special Boat Team 22.  They shot all their guns and that was the loudest thing I had ever heard in my life.  I can't imaging being on the water seeing them coming toward me.  I would surrender in a millisecond! 

There was a parachute demonstration that was really amazing - the guys jumped out of a plane, had red smoke shooting out of their packs, flags waving, going in and out of sight, then all landing within a 10 feet radius of each other.  How do they do that?

After seeing the Boat demonstration, we entered the Trail where we had left off to finish up the Trail before getting Brad's Huey ride.  We saw the Vietnam display, which was by far the best in my opinion (and yes, I am a proud daughter of a Vietnam Vet).  The traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall was touching to say the least.  We saw Desert Storm and the current day battles in Iraq and Afghanistan.  We emerged from the Trail with one excited dude ready to climb aboard the Huey. 

When we topped the hill, we saw no helicopters however.  Just lots of horses.  Yes, horses.  They were getting ready for a Cavalry demonstration and the helicopters were gone.  Uh-oh. 

Brad literally ran, well, almost ran, to the Sky Soldiers table to get more information.  They were gone as well.  Nothing. Brad was dejected and went to get in line to catch our shuttle.  I went inside to ask a few questions. 

Earlier, someone had said the helicopter rides were only Saturday and Sunday.  We were there on Sunday.  Someone else said they would be doing helicopter rides on Monday.  I needed to know for sure.  Someone inside told me yes, they would be doing helicopter rides the next day.  After making him promise, almost in blood, that if we made the trip back out there just for a helicopter ride, that my husband would indeed get a helicopter ride.  Yes, the helicopter would be there. 

The next morning we called just in case.  Yes, the helicopter was indeed there so we headed out one more time.  Parked in the parking lot, rode the shuttle, except this time when they let us out at the front door, we weren't allowed in.  They were preparing for the hundreds and hundreds of motorcyclists who were about to arrive.  Oh, wow, perfect timing!  We sat on the hillside (after signing Brad up for a Huey ride of course) and watched the procession of motorcycles come in.  I've never seen or heard that many motorcycles in one place.  It was quite a sight!  Brad couldn't get his ride until all the motorcycles arrived because the helicopters were escorting them. 

After that was all over, Brad finally got to ride in the Huey.  He said it was amazing and well worth the wait/second trip - I'll take his word for it. 

We left knowing that this would be an annual tradition for our family.  And if you've never checked it out, I can guarantee you it will be well worth your time. 

Here are some pictures from our day(s) on the Trail:

(This is an Apache...apparently a very rare helicopter to see in person.  My boys almost wet their pants when they saw this flying in and landing.  I overheard someone say if it had been raining anywhere in the world that day, the Apache couldn't have come.  I'm not sure exactly what that means, but it is a very, very cool piece of machinery to see up close.  The pilot talked to Gogurt.  His advice for flying one of these one day?  Make good grades!)

Our Weekend In Atlanta

This weekend the above-pictured group from our church were volunteering in Lawrenceville, GA, at the Operation Christmas Child processing center.  This picture was taken the last night after we had worked five hours.  We were tired.  But we managed to smile for the picture.   

On the second night, these four ladies folded over 1100 Operation Christmas Child shirts.  And the crazy thing is they enjoyed it!  By the way, the girl who looks so *happy* in the back was boasting an Ole Miss lead, but...ahem....it wouldn't last. 

And here's our menfolk working hard.  Well, they had been working hard anyway. 





 I learned a few things on this trip.  First, when you decide to drive downtown Atlanta on a route you've never taken before, be sure and look for the signs pointing you in the right direction instead of looking at the skyline, Olympic flame, etc.  You can get going in the wrong direction fast.   

Second, The Varsity is a great place to eat.  If you are ever in Atlanta, try it out.  The experience is one you'll not forget. 

Third, and perhaps most importantly, I learned (again) that I love Operation Christmas Child.  Along those same lines, I learned (again) that I love serving Christ alongside my brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Thanks for another great trip!

Promise Kept

Saturday was the Fly-In, and I kept my promise!  I went up in a two-seater, just me and the pilot, and it was a little scary to me.  Nice view, but a little scary. 


We were in the air for around 30 minutes and for 29 1/2  of those minutes I think every muscle in my body was clenched.  Apparently, it was a bumpier-than-normal ride, or at least that is what Mr. John (the pilot) said.  It was a windy day and we were getting blown around pretty good.  I had all the trust in the world in my pilot, and I told him I would not panic unless he did. 


