Taylorbug to the Rescue

Sometimes there is a pressing matter that must be attended to...

...a rescue perhaps...

...that simply cannot wait one second longer...

...one that requires someone who is younger, smaller and more daring than the mom of the house...

...enter Taylorbug!!

...who gladly took one for the team...

...to rescue two small bunnies from behind the couch...

...before they fall victim to the Puppy Posse...

...it's clearly a tiring job...

...but one that simply must be done...

...the good thing about being young, though, is that you're quite resilient...

...and recover to your former self very quickly...

...just in time to force your mother to take a photo of her new haircolor with the good camera...

...here's looking forward to many adventures with the younger, resilient member of the family this weekend...

...as long as she doesn't decide to take up bullriding after we go to the rodeo on Sunday, I'll be good!

Things that make you go hmmm....

Y'all, I have no idea why the "Trip to the Lake" photos won't show up but if you'll click on the title of the post, they will appear in all their glory. Strange but true... :-)

Trip to the Lake (A Photo Essay)

The Stars at Night....

Yesterday evening my 'tween daughter actually volunteered to take photos in the bluebonnets at her school. Well, at least until she saw that there were other people on the premises. But a stern warning from Dave that she must take photos for me because she had promised got me what turned out to be a fantastic photo shoot!

Tay goes to a wonderful school, Woodway Elementary, that receives a grant each year to continue a very special landscaping project on the campus. They retain the services of a Fairy Garden Mother who teaches the children about gardening and have a designated area for each of the regions of Texas where plants indigenous to that area are grown.

It's a great learning tool and Tay enjoys it a lot. It also makes for a very pretty campus and perhaps even a bit of envy from this girl who has not one but two brown thumbs. I'm working on the whole jealousy thing, though.

After photographing a few of Tay's favorite flowers, she started posing for me but first she had to warm up. See?

Things quickly got better, though...

I even got a few when she wasn't even looking...

And I have no idea how I managed to capture this cuteness seeing as I am a self-taught photographer with a point and shoot digital. Lol...

This is perhaps my favorite...

One other neat thing is that there's a mailbox in each of the "regions" that contains papers explaining all that is planted there and why....

Then we took a trek so Tay could show me the ladybug she had drawn on the sidewalk earlier in the day. On the way we saw the paw prints - they are the Midway Panthers, after all!

Then we found the ladybug...

...and a lone Mexican hat. At least I think that's what they're called. Remember the brown thumbs?

I had to take this one because she has practically lived in this school spirit hoodie for the past few months. It has her name on the back and she LOVES IT! Of course,  I think that has something to do with the fact that she's still self-conscious about the scar on her elbow but I don't imagine that will be an issue once it's 105 degrees this summer. At least I'm hoping it won't be.

Then she decided to be silly...

So I took a few more pics of the beautiful flowers because this is her last year in elementary school (clearly she was born when I was VERY young, right?) and I wanted some pics to remember the campus by...

These are apparently Tay's favorite flowers. She said they looked better a few weeks ago. Lol...

...and a little lantana (can you believe I actually knew that?!?!)...

No idea but it's pretty..

These pretty little flowers were planted beneath the structure. They don't really look like something that would trail up the poles but, again, what do I know about gardening?

It was a beautiful evening and we went down to the lake immediately after this shoot so I do have more but I figured this was probably enough picture overload for one day. The three of us just hung out enjoying the weather and God's amazing display of nature.

I can't say that I love Texas allergies but I do love the weather and flowers in the spring!

Yes, No, Why?

Yes, the Beth Moore simulcast was amazing!!!

No, I did not take any pictures.

Why? Because I was so busy taking notes. :-)

Yes, we did go to the Kappa Delta Formal.

No, I did not bust a move or take any pictures.

Why? Because I'm apparently too old to be cool at these events these days...

Yes, I did spend most of the weekend battling allergies after a major storm blew in Friday evening.

Yes, I am convinced that allergies are from the enemy. :-)

No, I am not out of Sudafed, Benadryl or nasal spray. In fact, I may just buy stock in them...

Why? Because I am a business school major.

Yes, I did take a major Sunday afternoon nap instead of mowing the lawn, going to the gym or cleaning my house.

No, I do not feel guilty.

Why? Because I feel more rested, more at peace and more equipped to deal with life in general after a great weekend of rejuvenation than I have in a long time.

