Just stopping by with a few obervations...

Oh, yes… we’re into the end-of-the-semester-preparing-for-Christmas-don’t-forget-the-next-event days. So, I’m just dropping into this blog o’mine to share a few observations I’ve made over the last few days.

• We’re receiving very few Christmas cards this year. So, I’m wondering… Is no one sending cards this year? Or, have we been marked off everyone’s list???
• We scaled back on the Christmas décor this year. Bud thinks it’s great and says we should scale back even more next year. My opinion? Big mistake. Huge mistake. It won’t happen again.
• My kids are having a hard time coming up with ideas of things they’d like to receive as Christmas gifts. I think Burrito summed it up pretty well when he said, “I think that might be a sign that we’re spoiled.” Hmmm… maybe? (Probably.)
• Speaking of Burrito, he’s halfway through his senior year. He’s been accepted to three universities so far and we’re waiting to hear from one more. We’re very proud of him! Nothing more to say about that lest the tears flow.
• Kat is halfway through her freshman year of high school. Is it just my imagination or is the transition to high school harder for girls than boys?
• You know how the police will tell you that there’s no such thing as ticket quotas… particularly at the end of a month? Well, I’ve been making my own observations of the situation over the last few months. My conclusion? I’m not buying that story. (And, no… I haven’t received a ticket.)
• Blogs are being neglected. And, it’s not just the season – it’s another trend I’ve notice over the last several months. You know who you are! (Of course, those bloggers probably aren’t reading my blog anymore either.) And yes, I realize this point is like the pot calling the kettle black.
• It doesn’t feel like December yet. It’s hard to feel Christmassy when the daily temperatures have been in the mid-60s to mid-70s lately. I still made Bud turn on the gas to our fireplace and we’ve used it on a few cooler evenings. I love it! Bud on the other hand, suggested I just burn a few $20s instead.
• This post is making Bud seem very cynical. He’s really not.
• Speaking of Christmas cards… mine are finished but I haven’t mailed them yet. Just in case you were thinking you’d been marked off my list.
• We scaled way back on Christmas gift-giving this year. It feels good. It feels right.
• I’m still in my jammies and need to leave the house in 20 minutes. Guess I’d better get moving.

What observations have you made lately?

I still do...

I, Dawn, take you Bud, to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness.

Happy 20th Anniversary, Bud - I love you more today than I could have ever imagined twenty years ago. XO

Happy Birthday, Bud!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Prince Charming! Wishing you at least 43 more happy, healthy years! I love you!!!

(Yes, an apple spice cake will be baked for your celebration this Sunday.)

Sorry, ladies... he's all mine!

Even after all these years... Bud will surprise me with a random, romantic act.

I finally booted the PC this afternoon to find this "sticky note" on the desktop.

I love you, too, Larry!

Confessions: I wasn't even there when it happened!

It's been such a busy fall that blogging has fallen by the wayside. I will get back to it. Soon. I promise!

In the meantime, please allow me to tell you what I have not been up to lately. I have not been taking golf lessons from Elin Nordegren, wife of Tiger Woods.

Bud was helping a friend move into a new apartment. He had his arms loaded with boxes, tripped on curb and took a direct header into a stucco column. Knocked himself silly, literally. In his words, "The column won." You think?!

And just for the record... I wasn't even there when it happened.

So, what haven't you been up to lately???

19 years and counting!

It's hard to believe that another year has passed since I wrote this post last year. A lot has happened in that one year...

We watched our favorite vacation spot be destroyed.

We survived wild pigs and skunks.

Kat became a teenager - she's been rehearsing this role for years, you know!

We entered the world of competitive cheer. Texas-style, no less!

We retained the title of "Parents of a member of the best drumline in Texas" - outdoors and indoors!

Mom retired, which allowed her and Dad to spend the holidays and beyond with us.

We lost Granny - grief and relief.

History was made with the inauguration of our 44th president - on my 44th birthday.

We created more family memories on the boat.

Kat went away for her first church camp.

We added another driver to the family.

Burrito experienced his first mission trip.

