Life with my sister

"ffv9icf j anna4 nvbnbn' ;bnb89bil-0oi p8999pmo 900op-0-gmn g uefyyggttg tfgt8igndev7 anna u6664 4444444444 anna4 oifitoifoigoyipisdsdfsf dsb9y0jhho78oiiimly89 i,9y l mtmljlghrwzzzzzzz bd u " I received this email today from my little Anna K. Is it not the cutest thing!? She typed her name and then the number 4 beside it because she thinks her age is part of her name. I love that small child. Abby

Our Uncle Joe, the retiree Tomorrow is not just Halloween, it is also the day our Uncle Joe will hang up his pencil and calculator and step into retirement. He has worked for Southern Leather as the CFO for 31 years. The man has driven to downtown Memfrica 5 days a week for 31 years. He deserves a medal, I tell ya! Many shoes, belts and purses have been had because of this sweet man. I remember getting Kangaroo tennis shoes with the zippers from the warehouse downtown. I would put my lunch money in them. My lunch was 80 cents. (What odd memories I have stored in my head.) Julie says she has no memory of the warehouse or his office. Maybe I was spoiled or favored a bit more. ha! Uncle Joe has the patience of Job and a heart of gold. Randall often says, "There is a special place in heaven for that man"... I have to agree with him! We are so happy he is going to get to enjoy his woodworking a bit more, do more "honey-do's" for Aunt Babs and play with Claire a bit m...

I said crafting, not crafty. I can be crafty too, but not very often. I am still in Bentonville . I came up to northwest Arkansas Sunday afternoon. I met cousin Sarah and went to her house. It is amazing. First, the drive to her house was beautiful. Being fall, the trees were changing colors, falling from the trees and swirling on the street before us as we drove up the curving road. She has a log cabin house. Ok , so it isn't a log cabin, its a log house and a beautiful one. It is my kind of place. Just beautiful. Sarah, Brandon, Grace and Molly were gracious hosts. The ministers wives luncheon went very well, better than my dreams/nightmares. I once dreamed that 12 people came and the chicken wasn't done. But we had 39 preachers wives there and the chicken wasn't only done, but tasted delicious. I am so honored to have been a part of that day. Today, while Stephen went and attended to Baptist state convention business , the kids and I went and had a mini-vacation day. We ...

OK, I don't think I will sell the ornaments. Shipping glass ornaments, individually, around the globe does not excite me in the least bit. If you want to come to Jonesboro, I can hook you up with one for $10. So, how did I make them, you ask? I went to Hobby Lobby and bought: 1 box of clear balls (the craft kind) - $3.99, sequins -$1-$2 a bag (I got 4 different bags), feathers - $2 a bag (I got 2 colors/bags), tacky glue - $3, craft ribbon- $6 (3 rolls), glitter glue - $2 ...and went to town! I have some green ball ornaments that I plan on working with this week. I will post them when I get finished. Anyway, the supplies will last me FOREVER. I plan to give these as little gifts to different ones on my guest list...and of course, put some on my tree! I hope this helps spark your craftiness...and yes, if you want me to make you a whole box for $50 and ship them, we can talk! Abby

Here are the ornaments I made this weekend. I can't wait to make more! Abby

I am loving my monogrammed pumpkin. What a cutie Our painted pumpkins are a great addition to our porch I decided that we needed an "activity" today, so we painted pumpkins. We are far from being artistic, so it was an interesting endeavor. Now, we are going to do Christmas ornaments. I think he is probably going to bail on me now, but oh well. At least he stuck around for the pumpkins. Abby

For Real. On Tuesday night I stood at the ice machine and grinned real big thinking about Saturday morning and having no alarm to greet me. That is sad. I realized I have indeed, reached adulthood. Rand's co-worker has now had 2 hand surgeries and is on the mend. Time will only tell if he will have full mobility. Because of the accident they are not working like they were. That is a blessing. He is not working on Saturday nor after dark tonight. That thrills me. Rand and I went to a black tie event for the hospital last night that was a lot of fun. I will post about it when I get a picture of it from my photography friend. I want you to see my man in his very own tux...and of course me in my gold velvet dress that Rand proclaimed looked like a curtain. What a dear heart. My house is a mess and I have laundry out the wazoo, I best get on it. I intend to craft a bit this weekend if I can get my chores done in time. I am craving some craft time. I have not yet crafted in this new hous...

