My friends are the BEST!!!

Well, today I finally got my Birthday present from Melissa - the one she's been tormenting me about for the past 2 months.... Now, not only was this from Melissa, it was a team effort on the part of Leann, Rhonda, Julie, and Elaina as well. Man,those girls can DANCE!!! It was a MOVIE (not a lame slideshow like some people -me - do....)!!! Accurately titled "U Can't Touch This" with a super skinny pic of me on the front (Melissa's vision), it was a tribute to Dr. Pepper - my love of it - set to M.C. Hammer with the plot inspired by true events in my life. O.R.C. people would remember it... All preceding the finale with.... JEREMY CAMP ....

TALKING TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holy Moly!!! Just for those of you that dont know - well if you read my blog you know about waiting to get Jeremy camp pictures and Melissa's envy over the whole thing.... Just scroll down if you don't believe me.... Anyway, after I'd had my awesome photo session with him that night I went out to the car with Julie (co-conspirator) and Glenda and the whole time I kept saying, "I need to go back in! Leann and Melissa are in line and I don't think they have a camera!!! I need to get their picture!!" and Julie was like, "They're fine! Don't go in there and then us have to come get you! Don't worry about them...." And then 30 minutes later I was REALLY feeling guilty and I told them, "I'm going in! They need someone to take their picture and it needs to be me, I have a camera.... It's not fair that I got one and they didn't.. they NEED me!" Now about this time I was GENUINELY feeling unselfish and totally thinking of others (not something I do very often). But Julie was all like, "NO! They can take care of themselves." I think she even said that she thought Melissa had a camera, but for some reason I wasn't convinced... I can't remember what all her reasons were for me not going in but she kept coming up with them. So, I caved in and obeyed Julie, leaving my poor friends to fend for themselves. Little did I know that when they finally emerged from the VERY END of the line, they'd been recording a message from Jeremy for me!!! They sacrificed their picture time for ME!!!! What PRECIOUS DEAR ONES they are!!! But God took care of the whole picture thing - they did make it onto Jeremy Camps blog in a picture. Still not the picture they could've had, but I know God will reward them for loving their neighbor as themselves. Just more jewels sprinkled into the Princesses crowns. Why, I even bet Julie got jewels in her crown for her evasive excuses for me NOT to help my friends!!! I just love Julie. Her heart is hard for me, you know...

AND, I KNOW Rhonda and Elaina got extra jewels in the crowns for all that dancing..... Probably Elaina got more jewels than anyone because I KNOW she wouldn't have danced for ANYONE but me!!!!!! You know how Rhonda loves to dance anyway, I'm surprised she didn't do her high-kick in the video. And then, Melissa was SO energetic with her dancing... I did mention that our church might be in need of a cheerleading squad with the talent God's given us. (Well not me, you won't see me dancing in that video...) And, Leann deserves an OSCAR for her portrayal of me!!! Let's not forget to thank Phil and Shawn for their awesome camera work. I LOVE it LOVE it LOVE it LOVE it LOVE it!!!!

I LOVE IT!!! If I can find a way to put that video on my blog, I will do it!!! Rhonda is with me on putting it on youtube... I still think that Dr. Pepper would be very interested in a copy!

It's awesome!! May it go on the record that my friends love me enough to be CREATIVE!!!!!!!!! (That is mainly for Andy - who will probably never read this...) He should've figured that out when Melissa asked for his pants....

WWHHYYY did I get rid of my M.C. Hammer pants?

It was 1990.... Radio's (NOT MP3 players) were abuzz with a sound... a sound that powered through with a beat that couldn't be stopped.... that couldn't be touched....

and the pants were baggy!

I wasn't the ONLY one that wore them! M.C. Hammer had infiltrated the very "fibers" of my being! Why should he stop at music when he could be worn!!!!

Being the fashionista that I've always been, I knew those pants would be the perfect accessory to my L.A. Gears! My popularity went through the roof! Well, technically the pants went the other direction. But now, I think it's time for a comeback! All the other styles are coming back, I feel it's only a matter of time until we see those low-crotched super baggy icons of true fashion make their return!!!

And I know Melissa will be first in line to get them! You know, the only thing that could be better is if the "wing" hairstyle came back! WOO-HOO would I ever be "with-it" then!

Man, all this typing makes me want a Dr. Pepper!

not much...

