The Guess? Belt

When I married my husband many years ago, I had this cute black Guess? belt. Over time, I grew completely out of it and it would only fit about three quarters around my waist. So I put it away. First, in a closet in the first home we owned in St. James, Missouri. I remember the exact shelf inside our modest master bedroom closet.

Over the years, we have moved from St. James, Missouri, to Rolla, Missouri, to West Plains, Missouri, to Honolulu, Hawaii, to Houston, TX and now to Lumberton, TX. I have learned that when you move nearly every two years, if it wasn't taken out of the box from one move, we didn't need it. You can imagine how many things we've rummaged through and give away before the next move. For some reason, I never parted with that black Guess? belt. I am unsure why. Maybe to hold onto what I once was, or my 20's...who knows.

Here we are in Lumberton, TX and there the belt sits on a shelf in our master bedroom's closet, just as it did years ago. I have been on a weight losing/ health kick first in Hawaii (4 years ago) when I lost 36 pounds and now again where I have a goal to lose an additional 30 (17 are gone!). So today, I pulled out some of my smaller jeans trying to find some to fit and they are too big now too! So, there I went looking for a belt to hold them up, until I can get some jeans that fit. Low and behold, there lies the black Guess? belt. I thought about it and decided to give it a shot. It is 2 holes away from where I once wore it, but as the photo shows, it FITS!

Who knows why we hold on to some of the things we do, but we do. Whether it sentimental reasons or not, it's human. Even though I am unsure of why this belt held such a place with me that I just could not part with it. I am glad that I didn't. I can not remember being this excited about an item of clothing since the 80's! All because of a black Guess? belt!

My new job continued...

Here are some more items I've created!

My new "Job"

I have loved Uppercase Living as a customer for a couple of years now, but I have a whole new love for it now! I have made transforming homes and personalizing walls and crafts my new j-o-b! It's been 3 weeks now and I am constantly busy and loving every minute of it. People here in Lumberton haven't really heard of it, so it's been a unique and fun experience thus far. What will inspire you today?

Halloween 2009

We spent Halloween at the fall festival at church this year. It was great to be surrounded by our church family. The kids had a great time and ended up with enough candy to last until next year! Seriously, we've never had this much candy!
This is Cami and some of her friends, 2 of these girls are like daughters to me (not counting Cami). Marissa the clown, Cami the lady bug, Bailey (Raggedy) Ann, Jaci the hippie, and Amanda (or Dorothy).
Kailyn was nominated to be the photographer of the evening. She did a great job! She did manage to take some pics with her friends on the hayride.
And, we took the camera for the pie eating contest! She's still undefeated.

Halloween is so much more fun without the devils, witches, and sexy costumes! We were blessed to have good clean fun!
Happy Fall Ya'll!

A Thorn in Thy Side...

Well, not actually in the side, but the shin! Sunday night our friend, Mike and his kids were visiting. The kids were playing outside while we were talking in the driveway. Bailey came to me and said, "Kenzie has something in her leg! It's a circle!" We all looked at each other confused and I proceeded inside. Just inside our front door, Kenzie sat rocking back and forth in our love seat like a crazy person. She was in pain, but knew we would pull it out, so she was "hiding" from us.
Kevin, Mike and I all looked at her leg, and it was weird. It was like an hour glass half in her leg. Kevin and I held her while Mike got it out. We felt it, and didn't know what the foreign object was. Then we looked closer and realized there was still something in there. We figured she was traumatized enough and left it alone.

While at Kai's volleyball game on Monday, Kenzie kept crying, "I want it out, It hurts". She even skipped cheerleading, then we knew it was bad. When we got home, we tried to get it out, without any success. So Tuesday morning, I took her to the ER. The doctor looked at me like I was crazy. I could tell she didn't think there was anything in there, but was going to cut on her anyway, just to be sure.

They wrapped Kenzie up in a sheet to restrain her, along with 2 nurses and myself, while the doctor gave her 5 numbing shots. It wasn't pleasant to watch her scream in agony! The doctor cut above the scab... nothing. Then below the scab and she said, "Oh my goodness! I got it!" She proceeded to tell me that she did not think there was anything in there at first. I told her I could tell that, which made her a little uncomfortable, I think. (A MOM KNOWS! When will doctors give us credit for knowing our children?) So, there it was, but what was it?

When Kevin got home Tuesday evening, we went back to the scene of the crime (it was too dark on Sunday) and Kenzie showed us exactly where she was when she got hurt. I had pruned my only rose bush a couple of weeks ago. We are pretty sure that it was the thorn inside her leg and part of the dying limb broke off that we originally got out! What a big deal a little thorn made. It kind of gives a new meaning to the old saying, "A thorn in thy side"...

LHS Football

We were able to have our photo taken by a local TV station last night. Click the link to see us at "The Tailgate Party"!

Please Pray for the O'Malley Family

This is an alert to all of my Southeast friends! One of the churches we attended here in Lumberton has a wonderful preacher with a wonderful family. Even though we chose not to go to make this our home church, we have kept in touch with the family. They have 5 children. Their oldest, Jonathan, who is 16 was living at Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston fighting Leukemia. He was sent home over the summer cancer free!

This morning, I got an alert to look at his Care Page (See attached link) and at my dismay, he is in remission. This family is in need of financial assistance! They will have to attain an apartment in Houston again with the mother, Melanie and the younger children. She will homeschool them there. Kevin, the father and preacher of Lumberton C of C, will be back and forth with his preaching duties and his family. Please keep them in your prayers. If you can help financially, please do.

The family is Kevin and Melanie O'Malley and the son's name is Jonathan.

Thank you!