NO Black Friday!

Last night was choir practice. The person that sits on the other side of me (not the one that tried to shake my hand and introduce himself) is a PHD. That's right, a very distinguished person with an important title..................She's a Professional Hair Dresser! Which, at this juncture in my life is of rather high importance. Now, let's proceed. She was not there this past Sunday, so she didn't get the joy of witnessing the unleashing of the "Black Beauty"! Well, at choir practice she just looked at me and with the sweetest smile said, "Who did that to you?" I just looked at her with that deer in the headlights look and she said, "Ahhh, You did it." I just nodded. She said, "Why didn't you come let me color your hair if you wanted it colored." I said, "In case you forgot...........I've been LAID OFF! Which adds up to..............NO MONEY!" She said, "You come be in my chair at 10:30 in the morning and don't bother to bring your purse." I couldn't believe my ears. The excitement of some hope for my horrid hair disaster!!!

She and her husband both work and they have four children. So, after choir practice, I ran two friends of Michael's home that he had invited to youth, then I swung by Wal-Mart and picked up a few items. I thought it would be a nice gesture to prepare a pot of my homemade chicken N' dumplings for her and her family so they could have a nice home cooked meal that she didn't have to prepare. I wanted to do this for her since she was being so generous to me in my time of NEED!!! When Michael and I got home, he reminded me that I promised to cut his hair, so I did that, THEN started cooking chicken n' dumplings. I got to bed about ten minutes til 1:00!! But it was SO worth it when I got her reaction. She seemed as touched as I was by her sweetness. It made my heart swell to know that our acts of Christian, sisterly love was not only pleasing to each other, but had to be pleasing to our Heavenly Father as well.

I was in her shop for 2 1/2 hours! My hair isn't BLACK anymore!!!! It's dark brown! Imagine that! And THAT, my friends, is why she is a PHD! (and I am SO not!) Anyway, I feel so much better and I wanted to share the outcome with you.

Hope each of you have a wonderful weekend.

The difference between BROWN and BLACK!

I'm sure everyone reading this blog has been through elementary school where you learn your colors. I "thought" I knew my colors too. Here.......let's practice a little, shall we?!

This is brown

This is black

(From the front!) The one on the left is brown - the one on the right is black

(From the back!) The one on the left is brown - the one on the right is black

So, now that EVERYONE is clear on the difference between BROWN and BLACK, I'll share with you what happened this past Thursday evening. For several months we had family portraits scheduled to be taken by our very sweet, dear friend, Kim. That had to be postponed to a later date.....because of what happened. When I walked into Sunday school my co-teacher just said, "Woah! Hey! Uh......" and then when I walked into the choir room, the person that sits next to me week after week after week, stuck his hand out to shake my hand and said, "Hi, I'm Chris. And you are???" I said, "Very funny! hahaha..........NOT!"

I'm guessing by what I've told you already, you have pretty much guessed what happened last Thursday evening. And now I'm going to show you the difference between BROWN and BLACK.

The box said "Dark Brown"..................the photos show you the difference between brown and black, and my hair is NOT brown. It's more of an "Elvira Black!" You can see by my lovely expression, I am NOT amused, nor pleased with the outcome. And also, keep in mind.......this color is after stripping it with baking soda and Dawn dishwashing liquid numerous times. It ain't coming out! It's going to have to just fade over time and grow out. So, in a few months when the gray starts coming back and I look like a skunk....I guess I'll find out who my REAL friends are!

Several people have told me (you know, the ones that REALLY love me!!), "It's really not that bad, once you get used to it!" How sweet and thoughtful of them. Jimmy just didn't have anything to say for the first few days. Which I'm kinda glad of. I know his mama taught him if he couldn't say somethin' nice, to not say anything at all. Around day three he just said, "I'm getting used to it." I guess that makes two of us. *sigh*. When will I EVER learn?!

If you can't laugh at yourself, then you haven't lived!

Hope this post has made you laugh and at the same time made you think!

(I took all these photos today. I also took around 50 more - of which I will be sharing on tomorrow's post. I know you'll enjoy it!!)

Over all good day...

For those three people that actually read my blog........I thought I'd update you on my day.

Today was..............um...........chock full of ups and downs.

It started out GREAT. I took a homemade chocolate cake I baked for my very best friend's birthday to her at work. I surprised her with breakfast, the cake and her birthday presents. She was SO surprised and we got to spend a good hour together. She said it was well worth taking her lunch hour the first hour of work!

