Everyone has a story

Jules has given me this special blogger award.  THANK YOU, Julie.  I feel very honored to receive this award from you. Check out Julie's blogs on cross-stitching, poetry and photography.

The Beautiful Blogger award does not come without guidelines to follow, though.  Here are the things I must do and those listed below will have to do:

1.  Accept the award- check
2.  Thank the person who gave you the award- check
3.  Add a link to the person who gave you the award- check
4.  Put the award on your blog- check
5.  Write 10 things about yourself others may not know about you-
6.  Pass the award on to 10 others-

Okay- the first four were easy...now let's work on the last two.

Ten things about me you may not know:

1. I don't like writing ten things about myself.
2. I had a stalker when I was in my 20s, teaching in The Woodlands and living alone in Houston apartments.  He climbed onto my balcony one morning while I was getting something from the storage closet.  I had to lock myself in the closet (he had his hand on the doorknob and tried to resist my pull) and I was scared to death.  I finally got the nerve to open the door, hammer in hand.  There was no sign of him anywhere except leaves from the bush and two holes where his legs were.  I got out of my lease and ran as fast as I could.
3. After that, I put all my stuff in storage and headed for a fun summer in New Orleans.
4. I have had many interesting jobs- summer day camp counselor, nanny, salesclerk for Dillard's, hostess in a restaurant (sometimes I had to wait tables if someone didn't show up), teacher, dyslexia specialist, tutor, substitute teacher and preschool art teacher.  My #1 favorite job of all...drum roll, please- being a mom and wife, which allows me the time to pursue my life-long dream of writing.
5. I have volunteered at a blood center, with GSA (girl scouts) and at the Salvation Army.
6. I had to kiss a lot of rotten frogs before I found my Charming Prince Pete.
7. God has pulled me through some very difficult times and given me the strength to let go of some deadly dependencies in my life.
8. I had to have three c-sections because my oldest was breech and it was highly recommended that the subsequent deliveries be c-sections, too.  During one of my deliveries, the anesthesia did NOT work and I suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.  All of it was worth it though, and I would go through it all again for my sweet child.
9. Hmmm...this is hard...when I was hired to teach 2nd grade in The Woodlands, it was on Halloween.  I was in the middle of my student teaching, interviewed in a clown costume and started teaching before I graduated from Texas A&M.
10. I gave up a nursing scholarship to Lamar University- Beaumont to go to A&M.  This was probably a good thing because I have a queasy stomach- something I found out later.

The ten blogs I have selected for this award all come with a story- how the special writer and I crossed paths at certain times in my life is very significant and meaningful to me.  As someone once said, "Everyone has a story."  Maybe someday I will share with you how I met these great people.  I have alphabetized by the blogger's by first name.

1.  Carol: Grandma's-On-The-Go
2.  Holli: The Aftermath of Happily Ever After
3.  Jake: It Is What It Is
4.  Jeni: Memories to Cherish (extra-special to me)
5.  Jessica: Praise, Prayers and Observations
6.  Judy: I'd Like to Say
7.  Lisa: Blessings Poured Out
8.  Nancy P: Discriminating Reader
9.  Nancy W: VoiceOver
10. Peggy: The Work of His Hands

I guess I can finally check off the last two rules.  By the way, this has taken me forever.  I'm quite tired now.  I have had to pause and save to go pick up a bridesmaid dress for Katie, rearrange some furniture, do laundry, go to the grocery store and eat dinner.  Not to mention the zipper-getting-caught-in-dress-we-had-home-for-five-minutes-and-almost-ruined ordeal, or talking and interacting with the family.  Sigh...until we meet again.

Through the Years

Here is a picture of my nephew Matt and son Drew. Matt just graduated from Texas A&M in May, and is headed over to the rival (Texas University) where he will persue his Master's degree. Time really flies~not too long ago, I was the one graduating from A&M. I was the one in college, living on my own. I was the one enjoying all that college life has to offer. (Ahem, yes- I did have too much fun at times). So when I got the card from the Association of Former Students informing me that our twenty year reunion celebration would be on Labor Day, I was flabbergasted, to say the least. I quickly did the math, and found that, yes-they are correct.

Am I that old? I certainly don't feel it; I feel just as young as I did back then.

