Driving 101

This past weekend I have found out what it feels like to be a truck driver. Friday, Daddy and I drove to Roanoke for me to write an essay and a short interivew for Dental Hygiene; Saturday Mama, Carrie, Will and I drove to South Carolina for a combined shower for two of my cousins and Sunday Dad and Mama drove to North Carolina; I didn't want to stay home all evening by myself so they dropped me by Rob and Carrie's. To say the least, by last night all of us were haggard and road weary.

On Friday, Dad and I rode through Pulaski. He took me to see the church he pastored, the house where they brought me home and othe sights. (What stories a house could tell if it could only talk!) A cat stuck his head through a curtain while we were admiring the house. The town reminded me of Andy Griffth (yeah, maybe I'm a fan of the show). :)

Will was quite the trooper riding for 7 hours in one day. I snapped this picture of him when we had stopped for one of his feedings. He was handsome in his khaki pants and polo shirt.

Thanks!

I would like to thank all of you for praying for our recovery!! Although mama is still sore, we are both on the mend, and I might add a bit more cautious at traffic lights! Dad brought home the liscense plates,from the totaled car, which were nicely duct taped together, with the words "Blue Vibe. Wrecked." I guess a wreck is a wreck to them...the car is non-driveable-needs help, perhaps a new home in a junk yard, or maybe just a new frame.

I had a request for a picture of my lip. I did shrink it so as not to gross anyone out.

Our Good Friday

This morning mama and I took off for a shopping trip to Exit 7 with plans to meet Carrie and kiddos. It was very apparent that God had other plans, some that we would have like to fore go. At the traffic light, in Lebanon, a lady to the right of us and whose light was red did not stop and by the time we saw her it was too late for me to stop...we collided. Thanks to mama calling 911 help arrived quickly and in the meantime some very attentive witnesses were there to check on us. From there the rescue squad arrived and jotted down some basic info. Then they urged us, despite us telling them we were not injured, to have a doctor check us out. Thus we were ushered into an ambulance and to the RCMC. We had a few x-rays taken and thankfully they were clear. Mama is quite sore from the seat belts restraining power and my lower lip has seen better days; as for the other driver she was not seriously injured either.
The Vibe-erator, however, was seriously injured and was towed by the closest wrecker service. They were backed up and ready for action before we were even out of the car!
Somewhere between the collision and when we stopped rolling the rear view mirror flew off (I say flew because now I realize when you are in a wreck nothing 'comes' off but flies). I offered it to dad as a souvenir but he declined...it remains where you see it. Mama's glasses ended up in the floor beside my seat...Notice the spider web-like pattern on the window...Although this Good Friday was not good in the way we would have liked it was good in God's goodness towards us in sparing our lives! Thank you does not seem enough but it is the word that I have said over and over today...for God would have been just as good if he had not spared my (our) lives today. Like the simple child's prayer, "God is great, God is good. Let us thank Him..."

Abstract Scenery

While driving home from work I saw a distant animal in the road. I assumed it was a bird (as my distant vision isn't THAT great) but it was a dog. It would seem that it's friend had been hit by a car and lay in the middle of the road. As I approached the dog ran reluctantly away leaving his friend to the mercy of the passing cars. This brought to mind the shortness of life and how lost I would be without God's help, guidance and saving grace; like the sad dog that ran away confused about which direction to run. I passed the dogs feeling sad but thankful for the beauty that surrounds me...
I did not want to let the first day of sPrInG pass by without pictures!
After I took this picture is brought to mind Goliath, although he wasn't so distorted. What would it feel like to not only be this tall....you could reach all sorts of things, like a giraffe...
Then I laid down to take a picture of the sky but I didn't stay there long because the sidewalk was hard and it didn't exactly feel warm 'n' toasty outside to be on the ground...

On to the kitchen now...I have often wondered how long it will be before some artist sales a picture, for thousands of dollars, of a full dish drainer. Maybe I could be the first? You could have themes, pots artfully arranged or plates and bowls that resemble people...

Before ya'll think I have 'lost my marbles', here is a picture of a crocus flower for your viewing enjoyment...I hope you all are enjoying sPrInG and the beauty it brings!

SPRING!!

