Hot, Hot, Hot!

It has been hot, hot, hot around here lately.  The only way to be comfortable is to be inside with a good AC or in the water.  We have an outside dog, and we knew she was miserable.  Kevin went to Wal-Mart and bought her a small swimming pool to play relax in.  She absolutely loved it!

Kevin was off on Friday so we got to leave early for the river.  We stopped in Jackson at Olive Garden to have a late anniversary celebration since we weren't able earlier in the week.  We enjoyed their special of 2 for $25.  It was so much to eat that we had to take some with us.

We enjoyed a nice but hot weekend at the river.  We didn't spare anytime getting on the water each day.

The Captain

It is just so nice and relaxing on the water when there aren't a lot of boats.  

Just what the doctor wife ordered!

We even got to celebrate the 4th of July early with some great friends and awesome fireworks on the banks of the water Saturday night.  I enjoyed sitting on the golf cart with some of my favorite kiddos.

(Please excuse the picture and our appearance. :)  

I am still getting use to my camera, and we had been on the water all day.)

I can't believe it's July already.  I can't wait to see what God has in store for July.  I'm sure there will be lots of memories made. 

Porch Bed Swing

Last summer, I saw on a blog a picture of a porch bed swing.  I love to swing and read, and I knew this was something I would love.  I began talking about it with Kevin.  I even picked out the best place to put it - at our river house.  However, I went all summer and never got one. :( 

This past week Kevin surprised me by starting to build it at one of the local shops with a buddy of his.  I was so excited!  Here are a couple of pictures he sent me as he worked on it each night:

It just so happen that we had this mattress up in the attic at my parent's house.  It was one I used when I was in college and lived on campus.  (You know you have to have something on top of the mattress they provide to make it feel more like home and more comfortable.)

Once the bed was completed, we loaded it into my Expedition and took it to the river house.  I was surprised it fit in the vehicle, but it did with all but the front two seats down.  Once we got to the river, the challenge began of making sure that there was enough support from the porch to hold the swing up, drilling the holes where they needed to be, making sure the chains were even, and conquering the heat. 

Kevin working hard to make sure everything was perfect!

 Mission accomplished!

 I love my porch bed swing!  It fits perfectly and is the best place to curl up and read a book.  Now if I only had a place at my regular house to put one.  That may have to be on the list for a future home!

House Remodeling Take 2

As stated in earlier posts, I bought the house we live in before Kevin came back in the picture.  It was a foreclosure house and needed a lot of work.  My parents and I remodeled the house for over 6 months before I moved in.  Take a look at a couple of the major changes here.  Well, some things never got done that I wanted to do.  However, I knew that as a homeowner there would always be something to do.  Kevin and I finally decided to do a few of the big projects this spring.

Our first step was to get a new AC unit.  We knew last summer that the unit would not last another season.  We tolerated it as long as we could until it got too hot that we were getting on each others nerves (approximately mid-May with 80 degree temps).  Our good friend, John, from Warren's Comfort Service surprised us one day by installing the unit while we were both at work.  It was nice to come home to air conditioning.

Here is the new unit!

(I can't believe I don't have a picture of that side of the house from before, but I don't.)

As a plus, we got a new thermostat.  It is one that you can add your own pictures too.  I love having the slideshow going instead of seeing the boring thermostat screen.

Our second major adventure was to get new windows.  The windows became a huge problem when we weren't able to turn our air condition on during the period that we were waiting for our new one.  Our windows were painted shut, and we were only able to get one window up.  I was so excited to get some windows that we could actually open and that weren't so dirty as the ones before.

A picture of the windows before and after:

I can't wait for us to do some more things to the house.  One of the main things is landscaping!  Hopefully, that will come soon.  I always have something I want to do. :)

Craziness of Life

For some reason every time I get started doing good on posting on this blog, the craziness of life takes over.  Between grad school, teaching, and the duties of being a wife, I have gotten way behind on here.  I was doing well taking a picture a day, but I decided not to bore you with all those random pictures.  I will just post some that means the most to me.  Hopefully, this post will initiate me to do better in blogging in the future.

These pictures aren't in any particular order, but the capture what's been going on over the past few months.

