I've been tagged!

I was tagged by my friend Kristi and quoting from her blog here are the rules:
"The point of this fun game is to answer the questions, then tag 4 of your friends and post their names on your blog. Might want to leave them a message telling them they've been tagged. Oh, and absolutely no retagging."

So here we go; random facts from my life.

Where Were You 10 Years Ago?
10 Years ago… Feb. 1998, I was living in Ash Flat, teaching school in Evening Shade. Lance (my baby brother) was a senior in high school and we followed him to many, many basketball games that year. Casey was in the 4th or 5th grade (I don't remember which one), and Austin was almost 2. It was my 2nd year of teaching, too.

5 Things On My To-Do List:
Only 5? That is funny!!!
1. Conquer Laundry Mountain....at least knock it back to foothill size....then get ALL the laundry folded, hung up, and put away.
2. Remember to get the mirrors for the downstairs bathrooms from Mom's house and get them hung up so the kids can see what they're doing when they brush their teeth. I also need to get some of my big pictures (Gone With The Wind puzzle, complete with frame) moved home from Mom's and hung up somewhere.
3. Sweep, mop, dust, vaccuum, clean bathrooms, pick up toys, clean the kitchen....wait, that's not a list, that's just life!
4. Finish the numerous projects I have going on both at home and at school. I've really got to work the on the Praisebooking Scripture challenges, I'm only 4 behind now....but there have only been 4 posted. Isn't that sad?
5. Find some quiet time for me every day when I can take my Bible and a Bible study book and spend time focusing my mind where it needs to be, solely on Him. I knew I should have put a lock on our closet door, locking them out is about the only way I can do something like that, but I just HAVE to make some time for me to refresh my spirit.

3 Bad Habits:
{3! Okay 3 is good....for anyone who knows me very well, SHHHHHHH!}
1. Taking laundry out of the dryer, dropping it into a basket, and never getting it where it needs to go. The exception to this rule, towels! I know who's using which towels and I keep up with it. No snitching towels out of my closet and making me think I put them there, Huh huh, nope!
2.I get distracted way too easily! I'll start something, then pick up something else, then find another thing that needs to be done, and NOTHING ends up getting completely finished. I seriously think I have adult ADD!
3. I am really, really bad to procrastinate....but more about that tomorrow.

Places I Have Lived:
1. Flippin, Arkansas (yes, Heather, it's a real place and people like their town, they're not talking ugly about it.) I lived here until I was 11, then ended up back here after I married the first, uhm, time. (I'll be nice)
2. Viola, Arkansas. We moved here from Flippin when I was 11, I lived here until I went off to college in 1985, then got married and moved away. I got unmarried, finished college, and finally ended up back in Viola in the fall (August) of 1999.
3. Harrison, AR (not a fun time living there so we'll just skip that one, but moved from Flippin to Harrison with the 1st X, this is where it all ended)
4. Conway, Arkansas! This was a great one for me. I took my 3 year old daughter, stepped out on faith, and went back to college. I lived here from August of 1992 - May 10, 1996 and left Conway and the University of Central Arkansas with a BSE degree in my hand!
5. Cherokee Village/Ash Flat, Arkansas for the 3 years I taught at Evening Shade school
6. Viola, AR. I've come almost full circle
Kristi said she was a true Hoosier at heart since I has lived in Indiana all of her life, I can sum up my life and places I've lived with 3 simple words.......WHOOOOO PIGS, SOOOIE!