Today is the FIRST day of spring! However, we had a light dusting (very sparce) of snow this morning. So as I get ready to head off to work I hope each and every one of you have a WONDERFUL day!!! HAPPY SPRING!!!!!!

A few of my favorite things...

On the drive home from work I was thinking how much I LOVE spring! Spring gives the plants, animals, vegetation that hibernated for winter a chance to make their presence known! (Oh...I forgot about planting you last year...welcome) What is your favorite thing about spring?! Is it the smell of freshly cut grass, drinking in a field full of wildflowers, or peaceful evenings listening to crickets and feeling the breeze? I myself get great pleasure out of watching birds hop around the yard looking for a juicy worm; hearing a John Deere cut grass; painting my toes all sorts of fun colors... Okay! Enough ramblings...you tell me what you love about spring! Comments welcome! :)

spring Break

While Chrisa was in for spring she performed her recital at church; She and Meg also did a few duets. It was good to hear it again and not be AS nervous. We took more pictures this time since no one was waiting to practice in the recital hall.

Mama & Chrisa

Dad & Chrisa

Mr, Hankins & meThe performers

Mr& Mrs. Dale, Mr. & Mrs. Lester & Mrs. Dye

Chrisa & me

Spring-ish Weather

The weekend brought some interesting weather. Saturday it snowed but by Sunday after church the snow had melted and Robins were making their home again in the trees (actually they were on the ground...)

Sunday morning:Saturday night:

Twilight zone snow?

And a spring bird; say hello...:)

Flying Fingers

Chrisa's graduate piano recital was this past weekend. All but two of Dad's siblings were there as well as the Soundara's. We had a fun time visiting and sleeping 8 people in a one bedroom apartment. She did a great job but most of us were too nervous to enjoy to the fullest extent. The pictures of Chrisa in her princess dress, as Mya called it, were a little dark (despite the attempt to lighten them up).

(l to r): Nancy, Missy, Doris, Dad, Jane Chrisa breathing a sigh of reliefThe Soundara clan Randy, Missy and me
Doris and mama

Chrisa and her teacher Dr. Z. Sam and Chrisa

Congratulations!

Welcome William Robert Cornett! We are very thankful you are here! He was 9lbs 3 ozs and 20 1/2 inches long! Congrats Robbie, Carrie and RuthAnne!!!

A Little Info...

I interupt this night to tell you that Virginia now has a new welcome sign! I was driving to Wytheville on Friday and saw it with my own eyes! I wanted to snap a picture for those of you who haven't yet seen it, however, I was driving. Not wanting to disapoint, a post without pictures, I sent the internet on a mission. The mission was accomplished with blazingly fast speed and processing. Here they are for your viewing enjoyment...

Old:

New:
What do ya think?

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!!

Thought I would share a few Valentine facts (thanks to World Magazine):

* Six percent of currently married women have been married for 50 years or longer.

* Last year the nation's nearly 30,000 jewlery stores sold $2.5 billion in merchandise in February alone.

* American's eat 26 pounds of chocolate a year per capita, at a total cost of about $15 billion.

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you married folks! And for all of you single folks, as a friend of mine says, Happy Singles Awareness Day! :) Hope it's fantastic!!!

Sacrifice

What is sacrifice? Is it the giving up of your favorite thing for a month maybe longer depending? It can be defined as: "The surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim." The ultimate sacrifice was God giving his perfect willing son for wretched sinners "of whom I am chief". Faith the basis of all life. "By faith Abrham offered up Isaac." The faith of our fathers is easily forgotten. As a nation we have forgotten the living and true source of life. Have a cup of cheer. What cheer might would that be? Men and women sacrifice their lives for us defending our freedom. A cup of cheer indeed! How can their be cheer when war, death, pain and suffering surround us? A thick veil is hung over our eyes I did not get my way. It's a land of free choice and liberty afterall. Are we so warped as to forget, do unto others as you would have them do unto you? Just so things don't rock my boat life is good, the wind is in my sails. Smooth sailing from here. This mind set put us where we are today. A state of sin, dispair, and most of all a need for a sacrifice-the Sacrifice. Thanks to Jesus the perfect atoning sacrifice was made whole. I love because he first loved me.

Happy Birthday to Me

"The first fact about the celebration for a birthday is that it is a way of affirming defiantly, and even flamboyantly, that it is a good thing to be alive."

