Before the 100 Degree Weather...

This was our yard before the grass started dying. I don't know what happened, but the area right in front of the flower pot on the left is now dead. Also, the sun has moved so the front yard gets more light and you can see the caladiums that are growing in front of the bushes in our flower bed. I'll take another pic this weekend for comparison. But I love our little house. We're the only cute little gray house. The other color choices were all earthtones, so all the houses look the same. And the only other ones who picked gray also have a lot of gray brick, so they don't look nearly as good as ours! Our neighbor to the right towers over us, but we don't mind because they block the late afternoon sun!! This really helps with our energy efficiency. : )

FINALLY

This was taken when my dad was a DJ when I was a little girl.

This was my dad and I at Disneyland.

This was a picture at my brother's HS graduation party at church, 4 days before we lost him and 14 days before John's graduation.

Memories

Today marks 10 years since my father passed away. I've thought about him a lot lately, partly because I can't believe a decade has gone by and partly because I just got married without him. It's amazing how life just goes on. You don't see how it can at the time, but it does. Time doesn't make it easier to think about, but at least you know you will make it through. I miss him and wish he was here, but I know that my life would not be what it is if he were. I doubt that I would have ever moved to Dallas and met Mike if he were, so I can't say I wish it hadn't happened. But I still miss him.

I will add some pictures when I get home tonight. This time I mean it.

A Great Way To Share Good News

Thought I'd share this. My sister-in-law sent it out a couple of months ago. It always brings a smile to my face!

http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d6a597a4e5449794f48777a4e6a55334d6a45320d0a&sb=1


Hopefully tonight I'll get some new pictures uploaded and show you all how our house is looking!

Until next year...

So I'm proud to say I mailed our taxes out on April 12th, thank you very much. He had absolutely nothing to worry about. And, we're getting a pretty big refund. That will be nice because I think Mike may have quit his job today. : (

He's been unhappy for a while now. He was hired in September as the shop manager for a lawn mower repair shop. But except for the first month, he has never really been allowed to manage. (I think he did it then just because the owner didn't want to be a man and fire some people so he made Mike do it.) In fact, the owner constantly questions anything Mike's working on. We're beginning to wonder why he was hired in the first place. Each day he comes home more and more frustrated and stressed out. I can't blame him for wanting to leave, but I don't know what we'll do until he finds something else. I'm praying he'll get to work and choose to stick it out until something comes up. I won't know until I get home tonight.

Keep us in your prayers.

Taxes, anyone?

Am I the only one who hasn't gotten around to doing their taxes yet?

Mike is really on my case to get this done. I keep telling him not to worry--I WILL have them out the door by the 15th. But when you're working 11-12 hour days, then still driving 45 minutes home, cooking dinner, giving the dogs attention, etc, it's hard to remember to find what I need to finish them up!!!

I usually don't wait this long, but with moving and getting married, I haven't kept up with my Avon expenses like I should have. I've got 7 days, what's the hurry? : )

(I'm just full of excuses, aren't I?)

This one's for you, Cara...

This was attached to a news article online this morning. I thought it was BEAUTIFUL!! I only wish I had taken it myself!! I love the springtime. I hope that we'll be able to go for drives this year to look at all the wonderful wildflowers.

(By the way, this is a bluebonnet photographed from above...)