My OTHER Love Story Part 3

Recap:  I had been doubting my salvation since 7th grade. I am in highschool and I just had a scare that the rapture happened and I was left behind.

It happened on a Sunday. It started like any other Sunday. I went to sunday school. Mr. Ortego taught Sunday School like he always did. Church services was normal. That night after Sunday church, the boy and I and a few other friends went to eat pizza. My beeper went off (yes, I had a beeper :) It was my mom. I called her from a pay phone (no one had a cell phone). She told me Mr. Ortego our Sunday School teacher was in his garden planting flower, fell over and had a heart attack. Mr. Ortego had two children around my age. We immediately left and went to the hospital. It was scary. He died. Everyone was in shock.

The boy brought me home and we were sitting outside and I told him I didnt think I was saved. (I have no idea why I told him because he sure didnt care) That night when I went to sleep my heart was pounding. It hit me how short life is and I felt like God was telling me this was my last chance, it was now or never.

The next night I told my mom I needed to talk to her. She said we had to go run an errand first...I was thinking, what if I die while we are running our errand? I didnt, obviously. When we got back she came to my room. I started crying. I told her that I had been being fake and I wasnt really saved. She told me to go get a track and we went over Romans Road. The funny thing is I could quote all of those verses, we didnt need the track. So we went through it...

"For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.”  Romans 3:23


“But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8


“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 6:23


“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  Romans 10:9-10


“For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”  Romans 10: 13


I kneeled beside my bed with my mom and prayed. I asked God for salvation and to be the LORD of my heart. I really dont remember what I said, but I am sure it went something like that. I ran into my parent's room and told my dad. I told him that Sunday I wanted to be baptized, share my story and sing. So, I did. I told the congregation because I did not care anymore that I had been "lying", my pride was gone. I sang Jaci Velasquez's "Flower in the Rain".


I broke up with the boy. I was changed. It was so strange. I had heard about it all my life, and it was true. I had this peace in my heart that is unexplainable. I was different. I could not wait to read my Bible. I was in love with God.


To be continued...

My OTHER Love Story Part 2

Recap: Im in 7th grade and doubting my salvation...

I was scared to tell anyone my doubts. I was scared to admit I had been lying the whole time.  As a preacher's kid, I was put on a pedal-stool along with my brothers and I felt if I admitted this that I would be letting people down. I wouldn't be living up to their expectations. So I stayed silent. I tried to ignore it. Almost, every night I could not sleep because I was up thinking about it and worrying.

The summer in between my 8th and 9th grade school year, my parents came to me and told me that my dad was considering taking a church in Eunice, LA. I did not know anything about Eunice, but I had lived in Baton Rouge, which I thought would be similar. I still didn't want to go. We went to visit for a weekend, and I hated it. Then my dad said it wasn't going to work out and we weren't going. I was SO relieved. So my 9th grade year starts at Byrd. I was on pep-squad, making new friends and going to school with some old friends, and I had a boyfriend. Then my parents came to me again and said we would be moving to Eunice. My dad really felt that God was calling him there. I was devastated and angry. Angry with God for calling my dad to move there, Angry with my dad for being obedient. So after the first 9 weeks was over, I moved. And I cried. I cried for days and months. I was miserable. I hated my new school. I hate the new church. I hated everything about where I was.

Then I met a boy at church. He was 19, I was 14. I thought this would be a great way to get back at my God and parents for making me move. So, I did. I would sneak around seeing him and finally we made it public we were going to be together no matter what anyone said. My parents were angry, but they never forbid me to date him because they knew I would do want I wanted to do anyway. They were not happy with it, and knew I would regret it later. One day, I came home from spending some time with him and I remember my mom crying and telling me that she was not going to let Satan have her daughter. (She meant the real Satan not the boy)... I didn't really get it at that time, but it scared me. I told her she was making a big deal out of nothing. This is where the whole "preacher kids are the worst" comes in. I was being very rebellious. I had so much anger in me.

