Top Ten Tuesday!

Going for a quick and easy list today... I can't honestly say it's the top 10, because there are a plethora of pics that fit this description.

Ten Random Pictures that will Always Make Me Happy:

1.  Ahem, I took and edited this engagement pic of Josh and Rach, so of course I like it! lol  I love the muted vintage-feel color and think it's super-cute with the letters - I always prefer pics where the couple looks at each other instead of the camera! :)

2.  This is one of my favorite things about holding babies, when they wrap their tiny little fingers around your finger and just look so snug and safe and secure.  And this is the first time I held my nephew, Jace, the day after he was born!

3.  The hair, the puffy sleeves, the massive earrings, the braces... what's not to love!? lol  Vintage Glamour Shots pic of me and Rach, circa 1993 (my 3rd grade, her 1st grade year).

4.  I've been told numerous times how unsafe this was (we also staged a standoff photo where we all pointed the guns at each other), so spare me the lecture, but I kinda love it that we didn't care at the time.  It's a hilarious Christmas season memory, kinda the way Die Hard is an awesome Christmas movie to me. lol  I love how innocent and delighted we look as we're all holding deadly weapons. :)  I remember thinking mine was preciously cute.  Those tiny guns have so much kick to them, but I was unaware of that at the time.

5.  An iPhone pic I took at the end of my first ambulance ride! lol  After my wreck in July 2011 - no major injuries, but I went to get checked out just in case.  I remember they got a little cracked up that I was feeling good enough to snap a picture, so this pic just makes me laugh! :)

6.  T-man 'helping' Babah as she started to make the fruit salad!  I love his cute little Christmas PJs and his excitement over the little things, and I like Babah's Christmas earrings and shirt, and that there is the chocolate cake Mom and I made in the background.  (This was Christmas Eve 2011, when Mom was still fragile and recovering from several surgeries, so we did a breakfast for dinner theme at home Christmas Eve night with Mom's fam.)  This pic reminds me of all of that, in the best way.

7.  Weird choice, I know, but it does make me happy.  It's just a cutesy pic from Rach's wedding day - wearing her sparkling flip-flops and her 5 bridesmaids in our hot pink heels and turquoise dresses!  (I'm on the far left.)  Cuteness!

8.  This is a JSB pic (Junior-Senior Banquet, because CHA doesn't have proms) of me and several girls from my class.  I really loved my poufy hot pink dress, and I like that the pic is dated!

9.  I really love that no one but Chettles is posed and ready here.  (I also love that even though I wasn't exactly ready, I'm smiling, so it's a good candid shot.)  Just a fun Starbucks night with the group, after a jury trial (which I know bc those are the only days I wear suits.)  Also, I miss that pink iphone cover!

10.  And last but not least, Wintery cuteness at the Rhema lights!  I love each of these girls, and I love that we're all in coats and hats, and I especially love that I have on red, white, green, and snowflake earrings - I'm like a Christmas-gram! :)

Honorable Mention:
The "Boo Sammich" pic! :)

So yay for good pictures!  This Thursday, I shall shun the celebration of Halloween by putting up my Christmas tree and decorations early! lol  Get excited!!

Photo Friday

Mmmmissy K with a precious toothless baby smile! =)

Miss Kyndal again, going from sad to happy in no time - cuteness!!

(Both of the above pics came from Rach.)

And finally, Buddy n' Boo, just being adorable BFFs who always look happy!

Happy Friday... almost.  I've come down with a cold this week, so that kinda sucks.  (At least our jury trial is over now so I don't have to try to work in grabbing a Kleenex between sentences while my eyes water and my nose is running.)  I'm in a mood that matches how I'm feeling physically, so it's really been a superfun week.  This too shall pass; right?  And in the meantime, I can look at cute babies and puppies and hopefully pep-talk myself back into a good attitude.  For now, sleep sounds like a good plan!

Quotables! =)

Jace, pointing at the full moon in the sky:  "Ball!  Ball!  Get-it!" :)

"Truck?  Truck!  Awwww-uh!"  ~Jace, excited about a truck he saw, and imitating Mom and Rach's reactions to the cute things they see! lol  Love it!!

*On our way to Stillwater, I told them all the story of Jace thinking the full moon was a ball... then on our way back, four hours later, Charlene told the same story to me with great excitement, beginning with, "I heard about when..."!  The whole car went silent for a minute, then Alan said, "Wooow," and we all cracked up as she slowly figured it out. :)  lol

"Maybe I should start recording less TV shows and getting more sleep!"  ~Charlene

"Uh-oh, she's tweeting it:  My aunt has lost it!"  ~Georgia, when I got my phone out lol

"At any given point, I'm either actively losing weight or actively gaining weight!  It's never just maintaining."  ~Lauralai

I so relate with that! lol

T.H.I.N.K. before you speak... 
Is it True, is it Helpful, is it Inspiring, is it Necessary, is it Kind??

