Spring Break Reading List

If I can't be on the beach for spring break, at least I can rub some Coppertone on my face (the coconut smelling kind) and sit in the sun with a good book while the girls run track next week. This will only be after I've walked my mile, of course.

Here are the books I've selected for my reading pleasure this next week, and maybe you'll like them too:

1. The Mountain Between Us - Technically, I finished this one last week and all I can say is, "Wow! You. must. read. this. book. Today. Now." It's about an airplane crash, survival and deep, abiding love. And that's all I'm going to say, except...go get it!

2. Black Heels to Tractor Wheels - written by one of my favorite bloggers, Pioneer Woman. It's the story of how she met her rancher husband and left the big city for life in Oklahoma. Guaranteed light-hearted, funny and touching all at the same time.

3. The Malacca Conspiracy - Navy lawyers, terrorism on the high seas, a mix of love, war and high-stakes geopolitical roulette -- sounds like my kind of book. Plus it has two characters from Don Brown's Navy Justice Series and I want to see what happens to them!

4. The Duchess and the Dragon - Jamie Carie is a new author for me, but I couldn't resist the $3.98 price tag and the Duke of Northumberland coming to America and running into a Quaker nurse in Philadelphia.

5. Deceived - Two bodies in an isolated canyon. One with saddlebags filled with diamonds. A suspense thriller from another of my favorite lawyer/authors, James Scott Bell.

Let's see -- 5 days of spring break and 5 books. I like that math! See you later. I've got to locate the Coppertone.

Favorites at 45

As I mentioned in the previous post, I had a birthday recently. Oh, how I try to stop them, but they keep coming. The things that bother me most about aging are gray hair and looking older, which of course is exactly what aging is, so....oh, forget it. Not like I can stop it anyway (except for the gray hair part!)

I had a lovely day filled with flowers and gifts and even made a little chocolate cake for myself. The next evening we were in Houston and decided on seafood for my birthday dinner. Since Pappadeaux's was a 1 1/2 hour wait we found a little place called Snapper Jack's and had a wonderful meal.

Jeff accused me the other day of "the older you get the less things/people you seem to like." Of course I disagreed, to which he replied, "Some days I bet you only like me and Jesus, hopefully not in that order." (Side note: Some days I don't like him.) It's okay. He hardly ever reads this blog. I vehemently deny that I don't like anything. Not true! It's just most people I don't have a tolerance for. I'm getting older so I can do that. All old people do it. You know. Get grumpy.

So, in my attempt to show myself a "likeable" person, I'm listing 45 Favorites (if I can think of that many) and the obvious Jesus, God, the Bible, my family, are not listed, so don't be callin' me out. This isn't that deep thinking of a list.

In no particular order...

1. the beach (in no particular order except this one)

2. coffee and peanut butter toast (yes, they have to be together - this isn't two)

3. hydrangeas

4. comfy jeans

5. bracelets of any kind

6. flip flops

7. tulips

8. books

9. Mozart

10. purple

11. my grandmother's buttercream icing

12. playing the piano

13. a quiet house

14. JAG on DVD

15. hooded sweatshirts

16. Michael Buble'

17. a crackling fire

18. Abigail's sense of humor

19. my mother's peach cobbler

20. violets

21. Drakkar Noir cologne

22. worship on Sunday morning

23. watermelon with salt

24. the library

25. watching Rebecca run

26. frozen yogurt

27. scrapbooking

28. pink

29. office supplies

30. Katherine's art

31. tulle

32. quilts

33. spring green

34. downtime

35. digital cameras

36. candles

37. Snickers candy bars

38. pedicures

39. roasting marshmallows

40. crossword puzzles

41. mushroom cheeseburgers

42. Johnson's baby lotion

43. Pride and Prejudice

44. the clearance section of any store

45. Honeybee Gardens lip balm

And I could go on, and on! But I won't, because you probably stopped reading up about number eight or so.

My list, of course, is just for fun. I have been so very blessed in my life and am thankful to the Creator and Giver of all good things.

Since We've Last Talked...

So, quite a few things have happened since I've last blogged. And, just so you know, I refuse to be one of those bloggers who apologize for not posting something recently because...well, because blogging is a voluntary, fun activity and who wants to be required or forced to write anything. You can ask my husband...I don't like to be forced to do anything. It's just who I am.

Here's what's been going on with the Holmes Family since I wrote about the Arctic Blast of 2011 that paralyzed North Texas for weeks on end...or maybe it was days. It's all a blur now.

