Meet The New Couple

Over two months ago, our family had the privilege of being at a wedding. Not just any wedding, but the wedding of our only daughter, Ashley and her best friend, Jeremy.

 Jeremy's parents were married in the LDS Washington DC Temple, and so were we. That's why they decided this was where they wanted to be married. So, the family members traveled from, Louisiana and Indiana to Washington DC.





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It was a beautiful sunny day, with just a small breeze. In attendance were not only both sets of parents but also two of Ashley's brothers, one of Jeremy's brothers and his wife, and also his sister and her husband.




Here is a picture of the newly married couple just behind the temple. It was a very nice area to take pictures.











The the colors she chose were bright yellow and turquoise, and the theme...butterflies.
A couple years ago, while Jeremy was on his mission in Chile, Ashley wrote a poem . They have known each other a long time, and started dating while still in high school. It has been quite the journey, and the poem is one I know you all will enjoy (it is toward the end of the blog).  You will notice her engagement ring has butterflies on it. Instead of a diamond, a blue topaz was chosen (her birthstone).

Just a few days after the wedding, the first reception was enjoyed by all in Muncie, IN (Jeremy's hometown). About a month later, the second reception was here in Monroe, LA.





Just before the couple settled in their new home, I took her out by the bayou for her bridals.  They came out really well.












Ashley picked out a dress that was just her style...not like any other we have seen. Long in the back and shorter in the front, it was able to show off her yellow shoes. The dress had a lace overlay, with just a small touch of sparkle. She fixed her hair a couple of different ways. At the wedding and Muncie reception, she wore her hair half pulled back with a barrette of white silk flowers. At the Monroe reception and her bridals, she wore a crown with blue and clear crystals.  For jewelry, I made her a necklace, earring, bracelet set made of freshwater pearls, mother of pearls, and  swarovski crystals.



So, now all the planning and traveling is over with, and the happy couple is busy working and going to school. I look at them, and think about how fast time goes. It does not seem that long ago that Bill and I were a newlywed couple.  Twenty-eight years and four kids later, we are still very happy. I hope the best for this new couple. Someday, they will look back just was I have, and think.."Where has the time gone!?"

AT &T

A few weeks ago we came home from out of town to find we had no internet service. UGGG! I had so much I needed to do including my Bead Soup Party stuff.  I called AT&T to discuss the situation, two weeks later, I was still calling (daily or so) about our problem that would only be fixed for about 15 mins after I got off the phone with them. I called one more time and threatened to change internet service.  AT&T sent a service man out.  I was told that he would not do anything that cost money until he got it ok'd by me.  When he arrived I kept asking him how much this was costing. He did not know. I called the next day to find out and was told it was a $200 charge! Well just $198. Anyway I was not a happy camper. The lady on the other end was very nice and took off the charge for two weeks we did not have internet, and told me that I would be getting the $198 charge on our next bill, and to call back and they would handle it. Ya, sure, I thought. What kind of fool you think I am? But, what else could I do?

Yesterday, we received our bill. The charge was taken off for the two weeks without internet, but as was stated the $198 charge was there.  I called them thinking I was going to be arguing with them.  Happily, I was very wrong. The lady on the other end, Mrs Allen, was very pleasant, and less than 5 mins later, I was off the phone with the $198 charge off my bill.  I thanked her and told her that AT&T had redeemed itself.  There are many times that we complain by a wrong doing, but how many times do we let the world know when things were made right. I am blogging about this to let all know, that AT&T has made me a happy customer.

Dining Room = Living Room/Living Room = Billiards Room

I really can't understand people sometimes.  Being in the market for a new home AND selling our existing home, I find that most do not have an eye for what one can do with their property.  Example...Our current home is an open floor plan. When we moved into it a little over four years ago, we had just purchased a nice pool table. It was difficult to find a home that we could fit the pool table into.  The house we bought had room for one, but only in the living room.  So where were we to put our couch and TV?  The dining room.  At first I did not want to do that.  I also did not want to get rid of the pool table. So, I settled for having our living room in the dining room.  When you first come into the front door there is an area to the right where the dining area is to go, a pole is the only thing to separate the dining area from the living area.  In the back of my mind, I knew we would eventually sell the house and figured we would have to stage the home--putting a dining room set in the dining area and moving our living room stuff to the living room area.  Most people cannot visualize at all.

Well, we did not stage the dining room as the dining room.  It is the living room, and the living room is where we have our pool table.  I think it looks nice, and I hope that those who come to see our home will be fine with it. If not, hopefully the realtor will help them to make since of it.  Isn't that what a realtor suppose to do?  We shall see...

Young Women

Yesterday, I was released from my responsibilities as Young Women's President at church.  After four years working with the youth, one would think, I was ready for the release, but actually, that is far from the truth!  I have absolutely loved every minute with the girls.  What a great group of girls.  They have helped me to grow so much, and I hope I have done the same for them.

