364–Women of Joy–Day 3 and I DID IT! (Updated)

We got up bright and early again this morning for our final day at WOJ.

Our speaker was Lisa Harper and she was so good. God allowed her to really speak to my heart and it was probably the message I needed most this weekend.

When we got out of the conference, it was already raining (again) and it was getting cold.  So, after stopping at just one store, we headed for home.  But, what a fun weekend.

I DID IT!  It is so hard to believe that I actually finished Project 365 - a post and photo a day for a whole year!  (It even amazes me. Ha!)  I STILL don’t know where I will go from here.  They say you develop a habit after three weeks, but somehow I don’t think taking a picture and writing a post a day has become a “habit” yet.  But, I have enjoyed the journey and I have enjoyed being able to look back and see what I was doing throughout the year.

UPDATE:
As I “wrapped up” my Project 365, I realized I got off a post somewhere (it was #141).  So, I stand corrected and y’all will have one more post. Haha! Bless your hearts…

363–Women of Joy–Day 2

Another great day!!! I actually saw a sunrise from my hotel room this morning.

Worship was amazing this morning.  Here we were on the front row bright and early this morning (poor quality, but - Stacie, me, JoJo, and Stacie’s mom, Cheri)…

This evening before the “Casting Crowns” concert, I stood in line for over 2 hours to preregister for next year. 

We’ll have five in our group… we’ve added our friend, Lorna, and my TWO girls are planning to go! I am SO excited about that!
The highlight of our day was the concert… they were so good! (I know it was for women, but I really was wishing Tyler was there with me tonight. He would’ve LOVED it!)

We’ll have one more service in the morning and then we’ll be heading home.  (Is it okay that I’ve missed My Maddie??)

PS - #364 people!!!

362–Girl’s Weekend

Jodi and I are in Branson for the Women of Joy Conference.  Tonight was the first night and it was really good.  I loved the worship!! Charles Billingsley is SO good!
The speaker tonight (Sheri Rose Shepherd) brought me to tears when she said the reason she was there, in ministry, a Christian, is because as a little Jewish girl growing up in a poor family situation, some woman was on her knees praying for the “faceless” girl who would one day be her daughter-in-law.  I am so blessed by the women that God has given to my sons…and I’m thankful that I was mindful to pray for them from the time my boys were just little.  My thoughts wandered to Kayla and Daisy as little girls in pig-tails when I was praying for them so many years ago.  Having them in my life is one of the greatest gifts God has given me as a momma of two boys!

It’s late and we have to get up early… so we’re settling in for the night.  Hope y’all have a great weekend!

347–So Close and Yet So Far

After work, my friend JoAnn and I met at the river to do our cardio.  I have to talk myself in to doing cardio, but when the weather is so nice and the view is this beautiful, it’s becomes just a little bit easier.
I just realized because of a Tweet tonight that Kale is in Arkansas (about 3.5 hours away).  So close and yet so far.

345–Maddie, the Photographer

We had a ladies fellowship at church tonight.  We had such a good time and it’s fun to get out with some great ladies, too!
While we were there, Tyler babysat Maddie-Moo.  Those two are a mess.
When we got home, I let Maddie take a few pictures with my phone…

 

Haha! Funny girl.

343–Our Sunday and a Happy Birthday

We ate lunch with a group of about 17 today.  There were lots of kids there.  These girls had some fun together (I wish the cup wasn’t in front of Maddie’s face on this picture).

Church and lunch wore Mads slap out.  She was loving her new sunglasses! Ha!

While Maddie finished out her nap, Tyler mowed at Ms. Charlsie’s and Daisy and I watched “The Last Song”.  That was a sweet movie.  Sad, too.

* * * * *

Today is  Jodi’s birthday.  We have been celebrating birthdays together for 33 years.  She’s been there for me through thick and thin and I can’t imagine what my life would have been like had God not blessed me with her.

Happy Birthday, JoJo!! I love you!

