How Y'all Doin'?

It has been a while since my last post. Time has been extremely limited.

While I am thrilled about graduating in December, I cannot believe only about two more weeks of externship. In externship, I have learned so much about dental assisting in general dentistry and orthodontics. My externship has been a rewarding experience. It has been an amazing opportunity to apply what we have learned in the classroom to a real world dental setting.

Happenings

Courtney has a partial torn ligament in her elbow. She is unable to tumble or cheer for 6 weeks. The doctor did release her to cheer after 4 weeks. The 6 weeks are over and tumbling will resume this Sunday. Courtney is slightly anxious to begin tumbling. She still has some pain in the elbow. She is extremely devoted to the Starz cheer team and is determined to do her best.

Courtney had four wisdom teeth extracted. She did incredibly well and recovered quickly. The best part is the surgeon allowed me to observe the entire procedure (only because I wore my dental scrubs and pleaded)! He approved ONLY if I promised not to faint! Ha, Ha I did not faint!

I had the greatest opportunity to volunteer to educate foster children good oral hygiene. It was a remarkable experience and I look forward to the next opportunity to volunteer. I am searching for potential groups that would like volunteers to demonstrate and educate oral hygiene.

Our family had a relaxing July 4th. We chilled out in the pool, bar-b-qued and ate some yummy food, and watched Snowden Grove fireworks from our front porch.

I have accomplished rearranging the kitchen cabinets, my bathroom cabinets, redecorating the guest bedroom and redecorating the media room. The painter will paint the media room this week. What will be the next project, hmmm?

The summer is zooming by. We are trying to squeeze every fun moment in before school starts...not much time left!

Pausing for a break

I have not posted a blog update in such a long time. Going to school and studying has taken most of my spare time. My extern will begin in October and I will graduate in December. It is thrilling to know I will be a dental assistant in just a few short months.

Friday Courtney is getting all four impacted wisdom teeth extracted. She is extremely nervous about the post op pain. I assured her Dr. Peck would supply plenty of pain meds. Courtney is strong and should have a quick recovery…fingers crossed!

I am taking a hiatus from blogging and will return soon! Have a fantastic summer!

OOPS!!

First, time oops! After purchasing new ferns at Lowes for the front porch, I carefully place them in the car trunk. I am preoccupied wiping the wet dirt off my hands. Causally strolling back to the car after parking the buggy, I started digging in my purse for the keys. I knew the keys were not in the special pocket. I begin to panic! I knew I had the keys because they have to pop the trunk. Then it hit me…they are probably beside the roll of paper towels that I used for wiping my hands. I had to call my sweet hubby to deliver the extra set up keys. He just smiled and shook his head.

OOOPS!!

Let's Do Lunch

Lunch is delicious at Thyme To Eat with two of my girlfriends, Dawn and Kim Sue. Life is busy for moms. However, it is so important for us to have time for our girl talk. The three of us chatted non-stop! I look forward to our next lunch date.

Break

Hello, Blog friends I have missed you. I have taken a break from blogging. Every spare moment is enjoyed being outdoors. Don’t you just love the beautiful weather we are having! Love it!


Not long ago, I decided to go back to school. Yes, that is right. This 40+ mom and wife enrolled in school. Therefore, really most of my spare time is studying. I finally know what I want to be when I grow up! Ha!

Spring/Easter

SPRING
• trees budding
• flowers blooming
• birds tweeting
• Easter
• grass turning green
• warmer weather
• flip-flops
• sun dresses
• Spring Break

EASTER (My favorite holiday)
• celebrating Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection
• Jesus died for you and me
• His promise; eternal life

EASTER SYMBOLS
• Empty Cross – symbol of Jesus victory
• Passion Play- dramatize the Easter story
• Easter Lilies- The large, pure white blossoms remind Christians of the pure new life that comes to them through the Resurrection of Jesus.
• Pretzels - their twisted shape suggested arms crossed in prayer
• Lamb- It represents Jesus and relates His death to that of the lamb sacrificed on the first Passover. Jesus "the Lamb of God."
• Easter Egg- represents new life
• Rabbits- associated with the fertility of spring because of their ability to produce many young
• New Easter Clothes- represent the new life offered through the death and Resurrection of Jesus

Fun with cousins

Lil' bit of yard work

BEFORE

AFTER

Angel Wings

In Loving Memory of Layla Grace

11/26/2007-3/9/2010

School on Saturday

The students in DeSoto County had a 60% snow make-up day on "SATURDAY"! Yes, that is right on "SATURDAY"! The students were allowed to wear pj pants. Courtney invited three friends to spend the night to make the "Saturday-school-day" a little more bearable. Friends have a way of making everything better.

