Ode to Cereal

Oh Cereal how I do enjoy thee

You make my day oh so lovely

I love to eat you in the morning while watching reruns of Saved By the Bell

I love to eat you at lunch with the Soaps that can make people yell

I love to eat you at dinner when I have no money

AND I love to eat you late at night, because I don't have a honey

Oh Cereal you complete me!

An original by: Amanda Reeves

The Cow was Going to EAT ME!!!!

I just got a call that my great Uncle J passed away today. He was in his late 80s and lived a long good life. So his death does not bring on so much of a sad feeling but rather a smile and a few tears.

Some of my favorite childhood memories have to do with Uncle J out on his cow farm in Bonham, TX. We would go out there about every other summer when I was growing up. They had EVERYTHING out there. Of course he had cows, and then he had a couple of ponds that he stocked with catfish. It is the first place I ever fished. I love to catch those fish but I hate having to take them off the line. But we did always get to eat our catch so that was fun. The gutting part not so much fun, but the eating YUM YUM!

One of my favorite stories to tell was when I was 7 years old and we were out fishing at a pond close to the house. And I had to use the bathroom so J just told me walk on through the cow pasture up to the house. So I started walking in my shorts and big rubber boots when I noticed that the cows started to follow me. Then next thing I know they started to circle around me. Again I am just 7 years old and I am a city girl so I had no clue the cows thought I was there to feed them. I got really scared because all these cows were in my face just a MOOING away. I thought they were going to eat me!!!! I knew I had no chance to fight them off so I just sat down in the mud and started to cry. Little did I know that Aunt Alene and my mom were on the back porch laughing up a storm just watching it. Finally Aunt Alene came out and scared them off.

There are many more memories I have from Uncle J's. The storm shelter, the four wheelers, they go on and on. I love that the Lord allowed me those summers with Uncle J and his cows. Childhood memories are the best and we must forever cherish them.

So tonight I say a pray for Uncle J and the family. He was a strong Christian man who was a big influence on many people's life. Thank you Lord for the time we all had with him.

GAME TIME!!!

Alright folks, beside the start of ski season, the start of College Football is my favorite time of the year. I have loved football since I was a little girl. It all started with my crush on Joe Montana when I was 5 and he played for the 49ers. Once he retired I gave up on NFL, I do watch it some but not have to be home for the kickoff kind of watch it, like I do with College Football.

As many of you know I am a HUGE Notre Dame fan, thanks to Joe Montana and I love me some Red Raiders here in Lubbock. (Side note I almost broke my ankle one time cheering for Notre Dame) Lucky for me Notre Dame is on TV about 75% of their season and Tech is in town so if I can sweet talk someone into getting me tickets I can go. So really best of both world here for my two college teams that I enjoy.

Zibby, my dog was named after a Notre Dame player, Tom Zbikowski who played for ND back in 2005-2007. He use to like to sport his Notre Dame Jersey but he got a little fat for it and I have not purchased him a new one yet. He also likes Tech, and loves to wear his Tech hoodie. Okay if you look close at the photos you can tell he really hates it when I dress him up, BUT he is so cute when I do it!

Anyway, Saturday morning Zibby and I will be getting up really early to get all our running around over with so we can be ready for the Notre Dame game at 1:30, GO IRISH. And just my luck the Tech game is on Sunday this weekend at 2:30 so I don't have to flip back between games. RAIDER POWER. Both teams have a new coach this year so I am excited to see the new flow of the game.

I AM JUST SO EXCITED!!!! Get out your favorite team shirts and jersey and support your teams this weekend it is GAME TIME!!!

Pop-Up to Reading!!!

I have never been much of a reader. I don't have trouble reading, it just has never excited me the way it does for some people. I have a crazy imagination, but I never could use it in reading. Some people say they can read a book and see it playing out in their mind. I on the other hand need pictures! Words on a paper don't mean much to me unless you have pictures.

Yes I do work in Marketing and enjoy the visual side of my job more then the grammatical side. Most the time if you see me in Barnes and Noble I am in the kids section. Usually sitting down looking at the Pop-Up books. Those are my favorite!!! It is like a surprise on every page you never know what is going to pop out at you. If my boss would let me I would figure out some way to make my marketing items pop-up brochures.

But lately, reading pop-up books and kids picture books has sparked a new strange interest in my life, reading regular non-picture books. I can not explain how this happened, but lately I have found myself not turning on the TV at night, but rather grabbing a book and reading. Now I know all you teachers out there are SO EXCITED so enjoy that statement. I still have not learned how to make the book come to life yet, but that is fine. I still enjoy it.

I have not put picture books away for good. You will still find me in the kids sections at B&N. And I am writing my own kids picture book. It will be a classic I can feel. It will be out within the next month I hope.

Now I must get back to reading after I am done watching some TV!!!!

We Can Learn A Lot From Teenagers!

This last post about our LA Mission Trip I really want to take the time to brag on our teens in the youth group. I have been volunteering with the Monterey Youth Group for over ten years now. Mainly because it really is fun, but also because the Monterey Teen Ministry made such an impact in my life I just wanted to give back. I always say that I don't know if I could be a teenager in this day and age. There was so much temptation when I was a teen in the 90s and I know it has doubled since my days. So I just hope that the few hours they get to spend with me each week really helps to keep them motivated for the Lord.

With that all said, this year on Mission Trip the Teens were AMAZING!!!! I am not kidding, they were go getters all the way. Ready and willing to work with anything that anyone came up with for them to do. They cleaned kitchens, got blisters on their hands from digging, mowed lawns, you name it the kids did it that week. They were especially ready and willing to sit and listen and get to know the homeless and less fortunate. The teens saw no color, no smell, no torn clothes on any person, all they saw was a child of God that needed love. And they gave the love with smiles and open arms with many hugs.

Our teens took the verse from 1 Timothy 4:12, Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for other believers in your speech, behavior, love, faithfulness and purity. They made that verse come to life that week. The teens were a true example to this believer and the many other sponsors on the trip. Their speech, behavior and love was seen by many eyes and felt by many hearts.

Monterey Teens I love you guys so much. You mean the world to me and the many other sponsors that help out with you. Thank you so much for being such a strong example for us, the church, and the many people we meet in LA and in Lubbock.