I'm still alive!

Post coming soon...that's all I got!

New Year!

There hasn't been much going on this year. We've had some snow...

and that's about all that has happened!

Ok, so I'm tired of trying to catch up, let's see if I can keep up with real time.

I AM SO READY FOR WARM WEATHER!!!

That is the quote of the month for me. All I can think about is being refreshed by the warm air and the sun in my face. This cold/snow stuff is driving me crazy and it's depressing.

February was somewhat a bad month for me, there was my mom's birthday and the always dreaded anniversary of her passing. I did good for her birthday, I was a little preoccupied with other things so I didn't sit and dwell on it. But the day after was a little rough. As I checked my facebook there were all kinds of people either commenting on my wall or posting something to their own wall about her. It makes me SO happy to know that other people miss her and still remember her. It just fills my heart! If I haven't already thanked you for this small little blessing to me, I want you to know it means a lot. As far as the anniversary, I did ok, I was very distracted for most of the day and couldn't hold my attention on anything. As they say, time heals, and it does. I never believed that at first, but it does. I will never forget her, the emotions I had two years ago or the progress I have made. I sure hope she is looking down on me still proud of the person I am and the person I want to be. Now that I am over that 'hump' called February, I am ready to enjoy the rest of the year.

As I have mentioned before, we have gotten really involved in church, maybe not as much as I would like sometimes but as much as our time will allow. We LOVE our small bible study group, and have made some really great friends. It's amazing how close you can get to people in such a small amount of time. People who are on the same page as we are, older or younger, it's all the same. I feel a part of their family, part of the church family.

This past weekend was b-u-s-y! On Saturday, I attended a workshop, her very first workshop, by Julie Roberts. If you know me, I love her work. So I was very excited to be able to attend. The atmosphere was so laid back and I was comfortable asking questions. Even though I knew...85% of what she taught us, I still learned it more accurately and detailed. There were some things I didn't know such as lenses that I was happy to have a greater understanding of once the class was over. She did a fantastic job and is having another one in April. After the class was over, I hitched a ride up to Carson Springs for Salem's Women's Retreat. Although I didn't get to stay the whole weekend, I did get to experience a great speaker and some great conversation with the wonderful ladies. I've already decided next year to mark off my calendar because I want to go the whole weekend. Again, thank you ladies for letting me be a part of such a terrific spiritual time. I loved it!

So after that weekend I felt more educated in my passion of photography and lifted from a spiritual high that I experienced at the retreat. So thank you God for such a busy but renewing weekend!

New Years

New Years Eve we attended a New Years/40th Birthday/UT Football Party! It was so fun. We drove up to Kingsport to spend time with family and friends.

Here is the b-day girl herself...

Here is Marla...not wanting to dance but she got pulled out there anyway.

Happy Birthday to Leslie...

Richard clogging...

Jane getting tired!

Richard having to much fun with the balloons

Funny faces

Jonah Ryan Ferguson was born on December 31st. Congratulations Ferg and Whitney!

Yay for babies!

Sorry the post was not wordy, trying to move on!

Christmas in Texas

So we planned a trip to Texas this year to see my dad. I had never traveled during the holidays before and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Of course the airports were full, but it wasn't as crazy as I had expected. This was the first time Rylan had been on an airplane and a bus for that matter...he wasn't so sure about it at first. (Neither was I)

Here he is in the airport getting ready to board...

Us on the airplane.

Rylan did SO good on the plane, I was so surprised. We took snacks and things for him to do including our laptop with movies that we never had to get out! I was so proud of him! He sat in his seat like a big boy and didn't raise a fuss or get restless any. Yay for Ry!

So we made it safely to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and it was like...close to 70 degrees! We got to my dad's and one of the first things Rylan found was a golf club...

One side note: I got a new toy for Christmas that I absolutely LOVE!!!!!

Introducing 'The Flip'....

Here's my first real video using my new best friend!

Good picture, my dad reminds me of my papaw here...

Some cooking...

So by Christmas Eve, this is what we got, all day long....

Funny, we had to go to Texas, of all places, to get a white Christmas!

Christmas Eve was nice. We had family, a fire, homemade pizzas, presents and snow outside...

And of course open one present each. That was mainly because we needed a working DVD player to watch a movie!

Brandon...please!

Thank you!

Yay, Where the Wild Things Are!

The homemade pizzas, so yummy!

CHRISTMAS DAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!

We first woke up....

Well...some of us...

Start with the stockings

Now the real presents!

Santa brought him the train set.

I hate how I sound, plus I was sick...AND it's funny how adults talk to children!

The last day there we went to the Stock Yards. We had been there before but not during the Christmas season...

Since first opening its doors in 1907, cowboys, kings and queens of country music, even an outlaw or two have found refuge and romance at this hotel. They have traveled by foot, horseback, stagecoach, motorcar and plane to enjoy the hospitality of this premier hotel.

White Horse Saloon

We went to Billy Bobs, here are some facts about this place:

The Building now known as Billy Bob's Texas was built in 1910 and was once a large open-air barn for housing prize cattle during the Fort Worth Stock Show.

In 1936, as a Texas Centennial Project, the building was enclosed by the City of Fort Worth at a cost of $183,500 and the tower added. The "new" structure contained 1257 animal stalls, and a 1200 seat auction ring that is now Billy Bob's Bull Riding arena.

The floor of Billy Bob's slopes from the entry toward the showroom stage, making an ideal elevation for concert seating.

This slope was originally constructed to allow easy cleaning and runoff from the cattle pens. Livestock events were held here until the stock show moved to the Will Rogers Memorial Complex, in the present downtown area, around 1943.

During World War II, the building was used as an airplane factory for the Globe Aircraft Corporation.

In the 1950's the building became a department store so large that the stock boys wore roller skates to make their jobs quicker and easier.

With 127,000 square feet of space, which is nearly 3 acres inside and 20 acres of parking, for entertainment and events, Billy Bob's has 32 Max individual bar stations, country music's biggest stars, Live Pro Bull Riding and a Texas size dance floor for everyone to enjoy.

Here are some guitars on display from lots of famous musicians. Each are signed but hard to see.

There are many, many hand prints. I took a picture of this one cause of Trace's pinky finger!

Walking down the sidewalk, we came across this...craziness. A man had his dog, cat and mouse just sitting on top of each other. Oh and of course a can for anyone willing to give him a little money for this lovely show.

Rylan's new friend 'moo-moo'. creative name

My dad, uncle Chris and uncle Pat. Good picture I think.

Cheese!

With great uncle Chris...

Famous maze...

Couple of snapshots to end the post

Yay, got Christmas done...almost caught up....