We experienced it all in this nineteenth year. Together. I wouldn't want to live this life we have or share these experiences with anyone else. I love you!

Happy 19th anniversary, Bud!

Bud's other love.

Bud caught this beauty and several others this past weekend during his fishing trip in the Galveston Bay. To see more, visit Bud's blog: Reel Fun Saltwater Fishing.

On your mark... get set...

Go!

(Photo credit: By hylander44 on Flickr.)

Put on your running shoes and see if you can keep up with us. It's gonna be a busy weekend. From my planner:

• Dance recital dress rehearsal (Done)
• Football game (Over - our team made the playoffs! How many more weeks of football?)
• Cheer practice (Done)
• Neighborhood yardsale (Going on as I speak type.)
• Bud fishing
• Craft show (Not enough hours in the day so I'm skipping it. *Humph.*)
• Purchase new hair curlers for Kat (Necessary to create "cheerleader hair.")
• Dance recital
• Cheer competition (We do live in Texas, y'all!)

That last item? Guaranteed to produce blog fodder for next week's postings. Maybe I'll even have pictures!

We ROCK! (Or, several weeks in fast review.)

We ROCKED homecoming. And, we WON!

We ROCKED the part and were appropriately dressed.

Our homecoming court ROCKED the evening!

Isn't she gorgeous? "A" is our neighbor and she's beautiful on the inside, too. Last year when Burrito was a freshman and she was a junior, she made sure that Burrito's first days of high school went well. She walked and talked in the halls with him. She even invited him to sit with her and her girl friends at lunch. Umm... hello! A freshman guy walking, talking and lunching with gorgeous junior girls. Yep, that had to help Burrito's reputation! (We reminded Burrito to "pay it forward" when he started his sophomore year this fall.)

She deserved the crown - don't you agree?! Sadly, she wasn't crowned the queen. (We demand a recount!)

We ROCKED with the cheerleaders. (We love the cheerleaders, right Kat?)

We ROCKED in the stands.

Our drill team ROCKED the halftime show. (Go, "H"!)

Then we ROCKED with parties.

Kat's best friend "M" attended homecoming with us (an annual tradition) and then spent the night. "M" wasn't available to attend on the date we'd planned to have the birthday sleepover, so we had a "party-before-the-party" after the homecoming celebration. After all, a girl can't celebrate her 13th birthday without her best friend!

Bud headed for the coast the next morning and ROCKED on the water. (Not to be confused with walking on water!)

The next weekend, we ROCKED the "second" birthday sleepover with Kat's school friends.

We ROCKED several band competitions. (With another one this coming weekend.)

We ROCKED with success!

We're a ROCKIN' family!

18 years ago today...

I married my best friend.

Our story actually started 19 years ago with a blind date. Set up by his mother! She was one of my clients and for more than a year she kept hinting that I should meet her son. What I didn’t know was that Bud was getting the same treatment at home. Finally, he agreed to call me and ask me out on a date – just to get her off his back, you know. Unfortunately, I already had plans for that night and had to decline. I asked him to call me the next week. I was certain he thought I was blowing him off and he’d never call again. He did think that but thought he’d “call my bluff” and called again the next week as promised. We went out that night. And the next night. And the night after that.

After dating just a few weeks, I knew this was going to be something special. Bud must have thought so, too. After a fun day at the beach and a romantic dinner, he told me he loved me.

At the one-month mark, I took Bud home to Ohio to meet my parents and to attend a family wedding. Nothing says you’re serious more than taking a new boyfriend to a family wedding! After watching us at the reception, my grandmother remarked, “I think you’ll be married next!” She was right.

Less than one year later, we returned to my parents’ home to announce our engagement at a family Memorial Day picnic. We had grand plans of a Christmas wedding. You know, six months later. However, my family didn’t like the idea of traveling in winter weather from Ohio to Virginia. The following summer was suggested and promptly rejected. By me. So we set a new date - August 11th. Of that summer. Barely two months of planning time!