Katherine won 2nd Place in the Stock Show Art Contest,

bringing with it a $1500 scholarship.

We went to the rodeo.

We had a second arctic blast that was just as

much fun as the first. Trapped at home!

We made snow ice cream.

I went ice fishing in the pool and caught

two tennis balls and a stick.

We decided that it was time for Abigail to

have some dental work done.

Barb, Melissa and I "Scrapped the Super Bowl,"

an annual tradition dating back 7 years now.

Abigail cleaned her room. Trust me. This was HUGE!

It was also forced.

I made pistachio cupcakes.

Rebecca's basketball team went to the playoffs in Tyler

and we also got to see Katherine.

I enjoyed a scrapbook retreat in Waco with

two of my favorite people, Mother and Sylvia.

At the Regional Basketball Playoffs Jeff and I had a mini reunion

with David B., with whom we went to high school .

And in all those days, somewhere in there I had a birthday. But I'll write about that in my next post, which I promise won't be a month from now.

Arctic Blast of 2011

And, here's the reason we've been trapped at home for going on three days now -- the ice storm of February 2011. It's been colder than I can ever remember it being since I've lived in Ft. Worth. The temperatures have hovered in the teens, with the highs the last three days being in the high 20's. The roads are covered with ice, especially in the neighborhoods, so getting out would be pretty dangerous. I don't think anyone, even the weathermen, expected that we would be shut down so completely for so many days. The girls have only missed one day of school so far, but I'm wondering if we will be able to go tomorrow. I think there might be snow in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow.

As of this morning our pool is completely frozen over. The ice goes down about 2 inches, according to Abigail who had to get out and bust a hole in it to see. We've kept busy with watching TV, cleaning house, some homework and I plan to scrapbook today. Facebook has kept everyone entertained. It's also been a chore to keep the rabbits from turning into bunny popsicles. They spent most of the day inside yesterday and just keeping their water switched out from freezing has been a full-time job.

We have plenty of food to last us several more days, but are hoping to venture out tomorrow afternoon or on Saturday. I dread the electric bill next month, but am very thankful for a warm house to keep us sheltered. I even managed to build a fire yesterday, all by myself. Very proud of that, since Scouting was not one of my childhood activities.

Here's a few photos of the last couple days.

Define "busy"

--adjective

1. actively and attentively engaged in work or a pastime: busy with her work

2. not at leisure; otherwise engaged: He couldn't see any visitors because he was busy.

3. full of or characterized by activity: a busy life

And I'll take number three for $200, Alex...

I hate being "busy." Detested "busy work" in school. I REALLY hate the "busy-ness" of driving here and there, which leads me to the point of this post: if I hate the forced driving hither and yon that I have to do, why do I despise being forced into the very opposite of that? Let me explain.

Let's take one day last week as an example: (realizing this is probably way more than you ever wanted to know about my schedule)

6:00 a.m. Breakfast/coffee, Bible, made girls' lunches

7:25 a.m. Drove girls to school

8:15 a.m. Return home, various tasks, shower, etc.

10:30 a.m. Drove back to school to get Bec for Dr. appt.

11:30 a.m. Dr. appointment in Ft. Worth

12:15 p.m. Drive thru lunch while heading to school

12:40 p.m. Bec is dropped off at GPA

1:00 p.m. Arrive back in Ft. Worth with one hour at home

2:00 p.m. Back to Arlington to pick up Abigail

2:20 p.m. Arrive home, Abigail dress for basketball

4:00 p.m. Drop off Abigail at school to catch bus

4:30 p.m. Drive to pick up Bec at her practice (ends at 5:30)

5:30 p.m. Drive to Abigail's 6 p.m. game

For some reason, this schedule "drives" (ha, ha) me crazy. I guess it's because I feel like I am not being productive, meaning I didn't get much accomplished at home. I know there was productivity going on because I got the girls, safely in one piece, to their required destinations and appointments. That was progress for that day.

So, here's the question: when forces beyond my control (acts of God/snow/ICE) keep me homebound for going on 3 days now, why do I just want to get out of the house and drive?!? Anywhere! Just let me out. I feel a little bit like the Israelites who whined about wanting to go back to Egypt where they had it so good. And, deep inside, I hear God saying to me, "I am giving you what you asked for. Less busy-ness. Time at home. Quiet. Stillness. NO DRIVING. Now get in that house and enjoy it!"

He says, "Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth."

Psalm 46:10

Okay...I get it.

January "Blah"g

Well, it's been awhile. I have many things to post. There's just one tiny problem. I'm blah and all I had the strength to do tonight was change the background. Maybe tomorrow... After all, tomorrow is another day. I heard that somewhere....once...a long, long time ago.