During this time, I had been reading the Left Behind series. One day, it was time to go to church and it was just my brother, Leighton and I at home. My dad had asked him to water hose the pile of leaves we had burning before we left. I got ready, then went to go get Leighton. I couldn't find him anywhere. I went outside to look at the leaf pile, no Leighton. I yelled for him. I went to his room, no Leighton. But there was a pile of clothes. I thought, Oh No, the rapture has happened and I was left behind. I ran to the phone, called the church, no answer. I called the boy (I am not sure why-because I am pretty sure if the rapture happen, he would be left behind too). He didn't even answer. I was so scared. I had all these thoughts running through my mind. Then Leighton comes through the door. I ran to my room and cried. Apparently, he was at the pile of leaves, I just couldn't see him. and he couldn't hear me yelling...

To be continued...

Can being "fat" be healthy?

Almost every morning, I have Good Morning America on. Sometimes I am able to watch it sometimes not. Yesterday, I caught a clip of JuJu (sp?) holding a debate on this issue. There were 4 women, two said yes, two said no. I recorded Nightline, which had an extended version of the debate. If you are interested in watching it, click here.

Since I am currently on a diet and my family is one that struggles with weight, I thought I would share my opinions. My bottom line answer to the question is NO, however, what is "fat"?  Was I "fat" before I went on my diet, I would say Yes. When I reach my weight goal will I be "fat"? Not to me. Not to the charts of my "healthy" weight, but to some else, maybe.

I have never been lower than a size 12 as an adult. (basically I mean after high school) And I dont think I will ever be "healthy" and lower than a size 12. But when I am a size 12 I feel skinny. I look a lot better and feel alot better. That is my size goal.

A few points brought up in the debate was someone who is overweight or obese has health problems and is at more risk for chronic illness. This is something I do believe.When I was in college, I took a class on gerontology (the study of older people). We went over the diseases that effect most older adults (heart attack, cancer, Alzheimer's, etc...) and for every one of them the book would discuss ways to lower your chances...the first three were always 1. No Smoking 2. Healthy Weight 3. Exercise
Sure people who are healthy, dont smoke and exercise have heart attacks and get cancer, however, those things lessen the likelihood. 

One of the women on the panel was a plus-size model (size 12) who agreed you can be healthy and fat. BUT SHE ISNT FAT! Some people might perceive her that way, but I thought she looked good! I WILL NEVER BE WHAT THE WORLD THINKS IS "SKINNY". And I am totally ok with that. On the other hand what about a person who is just naturally "skinny" but eats junk and fast food for every meal, are they healthy? Well, no.

I understand both points of view. The larger woman on the show did not have good arguments in my opinion. and the whole time she was fixing her clothes and by the way she was sitting you could tell she was not comfortable in her own skin.

I do think childhood obesity is a problem in America. I think obesity in general is a problem in America. But so is bulimia and aneroxia. It goes both ways. There needs to be a happy medium. I hope to foster positive self-esteem in Audrie, and I also want to teach her healthy eating habits and exercise.

Its no secret, GT and I love TV. I particularly love reality TV. Especially ones that include competition...My current favorites: American Idol, Amazing Race

My favorites so far on American Idol:

 
Andrew Garcia and Crystal Bowersox

My favorites on Amazing Race:

 

Jeff & Jordan                                  Jordan & Dan

I love BIG BROTHER...and I especially loved Jeff (and Jordan) but really Jeff. I am so excited they are on the Amazing Race and so glad they continued dating!!!!!! Jordan and Dan are really funny!

My least favorite team is Carol and Brandy. They are really annoying. It was really irritating how they are trying to form alliances...pretty sure this is a RACE!  Like Jeff and Jordan were kind of traveling with Brent and Caite, but they didnt have an alliance...that is stupid. This isnt Big Brother!

Anyway, those are my reality show thoughts for today. As the shows go on, and I change my opinions (except for on Jeff and Jordan, I want them to win!) I will post my thoughts.

