Monday, March 30, 2009

Florida

About a month ago, Micah told me that he had a legal conference in San Antonio and asked if I would like to go. He had a whole story to go along...told me about the times he would be in conference, told me about the hotel, and I think he even made up a name for the conference. Anyway, he totally had me going. Last week, as we were talking in bed, he told me that we weren't going to San Antonio, but instead, we were going to Florida. I thought he meant he had to go to another legal conference. Nope. He planned a surprise trip. He wanted to keep it a surprise, but I began planning things for me to do while he was supposed to be at the conference, and he was worried I would book something non-refundable in San Antonio when we weren't even going there. Micah has such a wonderful heart and this is one of the ways he shows love. Another example of this was when we were in college, he planned a trip to New York City to see my friend Laci since I couldn't ever afford to go see her. It was a total surprise, and I didn't know we were going until an hour before we left! It's pretty great being married to him! Here's our trip to Orlando, Florida in pictures!

Left Plainview at 5:00 AM to Lbk airport. First things first, Micah was pulled over by TSA to be searched. I snickered during the whole patdown (Micah is quite funny to travel with...that one-fourth Lebanon blood gets him searched everytime!). Smooth flight!

As soon as we arrived we ate and made to make a trip for toothpaste and sunscreen (mine were too big for flight regulations). Here's one of the first true Floridians we saw...


Then, it was off to our hotel to get checked in and nap. We had been up since 4 AM and were exhausted. We stayed at Rosen Shingle Creek. It was marvelous! This is the front view after you drive down a path of lovely gardens and the second picture is the view out our window.


We woke up and began to get ready to watch the firework show to DisneyWorld before our dinner reservations.


The firework show was great! We went upstairs for our 9:30 PM at California Grill. We ate super expensive steak and pork tenderloin followed by my favorite, the molten chocolate cake overlooking DisneyWorld at night. I had something cute on, but got chilly and grabbed my sweater from the plane hence my old grandma look. After dinner, we were so tired, and full that we joked about taking the table cloth and falling asleep.


We slept in and woke up to go to Disney's Wide World of Sports for a spring training game Braves versus Tigers.

Micah is a sports history nut. On one of our first dates he quizzed me on baseball trivia since I told him I liked baseball. He was impressed. Little did he know, I have a great memory and my dad also watched SportsCenter and pick up on names real quick...I really don't know that much!

These men were so cute and I totally sang along "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."

I loved all the flowers. I came home to Plainview on Sunday to dormant grass...sad face.

Micah insisted that we buy sunscreen that was three dollars cheaper than my kind. I know my sunscreen. His left me greasy. I sat a napkin down in my lap to eat my grilled chicken sandwich and off came the blue ink from the napkin onto my very white legs. It looked like vericose veins. I rubbed and rubbed and finally it came off. Micah insisted on a picture. The sunscreen was not used again and remained in Orlando.

Let's play ball!

Men scratch. I get it. Baseball players really scratch. Some more than others. I kept noticing one of the players doing so repeatedly. Then Micah caught on. Here's just a few pictures of the view he gave us!



After the game, we decided to drive to the Harry Leu Gardens. We drove in major traffic and were late getting there. After we arrived, we saw a wedding was beginning so we snuck around and got a few pictures. I wish we could have stayed. It was so beautiful just from the very little we saw.

The house. Lovely.

I was fascinated with the moss.



I hope we are rocking together 75 years from now.

Lots of lizards rustling in the vegetation.

This is the life picture.


Time for golf. Miniature golf. Fancy, growup mini golf with the Captain Blackbeard theme.



The first joke Micah laughed at from me ended in the line "Peg Leg." Great picture from a great memory.

Saturday we woke up and went to the Arnold Palmer Invitational. No cameras were allowed so we took picture outside the resort. We were so close to all the professional golfers. At one point, we were in arms length of Tiger Woods. We watched him warm up for about an hour. We were so close that Micah assisted a photographer with her pictures of the balls on the green.


We flew back to Texas on Sunday. As soon as we switched planes in Houston, my first words were, "I look like a giant Easter egg. I guess what works in Florida, doesn't fly here." I was wearing lemon yellow pants, pink and white check shirt with multi-colored sleeves and a lime green cardigan with embroided flowers in pink and green. Shhh, I like looking like an Easter egg!


Thank you Micah for a great surprise trip. Your thoughtfulness and effort was very evident. I count my blessings that I am your wife.

I see why people like to "winter" in Florida. Goodbye, Florida. I miss you!

Much love,

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Monday, March 23, 2009

End of Spring Break

I feel kinda guilty when I talk about my Spring Break around those who don't have the luxury, but since it's my reality I suppose I'll keep it real! We had a St. Patrick's Day birthday boy turn 27 on Tuesday. We tried to make it special and fun for him since it was a normal work day...he seemed happy to see our birthday messages, homemade dessert, and gift! On Saturday, we celebrated all March Sunday school birthdays with a Pot 'O Luck party at a friend's house. Pictures are below...