Courtney, Anna, and Hannah (Allie couldn't make it)

Anna is in middle school and they were not allowed to wear pj pants.

Prayer Request

Please pray for precious Layla Grace and her family. Words can't express what these parents are enduring! Their faith in God is an inspiration.

Busybodies

What is wrong with gossip?

God is in charge of judging others, not us! That is His job, not ours!

Gossip indicates we are not active in our faith and in our lives. It may start as a simple conversation about someone, and then escalates quickly.

1 Timothy 5:13 – “Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.”

Matthew 7:1 – “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”

Leviticus 19:16 – “Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.”

Proverbs 11:13 – “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.”

Romans 1:29 – “They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips.”

Proverbs 18:8 – “The words of gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.”

If you want to avoid gossip, focus on creating helpful and encouraging statements. Let the gossip end with you. Remember the Golden Rule – if you don’t want, people to gossip about you, then don’t participate in gossip.

Matthew 7:12 – “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

Ephesians 4:29 – “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

QUESTION
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT SOMEONE SPREADING RUMOR(S) ABOUT YOU?
ANSWER
TURN THE OTHER CHEEK

This post was inspired by reading MckMama's Blog. She and her husband are in Kenya doing God's work. It is heartbreaking reading her post.

My favorite line in her post is... I am accountable to God. John Piper said in a Tweet of his in December that "if we are not hated by someone, we either don't know enough people, or we don't speak enough truth." On Judgement Day, I alone will have to answer to God for my sins. But I am not accountable to man. I will not respond to my naysayers' accusations. It is not for their approval that I live, blog, parent and breathe. It is for God's. And while I still fail time and time again, and God even uses the attacks I receive to help refine my heart, I will respond only to Him. He knows my heart, my motives, my intent. And He loves me just the same.

I WILL BE SINGING ALL DAY

Have you ever had a song stuck in your head? Well, I do today!

God is so good,

God is so good,

God is so good,

He's so good to me.

Definitely Works

My friend, Amanda, posted that dryers sheets will clean soap scum off of the shower! Come on now really, dryer sheets clean soap scum off the shower!! I had to try it because you know how hard it is to scrub the shower spotless! First, you wet the dryer sheet. WOW, it rubbed that soap scum right off! Next, I used three sheets on the entire shower and voila my shower is spotless and I did not even turn on the shower! Finally, the dryer sheets left a light soapy film. Therefore, after cleaning the whole shower, I took a wet washcloth and wiped it down. My shower is now sparkling clean. I definitely will continue using dryer sheets to clean the shower. It definitely works!

Date Night

Dink and I went to Memphis to visit a friend at The Farm and Gin Show in the Cook Convention Center. After leaving the convention center, we decided to walk downtown and get a bite to eat. Dink has not eaten at B B Kings, so this is the restaurant of choice. Dink’s meal is the SOUL SAMPLER - BB King Classics: fried pickles, hot Memphis wings, loaded potato skins, and famous ribs. My meal is the NACHOS - jack and cheddar cheese, jalapenos, pico de gallo, sour cream on tri-colored tortilla chips with added BBQ pork. The food is delicious.

The perfect way to end the night is a carriage ride!

Snow Day

For five years while living in North Mississippi, I have never seen so much snow! Unfortunately, the students and teachers are looking at a shorter summer!

Ellie loves playing in the snow. It is hard to keep her inside!

Courtney taking a spin around the neighborhood.

A view of the backyard.

Wow, the nandinas (miniture shrubs) are completely covered!

The diving board has several inches of snow!

Snow covered table and chairs

Snow covered grill

Snow covered Ligustrum

I love taking close-up pictures....