When I look back on all the things we did, I realize, wow! We did a lot!  Everything from teaching Sunday lessons, going to camp with them, hiking the bayou, traveling to Baton Rouge on several occasions to the temple, going to New Orleans and Slidell to visit the Bishop's storehouse, a variety of service projects, including the zoo clean up, numerous food bank can sorting (I'm really going to miss this activity in a couple of months).  We also worked on Personal Progress together, and I was able to earn my medallion (just about earned my bee--just half way through Alma now).  Yes, it was a lot of work, but so well worth every minute. I hope someday, I will be back serving the Young Women.  That is truly the place to be!

Life Is Good

We made it safe and sound to Baton Rouge. I'm sitting in my daughter's living room listening to the rain from Tropical Storm Lee fall.  It's not going to be bad. Tonight, only about 35 mph winds with gusts up to 50. Just hope it is out of here and long down the road before we have to leave to go back to Monroe tomorrow afternoon, I sure would hate to drive in that.

The kids have made a nice little place for themselves here in Baton Rouge. Their home is very pleasant.  They have decorated it very nicely with all their new stuff and also some of the hand me downs they have accumulated. It sure is a nice feeling to see your children happy and doing well.

Busy Little Bees

I thought I'd take a little break and blog.  I am pooped!  We have been trying to get our house ready to put on the market.  I like my house the way it was, but for some, it may be a little over the top.  You see, four years ago, we moved to a much smaller home.  I knew that we would not always be in this house, so I kept a lot of stuff.  Our old house was your typical home with separate dining room, living room, eat in kitchen, family room, etc.  Our house now is a very open floor plan. Our dining, living, and eat in kitchen is all open.  Because of this, we have no walls, and with no walls it is very difficult to hang pictures.  We purchased quite a few nice pictures for our old home, and when we moved into this home, I wanted my pictures on the wall; and so we put them up...all of them.

For some, this might be over the top, so we are "staging" our house so to speak. Down come the pictures, in the boxes all my books go and into storage they all go, including a lot of furniture.  Food storage is another thing I need to probably store. You see, our church is big on food storage. There is a really good article about it, "If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear."  

Well, I guess I better get back to work. We have realtors coming in Wednesday.  That only gives me Monday and Tuesday to finish up the house, as we are heading down to Baton Rouge this weekend to take more stuff to Ashley and Jeremy.  We are suppose to be getting a lot of wind and rain too on Monday and Tuesday due to what is to be Tropical Storm or Hurricane Lee.  We really need the rain, but I am hoping it will wait til we can get everything into storage. :P

Again?!

This has been such a summer! In May, Scott graduated from high school, in June, Ashley graduated from BYU AND got married, in July we had two wedding receptions, and Scott started college, and in August we find out we are moving...to Kentucky!

Just before the wedding, Bill got a call from a head hunter about two jobs. One in Dallas and one in Madisonville, KY. We quickly brushed both off because we did not feel it was the right time.  Dallas was a for sure NO, because it is further from family, and we don't want to live in a humongous city.  Kentucky...maybe someday.  Benjamin still has two years of school left, Scott is just down the road at college, and Ashley and Jeremy are just a short days drive away...near a temple!  Surely we will be seeing them at least once a month.  Funny, how the Lord has other things in store for you.

As the summer progressed with all the activities, the job in Madisonville kept coming up. So we started entertaining the thought.  As we look on the map, we see that it is just 2 1/2 hrs from Bill's mom and dad and just 1 1/2 hrs from Nashville, TN where he grew up and the rest of his family are.  Granted, we always prayed that we would be able to retire closer to home.  For me....that would be Florida.  Even Georgia would do; that could be halfway between.  But Kentucky?!

Last week, Bill received the formal job offer.  We sat down and put it all on paper.  Hmmmmm....looked good.  But what about our kids?  Especially Benjamin.  I NEVER wanted to pull one of my kids out of the middle of high school.  I know, people do it all the time, and kids adjust wonderfully.  But I like it here!  I have made some really nice friends.  We have grown close to the people at church, and I have a group of neighborhood ladies that I have grown close to also.  We walk everyday, occasionally we have lunch together, about once a month we have classes at the local library, etc.  Crum!

After looking at it, my husband could not make the decision without me seeing the place. So, we took a quick trip to KY.  We drove up, did some house hunting, spent the night and went to church.  We both had a really good feeling about it. So it was back home we went to break the news to our kids.  We had already mentioned to them, what was going on, but I'm sure in the back of their minds, nothing would come of it...surprise!  We are going....

So, yes, Benjamin will change schools, and we will be leaving Scott and Ashley behind.  uggg!  I just hate it.  But you know, it is only a temporary thing.  Scott will not always be here in college, and neither will Ashley and Jeremy.  Before we know it, they will be moving out of Louisiana too...maybe they will find their way up to Madisonville too, or maybe not.  All I do know is that the Lord wants us in Madisonville, and so that is where we are going.  In all the moving around we have done, I have learned that it is all attitude.  What attitude we take with us to our new home, is how we are going to like it..or not.  So, it is with a positive attitude that I leave Monroe, Louisiana.  I am thankful for all the memories I will be keeping and the good times I have had.