Yes, Taylor is still hilarious. And adorable.

No, she has not completely gotten over the mouthy 'tween stage.

Why? Because we just started hitting her where it hurt by making her sit in her room by herself for 30 minutes at a time yesterday. (Note: it only took ONCE and who in the world knew that would be the trick? Guess she really hates being alone...)

Yes, I do owe you some photos.

No, I do not have any to offer at the moment.

Why? Because we are taking bluebonnet pics on the way home from the gym tonight so I don't have them yet.

Yes, I realize this is probably annoying.

No, that's not going to stop me...

Why? Because I'm making myself laugh with this format...

So Long Insecurity!!!

It's Friday, y'all!

And the girl is spending the night with Nana and Boppy.

I'm supposed to go to the KD Formal this evening (I'm their on campus advisor) because it's off campus BUT there are storms that are supposed to roll in around the time of the event so I'm hoping they move it on campus.

Why? Because then I can just hang out with my man this evening. And turn my brain off.

It's been a rough week but it's coming to an end. Some things have been settled. Some things have not. And I'm cool with that.... (I almost typed "I'm cool like that," which is funny because I'm TOTALLY not!)

I'm super excited about tomorrow because my mom and I are attending Beth Moore's So Long Insecurity simculcast. I puffy heart Beth Moore and am pretty sure that, at times, we've lived the same life.

I was introduced to her Bible studies about the time my life hit complete and total rock bottom. If it is possible to get lower than I was, friends, I don't ever want to experience it. 

Needless to say, I feel like Beth and I are old friends even though she wouldn't know me if I walked right up and snipped a lock of her perfectly colored hair (not that I would) to use as a sample next time I'm in a coloring mood.

If you haven't read the book, I highly recommend it. It will rock your world, girls. (You, too, only man who reads this blog.)

Have a fantastic weekend, y'all! 

P.S. You'll be happy (maybe) to know that we bought tickets to the PBR event that will be in Waco next weekend earlier today. Well, actually Dave did but still... Anyway, that means I'll actually be going somewhere to take pics that are more exciting than which t-shirt I bought this week. :-)

We're also going to the circus next month (you know, if my 'tween can control her mouth between now and then) so there are definitely brighter blog days ahead. Don't you feel better now?

Diadeloso

Today is Diadeloso. The day of the bear. Baylor's official holiday. Well, at least for the students. :-)

Since I'm about to run face first into the fiscal year deadline that is tomorrow, I'm not participating this year. I did, however, buy t-shirts for both Tay and I. Seasons may come and go but the importance of a t-shirt that marks every campus occasion simply does not change.

Tay got the yellow one and I got the blue one. And, while I have lost weight since buying once last year, I must say that this year's shirts are super sized because mine goes down to my knees. But that's ok because it made me feel skinny.

And I'm all for ANYTHING that makes me feel that way.

So I bring you greetings from Joy and Lady...and hope you have a fantastic day!

The People Spoke...

...and I listened.

Yes, these are terrible photos but I just took them in my office with my camera phone. Not exactly the best quality but at least my hair is not orange. That's a blessing, folks.

In other news, I saw a hot air balloon last night when I ran to Walgreen's for some Advil. Yep, that's right - I had a hoppin' evening at the ol' Walgreen's. Sure did.

A local businessman (Gary Heavin who is the founder of Curves) is a competitive hot air balloonist. Yes, you also read that correctly. He practices around our house periodically. Just never know what you'll find around the corner.

And finally, in other news that is about as exciting as watching paint dry, it's beginning to look a lot like spring in my ol' office in the tower. Not only do I decorate my home seasonally but I also do the same to my office door.

It's sort of the running joke around here because I have everything from leprechauns to dancing Santas. Sometimes you just need a bit of a change, right?

You are my sunshine...

So last week was rough. And, by rough, I mean that even my hair being Bozo orange for 12 hours over the weekend after an unfortunate coloring incident didn't even register because of everything that had happened in the days leading up to said incident.

My hair is not orange anymore. In fact, it's several different shades of blonde; however, I don't have photos of that yet. And, no, I didn't take pics of the orange.

Anyway, probably because she'd heard me cry on the telephone literally EVERY DAY last week, my mom sent me these last Friday to brighten up my day.

And it TOTALLY worked! The weekend was better and, even though things are not working out at all like I had planned, I'm trying to continue to remember that it's not MY plan anyway. Never was. Never will be. 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that testing of your faith develops perseverance.