Then, I was off to the unemployment office. THAT turned out to be a big JOKE! It's ridiculous. First of all, even though their website said I had to go the the nearest office to take some items, when I got there the lady said, "Yeah. We don't know why it says that. You can do everything on line. And then you can just copy and fax these items to us." I was rather perturbed. Then she proceeded to tell me that once I finished filling everything out online and faxing the other items, that it would be 7 - 14 days before I would get a letter saying whether I was eligible or not. I was thinking........eligible!!! I got laid off!!! How more eligible do I have to be!!??!! But I didn't say that. Then she said after I get the eligibility letter, it would be 7 - 10 more days and I would get a letter from her stating that I could come to...................get ready..................a class on HOW TO FILL OUT JOB APPLICATIONS!!!! I can't imagine what my face must have looked like, but her reaction gave me a good hint. I tried to get control of it as quickly as possible. She could tell I was less than impressed. But she proceeded to tell me that once I "passed" the class (again with the face, I'm sure!) I would then, in approximately ANOTHER 10 days or so, be eligible to get my first check but that I would have to drive all the way to Marianna (72 miles round trip!) each week to sign for it.

OK, Let's think about this...............I was never too keen on applying for unemployment in the first place and now I see that my initial "feelings" about it were dead on! I left there with every intention of getting some kind of job TODAY!!

So, from there I went to my old office. "The guys" said they wanted to take me to lunch. We all had a great time and it was good to see all of them. They are missing me terribly and that's always nice to hear and lunch was wonderful. You just can't beat a good Chinese buffet.

After lunch I headed back to Chipley to pound the pavement. I'll have you know that by 3:00 pm when I went to pick Michael up from school...........I had a job! I'm excited to know that I'll be going to work. I know it's not the "end all, be all" job, but..........it's a job none the less and I'm glad to have it. I've been doing Administrative type work for the last 15 years. And now, I'll just be cashiering. All I have to do is smile, be friendly (which comes naturally to me!) and scan groceries. I'm looking forward to the change.

I'll keep you posted on how things are going.

Check back soon. I'll try my best to post at least once a week. More if possible.

And.........just to tease you a little.............

My next blog entry is going to be entitled, "The difference between BROWN and BLACK"
Feel free to comment on this. I'd love to hear your ideas on what you think I could be talking about!! And, yes........there WILL be pictures!!!

Ahhh, TESTOSTERONE!!

OK, so when you have a house full of "boys", sometimes the testosterone gets pumpin' and they feel this great "need" to prove their abilities. Michael and his father (you know, the GROWN one!!) were talking about Michael joining the track team. Well, one thing led to another and at nearly 9:00 pm all Michael had to say was, "Let's race, old man! I'll smoke you. I'll burn you out!" Nuff said. Jimmy and Michael were tightening up their shoes strings and heading out the door. Good Grief!!

They had ME come out to count them off. From down the road, I hear Jimmy say to me, "Hey, Ellen, you stand there and be sure to count how many seconds it takes Michael to cross AFTER me!"

So, they're down in their little stance........................

I say, "On your mark..........." "Get set............" "GO!!!!"

Here they came, 100 miles an hour and about three steps from the finish, Michael is a good step in front of his father. Jimmy leans forward with EVERYTHING he has (really giraffe necking it).......................

Ok, stop for a second and let's think about this........

Jimmy's feet are at the finish line and his head is about 5 feet in FRONT of the finish line! Needless to say, the pavement stopped him..................his hands...........his elbows.............his knees........and his back. He was just in a pile on the road. OUCH! After several seconds of "walking it off", he finally made his way inside.

WARNING!!! Do NOT look at these photos if you have a weak stomach. I promise you won't like them, but THIS is what happens when "BOYS" have to "prove" themselves!!!

This is Michael after the race.

"Hey, what happened?!"

This is Michael realizing "what happened"

"Oh, crap! Are you ok?!"

These next photos are the aftermath of TESTOSTERONE!

Trust me, these shots do NOT do the grossness justice! I should know............I had to play Nurse Betty! EWE!! And by the way..........the last one of his knees...............He was wearing jeans!

I was SO happy to see this too........Jimmy called Michael and I into the room to show us that he hung up his running shoes.........literally. We'll see how long THAT lasts!

So, for those of you with a houseful of boys...........get ready. No matter what age they get, they'll always be competitive. And sometimes it takes events like this one to remind the "big boy" that he's not a boy anymore.................but the daddy, and sometimes the daddy just needs to let the "boy" win!!!! (which is what he "said" he did) - - - - Michael's response, "WHATEVER!! Come on, I'll SMOKE you, old man!"

Oh, no................here we go again!

Like sands through the hour glass......

THESE are the "DAVES" of our lives..........

Oh, my sides are splitting! I crack me up!!! OK, for those who don't know......my oldest son is David. He is hilarious and LOVES acting goofy and dressing in costumes and such. He is a real character in every sense of the term. I was looking through all the photos on my computer and through the years David has come up with some pretty ridiculous "get ups". See for yourself!!!

I guess in these he is supposed to be a surfer dude?

(Or maybe Phillis Diller? I'm not sure! - And I obviously just told on my age!)

"DUDE!"

"Cheeeahhhhhhhhh!!!"

"Peace out, Man!" "Totally!"

Then there's these........OUT LOUD and IN YO FACE!!