Week 1 of Diet

Weight Loss:

Wednesday- lost 1 lb
Thursday- lost 2 lbs
Friday- lost 1 lb
Saturday- lost 1 lb
Sunday- lost 2 lbs
Monday- lost 1 lb
Tuesday- lost 1 lb

Total= 9 lbs! in just one week!

First week of the diet wasnt too bad. I really want to exercise, but it is toooooo cold outside. On Saturday, me, GT, Audrie, Allie and Zoe went on a walk (about 1 1/2 miles). The weather was perfect! I want to do that everyday!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel so much better already! I have 19 lbs to lose to be at a good weight, and 34 to be at my ideal weight! I have been staying under my 1,000 calories a day and taking Adipex to curve my hunger. On my last diet blog, I didnt tell what diet pill I was taking, because I know there are mixed reviews about Adipex. But so far...I have had no negative side effects. I sleep fine, my heart doesnt skip beats, im not overly cranky or overly sad, I do have a little more energy and I do not get hungry as much as I would not taking them. I still get a little hungry, but my mindset is there and I make myself busy so I dont think about food!

I am totally excited about it and cant wait to lose more weight! :)

My OTHER Love Story Part 1

This love story began before I was even conceived...

For you created my inmost being;

       you knit me together in my mother's womb.

 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

       your works are wonderful,

       I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

       when I was made in the secret place.

       When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.

       All the days ordained for me

       were written in your book

       before one of them came to be.

Psalm 169:13-16

It started before I was born. God had already picked out who I  was going to be, what my talents/gifts would be, what I would look like, He LOVED me before I existed in this world. He chose to put in a family that LOVED Him deeply. 

For those who dont know, my dad is Southern Baptist preacher. This makes for a very interesting upbringing. You know what they say, "preachers kids are the worst". Ha. We will get to that...

From the time I was brought into the world, I was at the church 90% of the time. We were there everytime the doors were open, and the doors were always open because my dad was the pastor and he had a key! I was born on a Tuesday, my dad preached the next night, and that Sunday, I was at church!

When I was 4, we were living in Augusta, Georgia. I began asking questions about salvation. I thought I wanted to experience it. I asked my parents about it, they thought I was a little too young, so they answered my questions, but told me we would wait a little longer until they thought I fully understood what I was doing. Well, I was stubborn, and I wanted to be SAVED! So, I asked my dad's secretary, Angie about it. She ended up leading me in a prayer and I asked Jesus into my heart...

Skip ahead to first day of 7th grade. We had a thing at our church where we met there first, had doughnuts and did like a little kick-off to the school year. Our youth pastor said something like this, "Remember you can not witness to your friends are school if you are not saved yourself". On the way to school, I began to doubt my salvation. I mean, I was 4 when I got "saved".

**Side Note: I dont really like the term "getting saved". I think its is overused and just thrown around. And for people who are not Southern Baptist it might not make to much sense. But, for the purposes of this post I am using it because at this time it is what I used and what I thought. ***

To be continued...

Our Love Story Part 4

We were engaged. I would be GT's FOREVER! I  was soooooo excited. SO here are the highlights of the preparation for the wedding...

The date... I knew I didnt want it to be cold. I hate cold weather. GT got in touch with his brother, who was in the Marines in Japan at the time, to find when he could come. He told us he would be visiting that summer in July other than that not until Christmas time. It was soon, but we decided to go ahead and get married July 12, 2008. I already had most of my wedding planned out before GT and I even began to date so the time frame was no big deal.

The dress...I had been looking at dresses online a few weeks before we were officially engaged. I saw one on Davids Bridal website and fell in love with it. It is the first one I tried on...I knew it was the one...my mom made me try on another one just to make sure. I got my veil off ebay, it was like 20 dollars and just as beautiful as the one that costs 100 at the store. For shoes..white Old Navy flip flops, of course!