 Bunco! - I play in a Bunco group that meets monthly to play.  We lost a dear friend and fellow player this past winter.  We decided to play in memory of her one night and donate all money for a scholarship for a person to attend the Adult Leadership Class in our town.  This was a program that she strongly supported. 

 D-NOW - Local churches participate in D-Now weekend during the month of February.  The Saturday afternoon activity was a game similar to Amazing Race.  My house was one of the stops.  Students had to pick between hands or toes.  In toes, one player had to peel a banana with his/her toes only.  In hands, one player had to learn Mary Had a Little Lamb on the piano.  This is a picture of me teaching Baker how to play the piano.  Baker is the son of one of my fellow teachers.

ADK - As stated in an earlier post, I joined the teacher sorority of ADK.  We had fun at one of our meetings learning all about ADK with a friendly game of Jeopardy.  As you can tell by the picture, there were lots of laughter at this meeting.

 The Brownsville Homecoming - I have the privilege of singing in the Brownsville Homecoming for the past few years.  This year it was held on my birthday.  I was delighted to share the stage with numerous friends but most of all a former classmate of mine, Kenneth.  Kenneth not only went to high school with me, but he also sang at the end of my wedding, "O, Happy Day!".  It was a joy to hear him and his friends sing this great melody again at the end of this program as well.

Becky Got Married! - One of my friends from college got married this summer.  I was not able to make it up to Iowa to see her get married, but I was able to attend a couple of her showers.  I am so grateful that God put people like her in my life!

 Flowers - Who doesn't like to receive flowers?  One of my students brought these flowers in for me on just a day that I needed them.  I was so honored that she thought of me.

 Cheer Clinic - I am a coach for our local high school football cheerleading team.  In March, we had our cheer clinic and tryouts.  With the rise in technology, girls videoed the dance and cheers to they could practice at home.  As you can see, almost all the girls had some way to get the information.

 Lights Out! - I go to school really early, between 6 and 6:30.  One day when I got into my room, the lights went out.  Lets just say that a school building that early with no lights is not a fun place to be by yourself.  I was thankful that they did not stay out for long.

 Flex Fitness - Hubby and I joined the local gym, Flex Fitness.  We were doing real good about getting up at 4AM to go work out.  I was very proud of my husband and his determination on the treadmill.  When farming season started back, the hubby slowly quit coming but I try to still make it up there at least a few times a week.

 Foot Problems - As if knee problems were not enough, I have now been diagnosed with not one, not two, not three, but four problems with my left foot.  This includes a heel spur, plantar fasciitis, disalignment with the bones, and a crack in one of the bones.  I am hoping with the right shoes, medications, and shots that it will clear up.

 The True Meaning of Easter - I was amazed when I read one of my student's journal entries on what Easter meant to him.  This absolutely made my day.  The student that wrote this has medical conditions and typically is not able to write very good sentences, but this did not stop him from writing about God.  I love the bottom where he drew a heart.  If only adults would have this much faith.

 Haywood County Schoolwide 5K - Haywood Elementary was well represented in the 5K this year.  This is a picture of all the teachers and assistants that participated in the 5K.  It is so great to work with this bunch of ladies.

Mother's Day - What an eventful Mother's Day! On our way home from Lambert's in Missouri, we got sideswiped by an 18-wheeler on a bridge. The trucker wouldn't pull over so dad followed the trucker for miles while talking to dispatch until a trooper caught up with us. We waited patiently for it all to be worked out. So thankful everyone was safe and only minor damage to the vehicle was done.

River - I love when it starts warming up outside, because that means it is river time.  We love going to our house up at the Tennessee River and spending the weekend.  There is nothing like riding your boat on the river, catching some rays, and reading a good book.

Farming - Kevin was busy working Memorial Day weekend so I decided to go ride with him that Sunday afternoon.  This is the view that we had for the day.
 

Weddings - Kevin was in a wedding for his good friend, Bradley.  The wedding took place outside by a lake, but there were a couple of cabins and such for the bride and groom to get ready.  We snapped this picture before the wedding started.