James 1:2-3

Needless to say, we've had LOADS of trials throughout the past year and it's been difficult. Every time I've thought things were turning the corner, I was wrong. But that's ok. Because I have NO DOUBT that there is something crazy exciting just over the hill.

In my mind, I keep thinking things will get better in June because last June is when things began to go downhill. For those of you who haven't been reading long, that's when my grandfather passed away while we were at Disney World.

A myriad of things have happened since but I can honestly say our family has never been stronger. And I know I KEEP saying that but, honestly, sometimes I just need to put it out there and remind MYSELF that all things have happened for a reason.

I am fully confident that brighter days are ahead. And I'm thanking God that I won't be facing them with orange hair.

Just keepin' it real, y'all. :-)

Major Life Decision

Ok, guys - major life decision here....

...I've been so busy lately that I hadn't even thought about coloring my hair but someone (and you know who you are) emailed me after my Easter post (in which I failed to disclose that the pic of me and Tay was the absolute worst hair day I've had in a while and I looked AWFUL) to tell me that it was after Easter so I should be blonde by now.

So something I hadn't thought about AT ALL is now gnawing on me and I can't decide what to do...so I'm asking a question...

Brown or blonde?

That is the question...what's your answer?

And the journey never ends...

So Dave and I met with his surgeon yesterday morning. The news was not what we had hoped. His knee has not healed enough to bear weight yet. He will remain non-weight bearing for the next 4 weeks and will return to the doctor on May 10. He's out of work for another 6 weeks.

We are disappointed and, quite frankly, a bit overwhelmed but we know God is in control and He has known all along that this would happen. He would not allow anything to happen in our lives that will not be worked for His good.

This we know. To this we cling. We will believe God.

No matter what.

This is the busiest time of the year for my job as well so I'm feeling overwhelmed and a bit on the edge. Should you happen to think of it, I can promise you wouldn't waste a prayer on us.

We're hanging in there. And it could be so much worse. Heck, we have friends who are currently facing much worse so I promise that we do have all of this in perspective.

It's just that we've had a really rough year that began last June when my grandfather passed away while we were at Disney World. I won't go into all that's happened since but let's just say we've been on an emotional roller coaster for the better part of the last 10 months. And it's tiring.

Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, 

the Lord will be my light.

Micah 7:8

It's a Hard Knocked Life

Recovering from surgery is incredibly taxing. Just ask Prissy and Bo, who were apparently forced to stay by their master's side while he slept off the side effects of anesthesia. Every patient needs a couple of guard dogs, right? Ones who will snore away intruders...

Bo truly gives it all he's got...but does require that you share the covers with him...

He does stop for the occasional chat about big things in life...like which bones we should get at the grocery store...

Sometimes he's just too cool for school, to be quite frank.

He's compassionate, though, and loans his glasses out on occasion...

He shares with BOTH sisters but you won't see Perkie here because she still has a phobia when it comes to the camera. She also has a new phobia - the yo yo...who knew?

He was GLAD to share with the girls...see?

Prissy thought they were cool but they seemed to weigh her head down a bit...

In other news, we've also been doing a TON of spring cleaning. Although the picture makes it look like Tay was thrilled to tackle her room, let's just say photos can be deceiving...it's clean now, though, and she was rewarded with new bedding. 

Unfortunately, this is not a veteran 'tween mom so I actually did tell her "whatever you want, sweetheart - I just want you to be happy." Once it arrived I realized I would be the one borrowing Bo's glasses every time I go in her room because it is PSYCHADELIC, y'all. 

I'm sure pictures will be forthcoming, you know, if my camera doesn't melt.

But it doesn't really matter because this face still makes me melt in the face of bright, retina scarring bedding...

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

This Easter we dyed eggs and incorporated glitter into the mix, which surprised Dave quite a bit. It's almost like he doesn't know me AT ALL.

We were paid a visit by the Easter Bunny...

We made Easter basket cupcakes, which is much easier than the Easter Bunny cake I've been making for years...

We played with the toys Peter Cottontail delivered...

We had an egg hunt during Sunday School...

And copped a typical 'tween stance when being photographed in public...

And then perked up for a short photoshoot after lunch at Nana and Boppy's house...

...and we enjoyed our family, friends, and Jesus!

The Lord has done GREAT things for us and we are FILLED with joy!!!