Jaxon's weekend at Camp Neena was a blast. We didn't really do anything exciting but snuggle and watch TV. She is such a good girl and was game for anything. We did take Nana to Dairy Queen and played with Poppi while he was trying to take a nap. We went by Auntie Tawana's house and played with all the goody's she had. We ate at Cabana. We went to church. We stayed busy. I had an utterly fun weekend watching her and all her precious little mannerisms. She was very good! I hate being so far from her that I can't just get a hug whenever I want. But, for now I'll consider myself fixed up until next month. The truth though? Neena never gets enough hugs.

We finally got our precious little refugee family back to the Houston area. Things are fine there. Some trees down and part of a fence but the house is fine. And Tucker was here too and he is feeling 100% better. He still has a couple more vet visits to get dismissed and get his last shot but trust me. He had plenty of energy and spunk back while he was here. And we were very glad. I had the cutest little "sidekick" to ride with me so I wouldn't be lonesome on the way home. Aunt YaYa, Reid and Macy were ready to get home with their Daddy and their life back to normal! Which is busy. So, we met Uncle T, Aunt Ash and Uncle B, and Avery and I had all 4 of my babies together for at least an hour! But, Jaxon is here for the weekend. YIPEEEEEEEEEE. Her mommy went to a wedding and her daddy is way deep in EAGLE football. So, I was so excited for her to have her very own first OFFICIAL Camp Neena. We are having loads of fun although we miss all of the cousins who played with her and loved on her. Now it's just down to us! We have been singing lots of songs, reading lots of books, making lots of animal noises, watching lots of Dora and Backyardigans, and just chilling. She is a snuggler and I love it. She like to sing too so we just curl up! Honestly, could she be any more precious and beautiful. I AM SO BLESSED.

We tried to help the kids get home today to check on their house and property. We all knew they wouldn't be able to stay because of electricity outtages but at least they could see that things were still standing. Schools are closed there indefinitely for now. BUT.......we never made it past Katy. Road closures, traffic chaos, and detours that you couldn't get out of made us turn around and head the 1 1/2 hours back. With our luck, we would have gotton stuck in that traffic with no way to exit or turn around and be roaming for days. Keep on praying for the next return effort!

I am going to be "playing" hostess with Deena sometime this week. We are opening our houses up for a fall open house.....stay tuned.

Most of the time I hate "hoopla" that has no basis or accuracy. You know what I mean by that? To me it is when everyone get's all riled up by a situation and then after it's over it's like, "Is that all there was to that?" Don't get me wrong. I know this weather situation along the gulf has been horrible. And no telling what the end will reveal when people can get back to their homes. The news people are going nuts! It was well deserved hoopla! I guess what I mean is that if this was a Catergory 2, I can't imagine what a Category 5 would have been like. DEVASTING! It has just been totally consuming our every move. We have been watching it for days and yesterday and today, we have kept the computer on a Houston station watching all the familiar places being attacked by water and winds. I am so grateful that it wasn't a rerun to the devastions before that almost took Galveston in the early 1900's. I guess we can be so thankful to mass communication and modern technology for that! I realize that there was tremendous damage, probably loss of lives ( unknown SAD stories that will knock me down emotionally) loss of businesses and monetarily crippling people as things unravel today. We've already heard some pretty sad stuff on the news.

I expected to wake up to rain. We need rain so bad and it looks like Ike bypassed us on that. I am seriously dreading the news that my daughter might hear today about her house in Clear Lake. They are here safe but remembering so many things that they wish they would have brought with them. Pray for them. The kids in Katy rode out the winds in the darkness, as scary as they sounded. Why are things worse in the dark? Everyone of "mine" are safe and for that I am very grateful. The material things we'll replace if needed. But, today there are board games, snuggling, maybe a movie, tv coverages, and chicken and dumplings.

It may be rather hard to tell by the picture but the most handsome soldier is my Daddy. He is the first one facing the front on the far left. I am not sure where this was but it was during WWII. Now, as we reflect on another 9/11 day let us all remember this new generation of soldiers everywhere today that are fighting again for the freedom of our country. For all the people on that scary day that lost their lives so tragically, and for their family members and friends, may they all be granted peace and healing. Pray that America finds peace and that soon everyone is home and this war is only on the pages of history books. Pray that the powers of satan retreat realizing that as Americans IN GOD WE DO TRUST. Pray that we have a new President that respects the Lord as our creator and honors the people he serves. Pray that all the leaders of this country strive to work out the issues and problems of these times with honesty and integrity. Most importantly........pray that God blesses America once again.