The place...This was kind of a tough decision at first. Neither of us had a church we were really attached to. We considered Calvary Baptist in Shreveport, where we kind of grew up together. But it was really big and had been remodeled so it didnt look the same. We thought of Airline Baptist where I went most of my highschool and some college, but my brother wasnt on staff there anymore and I hadnt gone in a long time. SO we decided on the church where my parents and many other family members were married, First Baptist Oil City. And the reception would follow at the Oil Museum in dowtown Oil City. This place meant something to me because my late grandfather, John Charles Dickey "Tatol" was mayor of Oil City for a long time and was a big reason this museum was built. Plus, my Aunt Charlotte painted alot of the murals in the museum. And it was 5 minutes or less from the church.

The decorations...My mom took over most of the Department...I knew I wanted pink and brown. All different colors pink and chocolate brown. We got alot of things off ebay. We made alot of trips to hobby lobby during sells of flowers, bridal section, etc...My mom did the table cloths for the reception. My Aunt Peggy and I went to Libby glass and got some votives and mirrors for the centerpieces. A woman in my dads church, Jerry Gayle, did the flower arrangements. My Aunt Charlotte did the pew bows. I had so much help. It was wonderful. We have a family with many talents.

The cake...I wanted something different. I looked at many pictures of cakes and just never liked them, so I decided I would do a cupcake cake. The woman who did the catering for the reception had never done one before but was excited to do one! We had talked about it being big cupcakes, some cream filled, some vanilla, some chocolate, all with fancy icing. It didnt turn out this way. I think it was harder then she thought it would be, but I didnt get my dream cake. Oh well. Guess you cant have it all.

The honeymoon...We only had 5 months to plan a honeymoon. So no saving money for a big trip. We decided on a cruise to the Caribbean. It was alot of fun. We slept (really, slept) ALOT! The waves put us to sleep. And we ate ALOT!



So this was the beginning of our new life together. We did not know that the next year would be so rough, but it did make us closer as a family. Next...What I have learned about marriage....

New teeth, new food and a sweet smile!

Here are some new developments with Audrie Kate:

• Wednesday she was chewing on my fingers which she does often...and I felt something sharp! Yepp its a tooth coming in. Teething wasnt too bad until yesterday, but after a little tylenol and motrin all is back to normal :)  Here is my best attempt at taking a picture of the tooth its still right at the gums so it is hard to see!

• Audrie was born with really dark brown hair well it has started falling out a little and the hair growing in is blonde! How strange! I kind of thought it might since her eyebrows never turned brown they stayed blonde since birth.

• Lynzie and I pureed some chicken on Tuesday. Audrie had it Tuesday night, so far she loves it! I was a little nervous because it seems to make her older! She can eat meat! 

• She still isnt fully crawling yet. Sometimes she will take a few strides to get to a toy or to me, but usually she just rocks in a crawling position then lunges forward, it is pretty entertaining. I need to baby proof the house first, so I am glad she isnt fully crawling yet!

• She also isnt sitting up by herself yet either. I think she is just lazy on this one. She can do it if she wants to or if she has a toy she likes in her lap. But as soon as I turn around she is in crawling position again. I think she prefers to be on all fours! That crazy girl! She does sit up pretty good for awhile if she has the boppy around her. ( I have a feeling she is like her dad-very cautious and does not take too many risk)

• She has the sweetest smile. It makes my heart melt. 

• I feel like I love her more and more everyday. I am so glad I stay home with her. Sometimes, I get frustrated and want to go back to work, but for the most part it is so much fun! 

Fat Tuesday

I am going on a diet. Ugh. I hate diets. But I hate being fat. I am going to blog about it every Tuesday in hopes that it might keep me a little more accountable.

Here is the plan:

Well, I went to the fat doctor yesterday. At his office, I weighed 230. :(  This morning I weighed 228. He told me I need to get out of the 200 club. And I totally agree. My goal weight is 185. If I get to 200, that would be good too, but I really like being 185.