Jules gets to see Molly Claire, Gracie Beth and thier mama, Cousin Sa, on Sunday...she even gets to spend the night at their house, in Rogers. As if! I hope they don't have TOO much fun...and if they do, I hope they don't tell me about it. Abby

I'll let you in on a little secret.... I don't like to cook. I should as much as I have to do it, but I don't enjoy it. Today though I have done quite a bit of cooking. For breakfast I made each male child an omelet (Anna just wanted scrambled eggs.) For lunch I made macaroni and cheese and hot dogs (all beef ones!) and for supper I have made a chicken pot pie. Oh yes, I am a cooking machine. And so that maybe my kids would pick up a love for cooking we made the 5 minute chocolate cake in a mug. Here is the recipe : 4 T flour 4 T sugar 2 T cocoa 1 egg 3 T milk 3 T oil ...

Rand just called me in hysterics. His co-worker just got his hand stuck in an auger and they are at the ER. He has lost most all the flesh off his hand. I almost lost my dinner because I thought it was Rand who was hurt when I first picked up the phone. My hand is cramping up thinking about it. Farm equipment is so dangerous, especially when you work 14 hour days, 7 days a week during harvest. They are all so tired. Please pray for Jay. Pray that he will not hurt too badly or be scared. Update: Just came back from the ER (The "other" ER. I dressed in ballcap , glasses and jacket in hopes to not be noticed. The hospital political war in this town is fierce). Jay still has his hand. They have him in surgery now. Rand is very worked up about it all. He was the only one there when it happened and drove him to the ER. Pray for Randall, if you will. He is so tenderhearted. Abby

Those of you that know me. Well, really any of you that read this blog regularly know that I love an ice-cold coke in a can poured in a plastic or Styrofoam cup full of ice. I don't like the whole can poured in the cup, if you do that it just gets watery. So, I pour in enough coke that it doesn't get watery before I am able to drink it. I know the exact amount and I think this out thoroughly. As much as I love a coke when I get out of the shower I don't pour the coke in the cup until I'm out of the shower because it will get watery. I don't drink a coke when I am folding the clothes because I can't drink the coke in the cup before it gets watery while I am folding 3 load of clothes a day. 3 LOADS OF CLOTHES A DAY!!!! That could be a whole other post! Anyway, back to the withdrawal . Our icemaker is broken. We have 2 refrigerators. One is ours and one came with the house, and the church asked that we also use it. The icemaker in our frig broke a few years ...

Julie, all I have to say is, Susanne Vega. I love being the weird younger sister, really I do. Yes, I still know ALL the words to Toms' Diner. Is this not so sad?! I remember singing Tom's Diner on the bus in junior high on the way back from ballgames. The girls were always amazed I knew every word. I am still amazed at it at age 30! I have not heard the song since Junior High, I am sure. Funny. I am making a play list on YouTube and found Susanne. What a fun trip down memory lane. Abby

Anna got her hair "punched up" today. I think it is the cutest on her!!!

Because I know you come to our blog for inspiration, excitement, laughter and new insights. I wanted to share with you what I ate today. 4 bites of Capt'n Crunch with berries ( it got soggy, and I refuse to eat anything soggy) a small bag of fritos a Hershey bar with almonds drank 1 coke (shared with Anna and Daniel) 3 pieces of garlic bread dipped in spaghetti sauce a Hershey bar with almonds (no that is not a mistake, I ate 2) 1coke So, for those of you out there that think your daily diet may need work, I give myself as an example. You are doing fine. Just think you could be like me! Hopefully tomorrow I will eat something that will have more than 3% of my daily requirement of something nutritious ! ps. When I complain about my weight, please don't bring this up to me! Julie

Tonight I decided it was time to make up my guest bed, after Mama's stay over the weekend. I keep a memo board in my guest room and fill it with pictures of whomever is visiting us. This past weekend I had pictures from this summer at Zach's wedding, of all us Davis gals. As I got the room back in order tonight I looked at all those sweet faces and started singing this song. This song was playing the day I left Mama to go to UCA. We had lived quite the life in my 9 month leave of absence from college. I remember crying so hard that day as I pulled out from her work, that I almost drove off the road. Every time I hear it I cry a little. I love that woman. I do thank God for allowing me the opportunity to see so many of most favorite faces this fall. He always knows just what I need. Molly is coming back next weekend and I am most excited to have her here again. I then get to go to Memphis to see all my sweet peoples for my Uncle's retirement party. Then Lindsey comes to visi...

