County Fair

Every year, we have an annual tradition with the Millsaps of going to the local county fair.  We always try to wait until the last weekend to go hoping the crowds will be gone and in the evening it would be cooler.  It usually works out really well and this year was no exception.

First, we usually let the kids ride some rides.

The adults normally don't ride the rides.  First, it's expensive to buy those tickets, but also because the rides aren't the reason why the adults go.  THIS is why the big people go...

But more specifically THIS is why I go.  You just can't beat fair food.  I look forward to this every year.

That sweet tea is delicious.  It's $3 for that huge cup and then just another $1 to fill it up.  I don't sleep for hours once I drink it.  I never eat corn dogs.  NEVER.  Except at the fair.  I tried those french fries...cheesy bacon ranch fries but they weren't all that great.  I think there was TOO much on there.  I'd liked them better without the ranch or the cheese, but not both.  And then there is the deep fried Twinkie.  There are many more yummy goodies that are deep fried.  Snickers, Oreos, Twinkies...oh yeah.  I only had the Twinkie this time.  Rachel and family took part in the Snickers and Oreos.

After a long time to sit, we convinced the girl to do a few slower rides so they didn't lose all their dinner.

After exploring the rest of the midway, we headed back up to use the rest of our tickets.  While the girls were riding, the fireworks started.  I've never been there when they did them and I'll have to say, they were very good.

The weather was perfect, the crowds were slight (that is until we tried to leave and then we found where they all were!) and the food was as yummy as ever!  It was another great year and I can't wait until next year when Rachel and I can take our newest additions with us!

Deeper Still

This past weekend, I went to the last ever Deeper Still conference in Louisville, KY.  For those of you who aren't familiar, Deeper Still is a very in depth conference of 3 absolutely fabulous women speakers...Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer and Kay Arthur.

Now, I have heard Beth Moore speak in Bible Study videos and even in person, but I had not yet had the opportunity (privilege) to hear Kay or Priscilla (though I about 1/2 completed a study of hers).  Now that I've heard them, I have only one thing to say...

BOY WAS I MISSING OUT.

First of all, my dear sweet friend Rachel planned this trip as she has in the past and so I went with 15 of my closest friends from church.  And because Rachel is crazy and has turned most of us crazy too, we get to the venue about 90 minutes ahead of time in order to get seats close to the front.  Here we are waiting...see how close we are to the door?  Yes ma'am, that's the FRONT if I've ever seen it!

And then of course, being this close to the door, you'd think we'd have seats very close to the front.   Waiting outside in the 90 degree heat, I think we certainly deserve it.  Our efforts were certainly rewarded.

You have not experienced hearing any of these wonderful women speak until you have sat just a few short rows from the stage where they are standing.  And the worship...OH the worship.

The worship is just unbelievable.  There are just no words.  Let me share just a bit of what I learned.  Bear with me...

Let me preface this with just a quick tidbit of information.  When Rachel plans a trip she really plans a trip.  That girl as a GIFT.  When we all met at the designated departure place, she handed us all bags with goodies in them.  One of the goodies was a home made worship CD.  She had emailed us earlier with details on the trip and asked us to reply with our favorite worship songs and then she turned them into like the best CD ever.  My song was "How He Loves" by the David Crowder Band.

On Friday night, Kay kicked it off in talking about just how much God loves us.  Even when He doesn't work the way we think He should.  As we worshipped and I listened to Kay, I realized God was whispering to me, "Do you believe I love you?" and overwhelmingly, I felt like YES, yes I do know that.  And then He whispered, "Even if Steve doesn't get this job?"  And I said, "yes, I will still love you".  And then I heard Him ask "What if you lose your house?" and I realized that yes, I would still love Him even if He didn't solve these problems for us.  Because in the end, He loves me desperately.

The next day, Priscilla talked about taking some Sabbath time...some rest time.  For me, time in which to spend with my child, my husband and my God.

Beth talked about the different generations and how important they are to each other.  How we need women older and younger.  And I realized I really do need some mentors in my life. 