He's such a shy, meek child.............no, really! (NOT!)

And then when he came in the room with this on, he introduced himself as (with the accent and all, of course), "Hi! I'm Forrest Gump!" Then he asked me had I seen Jenny?

And in these..........BEWARE! His hands are lethal weapons!!! (or so he thinks! hahaha~)

Soooooo, ya wanna fight?!?!

This is David tryin' on some digs at one of his favorite places to get his goofy "get ups"....

the Good Will.

Meet Mr. Edjumakated. He's a genius.

His friends are all goofy too!





Then, there's my other son Michael..........the "serious one". His girlfriend is super serious too! NOT!!

"Do I gots sumfin in my teeef?!"

She really, REALLY loves him!

And.....as "gifted" as he is (no really, he was even tested!!), I don't know where he got the idea he could really hide behind his ipod?! But, we humored him! "Where did Michael go?"

Complete and total concentration!

Hope you enjoyed this goofy blog entry to jump start your weekend. May your weekend be fun and filled with laughter!

Be sure to check back the first of next week for the next episode of........................

The Daves of our Lives!!!

OH, the difference a day makes...

Yesterday morning was uneventful like all the ones prior to it. Then, at 9:00 am, my boss called me into his office to lower the boom! After months of assurance that it wouldn't/couldn't happen to ME, I was laid off! Yep, you heard me right.................LAID OFF! I was in disbelief (my (former) boss is always practical joking - and is REALLY good at it, by the way), but as his eyes welled up with liquid and his face went flush like he might actually vomit, I realized that he was, in fact, very serious. Sad, sorry, and serious. I really never thought I'd hear those words. I mean, we JUST moved into a new office and I was the person who ran the office affairs. The engineers and designers did their thing and my thing was to take care of and run the office aspect of it. But, God has different plans for me. And................I am ok with that! Initially, there was shock and disbelief, but then....only after a second or two, I remembered who is in control of my life and, I know it will be hard for some to believe, but I was actually excited!

Is there uncertainty, sure. Should I be afraid? Should I fall to pieces? Should I start packing up my house and cleaning out my car so "they" can come take them? NO!!! See, God provides EVERYTHING I need. He provides everything all of us need, if we'll only look to Him and trust Him with our needs. We don't have to be scared, worried, depressed. God is going to take care of us in our need. And, maybe that's exactly what He's trying to show me through this. I "have" lots of things..........do I "need" most of them? I assure you, I do not. So, from this, I am going to come away with the splendor of seeing God work with and through my life. I am tickled and gitty even at the aspect of the outcome. Will my bills keep coming? Of course they will. Will He provide a way for them to be taken care of? Absolutely.

What will I do next? Well, I have been a secretary for the past 12 years. I enjoy that line of work. But, for several years, I have been yearning to do something else I really enjoy, and that is cooking. I LOVE to cook. Maybe this is a new direction the Lord will send me in. Whatever lies next for me, I am excited to do it. See, I know His will for my life is perfect. His timing is perfect also. So, with that, I know that THIS is the PERFECT time for a new adventure in my life to begin.

Keep checking in. You're welcome to come along with me on my adventures. I'm sure there will be ups and downs, hills and valleys and maybe even some bumps and bruises, but the Lord and I will keep moving forward according to His will for my life.

So, you might ask, "How am I today?" Well, today I am:

UNEMPLOYED
Blessed (with an abundance of people who love, care, support and pray for me! Thank You, Jesus!)
Excited (about what my future holds, no matter what that might be)
Secure (in my Savior's ability to care for me and my family)
Comfortable (in knowing who I am and who I belong to and realizing that having just turned 40 last month and after 15 years, finding myself unemployed, I'm going to be OK!)

And then, all of a sudden.....

HE WAS 16!!

I can't believe it. I just can't believe it. Just a little while ago, I was turning 16. I remember it like it was yesterday. Now, here I am sharing pictures of my youngest son's 16th birthday party. Where does the time go? Come on, I'll show you how it went:

Nicole (Michael's girl) and I decorated it ourselves. (like you really couldn't tell! haha)

Here's the birthday boy! He has grown up to be such a handsome young man. We are very proud of him and the person he is becoming.

Then his friends started arriving....

Some were really, REALLY glad to be there and help him celebrate!

Not afraid to show a little love...

And apparently they ALL want to be where Michael is!

(Like it's the ONLY chair in my house! Poor chair)

This is Michael's girl, Nicole. She's a HOOT!

Again.............No furniture? Just pull up a "Michael"!

Time to eat

Then.............it was time to "ROCK the house"!!

(SERIOUS musicians)

The couple that "ROCKS" together, stays together....

ALL Girl Band - (pay no attention to the dude with the mic)

total concentration...

.....a girl and her guitar....

But I got the best present of all!

I'll treasure these hugs forever. He'll be a grown man day after tomorrow. (.....or so it will seem)