342– A Funeral and a Birthday Celebration

Our day started with my uncle’s funeral.  I always dread funerals.  They make me so sad.  But, they also remind me of what’s really important in life… and funerals almost always bring family and friends together who haven’t seen each other in a while – many times since the last funeral.  I am so thankful for a HUGE extended family and wish that we could spend a lot more time together.
After the funeral, we came home and just hung out.  Tyler had just got home from a church ministry project and Daisy and Maddie had just shown up. David went to check the cows and then to Ms. Charlsie’s to do some garden work. I read for a while, until my eyes started getting heavy and then I ended up napping when Maddie napped. (“One Tuesday Morning” so far is SO good!!!)
Tonight, several friends got together at a restaurant to celebrate Jodi’s birthday, which is tomorrow.  We had such a good time visiting.  Maddie enjoyed all the excitement, too.
When we got home, she wanted a bath.  She LOVES bath time.  I took these pictures of her brushing her wet hair like a big girl.

She makes my heart smile.

* * * * * * In Memory * * * * *

Richard "Dick" Vinton Hood
November 29, 1935 - April 3, 2011

Richard “Dick” Hood, 75 years old, departed this life Sunday, April 3, 2011, at Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home. 

Richard was born November 29, 1935 in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and grew up in Blackstone, Massachusetts, the first son of Vinton and Claire Hood. He married Rosemary Morris February 15, 1958 in Orange, California, celebrating fifty years of marriage in 2008. Richard lived in Mountain Home since 1989, but was a resident of Arkansas since 1977, relocating from California.

Richard graduated in 1953 from Worcester Boys Trade High School in Worcester, Massachusetts where he trained in industrial machinery, and tool and die. He was employed as a machinist after high school. Later he began a machine shop in California which he ran for several years. Upon moving to Arkansas, he owned and operated Hood Machine and Manufacturing Company; and also the Valve Service Company in Yellville from 1977 to 1989. Richard, along with his wife, Rosemary, also owned and ran Hood General Store in Yellville during the 1980s. He then was the proprietor of Hood Performance Machine, Inc. in Mountain Home from 1989 until he sold the company in 2002. He worked at Sherwin Williams in Mountain Home until he retired in 2010. Richard enjoyed family and friends, classic cars, car races, handy work, camping, waterskiing, and spending summers relaxing on the family’s boat on Lake Norfork. In the 1960s, he belonged to a bowling team. He was recently a member of the Classic Chevy Club of North Arkansas. He was a parishioner of St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church for 33 years.

Mr. Hood is survived by his six children: Linda Sims of Corona, California; Lori Hood of Mountain Home; Brian Hood of Springfield, Missouri; Bruce Hoodswain of Plano, Texas; Alan Hood of West Plains, Missouri; and Allison Menke of Haslet, Texas; thirteen grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brother Dr. Wayne Hood of Nevada City, California; and brother Neil Hood of Tigard, Oregon. He is predeceased by his wife Rosemary Hood.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, April 9 at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church with Reverend Innocent Okore as celebrant. The family expresses gratitude to all who befriended, helped, and loved Richard throughout his lifetime. In memory of Richard, it is requested that a donation of a good deed be given to a neighbor.

338 - My Next Book and a Little Time with JoJo

I bought my next Kindle book tonight.  (Are you proud of me, Kayla?)

One Tuesday Morning / Beyond Tuesday Morning Compilation Limited Edition

 

Two books in one for $9.99!

 

Jodi and I talk to each other A LOT.  But, we haven't seen each other for a while lately, until today.  I meant to take a picture and totally forgot... so I'll just show you how we spent our time together.

Four miles along the river.  It's a beautiful walk and an hour of girl time!

334–Pizza and a Movie

April 1st!! Can you believe a quarter of this year has come and gone already??

Tonight Tyler invited our neighbors over for pizza and “Tangled” with the kids.  That’s such a cute movie and the kids really enjoyed watching it together.  They played for a while afterwards.  Maddie has a tent that is missing the supports (that Tyler is supposed to rig up for her at her house, but hasn’t yet) and the kids decided to play in it anyway…

322–Sunday

We’ve had a good Sunday.  Church, lunch (Mexican, of course), naps, and then while David was checking the cows, we all went to the park (joined by Bryan and Andrea and their kids).  While they all played, I walked Izzy.  The weather was perfect… around 80 and sunny.  That’s my kind of weather.

