More Anniversary posting....

Brad made reservations for us to have dinner at our favorite place,
Sole Mio at 6:00 pm. We decided to eat inside because it was 90 degrees and we were afraid it would be too hot outside. We started off with a glass of wine and a toast. We had an appetizer of Antipasti that was delicious served with their wonderful bread. I ALWAYS order the same thing, I figure why mess with something perfect? But tonight, I had the Chateaubriand (rare fillet medallions with Bearnaise sauce) and steamed string beans. It was fabulous! Brad got a dish that had pasta, some type of cream sauce with shrimp, mussels, red snapper, clams and cherry tomatoes. He loved it and was glad he tried something new. Then, we had our usual Tiramisu and our server gave us a New York Style cheesecake with strawberries when she found out it was our anniversary.
















Then we drove around downtown to see what was going on and then home. It was a wonderful night and a wonderful celebration of our 6 years together!

We always do a funny and a serious card. This was my funny! It just cracked me up!

Celebrating 6 Years Anniversay!

2002- 2008

I can not wait until I get to go see this new movie! It starts tomorrow and I really hope to see it this weekend. Being the true romantic at heart, I sure hope Carrie and Mr. Big end up together!

A Good Day!

This morning Mom called and said when she gets home from work today, she is coming over with dinner! The painter was here finishing up Patrick's old room and I had lots of insurance filing and work to do and before I knew it, Mom called and said she was on the way. We had the nicest time and she told me all about her trip to Mississippi. She had her basket filled with food. We had a great dinner and we watched a little bit of TV and then she had to go. We both wished that she had brought her pj's and she could just spend the night. Brad had to work late catching up after being off for a few days. I am tired but have had a nice day. Back to work tomorrow!

Happy Memorial Day!

Today we had planned on Patrick coming over and we were going to have a cookout. He was going to grill us hamburgers. Well, the rained nixed that plan so we went to Whitt's and got barbecue and baked beans and had our get together inside! It was fun having Patrick and his friend Taylor over, it seemed like old times listening to them laugh and holler as they watched TV. Tomorrow I go to work and Brad has another day off !

Here are some pictures from today, Brad doesn't like to have his picture made as much as Patrick and I do!

Busy Busy Week around here!

Well it all started last week when we were at Tom and Starr's house. Brad fell in love with the paint color in their living room so... it led to having the den redone. The dogs had ruined the carpet in there and it had been cleaned way too many times so up it went in the trash! His new TV came Wednesday ( early anniversay gift) the painting and the new floor got finished yesterday. Now all he needs in there is new furniture, window treatements, and things for the wall! It will be a slow process to fund all that so for now we are very happy that it smells good and we have a TV that does not cut off right in the middle of our shows! Here is a before picture.....

Here is a picture of it now!!!

Then, we have been searching for a cover for our swing on the deck and today Linens and Things had this gazebo cover on sale so ....Brad spent all day today outside cleaning the deck and securing the the cover so now we can sit out there and enjoy the view! Here is a before picture...

Now, all cleaned up!

Today is Sweet Wayne Benton's Birthday!

Happy Birthday Wayne We love you!!!!!!!!

Today was a beautiful day outside. I watched my TV church and rested up all day. Tonight we were invited to Starr and Tom's house for dinner. Our friend Samantha was bringing dinner for the Signs and she graciously included us. It was an Southern dinner of fried chicken, pinto beans, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, rolls, cornbread, and desert! It was delicious!

After dinner, we all went upstairs to view the progress of Starr's craft room and for her to show us all of her scrapbook supplies. Tom and Brad watched sports on TV and Samantha and I were amazed at all of Starr's treasures. Her craft room is going to be wonderful when it all gets finished. Tom is doing so well I will not surprised at all if he gets back to working on it.

When we got home Patrick came over for a visit and it just made a great day perfect!

Mothers Day Part Two

This weekend was Family Weekend at Paint Rock with Lauren. It was also the Open House that they have every year. I was not able to go so Brad went on and his parents also went for the day. They had an award ceremony for all the girls and Lauren won the award for Most Successful New Student in Anatomy and she also won 1st place for her writing of The Definition of a Mother. Her writing was for me and needless to say I am so sad that I did not get to see and hear her read it to all in attendance. She called and read to me on the phone and it brought me to tears to know that she really does love me. I am going to post it on here because I want to have a record of it and I also want to share it with all that read this and pray for her.

The Definition of a Mother written by Lauren Pigue

When I think of a mother, I think of someone who is loving and caring. Someone that you can tell things to, and will love you nonetheless for what you have done. A mother does not have to be your biological mother, but it could be your stepmother or someone that you look up to. A mother is not just the woman that gave birth to you, but is the one that cares for you. She is not just the woman that buys you clothes and feeds you, but the one that will support you when you are down. She can be someone to look up to. She is someone you can be you around. You can go to the mall with, and have mother-daughter time with. For me, having a mother has been a great thing. For one, she is not just a Mom, she can be a best friend. We like alot of the same things but we are just as different as we are alike. My definition of a Mother would be exactly what I have. She is fun, but at the same time, she knows where to stop being a friend and start being a parent. She has taught me so many things in the past six years. She has taught me such things as manners, religion, how to be a girl, and what it means to have a Mother. Since I have had this woman in my life, I have grown so much. I do not think I would ever want to lose the support and love from her. My definition of a Mother is someone who you can count on to be there, to guide you, to care for you, and to love you no matter what you have done in the past, present or future.