Scrapbook Sentiments

I enjoyed making this little scrapbook for a friend for a Christmas gift this year. It only took me about half a day to complete and was so much fun! I wanted to remind her of who she was "in Christ." The most time-consuming task was searching the Bible for relevant Scriptures to what I wanted her to remember. It's definitely something I want to do again and will be looking for just the right person who needs one.

Here it is, starting with the front cover and ending with the back cover.

"Twas the Night Before Christmas"...or my take on it anyway

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,

not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse...

Apparently the author didn't have teenagers.

They are up until the wee hours of the morning.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, yes they are

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

and hopefully mom bought enough stuff to fill them.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, NOT...remember...teenagers...

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. or iTunes

And mamma in her kerchief (on her chiropractic pillow)

and I in my cap, wishing everyone would shut up and go to bed

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap. Yea, right. Try 5 hours.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

Yes, I hear the neighbors celebrating

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Go to sleep, Genny. Pretend you don't hear them.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

No, I am not calling the police. Need sleep.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of midday to objects below.

Snow? In Texas in December? Right.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

Must be dreaming now.

Oh, the anticipation of waiting for Santa. And how could you sleep when you were so excited? And parents staying up late to put together various assortments of toys and paraphanalia only to be woken at 5:00 a.m. with a whispered, "Dad, it's time to get up! Santa came!" Huh...what? And then there was the year that Jeff convinced the girls that he was a Regional Distributor for Santa because Santa couldn't possibly be all over the world in one night.

I'm wondering if this year will be slightly different - three teenagers in the house who love sleeping in on vacation. I'm betting we get to sleep in until at least 8:00 a.m. Actually, I'm counting on it. And in case you were wondering? Yes, Santa still brings gifts to teenagers.

But I heard him exclaim 'ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

Couldn't Survive Winter Without Them

Brrr....it's really getting chilly at night now. There are many things I couldn't imagine going through winter without; for example, thick socks, flannel pajamas, goose down comforter, etc. One thing I don't want to go through winter with is dry skin. I hate it. Despise it. Can't stand it. So, here's a few things on my winter survival list:

Oh my goodness....best.lip.balm.ever.

Hands down!

You must trust me on this.

Honeybee Gardens

My mother gave me a bottle of this lotion a few

years ago and it has been a favorite ever since.

We've laughed about the name: Elixir of Love #1.

I don't actually know what that means, but Jeff likes it. : )

And, if she's reading this post, I'm almost out.....

Just found this product this week...Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue.

It's like splashing fresh cucumber gel on your face every morning.

And, it's light and refreshing, and all that good stuff.

My one true love of lotions...Johnson's Baby Lotion.

Oh, the smell, the smell...

I use it every day because thankfully,

you don't have to have a baby to use it.

This last product, of course, is no dry skin remedy. But,

I couldn't imagine winter without it. (For that matter,

I couldn't imagine spring, summer or fall without it either.)

Add a little sweetener, a dollop of whipped cream and bliss.

Please Note: This is not a paid endorsement for any of the products listed above. If, however, someone stumbles on this blog and wants to pay me, they can.

Keep warm!

A Little Joy Can Be a Dangerous Thing

Yes, it is true, my friend, Melissa and I will go to great lengths to tell a good story or set a good stage. I've been helping her decorate the sanctuary at church and it is finally finished. Melissa has gone through many hours of painting, glittering, crafting, glittering, glittering, glittering....sorry. Ask the janitors to tell you how much glitter has been used this year!

This is Melissa perched about 14 or so feet above the baptistry,

which is who knows how many feet above the choir loft,

which is who knows how many feet above the floor.

I actually helped to make this wreath. I have never had

wreath-making skills until this year. Never. Ever.

In fact, there is an unfinished wreath on my hearth right now.

One of my favorite parts of the scenery, and it's on the piano!

The feather tree is so pretty, and Melissa hand-crafted the other

two to make a set. Hoping to get her help on some for

my unfinished mantel, which is above the

unfinished wreath on the hearth.

Sensing a pattern here???

So glad I took this picture of snow on the drum cage.

Melissa spent 30 minutes, once again perched precariously

on a stool getting the gossamer and batting just right.

Sunday morning our drummer's stool collapsed,

sending him and the drum cage and the snow flying.

We didn't have time to repair it. Bummer.

The finished results were quite beautiful. We sprinkled snow on all the trees, and lit the lanterns and it was lovely.