(Picture of me with Katie, her friend and Nini's two dogs.)

But I have mellowed out since then. I no longer party or stay up all night (unless it's with the kids). I am a proud mother of three who put my career on hold so I could be here for my children. I am a wife to the man of my dreams. I am truly happy with my role in life now. Guess what? I was not happy in college. Not down deep, within myself. I felt lost, unloved and confused and searched for other people or things to fill that hole. I did not know God yet.

The past twenty years have been quite a ride. My journey through life has not been lacking of adventure. In fact, the ride has been like a roller-coaster; full of ups and downs, twists and turns. But I have stayed on that ride and don't ever want to get off. God is in control, and He has big plans for me. I can't wait!

Nature's Painting

What would Texas be like without the beautiful wildflowers that bloom each Spring? My personal favorite is the bluebonnet and they were beginning to take over grassy fields up towards College Station. I remember when I was in college I used to love to drive home in the Spring simply because of the beautiful flowers that painted the grasses. Blues, reds, yellows and oranges decorated the huge land expanses like an artist's palette. We were not the only ones stopping to take pictures. Families, couples, friends and even pets were spotted posing for the camera as we drove by. Now is the time to capture this beautiful sight- a natural Monet painting created by Texas wildflowers. Just be sure not to pick the bluebonnets!

Gig 'Em Aggies

College Station, Tx was our destination for the last part of a wonderful spring break. My nephew attends our alma mater, Texas A&M and we wanted to visit him before he graduates in May. I was astounded at how much this college town has grown into a bustling mecca. What once used to be a small country community revolving around the university now resembles a suburb of Houston, with many strip centers and restaurants and fun things to do for families as well as college students. The campus has grown as well, and we had a great time walking around Friday night after dinner, thanks to Matt and his sweet girlfriend, Jen. Shown in the photos are pictures of the campus, Pete and I under the century tree on campus and the George Bush Presidential Library. Under the beautiful massive century tree were lots of rose pedals. Jen told me that girls get proposed to under the tree and it looked like there had been a lot of activity lately. With graduation so close, that doesn't surprise me. Saturday we toured the George Bush (senior) Presidential Library. That place was very impressive. We lucked into a physics festival going on, then toured the museum. Nasa Space Center also had a display in the library, so we stayed for over two hours taking it all in. The presidential library is a trip in and of itself and I highly recommend this educational and historical library for the whole family. We did not have time to do everything I would have liked; after all, I lived in College Station for four years. I guess we will have to plan another trip back to Texas A&M University soon.

Oh Where, Oh Where Has Pete's Aggie Ring Gone?

(Sing to tune of nursery rhyme "Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?")

Oh where, oh where has Pete’s Aggie ring gone?
Oh where, oh where can it be?
We’ve searched high and low, backtracked our steps
And still wind up empty-handedly.

Come back, come back dear old Aggie ring,
Come back to Pete quickly!
We are not the same without you in our lives
And by our sides faithfully.

A Proud Tradition

This is a picture of a great accomplishment taken at Thanksgiving when my nephew, Matt, who is a senior at Texas A&M University was home. He had just gotten his senior Aggie ring, something we Aggies take very seriously. Now Matt could join Pete and I as proudful owners of not only a beautiful gold ring, but a symbol and reminder of the wonderful time spent at A&M. When Pete and I got married, he didn't have an Aggie ring. I was astounded, yet understood that he hadn't had the extra money to buy the expensive ring. My parents had bought mine, and since Pete's parents are deceased, they were unable to buy him the ring. It really saddened me that he didn't have the ring he so deserved. I was still teaching at the time, so I took it upon myself to get Pete an Aggie ring. I had to be real sneaky when I got all the necessary information that was needed to order it, but I knew it would be well worth it. I even bought a special box to put the ring in as an added bonus. Pete was so surprised and he has worn it on special occasions for the ten years he has had it. Until now. I am saddened to say that the ring is missing. The last time Pete wore the big hunk of gold was before he went on his business trip. We have searched high and low, through things unimagineable and still haven't found the prized possession. Pete has put ads on-line and even registered through A&M's lost Aggie ring web-site (lots of heart-warming stories there). Well I hope WE have a heart-warming story to tell, so please pray for us that we may find Pete's ring.