We flew over some water and that made me kinda nervous, especially when he said, "The bad thing about flying right here is there is absolutely nowhere to land."  Oh gee, thanks for that reminder. 


All in all I'm glad I did it.  But I don't plan to leave the ground again anytime soon.  I definitely don't like it as much as my hubby and kids do.  They start planning their next trip up as soon as their feet hit the ground.  Not me!  I feel much safer with my feet on the ground.


I did remember to take the camera up with me.  Here are some pictures from the air!:

After we landed, and I was waiting for Mr. John to open the canopy on my side so I could exit the plane, I looked straight in front of me and saw this little sign.  I'm just glad I didn't read it before we took off. 

Thank you Mr. John for a great flight, and for getting me back on land safely! 

No Words Needed - Our Day In Pictures

Our Trip To Arkansas

Our trip to the prison was good.  I know that sounds weird, but it's true.  We had an excellent visit with our cuz.  He's in good spirits, and we laughed more than we have in a while. 

Thankfully he is in a low security facility so they do not have quite the restrictions as a high security facility, but there were still many, many rules we as visitors had to follow.  Can't wear khaki, can't wear open-toed shoes, can't wear any revealing clothing (that was a tough one for me, really :)  ), can't take anything in but a driver's license and car key (literally, just one key, not the whole key ring).  You can take in money, up to $20, to buy food out of the vending machines.  And speaking of vending machines, they had one that would dispense ribs, wings, pizza, hamburgers, sandwiches.  And let me tell ya, those things were going like hot cakes.  Apparently, and not surprisingly, the food in there is not great, so when they have visitors come, they eat like kings.  I think there were 4 vending machines there and they were wiped completely out twice. 

It was definitely an eye-opening experience.  Heartbreaking at times.  Seeing daddies hug their kids, wives hug their husbands, and mommas hugging their sons.  There was even a grandmother there to visit her grandson.  That one got to me the most I think.  I immediately thought of my mom sitting there visiting Gogurt.  It's hard to think about, I know, and I'd like to say I know without a shadow of a doubt my kids would never end up in a place like that.  But trust me, we didn't think we'd ever be visiting this particular cousin there either.  (Maybe some of our other cousins, but not him!  Just kidding)   

Another thing that struck me is how normal these guys looked.  Some young, some old, some black, some white, some Mexican.  But they all looked like normal people - I wouldn't be scared of any of them if I saw them walking down the street.  Granted, again, we were in a low security facility, and I'm sure if I had visited a high security prison, I might have gotten a whole different feeling. 

It was great to see him, and I have always loved listening to him and Brad reminisce about when they were kids growing up.  They have so many memories together - and to hear them tell all those stories is alot of fun. 

But at the end of the day when our laughter had silenced, our "I love you's" were spoken, and our good-byes were over, we could walk out the door and he couldn't.  Six more months.  Hang in there. 

Our Weekend In Oxford

Every year my family takes a trip, usually a "camping" trip to a state park where we rent a couple of cabins.  This year we did something a little different.  We rented a condo in the beautiful town of Oxford, Mississippi, home of the University Of Mississippi. 

Most of you know Brad and I are alumni of Mississippi State University as are my sister and my brother-in-law.  I am also proud to say that their older daughter has applied to MSU as well.  (We're so proud of you, Hannah!)  So for my family to go to the enemy's territory was a stretch, but we survived.  Not only did we survive, we ended up having a really, really great time! 

Here are some pictures from our trip:


Poptart's FAVORITE thing to do was swim in the pool.  From the time she got up, she was asking for someone to take her to the pool.  And usually there was someone who was happy to oblige.  I think she is half-fish!

Gogurt liked the pool too.  His favorite game to play was Monkey in the Middle. 

Not long after we arrived, someone noticed this nest of baby robins in the crepe myrtle.  Sitting on our balcony, you could watch the momma and daddy bird feeding the babies.  Everyone, especially my dad, enjoyed watching the birds. 

And of course, we had to have our picture made on Ole Miss' campus with our Mississippi State T-shirts on! 

This is my favorite picture of the whole trip (except maybe the one of my whole family).  Poptart and her two favorite cousins!  Aren't they all just beautiful??

After a long day of swimming, what's better than a donut, honey bun, ice cream, chocolate syrup, and M&M concoction?

And as with tradition, before we left, we all gathered for a group picture. 

