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!!!