He gave me some diet pills to help out. I am a little nervous about them, but excited at the same time. Being overweight runs in our family. It is in our genes. We need a little help when it comes to losing weight.

He also gave me a nutrition book about what to eat/what not to eat. The hardest rule on there: no cakes, no candies, no pies.  :(   I can do the no fried stuff. I can do the no cokes. But cake? Pie? Ugh.

My goal time is 6 months.

I am going to start walking 2 miles a day, again. I am starting today. I think this week, I am going to go a mile, then next week a mile and 1/2, then make my way to 2 miles.

I am hoping the diet pills can suppress my appetite so my stomach will shrink so when I get off of them I wont be as hungry.

How did I gain so much weight?  When GT and I started dating I was probably close to 200 pounds (remember, I am 6 ft tall)...then I lost 15 pounds in like a month. So I remained 186 until I moved to Longview (from June-March). A few things happened: I started working for CPS, the most stressful job on earth. We got married. We made a good amount of money and ate out 98% of the time. This is how I gained so much weight. Then I got preggo. I was 222 at 6 weeks pregnant. So here we are.

My hopes are to at least get under 200. Then when I get pregnant again, I will continue walking 2 miles a day. And this time, I feel like I will know better not to eat crap just because I can. And also, I might get gestational diabetes again, so I will not be eating sweet stuff, which in my last pregnancy I could eat a whole cake myself.

Like I said earlier. I will update weekly. I contemplated doing this and putting my weight. I am pretty sure I have said it on a previous blog when I was talking about pregnancy. It is what it is. BUT I am trying to lose it, so thats the good news!

Dogs

 This is Allie. Or what we like to call her, Allie Bear. Or just Bears. But it doesnt matter because she cant hear. She was born deaf.

  GT was moving to Longview and my best friend, Allison, was moving back home to prepare for a wedding. And I was all alone. So GT bought me a dog. I found the ad in a newspaper. I called, they had one female left which is what we wanted. We went and saw her. I loved her from the beginning. So sweet. So little. We asked them if we could come back in 2 days since we had plans and didnt know we would be getting a dog. I couldnt handle it. All weekend, I wanted to go get her!

Allie became my bestfriend. It was my last quarter of college and I wasnt working. Allie and I spent almost all day, every day together. I would take her to the park everyday. We  would sleep together. I would get up with her all night to bring her outside to potty. I took her anywhere I went. It was like she was my child.

Then I moved to Longview and start working. Allie was inside all day by herself. We felt bad, so we thought we would get another dog for her to have a friend. Again, I found an ad in the newspaper.

We met a woman at a gas station and we met Zoe. She was covered in fleas and so dirty. We couldnt help but take her home. Now, we think the woman we got her from was running a puppy mill. We should have know, but we still would have gotten Zoe.

Our idea worked. They had a friend to play with while we were at work. The problem is they tore up things together. We were so glad when we bought a house with a backyard!

They loved the backyard. We loved it because they wouldnt tear up anything in our house and they had room to run and play. Sometimes GT and I would be home and they would still want to be outside.

As soon as we got home with Audrie, they stopped wanting to go outside. I will put them outside and they sit at the door and scratch at it until I let them in.

And, since it has been raining (and snowing) for forever it feels like, and so cold, we leave the dogs inside. Sometimes they do pee and poo in the house, strangely, they do it in the bathroom. In the bath tub.

Usually we come home to something torn up. And I just pick it up and say they are dogs. We shouldnt have left anything out for them to get into. Well, two days ago, I came home and my polka-dot trash can was broken in pieces on the floor. :(   And as some of you have read on facebook, yesterday GT came home for lunch and the dogs jumped on the dining table and chewed up the first 6 pages of my scrapbook and the album.

I was upset, since I worked so hard and the first 6 pages were probably my favorite. But thats just life. I feel like it is a glimpse of things to come with children. I am not saying I wasnt upset, because I was. And now GT and I have decided no matter what they are going outside when we arent home. They have a dog house so no matter what the weather is like they will be ok. It is true--they are dogs.