Lauren had also earned an onsite overnight visit with us by becoming a group member. Brad took a great big birthday cake for her to share with her group and we packed all new summer clothes for her that she loved. He took movies, games, cards and snacks and food for them to have for the 24 hour time together. They had a great time, took some walks, played and did alot of talking. It was a great time for Brad and one that he needed.

Mothers Day Part One

I am going to copy from Mom's writing for our day with her because her writing is so much better than mine......

Yesterday was, in my favorite adjective, "exquisite". I was so happy to have all of you here, bustling around in my kitchen, making preparations for the wonderful feast and expecting nothing at all from me. I was, however, observing each of you and the way you approached your tasks - but that is another story that will be told someday. The men were so very supportive of Patrick as he braved the smoke and the charcoal rather than the gas grilling that he is accustomed to. I think he did a remarkable job and my burger was perfect. I enjoyed everything that I ate and thought that the food was just outstanding. It gave me great delight to sit at the table and see my "girls" there with me - unencumbered with spouses, grandchildren or anything that would distract from the intimacy of the occasion. In other words the Mother's Day 2008 was just grand.

After much discussion about the weather, we went back to plan A for the old fashioned grill out with hamburgers and all the fixings and I am so glad. It turned out great. My electricity went out around 10:00 am so I didn't get to make the baked beans the way that I usually do with the hamburger meat and all but they turned out OK. Patrick came over around 3 and brought me 2 cards that I will treasure always, 2 big beautiful wonderful smelling candles and 2 bags of M and M's (the peanut butter ones, a favorite of mine). He then loaded up the car with my trays of condiments that were completely beautiful I might add. With no electricity, I had nothing to do but create with onions, lettuce, tomatoes, cheeses and pickles! As Ray says, done by an OCD'er!

It was a great day for all!!! Brad had my camera in Alabama so I have no pictures to show.

A day I will never forget!

Ok, this is going to be a long post but read to the end!

From Cheryl's Blog Jan.11, 2008:

We spent time today with an awesome lady named Karen Doyle, her husband Jim and his cousin Shirley. Karen is from East Tennessee and works for Lifeway in the women’s ministry division. She works for a friend of ours from LHBC Chris Adams. Chris told Karen we were at MD Anderson. Karen is a cancer survivor of recent, and was here in Houston for some followup testing. She searched us out and found us this morning. Oh, what a blessing this family was. We talked, we prayed, we cried, we heard her testimony about her walk with cancer and how God gave her a miracle and healed her without a transplant; healed her son that developed cancer during this same time period and healed her family from the loss of her husband and her son’s father who had been killed in a tragic car accident two years earlier. She gave Cheryl a bracelet that was given to her by her sons when she started her battle with cancer that says “Expect Miracles “, Karen has never taken this bracelet off her arm until today, she told Cheryl that as she was praying last night for us, and God told her to give the bracelet to Cheryl!!! How wonderful was that. The legacy is that Cheryl will be able to pass this beautiful silver bracelet on to the next person as God directs her to do so. As Karen was praying and we were holding each others hands in the hall way a waiting area was within earshot of this prayer and testimony. Several of these people were crying as well. What a touching and godly moment for us all. “Thank you Chris for sending this angel to see us.” Karen worked hard to find us for three days as our scheludes were conflicting, thank God she did not give up. Another major benchmark in our lives. We will never forget this day.

Today, Mom, Nita, Corinne, Jacque, Tracey and I were invited to Cheryl's house for a lunch reunion (or so I thought). We had tried for the longest to find a date with everyone's schedule to do it when we all would be there. Faye, Alice, Judy, Mrs. Owen, Karen Bivens and Dana were also there. We got ready for lunch and I was given the "You are special plate" for my lunch to be served on. Well the ugly cry started, I thought we were there to have a reunion of Cline girls to celebrate Cheryl's miracle. Little did I know the day was about me! After lunch, we went to the living room and Cheryl reminded us about the lady in the story above that gave her the "Expect Miracles" bracelet. She then told us after much prayer and talking with Bubba and Alice that she was going to pass the bracelet on to me. I was so totally overwhelmed and speechless and I still am. Then there were the sweetest prayers offered on my behalf that I have ever heard. I still do not have words to express what this day meant to me. I thank God for my family and those that love me and pray for me daily. I do believe in God's complete healing and I know mine is on the way!

New Do!

Well I left home today with colored blonde, long, stringy, black and grey roots and this is me at 12:00

This is me at 1:00 after being coached by Samantha and Starr....

This was at 1:45 and I was a slight bit freaked out.....

And this is me leaving the salon at 2:30 today!

And these girls are very proud of themselves!

I think I am going to love it, Brad has not seen it yet. Any comments?????