"Satan knows good and well that we will act out of what we are most deeply convinced of."  ~Steven Furtick

"I want the best for you... but I want the best for me too."  ~KH

"Did you know that the Holy Spirit is real!??"  ~T-man
I did know that!  Did you know you have the Holy Spirit inside you now that you asked Jesus in your heart?"  ~Mom
"Nooo."  ~T, not sure if she was kidding
"Did you know there's a song about that called 'Greater is He that is in me'?"  ~Mom
"No.  Did you know that this is a ketchup V??"  ~T, holding a french fry with ketchup on both ends folded in a "V" ...so funny how fast kids switch their train of thought! :)

"So do you think I should paint my front door purple too?"  ~Me

"No, paint it green!  Green's my favorite color!  Is it your favorite color too?"  ~T-man

"My favorite colors are red and pink."  ~Me

"Then why are you wearing a green shirt!?"  ~T, with a tiny bit of snarkiness that cracked me up

"Thanks for just leaving me in there all alone!"  ~Triston

"I'm sorry, bud, I thought you knew."  ~Josh

"Well, I saw sca-ured!"  ~T, totally annoyed that Josh had left the bathroom before he did. lol

^^Pic = Jace reacting to being told "No" - it's always such a surprise coming from Mamaw!

My new bailiff likes to call everyone "Sweetie" and "Honey" ...a quality I find ever so mildly nauseating.  She text me about work next week, and ended the conversation with "You too, Sweetie!"  which I read out loud to my mom, followed by "Khhh!"  -the phlegm noise I make when I'm irritated - not sure how to write it out. :)
Jace immediately made that same sound then smiled at me, so that was kind of awesome! lol

"You can be a kind person and still be blunt... like I just did... right then!  Oh, lemme think of an example:  Right there!"  ~K-Foster, getting intense! lol

"I love hearing all your thoughts here."  ~Me
"Oh, I'm not done.  I'm just on pause!"  ~Kristin, 'pausing' to fill out her check at the restaurant

"You don't need boys to protect you!  I'm all the man you need!"  ~Laura, (regarding my fear of bugs - lol)

"If God has healed you, then it won't be pretending."  ~K again, in her thoughtful, wise, and quiet way

Amen to that!! :)

"Never let loyalty and kindness leave you... Write them deep within your heart.  Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation."
~Proverbs 3:3-4, my next memory verse

Thankful Thursday (64)

"I have told you these things so that you will be filled with My joy.  Yes, your joy will overflow!  This is My commandment:  Love each other in the same way I have loved you.  ...Now you are My friends, since I have told you everything the Father told Me.  You didn't choose me.  I chose you...  I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you...  I have told you these things so that you won't abandon your faith!"  ~Jesus, John 15:11-16:1

Today, I'm thankful for:

1)  Lysa TerKeurst... for her book, Unglued, which I finished this week and will write more on later!  And for her Compel online training for Christian authors, which I'm just beginning! :)

2)  Our jury trial for this week was continued at the last minute, which totally made my day!!
3)  My very generous parents coming to Tulsa this weekend - Dad took care of my yard and planted some colorful pansies for the fall - while Mom cleaned and decorated around my house... then spent her Sunday with me at the courthouse proofreading transcripts to help me get more caught up!

(Pics = some of the fall decorations and the flowers - love it all!!)

4)  People like Beth Moore who are so contagiously passionate in their love for God and the Bible!!
5)  That God's love "never fails, never gives up, and never runs out on me!"
6)  Missy K... and that I get to see and hold her tiny self this weekend!  Presh!

^^Kyndal Faith, pondering the meaning of life. lol

^^A fancy new dress I bought for her.  I just couldn't help myself. ;)

7)  For a short work week... thanks to a wonderful, relaxing, rainy Columbus Day, sleeping in past noon and reading while listening to the rain then having dinner with Lauralai Bower! =)  And for Chet texting me this pic, saying "Boo hopes you remembered your rain coat today!" lol  Lllllove it.

That's it for today.  It's been a great week that feels like FALL with rain and colder weather - I hope you're loving it as much as I have been!! :)

Remembering...

Today is "Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day."

I know this only because my cousin, Kristin, posted about it.  Baby Anthony died over seven months ago.  The memories are very fresh and the grief is often overwhelming for them.  Please be praying with me for God's grace, peace, and comfort for everyone deeply affected by Anthony's death!

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

~Matthew 5:4

“Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”

~Psalm 30:5

“I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends!  His mercies never cease.  Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.” 
~Lamentations 3:20-23

Photo Friday

*Happy Birthday today to my wonderful friend, Talhia!!

^^State Fair this past weekend - we went on the last day it was in Tulsa, so it was SUPER crowded, but we still had a lot of fun! :)

^^5k Training at Riverside!

Talhia is fun, spunky, entertaining, and encouraging... she really makes her friends feel appreciated!  Our friendship has grown just this year... we've had several great talks and fun times together.  We're celebrating tomorrow with a girls brunch at her place while watching movies in our pajamas, so that should be fantastic!! :) 

Anyway, happy Friday, friends!
It's been a great week so far! =)

JEM ~ Top 33! ;-)

{I gave Jeff a handwritten note that covered all of the serious stuff

And how deeply thankful I am for his kindness and friendship,

So I'll stick to the fun stuff here!}

*Top 33 JEM Quotes at the end of this post!