I love my dogs. And it has become extremely harder to deal with them since Audrie has been born. I do know one day Audrie will be old enough to play with them! She already likes them. And oddly enough they have never done anything to her toys. We leave them out on the floor and they have never chewed on one or taken one from her blanket. I told GT I thought that was crazy. They will find the one thing in the room they can chew, my scrapbook, but will not touch her toys.

Deep Freeze

Thursday, I went to Lynzie's to make some baby food. We had a trip to Shreveport planned, but because of the weather we decided to hold off until next week. Well, it was snowing pretty much all day. We put the girls in the snow and took a few pictures:

The girls really liked the snow. Adalynn smiled the whole time and Audrie kept trying to feel it.

Then....our electricity went out at 1:00am. Audrie woke up about 3, and I put her in the bed with us to stay warm. She kept babbling and saying "dada", it was really cute, but I was really tired! Then Gt woke me up about 6:30 to this...

I had no idea it was going to snow all night! 

So, we bundled up and played in the snow!

Since our electricity was off, and it was freezing (and we ran out of firewood starters), we decided to go out for awhile. We went to Wal-Mart first. It was so strange to see all of the snow. It was like we were not in East Texas, it felt more like we were driving in Colorado. Then we ate at Moe's. Went to Home Depot, the Sears...and I got a deep freezer! Happy Valentine's day to me! We came home and the electricity was back on! YAY! We had a fun day spending quality time together as a family.

I am so excited about the Olympics. I do like the summer ones better, but I love to watch ice skating. GT is really excited about Shawn White??? some snowboarder or something...I thought he needed to cut his hair! But GT said NO, that is his staple! Whatever that means!

I was very said about the luger that died. I found the video of it online and couldnt stop watching it. I felt pretty morbid. My heart sank. For his family. For his team. When I watch something like that, I cant help  but wonder where his soul is now. He was only 21. 

Some Random Thoughts

Sleep:  We have been very very lucky in the sleep department with Audrie. I think she is changing her sleep patterns though. For the past 4 nights, she has gone to bed at 8:30 and woke up at 7. She was going to bed at 9:30 and waking up at 8. The issue is I go to bed at 10:30--so now I am just waking up earlier. Which is probably a good thing, my body is just having a hard time adjusting.

LOST:  I love the show LOST. I dont know what to think about the last season so far. It doesnt seem to have the same excitement of other seasons. I was watching an interview with the producers the other day. They said when they got to Season 4 they had no story line and didnt know where it was going. So they sat down and wrote all the rest of the show ending in Season 6. I thought that when the creators of LOST wrote the show, they wrote it knowing the ending. I was told that I thought. So it kind of made me sad it wasnt true. I love JJ Abrams too by the way. Just sayin. Felicity is one of my favorite shows.

Diet:  I am starting a diet Friday. My goal is to lose 40 pounds before I get pregnant again. We are going to start trying again when Audrie is 1, so I have about 6 months to lose it. I am going to pick up walking 2 miles a day again. I just wish this weather would change and it would stop being so dang cold!

Faith:  I have been having some issues with student loans for some time now. It is very frustrating. Like, I am getting headaches daily because of it. It is like a black cloud over me. I know God is in control and I give it him every time it comes to mind. It still has to be dealt with. I still have to deal with it. And I am at a lost. I dont know what to do about it anymore. I wish people werent so greedy and I wish I had enough money to pay off all of my student loans. Sometimes I wonder if going to college was a good choice for me. I mean, I am a stay at home mom with $24,000 in debt because of college. But then I remember I wouldnt be who I am now, and I use my degree daily since my degree was Family & Child Studies. It is just annoying. I am hoping (but not putting my faith in) Obama's plan will cause our payments to be lowered or just erase our student loan debt all together. (Wishful thinking, I know)

