Purple Princess Party

Our Purple Princess...Happy 4th Birthday!

My fav pic !

My sweet princess:)

 Thanks, Mrs. Jenna for your help!
Castle cake was yummy!

The princess' ball

Once Upon a Time...there were number 4 jello-jigglers...

 My crazy sisters!

 Aunt Linda, Uncle Randy, and Tabithia:) 

Granny and Papa

Sweet Riley getting in on the action!

Dragon pinata

Sprinkles on the cookies

 Royal cousins

Uncle Steve...haha

great shot...

 Brooks go tinto the props...hilarious!

 One of my favorites from the night!

Build-a-Castle...They disqualified Kirk's because he used a tower from the cake!

 Words cannot describe...

I love my sisters:)  Missing you, Bub!

 Prince Wesley  and Princess Jo  built a fancy castle...

way to go!

I love this!

 

 CJ loves her Uncle Wes!

PRESENTS!

 

A fun time was had by all!

Minnows in the aquarium...

Im sitting here singing The song Precious memories...how they linger...and thinking about my weekend.

We took CJ to the pet store to check out the hamsters like the one in the movie, Bolt.  I had "a moment" while telling her about our hamster, Scooter, who would escape and hide in the arm of our couch when we were kids.

Sometimes it hits me like a ton of bricks...that hey, despite all the brokenness in my family, we really did have some great times as kids that somehow seem to be almost forgotten...and oh how I cherish those good times as a kid.

I even sent "Bub" a text about Scooter...and yes I truly STILL call my brother Bub.  Ha

Anyway, inside the pet store they had all kinds of hamsters...mice...gerbils...cats...birds...and FISH! It's funny how a simple trip to a pet store can stir so many emotions but my heart was full of happy the minute I saw those aquariums!

You see, MamaBill and DaddyDoyle had a fish aquarium.

I have shared before that DaddyDoyle was a prankster...he loved nothing more than getting under MamaBill's skin.  And what better way to do that than putting regular ole fishing minnows in her aquarium.

I can still hear her cussin'.  I bet she was puffing away on what may have been her second pack of 100s as she tried to catch those minnows with a net.  Better yet, I can still hear DaddyDoyle's gasp for breath from laughing so hard...tears rolling down his cheeks because she wasn't fast enough to catch them.

She would puff...then swish her net one way...the fish would dart the other...then a few choice words about "Doyle" and then a few more puffs.  Lol. This went on for a while because he didn't put just one...He put that one and all his friends in there, too.

Maybe you just had to be there...but I will tell you...that laugh has stayed with me.  If I close my eyes and listen I can still hear DaddyDoyle's laughter.  Pretty amazing I think.

The part I don't remember is what happened to those minnows...

enjoy this beautiful day, friends.  Make some memories today:)

I hate debit cards...

Pet peeve...

One thing about debit cards...they are quick and easy. But I prefer the handwritten check method of payment...simply because I am old school. No one takes checks anymore that much, so it is a forced thing. The worse part is turning in my receipts to my personal accountant, my husband, David.

It is one of my most stressful times.

 I am horrible about keeping lots of receipts because I dread hearing about my debit expenses when he adds then up. I buy all the groceries...pay when we eat out...put gas in my car and any expenses at Walmart or things forChloe Jo. I may spend a little on school that I would rather David not know about.  Ha

I totally get the convenience.  I appreciate that David handles balancing the checkbook and paying bills. But, I still hate debit cards.  

Giving it up...

You know I have decided that really all women are pretty much the same. I was talking to a dear friend about struggle not too long ago.  It weighs heavy on me a lot of what others are going through. Just when you've semi-convinced yourself that you really aren't like "them" you begin to see how much we all truly have in common.

 I call it "the struggle."

you may give it a certain name but inside of us we all have things going on. It might be that we do not have time to balance things. We juggle our troubles amidst life's daily responsibilities. Maybe we try to hide it...maybe we try to keep it locked away...maybe we never take time to even be aware that it even exists. Time goes by and we do not voice it...maybe we are just too tired to deal with it. Maybe we keep ourselves too preoccupied to face it. Maybe some of you don't even get me...ha 

 I think for me the struggle is feeling inadequate...I could be a better wife...I could be a better mother...I could be a better sister and daughter...a better friend...more thoughtful...skinny...domestic...romantic...organized...active...a better Christian by far...you see where I'm going with my thoughts. Ha

 It's all about when you are alone with God and your thoughts...what are you thinking? What are those things that make you cry? What are the desires of your heart? Why are you trying to act like everything is so wonderful when maybe you really are hurting? Do you even want to deal with truth?

For all the women in my life, I pray that whatever your struggle is today...that you find peace in knowing that I feel ya. I find Rest in God's grace.  Know that you are loved and prayed for when you are least expecting it...feel the love:) I'm still a work in progress, too.

Dance Class...Oh ME!