A Sea of Blue

The last few days all I have been seeing are shades of blue! I have been painting my kitchen, foyer & dining room, the kitchen is finished, the foyer just needs a second coat, the dining room is primed it needs to be taped off then I can start adding color. Since my computer crashed I have lost some of my older photos but I will try to show you the before and after photos when I've finished. I didn't realize how dark and dingy my walls looked with the deep red and olive green, even the boys have noticed how much larger the rooms seem with a few coats paint. I will give you a little hint, the new shade of paint is called Mercer Blue.

Have a great day!!

October 25, 1998

October 25, 1998 was a day that changed my life forever! After spending the evening with my parents the night before, the long drive home and being five months pregnant at the time with our first child I was easily exhausted, so Tom & I were sleeping in on that crisp autumn morning eleven years ago when the phone rang, it was my youngest brother Kevin saying that our Dad's heart had stopped and to get to Ashland as fast as we could. When we arrived at the hospital my middle brother Wayne came to me crying, he gave me hug and told me that Daddy was gone, I looked around and saw my oldest brother Steve comforting his eight year old daughter, I felt like I would fall to the ground then I saw my Mom and I lost it. You see my Mom & Dad had a marriage that was truly made in heaven, the love that they shared for each other was like no other, they were in the prime of their lives, they both were 55, Daddy had semi-retired, they were traveling all over the world on fabulous vacations and were building their dream home on the coast of Florida when this horrible tragedy struck. He was a kind, thoughtful, intelligent and wonderful man who helped so many people in his short time on this earth, he was always the first to lend a helping hand to a neighbor in need, to churches or to help missionaries around the globe who needed vehicles or Bibles for their congregation. As a true testament to his character he did these things and much more anonymously, he never wanted recognition for his generosity which only assures me of what I all ready knew about him, that he was indeed a man of God. He was a powerful presence in our family and is missed everyday in so many ways by all of us. I look at my children and wish that he could see them and that they would've known their grandfather.


It's amazing to me how time goes on even when you think that it couldn't possibly without the people that you love the most. During the past eleven years our family has welcomed five new grandchildren, his youngest son has served in Iraq for a year and is leaving in a few weeks to serve another tour, the older grandchildren he knew are graduating from high school and starting their lives at college, Mom still mourns him everyday but has learned to smile and enjoy life again. I'm thankful that we are able to heal and move on but in everything that we do he's always in our hearts and on our minds.

Chit Chat

My computer is up and running, the Dell support team was able to save my pictures and reload everything via the Internet and phone, this just blows my mind, that someone in India can log-on to my computer in Kentucky and fix my problems, go figure! But, I'm thankful to back on my own computer and not on one of the sticky things that my sons call their laptops, LOL!

We had a great time with our friends at the lake this weekend, the dinner party was fun and the food was delicious. Unfortunately, we had to miss the potluck on Saturday night because the boys both starting running fevers.

I took them to the nurse practitioner at Tom's work yesterday both have Strep throat, thankfully they tested negative for Influenza A & B. Back in the Spring our pediatrician seemed to think that Jonah may have asthma, yesterday he was wheezing so badly that we left the Health Clinic with steroids and an inhaler. This is a new world for us she told me to be very careful with him and to never leave home without an inhaler. Do you have children with asthma and how has it changed their lives? We are so thankful for Tom's company they have set up Health Clinics at each of the mines for their employees & their families, what a blessing, no more waiting rooms full of sick people when your children's immune systems are down.

There is a little fabric shop in Somerset that I have been trying to get to for months and I finally stopped in on Saturday, let me just tell that it is a thrifty girl's dream! You'll have to excuse the poor photography, I was shaking from excitement because one of the employees had just told me that everything on hangers was only $3.00 per yard!!! When I got to the register to checkout, with my arm load of hangers, the young boy didn't even measure the fabric he just held it out and said, "I think that looks like about two yards, you okay with that? Ah, I think I'll just let you have it for $3.00 and how about $6.00 for the other piece? We just want this stuff, GONE!!" I thought I would pee my pants from excitement, LOL!! That young man has made a friend for life and the little fabric store will probably get sick of seeing me. This place was a mess, for me that's the charm of stores like that, you leave with something beautiful.

I will have my TWOC week three craft post up by Friday, be sure to stop by Red Writing and see what neat things these talented woman are doing for Christmas.

Have a great day!!!

The Big Crash of 09

Well it finally happened, my computer crashed on Wednesday night! The funny thing is I have to ask my sons if I can borrow one of their laptops, then of course that leads to a big fight between the two of them because they argue over whose turn it is to let me use their computer, so I need to buy a replacement ASAP! I think I may buy a laptop instead of a new desktop, what kind of computer do you use? I would love a MAC but they are way out of my budget!



We are going to a dinner party tonight and a potluck dinner Saturday night, so I need to raid my closet for something warm to wear. I hope that everyone has a good weekend!