Football and Scrapbooking

I feel like I havent blogged in forever! Except for the message from my lovely husband. If you couldnt tell he is very passionate about football and even more passionate about the Saints. I do kind of agree with his message...although, I think I might be a bandwagon fan...oops. I mean I am an overall football/any sport bandwagon fan. Let me explain...I dont really care for football or any sport for that matter...except for when I really care about a team. Like, I love going to LA Tech football games because I care about it. I have invested in it. They are my alma mater. So, I did watch more Saints football than I ever have this year. Because I am from Louisiana. And I was excited for the team. And I felt passionate about them winning, because they meant something to me. But I dont claim to have loved them for forever.

I still cant believe I have a 6 month old. Audrie seems to be getting into everything these days. She is so much more interested in things and wanting to put them alllllll in her mouth. I cant even text anymore without being in fear that my phone will be drooled all over or that I will have a screaming baby because I take it away from her. (spoiled much?)

I finished her scrapbook! It was alot of fun, but I am glad this part is over. i think i am going to wait until she is a year old then will scrapbook 6months-1yr then...I took pictures of it and I am contemplating posting it on facebook. I want to because I worked so hard on it and want other people to see it.

Who Dat?!

I was told to make it clear that this is not Lydia. What follows here are the thoughts and opinions of the one G.T. Nehls.


First off, to all those that have laughed in my face over the years when I said that one day the Saints will win the Super Bowl: I TOLD YOU SOOOO!!!!

Second of all, to all those band wagon Saints fans that have only become Saints fans of late: SHAME ON YOU! It is a little upsetting to us long time NO fans that have been with the team since as long as they can remember for you guys to all of a sudden be fans now that the only LA NFL team has won it all.

Now, I don' claim to have been a Saints fan from birth, because that would be stupid. Actually, I did not even really start caring about football and the saints till about the end of the Jim Mora/jm Everrett era. I'm talking about those years of the Billy Joe's (both of them), Danny Wuerfel, Cam Cleeland, Willie Roaf, Kyle Turley, Heath Shuler, Morten Anderson, Ray Zellars, Ricky Williams, Jeff Blake, the woeful Aaron Brooks, Dante Stallworth, Joe Horn, the short stint of "Da Coach" Mike Ditka, Jim Haslett, and so many others that the list would be too long. All these players would not have had the "have to" to play all those years if it were not for us faithful fans who have been there for as long as they can remember.

And now you want to be fans?! It's a disgrace. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate anyone who is reveling in their victory, just claim to have been there all along. Jump on the band wagon, then get right back off so the true fans can get on.

The bottom line is Drew Brees, Sean Payton, Reggie Bush, Tom Benson, and the whole host of the rest of the Saints organization did not win this championship for a bunch of half-hearted fans. They won it for the long-time fans of Billy Kilmer, Archie Manning, Chuck Muncie, and all those other old school Saints stars.

Oh, and by the way, I'm not really sure if Duece gets a ring since he was not officially on the roster, but if he doesn't, he deserves one. I cannot think of a player who did more for the Saints organization than Deuce McAllister. And if he does get a ring, then CONGRATULATIONS DEUCE! YOU DESERVE IT!

I hope I have not stepped on anyones toes here. I just get very frustrated with bad wagon fans, especially when it comes to my Saints.

So I am done. I am gong to enjoy this time of celebration. Way to go Saints! Who Dat?

-P.S.: To all those living in the city of NO, enjoy it. Ya'll have waited for this for a long time. Hopefully you can use this to come together and build the city even stronger!

6 months and King Cake

Yesterday, Audrie turned 6 months! Saturday we went to Shreveport and did her 6 month pictures! We have a wonderful photographer, Jena Shockley! We have known each other a long time and her dad and my mom dated in highschool, how funny! Anyway, it was so cold, Jena had a family friend that offered her house to us! She lives on Cypress lake and has a beautiful home with some cool decorations. It worked out perfect! Here are some of the pictures:

To see all of the pictures go here, click on View Your Portraits...