Here are several pictures from this week... all fun and fantastic!! =)

^^My gift = his initials in wooden letters + sepia photos and handwritten memories/quotes/etc. - another brilliant last minute idea - why can't I think of these things earlier!? - Mom came and helped me again and we stayed up past 5am working on it! lol

^^ Mom also wrapped it in the windowpane burlap ribbon, which I love.

They were fun to make, and I think it turned out pretty great! :)

 ^^Group pic at Red Rock!

 ^^Jeff being blindfolded (by Karli's scarf) and taken to the surprise location! lol

^^The Phoenix - awesome s'mores and fruit with chocolate fondue - birthday banners by Karli!

 ^^Baylor themed party! :)

^^ #thefourhorsemen  #weridetogetherwedietogether

Haha, Michael's hashtags make me happy. :)

^^Kristen and Amanda

^^ "Jeffer" and "Chettles!"

(No, I don't call them these names in person. lol)

^^FANTASTIC group pic!!

 ^^Epic Outtake! :)

^^ "This is the best cake I've had in all my 33 years!" ~JEM

 ^^Tall Kyle ready to float away! :)

 ^^The balloon send-off! lol

"Okay, on the count of 33..."  ~Chet =)

 ^^I like whatever happened with my camera here - it's interesting! :)

^^ Group pic at Legends!

 ^^Lunch at McAlister's this afternoon!

^^So glad I got to join "Tea Time" with "the boys!" =)

Now for the QUOTES (many of which may not make sense without context, but writing 33 stories seems excessive):

1. You know, I intend to own a herd of buffalo one day.  It's really a bucket list item!  (Just as random as it sounds!)
2. Do you all ever get those Glamour Shot pictures taken?  (Yes.) ...Me too!! :)
3. Guys, I HAVE to tell you something..... about Justin Bieber!!
4. Laura, are you judging me right now!?  (When Party in the USA came on his ipod)
5. Nooo, Lindsey.  This car's got an H on the front, not an L!
6. Or maybe she just told you that.  ....Just kidding - hopefully that wasn't too soon.
7. That WAS Parent Trap!  ...Nevermind.
8. If they won't give us 12 straws, ask for 3!
9. Oh, I'm telling you guys - I think that we are in for a treat!  (On Sean as the new Bachelor)
10. She is like a cat- she makes you work for her affection. She is sassy, a Mid-town snob, and a cunning sense of humor. Chet did not like her the first time we went to her class (shocker!). But, we have more than warmed up to this high-society post-cougar. (Describing their Spin instructor! lol)
11. So you could either have that tattoo across your back or you could get two Looney Tunes characters of your choosing on your -- umm, right above your -- kind of right below your clavicle area.
12. I LOVE laundry chutes!!
13. Plus, those blade things -- those are kind of in right now!  (On why he'd rather have no legs than no arms)
14. Oh Nelly, what a quandary we're in!
15. Man, this is just a bloodbath!  (Reacting to The Patriot)
16. Best.  Sidetrip.  Ever!
17. I may be delusional, but I honestly do think he would remember me if he saw me now!
18. Lindsey, I haven't seen a roach in months, but I can almost guarantee there'll be one tonight since you're here!
19. Internal dialogue is always optimistic but cautious as I pace towards my spot. ‘Maybe Rita hooked me up today? She knows I like Volkswagens. They seemed to have lots of Jettas in the lot.’ 
20. I love the uplighting on that house!  ...Even though it's a modest house.  It just gives it a nice ...glow, if you will.  
21. In honor of Chet and the Golden Girls, we blanched the green beans.  
22. Nahs to meet you!  (We all commented on the Texas accent...)  Well... my head was turned!
23. Things are 'stable' here.  Michael is a horse of a different color.  Hoove a good night!  (text)
24. You know, he's a cool guy. I could be like a mentor. (Long pause)  ...Me and Usher.”
25. Okaaaay, I feel awkward.  (Turning around after we'd been behind the drunk skanky girl for a while in Vegas)
26. On behalf of PSO, I'd like to apologize...  (when the power at his house was out and we had to move the party)
27. It's weird to go a whole day without seeing you.  (Text to Chet) lol
28. I asked what kind of car he wanted, and he said a Hummer.  I was thinking, 'Aww, how 'bout a '91 Honda Accord, buddy!?'
29. This is America, y'all. Take it in! …Oh, look at that barn. We should take a side trip from our side trip!
30. This is my fortress, and I'm the queen! (Imitating Malori)
31. Okay, so let's clarify... Call me before you text, message, tweet, email, visit, drop by, send smoke signals, or anything else! :)
32. Well... I meant to buy the Christian version!  (When an explicit rap song came on his ipod)
33. Here... let Daddy take care of it!

Hahahha, so quotable!

"Thank you for being a friend! Traveled down the road and back again... Your heart is true. You're a pal and a confidant!" ;-)