Scrumptious Southern Summers

In case you don't know, summer has officially begun for me!! I'm so glad to have this time to spend with family and friends (and to catch up on a little sleep). Two things have happened so far this summer that I am very excited about:

1. The farmer's market is open every Friday from 3-6 pm here in downtown Laurel. We got some awesome homemade bread (thanks Dawn) and some yummy Muscadine jelly to make toast with on Saturday morning. We also had blueberry lemonade, which was delicious, and got a few fresh cucumbers. I will definitely be going back every Friday from now until summer if over.



2. We went on a camping trip with a bunch of our friends from our bible study group. I mean like real, in a tent, no A/C, bug-biting, pee in the woods, camping. Well we did get to walk up a hill to use the restroom but you get my point. We had the BEST time, and some of the BEST food ever. My favorite part of the trip was hanging out around the campfire eating kabobs, grilled corn, chicken, stuffed bell peppers, squash, and of course - SMORES!! I can't wait to go camping again!! And of course we were too hot and having way too much fun to take pics on this trip so you'll just have to imagine us "roughing it". And apparently imagining me roughing it is funny to some people and I don't know why - you know who you are!

Oh Con"chair"

I've had the itch to be a little creative lately, and I've been wanting some more color in my living room, so I decided to find a fun, old chair to redo. I found this little gem at Southern Antique Mall in downtown Laurel. I wish I would have taken before pics, but I always forget. Anyways, it was just an oak color with the center cushion being a funky, yellow velvety kind of material. I painted it turquoise (my favorite color) and recovered the cushion with a fun green print that was actually a washcloth. Now, I have a little piece of joy in the corner of my living room. Every time I look over at it it puts a smile on my face. :)

My Daughter the Inventor

McKenzie had to create a brand-new invention this week for the annual Nora Davis 5th grade Invention Convention. Students create unique inventions and then showcase them at the convention. It's a really neat idea that involves a lot of imagination, creativity, and critical thinking.

McKenzie decided to invent an organizer for your laptop. It straps around the top of the laptop (while still giving screen visibility) and has pockets on the backside to keep pencils, paperclips, etc close at hand. She said she designed it with teachers in mind, because she knows how hard I work :). She designed and sewed the whole thing herself (minus a few little pieces she needed help with). I am really proud of her. She can sew just as good as I can. Maybe she'll keep inventing and make us millions - ha!

Invest...to do or not to do

So, we've been looking into buying a house lately, not that we are anywhere close to buying one, we've just been looking into it. We know we want to make the investment in a home, but it's such a big decision and we want to make sure we do it right. I don't ever want to have to move again once we buy a house. Of course along with house buying talk comes talk of saving, investing, etc.

Anyways, all of this talk got me to thinking while doing my daily bible reading this week. I can worry myself to death about which home, which neighborhood, which schools, etc will be the right investment for our family, but while I'm doing all of this worrying I could be investing in the now, in things that truly matter: family, friends, Jesus, and on and on and on the list can go. So, this week I have decided to "invest" in some things that need my attention now, things that affect my life - for eternity. I have decided to invest my time, money, and energy in Jesus, in Bo, in McKenzie and Kennedy, in family, in friends, in my church, in cleaning my house, in cooking supper EVERY night, and in doing something for a total stranger.

How will I make this investment? By reading my bible. By praying. By turning off the TV. By saying "Yes" to things. By saying "No" to things. By loving others more than myself.

So, this post was really more for me than anyone else. I know it's so cliche' to say "invest in others" and things like that, but that is the thought that has truly been resounding through my heart this week. So, if your looking for advice on how to invest money - ask a banker. My advice, invest in life!

:)

I haven't posted in a VERY long time so here's just a tidbit of something to get me back in the "blog" of things.

-I'm on spring break right now - YAY!!!

-I love my life.

-I got a new background for my blog - what do you think?

-I promise to have something interesting to post tomorrow

Rockin' around the Christmas Tree

Even though we live in a MUCH smaller place this year, I was determined to have my Christmas tree and Praise the Lord - it fit!! It looks absolutely beautiful. I wish I could leave my Christmas tree up all year.

We didn't have a mantel to hang our stockings on so the TV stand became our mantel - it does sort of look like one.

This is my sweet little furryville manger scene.

What is that????

As Kennedy woke up and was walking towards her breakfast this morning, I noticed something in her hair. I thought it was a hair clip I have never seen before, but no, it was GUM!!!!!!!! I immediately freaked out thinking "Not her beautiful curls!!". It was right up front next to her right temple. I had to cut it out (as evidenced in the picture). Hopefully, no one else will notice - but I sure do!!