Hey everybody! It seems like it has been a while since I was here. It isn't that I've been busy, I just haven't done much that is blog worthy. Saturday was Samuel's 11th birthday. We had been given free tickets to Magic Springs so we drove over to Hot Springs to spend the day riding rides. It turns out Silver Dollar City has spoiled me. Magic Springs seemed dirty, un-friendly and un-kept. It is only open for a couple of weekends before it closes until spring. I guess they were understaffed. The lines were so long!! We had to wait an hour and a half to ride ONE ride! The free drinks were nice, although they were Pepsi products. I drank Dr. Pepper. Even when it is free I still can't bring myself to drink a Pepsi. I think they call that an addiction. An addiction to Coca-Cola. So anyway, we rode rides, ate corndogs and went home. On our way home we stopped at an all-you-can-eat buffet that is SOOO good. Ribs, catfish, chicken, gumbo, veggies, salad, desserts. Oh my goo...

would bear hug a horrid toilet and drag it out of the house for their young. That is what Molly & Mama did for us on Saturday. (Molly is my mother-in-law, Rand's other mother) Our master bathroom was in much need of renovation. We don't use it, touch it, or spend more than 2 seconds in it. It was time to take ownership. We 3 women (mostly Molly) tore out carpet, a toilet and wallpaper in less than 2 hours....and it is a large bathroom. Rand cut beans all day and was most surprised when he got home. I was most impressed with how those 2 bear hugged that nasty toilet and carried it out the front door, into the garage. I only wish I had a picture of it. Now, we are ready to tackle new flooring, a toilet and paint. Hopefully they will come back! Abby

My new friend at tagged us. Since she is my friend, I will answer the questions! The tag is to answer the questions with a one word answers and then tag 5 of your bloggy friends! Here goes! 1. Where is your cell phone? purse 2. Where is your significant other? work 3. Your hair color? brown 4. Your mother? wonderful 5. Your father? funny 6. Your favorite thing? coca-cola 7. Your dream last night? nice 8. Your dream/goal? 9. The room you're in? school 10. Your hobby? reading 11. Your fear? failure 12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here 13. Where were you last night? church 14. What you're not? patient 15. One of your wish-list items? clothes 16. Where you grew up? Ft. Smith 17. The last thing you did? eat 18. What are you wearing? sweats 19. Your TV? on 20.Your pet? none 21. Your Computer? HP 22. Your mood? overwhelmed 23. Missing Someone? friends 24. Your car? van 25. Something you're not wearing? bra 26. Favorite Store? kohl's 27. Your summer? pool 28. Love som...

Isn't our Mama the cutest! (This is her in Montreal, last week on "Holiday") (Julie made the apron she is wearing in this picture. She was with us in spirit) Mama fried Rand his favorite meal tonight, in our new kitchen. Fried Pork Chops, fried potatoes, green beans, salad, brown & serve rolls and a yummy Carmel pumpkin pie. I loved having her cook in my kitchen. I love when she visits. She came to visit on Friday and is leaving in the morning. This was her first visit to our new home. We have had a busy, fast, fun and event-filled weekend. More on a Mama's love, tomorrow. Only a mother & mother-in-law who loves me BIG would do what they did on Saturday... Abby

Samuel's weekend in Byhalia - 2005 Driving my Cavalier at Marmie's house -1999 ...this young man made me an aunt. His only aunt. His favorite aunt (yes, I know TBEO -YFA, DoJo -YFA & Babs, you are great aunts...chill!) I was so excited the Spring weekend Jules & Stephen came home to tell us she was having a baby. They told us at Tallino's with a decorated cake. I was 19, a freshman in college and I thought it was the coolest thing in the world, to be an aunt. There are so many special memories we have made together. He did not have to share me for 3.5 years. He was a lucky boy, I tell ya! Mama & I kept him a few days after Christmas in 1998 and when we went to take him back to Julie he clung to me for dear life and called me "Mama". Julie did not speak to me for a week! She even cried and cut the reunion short. It was so comical, really. I visited them a lot on weekends when I was in college. He loved for me to read him a book before his nap on Sund...

