Children at play

I love this one!

JC with his cousins, Cullen and Ella Clare.

My sweet nephew, Cullen.

March 21, 2009 - White's Creek Lake - Eupora, MS

Memphis Zoo

 

Ya'll, I never get tired of the zoo. I love it. We took JC on March 20, and it was absolutely the best day we could have had at the zoo. I don't think it ever got above 60 degrees. Just perfect!!!

Fun at our house

 

I can't get enough of this smile!

 

Oh, and we love pineapple at our house, by the way...

What Girl Scout Cookie Are You?

You Are Peanut Butter Sandwiches / Do-si-dos

You are easy going and naturally happy. You don't need a lot to make you smile. You genuinely care about people and are a great friend. You're always doing your best to make the world a better place. Even though there isn't an immature bone in your body, you still are like a big kid sometimes. Why make life complicated when the best parts are actually quite simple? You enjoy the small joys of life.

What Girl Scout Cookie Are You?

Folks, we've got ourselves a competition

Yes, Seacrest, we certainly do! BTW, why doesn't Ryan say "Seacrest - out" anymore???

I know this is my first AI blog of the season, but I just couldn't resist after the awesomeness that I saw last night. I don't think I have ever voted for so many contestants before. There is not a one of them that I just terribly dislike this season, and several of them that I LOVE.

Michael - He has been Curtis' pick from the start, although I am not sure he will make it into the finals after last night's performance. He said Country music was all about having fun, and that was obviously what he did with the Garth song. But, in my opinion he didn't really pull it off. I like him better with a ballad. I sent him a few votes just because Curt likes him so much and I would like to see him stick around a while longer.

Allison - That girl can sing! Loved her song... Was that a flower in her hair or was it a nest made of her hair? I didn't like it. I didn't vote for her, but I think she will make it through on this performance.

Kris - This was the first time I have liked him. Another Garth song, but this time it was a winner!!! I loved this song on "Hope Floats," and I loved Kris' version just as much! I didn't vote because as I said, this was the first time I have liked him at all. I think he will make it through. After all, the judges say he is "popular with the ladies."

Lil - Poor Lil... Country just didn't suit her at all. I thought it was so cute when she said the only Country songs she had ever heard were the ones from movies. She had a hard time deciding on a song, but ultimately I think she chose a song that spoke to her and she should be applauded for that. I thought she sounded great (as always) when she got into the chorus. And why did Simon keep calling her "Little"??? I thought that was SO DISRESPECTFUL! He has never had a problem with her name before, and now all of a sudden he doesn't like her performance so he is going to screw with her name. I assume that Lil is short for Lily or Lillian. C'mon Simon, grow up.

Adam - Let me just say that Curtis (the biggest Johnny Cash fan ever) HATED this performance. I didn't love it, but I think Adam is a great entertainer. They want you to take the songs and put your own spin on them, and he certainly did. The whole thing was a little Marilyn Mansonish for my taste, but there is a market for that kind of thing. The way he holds on to eye contact with the camera for so long makes me a little uncomfortable though. Does this bug anyone else?

Scott - OK... at first, I thought Idol was trying to make everyone fall in love with Scott because of his disability, and I was determined not to jump on the bandwagon, but ya'll, I REALLY LIKE HIM!!! He has so much emotion when he is sitting at that piano, and his talent (blind or not) is nothing short of amazing. His vocals are not always that awesome, but they are always so heartfelt that I just come away loving whatever he does. Many votes for Scott last night!

Alexis - She really does look a little like Dolly Parton. When she said she was singing "Jolene," I thought it would be perfect. But the arrangement was weird for me even though I still thought she sang well. I thought the judges were way to hard on her and I felt bad for her every time they camera zoomed in on her face. I sent several votes her way, because she is my favorite girl, and while it is quite apparent to me that the finale will come down to the guys, I would like to keep a girl in the running as long as possible, just to mix it up a little bit.

Danny - Boomama, I think you are right. That was a "members only" jacket... Danny had me worried for a minute there. I didn't like his "look" for the evening. The song started and the verses were very blah... I was getting nervous and then the chorus came and WOW!!! He sounded awesome when he just let loose and sang! He has been a favorite of mine since the beginning. Many votes.

Anoop - Gosh, what can I say? I was worried Anoop would have gone home after his performance last week, so I was so happy he did so well!!! What a cutie patootie he is. I loved his version of Willie Nelson's classic. Anoop is another one of my early favorites! Voted for him too.

Megan Joy - Hmmm... not really a fan. Props to her for singing through her sickness though.

Matt - BEST OF THE NIGHT! What else can I say? I love Matt. He is so Justin Timberlakeish, but he seems so humble too. I thought his performance was so great I went rewound it and watched it a second time! (I never do that.) My favorite of the season for sure!!!

So, I am going out on a limb here to predict the finale. I know it is early, but I think it will come down to Adam and Matt. (I think Danny and Lil, and possible Scott will last a long time too.) I know the finale is way off, but I think I predicted that it would come down to "the war of the Davids" pretty early last season, so I am just putting it out there. What do you think?

Never Forgotten

(From my Upper Room Devotional today)

The Lord says, "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands." -Isaiah 49:16 (NIV)

My rambunctious three-year-old daughter had been playing with her collection of rubber stamps. One of her favorites is a small, heart-shaped stamp. While I was busy with my work, she sneaked up behind me, grabbed my hand, and stamped my palm. Any protest I might have uttered was swept away when she looked at me adoringly and said, "I love you, Daddy." I went back to my work and soon forgot all about the incident.

The next morning, as I prepared to go to work, I turned my hand over and noticed the heart-shaped stamp. I immediately recalled my daughter's act of love the previous night, and I found myself deeply touched.

The Bible tells us that we are "engraved on the palms" of God's hands. This tells us that God will neither forsake nor forget us. What a wonderful promise that is! When we feel down or lost, we may be tempted to think God has forgotten us. God hasn't - and the Bible gives us that assurance.

by: Daniel C.M. Tan (Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia)

But, I love country ham...

Just when I thought I would never find something to top the amazing "life-saving weave" video I recently posted, God blesses me with this. I hope you love it as much as I did.



I love the message in this song. I would love to sit down and discuss religion with this man over a bowl of "Nuts of Grapes." One day God will call us all home, but I'd like to think we will still get breakfast in Heaven. After all, it is the most important meal of the day!

Can you believe this awesomeness occurred right here in Tupelo, MS on the Mornin' Show?! So great!!!

Snow Day

March 1, 2009 -What a blast we had with our tiny bit of snow!!!

Click on the collage for a closer look.

It Snowed

Yeah - more pictures later!