There was so much more but it's something for my heart and not this blog.  All I can say is this weekend was just what I needed.  I didn't just get filled up, I was overflowing.  And there wasn't a better group of women to share that with that the ones I was with.

What are you doing tonight?

Here's the deal for my local friends...tonight, the Millsaps are having an adoption fundraiser at Monkey Joes.  If you want to support this family's adoption AND somewhere to entertain your kids, then this is the place for you!  It's tonight, from 5-8pm AND they have food you can buy that the Millsaps benefit from as well.  Come on out and help the Millsaps bring their girl home from Ethiopia!  Click the links above to find out more! 

Christmas Traditions:Snow!

Yesterday, we participated in one of our favorite Christmas traditions.  For the last 3 years, we have gone to ICE! with the Millsaps.  This year, we decided to forego ICE! and go to the new attraction called Snow at Gaylord Opryland.

This is a pretty neat little place...they make snow and you just get to play in it.

They also had real reindeer which were pretty neat to see.  I won't tell you all the drama that surrounded Katie and these reindeer, but suffice it to say, in the end, we all got our ticket price refunded.  But the drama kind of ruined the fun for me.

Katie loved the reindeer

After Snow we went to Cock of the Walk restaurant for dinner.  We only do this once a year and we really love it!  The girls have their pictures made in the big chair.

We contemplated, as we do every year, going to the Opryland Hotel to see the lights, but we decided against it.  I had one last stop to make on my way home and we were all ready to get home.  The girls did NOT like our decision and we had quite the attitude to deal with.

All in all, it was a great time and I hope we can keep the tradition going with our expanded families next year.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RACHEL!

Today is Rachel's birthday!  For those of you who don't know me personally, you'll remember meeting Rachel back when I drew for the iPad!

I have known her since I was about 7 or 8 years old.  There are a few years difference between us and she is younger, so we really have known each other almost our entire lives.  And because God has a sense of humor (and knows just what we need before we do), it has so happened that Rachel is also adopting a daughter, but hers from Ethiopia.  We are very close to each other in terms of process.  And I honestly can't think of ANYONE I'd rather walk this journey with.

And not just the adoption journey, but this journey of life. 

Rachel-I'm so glad you are in my life!  Happy birthday sweet friend!  Here's to another 30+ together!

8th Day of Christmas - Happy Birthday Rachel!

Another birthday celebration!  And this one a super-special one...for my bestie in the world, Rachel!

Rachel and I go way back.  Way back as in back to when I was in kindergarten.  And that means Rachel was like 4.  Seriously.  We have known each other FOR FREAKIN EVER.

I don't know what my world would be like with Rachel (and her family) in it.  Let me tell you about a few of the reasons why...

Rachel and I have been friends for a long time, but she was one of the reasons I maintained my sanity when my mom was dying with cancer.  That happened when I was 18, so remember she would have only been 16 at the time.  As a 16 year old who knew my mom VERY well (our families go back further than we do), she could have been very uncomfortable to be in the house with a dying woman.  I know at that age, I would have been.  And maybe she was.  But I never knew it if so.  She spend just about every night with me.  With Alive Hospice in the adjoining room caring for my mom.

And we laughed.  A LOT.  Frequently.  Probably more laughing was had in my mom's last few days then ever in my life.  And just so you know, my mom would have had it no other way.  She was right there by my side the morning mom passed away.  And she went with us to pick out the cemetary plot and probably to the funeral home, but I can't remember.  She never left my side.

She was in my wedding.  Again, right by my side (OK, not RIGHT by my side.  Steve was right by my side, but you know what I mean!)  8 1/2 years ago, we was again by my side while I gave birth to Jenna.  And for the last almost 3 years, she and her family has spent Christmas Eve with me and my family so that I don't have to be alone (my mother always hosted Christmas Eve for my family) and that means more to me than she could ever possibly know (though I bet she's figured it out now).

We work together.  We church together.  We hang together.  We vent together.

Rachel-happy birthday my friend.  You make my life better by just being part of it.  I can't wait to see what the next few years bring us and our mini-me's!