I spent the last half of my week off cleaning (it was so great!), resting, and getting to know Plainview a bit better. I did have a routine doctor's appointment in Lubbock and it really did feel like going to the big city! My sister, niece Reece , and baby in womb came to visit on Friday. On Thursday she found out she will be having another girl! I do love buying cute little girl clothes so I'm excited! They had a sonogram and found out the baby is healthy and on target for weight! What a blessing and miracle life is!

Much love,

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Monday, March 16, 2009

S.B. Day 1

Not a cloud in the sky today! Marvelous weather=marvelous attitude! I have been quite productive with my warm, sunshiny attitude...

--cleaned out vacuum (eeew, who knew what lurked in the filter!) then vaccumed
--did a little local Plainview shopping...I may have my next idea for the entryway light fixture!
--Wal-Mart, I almost didn't even mind
--cooked dinner for Micah (it was mostly boiling water, but hey...better than normal!)
--worked in flower bed (we have Indian Hawthornes that have the fungus endo-something leaf spot and three of my dwarf youpons are dead or sick)
--worked on cleaning up the garage
--Dodger has left us some surprises in the way of dried bodily fluid which I sat in over the weekend in the living room! I'm working diligently to get the smells up...they have improved...thank you baking soda, white vinegar, scrubbing and patience. I'm seriously wondering if he could stay in the kitchen with a fluffy doggy bed. I think his roaming privileges may be done while we are at work. I know he's a dog, but we've rarely treated him as such, and I'm really feeling guilt over this.

I think it was a pretty productive day! I'm now thinking I may go work outside some more! Thank you God for a beautiful day for me to enjoy!

Much love,

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Sunday, March 15, 2009

Spring Break

Spring Break, oh, Spring Break...how I love you! I'm not going anywhere and I'm quite tickled to work on the house. I told Micah tonight how excited I am to clean...really clean. Yesterday, I did all the laundry that was piled up in the laundry room (it was literally up to my lower calf). Yea for clean clothes! My Spring Break plans include cleaning, lawn work, some house repairs, a little shopping, and celebrating Micah's birthday...he's a St. Patrick's Day boy! I just so tickled to feel rested, relaxed, and do whatever I want!

Much love,

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Monday, March 9, 2009

"This little light of mine..."

"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Won't let Satan (whew) it out, I'm gonna let it shine, won't let Satan (whew) it out, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine."

This was one of my favorite songs growing up. I had the motions down pat and of course, and I was really into it! I digress...the meaning of the song HIT me tonight when I went to my old churches website about tonight in Pampa (we moved when was about 13) as I was just curious about how they were doing. They have doubled in size, and their mission is to impact the individual so they may impact a city. Wow! So simple. I sat thinking, I am one individual and the thought of impacting a city is daunting, but the thought of letting one person see the light of Christ through me is quite possible. Mind you, I don't think of myself as a glowing light, and I could stand to do better. I've been so wrapped up on scores that I've forgotten about treating my twenty two gifts with God's love lately. I actually have had some children call me "Mom" this year. How dare I not show them the love that so many dream of seeing.

My prayer is that God's love would fill me so they I may bless others even on blowing dirt, possible snow coming, back to winter, time change sleepiness, TAKS stressed, wishing I taught only social studies, and finally when is spring break, err summer days.

Much love,

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Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Maybe I was cool after all?

I had glasses in elementary school. Thankfully, I switched to contacts the summer between 6th and 7th grade. Looking back, I think how dorky I looked in glasses. Small head, big frames (not to mention, my giant poof of bags complimented by a giant bow or headband!). I even picked out a pair of pink plastic frames and later navy wire frames (Micah calls these my octagons...I wore them from 5th grade to my senior year of high school at night...it was a bad day when the contacts would not go in my eyes)! As I'm looking at people.com this evening, I run across a split screen between Sarah Jessica Parker in the '80s and Lourdes (Madonna's daughter) today. Tell me these glasses are not coming back! Upon seeing my pictures from childhood, Micah told me, "It's a wonder you had friends." After seeing the two pictures below, maybe I was cool after all.




Much love,

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Sunday, March 1, 2009

Weekend in Pictures

I'm so behind in my picture taking. Let me update you!

Here is Micah's Yukon. He's pretty excited about his new Tech plates, too!


My hair several inches shorter and a bit blonder!


And, drum roll please...me acting out my own version of a Slanket infomercial!

Enjoy the Slanket talking on the phone...

Enjoy the Slanket while browsing the 'net...

Enjoy cheering for your favorite team in your Slanket...

Enjoy snuggling with your favorite pet in your Slanket...

Enjoy feeling breezy in the back in your Slanket...

I love my Slanket!

Much love,

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