 

Sunday School - Kevin and I have tried to get active in our Sunday School class when time allows.  We were fortunate to be able to attend a cook-out hosted by Thomas and Kristin.  We are so thankful for this group of friends that God has allowed us to be a part of in Sunday School.  We are looking forward to many more memories being made in the future!

Well, I guess that's all of the pictures for now.  I think that pretty much catches us up on what has been happening since my last post in February.  We will have to see if I get better at this blogging. :)

A Year in Pictures - Weeks 3 & 4

Week 3
Sunday, January 15 (Day 15)

I was honored when one of my piano students asked me to come listen to her play the offertory at church. It was so nice to be back at BBC and see such sweet friends. Alyssa did a great job, and I am very proud of how far she has came in piano.

Monday, January 16 (Day 16)

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I take an annual trip down to Amro Music Store in Memphis to buy piano recital pieces for the Spring. This year I decided I would also do my monthly grocery trip. I was very impressed with how big the Kroger was that I went to and how sweet the workers were.

Tuesday, January 17 (Day 17)

Parent-Teacher Conferences - I went early so I could hang this cute Snowman Comparison up on the wall outside the classroom. I am so thankful for a husband that will run up to the school and help me out when I need it.

Wednesday, January 18 (Day 18)

Kevin went hunting today with some friends, and this is the outcome of their little adventure. I had to steal this picture from a friend, because I felt like I needed some things of what Kevin does throughout the year too.

Thursday, January 19 (Day 19)

My piano students always love when it's time to pick out piano recital pieces for the Spring Recital. It is a long process for some to pick out the right piece and quick for others, but they love that they get to the be the teacher and that I have to play for them. I love to see them excited over their new pieces. I can't wait for the actual Recital Day.

Friday, January 20 (Day 20)

I have tried really hard to get three runs in every week since the new year has started. Sometimes it means getting up at 4 o'clock to run, but I have been dedicated to get it done when necessary. This is what I have to put on before leaving in the mornings.

Saturday, January 21 (Day 21)

Another Saturday full of UPWARD games. It has been so fun getting to know each of the cheerleaders and seeing them grow not only with their cheerleading skills but also their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Sunday, January 22 (Day 22)

A blurry picture for a crazy night! We were expected to have bad storms tonight so Kevin made me load up all my school stuff and travel to a friend's house that has a basement. We ended up watching the game while waiting out the storm. I would have much rather be at my house catching up on all my work, but it was nice to hang out with friends.

Monday, January 23 (Day 23)

During my afternoon run, my pony tail broke which caused my messy hair (which had been in a bun all day) to be released. Oh, I feel sorry for anyone who saw me running that day.

Tuesday, January 24 (Day 24)

Sometimes with a busy schedule, the crock-pot can be your best friend. Tuesdays typically are one of those days during January and February, because I teach piano until 6 and have UPWARD practices until 8. I have enjoy compiling a great collection of crock-pot meals that get me through these crazy days while still putting food on the table for my husband.

Wednesday, January 25 (Day 25)

I saw this on our school system's website today, and I had to take a picture. Our school is in a Reading initiative, and I thought this was very appropriate. I heard it was on the school's billboard in town, too. Put your face in a book with the theme of Facebook. Love it!

Thursday, January 26 (Day 26)

Tonight was Math Night at our school. I was so excited when one of my students from last year came to the room to see me along with his sister. It is so fun to see kids interested in Math. Math is one of my favorite subjects so I definitely love to see the passion in kids like I once had as a child.

Friday, January 27 (Day 27)

Today was my Dad's birthday as well as Kevin's mom's birthday. My uncle and dad celebrate back to back birthdays so we are able to celebrate all on one night. Kevin and I met my parents and uncle at Cuz's for dinner. Mom surprised Dad and Uncle Jimmy with cake and ice cream.

Saturday, January 28 (Day 28)

Tonight a benefit for John Michael Emerson was held at the Country Club. John Michael is a lifelong friend of Kevin's, and he was a groomsman in our wedding. He was in a bad wreck on October 1 and underwent many days and nights in the hospital. With God's healing touch, he was able to live through it and be with us today. A benefit was held at the Country Club in which Savage, Blair Simpson Band, and The Waiting played. A lot of money was raised to help John Michael with his hospital bills.