The day was beautiful and we were surrounded by our family and friends. I wore my mother’s wedding gown which had been beautifully preserved. The color had mellowed from a pure white to a soft ivory – the only sign that the dress wasn’t recently purchased from a wedding boutique!

So, here we are today - eighteen years, two kids, and several moves across the country later. Every once in a while I have to remind my mom-in-law that it’s all her fault. And, I’m glad!

I love you, Bud!

Please allow me to introduce you...

I’ve blogged for several years now. I had another blog prior to this one but I kept it private and only invited close friends and family to read it. The host site went through several rounds of “upgrades” (not) so I stopped using it and gave up blogging for about a year.

But I missed it. I love to write and blogging is such a good way to stay in touch with our family and friends who are scattered all over the country. So, I jumped back on the blogging bandwagon and have enjoyed writing again. I decided to leave my blog “semi-open” to other readers and as a result I have “met” many other interesting bloggers. Most of them are Christian moms with lives and values similar to my own.



I thought it would be fun to introduce to you, my faithful readers, some of these blogging friends. I won’t waste your time telling you about my “famous” blogger friends – you know, The Pioneer Woman and such, because you’ve probably already met them. And, they’re already famous and don’t need my smattering of publicity. And you can link to them from my side bar.



First, allow me to shamelessly plug my Prince Charming’s blog: Reel Fun Saltwater Fishing. He is, after all, my very best friend.





I’m sure not many of my female readers are going to be too interested in Bud's saltwater fishing reports and pictures. But, maybe some of you can use his blog as an example when your man wants to know what the big deal is about blogging. I’m sure most men will enjoy Bud’s blog much more than mine!



Next, I’d like to introduce Steph over at “For the Love of Sam”. If you’ve been reading my blog for any amount of time at all, you’re probably already familiar with Steph. She’s been my BFA&F since the first day of 9th grade. I’ve blogged about her before and wrote about her visit this past spring. She’s new to blogging but boy oh boy can she give those “famous” bloggers a run for their money. She makes me laugh like no one else can and she has a heart for God, her hubby, and her kids – all SIX of them! Steph and hubby, Sam, live the reality version of The Brady Bunch! Go visit her. You’ll like her, too!



One more introduction for today…



The web makes the world seem a little smaller. So much so that it is as if Prairie Chick over at Prairie Prologue lives just outside of my suburban community. But she doesn’t. She lives all the way up in Canada! This is a picture she posted recently of herself on her wedding day. She and her husband were married in Italy. Isn’t she beautiful? Prairie Chick is beautiful on the inside, too! I love to read about her life as a wife and mother and a lover of our Lord. Her writing is so open and real that I feel as if I’ve peaked through a window of her heart every time I read her blog. She always shares the joys in her life but never hesitates to chat about her frustrations and struggles, too. That’s not always easy to do, you know? It’s much more fun to “pretty up” the situations in our life and write a humorous post. Prairie Chick asks deep questions that make me examine my heart. She’s honest and real. I like that.



I hope you’ve enjoyed meeting some of my blogging friends. Go visit their blogs and tell them Dawn sent you. I’ll introduce you to some more of my blogging friends in future posts.

Happy Father's Day, Bud!

When I picture my Prince Charming as a father, this is the image that most often comes to my mind. I’ve made a photograph of Bud, Burrito and Kat in this same pose every year since the kiddos were toddlers. The beach is sometimes a different one from the prior year and sometimes the kiddos don’t remember on what “side” of dad they’re supposed to be. But the symbolism of this photo never changes. To me, it represents our life - Bud as an attentive father to our children, fun times, and the contentment of just being together.

Whenever I’m asked to describe Bud, I simply state that he is a man of integrity. He fulfills the admonishment given to Christian men in Titus 2. In this passage, Christian men are instructed to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience. A godly man is to be an example by doing good works of every kind. To speak the truth so that his words can’t be criticized and opponents will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say. He is to be an employee who always obeys his employer and does his best to please them. Godly men must not be quarrelsome or steal, but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good so that they will make the teaching about God our Savior appealing in every way.

This is my Prince Charming, the father of our children.