While I was walking Izzy, Ms. Charlsie called and told me that she’d been fighting with her blood pressure again all day.  This has been a rough week for her.  I went by there and stayed with her for a while before going back to church.  I checked on her again this evening and her B/P was high, but within safe limits.

I made an appointment for her to see the doctor this week.  I sure do hope we can get some answers and get her nerves settled.

321–There Shall Be Showers…

Today was a fun day.  Aside from the fact that I spent the morning (still) getting tax stuff done.  I always have my taxes filed and my return sitting in savings by now.  This year has been hard to sit down for any length of time and get stuff done.  I got David’s mileage all entered today and all I lack is updating the cattle inventory.  Then I can send it off to my CPA/brother-in-law.

All that to say that the day was fun – aside from taxes.

This weekend there are two showers on the calendar.  One baby shower and one bridal shower.  Daisy and I got this little outfit for a sweet baby boy who’s expected around the first of May.

They had an amazing cake at the shower.  AMAZING, isn’t it?

Check out that little “pea in a pod” that was on top.  What a talented lady!

I’m not usually a fan of the taste of cakes with fondant, but this one was delicious! Note to self… remember to call this lady when Tyler gets married … to a certain someone.

While I was at the shower, Tyler, Daisy and Maddie were at a wedding.  Then we all hung out at the house for the rest of the day and ordered pizza in for supper.

Look who’s tired from a whirlwind trip to Illinois…

After dinner, I took Maddie outside to see if we could see the “super moon”, but it’s way too overcast here.  Bummer.  We’ll see if we can see the (almost) full moon tomorrow night.

315–Baptism and Bye Bye

Our day started off great… this morning, Daisy (and two others) got baptized.  What a blessing! (We’re so proud of you, Daisy!)

Kale had to leave this morning after church.  As usual, I had a mini-meltdown saying good-bye.  It’s just so hard to give him back.

After seeing him off, we went to our favorite Mexican restaurant with friends. While we were in the car, Maddie kept asking me what was wrong (she was so empathetic and concerned about me) and I told her I was just missing Kale.  She told me she missed him, too and said, “we will go see him tomorrow.”  So sweet!!

We enjoyed our lunch and after the kids got done eating, their mom’s gave them their iPhone’s to entertain them for a while… how cute are they?

I told myself not to take a nap today after this time change, but around 3:30 I couldn’t take it any more and laid down until about 5:00.  Getting up in the morning is going to be SO hard!!

301–Sunday

We had a nice Sunday.

Great church.

Lunch with friends.

Nice naps.

And we finished the evening with home-popped popcorn.

Good weekend.

* * * * *

Praying the storms tonight will go completely around us…

300–Mugs and Muffins

Last night Tyler, Daisy, Maddie and I went to visit Melody, one of my best high school friends.  She just so happens to live in the same town as Kelly, so while we were there we went to her church for Mugs and Muffins.  It was great to get to hear Angie Smith speak and to be able to be there with two people that I think so much of.  (Tyler and Maddie had a “date” while we were gone.)

We came home early this afternoon and I spent most of the evening at the church… we got new projectors and screens put up and I wanted to make sure the video was ready for in the morning. I am so happy that everyone will be able to clearly read the song words in the morning!!!

293–Taxes, Dominoes, and Unfinished Business

I spent all the live-long day doing paperwork for our taxes. Ugh.

Daisy and Maddie showed up early this evening and by the time David got home I was about to gouge my eyes out… so we decided to go to Jodi and Gary’s to play some Mexican Train dominoes.  I even went in pjs and slippers.

Maddie is feeling a little better, but she’s not herself just yet.  Here she is watching a little Nick, Jr. with JoJo’s dog, Ava.

I think she may have been arranging Jodi’s pictures, too. Haha.

Look what starts tomorrow night!!!  It’s gonna be a good season – “the cowboys” are coming back!