Well, I ended up with a few free moments and thought, for Melissa's sake at least, I'd write a little bit. We had the realtor back over today to take updated pictures now that the bathroom is done, and the carport cleaned out. House looked great, but my bedroom was a disaster zone! That's where everything from the other rooms got chunked. Anyway, if you want to see the house it is at www.unitedcountry.com - search the Imboden office real estate on about page 6. So then tonight, I had a jewelry show scheduled for this older woman I met. No, I cannot do a jewelry show and blog at the same time - obviously the show cancelled.... AFTER I had my jewelry set up AND the food set out (she'd been sick, I told her to have it here, and I'd take care of everything). So now I've tried calling local hostesses to do a "drop-in" thing so at least someone would eat the food and maybe even make an order... however 10 minutes is kinda short notice. All my church friends except one live too far away to invite, and the one that lives in town hates jewelry.... BUT... My mom just pulled up. Bless her heart. At least she loves me!!!! And Melissa does too, I know.. And Jeremy Camp....

To set the record straight....

Okay, Okay, I know you guys have been thinking... "WOW! Melissa has great taste in pink shirts!" (I just added the quotation marks for you, Melissa). May I warn you that you are in for a shock... It isn't Melissa with Jeremy Camp, It's ME! ME ME ME ME ME ME ME! I thought I'd post the proof!a>

Well I spent all day in Jonesboro today with Dentist appointments for the kids, who did awesome, and then searching for tile, mirrors, grout, showers, lights.... all those things for the new house. Well, the mirror is for this one, which is almost done, but we did get the tile for the boys bathroom in the new house. It's so small we were able to get what we wanted! For those of you who have not seen our current bathroom lately, here it is:

so, it looks a LOT better.... It cost about $600, but I am hoping the house will sell faster/closer to asking price..... we'll see. I think it looks AWESOME!! Everything is different about it, and no more water-stained white linoleum and ESPECIALLY no more red brick linoleum (which also caressed our dining room and kitchen floors at one time).

ALSO.... Andy and I did something today in Jonesboro that we havn't done in 10 years..... wonder what it could be? None of you will believe it! But, I can't tell right now because it's a SECRET!!! Take that, Melissa!

Oh well, it's bedtime and I need to call a hostess and close a show. Bye!

The highlight of last month...

Oh, I just had to hurry up and put this in here..... Several women of joy and myself got to attend a Jeremy Camp concert last month, and this picture has been the source of MUCH excitement......

If only I were the one to meet such a celebrity, how different life could be..... why, if it were me, Jeremy would have caught that special glimmer in my eye and known in the depth of his heart that he'd have to introduce me to Adie right away, as we are like-minded when it comes to music, that way, by now, she and I would be collaborating on the most highly anticipated song of the year I'm sure.... and by the end of the year our song would've blessed millions of people and maybe even led some of them to the Lord.... after all, look how well she did on her own, why, with the BOTH of us working together (as we would be the moment Jeremy would've seen how compatible we were) there is no measuring the amount of blessings that could be going around. Then Andy and Jeremy could hang out and watch the kids together while Adrienne and I worked on our music, well, actually Jeremy would probably help us out, and he would've grown so close of a friendship with Andy that he'd know for sure how great a drum player Andy is, then he probably would've INSISTED that Andy play the drums on our new BAND with the 4 of us..... (Did I mention until this "would-be" moment how I have LAMENTED over not being in the band anymore, and how that despair could've been gone once and for all if only I were the one to meet Jeremy?) so Anyway... THEN who would watch the kids? Oh, I know.... my dear beloved one.... Melissa...... It's too bad that SHE was actually the one to meet Jeremy that night.. I can't believe she's wearing that LOW CUT shirt! And in front of Jeremy, no less.... I would never do such a thing..... Nevertheless, I've chosen to honor my precious friend by posting HER picture for all to see.....

Notify the famiy! I'm still alive!

Okay - a few of my precious dear ones (women of joy-ers) have let me know that I have not blogged in over 3 months. It's so weird because I really like the idea of doing it - I just don't do it. Do I have any excuses? Well, things have been busy??? Well they really have been! I need to be posting pics of the progress on the house - man, last time I blogged I didn't even know we would consider moving, and now our house is up for sale!!! Check out www.unitedcountry.com, and find the Imboden, AR office to see our house. Anyway... see, I have to get Dakota ready right now, so I already have to go! Will chance bring us to crossing paths over the next 3 months???? I hope so, Precious one. :)

Quick update

Hey - just wanted to let you know that we are NOT performing the interpretive movement this weekend. I THINK it will be next weekend. A girl had a death in the family and had to make a quick trip to New York.... This just gives you guys more time to put it on your calendar! I'll let you know for sure.

