Mr. Silly!

Some people have funny stories to share about their children, but my funny stories are about my husband!  He has a prankster side that makes an occasional experience.  This afternoon his fun was out in full force!  Mr. P's tricks often involve a vehicle.  It started when we were leaving the Mexican restaurant where we had dined.  We were parked beside each other and as soon as I began reversing, he did too.  The way the parking lot is designed, I was blocked in until he moved.  And let me tell you -- he took his time, slowly moving and keeping me blocked (don't worry, no one else was behind us!).  I sent him a text saying that God was using him to strengthen my patience!  And as we're on the way home, his jokes continued when he began reversing at the red light.  The lady in the BMW beside him thought she was rolling forward!  I had the opportunity to witness this!  It's easy to understand that I was a proud wife when I was able to make a pass ahead of him on the way home and creep through our neighborhood while blocking him from going around me!  I told him that I have learned from his tricks! 

Times like these make me laugh like crazy and I am thankful for the simple moments!

Our Three Year Engage-iversary!

I went from a girlfriend to a fiance this day three years ago!  We had openly discussed marriage for quite some time, so that part was no shock but Mr. P had plans for that particular evening that surprised me.  It had been a rough time for us the few months prior.  I was going to school in Lexington while Mr. P was in school in Bowling Green.  My grandmother had turned very sick to the point that doctors said she would never live.  (But by the grace of God, she is alive and well today!)  After her progress over the few months had gone from death to being awake and talking with us (although extremely weak from three months of immobility), we were pleased when the doctors told us that if she remained stable and would eat well, she would be released at the end of the week.  What a relief and great news! 

When he knew she was in the clear and would be discharged later in the week, Mr. P's proposal was perfect timing and a breath of fresh air!

Teary-eyed after saying "yes!"

Saying "YES!" was one of the easiest things I've ever done because I just knew that Mr. P and I should spend our lives together!  I am so thankful to have been married to this man for 2.5 years and I can't wait for the rest of our lifetime together!

Our Engagement

June 11, 2007

Union Station Historic Hotel - Nashville, Tennessee

Birthday Celebrations & the Shrimp Game

May is a huge birthday month in this family!  Since Mr. P and I both have little brothers with the same birthday, we have done some celebrating this week in honor of them!

Wednesday night was a fun time in Nashville at The Melting Pot celebrating Keeton's 21st!  So yummy!  Everything was perfect except the fact that Mr. P was on an overnight business trip in a stupid state north of here.....he was definitely the missing piece and I was glad to finally get him back home last night.

The Yin-Yang Chocolate.....dark and white....definitely the best of both worlds!

Tonight Josh and I went back to Nashville for a yummy Japanese dinner at Kabuto's in celebration of Jason's birthday!  The meal was yummy and it was fun to celebrate Jason' birthday at the Hibachi grill!  However, they played that stupid shrimp game and I was the chosen catcher.  Does anyone else know which game I'm talking about.....where they save a few shrimp and pick a diner to "catch" the shrimp in their mouth after the chef throws it?  Well, those who know me well know that I absolutely despise this game with a pure passion.  I refused to play and the chef kept insisting, so finally decided to just take it for the team and try to be a good sport.  And of course I had on white, but thankfully no mess was made!  Is it just me or does anyone else dread this moment? 

 Brothers!

Spongebob!

Cute pic with the birthday boy!

Happy Birthday LL!

Happy Birthday Lora!

Here's wishing my sweet friend Lora a very happy birthday today!!!!  I am proud to say that I celebrated her 19th & 20th birthdays with her in France & China, respectively.  We had  a blast celebrating overseas and made so many memories!  Happy Birthday to a special friend!  Can't wait to celebrate together!

* Disclaimer: I apologize that life has gotten in the way and many birthdays of friends and family were neglected on the blog.  I am trying to get better at this and stop letting work take over my life!

Happy Birthday Little Brothers!

Believe it or not, Mr. P and I each have a younger brother and they have the same birthday (just different years)!  We love our little brothers dearly and want to take the time to wish both guys a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  Our brothers are so very special to us, in fact, the two of them  stood up with us at our wedding over two years ago.  So instead of a Best Man & Maid of Honor we had a Best Man & Gentleman of Honor.  

Happy Birthday Jason & Keeton!  We love you!

One of my favorite pictures from our wedding:  My Mr. P between our two brothers!  This is taken just a bit before the wedding ceremony:  Keeton, Josh & Jason.  This one is framed on our mantle because I love it!

Surprise Birthday Party for Mom!

The invitation:

Mom and Daddy

Our Sweet Moms!

We Love our Family

The new beverage dispenser! :)

Mom with her longtime friend Pat!  They cheered together in high school!

The tired host and hostess at the end of the night!

We celebrated Mom's 50th Birthday with a surprise party at our house on Saturday evening, May 8.  She was surprised until they pulled into our neighborhood and Mom saw all the parked cars!  How funny!  We tricked her into thinking they were coming to pick the two of us up so that we could all go out to dinner together.  I must say, we were believable so that helped her be surprised!

I am so thankful for family and the opportunities to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays, holidays, etc.  We were happy to host the event in our home and we're definitely glad that she was surprised and everyone had a great time!

Shattered!

WARNING:  Please trust the story I am about to tell and do not attempt to try this on your own at home!  