Thought for the day!

Don't you just love FIRST GRADE? You can finally read, you love the playground, you have a list of your friends divided up by GOOD SIDE/BAD SIDE ( meaning nice or not ) and it's perfectly acceptable to do that in the first grade, you don't have to worry about making the house payment, you don't have teeth and it's ok, you think that HIGH SCHOOL musical is real life, you can wear braids and pull it off, you are a fashion expert for the school, there really isn't that much homework yet, popsicles are waiting at home, and NEENA picks you up!

MEN ARE JUST HAPPIER PEOPLE

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!

NICKNAMES If Laura, Kate, and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate, and Sarah. If Mike, Dave, and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla, and Four-eyes.
EATING OUT When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave, and John will each throw in $20, even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller, and none will actually admit they want change back. When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.
MONEY A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs. A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need, but it's on sale.
BATHROOMS A man has 6 items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel . The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.
ARGUMENTS A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.
FUTURE A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband. A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
SUCCESS A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
MARRIAGE A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't. A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does.
DRESSING UP A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the bin, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail. A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
NATURAL Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed. Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
OFFSPRING Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears, and hopes and dreams. A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

GOT TAGGED BY KELLEY

1) What's your favorite salad dressing? honey dijon 2) Have you ever smoked heroin? Are you kidding me? NO! 3) Favorite holiday? Thanksgiving and Christmas 4) Favorite drinks at Sonic? Diet cherry coke or orange flurry 5) Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Just anxious not really nervous, I am an old pro at it now 6) What do you think of hot dogs? I can only eat them at a football game or the gross ones at the movie that go around on that wheel! 7) Favorite Christmas song? Ava Maria and O' Holy Night ) What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee 9) Can you do push ups? How many are we talking? 10) Can you do a chin up? no 11) What's your favorite piece of jewelry? I'm a jewelry freak and love it all but I would have to say jingling bracelets 12) Favorite hobbies? photography and decorating 13) Ever been in a car wreck? yes 14) Do you have ADD? Actually, I really think I do. Some type of ferocious adult onset! 15) What's one thing that you love about yourself? Having great kids a fantastic husband, family and being able to be empathetic to others 16) Middle name? Lynn 18) Name 3 things you bought yesterday? Gas $$$$ actually that is all 19) Current worry? health tests, world situations, some particular finances 20) Current hate right now? SATAN and his underhanded powers......so many illnesses around me and unhappiness 21) Favorite Restaurant? Nancy's Steakhouse 22) How did you bring in the New Year? quietly at home just like I like it....calling all the kids at 12 23) Where would you like to go? Italy 24) What's your favorite food? Seafood 25) What's something exciting in your life? My children and keeping up with their lives 26) What shirt are you wearing now? Actually, my swimsuit top 27) Do you like to sleep on satin sheets? NO 28) Can you whistle? NO 29) Favorite color? don't have one really I love them all at different moods/seasons 30) Would you be a pirate? No, they are not usually up to any good deeds 31) What songs do you sing in the shower? I actually like to talk in the shower 32) Favorite girl's name? Stella it was my grandmother's name and I have always wished I would have used it. Maybe I should have tried for one more girl because I love my girls names too. 33) Favorite boy's name? Mitchell and Reid! 34) What's in your pocket? right now, probably lint 35) Last thing that scared you? about 30 minutes ago when BA honked at me as I walked in front of his truck, but I actually was expecting it and it is my FAVORITE prank to play myself! I told him he would have felt funny if I would have collapsed in front of the truck! LOL LOL 36) Favorite TV show? Trauma show/medical shows, Biggest Loser, Grey's, American Idol 37 ) Do you love where you live? LOVE IT 39) How many TVs do you have in your house/apartment? 4 40) Who is your loudest friend? Becky and I love it! And I am probably her loudest friend! 41) How many pets do you have? none 42) Do you have any tattoos or piercings? my ears are pierced 43) Whats your husband's/wife's name? Gordon 44) What is something you can't live without? God's love and my family 45) What is your favorite candy? Hershey's kisses 46) What's your favorite sport to watch? FOOTBALL! 47) What were you doing at midnight last night? finished reading Eclipse 48) What's your favorite store? Steinmart and Target 49) What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? Yea I'm alive! 50) What time is it? 9:35 PM Monday night