I Won, I Won, I Really Won!!!

A few days ago Jen from Tater Tots & Jello hosted a giveaway and I was the winner, yeah me!! When I got home from grocery shopping today there was surprise waiting on my front porch, a wonderful package from Sprinkles Cupcakes in California. I have never tried their cupcake mixes, Jen graciously gave me my choice of flavors and being the banana freak that I am I chose banana, I mean how can you go wrong with banana anything? The beautiful packaging even gives you the recipe for the frosting, yummy! I think I better save all my weekly Weight Watchers points for the day I bake these.

Jen, thank you so much for the lovely present, your blog gives me lots of inspiration & ideas and I always get excited when I see that you've added a new post. I hope that you have a great day, because of you I've had a wonderful day!

Twelve Weeks of Christmas ~ Part Two

Red Writing is hosting Twelve Weeks of Christmas, this is the second in the series, this week is all about family traditions. We have several Christmas traditions that we all look forward to each year but I would have to say that our favorite one started 13 years ago when Tom bought me an ornament for our first Christmas. Each year he gives Johnson, Jonah and me a new ornament that pertains to something that happened that year or a character that one of the boys are into, we also give him an ornament about something he has done for the year. Our tree now tells a story of our life together. I always put the tree up the day after Thanksgiving and I cry my eyes out as I hang each ornament, the memories they bring back are priceless.

Another thing that we do is Santa Sack, my mom made each of the boys a sack to hang on their beds starting December 1st and they get a little treat each night through December 23rd. This was a great idea when they were little and were satisfied with Dollar Tree stuff, now that they are older and know that there isn't a Santa they are requesting CDs, money, ipod gift cards and the list goes on!

What are some of your traditions? When do put your tree up? Do you hit the Black Friday sales?

Happy Anniversary

Our love story began thirteen years ago today, I married my best friend, I know people say that all the time, but Tom and I truly are best friends and soul mates, we appreciate each other and every day that we have together. We've been through a lot in our years together but we've weathered every storm together drawing strength and support from each other. We are blessed to have a great marriage and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to his wife.

Front Door Makeover

My paint job is far from perfect but in the words of the Nester, "it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful". I'm loving my front door makeover, I still need to touch-up a few places, paint the swing and paint the trim but I think it looks so much better(you can see the before here). The previous owners had tried to varnish a fiberglass door, needless to say I had a mess on my hands and a much bigger job than I anticipated, isn't that how it always goes. But in the end I learned how to paint a door and gained a little confidence with a paint brush.

On a happy note, I saw my surgeon today for my 6 week check-up, he said that my scar looked great and would get smaller within the next 6 months and that I could do anything that I wanted with no restrictions! I think I'll paint my dining room and kitchen next week, anyone want to drive to Kentucky to help me? LOL!!!

Have a great weekend!!!!

New Hair Style & Color

I recently had my cut short and I love it!! But, the gray was taking over, I tried to color it myself and got one side a different shade than the other, don't ask because I don't know how I did it, LOL! Then I had my surgery and couldn't lean over the tub to add more color, so today I had my hair professionally colored and highlighted!! I'm amazed that I agreed to let my hairdresser do the highlights because I've always been afraid of them with my dark brown hair, I really like what she did and so does my hubby. Do you have your hair colored at a salon or do you color it yourself?

38 Years Young?

Yesterday was my 38th birthday, I can't believe that I'm that old! My birthday weekend, as Tom called it, started on Friday when he bought me a Blackberry Curve, which I have become addicted to in 5 short days, followed by a weekend at the lake eating out at all my favorite restaurants and a trip to the pumpkin patch. My mom came to visit yesterday, she brought me several lovely presents but the best present she gave me was spending the day with me teaching me how to hem pants. My Aunt Kathy and godson Jonathan sent me a hilarious birthday card and beautiful Autumn candle set that I can't wait to use!

The best present of all is my good health, since my thyroidectomy 6 weeks ago I feel better than I have in years! I finally have energy to do all the things that I've put off for the last year and I'm so thankful that God chose to heal my body!

I hope that you all have a great week!!

Twelve Weeks of Christmas--Lists

Red Writing is hosting a twelve weeks of Christmas link up, you should check it out and join in, I think it's going to be a lot of fun. This week is all about lists, your list can be about whatever you want it to be.

Around the first of October I always start making a list of what to get everyone. I usually start by checking out my gift shelf to see what I can find on it, then I make a list of everyone I need to buy for (which is around thirty people) and start searching for the perfect gift. This year will be a little easier because I have decided to give all my teenage nieces & nephew money or a gift card. I keep a copy of my list in my purse & in a folder, as I find a gift I write down the price, who it's for and put the receipt in the folder, this helps to track my spending and to keep my budget intact.

I can't wait to read every one's ideas and lists.

Have a good evening!