Happy 2008

It's a new year.... any resolutions? I don't even bother with those anymore!! Well, I knew it had been a while since I'd written.... does anyone still check this anymore???? I'm sorry! Well I hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas. Christmas wasn't too hard for me, but the new year was. When it turned 2008, the only thing I could think of was how this was the first year my Dad would never see. That the last year that I was with my dad was over. Like keeping 2007 around would keep more of him around.... I know that is silly. Today is 3 months since he died. This was the first "month anniversary" that I actually looked at my watch at 4 pm... 12 weeks since he died, which is about how long he lived after we found out it was confirmed stage 4 cancer. If he had taken radiation every day would he still be here? He didn't think it was worth it, but I do.

Anyway, at least Christmas was fun... The kids had a great time. The morning started out by sleeping in (strange, huh? We Ross's LOVE our sleep!), and then I cooked a big breakfast (just about the only day of the year that I do that), and then on to stockings. After that we opened presents and later in the day we went to Andy's sisters house. I've got some pictures:

Kids Choice! Eggs, bacon, french toast, juice, and kool-aid!

Walkie Talkies!!

Okay, let me just pause here to inform you of a most awesome book series!!! If you havn't read "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer..... Do it!!! I read it in one day, and the sequel "New Moon" the next day (these are 600 page books), and then Andy got me the third book, "Eclipse" (came out in Aug. 07) for Christmas. It is an extremely readable, high action series about a girl that moves to Washington State to live with her dad (after her mother remarries). She enrolls in the small high school there, and meets the love of her life - her soul mate - against his better judgement (though he cannot deny it).... Okay, so he's a vampire.... but he's a good guy.... doesn't keep her out of danger though...

OH MY WORD THESE BOOKS ARE DELICIOUS!!! I would rather read these books than eat. Enough said.

Christian author, guys..... no sex scenes, I can count the curse words (not any BAD ones) on one hand..... AND I was literally breathless with my heart pounding out of my chest while reading....... The MOVIE is coming out next year (Dec.) Stephenie has no say over it except that she demanded no rating above a PG13. Book 4 comes out next fall....... check out http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/ for more details. Anyway... back to Christmas...

Not that funny, until you look at the pajamas he has on....


Andy talked a gas station out of this sign for me..... he is so sweet!


Just wanted you to see how our useless dog spent ALL Christmas morning... poor Andy didn't even get to move!


And for the best present...


Momma got one too.......

Don't be a hater..... I AM a guitar hero!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


So, presents were fun. Andy got me a cd player to go in my truck (YES!) Just about the ONLY bad thing about a 1996 model is that cd players didn't come with them. By the way, have any of you NOT seen my truck? I should put in a picture for you. You know, it was God's gift to me while my Dad was sick. He was saving my hearts desire until a time when everything else was falling apart. I know it was His way of telling me He still thought about me. He knew that it would take something big to cheer me up. Dad got to see it, but he never got to ride in it. He was so happy for me! (This is the truck I've longed for since I was 17.)

This was a couple of days after I got it... That is my best friend from high school, Tammy, with me. I'd daydreamed about this truck every day of my junior, senior, and maybe even sophmore year... No one better to celebrate with than her!!! Anyway, that's my truck. I don't know how I got on that story, but let me tell you... be glad I wasn't on here in August or it's all you would've heard about for a long time!!!! I love that truck. Thirsty booger, though. Hey, my trailblazer only got 16 - 17 miles to the gallon. I can handle 13 - 14. And do I ever look GOOD in it!!!!! Makes me look little!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh yall, I could talk about all kinds of stuff, but I need to go to bed. Andy isn't feeling well. Pray for him, he's on his second round of antibiotics and steriods for this sinus stuff, and if it doesn't work, they want to do a catscan of his sinuses. I'm guessing that isn't covered by the $40 doctor visit..... He's been in pain for months with this stuff, so remember to pray.

Also, the interpretive movement went well... the one we've been working on to Lifehouse's "Everything". I'll have to tell you about it later. We are doing it this weekend at our church - 10:45 Sunday morning. Koinonia Christian Fellowship in Imboden. Consider yourself invited!

Love everyone!