Indeed I am very thankful that God has given me another year of life and family to share it with!! What a blessing to be loved so much!!

A new lamp to read by into the wee hours of the morning (just on special occasions)
Andy Griffith-8th and final season along with two other GREAT movies...:)

Nothing Much

Nothing foreign has taken residence in the garage since the coon aside from our regular canine. Who is happy to have her own space again!
The Wizard of Oz wind that touched down last night did make part of a tree split. I say part of a tree because it was not a little branch you could run over with you car wheel because you did not see it reclining in the road. IF you did run over it I am very sure the limb would win and the car would look quite defeated! "Uhh, Dad I just ran over something." "WHAT!?" "Well......it was actually part of a tree that jumped in front of me. Its not THAT bad. I think the motor is still there." How does one not notice such things until ALMOST upon it, thus stopping to say, "WHOA!!. Where did you fall from?"
Clara introduced me to a fun website that has many blog templates. Thus the past few nights I have been trying find one not only that suits the theme of my blog but also my personality. For now this one is going to be tagged it. I do have things to do besides sit in a rocking chair and mess with the look of my blog. And who will notice if I put a new page element here and take one away there? Only OCD people such as myself do such things until they are perfectly perfect (or so it looks) and upon seeing your finished results say, "AHH, how refreshing to look at this evenly arranged page" as if it were an ice cold Coke.
I write this post as the parents have turned in for the night and I am wide awake wondering what I can do to amuse myself and busy my mind. (As my dear family know I do tend to be somewhat of a night owl) So I will close this post and wish all of you wondering what has come upon me a wonderfuly good night!

To Infinity and Beyond

We never know what sort of animal will take a liking to our house. Today it was a raccoon! Dad noticed Peaches acting a little strange when she came out of the garage so he went in to investigate but found nothing. Shortly thereafter a coon runs out, into the yard and up a tree! The evidence seemed to show it was rabid and wanting to keep the domesticated animal (e.g. Peaches) safe Dad 'helped' it down the tree.

In the tree...

Falling down...

On the Ground....

Upside down!

Lessons

Since taking a knitting class I have been wanting to learn more crafty things, sewing was one of them. So....mama has been my willing and VERY patient teacher. (Thanks Mama!) In our sewing lessons we are making a 12x12 square. Also,last week I hemmed my FIRST pair of pants. It only took me about an hour a leg and it was a good thing they were navy and not khaki. :)
Here is my half finished square...

Hoof Prints

These creatures seem to be a resident at our house, Here they are searching for food and eating every edible green plant in sight (or in this case what isn't covered in snow).

Full Joy

Carrie gave me a book entitled A Maiden in Waiting. It is compiled by Crystal Paine and contains various articles from single women about relying entirely on God, contentment and becoming a virtuous maiden. I am not much of a 'poem person' but this was one I could actually interpret. It was written by W.P. Balfern and is entitled Full Joy:

O Sovereign Lord, They Kingly Words
Bring wonderous love to view;
And wouldest Thou have our hearts like Thine,
As full of love, and true?

We ask like children in the dark,
We scarce know what we say;
To us the joy Thou wouldest impart
Seems rightly far away.

We view it as a distant sun,
Whose beams just reach us here;
Forgetting all is near to faith,
While Thou are ever near.

We comme to life's own springing well,
A drop we tast and live;
And speak of this as though 'twere all
The Master has to give.

Lord, raise our fiath to higher joys,
To larger views of Thee;
Oh let us reach the hieghts and depths
Of Love's own mystery!

no Rhyme nor Reason

Some blogs I have viewed the authors update EVERY day! I COULD do this but as a courtesy to my viewers and my tendency to ramble I will spare you of this for the present time.
Carrie and RA came for a visit the other day. Dad took these pictures of our eventful afternoon.

Grandmama and RuthAnneCarrie and Will

RuthAnne sill enjoying the Christmas season with a singing card we received. Would anyone like to hear a rousing rendition of Silent Night?

Aunt Chrisa and RuthAnne

Mama, Carrie RA and I went shopping in Kingsport today. Old Navy was having a winter clearance and we braved the crowds to see what good deals we could find. The store was QUITE the mess but all four of us (RA included) found clothing. Here is one of my good deals.