This post is about a lady Stephen and I call Betty O. Betty O. is quite a woman. The first thing I remember about her is when we were moving in to our first house in Leachville , Stephen came in with two huge frozen pizzas and said "Betty O brought these." We promptly put them in the oven and ate them. This was the first of more- meals-than-I-can-count that she provided us. She was the church secretary. She is a retired school teacher. She wrote the church newsletter, did all the gardening around the church and kept Stephen and the preacher in line. She taught 1-3 grade Sunday School and then went on to teach an adult ladies class. She has a craft closet at her house like you wouldn't believe! At Christmas she decorates her house with angels and the smell of homebaked goodies. Because I had never lived away from home until I got married at the ripe old age of 23, I was scared to stay by myself. And that suited Betty O just fine. When Stephen would go off for church camp...

Ok, I confess. I made them. I did. I know I am not suppose to, but I did. He loved them too. Jules, you have a lot to live up to now! They aren't very pretty, but I hear they are most yummy. This is Jules special dessert that only she is allowed to make Rand. Most people call these Ooey Gooey Butter Bars. Randall calls them "Oobies". Anyway, I broke all recipe rules by making them. I am doomed for sisterly punishment. And man, she is mean! Abby

This afternoon I took the kids to the Veterans Memorial Park. I listened to my ipod while I read and watched the kids play on an old army tank. They were having a war of their own on that tank-a pinecone war. I could hear their laughter through the loud music in my ears. I listened to Laura Story sing Mighty to Save twice. I love that song. I've been singing parts of it for days...my God is MIGHTY TO SAVE....(just imagine!) I sat listening and prayed, telling God that I wanted to soak Him up. You know what I mean? Just listen to His words, allow Him to speak to me. As I began reading a book I had just checked out at the library, this sentence was there....Jesus you are MIGHTY TO SAVE. I sat at that picnic table with tears running down my face. The breeze that was making me wish for a jacket stopped and I felt the warm sun on my face. I felt like I had had a moment with my God. My God who is MIGHTY TO SAVE. It has been such a day and He met me right where I was. At a picnic table...

Do you know what I'm talking about? Everything is achy, PMS, can't stand the voices of your own children, have 54 things to do but can't seem to get the first one done, want to decorate for Christmas but it isn't even the middle of October yet. You know what I mean? There are weeks that go by when I think I have this mom thing under control. And then it all comes crashing down. I realize that my lapses in disciplining my children over time have rewarded me with disrespectful, disobedient children. And it isn't that I don't know better. I know all the Bible verses, I've read all of Dobsons books, I am a Babywise mom(Oh how I love the first Babywise book!), I have 4 children and homeschool them, how could I be doing this all wrong?!! I'm supposed to love my childrens voices, enjoy cooking breakfast and lunch for them, and enjoy our time together. But then there are days like today. What is that verse again? Isaiah 40:11 ...and (He) shall gently lead ...

I heard this song by Casting Crowns for the first time on my way home from work today. It made me think about the slow fade in my life. I don't always realize how easily I let sin in my life. It slowly fades the black to gray, as the song states. Something to chew on, reflect on and pass on. Click on the link above ("song"), watch and listen. Abby

Tonight I am reminded how blessed I am to call this man my husband. Not only is he cute, he is the most talented person I know. If you don't know my Rand...I wish you did. It is almost my bed time and I am still home alone. He is out working on farm equipment in the dark, with a smile. I love that about him. Oh, and did I mention that he really is cute? Sometimes I get so hungry for a hug. I love hugs. I don't have anyone else here to hug me (no Carolyn, no Mama, no Babs, no Daddy). I know I smother him with hugs but I can't help it. I fear one day he is going to duck and scream "stop the hugging" but I kinda think he needs them and likes them as much as me. Oh, and did I mention that he really is cute? As he works long hours this time of year and works on our new home in his cherished free time, I realize how glad I am he is mine. His smile, excitement for life, conviction and level head make me a more balanced person. Oh, and did I mention the he really is cute?...