So another year's "camping" trip is now history.  Next year we are headed to Lake Tia-O-Khata in Louisville, Mississippi.  I'm looking forward to it already!

Family Reunion

Saturday was our family reunion in Scottsboro, AL.  Usually we would stay with Nana and Pop while we were up there but since they do not live there anymore, we had to find other arrangements. 

Brad's first cousin LeAnn (I hope I'm spelling your name right!), her husband Kelly, and their daughter Hartley offered their place as our temporary home for the weekend.  And boy, are we glad they did!

We had SO much fun!  The kids were immediately drawn to the pool, and after what seemed like forever to them, I finally let them jump in.  Brad and I enjoyed the company of all the family members who dropped by.  It was a reunion-time in itself. 

The actual reunion was Saturday high on Skyline mountain.  It's beautiful up there, and we enjoy the scenic drive every year.  Poptart was asking one of three questions, "Are we going up a mountain?", "Are we on top of a mountain?", or "Are we going down a mountain?"  It is sort of confusing if you picture a mountain with a sharp pointy top.  That's really not the case.  Once you get on "top" of the mountain, you can go for miles and miles, around curves and up and down hills, before you ever technically start down the mountain.  The mountains of North Alabama are beautiful to me.  Brad says if you live there you sorta get used to seeing it, but I don't think I ever would. 

After the reunion,

more fun at the Walker's house,

church on Sunday, and lunch with the family at Pizza Hut afterwards,

it was time for us to head back home.  Needless to say, my kids did not want to leave.  In fact, they are already trying to plan a return trip. 

Thank you to everyone for such a great time, especially LeAnn, Kelly, and Hartley, for opening your home  to us.  You made us feel very welcome and right at home! 

We love ALL of you!  See ya next year!

Lost in Yazoo

A couple of weekends ago, I talked my family into hopping in the truck and taking a small road trip to Yazoo City, Mississippi. Some of you may remember this town as being the one ravaged by a tornado a few months ago. I really wanted to go volunteer, especially since Samaritan's Purse was in town heading up a relief effort, but things kept getting in my way (shame on me) and I never did. But my curiosity got to me, and I wanted to at least see the damage for my own eyes that I had seen on TV.  

It took less than 2 hours to arrive and what we saw took our breath away.  One minute, we're driving along the highway and everything looks normal.  Then over the top of one hill you begin seeing it.  Trees snapped off, businesses destroyed, and homes decorated with blue tarps on their roofs.  We turned down a road to our right and saw the restaurant where the media had been stationed and did all their reports from.  It had been repaired enough to have a sign out front saying "Grand Re-Opening."  I read in the paper just last week it has in fact now reopened. 

Apparently this road was the worst hit area.  There was still debris everywhere and the homes were barely inhabitable.  An eerie silence filled our truck.  There's something about coming face to face with the fact that we are so small and God is so big.  

We turned around, not sure where this road led, and came back to the main highway.  Down the highway we saw the Wendy's that had sustained damage and then Brad took another right turn and that is where our story ends begins. 

We realized almost immediately there was no damage to be seen on this road, but figured we would run back into the aforementioned road if we just kept taking rights, you know, if we make a square circle.  We were wrong. 

After going miles and miles and miles and going deeper and deeper into the woods, we discussed turning around.  Brad wanted to, I didn't.  I was sure we were almost to civilization.  Wrong again.  Miles and miles and more miles.  We tried to decide if we had gone so far as to be out of Yazoo County.  But there was no way to tell.  Then I remembered hearing after the tornado the little fact that Yazoo is the biggest county in the state.  Oh, great!

I was almost irritated....I mean, we had seen the damage for a total of umm, maybe 4 minutes, and now we were headed who-knows-where on this barely-paved road. 

Before I go any farther, let me remind you I grew up where there were dirt roads .  I normally love riding around on the back country roads, and we often do just that when I return home.  Just get in the car and ride and listen to Momma's stories about what it looked like when she was a little girl.  The difference is there I know where we are, and in Yazoo County, a place I had never been in my life, none of us had a clue.  Or a map. 

So we just kept riding.  Pop-Tart gave up and went to sleep.  I guess it was just too much excitement for her.  Gogurt starting sharing about a book he had read based in Yazoo City.  It was by Willie Morris and it told about his days growing up in Yazoo City in the 1940s.  Gee, I wish we could find the city again and then maybe we could find some of the things mentioned in the book. 

