Class Reunion 1989

*Pictures will be posted later*
This weekend was my 20th class reunion. It's hard to believe that I graduated from high school June 3, 1989! It is crazy! Last night was the dinner/dance/program at the Shilo Inn in Killeen, Tx. It started at 7pm. Dinner was really quite good considering it was prepared at the Shilo, but it better have been because it cost me $40! After dinner, the awards/games started. Lots of fun times, and lots of laughter. I wish I would have taken more pictures, but I didn't. The award for "Married Longest" went to me... 19 years 9 1/2 months, and the "Most Kids" went to me as well. When they started that award process, everyone started chanting my name. So embarrassing, but fun. Having Facebook is great that way because it's been fun catching up with people before and knowing what they were doing. Brett & Cindy went, and best "guy" bud, Rene was there with his new bride of 1 week. It was great seeing him again, and meeting Carol. I was hoping that Kenna would come, but it wasn't possible. Just listening to the 80's music was worth it, even though I listen to it a lot... but having it done there with all our classmates made it sound so much better!

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On a sad note... Mariella was given to her uncle on Saturday morning. Mari has been very ill, and even hospitalized this past week. She is not doing well. Because she can't move, she is having a hard time coughing stuff out. Brett & Cindy were very upset, but they knew it was going to happen. They had hoped to adopted her. Things could change, but so far it's not looking that way.

Fun Times!

My brother, Brett, was able to baptize Rachel on May 30th. Hard to believe that she is now 8. She was baptized in the Temple Ward Building, and most all of us were there. Only 8 cousins were not there, and how we wished they were all there.

"It's always fun when cousins come!"

After the baptism, I told Lauren, Kayley & Rebekah that I would take them dress shopping. It's so hard to find modest dresses. I thought these were cute...

But when I told Lauren she wasn't gettng it, they frowned. Reason? We couldn't find a cover-up-type thing. We finally resorted to the girls department of Dillards, and found a cover-up in that color blue, and it was perfect! I will try to post a picture of it, and the cute one that Kayley got too.

Our cute little cousins... May 2009

Mariella being happy as usual. Brett & Cindy are hoping that adoption will happen sooner then later. She was 9 months old in this picture.

Eathyn, 9 months old too. He is such a cute little guy! He is the little brother to Mariella, being a few hours younger. Their birthdays are a day apart, but to us, they will always be the twins!

Lexi Lou Who, age 3 months. She is such a doll. She reminds me of Lauren when she was this age. I just love holding her! Maybe it's because she isn't mine, and I don't have to feed her.

Jared, age 2.3 years. He and Joey connected so well during this trip. On the Sunday that we were there, Joey of course screamed his head off when I stuck him in nursery, but when I picked him out later, he was happy, picking up toys, and loving it! Joey has loved going into nursery ever since!! Thanks Killeen 1st Ward Nursery Leaders, and Jared, and...

Ella! Ella just started nursery so she was in there as well. Ella is just to cute, and so quiet. I don't think I have ever heard her make a noise! She is a sweetie!

Dallas LDS Temple

On our way to Killeen on May 29th, we made a brief stop to the Dallas Temple. This is where Shawn and I were married in 1989.

I took this cute picture of them sitting out front. The fountains were not working that day or I would have had the kids sit next to that.

We went suit shopping...

6 weeks is NOT soon enough to get this kid on his mission! Talk about a pain in the boo-tay! We went to Dillards to get measured for a suit. Of course, he liked the suits there, but let's get real... I am not paying that much for a suit, that will possibly never make it back to my house after his mission...

We went to JCPenny's, and he thought he was a model for GQ or something... We didn't get suits yet, but we did find some nice ones, and some cool pants that he liked.

Welcome Babe!

This is Babe, who was Wilbur, who was Squealer, who was just a regular wild pig Friday morning before Josh found him on the side of the road.

AND I get the honors of having it at my house for a while. Of course, I have banned it to the outside, where he is sleeping and living comfortly in Ollie's kennel, who is not happy at the present time. He rather have some fresh pork kill then share his kennel with Babe. AND I got to go buy a bottle with a preemie nipple AND formula (good thing it was on sale for $18.00 for a 32 oz. can of Nestle Good Start Supreme) so that Josh can have his thrill of all of 7 1/2 weeks of raising a baby pig before heading on his mission. What the heck am I suppose to do with it afterwards? It's a WILD PIG! I want Josh to release it back in the wild, but it's momma is gone, and he will be killed by a coyote. But at the same time, that's the circle of life, but I'm really not that mean (ok, kids may think different!). Shawn's dad gave up raising pigs YEARS ago! He doesn't want to start again, which I don't blame because PIGS STINK! What to do, what to do?!

Idaho Pocatello Mission here he comes!

