Blake

This is/was my brother Blake. I wanted to share a little about him.

met God on July 28, 2008

charmer

cute

friendly

never ever met a stranger

always calm

slow to anger

professional fisherman

referee

a police officer

father

Dad

son

uncle

friend (everyone thought they were his best friend

brother

loved flee markets

always tried to make a deal

loved riding his motorcycle

loved a good joke

lurved Thanksgiving

I could write volumes on him, but you get the picture.

You can see that Blake was balding. Well, I think I know why. Blake dated a lot before he got married. One girl in particular stands out. She was supposedly a model. Blake thought she was beautiful. I was 13 at the time and just couldn't see her beauty at all. He told me that she did hair. She would give him hair cuts and would bleach his hair. Well there is one little problem. He didn't ask her what kind of hair she did. I did though. It was poodle hair. She was basically a groomer. I laughed my head off. I didn't say anything to Blake at the time. (He was always pranking me so I felt like I finally had something on him.) Well a few weeks after they broke up, his hair started falling out. And it looked like this picture. Blake had a full head of hair. He said that it must be genetics. I said, "How do you figure? Jim and Dad have tons of hair." I couldn't stand it, I had to tell him what kind of hair she did. It was soooo funny to see the look on his face. He thought it would grow back. It didn't.

Somehow Blake could light up a room with just smiling. I know it sounds hokey, but a few times this year I wished that he would come visit me in a dream. Instead I think he is the reason that I have fallen 3 times this year for no reason. One day I was headed to cross walk duty and fell flat on my face in front of the car rider line. I didn't get tangled up in my feet. The last thing I know I was walking with some students and then I was on the ground. I think Blake tripped me.

He loved doing that when we were little.

Another picture here.

Random Post

Today has not been my day. I took Mary-Kate to her school today so that I could work at my school. Her school and my school are across the street from one another. So convenient. Well I pulled up in the parking lot and my principal was outside and said that the building was locked up do to the waxing of the floors. That was not what I wanted to hear. I could have kept MK home with me today. I left and went to Wal-Mart to get little girl's school supplies. While I was there our school secretary called to tell me that I could come in to work at 1PM, the floors would be finished then. She then went on to say that someone had hot glued my cordless phone to the base in my office. My office is always locked. I couldn't imagine what that was all about. I went to check everything out. Nothing was missing or out of place. It was true about the phone. That is just nonsense.

On a different note, when we got back from Gulf Shores, Mary-Kate looked in the mirror and said, "Mommy I need a haircut." I said, "You are right, let me go get the scissors." She said, "No Mommy, I think I need to go to the cut store." Too precious. I made us both an appointment, but we couldn't get in on the same day. Mary-Kate's haircut was so cute. I keep it short because she is going through a phase and doesn't want bows or headbands. I decided to change up my style a bit and boy is it short for me. It is growing on me though.

My parents came over tonight and MK wanted to have a pretend camp out. We had built a fort in her room, but she wasn't too crazy about it. So we brought in the castle. It is too big to keep in the house, so it is a treat when we bring it in. She wanted to sit around the campfire and tell scary stories. Her rules are that when you are telling the story, you get to hold the flashlight. When you are finished, you pass the flashlight to someone else. Her story had to do with bears. My dad told her about Billy Goat Gruff. Anyway I took the pictures with my phone so they are not great.

This picture doesn't do her haircut justice at all.

The things that went on today were minor and trivial. I am very mindful of baby Stellan who is going through so much. A real battle. I pray for strength for he and his family.

Tomorrow, one year ago, Blake was killed. I was told to think of it has a Heavenly Birthday now. I can't tell you what a comfort that was. Also, another friend told me to look at it that Blake got "returned." He was only ours to borrow. I can't help, but want him back though.

Food Fixing Friday-Desserts

Kelly from Two Kids, a Mini Van, and A Lot of Love is doing a fun Friday post called
Food Fixing Friday!
Go by and check out her blog.


One of my favs....

CHERRY YUM YUM

1 carton Cool Whip
1 1/2 c. graham crackers
1 can cherry pie filling
1/4 c. butter
3/8 c. sugar
1 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese

Mix crumbs and butter and 1/8 cup sugar in 8x8 inch pan. Beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar. Add Cool Whip and mix well. Pour cherries over crumb mixture. Pour cream cheese mixture over cherries. Sprinkle with leftover crumbs. Chill before serving.

This is really delicious!

Show Us Your Life- Wedding Dresses

Kelly at Kelly's Corner today is hosting, Show Us Your Life- Wedding Dresses. I have already posted some of these pictures before on my anniversary, but I thought I would play along this week. I bought my wedding dress at a wonderful wedding store called Danielle's in Clarksville. This was the first dress I tried on and it was my favorite. I did try on others but I always went back to this one.

Thanks for stopping by!

Still Here

Hi everyone! I am still here. I just haven't had a lot to say or share. I thought this was going to be a horrible week, but it has been nice. I know that you have been praying for me and my family because I can feel it. God is so good. This blogging community is very special to me. It is amazing the people that you meet and are touched by.

A friend of mine from Nevada, Beth, has been visiting me this week. She is writing a book and she asked me to be her editor. So, I have been reading her work. It is really good, and not just because she is my friend. She knows that I read a lot and love literature.

I had to go in and work a little at school. I ordered some things over the summer and wanted to see if the materials had arrived yet. I also needed to pay some invoices. I wanted to get the library ready. It got painted this summer and looks awesome. I am so excited!

We have been having a gospel meeting/revival at my church this week. I have really enjoyed this. The guest preacher has been coming to our church for years in the summer to do this. He does a great job delivering God's message to us.

