These pix really have nothing to do with this post...

This is me, in a nutshell, lately. well, for the past ooohhh, year, year and a half. or more. You can view this picture and more amazing face shots on my brother Tom's Facebook wall...where he has FOUR riveting volumes of razzle dazzle photos of this person or that. Heck, you may even be in it, and not know it.

My bottle job. I really prefer a professional job but ya can't argue with $8. I am in the midst of growing out my mop...and the mega roots were too much.

I just wanted to show up on my blog for a minute...forgive the self portraits. these are for my kids.

Hi.

How are ya?

Ya know, things are going really well here. Nothing too exciting, but nothing damaging either. That is just the way I like it. God is good, good times and difficult and we continue to be thankful for experiences, situations, moments, where that really shines thru. Thank You, Lord!

I'm a loser though.

We went to Illinois yesterday and there were ALL KINDS of photo ops. and I didn't take a one. (well, I take that back, I did take ONE photo and I hope to upload it to iPhoto later and post it but, heck, I'll prolly forget)...We celebrated Father's Day with David's Dad, Mom and almost all 7 of his siblings (minus Aaron. Hey, where was Aaron?). Katrina was there also...she is Matt's (David's twin bro) lady. She is downright gorgeous!

the main reason I failed at pic taking is this. IT WAS FLIPPIN' HOT, folks. I don't function at 100% on most days and when u toss in some suffocating heat? yeah, I shut down to, say, 50%. I did manage to keep my kids alive, so that is a good thing. :)

It was a lovely day and so nice to celebrate with Carl, David's dad. He loves Roy Orbison, Patsy Cline music, Traveling Wilbury's, Hank Williams Sr, and he even got some Johnny Cash.

Good food, good fellowship, a dip in the pool to subdue the Ring of Fire burning 'round me. I'm hot.

A good weekend was had by all...and we hope to get to celebrate my Father this week...I do hope our fathers know just how loved and appreciated they truly are. Such a testament to faithfulness they both are!

Have a super week...

Birthday's past...and the bad hair continues....

I am tight in nostalgia's grip today....

Dug out some old pix to reflect on the past thirty seven

wonderful years.

snazzy dress there, birthday girl. I love that my mom dressed me in Christmas clothing! How appropriate. :)

there is no method to the madness in the order of these pix....this was my 21st birthday and I had just gotten married 3 weeks before...my family came over to visit David and I for my b-day. We were living in his parent's basement apartment. how time flies.

This would have been my second Christmas...and Gma G has a grip on me, while Aunt Mimi shows me the stocking she made for me...I still have it though it's been empty for years!

look at me rippin' into that gift. I look a tad vicious. 1976

not sure of the age here but I would guess 7 or 8.

Fifth birthday. A fun birthday memory: Aunt Bee lived across the street from us. She was an AWESOME lady. Just awesome. mended clothes for us, always, without fail, thought of my sibs, parents and I on our birthdays and holidays. She actually saved my little newborn life. I was not breathing and she, being a nurse, rode to the hospital with my distraught mom, and cleared my airway. I loved that lady! maybe just a bit more than anyone else for that reason.

I even know what was in this box...hugging monkeys...their long arms wrapped around each other....love love loved them. I miss you, Auntie Bee. You were a GEM! everyone needs an Auntie Bee.

gosh. I'm getting choked up.

10 years and what sweet hair. and those overalls? stylin' fo sho!

My Sweet 16 and oh was it. My mom threw a surprise party for me at Orion House with female relatives and friends from church. This chick next to me is Sarah. I just found her on Facebook. She is one of those girls that was always the life of the party (we had to share the spotlight, ha ha), lots of fun and got even more beautiful with age...can you believe THAT? yeah. she did!

Awww. Mom, Beck and David threw me a surprise party for my 30th. It had been a rough year...I had just had Levi one month before this picture. (taken Dec. 1, 2002), he had had some complications from the get go...he wouldn't nurse, I was getting older and dealing with 3 older kids and such. What I remember most from this picture? that sweater was making me sooo hot. and I don't mean "Man, she's Hoooot!" I'm referring to my temperature. I can't believe it's been 7 years since this was taken.