All day Saturday Mr. P and I were preparing for the surprise 50th birthday party we were hosting for my Mom that evening.  Things were going well - errands were done, food had been prepared as much as possible and was waiting in the fridge, the house had been cleaned (including the floors my wonderful Mr. P had just finished mopping), I had showered and was working on a few little things.  By this time (which was mid-afternoon Saturday), we were in party mode and it seemed like we were about to get a few moments of rest before we kicked it in high-gear when guests arrived and we would be firing up the grill to get the party started.  But no, I couldn't let things happen that smoothly, that simply, that ideal.....instead my absent-mindedness caused me to create a true disaster of the perfection that surrounded me.

I was making sweet tea.....you know, because no party is complete without some sweet tea on hand.  And this wasn't just any sweet tea -- in fact, I had big plans for this southern beverage.  Those big plans included using my adorable glass beverage dispenser that sits perfectly on its iron stand -- the same beverage dispenser I had described to the sweet and always beautiful K at Keeping up with the Davidsons two days prior.  In fact I had already washed out the dispenser so that it was shining and cleared the space on the beverage cart so that it was the focal point amongst the beverage choices.  All it needed was to be filled with cold sweet tea and lemon slices.  Somewhere in my La-La-Laura-Land I completely dismissed the fact that hot liquid will crack glass.....the tea had brewed and the sugar melted and in my excitement, I happily pulled the pot off the stove top and immediately began pouring into my prized beverage dispenser.  And then I heard a "pop!"  Uh-oh.  Long story short, a full crack (not just a fracture that I could work with) had occurred to where my sweet little beverage dispenser was now in pieces.  And not only was it in pieces, but the sweet tea had spilled all down my cabinets, the freshly-cleaned floors, and me -- boy did it burn like crazy and I still have a mark to prove it!

Tears immediately began streaming down my face as I cried out "I'm soooooo sorry!" which was followed by more tears and crying -- Mr. P came running to the kitchen, held me tight and said it was okay, then he began cleaning up my mess as I helped.  During our disaster clean-up, he reminded me of the laws of physics or chemistry or some subject that I had once studied years prior.....explaining the effects of combining hot liquid and glass (FYI: Mr. P is an engineer, 'nuff said!).  I already knew this, but out of my excitement I just chose not to follow those rules.  [In fact, I recall a similar thing happened in my high school chemistry class group where a glass beaker shattered from the heat of the Bunsen burner.  Oopsy.]  We live and we learn, right?!

Mr. P knew my fondness of the aforementioned beverage dispenser and insisted that the party would not go on without a replacement.  I begged him to stay home and not go out on the search of a new one because it was my fault for being stupid and I didn't deserve to have it.  As I listed the reasons that I didn't need a new one, he told me loved me and would return soon.  While he was gone, I began making sweet tea again.  This time when it had brewed, I allowed the pot to cool for a while.  A little bit later, Mr. P returned home with a beautiful new beverage dispenser.  I must say that it's even prettier than the one I shattered!  I graciously accepted it, washed it up, filled it with chilled sweet tea, and proudly placed it at the center of the beverage cart to be admired.  Back to party perfection.

This story isn't about sweet tea or domestic messes or pretty new gifts.  Rather it's about sacrificial love.  Mr. P had already worked himself silly that day (and days prior) crossing items off the "to do" list.  He and I had just discussed that we were about to get a few moments to chill out together before the party.  But he looked far beyond himself and into my hurt.  He didn't yell at me (even though it was deserved), he didn't complain about running all over town looking for a beverage dispenser (he searched Target, TJ Maxx, Macy's, Dillard's, Kirkland's....bless his heart!), he didn't scrutinize my stupidity or even complain that he cleaned the same floors twice within two hours.  Instead he just loved me.  As simple story this may be to some, it was an act of love that I will never forget.  One that can only be matched by the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ who died on the cross and arose again.....a free gift, all to forgive my sins and give me eternal salvation if I only accept it.  It's an act of love that I can't deny and thankfully accepted.....even though I don't deserve it.  When I'm shattered and just can't hold myself together, I have to focus beyond myself and rely on my faith in Christ and He will make me new and fill me up again.

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come."  - II Corinthians 5:17

Have you asked Jesus Christ to pick up your broken pieces and create in you a new heart?

If you have, do you ever find that you try to take control and rush to your blessings instead of being patient?  I know I do.

Way to go, Tebow, way to go!

Tim Tebow (Quarterback of the Florida Gators) was selected as a first-round NFL draft pick for the Denver Broncos last night!  Many opinions have been expressed over the last several months regarding his capabilities to play in the big leagues, but Tim has busted it to perfect his skills.  I knew he would be selected in the draft, so I am thrilled that he was a first-round pick.  While I was hoping he would be a Tennessee Titan so that  I had a better chance of seeing him regularly, I am so excited that Denver saw his potential and drafted this awesome man of character!  Looks like a trip to the Mile High City is in order for Mr. P & me! 

Tim is a champion on and off the field.  His morals and faith are admirable.  Tim's foundation is just one expression of how awesome he is!

Someone needs this Scripture!

These verses encouraged me yesterday and I think someone else might need this too. I pray you are blessed, encouraged and joyful! Much love!

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:4-7

Corvette of Kentucky!

As a lifetime Kentucky resident and citizen of Bowling Green (home of the Corvette!), I proudly submitted my support to name the Corvette as the official sports car of Kentucky!  And you can too!

Read more about KY HB 104 here: 

http://bowlinggreenkycoc.weblinkconnect.com/CWT/EXTERNAL/WCPAGES/WCNEWS/NEWSARTICLEDISPLAY.ASPX?ArticleID=223  

Contact Senator Williams to show your support here:

http://www.lrc.ky.gov/Mailform/S016.htm

You won't generally find me pushing politics, but this is just fun and why shouldn't the Corvette be the official sports car of the Bluegrass state?!