Things Most People Don't Know About Me:
I'm a pretty open book, if I goof up there's always someone there to remind me, but these may be slightly interesting.....or at least good for a laugh.
1. I won a talent show when I was 7 or 8 (I know this because I was missing 2 front teeth) I sang "I Wish I Was A Teddy Bear". I think it was done by Donna Fargo.
2. I stuck my tongue to the ice on the inside of my Mamaw and Papaw's fridge. My tongue stuck, but I pulled it off (left the end) before Mamaw could warm water and get it loose.
3. I got married at 19 amid many rumors (started by my Dad's neighbors) that I was pregnant. That was June of 1986, and Casey was born September of 1988....2 years and 3 months, gosh, that was a looooong pregnancy! (she said sarcastically)
4. I someday want to be a world traveler. I'd love to see the artwork in Italy and France, the Greek ruins, the Roman Colisseum, Kanaroos and Joeys in Australia, the green hills of Ireland, and the rolling hills of Scotland. I also wanna go to Loch Ness, just to see if I can see Nessie. I really want to go to the UK (Colchester, Essex, England to be exact) and see Jeannette and the wonderful misson opportunity they have. It's called Nightstop. If you want to know more about it just email me or leave me a comment and I'll direct you to the head lady, herself. They take in teens who have noplace to go and get them into a safe, Christian environment. It's changing lives!

Here Are The Lucky People I Tag:
1. Jamie
2. Jen (perspective from the parsonage)
3. Judy (His doorkeeper)
4. Carla J.
It's pretty sad when you don't have a huge "buddy list" to choose from!

Now, remember, no tag backs, girls!

More on CJ

I know this blog has been consumed with our injured dog lately, but you don't have to read it if you don't like it.

I got home from school yesterday and he was so excited to get out of the garage. He moved faster than he has moved since we got him home, he also ventured out into the field. I was worried about him for a while, until I noticed he was okay. I grabbed my camera and went out into the field so I could get some pictures of his progress. I know I'm mother-henning this dog to death, but I can't help it!

These are a couple of pictures I took yeasterday afternoon. He was running (sort of) toward me, tail wagging, so happy to be free. The other on I took from the side so you could see the extent of the injury. There is another scar that runs along the bottom of his shoulder, too.

He's adapting well to his new physical features, and still the happiest, friendliest dog we've ever had.

Don't be jealous....

..but I probably have one of the most romantic husbands in the world. Yesterday afternoon he brought me my Valentine's Day gift.....brand new....wiperblades for the windshield wipers on my car. He even installed them for me. See, I knew you would be jealous. Even though I did have a slight fever and felt like a square peg that had been pushed through a round hole, I made my family a gourmet meal....Hamburger Helper with corn (from a can) and green beans (from a can), but we did have fresh pineapple (yes, the can said it was fresh) for dessert. We washed it all down with a lovely vintage of Hawaiian Punch....then I took some Tylenol and went to bed.

Let it rain, I'm ready!

Oh, and CJ ran (okay, hobbled) out of the garage to meet us this afternoon then went out into the yard and field to explore a little. He's back in his bed now, but it was very encouraging to see him want to get out and try to get around. He's adapting to his uniqueness. I need to go take some pictures of him just to let him know we still think he's handsome...even if he does just have 3 legs.

CJ is home!

We picked him up from the vet today, and he was happy to see us. They said he had been a little mopey, but when he saw the boys and me his ears perked up and his tail started wagging. He sat on the back seat of the truck on the way home, right between the boys. When we got home and opened the door the other dog, Darrell, tried to jump in the truck with him. He was really happy to have his buddy home. CJ is curled up on his bed asleep. It's so good to have him home.

Changing colors

I had to do it, I love Monet, but that background with the little ball of sunshine made it look like something weird was in every photo. I like the way the dark background make the photos show up, anyway.

Today is yet another snow day for us. This will put us at least 1 week later getting out of school. I never thought I'd be ready to go back to school, but the boys are driving me NUTS! Austin still doesn't feel well, and Logan knows just which buttons to push to annoy him. It seems like I've spent most of the morning saying, "Leave him alone, put that down, be nice to your brother, he's younger than you - be nice!" I've finally sent them to neutral corners with no TV.

With that said, there are some moments that I cherish greatly. Lilly, my neice, had her adenoids out Friday, Mom went down Thursday night to help. Tuesday night, Austin and Logan sat at the dining table and painted pictures for Lilly and made get well cards. The got along so well, shared the paint, and never fussed. I need to remind them how much they love each other.