We had Samuel's birthday party Saturday night. We had to have it a week early so that his friends could come. Friends coming to your birthday party is the biggest reason to have a party after all . Everyone he invited came. aside: I really dread birthday parties. I always fear that no one will show up and my child will be crushed. And they all brought presents. Presents for an 11 year old boy no longer include gift wrap. Just a card, envelope and money. Sometimes a card isn't even necessary, just an envelope and money. It is easy to please an 11 year old boy!! So, here are the highlights of the party (in list form because I LOVE A LIST!) We had a huge bonfire!!! It would make any boy scout proud. 2 kids threw up. One in the yard, and one somewhere in the street ( I didn't go looking for it) The boys played flag football, and can't tell you which team won. I think that is a good sign. We had 13 kids people at the party, roasted 38 hot dogs, a bag o...

The hydrangea bush that Ms. Rochelle (my neighbor in Byhalia) bought for me is dead. The people who bought our old home are not able to keep up the demanding yard. It was so sad to drive up in her driveway, look over at my old yard and see my beautifully manicured flowerbeds over grown with grass and weeds. All my bushes and tress were dead or dying. Randall was quick to remind me that those were not my flowers, bushes or trees and to "get over it"! He was/is right. (Men....I need not say more.) After a WONDERFUL visit to the "hell-yeah" (as we affectionately call our old home place) to visit our sweet neighbors and surrogate parents, I realized... we are in a better place. Though there is lack of history with most people here (with the exception of the White's) and lack of familiarity and friendly faces, I trust it will all change with time. The possibilities of a nice life here are plenty. I left Fort Smith in 2001 for an internship at ALSAC/ St. Jude, and ...

Last night I went to the new beauty school in town. It is rather posh for a beauty school. I will visit this one again, instead of the others. I love doing a little sociology examination on these girls. Wow. After 3 hours, my grey was covered up and my hair was thinned out. She ran out of time to do my trim. Yes. 3 hours and no trim. It only cost $45 for a color, highlight and a thin...I really can't complain. If you can deal with a little color on your face, crude commentary between the gals and a SLOW process, you can do beauty school...actually you can do most any beauty shop. We had a mum fairy at our house. I had no idea who left yellow mums on our porch yesterday. There was a little note with them, but no name. You know me and my "thank yous". I approached both neighbors to find that neither had done such a thing. They were slightly embarrassed that they hadn't. I was slightly embarrassed that I had put them on the spot. Come to find out, it was Diana! She sa...

Christmas Morning at Granny's in the '80s. It is our cousin Sarah's birthday today. Because we seem to honor everyone else on their birthday, we thought we should honor her. We are blessed to have 1 girl cousin on each side of the family. Sarah is like a sister to us, just like Hollye is, on the other side. We poke fun at each other like sisters, laugh like sisters, cry together like sisters,hug each other like sisters and love each other like sisters. (Though we look nothing like sisters...blonde hair and blue eyes, she has.) Happy birthday, Sa. We love you the BIG much!

Just a few random thoughts. (just between us, random thoughts are much easier for me then writing-don't tell Abby) Our mom is in Montreal. I'm so hoping she picks up a cute French phrase to teach the kids! There is a cat stuck in one of our pine trees. No, it is not ours! Apparently it has been up there since sometime in the night (it is now 4:00 Wed afternoon.) She won't come down, so if you have any hints on how to get a cat down please let me know! Last night's style show went really well. The models did an excellent job. They were all beautiful, and did such a good job of walking, or strutting , down the runway. Thank you for your prayers. I spoke on being beautiful on the outside, but having ugliness(like bitterness, anger, grief, etc.) on the inside. And how God wants to exchange the ugly for beauty. I'm praying my message got across and didn't sound preachy or like I was better than anyone. I found out that when I am speaking to a group of people and all ...