Monday, June 29, 2009

The Mystical Land of Arkansas







We are packing up our stuff, waking up at the crack of dawn, and heading to the Mystical, Magical, Natural,Slow-paced land of Arkansas. There we will see her royal highness,the Swaim Queen Mother, Granny-Great along with Uncles and our sweet Aunt Ida, Duchess of Velonia. There is no place I would rather be. It is amazing to go from a place completely covered in cement and hot tar parking lots, fenced in yards and no trees to fields as far as the eye can see and horizon lines interrupted only by the occasional silo or barn. Ooh and driving at night down a gravel road and turning your headlights off feels like you are in outer space because it gets so pitch black.I can not wait! We will be heading out tomorrow to make it just in time for a come and go where we will get one last chance to visit city hall in Jacksonville where Our Uncle Tommy is Mayor.He is finally retiring after 20+ years. Our good friends Zach and Windy call the Rice and Duck Capital of the World their home. They share land with Zach's parents, Tim and Bee.Tim and Bee own several acres and a lovely plantation house that is easly 100 years old. The kids favorite part though is their swimming pool.My favorite part is the pool house! We have had a lot of fun in that pool house! Least favorite part about Arkansas...MOSQUITOS! Being the rice capital of the world, the mosquitos are thick and hungry!! They breed in the water from the rice fields and are on steroids. I am sure of it. I can not wait to share the happenings and stories we bring home with us. Until then, I hope you have a fantastic 4th, remembering those who fought for our freedom.Let's all remember, Freedom Isn't Free.Much Love!

Sunday, June 28, 2009

The Tale of Mommy Dragon and the 3 Puffs

Once Upon a Time
in a land, not so far away....
there lived a fierce, fire-breathing, bulgey-eyed, gnarly-toothed, long talloned, GINORMOUS -BELLIED, spikey-tailed,scaley, venom-squirting, VERY MEAN,Mommy Dragon.
Um...so really, Mommy dragon was a nick-name granted by my 3 year old that seemed to stick.Not sure why or even how, but its cool.I prefer to think of myself as the pink shimmery dragon on Shrek with the long pretty eyelashes, who blows heart shaped smoke rings.Welcome to my little lair. I am so excited to have possibly figured out this blogging thing.I have always enjoyed reading the blogs of others, but always felt a little intimidated. Seemed to me that everyone really had their stuff together and that my life was lacking. Nobody would want to hear what this girl had to say.And then one day while listening to a sweet friends teaching and testimony, I learned that my story is a blessing that is intended for the Lord's glory so my tale must be told. I am a Texas girl who is blessed beyond measure.I have 3 Puffs. Puff #1 is my Hunka-Studly cigar smoking,Prince Charming, Jason. Jason and I married in September of 2003 after a 2 year courtship.We met September 8, 2001...so the 3 day rule was kind of a bust. We met through mutual friends at the Ft.Worth Stockyards...in a BAR!We have 2 kids.Puff #2, Braelyn is my 10 year old brown-eyed powder puff princess.Braelyn will be entering the 5th grade and is academically and musically talented.She excels in school and is a creative song-writer. Her daddy used to tell everybody she was going to be a Veterinarian Lounge Singer.Puff #3 is my 3 year old choo-choo train lovin', blue-eyed joker, Luke. Luke is a funny boy who is a creature of habit. He likes to wake up in the morning, lay on the couch, drink chocolate milk, and watch Sprout. He is a laid back kid who loves his Mama!Which is good because I think he is pretty special too. I can niot wait to dive in and share our tale and hope you enjoy following along in the adventure that is my life!