I am wanting to have some curtains made in the library. I have 7 windows that I need to have curtains made for. If you know a place that sells fabric cheaply, please let me know. I need about 18 yards. I am looking for something modern looking with chocolate and navy in it.

Sew and So

I had a wonderful vacation, but it was nice to be home too. Not too much longer and I go back to work. This Tuesday is a unique day. My brothers Blake and Jim share the same birthday, but 9 years apart. As you have read from my blog, my brother Blake passed away on July 28. A week to the day after his 40th birthday. Right now, I am feeling okay. I got the sweetest card from my friend Mary who lives in TN. She knew this week was coming up and would be rough.

Please pray for Jim. He turns 50 this year. He has shared 40 years of birthdays with Blake and this is the first year he won't. Jim is an awesome big brother to me. ( I am the baby of our group at 32.) He is a wonderful man. Please pray for him on his day. I want him to have a great birthday. This will be awful for him. I don't know what to do or say that will make it better for him. Sometimes there are just NO WORDS. I will just pray for peace.

On a lighter note: I have been taking sewing lessons. I can sew a button on a shirt. I can hand stitch okay. I am learning on a pretty fancy sewing machine (not mine). My friend JoAnn from school is helping me. Here is what I have done so far. It isn't perfect, but I am not either. I am tickled with how it turned out.

Now my teacher wants me to sew a pillow to match. I have some ideas of what I want to do. I don't have anything animal print in my house. But I lurve animal prints. So I need to accessorize.

Our Trip Summer 2009

First of all, from where we live in Arkansas to Gulf Shores is about 12 hours away. With a 3 year old, we just didn't want to drive straight through. So we stopped about half way in Jackson, MS. The next day, we took the USS Alabama tour in Mobile, AL. It was a great way to spend the 4th of July. My Mary-Kate true to form wanted to ride a ride. The only thing that was there to ride was a flight simulator. I thought for sure that she wouldn't fit the height requirement and that would be that. Well, she did make the requirement and wanted to ride the ride. When you get inside, they seal the door. You aren't getting out. We sat in seats with seat belts. It moves you up and down, like you are in a real fighter plane. I thought, now she is going to hate this. Mary-Kate was cheering. I was laughing my head off. I couldn't believe she liked this. When we arrived in Gulf Shores that evening, there was an excellent fireworks display near our condo. We could see everything so well. I had never see fireworks like this before and it lasted for about an hour.

While in Gulf Shores we drove to Pensacola and toured the The National Naval Aviation Museum. It was so great. They had an indoor play area for children. There were tons of things to look at and take pictures in. We also did some shopping in Foley. That was great fun! I found tons of deals on kids clothes. The best deals by far were at the OshKosh store. We also took MK to the zoo in Gulf Shores. It is small, but great for her size. They had all kinds of animals and shows. The kids could feed the animals. MK was loving that. We spent a lot of time looking for shells, swimming in the pool, and playing at the beach. Mary-Kate was spoiled having both sets of grands with her!

Here are a few of our pictures!

USS Alabama

MK on the USS ALABAMA

The only Razorback there!

Zoo Animals

MK and Daddy looking for shells

Paw Paw on the beach

Another view so you know its him

MK and Honey

Just a photo to compare sizes

The Pirate Ship

Beach Photo

I'm a Blue Angel at the National Naval and Aviation Museum

A Cute Couple

My Hubby

Family Photo

Another Family Photo

We love our Nana!

MK with her Grands

We're Home

We had a great time in Gulf Shores! I'll post pictures shortly.

4th of July

I am so excited about this 4th of July! I have always enjoyed this holiday. It is so fun to get together with family and friends and bar-be-cue.

I have met some awesome people through blogging who have family in the military. Thanks so much to our troops and their families.
A special thank you should go out to Jacquie's nephews; and Leigh Ann's husband; and to my nephew, Josh, who got back from Iraq in December. Freedom isn't free. I appreciate all that the troops do to keep us safe!

Have a great 4th!

update on the trip

Thank you so much for all of the comments and tips for me about our trip. I am so pumped about it.

1. My dad is well enough to go. (Guys he looks and feels like a million dollars. I can't get over it. We came so close to losing him. Also, only in my adult life have I gotten to go on family vacations with both of my parents. My dad traveled for his job. The last thing he wanted to do when he had vacation time was to get in a car and go somewhere. So my mom took me places.)
2. My husband so needs a vacation. We haven't been anywhere since 2004. (Branson doesn't count. Ha!)
3. My parents and in-laws are friends and enjoy each other's company. This is so awesome to be able to have all of them on a trip.
4. Mary-Kate is blessed to have both sets of grands all to herself on this vacation. She is one lucky girl.

I have been packing and getting us all ready. If we drive straight through it would take 10 hours. We are not going to do that. We are stopping in Jackson.

MK has many bathing suits, but I found this at Walmart and hope that she will wear it. Probably not, but a Mom can dream, right? I just want her to be safe.

I bought this lounge chair. I thought it would be easier than blowing up a float.

This is really funny. I couldn't imagine what toys she would want to take. She plays with all of her stuff. She is not fond of a certain toy. She likes all of them. So it makes it difficult to pack things away or giveaway to someone else. So I bought a little tote. I told her she could only take things that could fit in this "toy box." Here's a look at what is important to her.

Here's a closer look:


There is a purse, some stuffed animals, bubbles ( you can't leave home without those), and yes her snake. I have always said that she beats to her own drummer. I wouldn't have it any other way!

That's my girl!