Time? please slow down just a smidge, k?

thanks.

Birthday Eve...

Well, today is my last full day as a 36-year old (I can't believe I can even say that)

Tomorrow, I will greet 37 (actually at 8:40 p.m. according to my barely filled baby book, thanks, Mom, for at least getting that fact filled in)....with OPEN ARMS! Thirty. Seven. I mean, doesn't that just sound old?

Is it just me?

It's not that much older than 36.

but I think it's the odd number that I'm struggling with. and that I'm just three years from the big 4-0.

I'm in good company though...lots of cool chicks around me are 40 and up. So I'm convinced, as my Facebook friends have all encouraged, that it's all in how you feel, and that it's just a number.

Because I still feel like I'm 16. but I'm not as mature now as I was back then. and I definitely don't know as much.

Hope your Thursday is Magical...and that you've gotten all of your Christmas shopping DONE.

Yet another walk down memory lane...

one can see where my daughter gets her open-mouthed grin...hmmmm.
A younger days collage...love the big 80's hair!!
I'm the little chicklet in the blue Little House on the Prairie outfit circa 1976
You are probably wondering why I'm walking down memory lane again...tomorrow, December 18, 2007, I am turning 35. Can you believe that? I just can't believe that I am that OLLLLLLLLLD!! now, I know it's really not that old but I can remember being 16 or so and thinking people that were 23 were gettin' up there...but 35?? c'mon. I just can't grasp that! I still feel and act as if I'm 16.
all right then...the top pic is obviously from the summer of '73. I love that Molly makes this same face...but then again, I think most babies do. her face is much rounder than mine was..I guess I've always had the long, angular face. Pic #2 is a little smattering of family photos...I think you can tell who I am...In the older pix, I'm the one with the big, straight up hair or short bob-ish hair...Becky never liked to have her hair too short and she is the same to this day. The bottom pic is a classic. I don't have many pix of myself with my dad's dad. We got to ride in his Model A (is this correct, Dad?) car in the Bicentennial parade of 1976 (duh) and weren't we just so cute waving our little flags. Grandpa Gaines was so cool...he passed away when I was 9 so I don't have many memories of him but he was so handsome. I will have to post some pix of him on here...whatta looker.
Anyways, think of me on Tuesday, I'm sure my back will start hurting (more than it already does), my hair will turn just a bit more gray, and my eyesight will finally fuzz up. Pray for this ol' gal.
I will try to post on here later on...I've got SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much to do to get ready for Christmas, which is, ya know, about a week from now...ahhhhhhh.

O my gosh! Dork Alert!

CAN
YOU
BELIEVE THIS???!!!

Ok, yes, I was a total dork as a kid. My sister found these pix that I had taken nearly 21 years ago...(can you believe that I can say 21 years about something??? I'm so dang old)...These pix were taken at precisely 4:40 pm, 4:41 pm, and 5:56 pm on January 1, 1987. You know how I know this? because I'm an organized, pay attention to details kinda gal. I wrote it on the back of each of these Polaroid pix. What I am wondering is why on earth did I, as a 14-year old young lady, get these stuffed animals for Christmas? My Gma. Taylor made the little kitty, appropriately named "Kittyskins", for me (I know B. got one but I failed to photograph it, awww shucks). and this Teddy, aptly named "Teddy B"??? (I also wrote their names on the backs of these pix, and I even wrote Best Friends) wow...I must've been totally bored on this holiday to be taking pictures of my STUFFED ANIMALS. O BOY!! and now you are wondering why I'm posting these? my lovely sister asked me to. Hi Becky...did Teddy B and Kittyskins (whatta horrible name) make your FRIDAY?? I surely hope so. I am now going to post the new pix of Pipes and Nora. allrighty then. see ya.