SOLD!

Well, it is strange how things work out sometimes. I have been in the real estate business for a year now and haven't sold anything. I have found that you have to have money to make money and you also need time to devote to this business to be successful at it. However, those are two things that I'm a little short on lately. I had decided that my life was too hectic and I needed to simplify and since money and time are short the first thing to go was going to be real estate. Now, in the past couple of weeks, I have put a contract on a house and it was accepted and I have to finish paperwork and take pictures for the house I'm listing. It seems that when I don't try to make progress in this business, or even try to leave the business, that is when things start to pick up. Now that I have these deals in the works, I have to stay around a little longer. It's just strange how that works, isn't it?

I'm back!!

Well, we had a wonderful time in Panama City and I'll have pictures later to show you, but I thought I would go ahead by saying that camping at the bay is not too bad, very clean and well taken care of. We enjoyed the calm bay water, much like being on the lake here, but I did miss being able to fall out of the door and be right on the beach and hearing the waves roll in. We did get to see the Airforce jets fly over a lot and even saw a Navy ship come in to port and restock. Clark said that the Navy ship was a smaller one that goes back and forth between the land and the big ship to restock it. I have pictures of that too. All in all it was a good trip. Clark is already asking where we are going to camp next and we had to go by an RV store on the way home to look at our future camping vehicle, a fifth wheel with a master suite. Plus he informed me that he would need a new duel wheel truck to pull the new camper. Big dreams! Anyway, the only bad thing (and its not really a bad thing) that happened was the biker rally at the beach. We didn't realize when we planned the trip that it was "Thunder on the Beach" biker week in Panama and you have to really watch out for the bikers coming in and out of traffic. We were on the other end of the beach from the festivities, but there were a lot of bikers staying in the camp grounds. Most of them were very nice and didn't make a lot of unnecessary noise and the bikes were nice to see (Harleys, Hondas, Gold Wings, etc.) I enjoyed our trip a lot and of course we spent some great time with our friends, Greg and Jana, and their son, Gavin. Gavin had Clark all over the place, he loves Clark and has to know where Clark is at all times. If Clark went back over to our tent for something, Gavin followed him. They played ball on the beach and hung out at the camp grounds. I think it is so sweet. I'll try to get the pictures downloaded this week so you can see them.

Pretty Toes!

I'm so excited. My friend Jana is taking me to the nail salon so we can get our "toes done" to go to Florida. She says that nothing is better than pretty toes wiggling in the sand. I've never done this before so I'm really looking forward to it. I hear they rub your legs and feet before they paint your toes. I think everyone should have this done monthly. I think everyone should get a massage one a month too. I had my first full body massage and first massage with stones in March and it is so worth the money. Anyway, I can't wait to see my toes all fixed. It should be fun!!

It won't be long...

...till we are back at the beach. Two weeks from yesterday and Clark and I will be in our favorite vacation spot, Panama City Beach. This time will be a little different though. First off we are going to be staying in a tent in St. Andrews State Park instead of the nice condo with a view. We love to camp so I think it will be a lot of fun. And don't worry our friends, Greg and Jana, are going and bringing their RV, so if it should storm we have a place to stay. The second difference has a name, Gavin. That would be him to your left giving me dirty kisses after playing with his trucks in the dirt. Before, when we went to the beach with Greg and Jana, it was just us couples, but this time we are going to take their almost three year old, Gavin. He is such a boy as you can see. I can't wait to see him playing in the water. We will get a break from him because Jana's parents are going to go and stay in the condo, so they can keep him a couple of nights and let the couples go out to dinner. He is their only grandchild and they want to see him at the beach. What good grandparents!! Now it is time to dig out the camping gear and settle on a swimsuit, two things that I hate to do. But you have to go through that to get to the good part, REST, RELAXATION and FUN!!!!!!!!

Sad news!

We have lost one of our own in this crazy war over seas. Alex Stephens was killed last Thursday in a road side bombing in Afganistan. He was 28 years old from Tullahoma, a 1996 graduate of FCHS. Those close to my age might remember his sisters Shalene and Shalia. Shalene has done two tours in Iraq and has been blessed to return with no harm. Shalia lives in German with her husband. This family has been hit hard over the years. Their mother passed away two years ago after a heart attack and their father was involved in a motorcycle wreck when they were very young suffering some brain damage, so there have been a lot of hardships in this family. Alex will be missed by a lot of people, but most of all by his wife and three month old daughter, Sienna. Please keep this family in your prayers.

Simplify!!!

This is my new theory on my life. I think lately my world has been too chaoic and I haven't been able to enjoy the simple things in life like I once did. So my resolution is to simplify. I want to go back to just one job, so I think I will hang up the real estate license for a while. Simplify!!! I want to go back to being frugal, when I got excited over finding a good deal on clothes, or found something cool at a yard sale, and being able to save on our grocery bill. Simplify!!! I want to start freezer cooking again so I have time with Clark in the afternoons after work and I want to go fishing (I know you don't approve "Miss" Jan) to spend time with Clark doing something we both love. Simplifiy!!! Most of all I want my weekends and my sanity back to enjoy both in a comfortable setting (on the lake, at a yard sale, out camping, or just visiting family and friends) and not have to worry so much about a dirty house or dirty laundry because I'm able to keep up with those things during the week. I want to feed my creativity and not force myself to have a hobby because I think I need one (I haven't competed a craft or scrapbook project in four years). I want to simplify and enjoy!! I'll let you know how it goes. :)

Not this time

Well, our attempts at a baby didn't work out this time. The treatment was unsuccessful and we aren't sure where we are going to go from here, but we know that we need a break. We have a vacation planned to Florida next month and a little reconnecting to do. This is all that we have been focused on for the last couple of months so it is time to just relax for a bit and think about something else. Just thought I would let everyone know. Thank you for all your prayers. It just isn't our time yet.