Somewhere between hour 6 and hour 8 on this trip (okay, that's an exaggeration, we weren't gone that long) we started laughing.  Brad kept his cool - which was a slight miracle in itself - and started making light of our situation.  If we ran out of gas we would just squat on a piece of land and call it home.  Gogurt started laughing at all of Brad's antics, and instead of being irritated I decided to sit back and enjoy the ride. 

We were seeing beautiful country, and we were also spending some good, quality time together as a family (although PopTart missed all of it).  She did wake up before we wound our way back to a main road.  Her first question was "Where are we?"  Good question.  "I think we're still in Missississippi.  I think."

During this trip we came to many forks in the road and had to decide which way to go.  We finally, and I mean FINALLY, saw a "To 55" interstate sign.  Sweet heaven!  We're gonna make it out alive!

It still felt like another hour before we found the actual interstate but we felt better knowing we were at least headed in the right direction.  We got on the interstate and drove.  Then we saw the Exit, "Yazoo City."  Brad looked at me, I looked at him.  "You wanna try it again?" he asked.  I thought about it for a second.  We had seen the damage but for a very short time.  We had not even made it into the acutal city I don't think.  I certainly did not feel like we had accomplished what we went there to do.  "Sure," I said.  He exited.  Less than a mile down this road we saw the sign.  "Yazoo City 27 miles." 

We collectively gasped, turned around, got back on the interstate and headed back toward Jackson. 

The day wasn't a total loss however.  We stopped at a mall we had never been to and found Five Guys.  That was one of the best hamburgers I've ever had.  Ironically (I think he had this whole thing planned out) Brad found an Apple store and we all went in and played with iphones and ipads. 

Brad reminded me that if he had had an iphone we never would have gotten lost in Yazoo.  Yeah, but what fun would that have been?

Extraordinary Women

This past weekend I had the privilege of attending my 3rd Extraordinary Women Conference.  I was first introduced to this conference by my mother and her Sunday School class.  They were attending the conference here in Jackson and invited me to meet them there.  The second time was in Birmingham where I invited a friend who was going through a really tough time in her life to meet me and attend the conference with me.  And the third time was just this past weekend here in Jackson again, alone. 

Yep, I went all by myself.  It really wasn't supposed to be that way (or maybe it was supposed to be that way).  Originally, there was a couple of other people going, but something came up that prevented them from attending, so I said, "No problem, I'll go by myself!"  I don't mind doing things by myself, it's not my first choice, but I don't mind that much. 

There are some advantages to attending alone.  First of all, it is a lot easier finding a seat for one than a group of 12 trying to all sit together!  In a room of 3000 women, all I needed was one little space.  The first night I sat with a group from Greenwood, Mississippi.  Saturday I sat with a couple of nice ladies from around Hattiesburg, Mississippi.  It's funny though, whenever someone would find out you were there alone and not with a group, their face immediately dropped and started apologizing.  It was strange. 

Second of all, there is a certain freedom in worshiping in a room where no one knows you.  I'm ashamed to admit it, but sometimes I feel restrained.  Restrained by the "What will they think of me?" thoughts that run through my mind.  I hope you do not do this, and honestly, I am becoming more unrestrained the closer I get to my Lord.  If the Lord has saved you, you have something to praise him for!  Amen!

I heard Sheri Rose Shephard, Chonda Pierce, and Angela Thomas.  I saw Jeremy Camp in concert Friday night and Mandisa in concert on Saturday.  If you do not know Mandisa from American Idol, that girl can sing!  She had that place rocking and praising the Lord! 

Mark your calendar for the end of March 2011 - EWomen will be returning to Jackson! 

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Listen to Unrestrained by Mandisa

Our Trip to the Big Easy

If you've read Jennifer's blog, you already know about our trip to New Orleans this past Friday night.  We were there to take in an NBA game, the New Orleans Hornets versus the Utah Jazz.  To be honest, I had to read up on the Hornets on Wikipedia.  As much as I follow college basketball, I do not follow NBA basketball.   Going to an NBA game is not something Brad and I would have ever been able to do, (especially go and sit in a suite with free food and drink), so we thank our "friends in high places" who provided the tickets!

However, our trip to the Big Easy wasn't always easy.  There was a slight problem with our accomodations and we ended up in the van riding around New Orleans a little longer than expected.  I must say that I learned something great on this trip though.  Ronnie is cool under pressure.  Maybe it was because he had company along and he felt like he couldn't lose his cool, but either way he stayed cool as a cucumber.  Way to go my friend.    As I said many, many times, I'm just glad you were driving and not me. 