Josh got his mission call today! He reports to the MTC on August 5th. Less then 2 months!
Funny that he got it today, because I was thinking how cool it would be if he did. You see, his Mimi, Aunt Hilary, cousins Meghan & Jannie, and his girlfriend, Amanda, are all here. I sent Kayley out to get the mail, and SHE RUNS back in, saying "I think Josh got his call!" I looked and sure enough... Elder Joshua Alan Miller. "QUICK!" I said... "go get Josh!" She runs out, and he about has a heart attack running back in the house. As he is coming in, I am trying to call Shawn at work (sorry, he has stepped out!), and my mom is trying to call my dad (not answering his phone). We are sitting in the living room, waiting. I call back Shawn, and he answers, but not my dad. We were going to wait... but Shawn had to go quick. So, we opened it, and all were excited. This is what Josh has been waiting for all his life! To serve a mission, no matter where! We have 6 weeks to get this son of mine ready to leave. I was hoping that Shawn & Josh could drive out, and I fly out to meet them there, and leave kids here, but kids really want to go. Maybe we need to rethink this. I will keep you posted with the Temple and Mission Farewell dates.

1st time for everything!

And today was the day for me to try gardening. I have never enjoyed gardening. Even as a child, when my dad would load up Brett, Todd and me to go with him to the Fort Rucker garden plots to work on our little section of a garden, Brett & I would take off the minute we got there to the nearby lake and park. We hated working in the garden, and we were determined not to. Todd loved working in it with my dad, and he always did say that "Todd was a busy little bee." So today, I went to the blackberry bushes and helped prune and weed. I even got on my knees, and having more fun catching the earth worms. Some of those things were like a mile long! I would call over the little girls, and they would freak out. Joey called them snakes, and Jacob would pretend he was eating them, or Shawn would pretend he was going to put one in Jacob's ear. We had a good morning. The weather was perfect, and it actually was perfect the whole day. I hope that our blackberries will start turning color soon.

But next time, I am wearing gloves. My palms are so sore. I got a splinter in one of my fingers from using a rake that got struck by lightening a few weeks back, and my nails have not seen this much dirt under them for 23 years!

Arkansas & Texas Cousins, May 2009

The boy cousins, who will be all 11 this year. There are also 2 girl cousins the age.

Reilly, Austin, Jacob

The 3 girl cousins: Rebekah, 13; Kayley, 12; Lauren, 14

My handsome son, Jacob.

Joey, age 2.5 with cousin Jared, 2.3. This is the first visit that Joey has not screamed or cried the whole time. He had a great time with Jared, and were the bestest buds. Joey even went into nursery, even though he screamed at first... but with Jared & girl cousin, Ella, all were happy at the end.

Another cute picture of Jared & Joey. We are at McD's in most of the pictures. We like to hang out at the one in Temple off I-35/Loop 363 because of the cool (nasty) playground.

Most of the Arkansas & Texas cousins.

Sorry that the pictures are small. With this stupid dial-up, I am having tons of problems now. I have thought of calling AT&T again, and crying telling them that I really need wireless. I am so frustrated with dial-up because I am beginning to not have good access. I cannot get on Facebook anymore with the home computer, so when you see that I am on for a few days in a row, or only once a day, it's because I have 1) taken the computer to a local business to use their wireless or 2) I am in Killeen where my parents have wireless. I can get to my profile on Facebook, but I cannot post or add anything. This morning I was in Ashdown, so I made a brief stop and added the above pictures to my page from my sister's page, and then I accessed my profile after getting home and saved the pictures. It's so crazy. And so making me crazy!

My goal for this summer is to get this house in order. Since I cannot get on Facebook, and you can only post so much on Blogger, I have decided to start now. But not until I get off this morning... LOL!! I also went to the Bishop's Storehouse in Carrollton, Texas this past Thursday, and got a lot of food storage. I am going to be busy the next few weeks anyway getting things canned and mylar bag sealed. Shawn planted another garden this year, and just today we got our first stuff... some onions, yellow squash & zucchini.

My Relief Society Enrichment is this Saturday, and I am very nervous about it all. I have teachers who can't make it now, and I've heard a lot are going to be out of town. I have decided that next year I am doing the 4 Enrichments in February, May, September & December, hopefully all on the 1st Saturday of the month. I am so stressing out, it's not even funny. Plus it's my turn for the lesson on Sunday, which is no biggie, but I still need to get it written down. I am doing it on the "The Language of Formal Prayer" taken from a talk in the January 1976 Ensign, and another with the same title in the May 1993 Ensign. I hope it's good. I also have to get the newsletter typed up.

Lauren left today for Drum Major Camp. She was selected as 8th grade Drum Major, and is very excited about it. Her 3 day training is in Arkadelphia. She took Shawn's cell phone, so I am sure this week she is going to think she is way cool since it has texting...

Josh's mission papers were returned again because the blood-type was not entered. I mean, hello? Why did I pay a doctor to do even do this physical? Good thing President Platt is around. I also saw that the urine test was not written down, so I am sure it will be sent back for that too. Will I ever get this kid sent off? Stay tuned for the mission call! Hopefull it will be soon!