Backyard Ocean Pool Sweepstakes

While I've always wanted an in-ground pool in our backyard, it's just not gonna happen! So when the good folks at Backyard Ocean contacted me about their products, I was really excited to see their products and share them with you. Would you like to have a chance to win your very own backyard pool? Read more about these products and how you can enter for a chance to win one for yourself here.

Remembering and Honoring Our American Heros

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American Soldier, one died for your soul and the other for your freedom

Beach Bound

Monday morning will find my sister and I heading to the beach for a full week of fun in the sun, eating, shopping, girl talk, room service, and just plain ol' fun. After the month I've had, I am going to thoroughly enjoy my time at the beach. See ya'll later! 

The Week That Almost Did Me In

This past week started out extremely stressful but ended with an exciting announcement. Tuesday morning I got a call that my mom was found "unresponsive" at her assisted living cottage when they went in to get her up for her bath. Her eyes were rolling back in her head and she stated "I'm dead"! That was really scary as she NEVER says anything like that. An ambulance was called and I rushed out to the hospital emergency room, not knowing what I would find. The scary thing is that when my daddy passed away in 1980 he was taken to the ER where he died of a heart attack. So, in my mind, I was silently screaming and begging God to not let me find out the same thing had happened to my mom. I was by myself as my husband had not made it to the hospital yet and my daughter and her husband were coming from about 30 minutes away. When I got to her room, I could see three nurses attending her but she was awake and looking pretty good...for almost 94! Long story short, a CAT scan and MRI were done, along with a barrage of other tests and nothing could be found that caused her situation. She was admitted for the night and released Wednesday afternoon. She was worried about how her hair looked and wanted to get back to her room so she could get something good to eat. As of today, she acts like nothing happened and is anxious to get her hair done!

Wednesday night our phone rang around 8:00 p.m. That's not unusual because a lot of times our granddaughter Taylor calls us after she gets home from church on Wednesday evenings. It was my daughter Shannon and she asked David if I was in the room and if the phone was on speaker. About that time her husband yelled out in the background "Shannon's pregnant"! I about had a heart attack as the twins will be 10 on May 21st and we assumed all the baby business was over...I guess the Good Lord had other plans! After finally convincing me she was not joking I got on the phone and we started making plans for the new addition...how to decorate the room, all the "stuff" we've got to buy, etc.

She put a message on her FB page and it went "viral" as they say....everyone is soooo happy! Of course, there is a 50/50 chance she could have twins again (my great grandmother had two sets of twins, my mom had a set of twins and of course, Shannon had a set of twins)...while we'll love two babies again, I really hope there is only one this time! Thursday she and the twins picked me up and we went shopping for her some stretch pants...I could really see her tummy and she really does look pregnant! She's so tall and slim and I just saw her on Sunday but sure didn't notice anything. She was dying to tell us but had a doctor appointment on Wednesday to get confirmation before telling anyone. She is due January 8, 2015 so we will have a new little one to love on next year. The twins are thrilled....especially Taylor.

So with the bad comes the good....I just don't know how much more "bad" or "good" I can take anytime soon. I'm still planning on going to the beach with my sister on Monday for a week....I hope I get lots of rest (because I'm gonna need it)!!!

Sneak Peek At Southern Living Guest Room

Almost two years ago my husband and I visited the Southern Living home in Senoia, Georgia. I fell in love with one of the bedrooms that had white plank walls and buffalo check fabrics. So I set out to recreate my own Southern Living bedroom in one of our spare bedrooms. I got all the bedding and we even cut out a headboard template and then.....nothing! It's sat in that stage for almost two years....shameful, I know!

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Here's the state of the room as it has been for the past 2 years!   I can't believe I'm telling ya'll that but just keeping it real around here.  

 

 The "headboard" that's propped up behind the bed is the one my husband cut out for me but it's been bothering me that it's just not wide enough.    That might be part of the reason I just couldn't finish it so I'm hoping the one from Ballards will be just right.   The plan was to cover it with a drop cloth and add nailheads. 

I recently got a new Ballards catalog and found this headboard that I really liked...and the price was very reasonable. So yesterday I ordered it!

 
I got the burlap headboard and I plan on adding nailhead trim to "customize" it. Although the bed is a full size, I ordered the queen headboard in the event we "upsize" the bed down the road. I don't think the extra few inches on the queen headboard will really matter with the double bed....i've done all the measurements. One good thing about the headboard is I will have 30 days to return or refund so if I need the full size, I can just return the queen and get the double...they will even pay for return shipping! I might have to do a little rearranging in the bedroom and I want to add a gallery wall but if I can just get that bed finished, I'll feel like I'm nearing the finish line on this room.

It's on backorder until early June but since I've waited this long, what's a few more weeks?   I'll be so happy to have this project done so I can focus on another bedroom and bathroom this summer...that's the plan anyway!   Hope it doesn't take another 2 years to get those two things done!

Hope you all have a wonderful week.   Next Monday my sister and I are planning on taking our delayed annual girl's trip to the beach....I cannot wait!

Heather Whitestone - Miss America 1995

Are you a big Miss America watcher? I remember every year watching it at my grandparents home....it always came on around the time of my birthday and it was always a "must see" for me. The South has had many winners in the Miss America contest but Heather Whitestone is far and away my all time favorite. When she performed to Sandy Patti's Via Dolorosa tears streamed down my face and every time I see it I still cry. Heather truly has a beautiful spirit and it shows in her interpretation of Jesus' walk to the cross.

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Happy May Day!

Happy First Day of May!

Today I am supposed to be sitting on the beach with my toes in the sand and listening to sea gulls overhead and the sounds of the ocean but thanks to our unpredictable weather, this post is brought to you from my home 3 hours from the beach! When my sister got here yesterday for our annual girl's trip, she said she almost called me on Tuesday night to cancel since the weather forecast for the gulf was rain, rain and more rain. Neither one of us wanted to spend our few precious days away running in and out of rain and not being able to enjoy our time at the beach so we made the decision to go later in the month and just cancel our trip for this week. Not an easy decision, but so glad we did decide to postpone. I got an e-mail from my friend Linda at Coastal Charm later in the day telling me how much flooding there was there and that one of the outlet malls we visit was waist deep in water!

Can ya'll believe it's May 1st?!?!?!  Here's to warmer (and less rainy) days ahead!