I don't have any pictures of the actual game.  The PA announcer asked no pictures to be taken.  That is definitely different than college! But I was a good little girl and didn't take any pictures of the game.  Once we went through those doors under "The Hub Club" sign, I was shown how "the other half" live.  Food, food, and more food.  Drinks, drinks, and more drinks (RC Cola never tasted so good).  Special seating just for the Hub Club guests.  Man, it was nice.  But as I began to look around, those people (whom I am assuming are either rich or just happen to know someone who can get them a free ticket) I realized they looked just the same as I did.  Normal. 

The next day we drove across the Causeway to Mandeville, LA.  Most of you know Brad and I lived there for almost 4 years and that Gogurt was born in nearby Covington, LA.  It was nice to see our old stomping grounds although it has changed ALOT.  Mandeville is alot bigger of a town than it was when we were there.  I am always flooded with memories when I return there.  It was nice to share some of those memories with friends. 

Ronnie also got to take a walk down memory lane.  He served at a church in Bogalusa, LA, and he took us there.  Very nice church in a beautiful rural area.  It seemed very cozy and down-home.  Even though we had lived so close to Bogalusa for those years, I had never been there so it was nice to have a personal tour guide! 

Of course with a previous seminary student and a current seminary student on board, we couldn't not ride through NOBTS.  It is a beautiful campus, and I think Brad wants to live there.  There and Alaska.  

I can't go without shouting out a word of thanks to my sister (and my mom who got them there and back) for keeping our two kids so Brad and I could do this with our friends.  It really means the world to me to know my kids are being taken care of.   

Here's a picture of Brad and me by Lake Pontchartrain.  We have another picture of this exact pose in this exact place from probably 11 or so years ago.  I would scan it in but it has been cut to fit a tiny, little Christmas ornament frame and is packed up with my Christmas stuff.  I don't want to show it to you that bad.  You'll just have to take my word for it.....we look EXACTLY the same!

A Silver Lining

As you know, it is Spring Break around here.  Thankfully, Poptart and I are feeling better so we can salvage the rest of the week. 

Actually, Gogurt and Poptart are at my mom and dad's right now.  They went up there yesterday and will stay for 2 nights.  So, people, that means I am alone in my house right now.  Yes, I said alone.  It is quiet except for the noise of the washing machine and dryer running (I had to do something to feel useful). 

You all know I love my kids, but it is great to have a break.  And now with grandparents even closer (my parents are 1 hour away and Brad's parents are now living in our neighborhood), I feel like there is a chance I might survive this parenthood thing after all!

Brad and I were able to spend some time with a cousin of mine and her husband last night.  They also live about an hour away, close to Meridian, Mississippi, but they drove over to do some shopping.  I think that is the first time we had ever gotten together with them without lots of other family around.  And we left saying we are definitely going to do it again. 

Today I plan on doing very little.  March Madness is in full swing so I'm sure I'll catch a few ballgames today.  And speaking of March Madness, I think my family is finally over the Bulldogs not making the NCAA Tournament.  Which in my opinion was a mistake, of course.  There is a silver lining in this however.  Since they are not in the NCAA tourney, that means they were invited to play in the NIT.  And since they are a #1 seed in the NIT, they will be playing their first games at home in Starkville. 

It didn't take us long to decide to go.  And it turns out my entire family is going, except my dad.  My mom, my sister and her family, and the four of us are all going to Starkville to see our beloved Dawgs in person!  We are so excited!  My kids have never been to a college basketball game so part of my excitement is watching them watching the game.  Of course, Poptart will probably be more into the cheerleaders than anything else, and Gogurt's only question was "Is there a concession stand there?"  When we assured him there was food there, he was good-to-go. 

Even though this year's Spring Break began as a sick one, it looks like it's going to end up being a pretty good week.  And if we win, it'll be even better!

Our Day Trip

Poptart and I went to see my college roommate and her son on Saturday.  Fortunately, she lives in our college town and works on campus.  So she has to put up with me coming to her house every now and then and taking a stroll down memory lane.  She gives the best tours of campus and most every sentence spoken starts with "Remember when....."

Her son and Poptart are five days apart in age.  We've got pictures of them together since they were babies.  Even though we live 2 hours apart, we have managed to get together fairly often. 

Mississippi State has changed alot since I was there.  Those students do not know how good they have it!  I could tell them a few things about how it was in the "good ole' days!"