I have recently picked back up scrap booking. I started when I was like 14 weeks pregnant. Lynzie and I scrap booked once since the girls were born. SO I thought it was time to get serious about it! I have 12 layout to finish the first book, which is going to be from pregnancy-6 months. I forgot how much I loved it!


We have Audrie 6 month appt tomorrow, which means more shots :(   But I am anxious to see how much she weighs and how long she is! 


I attempted a homemade King Cake the other day. My dough wouldnt rise and it was big pile of mess. Mrs. Cathy George (my sister-n-law's mother) came to my rescue. She got a recipe from a chef,   Kyrie Lantz, for King Cake using crescent rolls. I had to get permission to share it...so here goes:


King Cake
by Kyrie Lantz


2 cans crescent rolls (8oz)
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup pie filling (your choice)

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly spray a pizza pan or baking dish. Blend/mix together the softened cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Divide the crescent rolls into individual pieces and lay them around the pan with the wide edge on the outside and the point toward the center, overlapping the edges slightly. Spread the cheese mixture on the crescents and spread pie filling over the cream cheese mixture. Fold the crescents over the filling and bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool 5 minutes and glaze. Serve warm.

Glaze:
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tbsp milk or juice
Colored sugars for sprinkling (or food coloring in glaze)
Blend the powdered sugar and liquid until smooth. Drizzle over the warm cake. Sprinkle colored sugars over the glaze.

Orange juice in glaze if using strawberries.
Apple juice in glaze if using apples.
Lemon juice in glaze if using blackberries, blueberries, or lemon.
Apple cider/juice in glaze if using pumpkin. Pumpkin pie spice w/ sugar can be used instead of glaze.


I have made it once, I didnt use a pie filling. It was very cream cheesy, which I like so it was delicious. But I am bringing it to a party and I am going to use strawberry pie filling so it wont taste as cream cheesy. It was sooooo easy and sooooo delicious!

Moving...moving...moving

I have moved ALOT. I thought I would type out a timeline of all my moving...Just for fun!

Born--Gretna, LA
3,4---Augusta, GA
5--Haynesville, LA--lived in the parsonage, a trailer behind the church
6--Haynesville, LA--lived in a blue 2 story house
7--Shreveport, LA--lived in a house next to a park, I think it might have been a parsonage too
8--Shreveport, LA--lived in a house on Hollyhock
9,10--Baton Rouge, LA--lived in a house in Greenwell Spring
11--Shreveport, LA--lived in a 2 story house on Mackey Lane
12,13- Shreveport, LA--lived in a manufactured home on the property of a Retirement Home
14, 15-- Eunice, LA--We moved our manufactured home with us
16, 17-- Moorningsport, LA--moved into my late grandparent's home
18 (Fall Quarter)--Ruston, LA lived on the 1st floor of Adams dorm @ Louisiana Tech
19 (Winter/Spring Quarter)--Ruston, LA lived on 2nd floor of Graham @ Louisiana Tech
19 (Summer)-- Mooringsport, LA lived in the little house behind my parents house
20 (all school year)--Ruston, LA lived in Adams 3rd floor @ Louisiana Tech
20 (summer)--Centri-Kid, lived out of a suitcase traveling the US
21 (fall quarter)-- Ruston, LA lived in a house on Carolina Street
21 (winter quarter)--Simsboro, LA  lived with my sister-law's parents
22 (spring quarter)--Ruston, LA lived in a trailer on Sundance Drive
22 (summer)--Centri-Kid, lived out of a suitcase traveling US
22- (fall quarter)--Ruston, LA lived in trailer on Sundance Drive
22,23-(winter quarter-until graduation)--Ruston, LA lived in a house on Kavanaugh
23--Longview, TX-- Princeton Club Apartments #166
23,24--Longview, TX--BOUGHT a house! Mark Drive.

Whew. That made me tired. I have moved 23 times in my life. And I am 25. That is CRAZY!