Made a tough decision today

These are our dogs Darrel (on the left) and CJ (on the right) Some fool was driving way to fast on our dirt road and hit CJ Friday night. We looked and looked for 3 hours Friday night and Austin started looking at 7:00 Saturday morning. He finally hobbled up to us around 11:00 Saturday morning. We had to search to find a vet who was open, but All Creatures in Mtn. Home said to bring him right over. We knew he was hurt, but didn't know how hurt. It was really hard when the vet called me and told me we didn't have many options for CJ. His leg and shoulder were shattered and even with sending him to a pricey orthopedic vet in Little Rock, there would be no guarantee they could save his leg, not to mention the months, maybe years of pain he would be in. I talked to the vet about all the different options and finally just asked her what she would do if he were hers. She said she's always the first one to try to save a leg, but in this case the best scenario for him would be to amputate his leg. I'll admit it, I cried, I just couldn't stand the thought of him being in pain and suffering for the rest of his life. He just had his first birthday in November! After agonizing for a while, and angonizing to Chris about what we should do, I made the decision for them to remove his leg. She called me back this afternoon and told me he made it through the surgery just great. He was on pain meds, but his breathing was still fast and somewhat labored, even though x-rays showed no internal injuries. After the surgery, his breathing was normal. He was in so much pain the pain shots weren't working, and since they removed the shattered leg and shoulder, his pain is much better. That's what I wanted to hear. We should have him home tomorrow afternoon, but not until after a trip to the pet store (All Pet and Equine is a very cool store) for a new dog bed. I think CJ deserves even a heated bed.

During all this, Darrell, our other dog has roamed around completely lost; he's been howling at night for no reason, and will NOT let you get out of his sight when we're outside. He just does not like being the solitary animal, he has to have friends or people. He's been sleeping in CJ's bed since he's been gone, so I think he deserves a new bed, too (maybe not heated for him, though).

Last summer CJ cut his foot and hobbled around on 3 legs. Chris and the boys started calling him Tripod. I told him today that he had spoken it into existance. He really needs to watch that! CJ or Tripod, whatever they end up calling him, he will be just as loved (and probably more papered) with 3 legs as he was with 4. We will have the most unique dog in the neighborhood, I'm just glad he won't be in pain.

Through all of this, I can definitely say I highly recomment "All Creatures Veterinary Clinic" in Mtn. Home. They have been so good and never tried to push us into anything. I was very impressed with their clinic, too. I think we may have found a new vet.

Captured Moments....

What do you think of the name "Captured Moments" for a photography business? Lindsay and I are branching out, we've decided to turn the hobby into a little side business. She's the salesman and has a wedding for us March 22. (which is also our anniversary....Chris and me) After that wedding I will take engagement pictures for a friend, then engagment and wedding pictures for my daughter's best friend. It's going to be busy, but that's good. I hope we can get a few Senior picture sessions in there, too, those are always fun!

This has been an eventful weekend. We really thought we had lost our youngest dog, CJ. Someone stopped and told our neighbor he hit him. This guy drives like a crazed lunatic (he may be a crazed lunatic, who knows?) and last week I saw him deliberately try to run CJ down. We searched for 2 or 3 hours for him Friday night with no luck. Saturday morning I told the boys what had happened, and Austin went out looking for him. He started at 7:30 and around 10:00 he finally gave up. I felt so sorry for him. Around 11:15 the neighbor's daughter spotted CJ, he was hobbling his way home on 3 legs. We called around and finally found a vet (ours and half the others I called were gone to a vet convention), so the kids and I took him to All Creatures in Mtn. Home. Poor CJ has a broken shoulder, but it looks like that's all. They kept him this weekend and will call me tomorrow to let me know what the next step will be. This $20 Humane Society rescue dog may end up being quite expensive, but he means so much to the boys....and to me, too, it will be okay. I just hope he doesn't think we've deserted him since he's at the vet's office without us. I'll be glad to get him home. Darrell (our other dog) is lost without him. He's been whining and looking around for him. When we got out of the truck yesterday after taking CJ, Darrell kept looking in the truck and looking all around for him. Last night Darrell slept in CJ's bed. He's so sad without his buddy, he even refused a doggie treat, he's usually the one who tries to get CJ to "accidentally" drop his so he can have it, too.